The Gordon experience can last a lifetime

above: five recent alumni were center stage at Gordon's 2021 Admissions Open House—from left, Seb Orth '19, Maude Smith-Montross '20, Lana Mburu '20, Mariely Madera '20 and Myles Craddock '20 link

Some Gordon students spend twelve years here.

 

above: William Blythe '14 (far right) and Nate Talbutt '14 (center) have been on campus throughout the winter as Blythe directs a team of Gordon Middle School actors for his senior filmmaking project at RISD

Some only come for one.

 

above: Ted Widmer '76 (center) and Freddie Widmer '09 (to Ted's right) brought their life experience to Middle School students during a daylong visit in February link

For most of them, it's an experience that extends long after eighth grade is over.

 

above: eighteen alumni currently send their children to Gordon link

Alumni return as parents.

 

above: Gordon's current Board of Trustees includes (clockwise from top left) Karan Takhar '05, Damian Ewens '90, Rob Glancy '97 and Eugene Johnson '87

They return as staff, as donors, as trustees and as advocates.
 

above: Harry Jellinek '20 was just one of twenty Gordon alumni who worked at Summer at Gordon's day camps last summer

They are social media sharers, long-distance donors, and word-of-mouth generators.
 

above: Josie Harrison ‘20 volunteered this past fall to help with wardrobe for the fifth grade production of Nicholas Nickleby this winter

They are assistant directors, volunteer referees, after school coaches and opening night technicians. 

 

above: Megan Donahue '16 (here with Lower School music teacher Bridget Baird) observed Gordon classes in January as part of her classwork as she pursues a music education major at Ithaca College

It's a strong connection, centered around a simple mission that is found in every Gordon classroom, at every grade level.

 

above: Isaiah Osofisan ‘00 (left) and Jeremy Garcia '08 (right) are serving as mentors in Brother to Brother, an affinity group for boys of color in Gordon's Middle School

Child by child, Gordon inspires joyful learning, encourages intellectual leadership, fosters an empathic spirit and stimulates a drive for positive societal impact.
 

above: Graham Watkins '08 shared part of his life story with fifth grade last fall as they began a yearlong study of disability rights and activism link

That approach to learning, that leadership, that spirit and that drive are lifelong gifts that all of Gordon's graduates share.
 

above: dozens of alumni from the G-Notes, Gordon's Middle School a cappella group, met with students throughout the 2020-2021 pandemic year and collaborated with them on a virtual choir at the end of the year link

How do we know?

 

above: a dozen alumni have been on Gordon's faculty roster and coaching teams this year, including Sophie Jackson '12, Reuben Tillman '20, Jeremy Garcia '08, Eric Song '16 and Hannah Rossheim '11, seen here at the faculty and staff vs eighth grade soccer game

We know because they keep coming back to Gordon.

 

above: Georgia A. Hunter Farinholt '92 came to campus in March to speak with eighth graders about her book, We Were The Lucky Ones, which documents her family’s flight from Nazi Germany.

And when they do, they help sustain that mission and pass it on to a new generation.

 

All this month, Gordon alumni from across the world have come together to support the school for alumni giving month. When alumni give during March, the first $25,000 will be matched by Rob Glancy '97. For each alumni gift in March, a tulip will be added to the alumni garden in front of the school. Alumni can give now at www.gordonschool.org/alumnigarden