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Attending Westminster taught me an incredible amount about how to be a leader, inspire others, and hold myself to a high standard. All of the values I learned at Westminster are values that I still live by today and that I try to instill in the students I teach and coach.

Receiving financial aid and attending a private school changed the legacy of my family because of the opportunities it opened for me and connections it allowed me to make. Today, I work in private school admissions because I want to give students and families the gift that I received of a quality education from people who truly care about you and see your potential.

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My scholarship set me on a different path to success. It enabled me to seek out new opportunities and change my outlook on life. Without the scholarship, I wouldn’t have been able to attend Westminster. I might not have been inspired to challenge myself academically (and it was definitely a challenge!). I may not have had the courage to step out of my comfort zone and pursue new experiences or become a trailblazer. The scholarship changed my life for the better, which is why I have dedicated my career to ensuring that students, regardless of their financial means, have the tools, resources, and support to explore higher education.

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Westminster shaped me into a multi-faceted, self-sufficient adult with the confidence to succeed personally and professionally, with Grit and Grace.

To supporters of financial aid at Westminster...I would not be the person I am today without Westminster and the opportunity you have provided me. The ability you offer students to explore themselves, gain worldwide experience, and grow has a profound impact on their futures. Thank you for your generosity, which has positively impacted countless lives and empowered so many to pursue opportunities they once thought were out of reach.

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Without being hyperbolic, my Westminster experience completely changed the course of my life. I grew up in a very modest lower middle class home in the suburbs of Montreal. I had no access to any sort of education that was even above average, and the prospect of becoming successful as an adult was not something visible to most people in my situation. I always had the drive and will to become successful but needed an opportunity. Needless to say the Westminster School (Tim Joncas specifically at the outset, and ALL faculty members once I was a student) put me on a path that would not have been available to me otherwise.

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While at Westminster School, some of the greatest teachers, such as Mr. Gilman, Mr. Briggs, Mrs. Moos and Mr. MacDonald helped me appreciate the art of writing. I was an extremely weak writer in high school, and I was encouraged by these four individuals to not run away from what appeared to be an enormous challenge but run to it. So, I did. I majored in English in college, received my Master of Science in Education with a concentration in linguistic arts, and then spent six additional years completing my doctorate in higher education.

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Your donation opens a pathway for people who otherwise it would be closed to. It allows the opportunity for young people who are bright and talented to excel and grow where they otherwise may not have been able to reach the same potential. Your donation is an investment into the future generation and extends grace to those whose families may be experiencing financial hardship. As someone who this grace has been extended to, I know the deep gratitude and appreciation I felt when receiving a scholarship to such a prestigious school. That’s why I give back at every opportunity.

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Westminster, to me, was always more than just a place to receive an education. It was where I learned to think critically and engage with the world thoughtfully, striving to be well-informed and kind in my actions. Westminster expanded my imagination, helping me realize my own capabilities and explore a range of potential career paths. As I begin to think about life after graduation, nothing feels out of reach.

Your support is tangibly felt in the everyday lives of the students it helps. Whether in small or large amounts, the kindness and generosity of donors transform the lives of talented students who might have been held back by financial constraints. Thanks to your support, they now have the opportunity to be themselves, thrive, develop, and simply be kids—curious and unburdened.

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I attended Harvard College and received a degree in Integrative Biology. I now work as a federal policy consultant on EPA contracts, helping to develop and publish rules on chemical safety. Westminster's academics introduced me to the interdisciplinary nature of so many issues facing society today. I distinctly remember learning about stream health monitoring in AP Environmental Science with Mr. Gritzmacher, and how that practice could inform the policies we discussed in AP Comparative Government with Ms. Heckman. I took those experiences into college with me, uniting my interests in the natural and political worlds through studies in conservation biology, climate resilience, and environmental policy. I now work at the intersection of these issues, helping with federal regulation of chemicals to protect human health and the environment.

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Westminster has impacted my life in countless ways. I met my husband there, grew as both a student and an athlete, and gained confidence in myself. I learned to try new things and accept mistakes as learning opportunities instead of failures.

Financial aid brings in amazing students that would otherwise be unable to attend Westminster. It is such an integral part in the success of the school and the legacy of the school. Your generosity does more than help pay for tuition. It gives students opportunities, instills confidence, and gives them the chance to be the best version of themselves.

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Volunteering with the Crossroads Learning Program, led by Mary and Todd Eckerson, was the most impactful and memorable experience of my time at Westminster...These volunteer experiences, combined with what I learned in Moral Philosophy and Ethics, instilled in me a strong civic compass. Today, I continue to prioritize community service and credit much of this commitment to the lessons I learned through volunteering and studying at Westminster.

By contributing to financial aid, you are not only opening doors for individual students but also investing in the future of our community. Your support provides opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom, empowering students to grow, lead, and give back.

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Financial aid allowed me to attend Westminster. I am forever grateful. It completely changed the trajectory of my life. And this is the reason why I contribute to the financial aid portion of the annual fund every year. I owe a major debt of gratitude to those before who gave me an opportunity. I hope to give more people an opportunity in the future as well.

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Simply put, without financial aid, I would not have attended Westminster, and therefore wouldn't have attended Notre Dame, gotten my job with the Air Force, or be contributing to our national defense today. It all started with the financial aid I received! Because of that, I have tried to make it a point to contribute to the annual fund every year since graduation. I believe in supporting Westminster's funding because it affords other young individuals the opportunities to excel in life, just as I had that opportunity.

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I graduated from George Washington University in May 2024 and am currently in my first year of law school at UConn! Westminster heavily influenced my academic and career path by encouraging me to always challenge myself and to dive deep into learning. In my first year of law school I have done just that and this is thanks to my education at Westminster.

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Westy taught me incredible structure and discipline. It allowed for me to grow as a person away from the comforts of home and pushed me to think of goals/aspirations I hadn’t thought of. The mentorship and guidance I received from staff, coaches, and teachers directly impacted all aspects of my life.

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I went to Amherst College, went on to earn a Masters at Harvard and a Doctorate at Penn. I have made my career in education and am currently the Chief Academic Officer at Miss Porter's School. None of it would have been possible if it weren't for the tremendous education that I was able to receive at Westminster, and that would not have been possible were it not for a generous financial aid package that the school awarded me.

I am so grateful to the Martlets who came before me for the generosity they have shown the school and way in which that generosity has allowed others to have such a life-changing experience.

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I currently attend Princeton University, pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Engineering. At Westminster, I had the wonderful opportunity to take a wide breadth of classes, ranging in all the sciences, maths, humanities, and the arts. By having the chance to explore so many interesting and engaging courses, I was able to discover more of what type of student I was. The teachers at Westminster also played a tremendous role in my experience there, as many were so very kind and willing to lend a helping hand, inside and outside the classroom.

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Attending Westminster shaped my personal and professional trajectory by knowing that my voice can be heard and make a difference. The lasting impact that it has had on my life is remembering that voicing my opinions, concerns, ideas, and solutions can make for a better tomorrow, but this can only happen if I use the power of my voice.

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Having the opportunity to attend Westminster has molded me into the person I am today personally and professionally. I have great memories of wonderful coaches, teachers and classmates. Even though some of the experiences were difficult at the time, I know that working through those experiences taught me to be the person that I am today.

The relationships that I had with the Ilzarbe's, the Adams' and the Berry's are ones that I will cherish forever. These families helped me to adjust to the boarding school environment; one very different from life in Chelsea, MA. I feel very fortunate to have received financial aid and attend Westminster.

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Westminster had a profound impact on my personal and professional trajectory due to the academic rigor and the development of independence and responsibility I gained while being a boarding student. Westminster prepared me well for college life and beyond, instilling self-discipline and problem-solving skills that have been crucial in my life and career.

If I could speak directly to the donors who support financial aid at Westminster, I would express my gratitude for their generosity and care for other's success. Their contributions are so meaningful and inspiring.

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I think the academics and athletics at Westminster had the greatest impact on me. Academics taught me to be a lifelong learner and athletics taught me to value my physical health. The education at Westminster taught me to always be curious, always think outside the box, and manage my time well.

I have been giving back to Westminster every year to support financial aid for current students who, like me, could not attended Westminster without financial aid. I am so grateful for the opportunities that Westminster has provided me and I want students today and into the future to have the same opportunities that I did.

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I attended Pomona College where I studied Sociology and Public Policy Analysis. I am current Associate Director at California Housing Partnership where I work with non-profit affordable housing developers and public agencies to create and preserve affordable housing throughout California...Community, character, balance and involvement helped reinforce that success is more than an individual metric and that it's important to be well rounded in life.

Attending Westminster can open doors and plant seeds that may not be evident immediately but the value of meeting students from other backgrounds, participating in new activities, and being uniquely challenged by faculty is immeasurable. I gained all of those things to carry with me and continue to pay it forward to this day.

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Receiving financial aid means so much to me. Financial aid...instilled the confidence in me to take on opportunities that may seem out of reach, or out of my comfort zone.

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The de Kanter family trajectory has been linked with Westminster since the early 80s, when my mother took a part-time job in the admissions office while raising three young boys in nearby Granby, CT. This connection brought me to campus as a child to sled with the Brooks boys (who were even then several times my size). I came to Westminster as a day student on financial aid in 1987, and was followed by my brothers, Nate '95 and Seth '97. All three of our lives and careers have been incredibly impacted by Westminster since graduating. I came back to Westminster as a 26-year faculty member with my wife, Kathleen Devaney, and raised our two children there, Emmett '19 and Samantha '22. Many of the most important friends in our lives began as Westminster colleagues and even students. My brothers both started their respective careers with help from Westminster classmates, and Seth married his Westminster sweetheart, Courtney Bright '97. Our lives would have been substantially different without Westminster, and we are forever grateful for what this school and its community has provided us. We hope to keep paying it forward for the next generation.