Happy Head of School Holiday! Craig W. Bradley made the surprise announcement last night in honor of the 89 Pioneers—the first group of female students who arrived on campus 50 years ago.

"As you all know, Sept. 10 marked the 50th anniversary of the arrival of female students at Hotchkiss in 1974," Bradley told the crowd in Walker Auditorium. "As we remember that important milestone, we also honor the profound change that they, together with stalwart members of the faculty, administration, and the boys of Hotchkiss, ushered in for this School. There were 89 girls in that first group of female students, placed throughout the four classes. Today they are known as the Pioneers. Back then, they were simply Hotchkiss students."

Bradley continued, "Yet the change they set in motion with their enthusiastic and all-in spirit had a profound effect on the trajectory of this great School. Hotchkiss simply would not be the school it is today without them. Therefore, the anniversary we are celebrating is not simply a look back to the fall of 1974. It is a commemoration of all that Hotchkiss is today: for every student, every teacher, every member of the staff, every parent, and every enduring friend to the School."

He then invited Caroline Kenny-Burchfield '77 P'08,'10,'18, director of community partnerships, to the stage. "Caroline, it is my pleasure to honor you and the other 88 Pioneers by announcing that tomorrow will be a Head of School Holiday!"

Bearcats cheered and ran to the stage to sing Fair Hotchkiss in honor of the Pioneers.