parting thoughts

Parting thoughts as Collegiate’s 95th year comes to a close.

Oscar Brinson joined the Collegiate family on January 1, 1991, as director of administrative computing with plans to stay only a couple of years, then move on to a job in higher education.

Well, two years became three, and three became nine-and-a-half.

For the past five, he’s served as director of IT operations, and in that time the school has constructed one of the best networks you’ll find anywhere.

When he arrived, Collegiate had 150 computers. Now, it has more than 800.

During Brinson’s tenure, he’s not only built the data center but also hired staff, worked with help-desk students, supported a group of about 100 administrative and non-instructional personnel, and even served quite ably as the horizontal jumps coach on the 2008 spring track team.

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Suffice it to say, Brinson’s days have been full, and many know him only as a blur whisking around campus from one assignment to the next.

He and his wife Mindy have decided that it’s time to simplify.

This summer, they’ll move to Dog Days Farm, their 24-acre spread in Floyd County where they’ve fixed up an old house and hope to develop a working farm.

“Our (new) neighbors say we’ll be busy,” Oscar said, “just a different kind of busy.

“Collegiate’s a great community, so this move is bittersweet. It’s just time for me to try something different.”

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With diligence, dedication, and passion, Cheryl Groce-Wright has for six years headed Learning Bridge, the Collegiate-based summer program that provides academic enrichment for high-potential but disadvantaged City of Richmond middle school youngsters.

When she packs away the last box of supplies in August, though, she’ll plunge full-time into her role as president of Kaleidoscope Collaborative LLC, which she recently founded.

In her new venture, the Binghamton, NY, native will use her considerable expertise and experience to consult in the area of multi-cultural education and coach adults in exercise and healthy living skills.

Her clients will have an excellent example.

On September 26 in Ghana, she’ll tackle the Accra International Marathon which benefits Project Longevity Africa.

Thankfully, Cheryl won’t be a stranger. She’ll continue to serve on Collegiate’s service committee and, with sons Carson and Nigel in the Middle School, remain involved as a parent.

“It feels like there’s something bigger for me to achieve,” she said of her decision to move on.

“I’m ready to start that chapter, begin that race, take that journey.”

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Obscured by a slew of highly publicized athletic accomplishments this past school year were the cross country and track exploits of senior David Allen.

A promising distance runner when he was a freshman, Allen spent much of the next two years rehabbing a series of nagging leg injuries that severely limited his competitive opportunities.

Determined to make the most of the meets that were left, he ran when he could, trained in the weight room, and spent countless hours swimming and water running.

His dedication paid great dividends.

He ended the spring of 2009 with a spectacular third leg of the state championship 4x800 relay team. His time was 2:01.4, a personal best by four seconds.

This past fall, he earned All-Prep League and all-state honors in cross country.

In the winter, he was part of the 4x800 relay team that ran 8:12.17 and lowered the previous indoor school record by 10 seconds.

This spring, he improved his open 800 time to 1:59.26 and won the league and state titles. At the VMI Invitational, his 2:00.3 split helped the 4x800 team run 7:57.53, a school outdoor record by nine seconds and the fastest time among state independent schools and all schools in Central Virginia.

And in the Prep League meet, he anchored in 1:58.7, making up a large deficit in the final stretch and ensuring his team the 4x800 title.

“While being injured was obviously challenging physically, it was much more so psychologically,” he said. 

“Many people think of running as an individual sport, but for me it was really my teammates who helped me overcome the doubt and uncertainty of my situation. 

“As I watched their spirit, tenacity and drive from the sidelines, I was inspired to push myself, get back on my feet, and compete again.”

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Finally, the words of Mark Hourigan, chairman of the board of trustees, in his remarks at graduation about the Class of 2010: “This is a class of champions and champions who compete with class.”

Pretty much says it all.