In June 2021, The Gunston School’s Board of Trustees approved a Facilities Master Plan that aims to expand the school’s current facilities and programming to accommodate robust enrollment growth. The plan includes a STEM Center and Environmental Field Station to support the school’s dynamic science, math, robotics, and environmental programming, as well as a new Athletics Center and Performing Arts Center. Additional upgrades include expanded and upgraded athletic fields, the development of a central campus promenade, as well as parking improvements.

“Our trustees have approved a plan that is equally ambitious and creative,” shared Head of School, John Lewis, “and the plan aims to align the school’s facilities with our needs and strengths, as well as our robust enrollment growth, which has grown nearly 80% since 2010. Our hope is to create one of the premier independent school campuses on the East Coast, anchored by our 35-acres of waterfront property.”

Photo: The Gunston School in Centreville, Md. has announced a facilities master plan that aims to expand the school’s current facilities and programming to include a STEM Center & Environmental Field Station to support the school’s dynamic science, math, robotics, and environmental programming, as well as construct a new Athletics Center and Performing Arts Center. Additional upgrades will include expanded and upgraded athletic fields, the development of a central campus promenade, as well as parking improvements. 

Led by the highly regarded architect Al Rubeling of JMT, the master planning process involved collaboration with every constituent group in the Gunston community — employees, parents, students, alumni, and community partners through surveys, focus groups, and thinking/visioning exercises.

“Al Rubeling led our previous master planning process with great success, and he coordinated a very intensive and inclusive process,” shared Board Chair, Patrick Shoemaker ’03. “Our goal was to create an updated Facilities Master Plan that resonates and transforms as powerfully as the one Gunston completed in 2011.” The 2011 plan resulted in a nearly $6 million renovation and enhancement of the school’s academic classrooms as well as the addition of both Fine Arts and Waterfront Athletic Centers.

In recent years, Gunston acquired an additional 3-acre parcel of adjacent waterfront property, which will anchor the new STEM Center and Environmental Field Station. The plan also reflects the school’s twin strategic goals of significantly enhancing its offerings in Athletics and the Performing Arts. These facilities will serve both Gunston students, as well as the hundreds of children who attend the Horizons and YMCA summer programs hosted on the school’s campus.

Longtime admissions director David Henry shared, “While we currently have an extraordinary campus, talented students, and a deeply committed faculty, our enrollment growth has created some mismatches between the scope of our facilities and the scope of our programs. Simply put, our STEM, Athletics, and Performing Arts programs are outgrowing their current homes.”

Lewis concludes, “Like our previous campus master plan that emphasized classrooms and common spaces with abundant natural light, this updated version aims to take full advantage of our campus setting. Since the times of Plato, it has been well understood that the physical environment is essential to inspiring student learning. At Gunston, we’re continually working to create optimal campus spaces for the educational experience.”

Gunston currently enrolls 235 students from six Maryland counties and Delaware, and 11 international students from Germany, South Korea, China, and Spain. In 2021-2022, the school’s trustees and leadership team will be conducting a feasibility study with CCS Fundraising to determine next steps for bringing the campus master plan to reality.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Gunston School commenced its 111th year (and 25th anniversary of becoming a day school) on Friday, September 10, with the annual Embarkation tradition, welcoming a total of 74 new students and 13 new staff and faculty to the community by boat. After exchanging a fist bump with the Head of School, newcomers signed the school’s Honor Code, and made their way up the hill to greet fellow students and current staff and faculty. The 2021-2022 cohort included the largest 9th grade class in school history with 62 students, nine 10th graders, three 11th graders, and 13 new faculty and staff members. Parents and family members were invited to watch from the shoreline as students arrived. The event, originally scheduled for September 1, was postponed due to adverse weather conditions.

Two weeks prior, during the last full week in August, Gunston hosted several orientations and leadership retreats for students as well as faculty and staff. “After a hiatus in 2020, we were thrilled to be able to offer our usual 9th Grade Orientation at Camp Pecometh,” said Head of School John Lewis. The two-day retreat welcomed 60 students, where they spent the day and evening getting to know each other while participating in various outdoor challenges and team building activities offered by the Camp Pecometh Challenge Course Program. After a picnic dinner with current Gunston student leaders, 9th graders were able to play games and relax before heading back to individual tents to sleep. Following breakfast the next morning, 9th graders returned to Gunston’s campus for the continuation of their retreat program with sessions focused on environmental, global, and digital citizenship.

Running simultaneously, Gunston’s 6th Annual Leadership Institute invited student leaders from various clubs, student government, and athletics to gather and learn about leadership practices, set goals for the year, and to help facilitate activities for 9th graders.

“Coming into my first year as a new student and also new to the area, I remember walking into the retreat and I actually didn’t know a single soul,” recalled Senior Class President Lucy Bamford ’22. “I wish I could go back and tell myself ‘listen, everything you’re worried about and everything you’re scared about right now — you have nothing to be afraid of.’ When it comes to that sense of belonging (and I think that’s something that we all fear we won’t find), […] what I’ve learned is that Gunston helps you find that sense of belonging and helps you find those people who make you feel like you belong.”

Founded in 1911 and currently enrolling 235 students, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Gunston School’s signature fundraising event of the year is back! The Bull & Oyster Roast + Alumni Reunion will be held outdoors on the school’s waterfront campus, overlooking the Corsica River on Saturday, October 23 from 5-9 p.m. The evening includes delicious food provided by Bayside Catering, premium beer and wine, plus a rye whiskey tasting bar. With both a silent and live auction planned, guests will have the opportunity to bid on an array of fantastic vacations, golf outings, professional photography sessions, artwork, and a day cruise on a luxurious Fountaine Pajot MY6 Motor Yacht or Elba 45 sailing catamaran, among others.

Tickets are on sale now at $85 per person (until September 30th, when the ticket price goes to $100), and $65 for alumni and former faculty and staff members, with an option to also sponsor a ticket for current faculty and staff members. All attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

“Event sponsorships and donations are critical for the Heron Annual Fund which ensures a healthy operating budget,” explains Head of School John Lewis. “Those funds make up the difference between what tuition covers and the actual cost of running the school, allowing us to offer amazing opportunities to both students and faculty, such as the chance to attend leadership conferences, robotic competitions, and even rocket launches! Additionally, we’re able to offer a significant number of our families financial aid.”

“We are still in need of auction items for both the live and silent portion,” adds Gunston Parents’ Association (GPA) President Irene Hansen ’23. “We are looking for everything from vacation packages to restaurant gift certificate baskets, special experiences, artwork, services, and more.” Those wishing to donate an auction item can contact Event Director Lynda Scull at 410-758-0620, ext. 1101 or email lscull@gunston.org, or fill out an online form.

Sponsorships are available and range from a Brisket Sponsor ($100) up to a Grill Master Sponsor ($5,000), with a price point for every budget. Additionally, new this year are Heron Hero Annual Sponsorship options, which combine the sponsorship benefits of all three Gunston fundraising events (Bull & Oyster Roast, Heron Hustle, Golfing fore Gunston) into a yearlong package. Along with community-wide recognition, Gunston’s sponsors are also listed on the school’s Green & White Pages, a directory of Gunston community-owned businesses and services.

Current sponsors include Heron Heroes Rick and Dani De Los Reyes, P’23 (Grill Master);  Prime Rib Sponsors include McAllister, DeTar, Showalter & Walker (P’25) and the Amygdalos Family, P’20 ’23; Select Sponsors include Dr. Laurie Lewis & John Lewis and Dogwood Acres Pet Retreat on Kent Island; and Sirloin Sponsors include Tiffany Cloud, Realtor with Meredith Fine Properties.

Visit https://gunston.org/bullroast21 to purchase tickets, donate an auction item, or to sign up for a sponsorship (or do all three!). For more information, contact Event Director Lynda Scull at 410-758-0620, ext. 1101 or email lscull@gunston.org.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Gunston School is delighted to announce the addition of several new staff and faculty members for the upcoming academic year. “With several retirements last year and our enrollment of 235 students, we’ve expanded our staffing this year, and we’re delighted to welcome an extraordinarily talented group of educators to campus,” said Head of School John Lewis.

Melissa Haber is the new Chief Financial Officer. She earned a degree in business management from the University of South Carolina and a master’s in education from Johns Hopkins with a focus on educational leadership. She previously served for five years as the Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations at Kent School in Chestertown. Haber also held significant leadership roles in the Admissions and Finance departments of Indian Creek School in Crownsville, Md.

Anthony D’Antonio and Emily Coffey have joined the team as Co-directors of College Guidance. Coffey joins Gunston from Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock, Arkansas where she served as their college counselor. She recently received a national award as a 2021 “Counselor that Changes Lives” by the highly regarded Colleges that Change Lives consortium. She graduated magna cum laude with distinction from Hendrix College with a degree in sociology and English, and received her master’s from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Prior to becoming a college counselor, she worked in undergraduate admissions at Hendrix College and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. She is a former Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) board member, serving as the co-chair of the admission practices committee.

D’Antonio worked for 17 years as the Director of College Counseling at Worcester Prep School in Berlin, Md., where he also served four years as Assistant Headmaster and girls’ head soccer coach—a coaching role he’ll be assuming at Gunston. Before Worcester, he was the associate Dean of Admissions at Salisbury University where he was also an Assistant Men’s Soccer coach. He earned his bachelor of science degree and two master’s degrees from Salisbury University and from the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore in counseling and education psychology. This past year, he served as a college guidance counselor at Sussex Academy in Delaware.

Jen Matthews ’05 is the new Advancement & Alumni Coordinator. In addition to being a Gunston alumna, she brings more than a decade of experience in fundraising, alumni relations, database management, grant writing, event planning, and donor stewardship. Previously, she served as the director of Development & Alumni relations at Kent School. Matthews has worked as development manager at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from St. Mary’s College of Maryland.

Taleya Zinnea joins the math department, having recently graduated from George Mason University, where she earned a bachelor of science in applied mathematics, and where she worked extensively as a learning assistant and peer mentor. She’s a talented mathematician and programmer, with experience in several programming languages such as Python, MATLAB, and LaTeX. Additionally, Zinnea is fluent in two languages, speaking English and Urdu fluently, and she has working proficiency in Arabic and Spanish as well.

Valerie Birkeland also joins the math department, receiving her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Salisbury University. Eager both to teach and coach, she has experience designing curriculum lesson plans for all levels of mathematics classes, and is formerly the mathematics, science and digital literacy teacher at the Lucy School in Middletown, Md. She also taught briefly in the Wicomico County Public Schools.

Adele Showalter returns to Gunston (she was a maternity substitute nearly a decade ago) and will teach biology and chemistry. Showalter has extensive experience teaching AP biology and implementing science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) curriculum. Her independent school experience includes tenure at Metairie Park Country School in New Orleans, as well as at The Country School in Easton. Having taught in public schools, she was named the Caroline County Teacher of the Year in 2004-2005. Showalter graduated from Cook College, Rutgers (now known as the Rutgers School of Environmental and Biological Sciences) with a bachelor of science in environmental studies.

Also joining the science department is Sara Grantham, who will be teaching chemistry. Grantham possesses a deep knowledge of science, having earned a double major in biology and marine/environmental science from Salisbury University as well as a master’s degree in chemistry/life sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park. She has a wide range of interests, having worked with youth as a Park Ranger, a volunteer for the Boy Scouts, and a member of the Caroline County Arts Council—all the while serving as a full-time lab scientist at Eurofins.

Katelyn Larrimore ’16 is another Gunston alumna, and she joins us as a humanities teacher and sailing coach. She recently graduated from Washington College with a bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education and spent extensive time interning at Kent County High School. During her student career at Gunston, Katelyn was an honors student and captain of the sailing team, and she looks forward to engaging with students both in the classroom and on the water.

Victoria Windmiller has been appointed as Gunston’s Art Department Chair, having served in a part-time role this year. She earned her bachelor’s in fine arts from Shepherd University and a master’s in education from Loyola University. She has extensive teaching experience both in the United States and New Zealand, as well as a strong background in athletics, especially swimming and triathlon. She also has training in ocean rescue, so she will continue to coach as well as teach.

Dr. Ryan Asprion is the new Performing Arts Chair. A native of Louisiana, Dr. Asprion joins Gunston after successful tenures at two strong New Orleans independent schools, first as the Band Director at St. Martin’s Episcopal School and then as Music Director at Stuart Hall School for Boys. He earned both bachelors and masters degrees in music from the University of Mississippi (where he played for their famed marching band) before recently earning a doctorate in educational leadership from Xavier University in New Orleans. His experience includes leading choirs, bands, theater productions, guitar groups, world music drummers, and handbell ensembles.

Earlier this summer, Gunston’s new Athletic Director, Josh Breto joined the team. Breto served as the Assistant Athletic Director at Garrison Forest School in Baltimore, and before his tenure at Garrison, he was the Technical Trainer and a Head Coach at the Soccer Association of Columbia, Maryland. He played Division I soccer at The Ohio State University, where he was a Big Ten All-Freshman selection, a member of the 2009-2010 regular season and tournament champion team, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference awardee, and the winner of the Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Award in 2012. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in city and regional planning, and played professional soccer briefly in Germany’s “Regionaliga” for FSV Optik Rathenow in Berlin.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

After a competitive national search, The Gunston School is delighted to announce the appointment of their new Athletic Director, Josh Breto, who is currently serving as the Assistant Athletic Director at Garrison Forest School in Baltimore, where he has broad responsibilities in the areas of team management, communication, parent relations, athletic skill development, and coach recruitment. Before his tenure at Garrison, he was the Technical Trainer and a Head Coach at the Soccer Association of Columbia, Maryland.

Mr. Breto is a native of South Florida and played Division I soccer at The Ohio State University, where he was a Big Ten All-Freshman selection, a member of the 2009-2010 regular season and tournament champion team, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten Conference awardee, and the winner of the Big Ten Conference Sportsmanship Award in 2012. He graduated with a B.S. degree in City and Regional Planning, and played professional soccer briefly in Germany’s “Regionaliga” for FSV Optik Rathenow in Berlin. Breto begins his tenure as Gunston’s athletic director on July 12.

“My predecessor, Jon Mellinger, set a very high bar and did a lot of great work for Gunston Athletics,” said Breto. “The culture at Gunston is very much community-oriented and you can tell everyone enjoys being a part of, and takes pride in, contributing to that culture, especially athletics. During the interview process, my wife Delaney and I both got the same welcoming impression from everyone we met. That uniquely inclusive culture drew us in! I’m grateful to Head of School John Lewis and everyone involved in the AD search for giving me the opportunity to continue to build upon the foundation that Jon Mellinger, Carter Law and all of the dedicated and wonderful coaches and student-athletes have laid! Go Herons!”

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Gunston School celebrated its 110th commencement this past Saturday, June 12, honoring the Class of 2021 with a waterfront ceremony overlooking the Corsica River, as family and friends looked on. The procession began with Bagpiper Robert Wallace, followed by school faculty and staff, and then the graduating seniors. Senior Class President and Valedictorian Lydia Periconi, who is headed to Penn State Schreyer Honors College to study veterinary and biomedical science, greeted the audience and her peers before each graduate shared their senior quote aloud.

Photo: Front row, from left, Lillian (Lilli) Ward, Sydney Nittle, Lydia Davis, Adison (Adie) Parish, Glynis Gardner, Lydia Periconi, Kayla Flood, Reagan Gessford, Marion Riddle, Lily Berntsen, Emily Ryon. Second row, from left, Helen Boone, Avy Aubin, Phebe Wood, Hannah Worth, Olivia Hershey, Hannah Beckman, Isabella (Bella) Adams, Erin McDonald, Emma McClary, Erika Lee. Third row, from left, Yongah (Jonathan) Choi, Brianna (Brie) Barrett-Kennedy, Henry Shifrin, Orion (Rion) McCluskey, Charles (Charlie) Shifrin, Colin Ward, Sean Riley, Carter Janney. Standing, fourth row, left to right, Assistant Head of School Christie Grabis, Head of School John Lewis, Ethan Nuessle, Samuel (Ranger) Hightower, Maxmillian (Max) Brady, Christian Walker, Campbell Parkhurst, Severin Schut, Zachary (Zack) Anderson, Graduation Speaker Ben Dize, Chair of the Board of Trustees Patrick Shoemaker ’03. Fifth row, left to right, Aidan Myers, Joseph (Brennan) O’Connor, Henry Sheets, James Fordi, Jack Pigman, Owen Santora, Connor Reichardt, Kylee Rushton and Joshua (Josh) Sanford. Not pictured are Suah Choi, Hyunseok (Luke) Lee, and Yi (Lily) Zhang.

Head of School John Lewis then introduced the commencement speaker, Mr. Ben Dize, a retiring faculty member who has spent just over 50 years teaching, with the last 22 spent at Gunston as the chair of the art department. “Born in Crisfield, Maryland as the oldest of three children, Mr. Ben Dize spent his formative years living a true Eastern Shore childhood from a bygone era,” began Mr. Lewis. “Immersed in the waterman culture, and without a television until the 9th grade, he was part of a small graduating class of 58 at Crisfield High School. From there, he migrated to College Park, Maryland, graduating in 1968, and then earning his Master’s degree at Towson in 1974. He started teaching in the Kent County Public School System in 1969 before coming to Gunston in 1999. For 22 years, he’s been a fixture as a teacher and advisor, seeing the school through growth and change.”

Mr. Dize posed the question “What is it about Gunston that makes it special? Every senior here probably has a slightly different answer. For some, it’s the lifetime friendships that were made here. For others, it’s a certain teacher who saw in them something they did not see themselves. It might have been the freedom to be an individual, or the chance to be a leader. Whatever your path has been, Gunston has played a role in your becoming. Gunston changes lives, alters attitudes, opens doors to self-discovery, challenges ways of thinking, and makes written communication an essential part of an individual’s educational journey. For all of us, the past 15 months has been a time of historic challenges and changes. We all have a shared story here—shared loss, shared pain, shared disappointments. But there are things I would like you to remember: BE KIND. As our parents used to say, ‘it doesn’t cost you anything.’ And, as a teacher colleague of mine used to say, ‘Do not mistake kindness for weakness.’ REMEMBER TO THANK PEOPLE. You didn’t get here by yourself.  Also, don’t wait until it’s too late. BE GENEROUS. You’ll probably run out of time before you run out of money. I love quotes, and perhaps my favorite is, ‘Life is not about getting and having, it is about being and becoming.’ This is your time to be and become.”

Mr. Lewis and Gunston’s Chair of the Board Patrick Shoemaker ’03 then presented each graduate with their diploma, individually handcrafted by faculty member Michael Kaylor on an antique letterpress. This year’s senior class had a successful college admission season and worked hard to earn $7.3 million dollars in merit scholarships. The graduates are listed here with the honors presented to them the day before on Friday, June 11 during the school’s Green & White Awards Ceremony. Student government and team captains are also noted.

Isabella Webster Adams (Captain of Green Team), Zachary Richard Anderson (Moore Award for Improvement), Avy Rose Aubin (Sandra Slacum Spears English Award, State of Maryland Merit Scholastic Award), Brianna Ranae Barrett-Kennedy, Hannah Eve Beckman, Lily Marie Berntsen, Kenneth Charles Bonuccelli, Helen Abigail Boone (Science Award), Maxmillian Xavier Brady (Captain of Green Team), Suah Choi, Yongah Choi, Lydia Marie Davis, Kayla Irene Nicole Flood, James Philip Fordi, Glynis Paige Gardner, Reagan Olivia Gessford (U.S. Naval Academy Prep School, Class Representative), Olivia Louisa Hershey (Environmental Stewardship, Student Government President), Samuel Ranger Hightower, Carter Watts Janney, Erika Uta Lee, Hyunseok Lee, Emma Katherine McClary, Orion Timothy McCluskey (Senior Paradigm, Diversity Leader Award, 2021 Van Hollen Public Service Award), Erin Ann McDonald, Aidan Thomas Myers, Sydney Gail Lorraine Nittle (Anita Gruss Athletic Award, U.S. Naval Academy Appointment, Class Representative, Captain of White Team), Ethan Nathaniel Nuessle (Computer Science Award, Mathematics Award), Joseph Brennan O’Connor, Adison Dryden Parish, Campbell Hawkins Parkhurst (Capt. John P. Vest History Award, Captain of White Team), Lydia Grace Periconi (Valedictorian, State of Maryland Merit Scholastic Award, Spanish Award, Science Award, Senior Class President), Jack Ryan Pigman (The Gunston Award), Connor Kevin Reichardt, Marion Somervell Riddle (Faculty Award), Sean Patrick Riley (Class Treasurer), Kylee Whitman Rushton (Anita Gruss Athletics Award), Emily Catherine Ryon, Joshua Seth Sanford (Engineering Award), Owen Edward Santora, Severin Suhaili Schut (Theatre Award), Henry Bennett Sheets IV, Charles Robert Shifrin (Faculty Award), Henry William Shifrin (Art Award, Leadership Award, Class Vice President), Christian James Walker, Colin James Ward, Lillian Taylor Ward (Hila C. Ferguson Literature Award, Marguerite Thomas Community Service Award, Class Secretary), Phebe Lace Wood (Music Award), Hannah Margaret Worth (Senior Paradigm, Art Award), and Yi Zhang.

Along with Mr. Dize, two other beloved faculty and staff retired this year including Mrs. Weixing Shepardson, who spent 19 years teaching mathematics at Gunston, and Mrs. Becky Schmier, who spent 16 years as the school’s business manager. Additionally, Gunston’s Board of Trustees honored three long-serving board members who are retiring and include Mrs. Betsy McCown, a former parent and Bay Studies Partner who served for a decade and provided invaluable leadership on the Chesapeake Watershed Semester advisory committee; Mr. Mark Freestate, a former Gunston parent and great champion of the school who completed his third tour on the Board and has also served as Chair; and Mr. Jim Wright, who leaves the board after serving five terms since 2008, having served as board chair, helped to bring both Horizons and the YMCA summer programs to Gunston and this past year, and served on Gunston’s COVID response team.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

On Wednesday, April 28, Gunston students and faculty celebrated Earth Day (rescheduled from last week due to adverse weather conditions). The day began with a presentation from keynote speaker (and Gunston’s assistant girls’ lacrosse coach) Imani Black. Ms. Black is the founder of Minorities in Aquaculture (M.I.A), an organization that promotes the benefits and sustainability of aquaculture, both in the Chesapeake Bay and worldwide, and works to educate and encourage minorities to pursue careers in all aspects of aquaculture.

Ms. Black told her story of wanting to escape the small town she grew up in (nearby Chestertown), her difficulties navigating college life as a division one student athlete with a heavy class load, with anxiety and depression and self doubt, and the story of how she ultimately discovered and then realized her dreams, despite constant discouragement and setbacks. During her time at Old Dominion University, she was advised to switch to a communications major, and “take a job as a movie theater manager.”

“I was crushed,” she recalled. Despite the bad advice, she continued on with her studies and graduated with a degree in marine biology. After securing an internship with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, she fell in love with aquaculture.

“There is an overwhelming calm about being out on the water,” she explains.

In her first job after college, she was not being paid enough to financially support herself and had to move home. She applied for her dream job of lead hatchery technician on Hooper’s Island and was hired. “And then came what I like to call ‘2020: the year of redirection.’ I was fired from my dream job and I really began to examine how being the only Black person in my various spaces had really affected me. How did you get here? What happened? I wrote down every hurtful thing that had ever been said to me, and then I asked myself which ones are true? And by the end, I had this list of all these things that people said I’d never accomplish, but I did. I also took an inventory of all the mistakes and failures and once I took ownership of them, I felt empowered to move on.”

She continued, “That girl who left a small town, who was never going to graduate college, who should have majored in communications, who didn’t belong where she was headed, the one that should have been a movie theater manager […] when I look at my photo now, on the cover of Aquaculture, North America, I don’t see that 17 year old girl anymore. I see more than my setbacks, my previous immaturity, the times I let people down, and I say ‘I didn’t need to be perfect, I never needed to be, I just needed to be myself.’”

When asked what is one thing students can do to help encourage sustainability, “Make sure the seafood you’re eating is sustainably raised and/or caught. Know where your food is coming from and support the aquaculture industry,” she advised.

After the keynote address, students participated in workshops on Gunston’s campus in art and music, took turns helping with trail clean-ups, recycling, garden projects, and more. The day also included canoeing, sailing, and fly fishing, ending with a “Photo Safari”campus-wide scavenger hunt. The winning team was “JEKZ” (Josh Campbell ’22, Ethan Nuessle ’21, Kallena Kemp ’22, and Zack Anderson ’21) with the “Super Swag Seniors” (Kylee Rushton, Max Brady, Marion Riddle, Olivia Hershey, Emma McClary, Bella Adams, Reagan Gessford, Kayla Flood, and Hannah Beckman) as the runner up.

“Gunston’s annual Earth Day offers us the opportunity to live our mission to the fullest, amplifying our connection to the Chesapeake Bay and learning to become environmental stewards” said Emily Beck, director of environmental programs. “The day builds off of the authentic integration of sustainability in our classes and allows our student leaders to shine in presenting the action-packed day for their peers.”

“The Gunston School has a long history of not only encouraging, but requiring all students to take environmental, sustainability, and climate science courses in order to graduate,” adds Head of School John Lewis. “We’re not just preparing students for a future crisis, but a crisis that is occurring as we speak.”

The school’s signature Chesapeake Bay Studies Program, now in its 26th year, is held annually in May. Additionally, the Chesapeake Watershed Semester (open to any 11th or 12th grade student within commuting distance) is back after a hiatus in 2020, and taking applications for spring 2022.

“Our annual Earth Day celebration, specialized environmental curriculum, the Chesapeake Bay Program, the Watershed Semester—it’s all a part of our strategic goal to expand our capacity as a regional and national leader in environmental teaching and learning,” explains Mr. Lewis.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

On Saturday, April 24, the Gunston School hosted its first-ever Mid Atlantic Interscholastic Sailing Association (MDISA) Bronze Sailing Regatta at its waterfront campus on the Corsica river. Seven teams came to compete and included Severn School, Annapolis High School, Stone Ridge, Key School, Saints Peter and Paul (SSPP), Severna Park High School, and Patuxent High School.

“The regatta was simple windward leewards in both W2 and W4 configurations, with eight races total,” explained Tom Chafey, Gunston’s head sailing coach. “With less than a knot of wind out of the north east at the time of the first race, and with up to six knots of wind out of the south east for the last race, it was a very light day.”

Each school brought two teams of two sailors each, sailing in ‘A’ and ‘B’ races. The format races ‘A’ teams from all eight schools and then ‘B’ teams. Each team was then awarded points based on finish with the lowest score winning the event.

Sailing in the ‘A’ division for Gunston was Helen Boone ’21, Hannah Worth ’21, Robbie Wilmer ’24 and Ian Kissel ’23. With the ‘B’ division consisting of Charles Shifrin ’21 and Cy Johnston ’23. Gunston students Julia Buchanan ’23 and Grace Anne Phillips ’23 filled in for SSPP’s ‘B’ division.

“With multiple second place finishes, and with almost every race in the top half, our Herons were evenly matched and did exceptionally well. Coming in second place overall with a total of 26 points, the Herons beat out 3rd place by 7 points and trailed first place by 16,” recalls Chafey.

Taking home first place was the Severn School Admirals, followed by Gunston Herons in second place, followed by (in order) the Annapolis High School Panthers, Stone Ridge, Key School Zags, SSPP Sabres, Severna Park Falcons, and the Patuxent Panthers.

“We couldn’t be more pleased with how well the day transpired,” adds Carter Law, Waterfront Director. “While the lack of wind early in the day made things lead to a slow start it did not slow down all of the athletes motivation to compete. All in all, it bodes well for the future of Gunstons home regattas!”

Gunston’s sailing team next competes on May 22 in Middle River, Md.

Follow @gunstonathletics on Instagram to keep up with the sailing team as well as other Gunston athletic teams.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

On Tuesday, April 20, The Gunston School inducted 34 students into the National Honor Society (NHS) as parents, faculty, and fellow NHS members watched. The outdoor ceremony was held near Gunston’s waterfront between two cherry trees in full bloom. Founded in 1921, NHS is a prestigious organization for high school students in upper grades who have met the rigorous national and school standards in the areas of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

Photo: The Gunston School inducted 34 students into the National Honor Society in a ceremony on Tuesday, April 20th. (Top row, l-r) Sofia Angarita ’22, Lucy Bamford ’22, Hannah Beckman ’21, Maxmillian (Max) Brady ’21, Gracie Callahan ’22, Yongah (Jonathan) Choi ’21, Charlotte Cook ’22. (Second row, l-r) Benjamin (Ben) Cunningham ’22, Isabella (Bella) De Leon ’22, Ashley Escobar ’22, James (Jimmy) Fraser ’22, Nina Friedman ’22, Georgia Gillespie ’22, Evelyn (Evie) Hagan ’22. (Third row, l-r) Paige Holmes ’22, Colin Lang ’22, Neva Lawrence ’22, Samantha LeCrone ’22, Hyunseok (Luke) Lee ’21, Rui (Spencer) Liu ’22, Abigail (Abbey) Miller ’22, Magdalena (Maggie) Miller ’22. (Fourth row, l-r) Alexandrea (Lexi) Norman ’22, Ethan Nuessle ’21, Jack Pigman ’21, Marion Riddle ’21, Sean Riley ’21, Emily Ryon ’21, Summer Salos ’22. (Bottom row, l-r) Leonardo (Leo) Santoboni ’22, Matthew Sharpless ’22, Danielle Simmons ’22, Jude Smith ’22, and Lillian (Lilli) Ward ’21.

Head of School John Lewis addressed the inductees first, recalling the story of Bernie Madoff. The “greatest financial fraudster in history, […] he embodied three of the four NHS values. He was a scholar, by all accounts an excellent student, he was (on the surface) dedicated to service, giving major grants to universities, charities, and cancer research, and he was a leader, politically involved, a trustee, and the head of important financial association boards. The value he lacked, of course, was character, and I speak about this tonight because induction into NHS is often seen as primarily an academic achievement, with the other values perhaps being seen as “helpful” […] To me, it’s actually character that is the most important NHS value, since the other values are rendered meaningless without it. As my mother used to say to me, ‘It’s more important to me that you’re a good person than a good student, but it doesn’t hurt to be both.’”

Mr. Lewis then introduced the evening’s keynote speaker, the Honorable Harris P. Murphy, P’24 and Judge of the Circuit Court of Kent County, Md. Judge Murphy recalled various academic and personal struggles throughout his young life and well into college. He offered a much repeated adage, “Good judgement is the result of experience, and experience is the result of bad judgement.” As he recounted his experience learning how to waterski, he admitted, “It is hard. And you fail a lot. One of my instructors said something that I’ve always kept in mind—and while we are here tonight to celebrate your accomplishments, and they deserve to be celebrated—I hope you always keep in mind the benefits of stretching yourself and not being afraid to fall or to fail. My instructor said to me, ‘If you’re not trying hard enough to fall, you’re not really learning anything or getting better.’ So keep succeeding, keep achieving, but also, keep falling.”

To highlight the core qualities of the NHS, four candles were lit by current members as NHS President Reagan Gessford ’21 spoke about the meaning of each value. NHS Secretary Erin McDonald ’21 read each inductees’ accomplishments as they came up one by one to receive a certificate, pin, and rose, and to sign their names into the registry. Current NHS members pinned the inductees with a pin bearing the NHS logo, and together, they recited the NHS pledge, becoming official members.

NHS advisor Mike Kaylor congratulated the newest members on their hard work and dedication, despite a challenging world-wide pandemic, also thanking their parents for instilling these values in their children.

This year’s NHS Chapter Officers and Inductees include:

Officers: President Reagan Gessford ’21, Vice President Lydia Periconi ’21, Secretary Erin McDonald ’21, and Community Service Coordinator Olivia Hershey ’21.

Inductees: Sofia Angarita ’22, Lucy Bamford ’22, Hannah Beckman ’21, Maxmillian (Max) Brady ’21, Gracie Callahan ’22, Yongah (Jonathan) Choi ’21, Charlotte Cook ’22, Benjamin (Ben) Cunningham ’22, Isabella (Bella) De Leon ’22, Ashley Escobar ’22, James (Jimmy) Fraser ’22, Nina Friedman ’22, Georgia Gillespie ’22, Evelyn (Evie) Hagan ’22, Paige Holmes ’22, Colin Lang ’22, Neva Lawrence ’22, Samantha LeCrone ’22, Hyunseok (Luke) Lee ’21, Rui (Spencer) Liu ’22, Abigail (Abbey) Miller ’22, Magdalena (Maggie) Miller ’22, Alexandrea (Lexi) Norman ’22, Ethan Nuessle ’21, Jack Pigman ’21, Marion Riddle ’21, Sean Riley ’21, Emily Ryon ’21, Summer Salos ’22, Leonardo (Leo) Santoboni ’22, Matthew Sharpless ’22, Danielle Simmons ’22, Jude Smith ’22, and Lillian (Lilli) Ward ’21. The ceremony is available to watch here.

Current Members: (Seniors) Isabella (Bella) Adams, Avy Aubin , Lily Berntsen, Helen Boone, Lydia Davis, Kayla Flood, Glynis Gardner, Emma McClary, Orion (Rion) McCluskey, Sydney Nittle, Adison (Adie) Parish, Campbell Parkhurst, Connor Reichardt, Owen Santora, Severin Schut, Charles (Charlie) Shifrin, Henry Shifrin, Christian Walker, Colin Ward, and Hannah Worth.

The Gunston School will be holding a spring fundraiser, Golfing “fore” Gunston II, on Monday, May 3, 2021 at Prospect Bay Country Club in Grasonville, Md. The day begins with a continental breakfast on the patio overlooking the greens before teeing off with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Refreshments and food will be served throughout the day, with opportunities to “Rent a Pro” for a little extra help. An awards ceremony will follow with prizes for First Place, Longest Drive, Closest to the Pin, and “Last Place” winners. Golfers will be vying to win prizes such as a Bat-Caddy X3R Remote Control Cart, Yeti Golf Bag, Under Armour gear, Pro Shop gift cards, and more. This year’s event includes activities such as lunch and tennis with a pro for those who may not golf, but would like to show their support by connecting with other members of the Gunston community.

Additionally, beginning on Friday, April 30, the Gunston’s Biddersnest online silent auction will go live, offering the chance to bid on items such as dinner for four and a golf simulator session, a full day Gunston Watershed Experience for a family of 4-6 plus lunch, professional photography sessions, a basket of gift cards to area restaurants, and a weekend getaway. Auction winners will be announced at the golf awards ceremony on May 3.

The inaugural Golfing fore Gunston in October 2020 was a sold-out event, with many asking for a second tournament in the spring. “Normally, we wouldn’t have two golf tournaments in the same year, however this has not been a normal year,” explains Head of School John Lewis. Gunston’s annual fall Bull & Oyster Roast provides $100,000 toward bridging the nearly $4,000 gap between tuition costs and what it actually takes to deliver the “Gunston Experience.”

“This year we were not able to have our signature event, so we are working to close our funding gap in non-traditional and atypical ways—like having TWO golf tournaments! In a year where indoor events are out of the question and outdoor gala events involve a myriad of restrictions, hosting TWO golf tournaments makes perfect sense,” Lewis adds.

Sponsorships and donations allow Gunston the ability to offer more than 60% of its students financial aid, as well as provide opportunities for students and faculty to travel to leadership conferences, robotic competitions, environmental trips, and more.

Golf registration is $175 per player or $700 per foursome. Sponsorships are also available and include the opportunity for businesses to get their name and logo in front of the entire Gunston community of students, parents, alumni, and local community members.

Tournament sponsors include Riggo Productions (The Pocock Family, P ’23) and Fred Frederick of Easton (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P ’23).

Visit https://www.gunston.org/golf21 to register for the outing or a sponsorship (or both!), or call Event Director Lynda Scull at 410-758-0620, ext. 1101 or email lscull@gunston.org.

Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.