Gulf Stream School deeply values its alumni and wants all who attended GSS to stay informed and involved.

My sister, Brittany, also attended Gulf Stream School from Kindergarten through eighth grade, and graduated in 2001.

Gulf Stream School has had a tremendous impact on nearly every area of my life — from teaching me proper etiquette to helping me create lifelong friendships. To this day, some of my closest friends — Jason Zeigler, Sean Iglehart and Lance Aker — are those I met in Montessori. I play a lot of charity golf tournaments and, by far, the one I get the most excited for is Gulf Stream’s! I really enjoy playing with those three lads and having the iconic Nick Hagoort “chaperone” us. I don’t know who is more punch drunk full of joy when he somehow takes home the Long Drive or Closest to the Pin Award each year, Nick or the crowd.

I was absolutely devastated when Mrs. Byrd announced to the class that she would be sailing off into the sunset. Seriously…I was very upset! Fortunately, Mr. Mahady filled her shoes splendidly! GSS Lesson: In the face of tragedy, something equally as great might be just around the corner.

Going to class at the beach with Mr. Winans will forever stay in my mind. It was so wonderful and unique; definitely a memory I’ll never forget.

Of course, I still always laugh thinking about how, on the first day of history class with Mr. Wilson, our homework assignment was to bring in a copy of the National Enquirer. Talk about a lesson in next-level thinking! It was such a brilliant way to make sure we were not blindly following orders, while at the same time providing a hilariously light-hearted “test” to see if parents were paying attention as well. A good chuckle was had by all!

My wife, Tracy, and I have two sons — John Jr. (Jack), currently in Kindergarten at GSS; and William, age 2. My brother, David Backer (’02), and sister, Katherine Backer Moyer (’03), are also both GSS graduates. My mother is a former member of the Gulf Stream School Board of Trustees as well.

The culture of humility, manners, refinement, and leadership that were instilled in me during my time at Gulf Stream School, along with the first-class education I received there, has helped me every day of my life.

There was always an emphasis on the “Golden Rule” — treat others as you would want to be treated, which seems like common sense but, sadly, is so lacking in today’s world.

Working in groups helped me learn how to respect my peers while also being a leader, and the connection I had with the teachers showed me the importance of having (and being) a mentor.

You can’t help but feel a tremendous sense of pride in a place like Gulf Stream School, which motivated me to go “all in” with my loyalty and support for things I am passionate about, which is one of the many reasons I so proudly serve as a GSS Board member today.

My favorite teachers at GSS were Miss Gibb and Mr. Winans. My favorite subject was math with Mr. Handler.

Some of my fondest memories from my time at GSS involved the beach; whether it be taking our eighth-grade photo, or even just walking there to read.

I also have great memories of our trips to St. Augustine and Spain, the Pinewood Derby, stocking the soda vending machine, the baseball unit with Mr. Winans, signing my name on the Tiki Hut after graduation, and Field Day — GO BLUE!

My time and experiences at Gulf Stream School are best captured by the John Wesley quote that was shared at Miss Gibb’s memorial service: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

In addition to my parents, Leslie and Devon Coughlan, I have an older sister named Kelly.

Attending Gulf Stream School put me a step ahead of others when I entered high school. I was prepared to tackle a heavy workload and knew how to manage my time well. My years participating in athletics at GSS also enabled me to be a team player and gave me the confidence I needed to compete at a high level while still having fun.

My favorite teachers at GSS were Mr. and Mrs. Handler. They were always the first teachers I would see when I arrived at school in the morning — smiling and getting my day started on the right foot. I think they are the reason that GSS continues to provide such a safe and positive atmosphere for its students, both in the classroom and on the athletics fields.

Some of my fondest memories were the trips I took to Canada and the Grand Canyon in seventh and eighth grades, respectively. They were incredible! The itineraries were always packed with amazing experiences, and those trips sparked my love of travel and made me the adventurous person I am today.

My older brother, Trent Kilpatrick, graduated from Gulf Stream School in 2001, and he now has two twin daughters who will hopefully attend GSS in the near future. My sister, Taylor (Kilpatrick) Pohl, also attended GSS until 2005.

Gulf Stream School created an incredible environment to grow up in. The teachers and administrators were always engaged with every student, which helped make it feel like a family. The community that Gulf Stream provided outside of the school itself has also been a blessing. The friends I was able to make at Gulf Stream are still some of my closest friends to this day, and their families have always treated me as one of their own. Gulf Stream really is an amazing place!

Some of my favorite teachers were Mr. Mahady, Mr. Winans and Mrs. Bogert. They always made it a point to make sure their students were succeeding not only in their classrooms but also as individuals. Some of my best memories from my time at Gulf Stream School included these three teachers, especially on trips and excursions — Quebec, Red Sox game, The Keys, etc.

I don’t think I can give just one memory that I cherish from my time at Gulf Stream School since there were so many. I also think I would still get in trouble for some of them, as I did get into my fair share of trouble! Honestly, it was the bonds that I was able to make that are still holding strong to this day. As I said before, some of my closest friends include Charles Schmitt ’05, Chris Valentini ’05, Bo Stunkel ’05, Chris Colletta ’05, Johnny Thom ‘05, Ryan Logan ’04…and many others. It has been great growing up alongside them, but the bond that always connects us all was our time spent at Gulf Stream School.

I have three siblings who attended Gulf Stream School — Berkley (Class of 2003), Langley (Class of 2006) and David (Class of 2009). My nephew, Tripp, is currently a kindergarten student at Gulf Stream and will be in the Class of 2030. My mom, Karen Sweetapple, also just rejoined the Board this year. This will be her second term, as she originally served from 2003 to 2012.

My years at Gulf Stream were more formative than many of my experiences after graduating. From the small class sizes that allowed for meaningful teacher-student relationships to the emphasis on athletics, community and integrity, Gulf Stream School gave me the confidence I would need to challenge myself in the years beyond. I am so lucky that almost 10 years later, I’m still incredibly close with many of my middle school classmates and will undoubtedly have them in my life forever.

I loved sixth-grade English with Mrs. Evans-Cross!

I always looked forward to Field Day, when I got to compete with friends and spend the day running around in costumes and face paint. Go Blue!

My wife, Kristin, and I have three children — Harrison, Caroline and Stirling. Harrison graduated from Gulf Stream School four years ago, Caroline is graduating this year and Stirling is in fourth grade.

Gulf Stream School shaped my future far more than any other school I attended. It nurtured a shy kid into a student who was confident enough to not only speak in front of audiences, but allowed me to fall in love with creative writing. This discovered talent has made all the difference in my career, as my writing skills and understanding how to uniquely communicate with people has permitted me to promote some of the largest businesses in South Florida.

The incredible faculty members at Gulf Stream School were different than teachers I had anywhere else. It wasn’t about the memorizing lessons; it was about discovering concepts.

Mr. Winans inspired us to read. Mr. Robinson inspired us to create with words. Mr. Craig taught us to discover. And although Miss Gibb was the toughest and most intimidating teacher ever, she was preparing us to achieve success at the next level and we love her for it.

I’ll never forget the day of the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. I was in what was at the time the library, when our Head of School, Mr. Garten, rushed in and had all the kids come into the one room that had a TV and we watched the coverage. It was as if the school paused so we could all mourn together. I did my eighth grade speech on the Challenger crew…it was an emotional time.

My brother, Whittaker, was in the Gulf Stream School Class of 2004, and is now a senior manager at Accenture. My wife, Kimi, and I welcomed our daughter, Charlotte, into the world this summer. She’s full of spirit!

Gulf Stream provided a strong foundation for my education and career. I learned the value of hard work, teamwork and critical skills like public speaking. I hope I can provide my own children an equivalent education.

I benefited from having so many great teachers at Gulf Stream that it’s hard to narrow down the list. I’ll always remember Mr. Wilson’s history class. He was the ultimate history buff. I loved all the obscure anecdotes he incorporated into his lessons. I didn’t understand most of them at the time but appreciate them today!

I clearly remember the morning of September 11, 2001. We were so shocked and scared. We had English with Miss Gibb that morning. I remember she shared her experience from the war years with the class. She emphasized how important it was to carry on, not to alter our way of life. We then opened our grammar books and held our lesson as usual. I’ll never forget her strength and resolve.

My sister, Holly Coughlan, was in the Gulf Stream School Class of 2018, and is currently attending the St. Andrew’s School.

My years at Gulf Stream School taught me important skills that I have used throughout my academic career and personal life. The academic foundation and development that GSS helped me build has guided me toward success in and out of the classroom. I learned study habits and time-management skills that have enabled me to balance the rigorous academic and athletic schedules I have in college. It also helped me develop a confidence in myself and my abilities that has allowed me to pursue a career path that interests me, while still taking classes that help me to be a well-rounded individual. It was also at Gulf Stream School that I played lacrosse for the first time, prompting me to then play the sport outside of school and eventually preparing me to play at the Division I level in college. In addition to the technical skills I learned and education I received, I made friends at GSS that have stuck with me to this day, no matter how much distance there may be between us.

I will always remember our class trips to Canada and the Grand Canyon! Our class really bonded through the shared experiences we had and, looking back, it was such an amazing opportunity to experience different places, people and cultures…together.

My sister, Nicolette Adrian, was in the Gulf Stream School Class of 2009, and is currently enrolled in PA school. It’s safe to say we both owe our love of science to our time at GSS.

I feel extremely grateful to have gone to such an amazing school. Gulf Stream School helped prepare me for life in so many ways. From encouraging me to try every sport to teaching me public speaking, GSS aided my growth as a young student and set me up for success.

I don’t know if I could pick one favorite teacher or subject. I did really enjoy math, science, art and Latin, though. While at Gulf Stream School, my favorite sport/activity was lacrosse, which I also played throughout high school and college.

GSS created such an amazing community to grow up in. I remember all of the chapel assemblies fondly — singing as a Streamer, going up on stage every year in my Halloween costume, performing in a play in front of the entire school, my eighth-grade speech, the Field Day skits and, finally, my graduation ceremony!

The rigorous academics and athletics programs at Gulf Stream School helped prepare me for success as I continued my education and also in my career. The support of the Gulf Stream School community also drove me to become the best version of myself. I only attended GSS for four years, but the education and community bonds from my time there are timeless.

History and math.

I’ll always remember having English class on the beach with Mr. Winans.

Gulf Stream School was so unique and had such an amazing group of teachers, coaches and mentors. My experience there set the foundation for a lifetime of hard work and dedication to learning and growing. The people at Gulf Stream School were my second family. The school provided a wonderful environment to grow and develop, and I created lifelong friendships and mentors who shaped who I am today.

Miss Gibb, the matriarch of the school! But, of course, I cannot forget the Gulf Stream School classics — Mr. Winans, Mrs. Forde, Mr. Sherry, the Handlers, the Cooks, the Wilsons, Miss Holly, Miss Abrams, Mr. Mahady and so many others!

Every year at Gulf Stream School was memorable, and I love getting together with old friends to reminisce. The most memorable year was eighth grade with Miss Gibb, especially the tea party, her “Jolly Lollys” and visits to the soda machine. Winning back-to-back basketball championships was also unforgettable.

Gulf Stream School instilled the etiquette, manners and work ethic that would allow any young professional to succeed in life. At a young age, Gulf Stream taught me the importance of listening to others and evaluating situations with an open mind. They taught the value of hard work and if one wants to be successful, one has to put in the hours. But, at the same time, Gulf Stream taught the importance of community. Having grown up in the Town of Gulf Stream, I spent most of my weekends playing around the school and climbing the big banyans out front (Don’t tell the headmaster, but my initials are carved in a couple of them!). The school was always a meeting point for the community, and I always felt welcomed as if it were a second home.

This is kind of a funny question because math was always my strength, but I somehow ended up becoming an attorney.

One of my greatest memories was our seventh-grade trip to Costa Rica. This trip was every other year, so it was my grade as well as the eighth-grade class. Some of my best friends were in that class, too, and I still see many of them on a weekly basis. Anyway, one of the hotels we stayed in was along a river, and a small group of us, along with Mr. Mahady, went for a swim. Next thing we know, we’ve swum to the other side and are climbing up a tree to jump out of it. We were probably 15 to 20 feet up, trying to decide who should jump first. All of a sudden, and completely unexpectedly, Mr. Mahady dives in — we judged it a 1.5 (a full front-flip rotation and then another half-flip finishing in a dive). The rest of us looked at each other in disbelief and then jumped in after him.