This past weekend, The Gunston School hosted the 2025 Maryland State High School Rowing Championships on its 75-acre campus situated on the Corsica River, bringing together 130 athletes and approximately 300 spectators from across the state. Participating programs included Roland Park Country School, Elizabeth Seton High School, Freedom Rowers, Blair Crew, and host team Gunston.

“I’m incredibly proud of our rowers—not just for their strong finishes, but for the teamwork, determination, and grace they showed throughout the regatta. Hosting this event is always an honor, and it was wonderful to see so many dedicated young athletes competing at such a high level,” said Assistant Athletic Director for Waterfront Athletics and Head Crew Coach Natalie Reading. Thanks to the Corsica River’s natural protection, race conditions remained consistent and calm all day—perfect for competition.

Roland Park Country School was named the overall state champion, with strong finishes across multiple events, including gold in the Women’s Varsity 4+ (WV4+) and Women’s Novice 4+ (WN4+). Gunston earned second place overall, highlighted by gold medals in both the Men’s Varsity 4+ (MV4+) and Men’s Junior Varsity 4+ (MJV4+). Medals were awarded for all first-place finishes, and the event served as a celebration of the dedication and sportsmanship of Maryland’s young rowers.

Support for the regatta was provided by USRowing, the Maryland Natural Resources Police, and the Maryland State Police. Thanks to strong collaboration between coaches, race officials, and safety agencies, this year’s regatta ran more smoothly than ever before, earning praise from participants and spectators alike. Additional images can be found online at row2k.com.

The Gunston School’s Rocketry Team recently concluded its most active and ambitious season yet, with 19 students participating in the 2025 American Rocketry Challenge (ARC)—the nation’s largest middle and high school rocketry competition. Guided by mentors Dr. Ken Wilson, Mr. Ryan Reading, and Dr. Mariah Goodall, students began meeting in October, devoting 11 weekends to designing, building, and testing their own rockets using raw materials supplied by the school.

This year’s ARC challenge required students to engineer a rocket capable of carrying two hen eggs, mounted sideways, to an altitude of 790 feet. After reaching that height, the rocket had to separate into two sections that would descend independently via parachute, with the egg-containing section landing exactly 42 seconds after launch. In addition to meeting these complex design criteria, students had to pass safety inspections, conduct flight simulations, and work collaboratively through challenges in construction, testing, and troubleshooting.

The student-led program was coordinated by senior Emma Sharp, who served as the team’s “Rocketry Tsar.” She oversaw logistics, documentation, and supported team problem-solving throughout the year. During the fall semester, while Emma participated in the Chesapeake Watershed Semester, junior Connor Joyce stepped in as “Rocketry Rasputin,” offering critical support with rocket design and simulation software.

The Gunston rocketry students were divided into four teams. Team Mini Apollo, led by Eamon Schopfer ’26, came the closest to achieving the altitude goal, reaching 837 feet—just a 6% deviation from the target. Team Stellar Stooges, led by AJ Friedrich ’27 and including Nevin Porter ’26, Denis Hein ’26, Aiden Filer ’26, and Tiago Paul ’27, drew attention for their rocket’s striking Maryland flag design. The team’s craftsmanship and artistic execution stood out, and the rocket flew straight and true in testing, though it also experienced occasional issues with parachute deployment.

Team Sparrow, led by Tommy McGeady ’25 alongside teammates Trevor Janssen ’25, Jed Cohen ’26, and Andrew Shingledecker ’27, took a bold approach with a rocket design featuring mid-body canards in addition to traditional tail fins. Team Short Rocket, which included Logan Kile ’25, Kyle Dixon ’27, Blake Algier ’26, Tai Davis ’28, Caden Quiron ’26, and Grant Edgar ’28, focused on innovation. Logan designed a clustered-engine rocket powered by three motors and incorporating student-designed 3D-printed parts. The rocket passed inspection and was cleared for launch at Red Glare, but a loose electrical connection in the ignition system prevented liftoff. The team plans to attempt the rocket’s first full launch at Gunston later this spring.

These four teams of 19 students attended the Red Glare Rocketry Festival in Church Hill, Md., and brought five rockets for launch. Each team underwent formal inspections with the Range Safety Officer before heading to a professionally managed launch field, where rockets were flown one at a time. In addition to their ARC rockets, students launched a two-stage rocket built from a kit by Connor Joyce ’26, a tube-fin rocket, and a scale model of NASA’s Space Launch System, which is designed to return humans to the moon. Nearly all the rockets featured custom-designed 3D-printed components fabricated by students themselves.

“While the teams did not advance to the ARC national finals, the season was marked by bold design choices, meaningful learning experiences, and a deepened understanding of engineering, collaboration, and persistence,” said Dr. Wilson. “Students definitely finished the program with a stronger foundation in aerospace and STEM fields, as well as a sense of pride in the growth and creativity they demonstrated throughout the year.”

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Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located on 75 waterfront acres in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Gunston School is pleased to welcome Mike Hardesty as its new Director of Facilities. Hardesty brings 18 years of experience in maintaining and enhancing educational campuses, combined with a strong commitment to environmental sustainability—a core Gunston value. He is a graduate of Washington College with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Biology and Environmental Science, as well as a Master’s in Environmental Science and Policy from Johns Hopkins University.

Most recently, he was the Associate Director of Staff and Programs for the Center of Environment and Society at Washington College, as well as the Director of their River and Field Campus–a 5,000 acre property that was gifted to the college for integration into their educational mission. During his time there, he served as the staff lead for the design and construction of Semans Griswold Environmental Hall, the college’s 10,000-square foot flagship sustainability facility, and was responsible for ensuring that the building achieved certification under Living Building Standards.

“I am excited to join the Gunston community,” said Hardesty. “As someone deeply committed to environmental sustainability, I am eager to help shape a campus that reflects the school’s commitment to not just the environment and sustainability but also innovation.”

In his new role at Gunston, Hardesty will manage all aspects of the school’s 75-acre campus and physical plant, overseeing a team of support staff and vendor partners. Additionally, he will oversee the upcoming campus upgrades including new athletic fields, a new campus quad, and will work closely with Gunston’s Director of Sustainability Brad Hirsh on the development of the recently-acquired 40 acres of property that include plans for outdoor educational spaces, trails, signage, and more.

“Mike offers a unique combination of buildings and grounds experience, coupled with a deep understanding of a core Gunston priority–environmental sustainability,” said Head of School John Lewis.

Gunston has long been a leader in environmental education, with its annual Chesapeake Bay Studies experiential learning program, the Environmental Leadership for Independent School Leaders workshop, and the innovative Chesapeake Watershed Semester (CWS), now in its sixth year.

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Founded in 1911 and currently enrolling 247 students, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Gunston School’s 9th Bull & Oyster Roast was a resounding success, welcoming more than 200 guests this past Saturday, October 19 to the school’s waterfront campus. Attendees enjoyed a festive atmosphere with delicious food, drinks, and entertainment, while rallying together to support the school’s mission. In total, the event raised a record $170,000, making this year’s event the most successful in its history and one  that will leave a lasting impact on the students and faculty, furthering Gunston’s mission and environmental initiatives.

“This event and its success is a direct result of the hard work and support of more than 30 parent volunteers,” remarked Event Chair Valerie Overton, P’24’27. “Additionally, 52 sponsors raised more than enough funds to underwrite the event, making sure all of the evening’s proceeds went directly to programming.”

The evening featured a highly anticipated live auction led by Bryan Trautman, P’23’27 with extraordinary items, including a 7-day vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, a one-week stay in Montego Bay, Jamaica, a Paul Reed Smith Guitar–SE Zach Myers edition, a catered cocktail cruise for eight, 10 VIP tickets to Gunston’s 2025 Graduation, and a VIP parking space for the 2025-2026 school year. The online silent auction, which ran from October 13-20, gave the broader Gunston community the opportunity to bid on a variety of items.

“We invest in our kids’ education because we believe that a great education will set our kids up for life,” said Isabel Hardesty, a member of Gunston’s Board of Trustees and the Executive Director of Shore Rivers as she addressed the crowd. “In my career, I review hundreds of applications and I can tell you, the things that I look for, you can get at Gunston. I look for candidates who are driven and have high standards. Students get that here. I look for experiential learning and real-world experiences and, again, students get that here. You don’t get these kinds of opportunities at other schools. The rigorous academics, experiential learning, access to the water and environment, this idyllic setting, and an overall ethos of preparing good citizens (not just good students!)—all of this sets Gunston apart and prepares our children to be able to navigate the world, find meaningful work, and give back to their community.”

The “Stop the Auction and Raise the Paddle” portion of the evening was a highlight, raising an impressive $66,000 to support Gunston’s environmental teaching and learning programs. The funds will enhance the Chesapeake Watershed Semester and Chesapeake Bay Studies programs and help develop the school’s new 40-acre waterfront property, with trails, educational spaces, and resources for field trips like a new van, kayaks, and kayak trailer. The event also contributed to the Environmental Scholars Fund, ensuring all students can participate in these vital programs. Each dollar raised through the silent and live auctions as well as the “Raise the Paddle” will be matched by a generous grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation.

Items sold in both the live and silent auction were also eligible for the match. “Our goal was to be able to match at least $60,000 of the grant,” explained Head of School John Lewis. “And thanks to the outpouring of generosity of the Gunston community, we went well beyond that goal and matched all $100,000, meaning every dollar raised now has double the impact.”

The event had 52 sponsors. This year’s Heron Heroes include Waterfront Sponsor Fred Frederick Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Easton (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25), Middleton Sponsors Horace K. Wood, DMD Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (Leigh & Dr. Horace Wood, P’24’27), Joyce & Associates, LLC (Christine & Kevin Joyce, P’26), and Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC (Brigitte & Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27).

Everdell Sponsors McCallister, Detar, Showalter & Walker (Adele & Ryan Showalter, P’25’27 and Melissa & Doug Walker, P’25’27), Paul Ewing’s Contractor Supply (Pam & Charlie Andrews, P’26), and “Friends of Gunston.” Corsica Sponsors include PepUp (The McMahan Family, P’27’28), Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals and The Dreeke Family, P’28. Green & White Team Sponsors include Wye Mills Mechanical, LLC, Dr. Laurie & John Lewis, and the Shifrin Family, P’21’21.

This year’s Bull & Oyster Roast sponsors include Oyster Sponsor Precision Contracts (Lesley & Tim Faff, P’23’26), BBQ Sponsors ShoreGate Partners (Chesley & Justin Nonemaker, P’27),  What’s Up? Media, Faithful Accounting & Consulting, Inc. (Edward & Heather Bennett, P’27), Whiting Turner, and Wye Gardens (Will Gordon, P’28).

Pearl Sponsors include Shore United Bank (The Augustus Family, P’26’28), Collette & Stephen Figliozzi, P’26, and Delaware Podiatric Medicine (Dr. Jacob & Rebecca Hanlon, P’22’25’27). Pit Beef Sponsors include Island Creek Events (Katharine Greenlee Henning ’07), Smithey Law Group (Joyce Smithey, P’26), Emily’s Produce, Chesapeake Yacht & Property Management, LLC (The Overton Family, P’24’27), Mr. Glenn Michael, Kent School, The Malone Family, P’28, Steve & Catherine MacGlashan ’88, P’23’25’26, Gretchen Wichlinski, P’28 with Compass Real Estate, Vance & Gina Morris, P’25’26, and DataLink Interactive.

Half Shell Sponsors Mark & Diane Freestate, P’98, The Johnston Family, P’23’25’28, Avon-Dixon, an Alera Group Agency, LLC, The Simmons Family, P’14’22, The Baer Family, P’28, and The Parkhurst Family ’88, P’18’21’23 and our Shore Sponsors are Fit Flock, The Hartman Family, P’27, Friel Lumber Company, Reliable Pest Control, Wrench & Socket (Beth & Tim Lavery ’26), The Steinberg Family, P’25, The Walker Family, P’21’25, The Caron Family, P’17, The Elfenbein Family, P’25, Ildi & Mory Watkins, P’26’28, and Palmer Properties, LLC (Michele & Barrie Palmer, P’26), Mrs. Ilona Varga, GP’26’28, and The Algier Family, P’23’26. A special thank you to Drapers of Centreville for their in-kind donation and event support.

Photos by dKin Photography

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Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

On Tuesday, October 8, The Gunston School cut the ribbon on “Sollers Field,” its newest Bermuda grass playing field, dedicating it to the memory of Emilie Middleton Durham and Carter Middleton Bond, granddaughters of the school’s original founders, Mary and Sam Middleton. In attendance to cut the ribbon were several descendents of the sisters, including Wick Sollers, son of Carter Bond, and Norm Durham, son of Emille Durham.

In 2022 & 2023, Mr. Sollers worked very closely with Gunston to help them acquire the 40 acres of land adjacent to the campus from the estate of his late mother, increasing the campus size from 40 acres to 75 acres. Mr. Sollers shared, “My family has a deep affection for the Gunston School, and we have been gratified to watch its extremely positive trajectory under the leadership of [Head of School] John Lewis and his team. We are delighted—and my Mom, her sister Emille, and their parents and grandparents would also have been delighted—that Gunston is the steward of, and uses wisely, the beautiful land that it acquired from my family.”

Indeed, when construction began on the new property, Mr. Sollers generously donated the funds to turn a former farming field into a pristine Bermuda-grass playing field. Mr. Sollers spent many hours of his childhood on Gunston’s campus in the summer before eventually heading off to Princeton University where he was a three time all-American and all-Ivy lacrosse player. From there, he enjoyed a storied legal career, and has been a strong supporter of independent education over the years, valuing not only Gunston’s commitment to education but also its commitment to physical fitness and the outdoors as essential elements of adolescent growth and development.

Sollers Field is one of two brand new fields currently in the works at Gunston in addition to plans for several pavilion spaces for community gathering, additional parking, and a beautiful new campus quad.

Gunston’s varsity field hockey team was the first to play on the field, winning against St. Mary’s Ryken High School, 2-1.

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Founded in 1911 and currently enrolling 247 students, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.

The Gunston School’s signature fundraising event, the Bull & Oyster Roast, will be held on Saturday, October 19 from 5-9 p.m. on the school’s waterfront campus, overlooking the Corsica River. The evening includes delicious food provided by Phat Daddy’s BBQ and Superior OysterShuckers as well as a beer truck, wine pull, and signature cocktail. DJ Kevin with Good Vibrations Entertainment will be back and taking requests for the dance floor.

Now in its ninth year, the Bull & Oyster Roast features an online silent auction, a live auction, and a “Stop the Auction and Raise the Paddle” portion which raises dedicated funds for a specific cause each year. This year, Gunston has a special opportunity to raise funds for a matching $100,000 matching grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation. This grant will boost environmental education programs, including the Chesapeake Watershed Semester and Chesapeake Bay Studies. It will support the school’s new 40-acre waterfront property with educational spaces, trails, and signage, and fund a van, kayaks, and trailer for field trips. Additionally, it will fund an Environmental Scholars Fund to ensure all students can participate.

“We are so fortunate to have received this opportunity from the EE Ford Foundation,” explains Head of School John Lewis. “To ‘unlock’ the grant, we need to raise $100,000 dedicated to this cause. To help achieve this goal, we are earmarking all of the proceeds from the live and silent auctions, the Best of Live Auction Raffle, and the “Stop the Auction” portion of the Bull & Oyster Roast to this initiative.”

The online silent auction runs from October 14-20, giving the entire Gunston community a chance to bid on an array of fantastic vacations and fun experiences, golf outings, professional photography sessions, artwork, and more. This year’s raffle and live auction will be in person and includes a handful of big ticket items such as vacation packages with more details to be announced soon.

“We are in need of auction items for both the live and silent portion,” explains Bull & Oyster Roast Chair Valerie Overton, P’24’28. “Please consider donating your vacation home for a getaway or airline miles and hotel points. We’re also looking for things such as  personalized, VIP or behind-the-scenes experiences, signed sports memorabilia, event tickets, lessons—those are always very popular. And of course we welcome gift certificates from local restaurants and catering services, spas, boutiques– it all creates an unforgettable experience that not only raises funds for our school but creates lasting memories for the winning bidder!”

“This is also a wonderful sponsorship opportunity,” explains Gunston Parents Association President Ildi Watkins, P’26’28. “Please consider an individual or corporate sponsorship, as your generosity underwrites this event and makes it possible to raise the funds our students need.”

Tickets are on sale now at gunston.org/bullroast24 with early-bird pricing at $85 per person until August 31, $95 from Sept. 1-30, and $110 per person from Oct. 1-19. Tickets for alumni as well as former faculty and staff, and guests of current faculty and staff are $80. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.

Sponsorships for the Bull & Oyster Roast range from $150 up to $5,000 with a price point for every budget. Additionally, there is an option to become a Heron Hero, which combines the sponsorship benefits of all three Gunston fundraising events, the Bull & Oyster Roast on October 19, the Heron Pickleball Tournament on April 12, and the Golfing fore Gunston on May 2.

This year’s Heron Heroes include Waterfront Sponsor Fred Frederick Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Easton (Janell & Jeffrey Frederick, P’23’25), Middleton Sponsors Joyce & Associates, LLC (Christine & Kevin Joyce, P’26), Easton Dermatology Associates, LLC (Brigitte & Dr. Donald Stranahan, P’25’27), and “Friends of Gunston.” Corsica Sponsor Ebb Tide Tent & Party Rentals, and Green & White Team Sponsors Wye Mills Mechanical, LLC, Dr. Laurie & John Lewis, and the Shifrin Family, P’21’21.

This year’s Bull & Oyster Roast sponsors include BBQ Sponsors ShoreGate Partners (Chesley & Justin Nonemaker, P’27) and What’s Up? Media, Pit Beef Sponsor Island Creek Events (Katharine Greenlee Henning ’07), Half Shell Sponsor Smithey Law Group (Joyce Smithey, P’26) and Shore Sponsor Fit Flock.

The Gunston School is thrilled to announce it has been awarded a $100,000 matching grant from the Edward E. Ford Foundation to enhance its renowned environmental education programs and support the development of the school’s newly acquired property. Gunston has long been a leader in environmental education, with its annual Chesapeake Bay Studies experiential learning program, the Environmental Leadership for Independent School Leaders workshop, and the innovative Chesapeake Watershed Semester (CWS). CWS was launched with support from a previous EE Ford grant, and will soon launch its sixth semester.

The grant will be matched by $100,000 through annual fundraising efforts, totaling $200,000. This new EE Ford Grant will support transportation and equipment with the purchase of a passenger van, kayaks, and a trailer for field trips and water-based learning, benefiting all environmental programs. It will provide support for the development of Gunston’s recently acquired 40-acre waterfront property, including outdoor educational spaces, trails, and signage. Additionally, the grant will fund an Environmental Scholars Fund, a means of financial support for students to participate in the school’s diverse environmental learning programs.

“This is the second prestigious EE Ford grant we’ve received for our dynamic environmental teaching and learning programs, and the foundation seeks to honor schools that are at the forefront of educational innovation,” said Head of School John Lewis. “This grant will further inspire and educate future leaders in environmental science and stewardship. It provides great momentum as we welcome our new director for CWS and Sustainability, Mr. Brad Hirsh, in July. Let me thank both Ms. Ronnie Vesnaver and Ms. Melissa Haber for their great work on this grant proposal.”

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Founded in 1911, The Gunston School is an independent, nonprofit, nonsectarian, coeducational, college preparatory high school located on 75 waterfront acres in Centreville, Maryland. Visit gunston.org for more information.