Rich Schellhas
Rich Schellhas was the site director of Lancaster during sessions 00.1, 00.2, 01.2, 02.1 and 02.2. Probably the most beloved site director since Papa Jack, Rich is most often associated with Haribo gummi bears. Known for having a system of positive reinforcement in which CTY staff or students could put a slip of paper in his box describing a praiseworthy act, Rich would then send that CTYer a small package of Haribo gummi bears with a message like "You're doing a great job."
Rich Schellhas was appreciated by CTYers for his seemingly boundless energy, his good cheer, and the respect with which he treated the staff and students. "Chat with Rich" was a well-attended activity in which students could bring up concerns or suggestions. Rich was also known occasionally to wear a bathrobe on Thursdays.
There has occasionally been confusion between Rich Schellhas and Rich Groff; usually, this occurs when Lancastrians of different eras converse.
Rich used to be a High School Principal at an all-boys school in Baltimore, MD where he taught several CTYers such as Wii and Firefly. As of July 2009, he is a headmaster at a school near Philadelphia, PA.
Rich wrote a sonnet for the LAN.02.2 Commencement Ceremony. It also appeared in that session's literary magazine and appears below:
Dear guests who've come from far and wide to see
These students graduate from CTY
And those same students, staff, and friends of mine,
I welcome here today with wondrous glee.
Three weeks ago, right here, together we
Set forth on an adventure--now, goodbye.
So long, Rock Lobster, Patriotic Pie,
But preserve, endeavor!, this community.
Enigma busters, hariest of heads
Crossdressers, togas, improv, AYP
Taps nightly 'fore we lay ourselves to bed
Commandments Ten, but not the nut called pea.
Those sweetest bears of gummy, best in reds.
Praise wisely those deserving, soft chewy.
Dear friends, ye of the Alcove, said--overt--
Hey Rich, we have no space, no room to sit.
To them I said let us not one hair split.
I said to them, once DIGI, EISHan, LLRT:
The PLACE you crave, you leave it, nothing's hurt.
Its SPIRIT lives inside you, closely lit.
These memories to heart you MUST commit
And to the squirrels next year discretely blurt.
And to the vet'rans, no-mores held so dear
To them I give my praise and love sincere
And thanks for yet another brilliant year.
