HOLDERNESS TRAILBLAZERS:

In Their Own Words

In January, Holderness hosted a panel discussion with the school’s first female students. Panelists included Hannah Artuso ’71, Cindy Fisher ’71, Sue Francesco ’72, Piper Orton ’74, Heidi O’Connor ’79, Betsy Paine ’80, and Christine Louis ’81.

CHRISTINE LOUIS ’81

“Thinking about the time that has elapsed and all that’s gone on in the world, I think it was an incredible experiment. It was very brave on the part of the board and the faculty but also the young women who sought to avail themselves of that opportunity. I think we made a huge impact that was really positive and I look around and am just so warmed by what has continued in that community here.”

PIPER ORTON ’74

“We knew we were being watched carefully in terms of how we would do and how we would do academically, how we would form relationships, whether we would behave, whether we would drink - all of those things. We really felt like we had to really both do well, but also uphold a certain standard.”

BETSY PAINE ’80

“In 1977 Pete Woodward came to Holderness School and when I was trying to figure out where I was going to be, I came up and met with him and said ‘I want to go to school here.’ Pete - thank you for your vision, for your commitment, for all the work that it took to create a dorm that next year.”

HANNAH ARTUSO ’71 who successfully asked Headmaster Don Hagerman for admittance to Holderness School in 1969.

“Some of you may have mottos in your family. My mother had a wonderful one which resonates with me to this day. Her motto is, and I hope you’ll take this home with you: ‘Ask. All they can do is say no.’ So when I said I thought I should be able to attend Holderness, she said ‘Ask. All they can do is say no.’”

PIPER ORTON ’74

“The girls in this room—and the boys in this room— you can aspire to be anything you want to be, anything you want to be. Nothing is closed to you. That was not how we felt back in 1974 or 1977, 1978. ”

CINDY FISHER ’71

BETSY PAINE ’80

“It was really fun to be underestimated. I also know from my whole adult life, there is huge power in being underestimated—and I think we all learned some of that here. ”

HANNAH

“

ARTUSO ’71

Each of us has a trailblazer in us . One of the things that has been with me since I left Holderness is knowing I can be a trailblazer and knowing the importance of stretching myself and getting out of my comfort zone.”

“I had the experience of being the only girl that some of the faculty had ever taught. In French class I was ‘Mademoiselle’ but everyone else had a special nickname that the French teacher had put together. Part of my experience turned me into what’s basically a raving feminist ever since. The chem teacher hadn’t ever taught a girl before. He was a little bit difficult to work with, but the guys were great. The students, I don’t think I had any problem with any of them.”