The 17th Harker Research Symposium on April 15 brought hundreds from the Harker community to the upper school campus to view student research, hear from fascinating speakers, explore a variety of booths and exhibits and more.
Opening speaker Janice Chen, co-founder and CTO of Mammoth Sciences, spoke on recent advances that have “really paved the way in helping us understand the relationship between our genes and our health.” Her talk covered, among other things, CRISPR sequences that have enabled key advances. “We’ve…been able to train our immune cells for instance, therapies to specifically find cancer cells while avoiding the healthy ones,” she said. “CRISPR is one of those breakthrough technologies that’s really making a difference in research and development.”
Rohit Vashisht, the morning keynote speaker, spoke on how data science can help address the disparity in the quality of healthcare in the United States, which negatively affects Black Americans, women and those who lack access to quality education, employment and housing. In his presentation, Vashisht covered his ongoing research in collecting and analyzing data across the country, efforts to curb inequalities in healthcare and methods to produce data that will result in more equitable decision-making.
Students and student clubs held several workshops during the day, including an introductory class on medical illustration, led by junior Anika Mantripragada and a beginner’s class on artificial intelligence held by the AI Club. Breakout sessions were held throughout the day, showcasing the research done by Harker upper school students, including Regeneron Science Talent Search semifinalists.
This year’s alumni speaker, Simar Bajaj ’20, presented on the importance of storytelling in passing good scientific policy. Bajaj, who has been involved in science journalism since 2020 and won Science Story of the Year from the Foreign Press association in December, discussed how facts and figures are not enough to sway public opinion. “The reality is that there was never a policy in the history of our country that would just pass because it was a good idea,” he said. “They pass because they’re able to open someone’s eyes, someone’s soul, to the impact, to the purpose.”
At a special alumni panel, Harker alums discussed the various ways their time at Harker led them to their current careers. Alison Rugar ’13 shared the story of how she discovered her love of science through softball. “Softball was actually the basis for my first science project, which I presented here at the Symposium,” she said. “As a pitcher, I depended really heavily on my curveball, and in order for breaking pitches to actually move when they cross the plate, you need to put a lot of spin on the ball…so my dad and I set out to measure how much spin I was putting on my pitches. We drilled a hole in a softball, stuck a magnet in, wound a coil of wire and used Faraday’s law of induction. And that was a really great experience. It gave me a lot of basic skills.”
Throughout the day, visitors headed to the auxiliary gym, where middle school students had set up posters to present their research, happily answering questions about their methods and findings. Younger attendees enjoyed the many activities set up at the STEM Buddies area, where stations were run by upper school students who guided the visitors through a series of fun experiments. During lunchtime, the much-loved chemistry magic show wowed the audience with eye-catching displays of various chemical reactions.
The 2022-23 season of the Harker Concert Series closed with one of the most unique performances in its history on Friday night, as the Twin Cities, Minn.-based Cantus delivered a diverse and creatively arranged collection of songs based on the theme of “Alone Together Again.” The evening’s collection of songs reflected the thoughts and feelings the group had gathered during their time performing to empty theaters (with online audiences) during the COVID-19 pandemic, often projecting airs of both loneliness and togetherness.
Concert opener “Deep Blue,” by Canadian indie rockers Arcade Fire, was a suitably dour arrangement, its dark harmonies carrying lyrics that matched many a mood in the spring of 2020: “We watched the end of the century / Compressed on a tiny screen / A dead star collapsing and we could see / That something was ending.”
“Deep Blue” closed with words imploring listeners to “put the cellphone down for a while,” which provided the perfect segue into Ingrid Michaelson’s “Twitter Song,” a light-hearted lampoon of the social media platform’s excruciatingly fast-paced and nuance-free user experience, the singers transfixed by their smartphones.
Things got much brighter later in the set, notably after the intermission, when the group launched into Ysaye Barnwell’s “Tango with God,” throwing in some very light percussion to further sell the mood. Their heartfelt rendition of Jean Sibelius’ famous tone poem “Finlandia,” with lyrics by Lloyd Stone, also fit neatly into the evening’s more hopeful fare, it being the performance that earned them viral fame in the summer of 2020.
Spirits were further lifted toward the end of the show as the singers performed the Limeliters’ folk jaunt “There’s a Meeting Here Tonight,” no doubt referencing the country’s slow but sure reintegration to in-person life. With the sunlight streaming in during “Yonder Come Day,” their show closer, it at least felt as though the world they envisioned could be realized. All the more reason to make John Lennon’s “Imagine” their encore.
Harker’s Office of Communication recently received a Best of District VII award from the Council for Advancement & Support of Education (CASE), which each year recognizes the best digital and print publications serving educational communities, primarily universities. Harker received the award for the series of videos about the construction of the middle school campus, filmed and edited by the OOC’s own Eric Marten with generous help from freelance videographer Jenny Miller.
This latest win marks the eighth CASE award for the department since 2011, when it received a silver award for Harker Quarterly magazine. Since then, the OOC has earned CASE awards for major projects including the Harker website, the 125th anniversary sub-website and the 2018 athletic branding campaign. The OOC also has received more than two dozen MarCom awards — administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals — since 2007.
Saxophonist Donny McCaslin left the Patil Theater audience in awe Friday night at the second installment of the 2022-23 Harker Concert Series season. Backed by bassist Drew Gress and drummer Jonathan Blake, the acclaimed soloist and composer’s setlist consisted entirely of original songs, starting with the appropriately named “Fast Brazil,” an up-tempo number inspired by the rhythm of Brazil’s baião rhythm. He made his virtuosity apparent almost immediately with stunning chromatic runs, but made sure not to chew too much of the scenery by allowing Blake plenty of time for a rhythmically precise and musical drum solo.
Other highlights included “Page One,” an homage to saxophonist Joe Henderson, which featured an urgent, driving bassline and beautiful cymbal work, and “I Hear a Rhapsody,” which opened with an exhilarating McCaslin solo into a strolling rhythm that became increasingly frantic before ending with McCaslin and Blake trading solos.
The ensemble received a well-deserved standing ovation after “Fat Cat,” the breezy, extended closing number that featured stunning solos from every member. Shortly after, McCaslin met with concertgoers in the lobby for photos and autographs.
Harker’s Board of Fellows kicked off its year Saturday night by hosting a special Head of School Gathering with Brian Yager, head of school, and invited members of Harker’s community of entrepreneurs and venture investment professionals, including numerous Harker alumni who have founded their own companies, to attend. Yager explained to the nearly 200 guests in attendance that the purpose of the gathering was “to recognize the outstanding achievements our business and entrepreneurship (B.E.) and economics students and teachers,” and to make a special announcement about the establishment of The Harker Venture Investment Initiative and associated Mehta Scholar Program.
Kelly Horan, assistant upper school division head, gave an overview of the outstanding achievements of Harker’s B.E. and economics programs, and then students and teachers were presented certificates of commendation by members of the Harker Board of Fellows for their hard work, preparation and achievement winning all three of the national competitions they participated in over the past few months.
Following the students’ recognition, Joe Rosenthal, executive director of strategic initiatives, announced the establishment of The Harker Venture Investment Initiative and the associated Mehta Scholar Program. Rosenthal explained that the initial funding has been specifically provided to create The Harker Venture Investment Pool. Harker’s advanced B.E. and economics students will have the opportunity to work with experienced venture investment professionals and entrepreneurs to make early-stage investments, primarily in alumni-founded companies.
The Venture Investment Initiative will leverage and engage Harker parents, alumni, alumni parents and students who are passionate about entrepreneurship and venture investment and will provide a strategic ecosystem to support alumni-founded companies and possibly other startups within the Harker network.
The funding for the Venture Investment Pool will come from the Mehta Endowment in Support of Scholarships and Entrepreneurship and by a few other donors making gifts specifically for this purpose. Rosenthal said, “Neil and Jasheen Mehta have given $5 million to establish their endowment, and in addition have generously offered to match every dollar that the community contributes.”
The Capital Fund by matching those contributions to increase their endowment up to an additional $5 million. If $5 million is raised for the Capital Fund, the Mehtas’ original endowment would become $10 million.” See the full story on the Mehta Endowment.
For more information, contact Harker’s Advancement department at advancement@harker.org.
More than 3,500 Harker community members headed to the upper school campus this past Saturday for the second annual Harker Day. Families spent the day enjoying food, games, sports and live entertainment by Harker students.
The many games on offer included Skee-Ball, air hockey, foosball and electronic basketball. Elsewhere, younger students enjoyed pumpkin painting and an inflatable slide. Food trucks and Ms. Carly’s Café served patrons a wide variety of foods throughout the day, and animal rescue organizations brought in puppies, kittens and guinea pigs that were very popular with visitors of all ages. Meanwhile, Harker performing arts groups from the lower, middle and upper schools entertained large crowds at the Patil Theater.
Students also sold food and drinks at concession areas throughout the day to raise money for their classes. Senior Arissa Huda was one such student. “I love selling stuff,” she said. “I’ve actually made quite a bit of money for the senior class and for WiSTEM.”
Ally Lee, grade 12, a representative of Harker’s Art Club, helped organize and run the pumpkin decorating table and said she enjoyed “seeing a bunch of the alumni and teachers I’ve had.”
Loren Due ’85, one of many Harker graduates lounging at the special alumni area, said he enjoyed Harker Day because of how it “brings all the campuses together, especially with the sports and having the opportunity for the middle and upper school to participate on the same campus on the same day.”
Laena St. Jules ’04 remarked at how much the campus had changed since she graduated. “I really just am enjoying seeing how much everything has transformed, everything is building and growing in a very positive direction and offering students new things,” she said.
Several Harker sports teams were in competition during the day, and Eagle fans showed up to cheer on the boys and girls volleyball and water polo teams, as well as the grade 8 flag football team. Other sports activities included a morning tennis clinic and a water polo clinic in the afternoon.
Just before the start of Homecoming festivities, the 2022 Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony welcomed three alumni – Alex Abarca ’09, Daniza Rodriguez ’13 and Amanda (Polzin) Sullivan ’06 – and the entire 2007-08 girls varsity volleyball team into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame.
As the varsity football Homecoming game against the Delta Charter Dragons approached, attendees moved to the bleachers at Davis Field to view the third-place tug-of-war contest between the juniors and seniors, which ended in a victory for the Class of 2024. The crowd also enjoyed pre-game appearances by Junior Cheerleaders and the Eaglets, as well as the Harker Choir’s rendition of The Harker School Song and the National Anthem.
The Eagles took control of the game early, surging to a 35-12 lead by halftime. This year’s halftime entertainment was provided by the Harker Cheer Quad and the Harker Dance Company, and the crowd was also treated to the finals of the tug-of-war contest, which saw the sophomores declared champions. Halftime festivities concluded with the crowning of seniors Atri Banerjee and Sawyer Lai as the 2022 Homecoming Royals. In the second half, the Eagles cruised to a 48-20 victory to improve their record to 5-1.
This past summer, K-5 visual arts chair Gerry-louise Robinson and middle school art teacher Sofie Siegmann traveled to Thailand to learn more about the country’s art, culture and history, and how they can be integrated into Harker’s visual arts programs. The trip was part of the Raju and Bala Vegesna Teacher Excellence Program, which supports teachers seeking exciting professional development opportunities.
“Thailand is a rich melting pot of art and culture that has embraced traits from all the countries that border it,” said Robinson. “There are so many visible connections with India and East Asia, cultures that are part of our Harker community.”
The excursion began with a three-day stint at the University of Fine Arts in Bangkok, where Robinson and Siegmann gave a presentation and participated in a project with the university’s teachers and students. “We got to explore the many disciplines that the college has to offer and chatted with many professors who are practicing artists in their own right,” said Robinson.
“It was the most rewarding experience, because it brought everybody together,” said Siegmann “The students worked at home, and in the end we all created a wall with over 500 pieces!”
They then visited temples in the northern and southern regions of the country, admiring and analyzing the many different techniques that made each of the temples unique. The trek also included stops at places where locals were creating ceramics in a variety of styles, as well as visits to art studios to meet with and learn from local artists. During the several workshops they attended, Robinson and Siegmann took part in soap carving, paper making and mask painting.
Robinson said she hopes to use the striking scenes she experienced in Thailand’s floating markets into her instruction, in addition to paper making projects and works involving elephants, which are icons of Thai culture. Siegmann said she planned to integrate at least two pieces inspired by what she learned in Thailand into each of her classes, including paper making, soap carving and printmaking.
The teachers thanked global education director Jennifer Walrod for organizing the trip. “Jennifer Walrod did an outstanding job in putting this trip to Thailand together,” said Siegmann. “It was such a smooth, adventuresome experience.” Sakchai Boon-Intr, a professor at the University of Fine Arts, was also instrumental in making the experience so worthwhile. “He did so much to enable us to be at the college and engage with the students and staff,” Robinson. Finally, they thanked the Vegesnas, whose endowment granted this unique opportunity.
“Thank you to the Vegesna family for making this possible,” Siegmann said. “What an opportunity!”
Bay Area-based artist Leah Rosenberg was named the second artist-in-residence of the Dickinson Visual Arts Endowment. Rosenberg has employed a wide variety of media to explore the many ways color is insinuated in the human experience, including painting, installation, sculpture, video and even food.
Featured in local, national and international solo and group exhibitions, Rosenberg has also participated in fellowships at Berkeley’s Kala Art Institute and the Montalvo Arts Center. Past residencies include San Francisco Recology (where she repurposed paint from a household hazardous waste facility), Vermont Studio Center, Project 387, Facebook, Google, Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and McColl Center for Art + Innovation. Her installations appear in locations across the Bay Area, including San Francisco International Airport, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center and UCSF.
Rosenberg’s residency will begin Oct. 10 with a lunchtime lecture at the Nichols Hall auditorium. In the following weeks she will conduct a series of workshops with middle and upper school art students, culminating with a special reception on Nov. 17.
The Dickinson Visual Arts Endowment was created in 2021 to support Harker’s visual arts programs and students, as well as deepen the school’s connection to the wider international arts community. Last year’s inaugural artist-in-residence of the endowment was Berlin-based painter and performance artist Britta Clausnitzer.
The artist lineup for the 2022-23 season of the Harker Concert Series, featuring the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, saxophonist Donny McCaslin and the vocal group Cantus, has just been announced.
For more than 30 years, the San Jose Chamber Orchestra (SJCO), opening the season on Sept. 30, has developed a reputation for presenting exciting music that reflects the diversity and eclecticism of the South Bay. Founded in 1991 by music director Barbara Day Turner, the ensemble has established itself as both world-class performers of works by noted composers (including Hyo-shin Na, Clarice Assad and Joel Friedman) and a place where young up-and-coming artists are given the opportunity to collaborate with established performers and composers. Under Turner’s direction, SJCO has premiered more than 200 works, including six American operas. It is also a frequent collaborator with local organizations including sjDANCEco and The Choral Project, and more recently the group commissioned 11 new works for RESPONSEWORKS, a project featuring composers’ musical interpretations of the many turbulent events of 2020.
Known to the wider music world for his performance on art-pop icon David Bowie’s final album, “Blackstar,” saxophonist Donny McCaslin, appearing Nov. 4, is a Grammy-nominated composer and bandleader who has released more than a dozen albums of original music. Born in Santa Cruz, McCaslin first found music at age 12 and performed with this father, a vibraphonist, in his teens, making multiple appearances at the Monterey Jazz Festival by the time he had reached high school. He moved to New York City after attending Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship. While performing as a soloist for the Mara Schneider Orchestra, he was noticed by Bowie, who hired McCaslin’s quartet to help realize Bowie’s vision for “Blackstar.” McCaslin’s subsequent album, “Blow,” showcased the influence of his collaboration with Bowie, bringing together elements of jazz and alternative rock.
The Twin Cities-based vocal ensemble Cantus, which performs Feb. 3, has received acclaim from across the world for its ability to perform an impressively wide range of music — be it from the Renaissance or the 21st century — at the highest levels. The group has distinguished itself with an approach to learning and creating music that is akin to a group of chamber musicians, working without a conductor and involving every member of the group in the creative process. This system has served the group well, earning it praise from the New Yorker for its “engaging” performances, and from the Washington Post for its “exalting finesse” and “expressive power.” In addition to being world-class performers, the members of Cantus also bring their experience and expertise to more than 5,000 students every year through master classes and workshops, as well as an award-winning high school residency program.
Tickets for each of these concerts will be available through the Harker Concert Series website for $25. All will take place at the Rothschild Performing Arts center, located at Harker’s upper school campus at 500 Saratoga Ave. in San Jose. Prior to the 7 p.m. start time, each concert will be preceded by a 6 p.m. reception with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and beverages as well as a cash bar for beer and wine
This story originally appeared as a photo gallery in the fall/winter 2021 issue of Harker Magazine. The full story with photos is published on issuu.
Harker’s new middle school was bustling with excited students and eager educators on Aug. 24, 2021 for the first day back to school after more than a year of distance learning, and the grand opening of the new middle school campus.
“This new campus has allowed us to be intentional and design spaces that create more community and allows students, teachers and administrators to feel more connected,” said Evan Barth, middle school head. “This accomplishment reflects the passion, dedication and hard work of countless community members and supporters.”
Brian Yager, head of school, also noted that the new campus marks a milestone in Harker’s history as it now owns all of the school’s campuses, which has been part of the school’s strategic plan. “Harker’s dream has been fulfilled and now the focus is on the students and teachers, who will bring this new campus to life.”