RE Log Spring 2018

34 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2018 Student News Hundreds enjoyed Ransom Everglades’ Stronger Together RElief Festival through- out the day and evening on Oct. 27, 2017, donating $8,700 to regions hit by natural disasters while taking in various special events on both of the school’s campuses. Members of the RE community turned out for a varsity football game at the Middle School, an International Food Festival, a Rock 4 Relief concert at the Upper School and a Middle School dance. Sixteen RE seniors were named semifinalists in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Competition. Celine De Araujo, Carlos Esber, Daniel Freedline, Jordan Gould, Gabriel Jaramillo, Stephen Kaiser, Scott Kim, Sonja Lazovic, Alexander Lerner, Ines Pinilla, Ben Rosenthal, Joshua Solesbury, Jacob Tie-Shue, Ryan Tie-Shue, Jordan Wong and Megan Zou were among just one percent of the 1.6 million students who took the PSAT to advance in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships. All of the RElief events were free, but student and faculty volunteers collected donations at each event. “I was absolutely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and energy that surrounded our multi-faceted Stronger Together RElief Festival,” Head of School Penny Townsend said in a letter RE Provides RElief RElief effort on both campuses nets $8,700 Sixteen Seniors Honored Students named 2018 National Merit Semifinalists to the RE community on Oct. 30. “My reaction that night could be summed up in one word: Wow. My response this afternoon, as I reflect on the event, is just as heartfelt: Thank you.” World language students and faculty prepared and served food from regions re- cently struck by natural disasters. Dozens of students and some faculty performed in the Rock 4 Relief concert that was organized by Jacob Tie-Shue ’18 and featured Student Government Association President Ryan Sears ’18 as the emcee. World Languages Department Chair Adabel Diaz-Rivera and Associate Dean for Student Affairs Paul Elkins helped coordinate the events. Alumni under the direction of Ryan Holtzmann ’00 con- tributed by conducting a relief drive for items ranging from baby wipes to tarps. Leading up to the festival, students and alumni donated supplies ranging from baby food to mosquito netting; those items were sent directly to Puerto Rico as it rebuilt after Hurricane Maria. Student volunteer leaders determined the distri- bution of the rest of the funds under the direction of Elkins, sending donations to six other traumatized areas.