From the Headmaster

CHRISTOPHER TORINO

Cushing stories have undoubtedly deepened, widened, and expanded my sense of the proud 150 years of our school and what is made possible through a transformative education. I have listened to, read, and absorbed the stories and experiences of current Cushing students, faculty, staff, and parents, as well as those of alumni and past parents, faculty, and staff. An English teacher to the core, I relish these narratives—whether told in snippets or as whole pieces—about the Cushing in you.

This month, the Class of 2015 will graduate and make the transition from their “dear old Cushing days” as students to their lives as engaged alumni. Close on the heels of graduation, we will welcome our alumni back to campus for our Sesquicentennial Reunion Weekend, a milestone event in the life of the Academy. Commencement and Reunion weave together the many diverse stories into a fuller, more vibrant understanding of the Cushing legacy.

Whether I’ve had the pleasure to meet you in person or not, I’d very much love to hear your stories about Cushing—the faculty who made lasting impressions on you, the friends you made, the challenges through which you grew, and the things you learned. I invite you to visit www.cushing.org/alumnistories to submit your stories online, or email them to headmaster@cushing.org. Whether you have a brief moment to write a vignette recounting one smaller story, or time enough to write a more comprehensive recollection or string of recollections, your stories will “deepen and widen and expand” our sense of Cushing—where, how, and why we’ve lived and Cushing’s impact on the world one Penguin at a time. Your stories are the foundation for our Academy’s promising future.

Thank you for everything you do to support the school—attending events; volunteering your time; cheering on our athletes; making gifts to our Cushing Academy Fund, including supporting our new athletic facility; and sharing your stories. I continue to be honored and proud to be a part of and servant to the Cushing story.

I’ll close with Rudyard Kipling’s thoughts on the power of stories: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.”

So, here’s to remembering and recounting those dear old Cushing days…

BREAKING GROUND

Cushing Academy has officially broken ground on its new athletic facility, which will be named the Watkins Field House. For more information on this important project, see page 37