Our Roots Run Deep
Alumni Association president Jen MacHamer '92with husband James and son Matthew
McDonogh’s roots run deep in my life. In 1935, a young man stepped foot on McDonogh’s campus a few years out of Western Maryland College. He was an avid athlete and scholar and eager to contribute to the education and physical training of the young men of McDonogh. Thus began the 38-year career of my grandfather, Harry “Mose” MacHamer, and a foundation for the next generations of my family.
I grew up on McDonogh’s campus. Even though I didn’t live on campus until I was in Upper School, these were the halls and fields I roamed since I was a small child. My dad’s family lived on campus, and the teachers at McDonogh were either my grandfather’s contemporaries or were taught by him. My mother's family had three generations of McDonogh alumns. To me, the “McDonogh Family” was my family. They gave me an understanding of respect, dedication, honor, and connectedness as well as a love of learning and an appreciation for the pursuit of dreams.
Our love for the campus never leaves us, especially when we once again ride up the main drive. When I came back to McDonogh a few years ago to rediscover my past, the school seemed so different at first. There were new faces, new roads, and I wasn’t related to anyone on campus anymore! Then I looked further. Some familiar faces were still roaming the halls, some of the buildings hadn’t changed, and the spirit of the community seemed stronger than ever.
I have learned so much in my time on the Alumni Executive Council about the McDonogh School of today. The Campus Master Plan is gearing up to provide much-needed improvements to our facilities while seeking to enrich how our campus serves the McDonogh Family. The McDonogh Roots farm goes back to our farming tradition and teaches our community the value and art of producing food. Our headmaster, Charlie Britton, has great plans for improving the methods we use to educate and guide our students by examining scheduling, character development, and faculty evaluations.
There are so many ways alumni can be a continued part of the McDonogh tradition. Our 34th annual McDonogh Golf Classic is October 13. Stop by the alumni tent in front of the John McDonogh Stadium during the McDonogh-Gilman game on November 7. Attend alumni gatherings held nationwide and in Baltimore. And don’t miss the popular Alumni Reunion Weekend, April 30-May 1, 2010. The McDonogh Web site provides all the updates and information we need to stay current with McDonogh’s great adventures. Visit us on Facebook (McDonogh School Alumni) and sign up to follow McDonogh on Twitter (twitter.com/McDonogh).
I am deeply honored to serve on the Alumni Executive Council. I am looking forward to the opportunity to know more of my extended family and watch McDonogh grow.
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