THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE HUN SCHOOL OF PRINCETON
In 1914, John Gale Hun opened the doors to a Math tutoring school in the pursuit of preparing students to take on the rigors of the country’s top educational institutions. Over the past 108 years, The Hun School of Princeton has grown in size and ambition, celebrated momentous achievements, and has overcome challenges, emerging with a collective strength. We learn with joy, share in each other’s successes, and shape—action by action—a strong community where caring opens us to the best in ourselves and in others. Together, we can achieve anything.
Together, our strength is unbounded. 1
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THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE HUN SCHOOL OF PRINCETON
With a name inspired by a historic fight song, the StrengtHUNbounded Campaign for The Hun School of Princeton is a collective, community-wide initiative that encourages participation at every level from every member of the Hun family. We have already achieved so much in this campaign with $23 million raised to date. The pages ahead highlight some of our donors, recent gifts, and facilities projects. They merely scratch the surface of our ever-evolving and everlasting commitment to fulfill our promise to our students. Every name isn’t mentioned, but every gift has made an impact. Now in the campaign’s final year, we invite you to celebrate what has been accomplished thus far and consider joining the effort to help us cross the $25 million finish line on June 30, 2022.
THREE AREAS OF FOCUS Facilities, Endowment, Hun Fund 3
FACILITIES
The settings in which students learn can transform their experience as profoundly as the ideas they encounter. Learning at Hun is dynamic and experiential, with an emphasis on core skills like collaborative problem solving, ethical decision making, effective communication, leadership, creativity, cultural competency, and critical thinking. As we modernize and enhance our campus, we are focusing on spaces that facilitate this type of learning. Together, we are creating spaces for tomorrow’s leaders.
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Over
$10 million
raised
In 2018, Hun opened and dedicated a brand new athletic grandstand overlooking the Natale Family Athletic Field. The new grandstand more than doubled the existing seating, provides unobstructed views, handicapped seating, a new concession stand, a gathering space for fans, and a new sound system.
In 2021, Hun celebrated the opening of the Breen Performing Arts Center and DAYLO STEM Center. This project transformed the western wing of the Chesebro Academic Center with eye-catching aesthetics and state-of-the-art technology.
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FACILITIES COMFORTABLE WITH BEING UNCOMFORTABLE:
How Lexi Thomas ’22 Discovered Her Love For The Spotlight
When Lexi Thomas ’22 joined The Hun School as a 7th grader, she took a leap of faith by joining Mr. Esher’s Performing Arts class, based solely on the fact that she recognized his name from orientation. With having no background in acting, or even an inkling of what it would require of her, she decided to give it a shot. “When I first came to Hun, I was extremely shy and introverted,” she said. “On the first day of Mr. Esher’s drama class we had to perform monologues in front of the whole class and I remember being absolutely terrified. After a while, that class really broke me out of my shell and it’s been paying off ever since.” Lexi recalls always being in the theatre as a Middle School student, catching glimpses of Upper School rehearsals and performances any chance she got. When she finally made her way to the Upper School, she dove head first into all aspects of the performing arts department. As a freshman, her first performance was the musical Little Women, where she was casted as the lead, Jo March. “I couldn’t believe that I got the lead in the play my freshman year,” she said. “I really love how Hun’s Performing Arts department is really non-discriminatory. Casting isn’t based on seniority; it’s based on talent and connections on stage.” As a six-year performing arts student, Lexi is one of the few students on campus who has witnessed the evolution of the new Breen Performing Arts Center. “I spent so much time in the old theatre that I really consider it my home,” she said. “When construction began, my friends and I were all so nervous that it wouldn’t be done in time for our senior year. When I came back to campus this year and stepped on stage for the first time, it was really emotional for me.” Lexi explains that while no physical changes were made to the stage itself, the new modern touches on the rest of the theatre make it feel as though she is performing on Broadway. “The dressing rooms, the middle aisle, the high-tech sound booth, the lighting and paneling,” she said. “It is so modern and it really feels official now.” As the curtain closes on Lexi’s time at The Hun School, she notes that she has the Performing Arts department to thank for her evolution: “Because of theatre, I have learned to fall in love with being uncomfortable,” she said. “I have learned how to adapt to different circumstances around me, I have mastered public speaking, and I have wholeheartedly enjoyed the ability to share someone’s story.” 7
FACILITIES SUNNY PARK ’22 MARRIES HER LOVE FOR COMPUTER SCIENCE AND HUMAN HEALTH BIOLOGY IN INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Sunny Park ’22 has always sought out community service opportunities both in America and South Korea as a chance to immerse herself in a different community, but when a recent volunteer opportunity introduced her to an internship that changed the trajectory of her educational endeavors, she was forever grateful. While Sunny studies in America at The Hun School, she volunteers as an assistant coach for the Special Olympics; when she goes back home to South Korea, she is a coach at the Child Development Center, where she teaches children with disabilities how to swim. During her recent volunteering experience, she became curious of what technology existed in the world to assist people with hearing or vision impairments. “My community service really opened my eyes to a whole community of people and it made me realize that there isn’t much technology associated with helping people with disabilities,” Sunny says. “That realization really fueled my internship search to find a computer science company that supported people with disabilities.” When Sunny traveled back home to South Korea, she began submitting applications for summer internship opportunities. During her search, she stumbled across an opening for a website and app developer for the company EQ4ALL. Upon doing her initial research, she knew that the company aligned with her mission of supporting people with disabilities. Throughout her internship, she was responsible for coding and creating the entire website in both English and Korean. “EQ4ALL created an app that assists deaf or hard of hearing people with public announcement accessibility,” she said. “When downloaded, the app uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to display an avatar on the screen that will communicate any public announcement via sign language.” Sunny explains that EQ4ALL is the first company in South Korea to hire deaf or hard of hearing individuals in their informational technology department. She notes that working with those individuals really changed her entire perspective of life and was the driving force behind her pursuing computer science combined with human health biology. “This internship taught me so much more than just computer science,” she said. “I always conflicted because I thought that I needed to pick between my two loves: computer science and the medical field, but this internship really proved to me that there are so many opportunities for me to combine both. If anything, my experience in computer science will only further me in the world of human health biology.” After her summer internship at EQ4ALL, Sunny is certain in her decision to pursue both computer science and human health biology wherever she attends college. She notes that her ideal job would be to create medical technology using computer science to further advancements in the medical field.
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Ever Onward A MODERNIZED AND EXPANDED HEALTH CENTER As we prepare students to thrive in an ever-changing world, we recognize that health and wellness are essential to our students’ success. We are committed to providing a campus environment where mental and physical well-being is paramount, and this includes evolving our programs and facilities that keep our students healthy and safe during their time on campus. The current health center is located on the first floor of Russell Hall and consists of an exam room, a treatment area, and an office. While efficient, it does not meet the expanding needs of our student body. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic highlighted the acute need for isolation rooms and an expanded health center for our resident students. A new health center, envisioned in a converted space across the hall from its current location, will allow for the following necessary enhancements: • a reception area and waiting room • overnight rooms for ill or injured students requiring supervision • isolation rooms • a restroom • fully equipped exam and treatment rooms • an appropriate office space for our nurses • accommodations for an overnight nurse to care for admitted students This modernized and expanded health center will allow us to provide the best care possible in a proper facility that is equipped to serve all those who call The Hun School home. 10
FACILITIES
99% TO GOAL
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ENDOWMENT
For more than 100 years, The Hun School has worked toward making its educational opportunities available to students without regard to their financial resources. Tuition and fees make up about 90% of the School’s operating budget. The endowment provides a permanent source of income, offsetting operating expenses, providing funding for distinctive academic and extracurricular programs, and supporting financial aid for deserving students. Our endowed funds are invested strategically to ensure steady growth with minimal risk. The result of this investment policy has been cumulative average growth of about 10% over the last five years. With a strategic investment policy and the generosity of gracious donors, our endowment stands at $34 million today. With our StrengtHUNbounded campaign, we have committed to growing the endowment in order for the School to thrive for generations to come.
The Dianne Somers International Program Fund was established by George Koh '71 and his daughter Yvonne Koh '09 in honor of Dianne Somers; a teacher, counselor, mentor, friend, and “mom” to all students who call Hun a home away from home. This fund will continue her legacy and ensure the international program continues to flourish well into the future. “I hope other international students feel how I felt. I was welcomed and wasn’t afraid to do and achieve outside of my comfort zone.” —Yvonne Koh ʼ09
OVER 7 MILLION RAISED IN SCHOLARSHIPS, ENDOWED PROGRAM SUPPORT, AND PLANNED GIFTS 12
The Holmes, Jacobs and Wright H'14 Endowed Scholarship was initiated by the Class of 1980 in honor of Fred “Bobo” Holmes, Edwin “Jake” Jacobs, and Arthur Wright H'14. Bobo, Jake, and Arthur enriched the lives of Hun students through socialization, mentorship, guidance, and friendship. Their compassion and nurturing extended throughout the entire Hun community and they became emblematic of the values of good citizenship and strong character. The Holmes, Jacobs and Wright H'14 Endowed Scholarship will be awarded annually to a black student with demonstrated financial need.
The Peter and Kimberly Fonseca Endowed Scholarship was established by siblings PJ Fonseca '04 and Jillian Fonseca Mederos '05 in honor of their parents who supported their Hun School education. This fund celebrates the Fonseca Family’s generosity of spirit, their unwavering commitment to education, and their love and respect for The Hun School. Hun supports a diverse group of students from all walks of life and inspires strong character, resilience, and leadership; the Peter and Kimberly Fonseca Endowed Scholarship celebrates this pursuit and will be awarded annually to a Latinx student with demonstrated financial need. “Hun was able to provide a great opportunity to my sister and me. The School taught me how to communicate, think strategically, and allowed me to be more confident going into college, which have been key attributes to my success. The safe environment allowed me to grow into a more confident human being. ” —PJ Fonseca ʼ04
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ENDOWMENT
The John Gale Hun Society honors those members of the Hun community who have informed the School that they have included Hun in their estate plans.
109 MEMBERS
Former Head of School Dr. James Byer '62 and Susan Byer, longtime members of the John Gale Hun Society, recently revised their estate plans and increased their planned gift to the School, which will establish the Byer Scholarship Fund that will support tuition, room and board, academic support services and other ancillary expenses for a student with demonstrated financial need. “Hun holds a special place in our hearts and we are delighted to provide the opportunity of a Hun education to a deserving student.”
Barbara Otway Rose '74 is one of the newest members of The John Gale Hun Society. “I am supporting The Hun School with my planned gift because I feel that Hun is a very special place and because of the impact it had on me, from excellent faculty members, the numerous opportunities it presented me with, the confidence my education instilled in me and so many very fond memories. My hope with this gift is to give other young students the ability to experience the same things.”
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HUN FUND
Each and every member of the Hun community benefits from the Hun Fund. The Hun Fund is an essential unrestricted financial resource, supplementing the operating budget, and allowing the School leadership the most flexibility to ensure our students are provided a learning experience that is second to none. Over the past four years we have exceeded our Hun Fund goals showcasing the strength of our community. We are just shy of our five-year projected total. It is our goal in this final year to show our Strength is Unbounded by achieving the highest Hun Fund total in School history, and in turn, blowing the five-year projection out of the water. To do that, it will be critical to increase participation from our alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends. With more of us invested in the future of our School, the stronger we will be and the more unbounded possibilities we will witness.
HUN FUND GIVING $1,500,000 $1,200,000
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FY18
FY19
FY20
FY21
COMING SOON. . .
$1.3M GOAL
$1.29 RAISED
$1.2M GOAL
$1.17 RAISED
$1.1M GOAL
$1,236,925 RAISED
$0
$1.05M GOAL
$300,000
$1,113,054 RAISED
$600,000
$1.02M GOAL
$900,000
FY22
Over
$5 million
raised
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Marching Forth Marching Forth
Created The Hun Black Alumni Network (HBAN) with the goal of bringing the Black alumni community together to strengthen connections and relationships with the School, each other, the wider alumni community, and current students. HBAN works in partnership with the Hun School’s Cultural Competency Committee and Advancement Office to create engaging and collaborative programming for the community throughout the year.
When Raja Subramoni ’88 and Meena Subramoni ’98 lost their father, they knew they wanted to honor his legacy and their fond memories of him, and celebrate their mother, Dr. Jaya Subramoni. Together, the three established the Subramoni Family Scholarship, a four-year scholarship awarded to a female day student of color with demonstrated financial need. “As the children of immigrants, we saw what hard work and making something for your family really means. We are recipients of that generosity and how fortunate we are.” —Raja Subramoni ʼ88 “You don’t realize at the time, but looking back on all Hun taught me from the time management and organizational skills to the sports and the social aspect— it was amazing. We want to do that for someone else.” —Meena Subramoni ʼ98
RAISED OVER
$125,000 IN GIFTS OF $100 OR LESS 18
BUILT A STUDENT AND YOUNG ALUMNI SERVICES WEBPAGE TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR YOUNGEST RAIDERS.
Siblings Xavier Goss ’99 and Melissa Goss ’07 established the Goss Family Scholarship in honor of their parents, Doreen and Louis, who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica and provided them with the gift of a Hun School education. This fund provides support for all four years in the Upper School to a Black student with demonstrated financial need. “I’m hoping for the multiplier effect—a broader impact. I want to motivate other people to do this and hope this turns into a movement.” —Xavier Goss ʼ99
Hosted Career Panels with Over 80 Alumni and Parents.
700+ Members
Topics included Medicine and Healthcare, Technology and Engineering, Performing Arts, Athletics, Law and Government, Finance, Front Line and First Responders, and Art and Design.
Established The Russell Loyalty Circle, recognizing Hun's most loyal donors with consecutive years of giving through gifts of any amount to all areas of the School.
LAUNCHED RAIDER LINK Hun's hub for meaningful connections and mentorship. Enabling Raiders around the globe the opportunity to stay in touch.
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$2.1 million Remaining
Our work is not done. We hope you will join the many generous donors and consider supporting the School through a gift to the Hun Fund, the endowment, the Health Center, or by joining The John Gale Hun Society with a planned gift.
Our School has never been stronger, nor our future brighter. When we come together, our strength is unbounded.
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THE CAMPAIGN FOR THE HUN SCHOOL OF PRINCETON
MORE INFORMATION If you are interested in supporting The StrengtHUNbounded Campaign for The Hun School of Princeton, please contact Alexis Brock, Chief Advancement Officer at alexisbrock@hunschool.org.