By Thomas Hagymasi ’28
The Frederick Gunn School welcomed a new devastatingly handsome face to campus, a Highland cow, which is the first living mascot on campus in decades. Gunn’s new furry friend is an inspirational moment of celebration for the whole Gunn community.
Charlie is no ordinary cow. With 62.8 thousand followers on Instagram, he is also a social media celebrity. He made his first appearance on the Gunn campus in the 2024-2025 school year while filming the first Film Guys video. Charlie is from Amenia, New York, about a 45 minute drive from campus. While that may seem far, he is willing to lead the Highlander battalion into battle against other schools in the NEPSAC (New England Preparatory School Athletic Council) league. This enormous mammal represents the warm and caring nature of the Gunn community through its fluffy fur, while also showing dominance through its size and horns – threatening to the bystanders who stand in its way.
Since the appearance of the Gunnery Goat in the 1950’s, the Frederick Gunn School had been absent of a living mascot. The school’s old mascot, a “Highlander,” was more of a symbol, or an abstract figure, representing Frederick Gunn’s Scottish roots, but never actually being able to be seen on campus. This old mascot left a gap in the Gunn community, as it was missing a large piece of being part of the school. Charlie’s presence brings a sense of connection and contentment that the community can rally with at school events.
According to Ms. Rachel Duffy, Director of Social Media and Video Content, “Our hope as a school was that the introduction of a mascot, would spark spirit and pride among the community. This symbol gives us all something to rally behind as faculty, current students, and alumni. This will create energy at school events, opportunity for new traditions, and promote unity.”
Charlie will be greatly appreciated on campus as he represents the strength the Gunn battalion has, and their ability to show up for each other, rain or shine. Looking forward, they are excited to invite Charlie to school events to build up the Gunn Community.
