We Are Highlanders

WE ARE

HIGHLANDERS

We Are Highlanders When meeting with families such as yours, one will frequently hear me reference how proud I am to be part of the Gunn community. Many aspects of our community contribute to this pridefulness, yet it is our exceptional student body that inspires me each and every day. That is why I am so excited to share with you this opportunity to hear directly from a broad range of our students about their experiences. In “We Are Highlanders,” you will meet athletes, artists, and students pursuing interests in pre-med and engineering, and hear what in their experience made being a Highlander so special to them.

Whatever path they choose here, Gunn students develop lifelong learning and leadership skills they need to be active and responsible citizens, both locally and globally. We prepare our students for what’s next as they continue to learn and grow, in college and in life. It all begins in the classroom, yet because we are a boarding school, it intentionally spans across all of our on-campus experiences. Built on a timeless educational philosophy, with its emphasis on challenging academics, character development, curiosity, risk-taking, problem-solving, and independent thinking, we meet every student where they are, while never letting them stay there. I am confident that you will hear this philosophy come to life through the voices of these outstanding Highlanders.

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Suzanne Day Chief Enrollment Officer

EZEKIEL HATCHER ’26 HOMETOWN:

ACCOLADES:

DAY/BOARDING:

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Cheshire, Connecticut Boarding

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL? I chose The Frederick Gunn School because it felt like a home from the second I stepped on campus for my tour. Everyone on campus was smiling and waving as we drove through the beautiful campus to the Admissions Office. The campus fostered a strong sense of community and belonging unlike any other.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CO-CURRICULAR AND WHY? My favorite co-curricular is the Winter Musical, not only because of the insane fun we created but also because the musical created a smaller community inside the Gunn community. The talent expressed in the Winter Musical was unbelievable; there were extraordinary musicians, extremely talented tech crew members, and a group of people who wanted nothing more than to see each other succeed while continuously having a great time.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF DAY AT SCHOOL? My favorite time of day at school is dinner because everyone sits together after their co-curricular practices and we discuss our entire day, from classes to co-curricular practice. Dinner is a time when students have fun and sit with their friends and simply have a conversation about how their day is going.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU HAVE LEARNED HERE? At The Frederick Gunn School, I have learned that everyone on campus is there for each other. This could be as simple as everyone cheering another student on as they make their first all-school announcement or a group of people you don’t know inviting you to sit at their table because you are sitting by yourself. You will never feel alone on campus because everyone is ready to support you.

Dean’s List, High Honor Roll, Honor Roll

Co-president, Black and Latinx Union (BALU) Sophomore Class Representative Gunn Society Tour Guide Residential Advisor

CO-CURRICULARS: JV Lacrosse JV Soccer Winter Musical

BELLA SCHIFANO ’24 HOMETOWN:

South Portland, Maine DAY/BOARDING:

Boarding

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL? It felt like home. The close, tight-knit community is like no other. Everyone is there to help you get to where you want to go and become the best version of yourself. Choosing Gunn was the best decision my family and I have ever made.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR A STUDENT TO BE ACADEMICALLY STRONG AND A THREE-SPORT VARSITY ATHLETE AT GUNN? It can be a struggle at times, but eventually you learn to use your time wisely and get work done ahead of time. Sometimes you might have to do homework on the bus rides to and from games, so you have less to do later that night. The most important thing for me is building great relationships with all my teachers. It’s good for them to know who you are outside of the classroom as well as inside. Say you have an early game and you’re going to miss a class, having that strong relationship will make it easier to stay on track and not fall behind.

IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE A FAVORITE CO-CURRICULAR, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY? My favorite co-curricular would have to be hockey. I’ve never been with such a great group of girls. We are one big family and the season is so much fun. Most of the time it isn’t the games that make it fun, it’s the locker room, the bus rides, or the overnights in hotels. The coaches are the best.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS? Definitely Ms. Ruscz’s Pre-AP Spanish. She kept the class interesting and fun, allowing us to learn more than we ever thought we could.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF DAY AT SCHOOL? My favorite time of day would be from 5-8 p.m., during and after dinner. Classes and practices are over and you have three hours to do what you want. Depending on the season, everyone usually ends up at the turf playing games and hanging out.

ACCOLADES:

Dean’s List, High Honor Roll, Honor Roll The Frederick Gunn School Triple Threat Award All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention, Girls Hockey Most Valuable Player Award, Girls Hockey

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES: Head Tour Guide Head Residential Advisor Orientation leader Captain, Girls Varsity Soccer

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Soccer Varsity Ice Hockey Varsity Lacrosse

ALEX JOHNSON ’23 HOMETOWN:

Boca Grande, Florida

DAY/BOARDING:

ACCOLADES: COLLEGE:

Sewanee: The University of The South

Boarding

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL? I chose Gunn because of the tight-knit community and warm feeling when you arrive on campus, plus, the abundance of opportunities that you can pursue throughout your time at Gunn.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TIME OF DAY AT SCHOOL? I enjoyed the time just after dinner. It was the time when we hung out with friends and did a variety of things, from just hanging out and talking to playing sports/games such as Spikeball.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO GET INVOLVED IN MAKING A GOLF COURSE ON CAMPUS, TEDDY NATIONAL? During the spring of my sophomore year, during my free blocks, I would hit golf balls from the top of Teddy Hill, to the bottom and vice versa. After hitting the same shots over and over, it eventually started to get boring. At that point, I decided to create a nine-hole golf course named Teddy National that continues to this day.

HOW DID YOU BECOME THE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL “WEATHERMAN?” Former Prefect Liam Koval ’22 approached me one day and explained that there was an open slot during School Meeting and they wanted to fill it with a weather report. Liam approached me to be the weatherman and give the report and I accepted! Announcing the weather report was one of my most memorable moments at Gunn. I liked to have fun with it and told jokes to make it more exciting!

WHO IS YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE? My parents are my biggest influence. They raised me well and helped me become who I am today.

Bourne Advisory Council Leadership Award Dean’s List, High Honor Roll, Honor Roll Captain’s Award, Golf The Whalley Golf Trophy

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES: Prefect Tour Guide Residential Advisor

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Crew Varsity Golf Varsity Soccer JV Ice Hockey JV Soccer Highlander Hockey

SIDNEY MUTAU ’23 HOMETOWN:

Beavercreek, Ohio

ACCOLADES: COLLEGE:

Johns Hopkins University

DAY/BOARDING:

Boarding

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL? I chose The Frederick Gunn School because I enjoyed being at a smaller school. I liked being able to get to know everybody, which was easy because people are open and easy to talk to. Also, the faculty genuinely care for students, which makes it easier to be a boarder.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS? My favorite class was Pre-Med. I really enjoyed all the hands-on learning we got to do relating to medical procedures, such as suturing.

WHY DID YOU APPLY TO BE A GUNN SCHOLAR? I applied to be a Gunn Scholar because I was interested in looking back at the history of The Frederick Gunn School and the town around it.

WHO WAS YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE AT GUNN? My biggest influence at Gunn was my school-mom, Caralyn Dea, because she helped me make tough choices that were beneficial, so I trusted her advice and guidance. My favorite time of day at school was Advisory Meeting because I enjoyed talking with Ms. Dea, and helping my advisory-mates problem-solve.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT GUNN? My biggest accomplishment was pushing myself to try new sports and activities that I had never done before, like basketball and tennis.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE GUNN MOMENT? My most memorable Gunn moment was my Junior Speech. It was nerve-racking to be in front of the whole school, but it was fun to put myself out there and connect with people through my speech.

The Brinsmade Prize Cum Laude Society W. Russ Elgin Award for Excellence in Spanish The Frederick William Gunn Award Dean’s List Gunn Scholar The Sara Scranton Linen Scholarship

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Co-president, Black and Latinx Union (BALU) Captain, Girls JV Soccer Residential Advisor First Aid Club Crossroads

CO-CURRICULARS: JV Soccer JV Basketball JV Tennis

HUNTER FONSECA ’23 HOMETOWN:

Middlebury, Connecticut

COLLEGE:

University of Washington

DAY/BOARDING:

Day

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL? The Frederick Gunn School provides a unique day student experience that truly none of the other schools I was looking at did. On top of that, I loved the location of the school and the tight-knit community.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO ENROLL IN ADVANCED ENGINEERING AT GUNN? I took Engineering the previous year and absolutely loved it, so when I was offered the possibility of enrolling in Advanced Engineering, I had to take it. Engineering I was the perfect balance of a class that is extremely enjoyable but also educational.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CO-CURRICULAR AT GUNN AND WHY? My favorite co-curricular was soccer. I was a member of the varsity team from freshman to senior year. The team over my tenure at the school grew massively and it was an absolute honor to play alongside so many great people.

WHO WAS YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE AT GUNN? My biggest influences were definitely my friends, specifically Luke Martin ’23 and Graham Ince ’23. At Gunn, they truly shaped me into the person I am today, helping me grow by sharing their own experiences and always being there for me.

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT GUNN? Getting elected as a prefect was by far my greatest achievement. The immense gratitude I have to have been able to represent this school in the highest form of student leadership was truly amazing.

ACCOLADES:

The Fenning Prize for Excellence in Debate The Thomas Alexander Langford Memorial Prize Dean’s List, High Honor Roll, Honor Roll

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES: Prefect Tour Guide Gray Party Judaic Society

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Soccer Ultimate Frisbee JV Lacrosse JV Basketball Fourths Basketball Outdoor Recreation Mind and Body

AUDREY RICHARDS ’23 HOMETOWN:

COLLEGE:

DAY/BOARDING:

MAJOR:

South Kent, Connecticut Day

Tisch School of the Arts at New York University Drama with a minor in vocal performance

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT GUNN? Receiving the Head of School’s Prize represents the culmination of years of hard work, dedication, and commitment to personal and academic growth.

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU LEARNED HERE? I learned how to be independent. I do not think I would have been prepared for living in New York City if I had not attended The Frederick Gunn School. Gunn gave me a sense of individuality as well as being a part of the whole community.

HOW IS IT POSSIBLE TO BE A GOOD STUDENT ACADEMICALLY AND PARTICIPATE IN THE ARTS, SPORTS, AND CLUBS AT GUNN? Although it can be difficult to sustain a life of academics, the arts, sports, clubs, while still having a social life, at The Frederick Gunn School it is very possible. As long as you have a support group who will be there supporting you, and you take care of yourself first, every opportunity at Gunn is possible.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL MOMENT? The senior prank will stand out in my mind forever. Our Senior Class set up a fake wedding on the Quad for the entire school to watch. It was such a funny yet uniting moment that I will never forget.

WHAT WILL YOU MISS MOST ABOUT GUNN? My friends. I was lucky enough to be a part of an amazing friend group from every corner of the world, and I know I will never lose those friendships. I miss them every day.

ACCOLADES:

Head of School’s Prize Cum Laude Society Dean’s List, High Honor Roll, Honor Roll Robert B. Mortell Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts (2022 & 2023) Jerome F. MacCarthy Arts Award Excellence in Dramatics Award Excellence in Mathematics Award Junior Mathematics Department Award Harvard Club of Southern Connecticut Book Award

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES & OTHER ACTIVITIES: Head Tour Guide Abigail’s Circle Rock Band Green Club ALS Run Community Service Club Friday Night Dance Class (student teacher)

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Crew Varsity Tennis Fall Play Winter Musical Spring Musical Artistry & Technique

EDDIE RAYHILL ’22 HOMETOWN:

COLLEGE:

DAY/BOARDING:

MAJOR:

New Hartford, New York Boarding

Cornell University History

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE FREDERICK GUNN SCHOOL? I got to meet a bunch of people. It was just welcoming, whereas when I went to other schools, I had to be artificial. I wasn’t being myself. I was just a jock. It’s kind of outdated that people at other schools think you have to either do sports or be artistic.

But at Gunn, I could do anything. I could do both.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CLASS? Algebra II Honors with Alisa Croft. Before I came to Gunn, I was really not good at math at all, and I didn’t like it. In senior year, my average was a 98 because Mrs. Croft did a good job of explaining the concepts. It’s like a game almost, or a puzzle. I like that because I’m a competitive guy. It made math more enjoyable.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE GUNN TRADITION? It would have to be the winter concert and dinner. Everyone was in a good mood and it’s right before break. The food is good. The music is good. It’s tons of fun.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE CO-CURRICULAR? Lacrosse. You were with your best buds. When you lost, you were still with your best friends. In practice, everybody was just getting better together and having fun. It was competitive, but no one took it personally. My old coach kind of took away the privilege of it being fun. He kind of made it more like a job, which is fine because that’s what lacrosse in college is like. But he was doing it when I was in seventh grade and eighth grade, and I wasn’t mature enough to understand it. At Gunn, Coach Mike Marich P’22 ’23 held us to a job standard but he also made it fun.

ACCOLADES:

The Gunn Cup Vreeland-Rogers Athletic Award Frederick Gunn School Triple Threat Award Captains Award, Boys Soccer U.S. Lacrosse High School All-American All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention, Lacrosse, 2022 The E. Lawrence White Hockey Award Freshman of the Year Award Colonial Cup Championship Team, 2022 Under Armour Boys Division All-Tournament Team, 2021 Dean’s List, High Honor Roll

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES AND OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Head Prefect Gray Party Rock Band Junior Class Representative Tour Guide Captain of Varsity Soccer, Varsity Ice Hockey, Varsity Lacrosse

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Soccer Varsity Ice Hockey Varsity Lacrosse Winter Musical

YOLANDA WANG ’21 HOMETOWN:

COLLEGE:

DAY/BOARDING:

MAJOR:

Tenafly, New Jersey Boarding

Cornell University Computer Science

WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT GUNN? Just understanding myself more. I really appreciate how the college process helped me to look inside myself and understand what I needed for the future. There are a lot of possibilities in my life, and I don’t need to restrict myself. I was deeply involved in the Asian Student Association (ASA). I was a STEM student. I also tried to be a leader at The Frederick Gunn School. I have a more concrete understanding of what leadership is. Leadership is more about cooperating with each other, and knowing how to think from others’ perspectives.

WHO WAS YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE? Steve Bailey P’09 was my teacher for three years. He was also my advisor so we had a lot of chances to talk and to communicate about philosophies. I was very inspired by his life story. He was a programmer, very involved in computer science and math, and then later he switched to marine engineering and also enjoyed that, and now he’s a physics teacher. He also plays the piano.

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE GUNN MOMENT? Performing in “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” the first theatrical production staged in the new Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center. I was playing a gargoyle and standing on a platform. I was witnessing something game-changing for our school that would be written into the history. I think we had the most people we had ever had in the cast, and the music was pretty hard. We had a lot of solos. I almost cried tears of joy on opening night on stage.

WHAT DO YOU MISS MOST ABOUT GUNN? I miss studying in the Quiet Room in the library with my friends. I miss running with my cross country team. I was not a sports person. But once I enrolled at Gunn, I found it was an activity to help me relieve stress, and made me happy and healthy. One of the most memorable moments in my high school life was achieving my personal best. I just cried a lot of tears after I went past the finish line. I ran to Head Coach Morgen Fisher ’03 and hugged her and hugged Assistant Coach Ed Small like I’d won the world championship.

ACCOLADES:

Top Scholar (2020 & 2021) Cum Laude Society All-National Honors Choir, 2020 Member of 2019 NEPSTA DIII Cross Country Championship Team Dean’s List

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES & OTHER ACTIVITIES: President, Vocal Ensemble Computer Science Club Asian Student Association

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Cross Country Spring Musical Jazz Combo Brain and Body Building

ANDREW BYRNE-KING ’20 HOMETOWN:

COLLEGE:

DAY/BOARDING:

MAJOR:

Syracuse, New York Boarding

University of St Andrews, Scotland International Relations

WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE DONE IF YOU WERE HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR THE DAY? I would have given everyone the day off. I would have let students spend a day together and enjoy themselves in the community. At Gunn, this would be what we call a Washington Day. Usually in the spring, they really allow you time to breathe and enjoy your fleeting time with each other. I will always stand and promote that.

WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN UP TO SINCE GRADUATION? I am going into my senior year at the University of St Andrews, where I am majoring in international relations! Over the summers, I’ve been working with groups that provide support for those with developmental disabilities, and hope to work internationally in the same field once I graduate.

WHAT SHOULD WE EXPECT FROM YOUR GENERATION? Well, there is a lot of pressure placed on us. There are numerous problems that will be ours, like climate change, which we never asked for. It will be our job, however, to take the reins of the ship and do our best to steer it closer in the right direction. I would hope that one can expect our generation to be vocal, to be leaders, and to be ready for change. Everything must evolve, in the natural order of things, and we need to be open to that idea.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WILL BE DOING 10 YEARS FROM NOW? I hope to be in the political field, either internationally or domestically back home. I want to be in a position where I can help change policy for the better, no matter what that looks like.

ACCOLADES:

The Gunn Cup Trinity College Book Award Gunn Scholar Dean’s List

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES & OTHER ACTIVITIES: Head Prefect Tour Guide FBLA President Junior Class Representative Resident Assistant Library Student Aid

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Crew Model United Nations Outdoor Leadership

JOLIE KAPLAN ’20

ACCOLADES:

HOMETOWN:

COLLEGE:

DAY/BOARDING:

MAJOR: Computer Science

Greenwich, Connecticut Boarding

University of Michigan College of Engineering with a minor in Mathematics and Science, Technology and Technology Ethics

WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE GUNN MOMENT? It had just snowed. We were in study hall and a few of us left the library and decided to use our textbooks as sleds and just slid down the Quad. That was an awesome experience. And then it was just simply hanging out late at night in the dorm. That was really fun as well. We made ice cream sundaes, watched movies late, made forts, and gingerbread houses.

WAS THERE A FACULTY MEMBER WHO HELPED YOU WITH A PARTICULAR MOMENT OR DECISION? The faculty members were amazing. Alisa Croft was someone I was really close to.

She was my dorm parent my sophomore year, my first year at Gunn, and she was also my soccer coach, and my last year she was also my math teacher. So I got to see her in different aspects of my life. She helped me realize what’s important. Emily Raudenbush Gum (now Head of School) was my advisor. She’s so caring. She’s such an understanding person. I relied on her during the college process.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR YOUR CLASSMATES? A lot of times kids take the passive voice on some issues when they don’t see how it directly affects them. My advice is that everyone has some sort of platform, and even if you’re not on a national stage, everyone has the opportunity to make a difference. The biggest thing is to get educated, learn the perspectives of the issues, search the statistics and find your own opinion, but also don’t be afraid to challenge those ideas and just question yourself.

Top Scholar in the Class of 2020 and the school Cum Laude Society Excellence in Mathematics Award National AP Scholar Hillman Award in American History Dean’s List

STUDENT LEADERSHIP ROLES & OTHER ACTIVITIES:

Head Residential Advisor (2 years) President of Mathletes Co-Leader of The Gray Party Captain, Girls Varsity Soccer Tour Guide Robotics Team

CO-CURRICULARS: Varsity Crew Varsity Soccer JV Basketball Model United Nations

QUICK FACTS 77%

220-ACRE

BOARDING

STUDENT 23% DAY

BODY 20% 325 INTERNATIONAL

1850

FOUNDED BY

FREDERICK

& ABIGAIL

GUNN

WHO WAS FREDERICK GUNN?

25

STATES

22

COUNTRIES

BOSTON 150 MILES

LOCATED IN WASHINGTON, CONNECTICUT SURROUNDED BY WOODS, TRAILS, RIVERS, AND LAKES

125 ACADEMIC COURSES 33 HONORS & AP COURSES 65 MINUTE CLASS BLOCK

Frederick Gunn was a pioneering educator, courageous abolitionist, and rugged outdoorsman. He inspired generations of students to be curious and thoughtful, to be active members of their communities, to stand up for what they believe in, and to find a sense of wonder and renewal in the outdoors. The transformational educational philosophy that defined Mr. Gunn’s original vision for our school in 1850 is even more powerful today. Our students become principled, active citizens and life-long learners who will be a force for good in the world.

NEW YORK 90 MILES

CAMPUS

5:1 STUDENT/FACULTY RATIO 12

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE

60 FACULTY MEMBERS 73% HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES

Gunn is consistently ranked among the top 5 percent of private schools in America by NICHE.COM - the market leader in connecting independent schools with students and families.

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A coed boarding and day school for grades 9-12 and postgraduate | Washington, CT Admissions Office | admissions@frederickgunn.org | (860) 868-7334 | GoGunn.org