Month: November 2022

Red Cross Brings Blood Drive to Sem

Posted on by

Eric Gardner ’23

On Wednesday, October 26th, Wyoming Seminary held a blood drive in partnership with the Red Cross. Student leaders have been working to continue to bring these blood drives to Sem after several successful drives in past years.

Participating students visited the Blue Gym for their appointment between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The process took just a couple of minutes, meaning it was not an inconvenience for most. After the donation, students avoided any strenuous activities for 24 hours while their body recovered.

Last year, 31 students donated, including 25 for the first time. Lauren Finlay ‘23, student leader of the event, hoped to see that number increase this year. “We’re expecting to see around 40 donations this year, but that number can be hard to estimate before the drive, because we don’t know how many students will be turned away.”

While everyone is encouraged to give blood if they can, there are many reasons potential donors may have been denied.

Anyone looking to donate had to be at least 16 years of age and weigh 110 pounds or more. Some students who fit this criteria were still turned away if their blood was not fit to donate. One example, Claire Stretanski ‘23, was turned away due to low iron levels in her blood.

The Red Cross advises donors to get at least eight hours of sleep the night before a donation. Donors should also avoid fatty foods, and instead choose lean proteins and complex carbs, along with a healthy amount of water. Finally, donors were asked a few questions about their health, and then the donation could be made.

Donating blood is one of the easiest ways to help save lives. According to the Red Cross, just one donation can save the lives of up to three people. Almost 16 million blood components are transfused each year, so more donations are always needed. If you or anyone you know are looking to sign up in the future, email Lauren Finlay at lfinlay@wyomingseminary.org.

2022 Sem Homecoming Football Game

Posted on by

By Jaden Keefner ’23

Wyoming Seminary’s football team had its annual homecoming game on October 22nd. This year’s game was against Williston Northampton. As the Sem football players prepared for the game all week long, the excitement for the game built up. Mathis Pellerin ‘23, star linebacker, stated, “Williston is a solid team with some good core players, as long as we focus on our job we will win.” The team arrived at Sem on Friday October 21st, staying overnight before the game on Saturday. 

Kickoff was at 1pm on Saturday afternoon. As the football players prepared for the game, the packed student section erupted with noise. After a game that was like a battle because of the constant scoring, Williston drove down the field with 4 seconds left on the clock. The game was tied 30-30. Williston tried for a field goal to win the game, but Chief Montalvo blocked the kick, sending the game into overtime. Sem’s football team scored in overtime making the score 37-30, but Williston got the ball back with a chance to tie it. Williston eventually scored, and were down by one point, but decided to go for a chance to win the game. In a risky decision, Williston’s head coach wanted to go for two points in order for his team to win. Williston capitalized on the play and scored the two point conversion winning the game 38-37. Kevin Burke, head football coach stated, “We left it all out on the field, they knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game, and our boys really showed up today, it just wasn’t the outcome we wanted.”

It was a tough loss for the Sem football program making their record an even 3-3, but they look to bounce back from the loss throughout the rest of their season. Their last home game (Senior day) of the season is against Salisbury Academy. 

Dress Up Days Change at Sem

Posted on by

by Hannah Johns ’23

Wyoming Seminary Upper School begins to address “dress-up days” differently nowadays. 


Wyoming Seminary Upper School is a college prep school with no uniform for the students who attend it. There is a dress code that isn’t very strict along with a dress code for “dress up days.” Dress up days have been a topic at Wyoming Seminary for a while, during which the boys wear suits and ties, while the girls wear a dress and nice shoes. Since the pandemic happened in 2020, dress up days weren’t seen very much during the school year until the 2022-23 school year. Dress up days are a time for the students of Wyoming Seminary to dress up for a certain event that is happening during the school day. 

As many may like dress up days, there are a certain amount of students who dislike them. Rosey Kelly, ’24, stated, “I don’t like them because it takes a lot longer for me to get ready in the morning and I feel as though they are not much different from regular days at school relating to the dress code.” As dress up days are beginning to come back more often during the school year, they face different challenges. More opportunities for students to express themselves are being given. Mx. Penland, a teacher at Wyoming Seminary and part of the LGBTQ+ community, is beginning to see a change for non binary students to express themselves. “I think there has been a lot less gender language being used.”

Guys wore suits and girls wore dresses, yet now girls are able to wear dresses or suits if they want. “A lot more options are being given and as long as you look presentable, it should be fine to wear what you want.”, said Mx. Penland. Over the years, the dress code for dress up days has changed and people have begun to learn to accept more ways that people may want to dress. Dress up days now, during the current school year, allow students to express and feel themselves by the way they dress. They don’t feel as restricted to wearing certain things, even though the dress code isn’t fully accepted yet, it has made its way to revolve around current situations.