Month: May 2025

2025 Sem Bowl: Kicking Off End-of-Year Festivities 

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By: Abby Ryu ‘26

Wyoming Seminary’s annual trivia competition, lovingly referred to as Sem Bowl, is a fan-favorite among students. Christopher Pons, Wyoming Seminary teacher, cat enthusiast, and Sem Bowl master of ceremonies (MC), asks questions contributed by faculty members, ranging from “NEPA” (Northeast Pennsylvania) to theatre. Participants come from every grade level to represent all four societies (Athenian, Oxonian, Alexandrian, and Florentine). The competition, which this year took place Monday, April 28th during morning assembly time, gives participants a special chance to show off knowledge that they most likely would not elsewhere. 

As fun as it might sound, the experience also puts immense pressure on the participants; as a former Sem Bowl competitor myself, one answer really can feel like a life or death choice. When asked about his experience, staple Sem Bowl Oxonian participant Jacob Nivert ‘25 responded “It’s definitely my favorite part of the year. It’s a challenge, and I always feel like I’m about to throw up, but having your whole society behind you, cheering you on, and getting to collaborate with a team makes it all worth it. I’m really going to miss it.” 

While only 16 students actually buzz in, Sem Bowl brings together the whole school community. When asked about her thoughts on the event, devoted Sem Bowl “mega-fan” Eva Blaum ‘25 gushed “I always get really excited for this time of year. The auditorium feels electric–kind of like a lacrosse game–which is really fun!” The entire audience, regardless of society membership, participates, cheering for right answers and holding back frustrated noises for wrong answers. 

As the years have gone by, Mr. Pons’ pre-SEM bowl announcement has certainly become longer and longer, with more reminders that it’s just a game, and no, students should not get that upset over someone incorrectly identifying the sunshine state as California instead of Florida (Shoutout Paul Stevenson ‘24). It is definitely strange to witness as an outsider; nowhere else can you see kids so happy over someone being able to identify the sum of the interior angles of a nonogram. But what else can I say besides “we at SEM show up” (and society allegiances really do run deep).

Sem’s 13th Annual Dance Marathon

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By Izzy Shoemaker ‘26

The charity Dance Marathon is a beloved tradition at SEM. This year marked the 13th year of “SemDM”. SemDM is the largest student-run organization at SEM, and certainly a fan-favorite event. Throughout the year, executives and committee members run several fundraisers and events, all culminating with a dance marathon in April. This year the team put on a sweatshirt sale, a Powderpuff football game, and a car wash to help raise money and awareness for the Children’s Hospital. 

Families Committee Executives, Mirabaai Reitsma ‘26 and Ellie Scullion ‘25 were thrilled to be working with Sem’s biggest group of Miracles Children attendees in event history. Reitsma said, “This year we all knew we really wanted to focus on the families at the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital. We actually invited ten kids to the event, which is double the attendance of last year. We couldn’t be more happy that we did. Seeing the kids at the event is always the best part.” The Sem student body also showed up big time to the event, from 12-7pm the gym was jam-packed with students, day and boarding, of all grades. 

The event included lip-sync battles between SEM students, JustDance breaks, and performances from the incredible Miracle Children. Each child also had a segment of the day dedicated to them and their journey in the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital and through the Miracle Network. The events committee was sure to leave enough time in the schedule for the highly anticipated faculty pies and tape a teacher. This year six faculty members volunteered to be pied by their students: Mr. Cruz, Ms. Dohn, Ms. Rossi, Mrs. Stretanski, Ms. Barton, and Rev. Carrick. Mr. Kersey also got in on the action, getting taped to the wall of the Blue Gym. 

Fundraising Committee Executive, Maya Gross ‘26, said, “This event is so special, because everyone at the school is so supportive and involved. And it’s really cool to be able to have so much fun while supporting such an amazing cause, and it’s just incredible to see everyone rally around it.”

This year, the cause is more important than ever, as Janet Weis lost funding that they usually can count on. Through the Miracle Network, funds raised directly contribute to renovations, new technology, and life-saving equipment in the hospital. In total, SemDM raised an outstanding $32,801 for the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital. 

Wyoming Seminary Presents Ballet to Broadway

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By Nancy Dahal ‘28


With the end of the school year, the dedication of the Sem Dance Company has come to a finale with their spring performance. Ballet to Broadway, presented on May 9th and 11th, provided the student body with a transformative production on the KCCA stage. From the elegance of La Bayadere, to the energy of Ease on Down the Road and the enthralling effect of A Chorus Line, the industry of the dancers and directors involved became evident as soon as the spotlight came on opening night. 

Composed of twenty-six dancers, Ballet to Broadway delivered a creative blend of genres and pieces that left the audience starstruck. Out of those twenty-six dancers included were alumni Brennan Twardowski, Activities Director and Assistant Director of the Dance Program ‘10 and Robert Zaloga ‘20 who devoted their time both instructing students and dancing alongside them. 

Other faculty members and Lower School student, Gigi Ruderman ‘29, contributed to the performance as well, notably in the dance titled It’s Your Wedding Day in which Upper School Faculty appeared in a line dance among students. All of this was made possible by Bernadine Vojtko’s commitment to the company and her dancers. In regards to her experience in the Sem Dance Company, Aniella Gabello-Timinski ‘26 said, “My experience dancing here has been memorable. I came in as a freshman and was instantly welcomed into the community. Throughout the past 3 years, I have grown both as a person and a dancer, even earning myself a solo this year. This year’s Broadway themed performance surely has brought in a bunch of people of all experiences”

As well as determined work of the faculty, many students had a hand in bringing the performance to life. The Choreographer’s Workshop has contributed incredible pieces to an already astounding performance. The six dancers involved in the Choreographer’s Workshop: Abby Lott ‘25, Reece Fisher ‘25, Aniella Gabello-Timinski ‘26, Aubrey Fisher ‘27, Karolina Harvanova ‘27, and Melina Ospina-Wiese ‘27 have devoted much of their time preparing for this performance and have inspired many other students as a result. Reece Fisher ‘25 described her experience choreographing for Ballet to Broadway as such, “My experience choreographing here has helped me expand my knowledge of dance as well as learn how to create a piece that highlights each dancer’s ability” 

The forty-fourth annual dance show was a tribute to the time of the students, choreographers, and teachers involved and acted as a testament to the hard work Mrs. Votjko and her dancers have been in the company for decades. It is fantastic that The Sem Dance Company will continue to provide such performances for years to come and we all await what they have to offer next season.