Gilman boys took full advantage of spring break to expand their horizons. Some visited new cultures, practicing their language skills. Some developed business skills by networking with Gilman alumni, and others represented Gilman in athletic matches beyond the MIAA.
The Middle School sponsored its biennial Spain trip during the break. From Lisbon to La Herradura to Seville to Pampaneira to Granada, 25 eighth grade boys caught jellyfish in the Mediterranean to learn about marine ecology, experienced first-hand Spanish art and architecture, enjoyed local cuisine, hiked the cliffs of the Sierra NevadaMountains, and honed their Spanish language and negotiation skills while purchasing souvenirs. During the trip, these digital natives learned that a week without a cell phone is both possible, and fun.
The varsity lacrosse team had a busy and productive spring break. They met with Jon Gordon, motivational speaker and author of The Hard Hat, held daily practices, and played two out-of-town games. When Jack Stuzin ’20 noticed on social media that Tennessee Titans WR Darius Jennings ’11 was in the area, he sent a note inviting him to the Hounds’ game vs. St. Anne’s Belfield in Charlottesville. What a thrilling surprise it was when Darius showed up to cheer the team to a 9-7 win and stayed to visit with his Gilman fans after the game! Players on the current lacrosse team were in Lower School when Darius was a star player on the Gilman football team. The team also toured the Fredericksburg Civil War battlefield during their trip to Virginia.
Indoor track senior captain Mason Freeman ’18 started off his spring break at the New Balance Indoor Nationalsat the famed New York Armory. With a jump of 22’ 4.25”, he finished in 12th place in the long jump championship division. He was the top finishing competitor from Maryland. Mason was named Maryland Boys Indoor Track Athlete of the Year.
Some athletes look beyond the 16 varsity sports offered at Gilman to make their mark. Parker Pearce ’19 and Aiden Tydings ’21 comprise half of the #No. 1-ranked Maryland team of the U.S. Polo AssociationInterscholastic League. At Cornell University during spring break, the team won the southeast regional title for the second year.
During the last day of their break, 13 Upper School students rose at the crack of dawn, dressed to impress, and boarded a New York-bound train for Wall Street 101, an annual trip offering an inside look at the world of finance through the eyes of Gilman alumni. They visited with Michael Faridi ’02, of Morgan Stanley, who offered an overview of the industry and suggested ways that students can position themselves for jobs on Wall Street. Jon Jackman ‘95, of Taconic Capital, hosted a conference-room lunch and explained the hedge fund industry. The afternoon brought a panel discussion at Berkshire Capital, hosted by Bruce Cameron ’74, and including Paul Stamas ‘00 of General Atlantic, Mark Bower ‘99 of Bienville Capital, Abe Choi ‘04 of BGC Partners, and Chris Merwin ‘03 of Goldman Sachs. Following the panel, Howard Feinglass `78, of Priam Capital, joined the group for a reception at which the boys practiced their networking skills. The boys received the benefit of more than 100 combined years of business experience, while alumni enjoyed meeting current Gilman students, who will soon be joining a network of alumni that is more than 8,200 strong across industries and around the globe.
