By Carter Barry ’25
Apart from all the hockey buzz and snow, we had an exceptional Gunn event this winter. For those who were unaware, Gunn Society hosts the annual “I Heart Fred” event this time of year. Orchestrated by Marlon Fisher ‘01 and the Gunn Society team, it was undoubtedly a great success again this year. With the motivation to “Be the Sauce” and share our favorite Gunn traditions, this is always a well-loved event in our community. But this year’s “I Heart Fred” event was like no other; we had record-breaking success and involvement. Go Gunn! The Gunn Society leadership team members, myself included, had a wonderful time organizing and executing this year’s alumni fundraising event!
In true Highlander spirit, this year’s “I Heart Fred” fundraiser was made into a competition between classes, faculty, and alumni. With each class having a Gunn Society leader advocate to remind them to contribute, every class made substantial gifts to the cause. The student body has made us at the Gunn Society team proud. It was a real nail-biter, but the senior class dominated in the end, followed by the freshmen, the juniors, and then the sophomores. Do better next time, class of 2026…
Although this event is still vibrant in our Gunn community, it’s been a tradition for us for quite some time. Speaking of traditions, this year, our primary focus was celebrating our longstanding and fantastic traditions here. We urged students to express their favorite Gunn tradition along with their contributions. This can be hard because there are so many to choose from, but there are some cult favorites like the school walk, play for the Cure, prize night, and the bonfire pep rally. Marlon Fischer explained, “Traditions are a testament to the spirit and dedication of our teachers, coaches, parents, alumni, and, most importantly, students like you.” Mr. Fisher couldn’t be more spot on. Traditions are what make our community so warm and tight-knit, and engaging in them brings out the best in us.
So whether you donated a million dollars or just one, we thank you for the donation and, more importantly, your commitment to giving back to the Gunn community!
