By Claire Chow ’26

Everyone’s gift can add up and make it happen for one person.”

TEAL Tasker ’15

Teal Tasker ’15 started playing basketball at a young age, and her passion for the sport has taken her on an incredible journey.

Originally from Chambersburg, PA, Tasker was coasting at her local public school and felt that she wasn’t challenged academically. When Mercersburg was recommended by a friend, her family initially thought it would not be financially feasible for them. Her father worked as a commercial painter, and her mother as a property tax assessor. Then they looked into Mercersburg’s financial aid offerings, and thanks to the generosity of donors, they were able to afford tuition.

Tasker spent four years at Mercersburg—three as a day student, and then one as a boarding student. Here, Tasker was amazed by the diversity of backgrounds and cultures. She competed in soccer in the fall, basketball in the winter, and track & field team in the spring. When asked to pick a Mercersburg moment, she mentioned her last varsity dinner. She received all 12 varsity letters throughout her four years as a Mercersburg athlete. An active member of the Irving Society, Tasker was the vice president, coached basketball, wrestled, and even prepared for Declamation as the declaimer-in-training. 

After graduation, she attended Gettysburg College, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in health sciences and was a member of the basketball team. Basketball has always been her favorite sport–she started playing at the age of 5, when her dad coached a local team. At Gettysburg, Tasker learned to manage her time while balancing her academic, athletic, and social life. 

In the fall of 2019, Tasker traveled across the country to the University of Southern California to pursue a doctorate in physical therapy. However, her time there was interrupted in the spring of 2020 by the global COVID-19 pandemic, allowing Tasker to return to her hometown while continuing online courses. Her friend and current history faculty member Emily Schoenberger ’15 asked if she wanted to coach at Mercersburg during her off-school hours. Tasker agreed and served as the assistant girls basketball coach in the winter, and helped with track & field in the spring. 

Tasker completed her doctorate at the University of Southern California in 2022, and is now an acute care physical therapist in Missouri, working with patients who have had joint replacements.

To Tasker, financial aid at Mercersburg was the assist she needed to advance, not only on the court, but also in her academic career. “It can make a huge difference in one person’s life,” she said. No matter the amount, “everyone’s gift can add up and make it happen for one person.”