Arts Day
Celebrating the Arts
When people ask what is different about the Dock high school experience, Arts Day often rises to the top of the list.
Arts Day is a day to celebrate students' God-given talents and abilities. We want to recognize and share the gifts God has given, to celebrate the arts within the Dock community, to give students the opportunity to perform on stage, and to demonstrate technical skill and creativity with excellence.
The theme for Arts Day 2024 was "The 80s," and did not disappoint! Students competed in a cross-grade competition consisting of stage performances and creations in culinary, creative writing, fabric arts, photography, and visual arts that connected to the 1980s.
Congratulations to the senior class for taking first place overall! Thank you to our guest judges and to all that worked hard on and off the stage to help make this day a success.
Enjoy the slideshow of photos below!
Congratulations to all of the Arts Day 2024 award winners!
Culinary: (First Place) Matthew Mast (10th grade), (Second Place) Jenna Detweiler and Sadie Bernd (11th grade), and (Third Place) Lily Hunsberger, Eden Loux, and Brooke Hondros (11th grade)
Fabric: (First Place) Amy Muhlfeld (10th grade), (Second Place, tie) Addison Landis and Gretchen German (10th grade), and (Third Place) Morgan Camilleri (11th grade)
Creative Writing: (First Place) Morgan Camilleri (11th grade), (Second Place) Ashley Brown (9th grade), and (Third Place, tie) Aaron Sensenig (11th grade) and Amy Muhlfeld (10th grade)
Photography: (First Place) Claudia Zhang and Olivia Moyer (12th grade), (Second Place) Aaron Sensenig (11th grade), and (Third Place) Daniel Benner (9th grade)
Visual: (First Place) Macy Youssef (10th grade), (Second Place) Caitlin May (11th grade), and (Third Place) Michael Li (9th grade)
People's Choice Award: Girls Just Want to Have Fun (12th grade stage event)
THANK YOU to our Arts Day 2024 judges!
Creative Writing: Sarah Madaus ('15)
Sarah Madaus is a freelance journalist and graduate library science student based in Brooklyn, New York. She has spent her adult life creating and admiring the written word through roles at magazines such as Town & Country and SELF, and now as a library intern at the Center for Fiction. She hopes to become a school librarian upon receiving her Masters degree. In her spare time, you can find Sarah teaching cycling classes, watching early-2000s TV reruns, and, of course, reading. She graduated from Dock in 2015.
Culinary Arts: Emily Gordon ('15)
Emily Gordon is a trained Baking and Pastry Chef, holding degrees from Montgomery County Community College's Culinary Program and Johnson & Wales University. She passionately operates her own private bakery, Candlewood Kitchen, from her home in Harleysville, specializing in personalized cakes, pastries and desserts. Emily finds immense joy in uniting people through her culinary creations, witnessing the happiness they bring to her clients and their loved ones. Remember that life is too short–eat dessert first!
Fabric Arts: Sharon Swartzentruber
Sharon Swartzentruber has been sewing and enjoying fabrics and needlecrafts since she was a young teen. She learned sewing and needlework from her mother and Home Economics (now Family and Consumer Science) teachers. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Home Economics and taught an industrial sewing class. Recently she has been making baby quilts for her grandchildren and helping organize the quilt auction for the PA Relief Sale, a benefit event for of Mennonite Central Committee.
Photography: Al Tielemans
Al Tielemans is a retired sports photographer. He worked for the Phillies and Sports Illustrated collecting over 100 SI covers while covering 15 Olympic Games, 26 Super Bowls and 24 World Series. He currently manages the office of his wife's marriage & Family Therapy practice in Bucks County, coaches youth baseball and is learning to play guitar.
Visual Arts: Matthew R. Volpe ('01)
M. R. Volpe is a contemporary artist living and working in Brooklyn, New York. Matt’s body of work is immense, and spans decades, with the subject matter constantly evolving. His approach is experimental and inspired by his surroundings and interactions. Matt gained most of his knowledge and techniques by reading books layered in art history, exploring contemporary artists, and submerging himself in the culture that inspires him. Artist biographies are his leisure reading, and art museums and galleries are where he spends his free time. Matt’s work has been exhibited throughout Pennsylvania and New York and is in private collections worldwide.
Stage Events:
- Michael Bishop ('77)
- Michael serves the Blooming Glen Mennonite congregation as Pastor, finding rewarding collaborations in priorities of Worship and Pastoral Care, leading congregational singing and directing an intergenerational choir. Michael, and wife Brenda have three adult children, all alumni of Dock and enjoy three grandchildren.
- Julie Chittick
- Julie Kurtz Chittick is dance instructor at Feet First Dance Center in Phoenixville. She has also taught classes for colleges, fitness facilities and community organizations. In early 2020, she was a visiting artist at the Montgomery School in Chester Springs. Her performance experiences range from local to international (Israel), from small stages to parks, churches, and even a women's prison. She oversaw the Blobfest Feet First Dancers, which performed for the festival’s annual run out variety show. Currently she is developing an adult dance group that performs at local retirement communities.
- Kendra Rittenhouse
- Kendra holds a music education degree from Eastern Mennonite University with a focus on vocal performance. She continued vocal instruction with Klara Meyers of Temple University. As well as being a long time church musician, she has been a member of local auditioned choirs and and has performed in local musicals and opera including Amahl And The Night Visitors in the opening years of Longacre Theater.