Founders Day 2022

On a sunny day with a “Carolina-blue” sky — as Head of School Henry Smyth described it — 120 young men took an important step toward their futures on Saturday, June 4 in the stands of Sotir Stadium.

The Traveling Men performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” followed by an invocation led by Director of Community, Inclusion, and Equity Johnnie Foreman — the last time he would do so at Gilman before his retirement at the end of June. “Class of 2022, welcome to your Founders Day,” Smyth said in his opening remarks. He referenced an insight from soon-to-begraduate Jack Goldman’s senior speech about how we are the average of the five people with whom we surround ourselves. Smyth wanted to alter the theory just a bit; he thinks it could be more than five people. “Your social circles are going to continue to expand and change, and the accumulation of the relationships in your lives will help define you,” he said. “How you interact

with the people, places, and events in your lives … will also help to determine the type of world we all live in.”

He recounted reading “Secret Wisdom of the Earth” by Christopher Scotton, and he shared a wise lesson from the book about labeling versus understanding. “Labeling provides an easy way out by allowing us to fit things neatly into categories that work within our boundaries.” He went on to say that “seeking to understand … challenges us to push our own boundaries and expands our knowledge of the people, places, and things around us.”

Smyth continued to offer nuggets of wisdom to the group: Express curiosity and not judgment. Live with both confidence and humility. Lean on your strengths and lean on each other. Be first-class citizens. Practice the Gilman Five. Stop and say hey. Come back often to Gilman to visit.

Valedictorian Poe Doub ’22 began with a quote from an unassuming children’s book character: “How lucky am I to have something so special that makes saying goodbye so hard?” Winnie the Pooh’s sage advice felt fitting as Doub explained what made Gilman so special to him. He acknowledged several teachers like Middle School science teacher Coach Wally and Upper School classics teacher Toby Broadus. “Teachers like these made students so excited to come to class. With so many teachers like this at Gilman, it makes it so hard to say goodbye.”

Doub fondly remembered moments during his senior year spent supporting his classmates. “One of the clearest reasons that this goodbye is so hard to say is because of these guys behind me.” He continued on to say that while the big things — major academic milestones, athletic achievements, and artistic accomplishments — are worthwhile, it is the smaller experiences, like sharing time with friends or teachers during an off period, that make a place like Gilman so special.

Doub emphasized the power of positivity and the ability all people have in their own lives to focus on the blank road in front of them where they get to write their own stories and effect positive change to make contributions in the world.

Smyth presented a number of faculty and student awards, followed by additional remarks by outgoing Board President Mark R. Fetting ’ 72 and two moving pieces sung by the Traveling Men. After the celebratory awarding of diplomas, Foreman spoke about the years he spent at Gilman since 1984. “The young men I had the opportunity to coach and teach, they made me feel at home,” he said. “I love every part of this community. It’s been a blessing.”

“Let’s hear it for Coach!” someone shouted from the audience. Foreman concluded, “Life is best when you build bridges between people.”

Diplomas in hand, members of the Class of 2022 walked between the sections of chairs filled with their proud families, two by two. As they processed off the stage, they engaged in intricate handshakes, hugs, dances, faux golf swings, and even a brief piggyback ride. Congratulations to the Class of 2022!

the class of 2022

119 BOYS IN THIS GRADUATING CLASS ATTEND 69 INSTITUTIONS

ACROSS THE NATION

Ü 6 FINALISTS Ü 6 SEMIFINALISTS Ü 19 COMMENDED

25 BOYS

RECEIVED RECOGNITION FROM THE NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

83%

of the class headed to a top 200 school ranked by The Wall Street Journal

28

schools welcomed two or more incoming freshmen from Gilman

Six of the eight Ivy League schools include Gilman graduates in their first-year classes, with Cornell and Dartmouth welcoming the most, at three.

college choices

Boston College (3) Boston University (2) Bowie State University Brown University Bucknell University (3) Case Western Reserve University Clark Atlanta University Clemson University (2) Colgate University (2) University of Colorado Boulder Cornell University (3) The City University of New York Dartmouth College (3) University of Denver (2) Drexel University Duke University Elon University (2) Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2) Emory University (2) Franklin and Marshall College George Washington University Georgetown University Georgia Institute of Technology Hampton University Indiana University-Bloomington James Madison University Johns Hopkins University (4) Lehigh University Loyola University Maryland University of Mary Washington (2) University of Maryland – Baltimore County University of Maryland – College Park (7) Massachusetts Institute of Technology University of Miami University of Michigan – Ann Arbor University of Mississippi (2) New York University North Carolina A & T State University Northeastern University (2) University of Notre Dame (2) Oberlin College Occidental College Pennsylvania State University University of Pennsylvania University of Portland Princeton University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhodes College University of Richmond (2) University of Rochester Saint Joseph’s University University of South Carolina – Columbia (3) Southern Methodist University Stanford University Syracuse University (5) Tufts University (2) Tulane University of Louisiana (3) Union College United States Military Academy United States Naval Academy University of Vermont (2) Villanova University Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (3) University of Virginia (3) Wake Forest University (4) Washington and Lee University Washington University in St Louis (3) William & Mary (2) Yale University

TYING UP

THE GILMAN EXPERIENCE

Two years ago, the Gilman Alumni Association Board of Governors re-imagined the tradition of presenting the graduating seniors with their Gilman ties during the final weeks on campus. Because of pandemic restrictions, we couldn’t bring the Class of 2020 together in Centennial Hall to receive the ties, so instead, we took the ties to the boys. The event provided a great connection between the alumni and the students and was so well received by all that we repeated it last year. Once again, the experience produced such rave reviews that we did it again this year!

On Wednesday, June 1, members of the Alumni Association Board of Governors, the faculty, and the boys’ families — all Gilman alumni themselves — drove to each graduating senior’s home to present him with his Gilman tie. In all, 48 “drivers” delivered ties and class pins to the 120 members of the Class of 2022. Special shoutouts go to Brooks Matthews ’87, who piled up 164 miles making seven deliveries between Ellicott City and Annapolis, and to David Clinnin ’69 who graciously filled in for another alumnus who had a last-minute conflict and made a slew of deliveries as far north as Phoenix, Maryland.

Although their look has evolved over the years, these ties remain cherished mementos of Gilman graduates dating back to the School’s earliest days. It is our sincere hope that this small gesture helps the Class of 2022 to understand their importance within the Gilman community and the support that they have from the School’s entire alumni base.

In an email to the graduating seniors the day after the deliveries, Alumni Association Board of Governors President Malcolm Ruff ’02 and Director of Alumni Relations Nathaniel Badder ’94 wrote, “As your days on Roland Avenue draw to a close, we hope that the delivery of your Gilman tie will serve as an impactful and important milestone. In particular, we hope that you feel — as we both do — that Gilman instilled in you a core set of values that will help steer you as you embark on the next chapter of your life. And, we hope that you will view this tie as a connection between you and the network of more than 8,000 Gilman graduates who have previously passed through the School’s halls. Most importantly, we hope that you will lean on these men for advice, guidance, and support at every step along your journey.”