Featured Alumnus: Jordan Bernard '20 | Avon Old Farms News | About Us | Avon Old Farms

Reunion weekend is almost here! Jordan Bernard ’20 is one of the many alumni excited to return to the Farm, a place he credits with fostering personal growth and lifelong friendships.

Even as an 8th grader, Bernard was active in his pursuit of a good education. He started to feel that a private school was a better fit for him than continuing at public school. Then he learned that there is something even better: boarding school. “I was always looking for the best educational experience possible, but I found out I also wanted that personal growth element. At a boarding school, you’re put into a great position to get both of those things,” Bernard says.

His parents agreed. They began the process of inquiring at various schools and touring campuses throughout New England. Ultimately, Avon stood out from the rest. “It really did stick out to me. It’s cliché, but that place is different. How friendly everyone is, especially the students. I remember being sold after my interactions with an admissions ambassador.” In the fall of 2016, he arrived for his freshman year. Bernard quickly embraced his community and immediately felt he was part of the Brotherhood. “Surprisingly, I was able to fit in and make a lot of close friends right away. I’m still close with all of those guys today.”

While he thrived socially right away, there was a bit of an adjustment period for Bernard academically. He knew this would be the case when he arrived, and was eager to take on the challenge, but it still required a lot of perseverance. “I felt like I was playing catch up my first year. From where I had come from, I was used to doing better in school. I had to work my way up to the higher level of honors and AP courses. I got there eventually, which I’m really proud of.”

His commitment to his classes didn’t stop him from getting involved all over campus. While at Avon, Bernard did it all. He was on the Student Council starting his junior year and was elected vice-warden his senior year. He was co-head of the Student Activities Club, a co-head of the Big Brother program, head monitor of Elephant 3 dorm, and was a member of the track & field team. He was also a member of the Riddlers and the Elite Jazz Ensemble. Music, he says, was his main focus. “That was definitely what I was most into. I remember the holiday concerts were always a really good time. Working with Mr. Raposo was great,” Bernard says. Music department chair Dave Raposo P’22 says the feeling is mutual. “He was a great jazz pianist, talented musician, and an even better person,” Raposo says.

With a wealth of extracurricular participation, experience in leadership positions, and continued diligence in his school work, Bernard was selected for a full-academic scholarship to the University of Connecticut’s accelerated honors program. “Jonathan Crocker, my college counselor, he made that possible. He told me about the opportunity and helped me fill out the application. I was lucky enough to be one of the students who got selected,” Bernard says.

Unlike his transition to Avon, Bernard had no problems adjusting to life in college. In fact, he felt fully prepared. “I felt very comfortable scheduling my time. Avon really prepares you well as far as managing your time and organizing yourself to be successful.” Bernard continued his success in college, completing his studies in pharmacy quicker than most in the program. Now, he has only a few more months of rotations before he receives his doctorate degree in the spring.

When asked why he chose to pursue a doctorate in pharmaceutical sciences, Bernard says it’s personal. “It stemmed from my own experiences. I had family members with health issues. It might be generic, but I just want to be able to help people. I weighed the possibilities, and felt that pharmacy was the perfect hybrid to be able to have a real impact on patient’s lives, without the excess responsibilities and schooling involved in other programs.”

Now that his internship rotations have exposed him to every aspect of the pharmaceutical field, Bernard says he would be open to all of them as a career, but is leaning toward opportunities that focus on making medications more affordable or accessible.

Bernard says his time at Avon helped prepare him for his future, regardless of which area of the field he ends up working in. “I could go on forever about the ways Avon helped me,” Bernard says. “The main thing Avon builds is confidence and being outgoing with people you don’t know. AOF really brings that ability out of you. You also learn effective communication and how to advocate for yourself. Communication is huge in the jobs I’ll be pursuing.”

In fact, Bernard’s only complaint about his time at Avon was that it didn’t last longer. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the class of 2020 had to leave school early and delay their graduation ceremony. This was tough for the entire Avon community because the school is nothing without the students, faculty, and staff that live, work, and learn here together. “The importance of community at Avon really emphasized for me that achieving things is nice, but it’s nothing without having people to share it with.”

Soon, Bernard will be back within the Avon community for his five-year class reunion. He explains why he’s excited to return, “I just want to catch up with my guys. These are people that I experienced some big life moments with. Also, I’ve had a lot of faculty invest a lot in me, so I’m looking forward to seeing them as well.”

Reunion this year will be held on campus from September 19-21 and is celebrating the class years ending in a ’0 or ’5. For more information, visit www.avonoldfarms.com/reunion-2025.

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