Campus News
Take a look back on the 2018-2019 school year and read about this year's happenings at Ellis in Campus News!
Campus News
STUDENT DIVERSITY LEAGUE ACKNOWLEDGED WITH YWCA AWARD
The Student Diversity League was awarded a YWCA Racial Justice Award in recognition of their annual student-led diversity conference, Culture Jam. The award for education is given annually to an individual or institution that initiates programs or policies that support equity and inclusion in the greater educational community.
ELLIS STUDENTS COMPETE IN HOMETOWN HIGH Q
Upper School students testedtheir brain power as contestants on KDKA’s Hometown High Q, a local television student quiz show. The team competed against North Allegheny High School and Shady Side Academy and finished in second place.
ESTEEMED EDUCATORS CELEBRATED AS ENDOWED FACULTY CHAIRS
Susan Corbesero, Ph.D., Linda Tonetti Dugan, and Anna Redcay, Ph.D. were named Endowed Faculty Chairs. A mark of professional distinction, the Endowed Faculty Chair appointees display a resolute commitment to academic excellence and the School’s teaching philosophy and mission.
ELLIS STUDENTS WIN 55 SCHOLASTIC ART & WRITING AWARDS
Forty-two Middle and Upper School students were recognized for their exceptional art and literary talents with Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Two students were honored with national gold medals for their critical essay entires, and nine students were honored with Gold Keys for their artwork.
OVER $5,100 RAISED FOR HEBREW IMMIGRANT AID SOCIETY
Following the tragedy at the Tree of Life Congregation, the Class of 2019 wasted no time mobilizing to support the community. Seniors Sydné Ballengee and Katharine Ference designed a t-shirt and sold it to support HIAS, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, raising over $5,100 for the organization.
AUDITORIUM CURTAIN DEDICATED TO CHARLES ALTMAN
A new, green curtain in the auditorium was dedicated to Charles Altman, former Theatre Director and Performing Arts faculty member. Charles’ unwavering dedication to the performing arts at Ellis began in 1981 and spanned over three decades until his retirement in 2013.
FINE ARTS FESTIVAL SHOW- CASES STUDENT WORK
The Ellis community celebrated the creativity, imagination, and artistry of Ellis students at the biennial Fine Arts Festival in April. A packed day on campus, the biennial festival included hands-on workshops, student art, musical performances, food trucks, and plenty of family fun.
ELLIS SENIOR RECOGNIZED AS NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLAR FINALIST
Dory Johnson, Class of 2019, was recognized as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. She was one of 15,000 students who were considered to be a National Merit Scholarship winner.
STUDENTS STAND UP FOR A GREENER PLANET
Upper School girls joined thousands of students around the world on March 15 to protest inaction on climate change. Students created signs and had a presence along Fifth Avenue during their lunch break to share their message and garner support from local passersby.
TEDxPITTSBURGHWOMEN LIVESTREAM SHOWN AT ELLIS
Ellis community members gathered in the auditorium to watch a free livestream of TEDxPittsburghWomen. Showcasing eight women from Pittsburgh who are rising up, breaking out, and pushing boundaries to drive change, TEDxPittsburghWomen featured speakers including Priya Amin, Jamilka Borges, Amy Camp, M. Bernardine Dias, Nicole Heller, Sara Innamorato, Summer Lee, and Joanne Rogers. Head of School Macon Finley delivered opening remarks and Ellis students Leah Ewers, Class of 2019, and Aira Bazaz, Class of 2020, spoke about their experience presenting at TEDxPittsburgh during Inclusive Innovation Week.
ELLIS STUDENTS PERFORM IN SHAKESPEARE MONOLOGUE CONTEST
Nora Brown and Mia Carter, both Class of 2023, entered the 25th Annual Shakespeare Monologue & Scene Contest at the Pittsburgh Public Theater where they performed a scene from Twelfth Night as Viola and Olivia. The scene earned them a place in the finalist showcase. Madeleine Mocker, Class of 2025, also entered through the Hope Academy with a scene from Romeo and Juliet and a monologue from Henry IV. The scene earned her a place in the finalist showcase and the monologue earned her an honorable mention.
ELLIS STUDENTS WIN 16 AWARDS AT SCIENCE COMPETITION
Sixteen students were awarded either first, second, or third place at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Regional Competition. Middle and Upper School students were also awarded special awards such as the STAR Special Award, the Duquesne University Award for Excellence in Chemistry, the Meghan Roe Microbiology Perseverance Award, and others.
Sixteen students were awarded either first, second, or third place at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Regional Competition. Middle and Upper School students were also awarded special awards such as the STAR Special Award, the Duquesne University Award for Excellence in Chemistry, the Meghan Roe Microbiology Perseverance Award, and others.
FIRST LEGO LEAGUE TEAMS EARN SPECIAL RECOGNITION
The STEAM Powered Girls and Ellis Robotic Tigers, Ellis’ two Middle School robotics teams, competed in the FIRST LEGO League Grand Championship. Both teams earned special recognition for their programming efforts.
FUTURE CITY TEAM WINS SPECIAL AWARDS AT REGIONAL COMPETITION
The Future City team received two overall awards at the 19th annual Future City regional competition. The team was awarded “Best Computer City Design” and “Most Holistic Approach” for their city, Pierre Jaune. Ellis also received special recognition for their participation in the competition for the last 11 years.
-
-
Senior Fundraiser for Tree of Life
-
New Auditorium Curtain Dedication
-
TedxPittsburghWomen
-
Ellis Girls at Hometown High Q
-
