Longevity, Loyalty, Love for Collegiate

6/27/2016

Imagine a time very long ago when The Collegiate School for Girls was a fledgling start-up on the outskirts of Downtown Richmond with modest facilities, no tradition to speak of, and a future that was anything but certain.

Today, we know her students mostly from handwritten records, oral history, and black-and-white yearbook photos, and it’s unimaginable that any of them could in their wildest dreams envision the evolution of their school – or even its existence – 101 years after its creation.

On June 10, six fourth-generation Collegiate students received their diplomas. For most, their arrival on North Mooreland Road in 2003 was virtually predestined. There was no second choice. What had been home for Mom or Dad or Mom and Dad and Grandma and Great Grandma before them would be their home for 13 years.

Their presence represents longevity, for sure. More important, it reflects loyalty, connection, commitment, and love for Collegiate. And legacy. Definitely legacy! What better reasons could there be for wearing – and living – Green and Gold?

Please enjoy the thoughts, insight, and perspective of the alumni parents of our fourth-generation graduates.

I had such a good experience (at Collegiate) making friends who are still some of my very closest friends today. As much as I probably complained while I was a student, I realized on (my) graduation day what a great environment it was, not only for the education but also with teachers who pushed me. It takes graduating to actually appreciate what you have…and what you had. I certainly realized that once I got into college and saw how much further ahead I was. I was very proud that I was a third generation to graduate. My son was very excited to be a fourth. There’s an element of pride that your parents, grandparents, and great grandparents went to the same school.

Chris McCracken ’79 (father of Jack McCracken ’16, son of Anne Latham Roberts McCracken ’56, grandson of Waller Jeffress Roberts ’29)

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Collegiate was a pretty easy decision. It was part of our blood. We were blessed with three kids who took to it from day one and thrived on every aspect of Collegiate. It was an amazing experience to watch them blossom in every area, not only academics but also sports and service and community. When we reflect back on college and beyond and the hurdles and the wins, we know what a gift Collegiate was. I thought those weeks (just prior to graduation) were the last of the marathon. There was so much anticipation, emotion, all this sadness yet excitement. That opportunity for reflection ended up translating into gratitude for everything: for how well prepared (my children) were for all the steps along the way…Lower School to Middle School, Middle School to high school…and each baby step in between. That comes from having staff there from year to year for such a long time to really help figure it out. Collegiate has done that so well. Hopefully, that will never change.

Molly Williams Harris ’85 (wife of Tim Harris ’78, mother of Tucker and Virginia Harris ’16, Reid Harris ’15, daughter of Mary Carrington Williams ’60, granddaughter of Florence Hankins Carrington ’20)

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(Christopher’s and Jack’s enrolling at Collegiate) was a very real and likely part of the conversation because of my personal experience and our family’s experience. With my husband not being from Richmond, it was wise and prudent to look at all the options. We did our due diligence. Collegiate was the place we wanted them to go and my heart wanted them to go.Collegiate is all about relationships. Life is about relationships. I know that I’m a better person because of the value Collegiate places on relationships. We wanted our children to grow up in a community of trust and honor and compassion for others and love of learning. Being part of the (four-generation) legacy is special. It’s so exciting to see, how the school has grown and where it is today, globally. It’s very meaningful to our family. There’s a certain level of appreciation for those who came before you.

Anne Mountcastle Rusbuldt ’85 (mother of Jack Rusbuldt ’16 and Chrisopher Rusbuldt ‘12, daughter of Deane Hotchkiss Mountcastle ’59, granddaughter of Frances Arrington Hotchkiss ’25)

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As a Collegiate grad, I had a huge bias with the family history. When we started looking, it was a clear distinction that Collegiate had and was the right fit for us. The educational and family piece made it a very easy decision. I got to stand twice at my graduation. One was as a 13-year student. The other was as a third-generation graduate. At that point, the light bulb came on. I had more family history than I recognized. What I did not realize was that on my mother’s aunt, Katherine Warren Carson (class of 1921), was in the first enrolled class in 1915. Standing up as a third generation prompted that conversation.

The school is better in every way, shape, and form than it was in 1985 when I graduated and was leaps and bounds better in ’85 than in 1960 when my mother graduated. Both my grandmother and great aunt were driven by chauffeur to Monument Avenue every day. So it was obviously a different deal then than it is today. Kids do not know at 18 how fortunate they are to go to Collegiate. You only hope that that light bulb comes on for them later.

Al Stratford ’85 (father of Kelsey Stratford ’16, son of Catherine Carson Stratford ’60, grandson of Cary Cutchins Stratford ’30)

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When we had children and moved back to Richmond, I told my husband, this is what we’re going to do. We were just keeping our fingers crossed that they would be admitted. (At graduation) it was neat to stand with my mother when our names were called out. What I think about that’s kind of neat is that I had Betty Hotchkiss for kindergarten, and so did Meg. It was poignant for me that when she entered Collegiate, she had the same teacher I did. As I look back at my time at Collegiate, I look back so fondly at the total experience. There wasn’t any one teacher or one experience. It was such a good place for me. I loved every minute of it. I would have gone back to high school in a heartbeat and done it all over again.

Taylor Cary Kell ’87 (mother of Meg Kell ’16, daughter of Elizabeth Hotchkiss Cary ’56, granddaughter of Frances Arrington Hotchkiss ’25)

-- Weldon Bradshaw

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