With the crisp feeling of fall in the air, approximately 800 parents, students, faculty and staff attended The Harker School’s September 14 dedication ceremony of the new Davis Field on the Upper School campus Saratoga campus.

After a special donor reception on the sidelines, Head of School Chris Nikoloff hosted the evening’s ceremonies, which included the presentation of a $1.5 million donation from development council members John and Christine Davis. “We could not be prouder,” Davis stated. “The parents and student body wanted this field, and Harker made it happen.” Immediately after the ceremony, players from the girls’ soccer and lacrosse teams, boys’ soccer team and the football team broke through paper banners onto the field through tunnels formed by donors. The players met in the center of the field and formed a spontaneous cheering circle in the center. Following the color guard and the national anthem, a memorial recognizing Coach Deron Thorp, a Harker football coach who died suddenly at the age of 33 last fall was unveiled to Thorp’s family. Thorp’s positive impact left an indelible mark on Harker’s football team, and – beginning with this home game on the new Davis Field – the players have begun a new tradition of each player touching the football on the memorial before each home game as a gesture to remember Coach Thorp and the principles that he instilled in the players.

Mercury News Columnist Lisa Chung writes about a special dedication to beloved coach, Deron Thorp >>

West San Jose Resident reporter Dominique Fong writes about the project >>