Just over two years ago, we celebrated the Class of 2020 with the most bizarre graduation ceremony in Proctor’s history. We mailed home caps and gowns and yard signs, shared livestream links to both the ceremony and made the best of an otherwise challenging early pandemic moment. This weekend we finally gathered the Class of 2020 in person for a long overdue, in-person acknowledgement of their hard work and determination.
The Class of 2022 consistently astounded us with their performance in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and in the art studios and stage. The exploration of different interests and passions that took place at Proctor has laid a foundation for our graduates’ post-Proctor journey. For many of our seniors, they will be pursuing athletics and the arts in college. Be sure to follow along as this group of young people makes their impact on the world!
Each of our lives are shaped by individuals who take the time to appreciate our individuality, to ask questions, to challenge us to dream, and, in turn, push us to become better versions of ourselves. Institutions are no different. It is with great sadness that we share the passing of former Head of School David Fowler, a leader who transformed Proctor during his 25 years as Head of School and inspired generations of educators and students with his vision for what high school could be.
Proctor Academy launched an Athletic Hall of Fame in 2017 with the intent of recognizing athletes, coaches, and teams who have distinguished themselves as outstanding contributors to athletics while at Proctor and who have continued to exemplify the values core to the community: respect, responsibility, compassion and honesty in their personal and professional lives. During 2022 reunion, we publicly recognized three classes of inductees. Read more about these individuals and teams below:
For the past two plus years our alumni have lived in a virtual relationship with Proctor. They attended the more than a hundred online events offered through our Alumni Office since March 2020, and while a few came to campus on special occasions, our annual Alumni Reunion weekend was twice postponed. The result of a two year hiatus on reunion? Record numbers and an absolutely amazing weekend in relationship with each other.
As families filtered from dinner in the Brown Dining Commons to the large tent on Farrell Field for Senior Awards Night, a slideshow played on the big screen contrasting images from each student’s first weeks on campus and their last. The physical changes that take place during high school are remarkable, but they pale in comparison to the social and emotional growth that transpires. As the Class of 2022 walked across the stage this morning, we watched with pride at the humans they had become.
If you were to create a musical score for the school year, you would feel the cyclical crescendos building toward the end of each trimester. Over the past week, the beat quickened and volume intensified in the background music of our lives at Proctor as we celebrated student work and began preparations for commencement on Saturday.
The spring athletic season in Northern New England is not for the faint of heart. Rain, snow, wind, black flies, mosquitos, and other challenges abound, but the perseverance of our grounds crew, coaches, athletes, and athletic department were on full display as we navigated the term and provided a memorable afternoon program experience for our students. The lessons our athletes learned through victory, defeat, and simply spending time in relationship with each other on the playing fields, courts, track, and roads this spring undoubtedly will last a lifetime.
