Headlines for Alumni – December 4, 2024
Welcome to Headlines for Alumni! This is a brand new alumni newsletter. It will feature 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.
TEDx Club Features “Students Speak On…”
Launched in 2023-24, the MFS TEDx Club received advice and guidance from Whitney Pennington Rodgers ’03. Co-Clerks and event organizers Livia Kam ’26 and Ali Sabir ’26 noted, “Whitney Rodgers shared a lot of valuable insider information with us in her role as the Current Affairs Curator at TED, such as her insight into helping speakers prepare their talks, event planning coordination, and tips for public speaking. She was an extremely valuable resource for us in getting our TEDx application approved by the organization and being readily available for any questions. We are extremely grateful for her meeting with us and helping us along our journey of obtaining our TEDx event license!”
Ali and Livia worked for over a year and a half to choose the theme and speaker topics, coordinate plans, and secure the license to be approved. On Tuesday, Nov. 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. the following students presented their talks in the auditorium, which were recorded and will be posted to the TEDx YouTube channel.
- Luke Iacono ’25 – Struggle and Success: Reevaluating Our Understanding of Perseverance and Accommodation
- Maddie Calixto ’25 – Talent vs. Genius
- Maya DeAndrea ’25 – Local Solutions, Global Standards: Measuring the Effectiveness of UN Climate Policy
- Mason Levens ’25 – The Importance of Teaching Mathematics Analytically
- Jason Youssef ’26 – The Problem with Foreign Aid
Looking back after the event, Ali and Liva reported, “We are certain that the 55+ people who attended the event in person took away something valuable and inspirational – as will those who watch the videos online. We are extremely grateful for all the support for the school’s first-ever TEDx talk, including from Whitney.”
Mark Dann ’97 Named NILE Top Lobbyist
Mark, the Governmental Affairs Director for The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), was named one of the National Institute for Lobbying & Ethics (NILE) Top Lobbyists for 2024. This prestigious award, presented at NILE’s annual dinner on Nov. 7 at the Library of Congress, highlights Mark’s ethical leadership, advocacy and commitment to advancing the separation of state and church through strategic lobbying and coalition-building.
Mark has played a pivotal role in expanding the organization’s presence and influence in Washington, D.C., guiding key legislative efforts that have significantly advanced FFRF’s mission. Under Mark’s leadership, FFRF’s lobbying efforts have grown in scope and impact, helping to ensure that secular governance remains a top priority in legislative conversations.
FFRF is the country’s largest freethought organization, with 40,000 members across the country.
Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president and co-founder shared the following: “Mark’s ability to build bipartisan coalitions, drive legislative initiatives, and foster meaningful relationships with lawmakers reflects his unwavering commitment to promoting the separation of state and church.”
Prior to his position at FFRF, Mark served as the federal affairs director at Compassion & Choices, an end-of-life advocacy group, and as a democracy development consultant with the National Democratic Institute in Moldova and Iraq. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Crimea region of Ukraine.
Ciani Flack-Green ’14 Receives Trailblazer Award at Techher Talk & Awards Event
Ciani is a Senior Manager, Strategic Analytics in the Camden City School District Superintendent’s Office. The Black Collegiate Gaming Association partnered with Amazon, Reworld, Microsoft and Walmart Business, to honor the trailblazing Corporate and Women Entrepreneurs in Technology at a Talk and Awards Reception in New Orleans in July. The Trailblazer Award, presented by Reworld, was given to Ciani for ensuring that students in the Camden City School District are exposed to and thrive in STEM spaces. In her work, she is focused on building the Camden City School District’s capacity to allocate resources where they will have the greatest impact for students.
Ciani, who has a B.A. in Psychology from Stanford University, reflected on the award: “It absolutely meant the world for me to receive recognition for the work I feel naturally called to do,” she said. “I was raised and continued to be surrounded by so many Black women who have taught me the importance of community and self-determination. Many didn’t understand and often questioned my path when I decided to move back home after college. I even doubted myself. But I believe in the power of community and I’ve seen the talent and potential of our city. This award affirmed for me that I’m where I’m supposed to be and doing exactly what I should be doing.”
Isaac Linden ’25 – Top NJ High School Runner
Isaac, captain of the Boys’ Cross Country team, had an impressive season this Fall. He won the Rancocas Valley Ray Hoagland Invitational with a time of 16:58. He was nominated for NJ Boys’ Cross Country Athlete of the Week by NJ MileSplit. He placed first in the Burlington County Open with a time of 17:27.6, leading the team to a second place finish and becoming the school’s first Burlington County Scholastic League Cross Country Champion. At the NJSIAA Non-Public State Championship, he placed second overall with a time of 17:22. Director of Athletics Isaiah Coleman shared the following about Isaiah:
“Watching Isaac’s preparation and attention to detail before a race, there is no surprise why he’s the fierce competitor that he is on the course. There is an intensity that surrounds him that is infectious to the rest of the team. You can visibly see it inspires each and every team member to dig deep within themself to be a better runner and competitor. Isaac’s leadership may be his most noteworthy attribute.”