Talents February 2025

But here’s my hot take: I love February, especially February at Sanford. Don’t get me wrong, monitoring the forecast for potential late starts or snow days is one of the less glamorous parts of my role. (I know relocating to Providence won’t lighten this mental load!)

 

What makes February special at Sanford is how it showcases our community’s excellence across academics, the arts, and athletics. Each Presidents’ Day weekend, Geipel bursts to life with our winter musical—a beloved Sanford tradition. This year, our talented cast and crew of Les Misérables upheld that legacy with an incredible production of the classic musical. Students from all three divisions contributed to this monumental effort, working tirelessly for weeks and months to bring the performance to life. Sitting in the audience, witnessing the culmination of their hard work, I couldn’t help but think, “No Talent Lies Latent” indeed!

 

That same spirit of dedication and achievement extends beyond the stage. Our students continue to make their mark in academic and creative competitions, earning recognition at the highest levels. Abby Krape ’26 earned the runner-up title at the Delaware Poetry Out Loud State Finals—a competition familiar to many of our young alumni, as we have proudly participated in Poetry Out Loud since 2009! Adding to Sanford’s academic achievements, Sanford Lifer Andrew Kaser ’25 has been named a candidate for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, placing him among the nation’s top high school seniors.

 

Sanford’s creative talents continue to excel, with numerous Gold and Silver Key winners in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Among them, Katie Pei ’27 earned an American Voices Nominee distinction for her personal essay, Fishbone, recognizing it as one of the most outstanding pieces in the region.

 

Our athletes have also been making headlines. This past Saturday, Sanford Lifer Carson Kalish ’25 successfully defended his state titles in the pool and was named Delaware Boys' Swimmer of the Year. Meanwhile, at the DIAA Indoor Track State Championships, Tegan Kovacs ’25 secured an impressive runner-up finish in the 800m and helped his team earn silver in the record-breaking 4x800m relay. Tonight, another Sanford Lifer, Orion Schlussel ’25, takes to the mat at the Individual Wrestling State Championships. Our basketball teams are gearing up for deep playoff runs; having just qualified for the quarter-finals, they are aiming for championship glory at the Bob Carpenter Center on Sunday, March 9. Sanford Athletics is keeping us on our feet!

 

Yes, February is cold. Yes, Spring Break is just a few weeks away. But I wouldn’t wish away a single day. I’m savoring and celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students and feeling immense gratitude for the teachers and coaches who make these opportunities possible.

 

Let’s take a moment to celebrate all that makes Sanford exceptional. As our former colleague, legendary basketball coach and Dean of Students Stan Waterman, often said, “At Sanford, Tradition Never Graduates.”