Student Life

On October 1, the Gunn community continued a proud tradition begun by school founders Frederick and Abigail Gunn in 1861, when they led 30 boys and a dozen girls on a 42-mile walk from Washington to Milford, Connecticut, where they camped for 10 days. School Walk, held each year on a date close to Mr. Gunn's birthday, October 4, commemorates this historic event. This year, in honor of our 175th year as a school, and in the spirit of Mr. and Mrs. Gunn, Highlanders everywhere were encouraged to walk or hike, plant a flower, ride a bike, or simply take time to appreciate the outdoors and the power of connecting with nature.
 

Wallace H. Rowe III H’57 P’77 ’79, a beloved member of the faculty from 1956 to 1979, passed away on September 21, 2024, in New Hampshire. “Wally” taught English, served as English Department Chair, coached wrestling, football, and JV tennis, and served as a house parent and advisor. Through his passion, warmth, and characteristic good humor, he had an enormous influence on many of his students. Four decades later, the school continues to honor him through The Wallace H. Rowe III Chair in Critical Expression established in his name, and the Perakos Family Cares Art Gallery, dedicated by Thomas Perakos ’69 and the Class of 1969 in celebration of their 50th reunion.
 

William Russ Elgin, who served for three decades as Senior Master and as a faithful and dedicated faculty member for 39 years, passed away on July 2, 2024, in Las Cruces, New Mexico, according to his sister, Lynn Brown-Quick. Known to his students as “Señor Elgin,” Russ had a deep passion for the Spanish language and culture, and he dedicated himself to inspiring others to become lifelong learners. 
 

Members of the Class of 2024 were officially inducted into the Gunn Alumni Association, and received their seniors letters, class mugs, and Red and Gray yearbooks, at a dinner and pinning ceremony held May 22 in the Norman R. Lemcke Community Room of the Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center. Former Head Prefect Andrew Byrne King ’20 was the evening’s guest speaker. He will graduate this summer with a degree in international relations from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. 
 

The Frederick Gunn School celebrated the Class of 2024 for its strong sense of community, growth, and Highlander pride at its 174th Commencement Exercises, held May 26, This year, the school graduated 93 students, representing 17 states and seven countries. In his Commencement Address, Trustee Damien Marshall P’24 encouraged the graduates to think boldly, continue to be people who are always learning, and be a force for good. “The Core Values of the school are exactly the skills and values that are going to serve you throughout your life,” Marshall said.
 

On May 21, the Gunn community gathered at the First Congregational Church of Washington for Baccalaureate, a solemn service that began a weeklong celebration of and collective reflection on the Class of 2024. Athletic Director Mike Marich P’23 ’24 delivered this year’s Baccalaureate Address and helped to compose the service, selecting readings from Wallace Stegner’s 1987 novel, Crossing to Safety, and the Bible, including The Beatitudes and Salt and Light from the Book of Matthew, as well as the poem, “Dreams” by Langston Hughes. 
 

On Sunday, May 26, 2024, The Frederick Gunn School will celebrate the Class of 2024 at its 174th Commencement Exercises. This year, 93 students, representing 17 states and seven countries, will graduate from the school, founded in 1850 by Frederick Gunn, a pioneering educator, courageous abolitionist, and rugged outdoorsman, who is recognized by the American Camp Association as the founder of recreational camping in the United States.
 

The Frederick Gunn School Music Program will present a spring concert featuring String Ensemble, Vocal Ensemble, Jazz Band and special guests under the direction of Ron Castonguay P’27, Director of the Arts and Music Director. Family, friends and the community are invited to attend the performance one night only, Wednesday, May 15, at 7 p.m., in the Tisch Family Auditorium of the Thomas S. Perakos Arts and Community Center. The concert is free with general admission seating. No registration is required. 
 

The Frederick Gunn School will host the 64th annual Founders Day Regatta at Lake Waramaug on Sunday, May 5, 2024. Morning heats will begin at 9 a.m., with the last morning race at 11:15 a.m. Racing will resume at 12:15 p.m. following lunch, and will conclude by 2 p.m. Alumni, current students, families, faculty, and friends are welcome to cheer on Gunn Rowing at the finish line, located at Lake Waramaug State Park in Kent.