News Detail
New Hampton School’s “Kennedy Field” To Be Dedicated October 27
New Hampton School’s new state of the art, illuminated, multipurpose athletic field will be dedicated in a public ceremony on Saturday, October 27, 11:30 am. It will be formally named “Kennedy Field” in honor of Lois and Reed Kennedy, parents of Robert D. Kennedy, a member of the Class of 1950.
The synthetic turf field will be the setting for field hockey, football, lacrosse, and soccer programs. The dedication ceremony will be preceded by a 10:30 am Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the Arts and Athletics Center (reservations required), and followed by a 2 pm varsity football game on Kennedy Field between the currently unbeaten New Hampton Huskies and Portsmouth Abbey School (Portsmouth, RI). New Hampton’s athletic contests are free and open to the public.
The synthetic turf field will be the setting for field hockey, football, lacrosse, and soccer programs. The dedication ceremony will be preceded by a 10:30 am Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony in the Arts and Athletics Center (reservations required), and followed by a 2 pm varsity football game on Kennedy Field between the currently unbeaten New Hampton Huskies and Portsmouth Abbey School (Portsmouth, RI). New Hampton’s athletic contests are free and open to the public.
Mr. Kennedy, of New Canaan, CT, provided a $1 million gift for the new
field. The former CEO of Union Carbide Corporation played football,
basketball, and baseball for New Hampton and served as vice president
of the senior class. His devotion to the school has never waned, and
he has been involved in numerous projects during more than twenty years
as a school trustee.
Kennedy noted, “It’s been my privilege to see the school improve in so many areas over the years. The Moore Center for the Arts and Athletics, the McEvoy Theater, the Academic Research Center, and our new dormitories have transformed the school, and Kennedy Field now takes its place among these top-notch facilities.”
He continued, “I have great confidence in our Head of School Andrew Menke and in the school’s new strategic plan that is pointing toward a curriculum that meets the challenges of the twenty-first century. New Hampton School is entering a very exciting period, and I hope my gift might inspire other alumni, parents, and friends.”
Head of School Andrew Menke commented, “Bob Kennedy is one of New Hampton’s most steadfast friends and supporters. His superior business acumen, great love for his alma mater, and remarkable generosity and energy have already helped the school in so many ways. We invite all to come celebrate this wonderful new chapter for New Hampton and the man whose vision has brought us to this great day.”
Kennedy Field has all of the latest advancements, including infill that provides safety, grass-like steadiness, durability, and flexibility; enhanced traction that allows athletes to play aggressively while minimizing the potential for injury; and low abrasion fiber that mimics real grass.
Fields of Kennedy Field’s caliber can be found in dozens of high-profile venues including the homes of the National Football League’s New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Diego Chargers; Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays; and leading colleges and universities including Dartmouth, Florida, and Ohio State, among others.
Director of Athletics Jamie Arsenault commented, “Kennedy Field is second to none in the region and represents a huge addition to our athletics program. We’ll be able to get out on it much earlier in the spring and the lights will extend our practice and game times.”
In its article, “Which Grass is Greener?,” Environmental Building News magazine noted that “From an environmental perspective, the potential for water savings is probably the most significant benefit of artificial turf. Plastic grass, of course, needs no irrigation to stay green.” The article also pointed out, “Since artificial turf needs no regular chemical treatment, it eliminates a major source of non-point-source groundwater pollution and human exposure to chemicals.”
Menke said, “Sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship are important considerations for our school, and we’re glad that Kennedy Field can be a step in that direction.”
The $1 million gift for Kennedy Field comes on top of an anonymous pledge of $4 million, which was made in 2006 to build a new science and mathematics center that will be central to New Hampton’s twenty-first century emphasis on sustainability and a globally relevant curriculum. Groundbreaking for the center is slated for March 2008.
Founded in 1821, New Hampton School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school of 330 students who come from over 30 states and 12 foreign countries. Students benefit from an average class size of 11 and a student-faculty ratio of 5:1. A recipient of the National School of Character Award, NHS strives to develop the whole person within the whole community, to celebrate the continued diversity of its school community, and to develop good students and citizens. For more information, please visit www.newhampton.org.
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Kennedy noted, “It’s been my privilege to see the school improve in so many areas over the years. The Moore Center for the Arts and Athletics, the McEvoy Theater, the Academic Research Center, and our new dormitories have transformed the school, and Kennedy Field now takes its place among these top-notch facilities.”
He continued, “I have great confidence in our Head of School Andrew Menke and in the school’s new strategic plan that is pointing toward a curriculum that meets the challenges of the twenty-first century. New Hampton School is entering a very exciting period, and I hope my gift might inspire other alumni, parents, and friends.”
Head of School Andrew Menke commented, “Bob Kennedy is one of New Hampton’s most steadfast friends and supporters. His superior business acumen, great love for his alma mater, and remarkable generosity and energy have already helped the school in so many ways. We invite all to come celebrate this wonderful new chapter for New Hampton and the man whose vision has brought us to this great day.”
Kennedy Field has all of the latest advancements, including infill that provides safety, grass-like steadiness, durability, and flexibility; enhanced traction that allows athletes to play aggressively while minimizing the potential for injury; and low abrasion fiber that mimics real grass.
Fields of Kennedy Field’s caliber can be found in dozens of high-profile venues including the homes of the National Football League’s New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals, and San Diego Chargers; Major League Baseball’s New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays; and leading colleges and universities including Dartmouth, Florida, and Ohio State, among others.
Director of Athletics Jamie Arsenault commented, “Kennedy Field is second to none in the region and represents a huge addition to our athletics program. We’ll be able to get out on it much earlier in the spring and the lights will extend our practice and game times.”
In its article, “Which Grass is Greener?,” Environmental Building News magazine noted that “From an environmental perspective, the potential for water savings is probably the most significant benefit of artificial turf. Plastic grass, of course, needs no irrigation to stay green.” The article also pointed out, “Since artificial turf needs no regular chemical treatment, it eliminates a major source of non-point-source groundwater pollution and human exposure to chemicals.”
Menke said, “Sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship are important considerations for our school, and we’re glad that Kennedy Field can be a step in that direction.”
The $1 million gift for Kennedy Field comes on top of an anonymous pledge of $4 million, which was made in 2006 to build a new science and mathematics center that will be central to New Hampton’s twenty-first century emphasis on sustainability and a globally relevant curriculum. Groundbreaking for the center is slated for March 2008.
Founded in 1821, New Hampton School is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory secondary school of 330 students who come from over 30 states and 12 foreign countries. Students benefit from an average class size of 11 and a student-faculty ratio of 5:1. A recipient of the National School of Character Award, NHS strives to develop the whole person within the whole community, to celebrate the continued diversity of its school community, and to develop good students and citizens. For more information, please visit www.newhampton.org.
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