By Catherine Calamé

The Hotchkiss School has embarked on a historic campaign with the goal of propelling the School into its next phase of growth and excellence.

Called Ever Forward, the campaign has three key priorities:

• Growing the endowment to provide a stable, perpetual income stream that ensures Hotchkiss’s continued excellence
• Expanding financial aid to enable Hotchkiss to enroll the most qualified students, enhancing learning outcomes for all
• Supporting The Hotchkiss Fund to provide essential, immediate-use resources that strengthen the overall Hotchkiss experience for every student

In announcing the community phase of Ever Forward, Head of School Craig W. Bradley said that to remain excellent, the School must continue to evolve. “We must have the resources to equip young people with a world-class education, one that develops their analytical, leadership, and social skills together with their capacity for lifelong learning. These are skills they will need as they enter an increasingly integrated world that faces deep and complex issues.”

To date, $227 million of the $250 million goal has been raised.

According to Ninette Enrique, chief advancement officer, Ever Forward is about more than simply raising money. "We are excited to share this campaign with the broader Hotchkiss community. We have achieved good momentum and feel confident that Hotchkiss alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends will respond to this historic opportunity. This campaign is not just about raising funds; it is about investing in our people and in the strength of Hotchkiss. Now is the time. We invite the entire community to join together to raise the remaining $23 million by the end of 2026." 

Supporting All Corners of the School

Financial aid will transform lives and strengthen the community: By supporting financial aid, Hotchkiss can help ensure it can support and enroll the most capable students. “Our students are thinkers and problem solvers: talented academics, artists, musicians, athletes, and future leaders in scores of disciplines,” said Bradley. “They are young people who have the potential to make meaningful contributions to society.”

Faculty support will help elevate the teaching experience at Hotchkiss. “The best teachers not only educate but also advise, inspire, and transform generations of students,” said Bradley, adding that Ever Forward will enable the School to recruit, develop, and retain exceptional faculty who are experts in their fields. “They teach, mentor, guide, coach, and live 24/7 in community with our students. It is a special breed of educators who do this work.”

Ever Forward will also help Hotchkiss continue to support program excellence, leading the way in creating and enhancing academic experiences, continuing excellence in athletics, and offering a broad array of co-curricular offerings as well as a robust residential life program that is the hallmark of the School.

Ever Forward has already impacted and improved today’s campus. Thanks to generous donor investments, students and campus adults are already enjoying enhanced facilities—with more to come! Completed projects include: updating and refurbishing the student dormitory Memorial Hall with four faculty apartments and a new common room; and creating a multi-faceted Performance and Fitness Center on the upper level of the Mars Athletic Center (MAC), which opened in the fall of 2022 and features advanced training facilities, strength, and fitness equipment. Renovation of Dining Commons is currently well underway. The stunning new facility is set to open in December 2025.

Bradley thanked the Hotchkiss community for helping to support the School in such an impactful manner. “Since I joined the School in the fall of 2016, I have come to know Hotchkiss as a community of excellence, one that balances intellect, empathy, curiosity, and joy. Perhaps more than ever, our ability to provide the best possible education to young people who have the potential to make a positive impact on society matters.”

visit the Ever Forward Website

To learn more about Ever Forward, visit the campaign website or email Ninette Enrique, chief advancement officer.