No matter what path they are taking, what schools they attend, their career trajectories, or their geographic locations, Haldane High School alumni remain connected by the foundations built within the school’s walls. To better learn how Haldane has shaped former students’ lives post-graduation, alumni from different graduating classes were asked to provide insight into their current chapters in life.

Helen Hutchison, who graduated in 2025, is currently attending Vassar College in Poughkeepsie as a freshman. At Vassar, students don’t certify their major until their sophomore year, so presently she remains undecided. She is considering a major in biochemistry or neuroscience on a pre-med track, with the possibility of minoring in French and francophone studies. When looking back on her time at Haldane, Hutchison noted specific classes that prepared her the most for her college experience. She said, “I think that AP United States Government was the class that prepared me most for the real world, since we discussed modern political issues and their context in history. AP World [AP World History: Modern] also gets an honorable mention in that area!”

Further expanding on how Haldane has shaped her future, Hutchison discussed the impact of attending a small, tight-knit school. She stated, “I think that Haldane being a K-12 district really influenced the way I grew up. My college friends always say that I talk so much about high school, and I realized that’s because Haldane was my entire childhood. Most of my memories take place inside Haldane, from first grade to senior year.” The valuable friendships created over many years are something Hutchison treasures when recalling her time at Haldane. She noted, “I remember meeting my best friend on the first day of first grade, and now we’ve been friends for 13 years, which wouldn’t have been possible without the privilege of going to school together for so long.” Hutchison added that some of her most memorable experiences at Haldane aligned with her participation in plays and musicals with Haldane Drama. She mentioned, “Going to college and getting to say with full confidence and pride that my high school shows were good is such a great feeling. At Haldane, you get to be in real, quality shows with high standards as a kid, and you really get to feel what it’s like to be an actor.” She remarked that Haldane actors’ and directors’ dedication to the theater program added a sense of professionalism to the drama department.

Samuel Bates, Class of 2023, is also a former actor at Haldane who performed in many shows. Bates is currently pursuing a degree in Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University. He, like Hutchison, noted that the size of the school and community fostered by Haldane still impacts his life, even post-graduation. “Haldane’s small size meant that through knowing everyone at the school, you also knew a bit about the lives and worldviews and thoughts and whatnot of all different kinds of people with all sorts of interests,” Bates said. He continued, “There were future lawyers and future physicists and future dramas, and you got along with them all!” Reflecting on what prepared him the most for his life post-graduation, he said, “If anything, that little world of characters set me up for the ‘real world’ of characters too.” He highlighted that Haldane did a great job emphasizing the importance of both sciences and humanities. Specifically, Bates mentioned current English teachers Nancy Martinez and Jenna Isabella, as well as former English teacher Dr. Eric Richter, for shaping his education through engaging classes with open-ended discussions that challenged students. He said, “They really got us to break our normal lines of reasoning and think about all sorts of real-world and literary topics in new ways. Fostering and encouraging that spark of learning is one of the most impactful things a high school teacher can do.” Bates also fondly remembered humorous Haldane moments that haven’t faded in the years since graduation. He stated, “I’d like to formally apologize to Mrs. Sniffen for the time I decided to improvise and subsequently leave out three-fourths of the Pledge of Allegiance on the loudspeaker. My version went something like ‘I pledge allegiance to the flag…however, the rest goes! Good-bye!’” He continued, “It resulted in a ban on anyone who wasn’t Class President Conrad White from reciting the morning announcements.”