Burg's Eye View

Austin Young '06, a recruitment professional with Shopify, is passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion and strives to create communities of impact. He volunteers for KaBOOM! in Camden, NJ, and supports the Children's Scholarship Fund of Philadelphia. He speaks with current senior Tom Scheers about his experience as a Black man at Mercersburg and in America. Austin connected with Tom through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

Irving-Marshall Week is coming! What does that mean? How will it be different this year as a result of COVID-19 and how will it be the same? Whether you are a student or an alum, on campus or virtual, how can you be a part of the excitement? Listen in as communications intern Chelsea Seaby Bruno '21 interviews Ryan Bland '21, president of the John Marshall Literary Society, and Madi Norris '21, president of the Washington Irving Literary Society, about this exciting school tradition.

This month's Making a Difference podcast features Peggy Northrop '72, who is one of Mercersburg's earliest female graduates and a champion of women's stories. Peggy is chief executive officer of Watermark, the San Francisco Bay Area's premier membership organization for executive women. Prior to joining Watermark, Peggy served as international editor-in-chief for "Reader's Digest," editor-in-chief for Sunset Publishing, launch editor for Airbnb, and co-founder/president of Shebooks.

Pam Aquino '06 is an executive assistant at SalesForce and a professional non-profit volunteer. She speaks with Alvaro Luruena Marquez '24 about her Mercersburg experience; her life in New York as a volunteer for Breakthrough Collaborative, Step Up, and TutorMate; and how she views what it means to make a difference. Pam and Alvaro connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

John Martinko '97 is president and managing director of Drexel Hamilton. He speaks with Tom Flanagan '21 about his post-graduate year at Mercersburg, how this prepared him for attending West Point, his service in the United States Army, and how he makes a difference in the lives of disabled service veterans. John and Tom connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

Melody Gomez '13 is a medical student at the Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons. She speaks with Abby Hann '23 about the start of her medical career, working in hospitals as a medical student during a global pandemic, and how she views what it means to make a difference. Melody and Abby connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.

What's it been like to produce the "Virtual 'Burg" newsletter? What will happen to "Virtual 'Burg" after spring break? Listen in as Ebube Onwusika '21 and Barry Sato '23, two of the students behind these newsletters, talk about connecting with their fellow students through each issue. And check out a recent issue of "Virtual 'Burg" at http://bit.ly/virtualburg.

February's 'Burg's Eye View podcast features Rob Porcarelli '87, who is a career-long advocate for workplace fairness. Rob is chief legal counsel for Syndio, an HR analytics company that promotes equal pay and employment fairness. Rob previously served as the VP assistant general counsel at Starbucks, where he helped the coffee giant launch a program to employ and support thousands of United States servicemembers.

In their own words, hear about the experiences of three students who participated in Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference, a Mercersburg Intensive course. This course was an "open exploration of a topic" of the importance of oral history in preserving human connection, as well as introducing the value of listening, developing empathy, and establishing meaningful connections between students and members of the greater Mercersburg Academy community (alumni, parents, local residents, and others). With this school year's theme of "Making a Difference," the course allowed time and space for our students to engage in conversations around issues of social justice, race, equity, diversity, service to community, and service to country. Students practiced the art of interviewing and collecting oral histories by engaging in multiple interviews with their parents and alumni.

Charles Koontz '92 is the director of strategy for Ørsted, named the most sustainable company in the world. Charles speaks with upper-middler Ellie Jornlin '22 about his life after Mercersburg and advice for young people as they pursue their paths. Charles and Ellie connected through the Mercersburg Intensive course Mercersburg "StoryCorps"—Making a Difference. Learn more about all the Intensive offerings at https://www.mercersburg.edu/intensive.