Gale Hurd ’61 Asks: “Are You Up for a Challenge?”
Gale understands how deeply CA shaped her life—giving her confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging. Now, with a planned gift in her estate, she is helping ensure that future students will have the same opportunity to benefit from all CA
has to offer.
“For me, the focus at CA was always on measuring yourself against your own potential rather than comparing yourself to others. One was measured by a series of challenges—challenges that differed for each student. The honor system challenged your ethics. As a border back then, changing roommates and houses twice a year challenged your ability to be adaptable and make different friends. Of course, the teachers challenged your brain while the non-academic activities challenged your persistence in finding outlets that were good fits for your personality and abilities.
“Sports and odd things were the challenges that fit me best. I didn’t have a lot of abilities back then, academic or otherwise, so I got to learn ‘teamwork’ by filling roles that nobody else wanted—like being the goalie in field hockey. And I was the Candy Box merchant at recess and got to learn organization, financial accountability, and how to be ‘individually’ welcoming when I was having a bad day.”
In 1971 Vermont became Gale’s home, and she embraced the advice of a CA advisor to “grow where you’re planted.” Unlike many of her classmates and today’s CA alums who have written books and made national and international impacts, she consciously and happily stayed with local challenges, connecting with the community in appointed and elected positions (“Thank you Stuff Class!”): a job as an advocate for crime victims and on boards such as the Open Door Clinic, Planning Commission, and Tri-Valley Transit. Apparently she could sell more than candy at recess as she was able to “sell” a 20% school budget increase at Town Meeting.
Now Gale challenges you to remember all the ways CA has impacted your life and growth as a person. “Be a Visionary! Make CA part of your estate plan, required IRA distributions, or other planned giving options, and guarantee creating positive impacts on future generations of CA students.”
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