ALUMNI/AE
ALUMNI: PLAYING TO WIN
Edith Racine ’01
Growing up in St. Albert, Canada, a small town between Ottawa and Montreal, Edith played ice hockey on both boys and girls teams. When a friend on the girls team (who attended Pomfret)
LOOKING BACK, it was the people and my relationships with
introduced her to boarding schools, the idea of studying in the
them that really helped me grow as a person. I had that in
U.S. and perfecting her English before heading off to college was
college at Elmira, too—a great, caring coach—and now I have
alluring. After playing in a prep school showcase in Montreal,
that at Cornell. That’s been part of my journey, surrounding
Edith soon found herself talking to Millbrook coach Kevin Soja on
myself with good people. That’s the most important value I
the phone. The idea quickly became a reality. By the fall of 1999,
learned at Millbrook, and I’m still regularly in touch with my
Edith was driving from Montreal to Millbrook with a tight group of
Millbrook advisor, Juliana Pecchia!
hockey players, mostly boys, to begin her Millbrook education in the Vth form.
Caring is Growing
the winter, and lacrosse in the spring. Her skills transferred easily
Science and math required little translation, but reading and
from one sport to the other. She was passionate about sports but
writing in English were especially challenging for Edith. Teachers
also determined to set a good example in every area of school life.
were supportive, and Mrs. Howe ran an English as a Second
She enjoyed a year at the Trevor Zoo before earning a role as dorm
Language class that provided additional practice in writing and
leader in her VIth form year.
completing homework assignments. The small class size meant
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A talented athlete, Edith played soccer in the fall, ice hockey in
rigorous one-on-one instruction, and Edith felt accountable for
Caring is Winning
improving. She also realized the importance of reaching out to
Because she appreciated the close-knit Millbrook community,
communicate a real need—like letting her soccer coach know she
Edith chose to attend Elmira College, where she majored in
was having trouble running because she didn’t know how to say
business and played hockey for four years. Her first year at Elmira
“blisters” in English.
was also the first year of their women’s ice hockey program.
• SUMMER 2024