School Directory | Avon Old Farms | Boys Boarding High School in CT

Born and raised in South Hadley, Massachusetts, Luke matriculated to Avon Old Farms where he ran cross country and track, played hockey, and was a dorm monitor in Jennings and Elephant. Upon graduating, he was awarded Order of Old Farms. Luke then enrolled at Gettysburg College to study political science and Spanish. Post-college, he spent nine years teaching high school, refereeing ice hockey, and coaching girls cross country and indoor/outdoor track. “Working in education has taught me how essential the high school experience is for all students. Also, as a coach and referee, I have seen student athletes grow on the playing field. Athletics provide a great opportunity for students to persevere and overcome hardships while growing the relationships Avon is known for. “There is a tremendous amount of growth that occurs for young men during the high school years. Avon cultivates a culture that is a wonderful mix of old and new that helps young men find who they are while becoming men of integrity. The community that is fostered during our years at Avon continues after we leave; the friendships are lifelong. It's essential and important to me, as an Avon alumnus, that we grow this community and give back to the next generations that will become Men of Avon.”

Sarah joined the Avon community in 2021, bringing more than 25 years of alumni and development experience, acquired from elementary schools, secondary schools, higher learning institutions, and more.

Sarah grew up in the greater Hartford area and attended the Kingswood-Oxford School in West Hartford before matriculating to University of Maine. Feeling a call to the field of education, Sarah traveled to Japan for two years after completing her undergraduate degree to teach English as a second language. Upon returning to the U.S., her passion for teaching morphed into a role at a literacy program in Jackson Hole. It was there that Sarah was introduced to the importance of development work within nonprofits.

With a career defined, Sarah studied nonprofit management at the School for International Training. She worked in a variety of places, from the U.S.’s West Coast to Greece before her wanderlust gave way to settling down with a family at home in Connecticut. Throughout it all, Sarah says that school communities have held her admiration.

“The communities at the schools I’ve been a part of have been extraordinary, and I’ve truly felt at home in each of them. I pride myself on being a relationship builder, and schools have proven to be wonderful places for me to practice that skillset.”

As the director of development, Sarah oversees engagement, philanthropy, stewardship, and events.

After graduating from Avon Old Farms in 1972, Kevin Driscoll earned a B.A. in biological sciences from Boston University before returning to Avon in 1978 to begin a 35-year career devoted to shaping boys into good men. One of 14 children—and one of 14 Driscoll men to attend Avon—Kevin was the first of seven brothers and seven nephews to graduate as a Winged Beaver. Kevin’s impact on campus has been profound. He taught math, served as director of residential life and dean of students for 19 years, and introduced vertical housing, enrichment hour, and community-based speaker programs that strengthened Avon’s family culture. He also coached track and field for 16 years and varsity hockey for 15, though he is best known for leading Avon’s varsity football team for more than three decades. His teams won numerous championships, with many players advancing to college and professional careers. Currently dean and capital gifts officer, Kevin continues to coach football each fall, modeling Avon’s motto Aspirando et Perseverando. A devoted family man, he and his wife, Maria, raised their two children, Blaise ’07 and Margaret, on campus. In recognition of his enduring contributions, the school established the Kevin J. Driscoll ’72 Scholarship to help deserving boys experience an Avon education.

Steve came to Avon Old Farms in October of 2021 from Wesleyan University, where he spent the prior 10 years on their development staff. At Wesleyan, Steve served as a development officer and supervisor on the Major Gifts team, traveling the country to raise six and seven-figure gifts while mentoring junior colleagues and taking on a number of departmental projects over time. He believes strongly in the model of a well-rounded education that Avon offers, particularly the small campus environment with extensive interaction between students and faculty/staff. He is eager to advocate for the preservation and advancement of its mission!

Steve began his career in the finance industry in Boston following his graduation from Bates College in 1999. He moved back to the Hartford Area, where he is originally from, in 2004. In search of greater professional fulfillment, he took a chance by transitioning to development and joining Yale University in January of 2010. He considers it the best decision of his career, and within two years he accepted an opportunity for advancement at Wesleyan.

Steve played football at Bates and studied abroad at St. Andrews University in Scotland, where he enjoyed hiking the Highlands and islands on his time off.

He has two children, son Luke and daughter Rowan, and can often be found cheering on Luke’s running races or Rowan’s horseback riding.