David W. Dini, Eugene McDermott Headmaster

I am profoundly grateful to the many donors and volunteers who propelled our School forward in a historic fiscal year through extraordinarily generous gifts of time, talent, and financial resources. We are blessed that the 2022-2023 school year was successful in so many ways through the meaningful contributions of so many. Thanks to the ongoing commitment, partnership, and strength of community that we enjoy, our Marksmen and their teachers thrived, innovated, explored, and engaged purposefully. This year marked another record year for the St. Mark’s Fund in school history while the requisite funding was secured for the most ambitious construction project since our founding. Amongst many important projects and initiatives, philanthropy was a key driver in the bolstering of already strong Security and Marksman Wellness Center teams. Your exceptional commitment to the School in countless ways inspires all of us who care for and guide the boys each day. 
 
There are several leaders on the faculty and staff, the Board of Trustees, the St. Mark’s Parents’ and Alumni Associations, and more whose dedication to St. Mark’s was outstanding this past year. Our Board President, Jeff Hillier ’76, who completed his first year leading the Board provided invaluable guidance and service that empowered our entire school community to do their best work. Jeff has been an extraordinary partner, guiding significant progress on Goals for St. Mark’s IV and, along with Carl Sewell ’02, bringing athletic complex planning and fundraising to completion in order to begin construction. We continue to be blessed with exceptional volunteer leaders like Jeff, who care so deeply about the past, present, and future of our School. Allow me to express my profound gratitude to our 2022-2023 Parents’ Association President Julie Clark and Alumni Association President Sandy Campbell ’76 for their leadership and devotion to our teachers, our boys, and our whole community. I also want to thank our faculty and professional staff, parents, graduates, and friends of the School. Our community comes together and delivers the highest-caliber Marksman experience. 
 
It was affirming and gratifying this year to see our boys thrive and contribute both on and off campus. In the classrooms and laboratories, on the playing fields, in the art studios, and on the stage, the Class of 2023 lived out our mission each day and set an excellent example for boys across the School, constantly seeking to make a difference in the lives of others. As other classes modeled before them, our seniors set a positive tone that reverberated across campus. It was only fitting that the Class of 2023, with a portion of their class gift, contributed generously to the athletic complex, a facility that they will not experience as students. They continued the tradition of investing in the experiences of generations of future St. Mark’s students. As we gathered for chapel services on campus for routine moments of restoration and community connection, we were constantly reminded that what our boys achieve pales in comparison to their character and integrity. 
Lower School boys continued to focus on the foundational elements of St. Mark’s mission, learning the values of empathy, compassion, and respect. Middle and Upper School Marksmen had more than their fair share of opportunities to assume increased responsibility for the community at large and to care for others. And while student achievement was certainly outstanding during the past year, on a regional and national level, the most important lessons that our boys learned were that our core values have never been more important: demonstrating courage and honor, facing adversity head-on, delaying gratification, modeling kindness, care, and humility each day. These key tenets make up the foundation of a St. Mark’s education.  
 
The devotion, leadership, and commitment that you provide enable us to strive for excellence and improvement at every turn. Your continued partnership and trust will ensure that we strengthen and expand the many opportunities that make a St. Mark’s education truly special.  
 
On behalf of all my colleagues, thank you for your unwavering support. Please know that your generosity of spirit and resources makes an enormous difference in the lives of each and every Marksman.
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