For 54 years, Horizons at New Canaan Country School has worked to provide better futures for K-12 students from low-income families by creating year-round academic, artistic and athletic opportunities through a variety of programs.
The Horizons program has been operating for 54 years out of New Canaan Country School. Credit: Catherine Gorey
This year, Horizons has consolidated a major part of its support base by creating an Alumni Association.
The program is something that the Board of Directors has been “working on for a long time, and tried many different approaches,” said New Canaan native and Board Chair Jennifer Barnard, who has been active with the organization for over 10 years.
“The organization started 54 years ago, so there are hundreds and hundreds of people who have gone through the program, and it can be difficult to keep track of everyone involved,” Barnard said. “But with social media, everything has been made much easier.”
Brian McGregor, who works in IT Solutions at Bankwell in New Canaan who is from Stamford and attended Horizons through middle school, said he lost contact with fellow participants after they went off to different high schools.
“After Horizons we would take SAT and ACT test prep, small programs to keep us together after graduation and help with the college process,” McGregor said. “But there wasn’t the same opportunity to stay in touch that they’re beginning to set up now.”
Barnard said that keeping alumni connected serves an important role in continuing the strong sense of community that is the hallmark of the Horizons program.
“These alumni will help to strengthen the program as a whole by serving as role models,” Barnard said. “They are a living example of how the program changed their lives.”
Toure Surgeon, also a finance director at Bankwell in New Canaan who had attended Horizons through eighth grade, said he went on to serve as a role model through its summer enrichment program for nine summers.
“I assisted with the main teacher electives to inform the classes on different subjects, from engineering to reading to working as a team,” Surgeon said.
He said he helped to give back to the program, becoming a mentor to the next
Toure Surgeon (left) and Brian McGregor (right) are both graduates of Horizons. They are both currently Bankwell employees in town. Credit: Catherine Gorey
generation of students and helping to contribute to the change that Horizons brings to its participants.
“It’s hard to put into an elevator speech, because our services for these kids is so all-encompassing.” Barnard said when asked about what she thought was the best part of the program.
McGregor said it “sounds very cliche, but it’s hard to say any lesson is the most important because they helped me learn so much about life.”
“I always talk about how great a program was to me,” he said.
Barnard pointed to the dedication of the board, staff, and parents to help better the students’ lives as the reason for the organization’s success.
“We have all these amazing people partnering together to make these programs happen,” Barnard said. “We’re always looking to make sure we’re doing everything we can do help these kids.”
“It’s such a special bond,” Barnard said. “It’s a kind of Horizons magic. Seeing the joy and success that the program brings to so many is really great.”
For Surgeon, that bond is the most important opportunity that the Alumni Association presents for Horizons.
“I think it brings everyone back to where it all started, to that family we all had when we were there,” he said. “It reignites that feeling.”