Who makes our mission possible?
Heroes like you.
Being a hero doesn’t require rushing into a burning building to save lives. The definition is a bit broader than that and requires only the selfless attempt (and intent) to benefit others through some amount of personal sacrifice. When you give your assets to support our mission, you become a hero—at least to those whose lives have been transformed by our innovative education.
What does a hero look like? Here are just a few of the supporters who have helped us change lives.
Meet the Mulgrews
Colleen and Michael Mulgrew of Marstons Mills, Massachusetts, say Brewster was a stellar choice for their son, Bill ’20, who arrived as a junior. And their positive experience has spurred them to give generously to support the school that their son loved from the start. “There were so, so many reasons we chose Brewster,” Colleen, who is a bookkeeper with her own business, shared recently. “It had such a profound effect on Bill.” Though their local school had many positives, Bill was getting lost as “just a number” there. A veteran teacher, Michael knew what student burnout looked like. “When we saw Brewster,” Michael says, “we saw something different, something going in another direction. We started thinking that it really does live up to that slogan ‘the way education should be.’ We saw it at Brewster more than anywhere else—it really is a special place.”
They remember with a chuckle the day Bill made up his mind to become a Bobcat: Walking around campus on a frigid day, Bill simply announced, “I have to go here!”
Everyone arrives at Brewster with their own unique needs and challenges, and for Bill, he was completely accepted on day one. “Like the people at Brewster, Bill thinks outside of the box, and we just saw him thrive. And when it was time to go off to college, he was ready, well prepared, and able to find himself,” Colleen says. One of their most memorable moments was seeing Bill performing in “Madman Across the Water,” a tribute musical to Elton John, in October 2019. Bill’s proud parents recall walking into the concert in Anderson Hall, hearing him sing, and thinking, “Holy moly, that’s our son!”
Brewster’s dedication to offering immersive learning experiences and the complete care of students, paying attention to stress points for each student, also impressed the Mulgrews. “Also, every time we went to pick him up and would talk with administrators, the things they would say were just spot on…they know their students. The people who do the hiring at Brewster know what they are doing—there are very strong connections between students and the faculty and staff.”
Bill has recently graduated from Bryant University in Smithfield, Rhode Island, where he majored in Management, focusing in leadership and innovation. Plus, he carried a double minor in English and Human Resources. “He had a wonderful experience at Bryant,” says his mom. “He’s picked very good schools!” He’s now tackling an accelerated, one-year MBA program and landed an internship with a growing local bank, Cape Cod 5.
“That confidence that Brewster gives the kids, that’s why we support the school because that’s what it did for Bill. Our experience was wonderful there,” Colleen shares. “We originally had our donations to go to the Reimagine Rogers project, because Bill was heavily involved in both the theater and singing in his two years at Brewster. We saw under incredible tutelage how much his confidence grew. The support the entire community gave him has lasted as he went off to college. We also felt that Brewster needed another space for the kids to hang out and just be kids. What a wonderful addition the Rogers has been to the campus!” The couple have also supported the Tyler Balint ’21 Robotics Lab, need-based student scholarships, and The Fund for Brewster, among other initiatives that speak to their passion for education and student success.
Colleen ended our chat with loving words about her Bobcat. “Bill is such a wonderful son. When he went to Wolfeboro, he knew no one. But he wanted to reinvent himself and not be in the shadow of an older brother. And he succeeded! He’s a very kind person, too. Every day he goes off to work and asks ‘Is there anything I can do for you today Mom?’ We are very lucky.” And Brewster is lucky to count the Mulgrew family among its biggest fans!
Catching Up with Julie Trask ’83
Julie Trask did what many recommend to students when they come to Brewster: Jump in with both feet! An academically focused student, she was also a four-sport athlete, a dorm proctor her junior and senior years in Kimball, an Admissions Tour Guide, and to top it all off, a writer and editor for The Brewster Browser! We caught up with Julie and learned more about her experience at Brewster and why she supports her alma mater to this day.
Q: Thanks so much for chatting with us for this donor profile. How many years were you at Brewster?
JT: Three: sophomore through senior year.
Q: And who were you at Brewster?
JT: I was involved in several different activities…including four sports: soccer, tennis, softball, and skiing. When I arrived, I was a young, naive kid trying to find my way in a new community—making new friends, trying new activities, keeping up with school work, learning to live away from home. It was an adjustment since I was not a fan of sleepovers. I liked it at home and I was very homesick! But within a few weeks, I adjusted and found a comfort zone. Being adaptable to change is a skill that I continue to rely on in the ever-changing landscape of work in the technology field and in life, more generally.
Q: And you discovered your love of golf at Brewster, right?
JT: Yes, I remember Mrs. Nentwig took me golfing the day after I graduated and that was life-changing. To this day, I continue to play recreational and tournament golf.
Q: And then you began a career in tech, right?
JT: Yes, I moved back to my native state of Massachusetts and began a 38-year career in High Technology. I currently work at Oracle where I have worked for the past 13 years. For several years, I was leading an R&D team working on virtualization solutions. More recently, I have changed focus to Cloud Operations.
Q: Will you share a special moment or person that comes to mind when you look back to your Brewster days?
JT: I think there are just too many memories and people to pick out just one…but I will pick out two students I admired. In Kimball, I used to go upstairs to the dorm room of Martha Trepanier ’83 (nee Weyand) and ask her to play me songs on her guitar. She was always so kind and willing and I loved her generous spirit! And I have always described Greg Branzetti ’84 as the most memorable boy at Brewster! He was outgoing and kind to everyone. I saw Greg last year while having dinner with my family at The Woodshed in Moultonborough and he remains the gentleman I admired.
Q: You and your wife Wanda live in Hudson, Massachusetts. What do you two do for fun when you’re not working?
JT: Yes, Wanda and I live on a small lake and her mom, Gloria, has been living with us since early 2022. Our main family focus is golfing. We play both for fun and sometimes in competition. It’s been a great way to make many great friends over the years. In the off-season, we spend time at our cabin in the Mount Washington Valley area, enjoying hiking, skiing, and all winter activities.
Q: You’re a member of Brewster’s 1887 Society and have been so generous to The Fund for Brewster. With so many great causes and nonprofits in our world that need financial help, why is it important to you to give to Brewster?
JT: My years at Brewster were formative. I learned to be more open to new ideas and experiences. My agility skills improved. In short, I began to mature.
Q: Thank you for your time and your generosity over the decades. Before we end, what advice would you give current Brewster students?
JT: Soak in the whole experience and environment! Enjoy the amazing nearby natural resources, try to get to be friendly with everyone—you may be surprised by your classmates and peers, but only if you get to know them!