Headlines for Alumni – January 31, 2025
Welcome to Headlines for Alumni! New in 2024-25, this newsletter features a few short stories on alumni, students, and MFS news, a calendar of upcoming alumni events, and a photo or two from the school’s archives. This concise, semi-monthly communication will keep you in the loop about interesting news in our greater school community.
Peace Corps Volunteer Matthew Knowlton ’17 Visits MFS Campus
Fifth graders were paid a visit in December by former Peace Corps volunteer Matthew Knowlton ’17, who, in November, concluded two years serving as a Rural Education and Development Volunteer in Zambia. Matthew’s primary work was teaching English to students in Grades 5, 6, and 8, while also helping to manage after school programs.
He worked in the village of Chilubanama (a 17-hour bus ride from the capital of Lusaka and about an hour outside of Nasama in Northern province) and was instrumental in helping to construct a first-ever library in the village.
Back in Moorestown, he was happy to reunite with his MFS third grade teacher Sarah Rotter, now a fifth grade teacher. Matthew provided an interactive session for MFS students, showing photos, along with traditional Zambian garb and other items. He described the daunting task of teaching English to large numbers of students and how he often used games, like Singular/Plural Tic Tac Toe, to provide lessons. While there are many languages spoken in Zambia, English is the primary language to learn for careers in government or business.
Matthew now hopes to find a position related to the alleviation of international poverty. “Living in abject poverty for two years was eye-opening,” he said. “MFS instilled in me the desire to raise up people and their voices around me. The community and values we espoused were a great starting point for me, helping me realize I can have a personal mission and live through my actions.”
MLK, Jr. Day Service Program – Reviving a Tradition
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Service Program is alive and well (after a few years off surrounding the pandemic), thanks in large part to the efforts of alumni faculty and staff members Sonia Mixter Guzmán ’02, Lower School Quaker Education Coordinator and advisor to the MLK Jr. Club., and Chanelle Rivers Walker ’01, Director of Diversity, Community & Belonging and Director of the Camden Scholars Program.
The students in the MLK Jr. Club have coordinated the event for the past two years, using supplies purchased thanks to the annual Soul Food Fest and donations from MFS families. Participants assembled snack care packages and made cards for families of hospitalized children who are served by the Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey. Prior to the service activity, a community Meeting for Worship was held for participants and hosted by the Parent/Guardian Equity Group, which is coordinator by Chanelle, to reflect upon the legacy of Dr. King. Greeting community members and welcoming guests to Meeting for Worship was Chester Reagan Chair for Quaker and Religious Studies Dan Zemaitis ’98.
Sonia noted: “The MLK, Jr. service day is a wonderful opportunity for students and families to put into practice our Quaker testimony of service. Simply by working together, and sharing our time and talents, we have had a special impact to support families in need at Camden’s Ronald McDonald House.”
Two Boys’ Soccer Players Named All-South Jersey
Preston Galanis ’25 (left) and Matt Schlotterbeck ’25 were named First Team All-South Jersey on January 13 at the South Jersey Soccer Coaches Association (SJSCA) Banquet. Only 17 players across South Jersey were selected for the First Team, and this is the first time in MFS program history that two players have been selected to the First Team since the SJSCA awards program began in 1967. Preston finished his career as the all-time leading goals and assist leader in program history with 58 goals and 45 assists.
Matt has committed to play soccer at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute next year and Preston plans to pursue a professional soccer career in Europe.
