By Debra Collins P ’14

You change the life of one, you change the world entire.”

Joshua Bratter ’91, P ’21

When Joshua Bratter ’91, P ’21 first arrived at Mercersburg Academy, he expected rigorous academics and intellectual challenges. What he didn’t foresee was the profound transformation he would undergo—one that would shape his identity, instill a deep sense of responsibility, and broaden his understanding of the world. Mercersburg became more than a school; it was a community that nurtured his growth in every dimension.

Bratter returned to campus in February with his wife, Samantha, and son, Max ’21, for a special screening of Centered: Joe Lieberman, alongside the film’s director, Jonathan Gruber. As co-executive producers of the film, the Bratter family’s involvement reflects their ongoing commitment to storytelling and global discourse.

Now an internationally recognized immigration attorney, Joshua Bratter has spent more than 25 years helping foreign nationals of extraordinary ability—from Olympic athletes to renowned artists—secure opportunities in the United States. He credits Mercersburg with shaping not just his intellect, but his worldview.

“It’s an all-encompassing development of you as a person,” he reflects. “It teaches you how to interact in a small community, how to be sensitive to others, how to live and work with people from all over the world.”

Beyond academics, Mercersburg instilled in him a lasting commitment to excellence, engagement, and making a meaningful impact on the world.

However, without financial aid, Bratter said his transformative experience at Mercersburg would never have happened. His gratitude is boundless for those who made it possible, particularly Chip Vink ’73, P ’94, ’99, Mercersburg’s admission director at the time, and Tom Rahauser ’74, P ’05, ’07, ’12, who both believed in him and changed the course of Bratter’s life.

“It was July, the summer before I began in August. I’ll never forget the phone call—my mother, in the kitchen, speaking to Chip Vink. That moment is frozen in time for me. It guides everything I do in my life.”

Bratter recalls his first visit to Mercersburg vividly. Vink, deeply involved in squash, gave him a tour.

“He was young, tan, blonde, with a thick mustache—your classic archetype of a boarding school leader,” Bratter remembers. But beyond the aesthetics, what stayed with him was Vink’s commitment to making Mercersburg a reality
for him.

Through that connection, Bratter met Rahauser, a Spanish teacher and soccer coach. “He was a wild man—long hair, running on the field with the guys, speaking Spanish before English. He never treated me like a scholarship student. He pushed me just as hard as anyone else.”

That sense of belonging, of being seen as an equal despite financial circumstances, was a defining part of Bratter’s Mercersburg experience. His teachers, mentors, and peers never made him feel like an exception. Instead, they pushed him to be his best. One of his most cherished memories is of his English teacher, Fred Assaf, who made learning fun and engaging.

“He looked like he was right out of Dead Poets Society, standing on desks, playing the prune juice game, and if you spelled the word wrong, he would make us drink shots of prune juice. When I got my first report card, he didn’t just give me a grade—he drew a mountain, with a little stick figure on top, and wrote, ‘Josh.’ That moment meant everything to me.”

Now, as an alum, Bratter is committed to giving back. Over the years, he has continued to help countless international students and faculty members navigate immigration. “I hope I’ve met the expectations of those who believed in me. As long as I’m alive, I’ll keep giving back to this school.”

To potential donors considering supporting financial aid at Mercersburg, he offers a simple but profound truth: “You change the life of one, you change the world entire.”

Mercersburg Academy didn’t just educate Bratter—it gave him a life he never imagined possible. And in return, he carries the school’s mission forward, ensuring future generations have the same opportunity to climb their own mountains.