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Environmental Scientist at Tighe & Bond • University of Connecticut, B.S. ’19 and M.S. ’25 in environmental engineering

“It’s simple,” Ian says. “The reason I stay connected to Watkinson is that I really enjoy spending time with the Watkinson community.”

In fact, the small community is the very reason Ian came to Watkinson in the first place. A bright and talented student, particularly in math, Ian recalls, “I started at Watkinson in the fall of 2010 as a Junior after struggling with the challenges inherent in attending a large public high school. As an underclassman, I didn’t know how to advocate for myself and ask for help from teachers/faculty, so I fell significantly behind in my studies.”

He and his parents went looking for a small school where the faculty would notice when Ian was off-track and needed a course correction.

While a student at Watkinson, Ian was both a passionate and gifted athlete (soccer, baseball); “Hands down, my favorite Watkinson memory is winning the Boys Soccer New England Prep School Class D Championship in Fall 2010. We went 16 – 3 – 1. What a team.”

As a student and alumnus, he was and continues to be a committed member of the school’s Dominican Republic Service Team. Ian enjoys the Watkinson community so much that he says, “I’m pretty much an automatic yes to any event I get invited to. My continued involvement with Watkinson has really been strengthened in recent years by the alumni affairs team. They have done a really great job of keeping in touch.” In fact, Ian attended the school’s gala, A Watkinson Affair, for the first time last year and loved it, “ I thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with my former teachers and meeting several new folks. I’m looking forward to returning this year!” He loved it so much that Ian decided to join the gala planning committee, “The event was really eye opening into how much time, energy, and money goes into fundraising for and supporting the programs of Watkinson. I want to do my part.”

Watkinson is grateful for all the ways Ian does his part. From supporting the annual fund, to attending the gala, to contributing to global studies, Ian is a generous and loyal donor to Watkinson. “I donate to support and sustain the Watkinson Community for former, existing, and future Watkinson kids. Preserving our tight-knit community requires enormous amounts of fundraising, so I’m happy to do my small part.”