News

Gerstell Academy celebrated the Class of 2025 in a heartfelt commencement ceremony, honoring 43 graduates for their academic achievements, leadership, and dedication. The event featured inspiring speeches, special recognitions, and the presentation of the class gift, a meaningful addition to the campus. As they embark on new journeys, these graduates carry forward the school’s core values of leadership, honor, and courage.

On May 10, 2025, 26 pickleball enthusiasts gathered on Gerstell’s campus for a day of friendly competition.

Gerstell Academy’s first STEAM Night on May 7th was a vibrant celebration of creativity, discovery, and community, featuring hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Students showcased impressive artwork, while guests engaged in Earth Day-inspired crafts, engineering challenges, and robotics. The festive evening was complete with food trucks, collaborative learning, and Upper School volunteers fostering a welcoming atmosphere.

On May 2, 2025, third and fourth graders competed in the Geography Bee, forming three teams supported by parent coaches and overseen by faculty. The intense competition, moderated by Mr. Thompson, tested students on state facts, capitals, continents, world flags, and U.S. landmarks. In the end, the Red Team emerged victorious, while all participants exemplified the principle of striving to reach their full potential.

On Friday, May 2nd, the Junior Class gathered in The Alumni House on the campus of Gerstell Academy alongside fellow students, faculty, staff, and family members to celebrate the Junior Ring Ceremony, a meaningful tradition that symbolizes the “passing of the torch” from the graduating seniors to the junior class.

Congratulations to Gerstell senior Andrew Sokolov on winning the American Fine Arts Festival Competition! Andrew performed Chopin’s Nocturne at Carnegie Hall in November 2024 — a truly remarkable achievement. We look forward to his upcoming concert this May!

Gerstell Academy students celebrated Earth Day 2025 with hands-on learning, leadership, and community service at the Carroll County Farm Museum. From drone demos to pollinator education and living history exhibits, it was a day of discovery and environmental stewardship across all grade levels. 

Gerstell Academy’s Middle School Spelling Bee showcased top students from Grades 5th–8th  as they demonstrated their vocabulary skills, perseverance, and leadership. Congratulations to fifth grader Jackson S., this year’s overall champion!

Gerstell Academy’s full orchestra made its debut at Festival Disney, performing for distinguished adjudicators and participating in a professional Disney Soundtrack Studio session. The trip blended musical excellence with unforgettable experiences, highlighted by national recognition for soloist Cambrie Franks.

Emily Messinese ’21 continues to shine as a leader and athlete at the United States Naval Academy. From standout performances at Gerstell Academy to national honors in collegiate lacrosse, Emily exemplifies excellence, service, and leadership. 

Gerstell Academy proudly announces Megan Badorrek as the new Head Coach of Varsity Volleyball. We thank Coach Eric Zak for five incredible years and look forward to the program's exciting future in the IAAM B-Conference. 

Gerstell Academy enthusiastically participated in the Carroll County Battle of the Books this year with two teams: The Sigma Llama Readers and The Wild Reading Guanacos. Since September, these dedicated students showcased exceptional commitment, reading ten books and preparing diligently with challenging questions. Their efforts culminated in an impressive third-place finish for The Wild Reading Guanacos among nine teams, cheered on by classmates, parents, and coaches, highlighting their passion and perseverance.

Gerstell Academy alumnus Anthony Carpenter ’19 transitioned from a record-breaking high school basketball career to playing at Bowie State University. Now serving as an assistant coach for the Bowie State Bulldogs, Anthony has found a new passion in mentoring young athletes and shaping the future of the game. 

Gerstell Academy students raised an impressive $7,365.65 for St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital through creative fundraisers like a bake sale, Math-A-Thon, and fun incentives such as Pie-A-Teacher and a water balloon toss. Their efforts highlight the power of community and generosity in supporting children in need.

Students from the National English Honor Society took a deep dive into Shakespeare’s world during a visit to the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C. From watching a play inspired by Hamlet to exploring interactive exhibits, they gained valuable insights into the Bard’s enduring legacy.

On Monday, March 18th, at The Lyric in Baltimore, freshman Jalen Blackwell presented his award-winning poem, "A World Without Borders." Addressing the topic of creating a better world, the poem imagined a future where physical and metaphorical boundaries dissolve in favor of shared humanity. Jalen intertwined themes of immigration, cultural exchange, equity, and belonging, emphasizing that compassion, love, and understanding should be the global currencies we value. His poem encouraged empathy and reflection, inspiring individuals to transcend divisions and embrace a vision of inclusivity and connection.

Junior Matthew Glaser has earned the prestigious 2025 Carson Scholars Award, which recognizes academic excellence and community service among students in grades 4–11. Made possible by The Kahlert Foundation, the award includes a $1,000 scholarship, an Olympic-sized medal, and a trophy for the recipient's school.

On March 16th, Gerstell Academy's lower school students proudly performed the National Anthem before a Harlem Globetrotters game at Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena, impressing a crowd of over 4,000.

Friday, March 7th is Parents' Day in the Lower School. The morning began in the Wilson Room with coffee and a brief message from Mr. Thompson, Head of Lower School, before parents, equipped with the morning schedule, set off to find their child's classroom.

On Monday, March 3rd, the Gerstell Academy Upper School Current Events Club welcomed Grace Jo, a dissident and North Korean refugee

Gerstell Academy’s Upper School Robotics Team hosted the 4th Annual Robotics Expo, giving Lower School FLL Explore Teams a hands-on experience with STEM and robotics. Students showcased their Submerged season projects, explored different robotics programs, and celebrated the role of technology in ocean discovery.

Gerstell Academy’s NAHS hosted a community event, painting 51 bowls for The Shepherd’s Staff’s 2025 Empty Bowls fundraiser. This initiative uses art to support local efforts against food and income insecurity. 

Fifth graders recently explored NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where they witnessed the development of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, a groundbreaking instrument set to expand our view of the universe. 

On Friday, February 21st, the sixth-grade students immortalized their favorite Gerstell portrait leaders in “wax” through a lifelike exhibit of poses designed to educate museum goers on the lives of these special leaders. Parents, students, and faculty attended the exhibit and were captivated by the life-like portrayals.

On Wednesday, February 19th, Gerstell Academy hosted a school wide celebration acknowledging contributions from the African American community. The assembly opened with the lower school singing of the National Anthem led by Ms. Jenna Daly, Chair of the Performing Arts department.  The hour-long presentation was introduced and emceed by middle and upper school students. The event featured guest speaker and storyteller Ms. Griot Edna Williams who shared the history and contributions of African Americans in the work force.  

On January 17th, the Falcons hosted their second annual Breast Cancer Awareness Game, an event dedicated to supporting those affected by breast cancer. Proudly sponsored by Wallace Consulting and Construction, the game served as both a fundraiser and a powerful demonstration of community support. 

Junior Matthew Glaser is one of only 18 students in the United States to win the prestigious 2025 Bertie Green Junior Travel Award. The award from the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica (SHH), a national honor society for high school students studying Spanish or Portuguese provides for an all-expense paid trip to the Dominican Republic in July of 2025. 

Gerstell Academy senior Keira Bosley has been chosen as a student page for the 2025 Maryland General Assembly legislative session.  It is a tremendous honor to be selected for this highly competitive program.  Keira will be working with top-tier high school seniors from around the state to help the members of the Senate and House keep the legislative process moving smoothly and efficiently.  Keira’s intellectual depth, love of learning, critical thinking, and phenomenal work ethic make her an ideal student for the student page program.

Three middle school robotics teams competed in the FLL (First Lego League) Challenge Maryland Qualifier: Battle of the Beltway on Saturday, January 18th, at St. Paul’s School. Students competed in four categories: robot design, innovation project, core values and the robot game. The theme for the 2024-25 year is Submerged, where students learned and studied engineering challenges related to our oceans. 

Freshman Jalen Blackwell won the “Voices of Democracy” contest sponsored by the Lt. Peter G. Zouck VFW (Veteran of Foreign Wars) Post 521.  The theme of the contest was entitled “Is America Today Our Forefathers Vision”, and Jalen was commended for his self-confidence and poise and was awarded first place. The essay was submitted in recorded form and Jalen read the essay during the November 14th Post meeting held at the Lt. Peter G Zouck VFW Post 521. VFW Post 521 is located in Owings Mills and was established in honor of a soldier from Glyndon who was killed during WW1 and buried in France. Jalen was awarded a $200 monetary prize from the VFW Post 521 and a $100 monetary prize from the Auxiliary Post 521, along with a Certificate of Achievement.