Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2010 | Page 9

Hill Stadium, Athletic Facilities Get a Facelift Get ready for turf, lights and more Thornton’s Dr. Paul S. Hill, Jr. Stadium will look a whole lot different by the fall of 2011! Everyone’s favorite place to cheer for the Trojans will be decked out with turf, lights and a spiffy new track surface. Sports teams that will benefit include baseball, cross country, football, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball and outdoor track & field. And get ready, tennis fans: TA’s four tennis courts will also be upgraded. Why now? Artificial turf extends the spring and fall athletic seasons, while lighting provides more usable hours for games and practices – with the added bonus of allowing more working parents to attend and show their maroon and gold colors. The upgrades are also necessary so TA can continue serving its large student population (about 350 to 400 kids participate in athletics each season) and allows the school to meet demands of community groups who use TA’s outdoor facilities. Who’s paying for it? The work is made possible through support of the Thornton Fund, TA’s annual giving campaign. A total of $890,000 has been received for the project since July 2009. The total cost is estimated at $1.2 million. Fundraising will continue throughout the 2011-12 school year. Thornton has already received several significant donations toward the project: a $175,000 estate gift from Charles and Mary Virginia Yates Allard ’32; a $100,000 gift from Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution; and other major gift support. What can I do to help? Consider making a gift today. It’s easy to donate online. Visit www.thorntonacademy.org and click on “Giving” or call 207-602-4460. Graduation 2010 Thornton Academy presented high school diplomas to 323 students in the class of 2010 on Sunday, June 13, at the Dr. Paul S. Hill, Jr. Stadium. Counter-clockwise at left: Students line up to enter the stadium; graduates get emotional in the hug line; class of 2010 valedictorian Lydia Dumont addresses the crowd; and TA Board of Trustees President Eric Purvis ’81 presents son Ian with his diploma. Photos by Shawn Patrick Ouellette ’89 Postscripts • 9