Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2017 | Page 15

Leary graduated in 1922, and
her great-grandson Aaron Leary
entered TA as a freshman this fall
and is slated to graduate in 2021.
During almost this entire century
in addition to completing their
studies at Thornton Academy,
the Leary family has continued to
educate themselves to maintain
their successful farm in North
Saco. The Leary family may be
large in number, but all members
exhibit hard work, honesty, and
commitment; values that are
mirrored in the Thornton Academy
pillars of respect, responsibility,
compassion, and investment.
Members of the Leary family have
trodden different paths through
the halls of TA and pursued
varied educational goals after
graduation, but all are happy,
healthy and successful in their own
ways. They range from degrees at
Harvard University to Dairy Farm
Management at Vermont Technical
College, to the partnership with
the UMaine School of Engineering
(see pages 4-5). Thornton Academy
has the wide and diverse offerings
necessary to provide many post-
graduate options to not only
members of the Leary family, but
our entire Thornton Academy
family.
will deepen even further, as two
students from our Community
Vocational Program will complete
a job shadow program at the
farm. These students will work
on entrepreneurship as they take
and fill orders, pick vegetables,
and help maintain the farm stand.
TA’s Transition Coordinator Kristy
Kendrick describes the goal of
the program: “at the designated
job sites, students will be able to
practice and master skills that will
prepare them for employment for
life after high school.” Hard work is
one of the hallmarks of the Leary
Farm, so these students will learn
how effort and dedication can lead
to success.
the fields, barns, and homes.
Fueled by a Thornton Academy
education, the Leary family
has continued to diversify their
entrepreneurial endeavors and
continuously pursues further
education to maintain the farm’s
existence and create a full life for
themselves and future Learys to
come.
During a visit to the farm, the
This year, the connection between
values of dedication, hard work,
Leary Farm and Thornton Academy respect, and family emanate from
We welcome
submissions from
any current or former
students and faculty.
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