After graduation, school pride lives on

Alumni remain part of private school community

Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005

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For many private school graduates, the relationship with their school doesn’t end with graduation.

The strong ties they made with classmates, teachers and other faculty while in school can have lasting bonds, sometimes over generations.

‘‘I have a great sense of attachment to the school,” said Rockville resident Tim Dugan, a member of Georgetown Preparatory School class of 1972.

Dugan, the first of his family to attend the school, was followed by five nephews and two sons.

‘‘We’re attached to the school and now it’s a part of the family,” he said.

Alexander Gormley, of Potomac, a 2000 graduate of Prep, also has family connections at the school. Three of his four brothers attended Prep, too.

‘‘Prep is a tight-knit community,” he said. ‘‘There’s a lot of tradition and a lot of generations of interconnected families.”

But it’s more than family that keeps alumni involved, they say.

‘‘The experience there is what keeps people coming back,” Gormley said. ‘‘The teachers, faculty and priests who have been there, some of them for 40 or 50 years, they create the commonalities.”

Bethesda resident Amy Kaslow, a graduate of The Holton-Arms School class of 1977, said memories of her own school experience and interaction with current students spurred her to become active as an alumna.

A journalist, Kaslow got involved after she spoke to Holton-Arms students who worked on school publications.

‘‘They were very wide-eyed and because they were so excited, I became excited,” she said.

Continuing her relationship with the school validates who she has become, she said, comparing it to visiting an old neighborhood.

‘‘You see from whence you came,” she said.

Alice Consolvo, alumni director at Holton-Arms in Bethesda, said the relationship between schools and alumni is mutually beneficial.

‘‘Alumni are the school’s product,” she said. ‘‘We are aware that the strengths and the values of the school are really reflected in the alumni.”

Alumni also report back to the school what areas need to be strengthened, Consolvo said. In addition, they are great resources and role models for current students. They also provide financial support to the school.

‘‘I have been involved since I graduated with financial contributions and time with concession stands at athletic events, calling alumni for fund-raising purposes, other committees and the alumni association,” Dugan said.