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Ranney Hosts 9th Annual College Alumni Panel and Luncheon

Alumni from the graduating classes of 2008 through 2011 revisited their roots at Ranney’s 9th Annual College Alumni Panel and Luncheon held Thursday, January 5, 2012. Not only were several eager Upper and Middle School students able to ask recent Ranney alumni various questions regarding college life, high school memories and more in the Distance Learning Center (DLC), but many Lower School students also received the opportunity to interview various alumni within the comfort of their very own classes.
Alumni from the graduating classes of 2008 through 2011 revisited their roots at Ranney’s 9th Annual College Alumni Panel and Luncheon held Thursday, January 5, 2012. Not only were several eager Upper and Middle School students able to ask recent Ranney alumni various questions regarding college life, high school memories and more in the Distance Learning Center (DLC), but many Lower School students also received the opportunity to interview various alumni within the comfort of their very own classes.

With questions ranging from, “What activities do you participate in outside of the classroom?” to “Why did you choose the college or university you chose?”, students were afforded a firsthand account of what they can expect to experience in the years to come. The day began with an Upper School alumni panel led by Director of College Guidance Myra Simpson, who directed a list of questions at the panel. Topics ranged from the value of Ranney experiences such as Capstone projects to academic pursuits, course loads, time management and campus life. Afterwards, the panel participated in a brief Q&A with an attentive audience comprised of juniors and seniors. While one performing arts student, Hannah Simpson ’12, asked alumna Lauren Waters ’11 how theater differs at Muhlenberg College, a scholar-athlete, Ashleigh Shay ’13, inquired alumnus Jonathan DeCarlo ’11 how his club soccer team at Hamilton College functions.

Following panel discussion, the morning’s eight graduates, along with those juniors, seniors and faculty members in attendance, headed to RSPA Panther Hall, where they took part in an informal luncheon with even more Ranney alumni — providing a chance for faculty, students and administrators to speak with the college students in an even more relaxed atmosphere.

From Panther Hall, four Ranney Lifers and graduates from the Class of 2011 — McCall Torpey, Lara Wolkomir, Shraddha Mittal and Michelle Drappi — traveled to the fifth grades classes of Ms. Cicco, Ms. Fowlkes, Ms. Moruzzi and Ms. Mitreuter to speak with students on their experiences as a Lifer, the value of time management and more. While Lara looked through yearbook pictures of her elementary school days with students from Ms. Fowlkes’ class, Shraddha recalled her fifth grade class trip to Philadelphia — still a Lower School tradition — and how different the school’s playground now looks.

Meanwhile, back in the DLC, the eighth grade Class of 2016 listened to five alumni panelists during a group discussion moderated by Middle School Dean of Students David Ketcham. Topics ranged from the college selection process and academic pursuits to being prepared thanks to a Ranney education. As the floor opened up for a Q&A session, one current student — Rachel Staats ’16 — jokingly asked her alumna sister Alyssa ’11 how often (very little) she calls home. Additional questions included “How long did it take you to do homework in high school compared to college?” and “If you had to pick you more memorable high school moment, what would it be?” Answers to the latter ranged from completing a Ranney internship to receiving one’s senior vest at Fall Convocation.

A great way to end the day, students from both the Middle and Upper School cheered on faculty and alumni during an “Alumni vs. Panthers Basketball Game,” which ended in a 36-35 alumni victory during overtime. Overall, this year’s College Alumni Panel and Luncheon proved a huge success as it provided various ways for alumni to positively interact with students and faculty at the place they so dearly call home.
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Ranney School

235 Hope Road
Tinton Falls, NJ 07724
Tel. 732.542.4777
Our mission is to know and value every child, nurturing intellectual curiosity and confidence, and inspiring students to lead honorably, think creatively, and contribute meaningfully to society. 

We envision Ranney School as a nurturing learning community, in which families, faculty, alumni, and all of Ranney’s constituents collaborate to know and value every child, foster individual talents, sustain powerful connections between children and adults, and graduate resilient, globally-minded citizens.