As students, faculty, and staff return for the 2024-2025 school year, official celebrations commemorating 50 years of coeducation begin.
Coordinated by Ms. Robin Chandler ’87, communications project manager, and the Student Steering Committee, the celebration will include an exhibit by alumnae in the Tremaine Gallery, a Pioneers Reunion, a reunion for alumnae athletes, and a community art showcase entitled “Shared Spaces: Gender and Coeducation at Hotchkiss.”
The Tremaine Gallery exhibit, “Threaded Together,” which opened on September 4, includes work in a variety of mediums by twenty alumnae. A reception for the show will be held on Thursday, September 12.
On September 12 and 13, alums will return to campus to honor the 89 women who joined the first coed class in 1974.
During the two days of programming, guests will be invited to sit in on classes, attend a student-led panel with a group of pioneering women, visit the first all-girls dormitory, and engage in other activities.
Ms. Chandler said, “It was incredibly brave of the women who came to campus as the first female students back in 1974. They paved the way for future generations of girls. The Pioneers event in September is a way to recognize and honor these women and to say thank you.”
Later this fall, the community will honor the contributions of athletes and welcome back alumnae during the Alumnae Athletics Weekend.
Aaliyah Wang ’25 and Marisin McLain ’25, two members of the Student Steering Committee, organized “Shared Spaces: Gender and Coeducation at Hotchkiss,” which opened on September 4. The show in Main Hallway features paintings, poetry, ceramics, and photography by students, faculty, and staff on the theme of gender identity. McLain said, “This is a show of shared experience. Every person is impacted and enhanced by co-education because, while it began as a way to integrate girls, it represents all our various backgrounds converging into one singular community. Hence, our show
aims to incorporate as many different mediums and artists as possible. When choosing the works, Aaliyah and I focused on individual storytelling, because unique experiences provide nuance to and context for what it means to be a part of Hotchkiss.”
Ms. Chandler said, “We hope to give the community a sense of history, not only for coeducation at Hotchkiss, but also a better sense of what was happening in the world at that time. The 1970s was an impactful decade for women, as they were gaining a voice and striving for equality in the country. The topic of gender discrimination was in the forefront, and with it, diverse viewpoints on the path forward.”
Petal Hammam ’25, a member of the Student Steering Committee, said, “I hope students can reflect on how far we’ve come as a community as well as look to the future and see the little things we can do to foster greater inclusion across campus. It’s really nice to see all the support and energy around the work we’ve done so far.”
