The alumni of Robert C. Parker School are amazing individuals. As our first graduates reach their mid-20s, they share that the values learned at Parker are alive and well in the way they approach life. They confidently embrace creativity, individuality, freedom, acceptance and activism.

Here are just a few of their stories collected in April 2010:

Sam McFadden, ’06, is a senior at Averill High School. Sam says his Parker education has helped in many ways, but particularly in how he learns. He became proficient at test taking in a short period of time because he knew how to prepare. Sam has taken AP courses in Bio, English, Comp, Language, U.S. History, and European History. He participates in cross country and track. Sam will attend SUNY at Plattsburgh.

Lily Seigel, ’06, is a senior at Chatham High School. She will be attending Brandeis University in September. Here are Lily’s courses, awards, sports and volunteer work:

• AP courses: World History, U.S. History, English 12, Spanish V, Calculus AB. Accelerated classes in Math, Biology and English.
• Awards: National Honor Society; National Honor Society President; The Elmira Key Award; Gellert Cornell Admissions Invitation Award; University of Rochester Frederick Douglas and Susan B. Anthony Award; Student of the Month awards; High Honor Roll throughout all of high school; Most Effort awards in Algebra II, Geometry, and Spanish IV; Highest Average award for Human Identity, AP World History and Band; Most Improved Award for Band; and Numerous Student of the Quarter Awards.
• Sports: Varsity Tennis (10-1), captain in grade 12.
• Volunteer work: Tables to Tables, Congregation Ahavath Shalom, Jewish Council on Urban Affairs, and National Coalition for the Homeless.

Lily says, “I believe that Parker gave me the background to do my best. It gave me all of the fundamental skills that I needed. Most of all it gave me the love for learning. In college I am thinking of a double major in music and either government/politics or international affairs and a minor in math.”

Sadie Banks, ’03, went to Emma Willard. After graduation she went to Santiago, Chile, for language immersion and then to Wheaton College. She took some time off to work on Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president. She is now enrolled in George Washington U. where she is majoring in psychology. She is applying to graduate school for next year.

Molly Mulligan, ’97, received a BA in Physics and Astronomy in 2005 from Smith College and her Master’s in Mechanical Engineering from U. Massachusetts, Amherst, in 2008. As a graduate research assistant, she investigated the statistics and dynamics of self-assembled nanostructures. She is currently at Smith College pursuing a doctorate.

Sam Merrett, ’97, went to Buxton School. He graduated in 2005 with honors from Oberlin College with a BA in Environmental Studies. Much of his time in college was dedicated to learning about biofuels and starting local biofuel initiatives. Sam currently operates Full Circle Fuels, an alternative fuel center in Oberlin, Ohio.

Adam Backer, ’00, received a BS in Engineering Physics from Brown. Adam was awarded a Royce Fellowship by Brown to support his research on optical meta-materials. Adam’s most recent work included the development of new computational methods to model light emission in complex optical environments. Adam pursued a degree as a Craig Cambridge Fellow at Cambridge University prior to beginning his PhD studies at the Institute for Computational and Mathematical Engineering at Stanford.

Lindsay Chura, ’98, graduated from Mount Holyoke in 2006 with a double major in Biology and Psychology. She was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to conduct clinical research in reproductive endocrinology in Australia. She was also awarded an AAAS/APS Mass Media Fellowship at U.S. News & World Report in Washington. In 2008 the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation named Lindsay as a Gates Cambridge Scholar. She is currently a PhD candidate at Trinity College, University of Cambridge.

Max Gitlen, ’96, “I spent about 4-1/2 years living in Providence after I graduated from Brown, working for a couple of different nonprofits and a food co-op, and I just recently made the jump to living in Cambridge, NY. I’ve been working at a nonprofit called The Food Project for a little over a year, mostly doing grant writing and management. The Food Project was one of the first groups to pioneer sustainable agriculture-based youth development work back in 1991 and became a model for a lot of similar groups around the country. Today that work is still our core, with a shifting emphasis toward engaging youth in food justice and broader community food security projects. It’s hard to say, of course, but I envision working in the local/sustainable food movement for a while!”

Marc Rivera, ’94, is currently an attorney in Washington, D.C., specializing in post-secondary education law issues. Marc attended Doane Stuart after Parker, then Cornell, where he majored in Government, Politics, and Policy Studies and African Studies. He received his law degree from Georgetown University.