“A Community That Sees You”: NMH Celebrates Founder’s Day

Northfield Mount Hermon paid homage to its founder, Dwight Lyman Moody, on Feb. 4 during the annual Founder’s Day celebration. Observed in celebration of his birthday on Feb. 5, Founder’s Day recognizes the life and legacy of Moody, reaffirming his vision for NMH. Each year, the event also honors a faculty member who exemplifies the school’s guiding values of inclusivity, learning for life, and service.

This year’s ceremony in Memorial Chapel featured remarks, musical performances, and a keynote address from science teacher and registrar Nhu Gonzalez Hoang.

The program began with brief welcoming remarks from Head of School Brian Hargrove, who spoke about Moody’s motivations for founding the schools that would become NMH.

“He wanted to call people in to be the best version of themselves,” Hargrove said. “He asked his followers to examine their life choices, to interrogate their very values, and he asked them to make different choices. He moved individuals to move as a collective force for good.”

Hargrove drew parallels between the late 19th century, when the schools were founded, and today’s world, noting the “economic, political, and social crossroads” America stood at then and now.

“It was on these very hills in the Connecticut River Valley that Mr. Moody chose a different arc,” Hargrove said. “He established our school to light the way for generations of students and so many others who benefit from the example they set in their own lives of service and leadership.”

Following the singing of the school song, “Jerusalem,” Junsang Ryu ’27 offered a moment of silent reflection on the nature of silence, its role in daily life at NMH, and its capacity for deep thought, reflection, and creativity.

“Silence has roots here, not as absence, but as purpose, and that purpose is for a greater understanding of ourselves and our place within this community,” Ryu said. “When Dwight L. Moody founded this school, he envisioned a space where students could explore not just what they would do, but the type of person they would become. Sometimes, growth begins in quiet. In waiting. In reflection.”

Anna Lazorina ’26 spoke about the foundation Moody laid for the school and how those values continue to influence its direction today, focusing on his quote “Life is not only to be lived, but also to be given.”

“These words of D.L. Moody became a lot more than a line in the school mission statement. Moody hoped for it to become the students’ life motto and something they would carry beyond the school walls into a bigger world,” Lazorina said. “But it was that particular place — the school — where the changes began.”

She shared examples from her own NMH journey, describing the support and mentorship she found and how it transformed her understanding of herself.

“This education shaped not only my mind, but my sense of responsibility, confidence, love, and ability to care deeply for others,” Lazorina said. “NMH was never easy on me: I made mistakes, was held accountable for them, and learned how to take responsibility. But it is those lessons that mattered the most, and that transformed me as a person.

“Moody reminds us that life is about trusting your community,” she continued. “It is about being ready to learn from it and give back more than you received. But, most importantly, it is about becoming a whole person, carrying the light and love into the bigger world, in the way that we live, listen, and stay.”

Following the singing of the senior class hymn, “Let Freedom Span Both East and West,” Eric Zhao ’27 stepped to the podium to introduce Hoang, speaking about the profound impact she’s had on his time at NMH.

“Personally, Nhu represents much more than just an advisor: She’s a life mentor who guides me through my difficult times, a friend who asks me for my cat pictures over breaks, and, most importantly, a family member who makes NMH genuinely feel like my home,” Zhao said. “If she could do all of this for just one student, ..., it speaks to her genuine dedication to bringing success and well-being to every single member of this community.”

In her address, Hoang recounted her experiences coming to the United States as a student from Vietnam, overcoming culture shock, and finding her place in the NMH community. As a newly arrived student, Hoang said she felt an urge to “prove myself” worthy of her opportunities.

“For years, I carried the idea that being somewhere meant proving myself, that belonging was something I needed to earn, that being here wasn’t enough. I had to deserve to be here every single day,” Hoang said.

After coming to NMH in 2015, Hoang’s understanding of what constitutes worthiness and “a good school” began to shift. “The longer I’ve been here, the more I’ve realized that what makes a school good isn’t just what it offers: It’s what it allows, who it allows you to become,” she said. “Above the buildings and beyond the programs, it’s the people that make NMH great.”

Hoang encouraged students to recognize their inherent self-worth and allow themselves space to experiment, make mistakes, and grow.

“You are allowed to have days that lift you up and days when you’re simply getting through. Your life is not a test you need to pass,” she said. “Once you know that, you can actually begin to grow. Because when ‘enough’ is your foundation, ‘capable’ is what you build from it.”

Hoang concluded her keynote by addressing the ongoing national debate over immigration and the fear and uncertainty many immigrants face today.

“This country can only be great because of the rich tapestry of backgrounds, stories, and experiences that make it up. The immigrant experience is not separate from that story. It is integral to it,” Hoang said. “I think Dwight Moody would agree with me that what makes NMH great is that it gives you a community that sees you, recognizes you, and reminds you of your worth, especially when you’re the one in doubt.”

Reflecting on the honor outside of the event, Hoang said being selected as the keynote speaker felt “both meaningful and humbling.”

“NMH has been such an important place in my life, and the opportunity to reflect on its history and values, especially in front of students and colleagues I care deeply about, means a great deal to me,” she said.

Founder’s Day remains an important reminder to honor the school’s original guiding principles “to see students as whole people, to expand access to education, and to affirm the dignity and worth of each individual,” Hoang added.

“While the campus and programs have evolved over time, that core commitment still feels very much alive,” she said. “Founder’s Day gives us a moment to reconnect with that purpose and to consider how we carry it forward in our own ways.”

—Max Hunt

Photos by Ben Barnhart Photographs.