Gold Medal Moments
One by one students made their way to the stage to share their discoveries and to tell their stories about Coach Herb Brooks and the 1980 US Olympic Hockey Team.
Matt Farrell’s Miracle or Myth was an analysis of the movies about the miracle at Lake Placid. In a quiet but confident voice, Farrell presented his findings about the ways Hollywood used artistic liberty and a number of techniques to effectively tell the story. Using movie reviews, internet sites, books, articles and notes he had taken during conference calls with Wayne Coffey, Ross Bernstein, Patti Brooks and Kelly Brooks, Farrell won the moment with a compelling story.
Richard R. Rickard talked about his journey. Rickard was the first member of the class to travel to Lake Placid. It was a bitter cold day in January. The purpose was an exploratory mission. We needed to introduce ourselves and our project to the people at ORDA. It was a challenging assignment, and Rickard was very taken with all the things he learned on that trip. He called his project Reflection of Perfection. His treasure was a stylized poster, that captivated the audience.
Ryan Doyle, whose performance evaluation in December ‘04 was a catalyst for the project, outlined his trips to Cheshire, Connecticut, for a day of shooting with the Marvel Family. It was a day of high adventure and marvelous connections. One week later, Doyle was off to Lake Placid. He spoke about both trips with great enthusiasm. His presentation, The Miracle in Words, Images and Art, ended with the unveiling of his original painting.
Kristy O. Saccone, a young woman with true grit, talked about her trip to Lake Placid. Olympic Unity: Stronger Than Steel was an examination of the symbolism of the Olympic movement. Watching Saccone present was like watching an Olympian perform. She smiled throughout her 15 minutes on stage, and her explanations and illustrations reinforced by her beautiful pictures gave her a moment of sheer joy. You could see it in her eyes. You could feel it when she spoke. You just felt very good for this young woman who worked so hard for this moment.
Matthew C. Harm, one of the natural born leaders of the senior class, introduced his listeners to the music of the Miracle At Placid Project. Harm has a commanding presence, and his story was effectively told. The music was created by local anchor and songwriter, Mike Lewis, and produced by Gene Cotton. Six Strings and a Bridge resonated with the audience, and Harm ended his senior experience on a high note. Later that day his leadership would be recognized with a special award.
The next person to take center stage was Christopher Boos, the bibliographer of the project. With the precision of a research librarian, he outlined A Bibliography of the Miracle in a way that fascinated everyone in the room. Watching Boos, an earnest, industrious young man, brought great joy. He made his mark by completing a challenging assignment that few would dare to undertake.
Brent H. Stewart, the oldest member of the class and an assistant soccer coach, talked about Coaching From the Inside Out. He shared the insights he learned from his study of Coach Brooks. To Stewart, Brooks was a giant, and the young coach assured his listeners that he intended to model his coaching style in all the ways that would help his players on and off the field. It was a day of great progress and important discovery for this former athlete.
The next presenter, Brian Pagel, won the audience with his insightful assessment entitled Learning About Life from a Miracle Maker. In what would become one of the most memorable moments of the day, Pagel walked to the middle of the stage and carefully folded back an American flag that was draped over his ingenious creation A Puck of Values.
The Oohs and Ahs were palpable.
Wherever Coach Brooks was at this moment, he must have smiled.
Cara DiEnno’s, trivia board game Miracle in a Box was a show stopper. Assisted by Matt Harm and D.J. Pizzani who demonstrated the game for the audience, DiEnno captivated everyone with her upbeat story of discovery and creativity. The style, tone and execution of her presentation were just right. People responded to her questions. The Miracle in the Box gave DiEnno a magical moment.
Michael Marzen took us to the movies. His assessment of the HBO Special, Miracle, Disney’s box office hit and ABC’s made for television movie, The Miracle on Ice, was compelling. Marzen carefully packaged and explained similarities, differences and myths. The Miracle at the Movies captured the magic of the moment when Lake Placid, NY, and the US Olympic Hockey Team became the center of the universe.
Robert Anderson’s The Miracle Behind the Miracle took us to a place that people seldom, if ever visit, inside the mind of a student graphic artist. After carefully outlining his journey, Anderson thought for a moment, smiled, and said; “It was a great learning experience.”
Lindsay P. Pross, a student of grace and charm, recounted the marvelous adventure she shared with six other students, affectionately know as the Sensational Seven. Capturing the Miracle is Pross’s account of her three day adventure in Lake Placid, NY. Her face glowed as she reconstructed An Evening of Miracles, Memories and Magic and the rededication of the 1980 Rink Herb Brooks Arena.
When this semester began, Lauren Barrett knew that Herb Brooks and The 1980 US Olympic Team were icons of sports culture, but she knew very little about quilting. When she walked to the blue fabric hanging virtually unnoticed under the projection screen there was an air of confidence in her gait. With a broad smile on her face she turned and unveiled A Quilt of Miracles. No words were needed to make her point. She had her moment.
Stephen Alfano is the most philosophical member of our team of miracle workers. His is a world of thought, reading and analysis. With meticulous attention to detail that Herb Brooks would have complimented, he told his story about Coaching Greatness. It was an informative analysis of three coaches who defined greatness, Herb Brooks, Knute Rockne, and Mike Krzyzewski
Stephanie A. Youngs, a member of a group affectionately named The Sensational Seven, survived the bitter cold temperatures of Lake Placid in February. She even managed to organize a side trip to the top of Whiteface Mountain. With the aura of a seasoned executive she shared the details of the Miracles Along Our Journey. Watching her present you just knew that she has what it takes to be a success in life.
Katie Gross overcame many obstacles to make her way to Lake Placid, NY, for the rededication of the 1980 Rink. While there she interviewed virtually every person she met. With an air of confidence that made everyone who watched a believer, she told the audience what it was like to stand Between Smoke and Fire and learn about Herb Brooks at the 80 Minute Party on Mirror Lake. Later in the day, Gross would return to the podium to introduce one of the most prominent and revered jurists in the federal judicial system, The Honorable Max Rosenn.
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