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Quicklinks:News from our Alums (continuted)
Carlos Diaz Wedding
Douglas '97,Carlos Diaz '97,
and John Diaz getting ready for the big dayCarlos Diaz '97 and his beautiful bride
Ana Montalvo '92
Fernando Alonso named Director at Philips Academy
ANDOVER, Mass. —Fernando R. Alonso, co-chair of the mathematics department at The Hotchkiss School, has been named the new director of the (MS) 2 program at Phillips Academy in Andover, Mass. Rebecca Sykes, associate head of school, made the announcement.
(MS)2—which stands for Math and Science for Minority Students—is a three-year academic summer program focused on mathematics and science for students of color, aimed at addressing an acute historic underrepresentation of African-American, Native American and Hispanic/Latino people in medical, engineering and scientific professions.
(MS)2 bolsters the academic ability of capable students of color from across the nation by supplementing the work of their public high schools during a rigorous five-week program taught by master teachers during three consecutive summers on the Andover campus.The program serves 110 students each summer. It is open to African-American and Hispanic/Latino students from public schools in Atlanta, Ga.; Baltimore, Md.; Boston and Lawrence, Mass; Chicago, Ill.; Cleveland and Dayton, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; Louisville, Ky.; Memphis Tenn.; New York, N.Y.; and Washington, D.C. Native American students may apply from any geographic area of the United States.
“Ferd Alonso is thoughtful, genuine and committed to education,” says Sykes. “He has a demonstrated interest in providing opportunities to kids who have not had encouragement and challenging academic programs.” Alonso will begin his full-time, year-round faculty position at PA this summer. He also will teach math to Phillips Academy students during the regular academic year. A graduate of Baldwin School of Puerto Rico, where he was a Presidential Scholar and class valedictorian, he received a B.S. degree in material science engineering from Cornell University. He returned to Baldwin School to teach mathematics, computer science, chemistry and physics and to serve as computer coordinator. He later taught at the Westtown School in Pennsylvania, where he was math department chair, director of student activities, computer coordinator, lacrosse coach and dorm head. At Hotchkiss, he is co-chair of the mathematics department and head of an 11th- and 12th-grade boys’ dorm.
Alonso has expressed excitement about being named the new director of (MS)2. “The privilege of working with a diverse group of talented and highly motivated students makes this program every teacher’s dream,” he says. “I look forward to meeting and getting to know the students and families from all over the country who contribute so much to the success of the program each year.”
(MS)2 boasts more than 700 graduates and is one of the longest lasting and most successful education programs of its sort. It has helped hundreds of students of color attend some of the nation’s most selective colleges and then go on to advanced degrees and occupations in science and math.
“I also look forward to meeting the hundreds of alums who have gone through the program over the last 28 summers,” says Alonso. “Their stories are the most eloquent testimonies to the success of the (MS)2 program
Harry Nadal '83
If you had the opportunity to witness the musical “Chicago” on the big screen in 2002, you can imagine what seeing it performed live in a theatrical production should feel like. Fellow Baldwin School graduate Harry Nadal ‘83 had thought of that long before the movie was ever made when he came in contact with the play 25 years ago. His production company partners, Axel Cintrón and Sara Jarque coincided with Nadal 13 years ago that this would be a great play to bring to life, and that is how a Spanish award winning musical was born. Aside from co-producing, Nadal was also in charge of the set and costume design.
He’s been living in New York for 18 years and before “Chicago” he obtained his MFA in stage designe from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His career has been skyrocketing ever since. The decision to bring this story to life and present it for the first time in his native Puerto Rico, meant moving back home for several months, but the rewards that decision would bring were well worth it, since the production turned out to be a great success and received outstanding reviews.
Nadal had always been in contact with the arts. His mother, Rosita Palmer is a dancer and the musical’s choreographer, while the late Raúl Julia, an esteemed Puerto Rican actor, was his father’s cousin. Constant trips to New York City during his childhood provided a solid knowledge of not only the musical genre, but also theatre in general. Later on, he assisted Tony Award winner Bob Crowley, who designed the set and costumes for the Broadway production of “The Capeman,” starring Marc Anthony, Ruben Blades and Ednita Nazario. Additionally, he’s assisted other Broadway designers in shows like “ A Class Act” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”
He believes that including the musical genre within Puerto Rico’s stage scene will enrich its theatrical culture and spectrum, since it’s a genre as important as that of drama, comedy, and the opera, thus cultivating and educating the theatrical experience of Puerto Rican viewers. Currently, Harry finds himself designing for different theatre companies in NY and Pennsylvania, amongst them the main dance concert at The Julliard School. He’s given some thought to producing more, and even maybe giving the fashion industry a shot. “ Coming from theatre it sounds new, exciting, and full of possibilities,” says Nadal. Wherever your path my take you Harry, we don’t doubt the spotlights will shortly follow. If you want to contact Harry you may do so at hjnadal@hotmail.com.
