Gilman’s Gratitude

With the season of giving just around the corner, members of the Gilman community are reflecting on their own unique ways of showing gratitude and giving back. Being a part of a community like Gilman is a privilege, and one way to strengthen and build a stronger community is to give back to one another.

Numerous members of the Gilman community are grateful for their families and the communities to which they belong. Headmaster Mr. Henry P.A. Smyth noted that he has gratitude for “Gilman boys celebrating each other.” Both Joshua Kim ‘27 and Cooper Armacost ‘28 also expressed their appreciation for Gilman. Josh noted, “I am thankful for the privilege to have access to Gilman and all the resources it provides to me.” Meanwhile, Cooper voiced that the Gilman community makes him feel “welcomed and appreciated.” 

Other members of the community also expressed their gratitude to their families. Director of Dining Services Xavier Coleman, also known as Chef X, expressed his enthusiasm for appreciation, saying, “Family is everything!” And Upper School Science Teacher and Coach Alex DeWeese '11 mentioned that he is thankful for his 15-month-old son. 

While there is much to be thankful for, expressing gratitude through service is highly valued in the Gilman community. Whether it is planting fruits and vegetables at community gardens around Baltimore, like Chef X, or cleaning up the park in Charles Village, as Upper School English teacher Kirsten Anastasio does, all contributions have a meaningful and positive impact on society. Josh has recently found a new way to give back to the community beyond Gilman, creating a club called IRISE, which aims “to support immigrant and refugee youth with their academic and personal journeys in the United States.” 

Other members of the Gilman community choose to give back by honoring Donald Bentley ‘88, a Gilman student who was killed shortly after he graduated. He was a beloved figure in the Gilman community, and his memory is honored through the creation of the Donald Bentley Food Pantry. This organization provides help to those experiencing food insecurity in Baltimore City. As one of the student founders, Bessie Oster, Director of Health Education, frequently volunteers at the pantry. She noted that helping out was “one of the most gratifying parts of returning to Baltimore after twenty years in New York City.” Also, both Assistant Heads of the Upper School, Brooks Matthews '87 and Beth Knapp, volunteer once or twice a month. Mr. Matthews noted that doing so “keeps the legacy of Bentley alive.”

Within and beyond the community, students and teachers at Gilman work to give back and show gratitude to one another. Head of the Upper School Brian Ledyard said it best: “Students, advisees, and players…all make Gilman an amazing place to work.”