By Peter Murphy ’24
When students at the Frederick Gunn School go to play at different rival schools for athletics, a phrase that each student will often hear once or twice throughout their Gunn athletic career is the phrase, “What is a Highlander”? To elaborate, the Highlander is a staple of what The Frederick Gunn School stands for. The history of the Frederick Gunn School Highlander is seen to be quite interesting and ancient if one looks closer however, as the founder of FGS, Mr. Gunn had a strong pride in his Scottish heritage and because of this, the school was later given the mascot of the Highlander to honor Mr. Gunn’s roots.
With so much history behind the Highlander, one would wonder what it may look like. To answer, a Highlander is a Scottish warrior who wears plaid on all clothing items, wears a kilt, and bears a sword by its side. To dive deeper into what a Highlander truly is, students from the Civic Journalism and Media Making Class set out to find the most die-hard of Gunn fans. The search was long and hard, but the class was ultimately successful in their findings when they came across FGS Junior Owen Laatsch ‘25 to elaborate on the topic, “It means to carry the pride of being a student here or anywhere you go. Whether it’s on the field, in the classroom, or all the way back home, being a Highlander means to carry character”. Being a student at FGS does not only mean that a person is receiving an amazing education, but it also shows that everyday students on campus are dedicated to becoming the best version of themselves, whether that be through rigorous academics, intense art sessions, or grueling athletic battles on the turf, a Highlander is ready to endure it all with pleasure as they prepare to get ready for college and beyond.
