This article originally appeared in the summer 2016 Harker Quarterly.

This year’s Head of School’s Circle Celebration, held in early April, was a momentous event as it recognized the generous donors who made gifts of $2,500 or more to the school in the last year.

The event allows donors to see the impact that their contributions have had on students’ educational experiences. The evening began with a champagne welcome and remarks from Chris Nikoloff, head of school.

Parents were then entertained with performances by Varsity Dance Troupe, Downbeat and Dance Fusion. Between each performance, students shared how various programs have enriched their educational journeys at Harker.

Senior Jonathan Yiu spoke about joining the basketball team, classmate Kristen Park explained how dance and orchestra gave her a newfound passion, which she is carrying on to college, and Shannon Richardson, also a senior, spoke about her volleyball experience and how it made her not only a well-rounded athlete but also a well-rounded student.

Junior Kayvon Solaimanpour, a member of Downbeat, explained how various programs allow students an opportunity to achieve balance between academic work and extracurricular interests.

The event showcased programs from various divisions, including the lower school’s Makerspace program, middle school’s Discovery X, the robotics program, the Near and Mitra scholar endowments, and the Vegesna Foundation Teacher Excellence Program, as well as numerous academic competitions in which students participate, including math and economics.