MIKE CUMMINGS BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESIDENT
Q&A DAVE FARACE ’87 HEAD OF SCHOOL
In the fall of 2023, the School hosted a 150th Anniversary celebration weekend. Tell us about the festivities from your perspective. What feelings did it evoke for you? [DAVE] It was pretty magical. The Friday night gala was
an experience unlike any other I’ve had on campus. Basking in the celebration alongside more than 1,000 friends, colleagues, parents, and alumni solidified my belief that McDonogh truly is a second home for so many of us. From the Home Again arts production to the gala to the football game and everything in between, the entire weekend was just spectacular. I woke up on Sunday morning with a grateful heart and a raspy voice.
This has been an exciting time with McDonogh celebrating its sesquicentennial year. What is your hope for the School’s future? [MIKE] During the 150 years of its existence, McDonogh
has successfully navigated economic collapses, world wars, political unrest, racial division, global pandemics, and countless other challenges, which are now turbocharged by the proliferation of social media and the 24/7 news cycle. What has McDonogh done in the face of these challenges? The School has remained unwavering in its commitment to teaching students “how to think, not what to think.” My hope (and expectation) for the future is that the School will continue to stay true to this commitment. Will the School be perfect? No—that is an impossible expectation. Will the School strive for perfection and learn from any missteps? Yes. If McDonogh continues to walk this tightrope to the best of its ability, it will have the opportunity to further differentiate itself from other schools as a place that inspires and maximizes personal and intellectual growth.
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