NMH Celebrates Moody’s Legacy of Love and Inclusivity at Founder’s Day Ceremony

On Feb. 5, 1837, Dwight Lyman Moody was born in Northfield, Massachusetts. Rising from humble beginnings, Moody would become one of the most influential evangelists of his era, preaching a message of inclusivity and radical love. In 1879, his work culminated in the founding of the Northfield Seminary for Young Ladies, followed two years later by the Mount Hermon School for Boys in nearby Gill.

Since its inception, Northfield Mount Hermon has served as a living example of Moody’s teachings, focused on providing an education that values diversity, curiosity, and moral fortitude in the face of a changing world.

On Feb. 5, 2025 – Moody’s 188th birthday – the NMH community gathered to reaffirm its commitment to these values during its annual Founder’s Day celebration. The event, held in Memorial Chapel, featured remarks from students, staff, and a keynote address by faculty member Wil Chuch, in addition to a selection of hymns and music performed by students and staff.

Head of School Brian Hargrove opened the ceremony by sharing the story of Gus White ’53, an African American who came to Mount Hermon in 1949 from Memphis, Tennessee. 

“His mother, a teacher, knew that her son needed and wanted more than the segregated schools in Memphis could give him, and she knew NMH stood nearly alone in embracing students from diverse backgrounds,” Hargrove said. “At a time in our country when so many institutions were closed to people of color, Northfield Mount Hermon held fast to its mission and values.

“We embrace diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging because we know that it strengthens the education and experience for every single one of us,” Hargrove continued. “It was true when we were founded, when Gus attended in the early 1950s, and today.”

Recalling Moody’s advice to “do all the good you can, to all the people you meet, in all the ways you can,” Hargrove reaffirmed NMH’s commitment to lifting marginalized voices and confronting bigotry.

“We will do what we have always done here at NMH,” said Hargrove. “When it is dark, we will turn the lights on. We will lift our hands to support those who fall. We will stand for and with our neighbors who are marginalized. We will use our strength to assert our values, to care for our students and adults who are being challenged, and to call out hatred and bigotry that risks dividing us.”

Hargrove’s comments were followed by a rendition of the school’s song, “Jerusalem,” and remarks by Miller Ming ’26, who prompted his fellow students to find small ways every day to make a difference in their community.

“D.L. Moody started his teaching career with a small group of students in Chicago, and he had to go door to door inviting them to attend his Sunday school,” Ming noted. “It was these grassroots efforts that built up to the founding of Northfield Mount Hermon. Spot small problems, set a promise, and make it happen.”

Brooke Hindinger ’25 reflected on her time at NMH, emphasizing the power of choice and drawing a connection between the first students to attend Northfield Seminary and those of today.

“Imagine the choice those young women faced: 16 of them Indigenous, some of the girls from China, Sweden, England, Ireland, Canada, Japan, and this was 1879,” Hindinger said. “They left behind the familiar and took a chance on faith.

“Every day here we face crucial choices. These decisions aren't meant to be easy; they're meant to be hard,” said Hindinger. “As we navigate our time here and beyond, remember the legacy of our founder, who made that very first choice, and the students who came after him, who then chose courage. I hope you'll draw strength from our school's legacy and choose the hard things.”

Following the singing of the senior class hymn, “We Would Be One,” Kaia Swamp ’25 stepped to the lectern to introduce Chuch. Swamp spoke of the profound impact Chuch made on her life as a mentor, friend, and guiding light at NMH. 

“He has shown me that embracing my identity outside of my reservation is not only possible but necessary, and he has helped other students do the same,” said Swamp. “I am grateful for his mentorship, his guidance, his belief in me, and his friendship.”

Chuch, a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation, teaches religious studies and philosophy, serves as a faculty advisor for the Native Affinity Group on campus, and coaches lacrosse. He began his keynote address by sharing his personal journey from an upbringing in the San Francisco Bay Area, through a stint at the U.S. Air Force Academy and finding a new path at Notre Dame de Namur University, to ultimately teaching at NMH.

“To be specific, my love for NMH does not mean I think it’s perfect,” said Chuch. “I love the community, the students, and its values, but my deep love for the school comes from my belief in who we as an institution can and should constantly strive to be.”

He harkened back to D.L. Moody’s childhood, noting that while Moody’s Christian faith drove him to the creation of NMH, it was the lens through which he viewed that faith that left a lasting impact on the school’s mission. 

“He believed that we support those in need, particularly those from poor or marginalized groups,” Chuch said. “He demanded we live that mission – to act, not just speak.”

Reflecting on his time at the school, Chuch spoke proudly of the increased focus on Native students and representation on campus of marginalized communities but emphasized that NMH must continue to strive to meet its founder’s goals. 

“What [Moody's] done expands far beyond evangelism: He created an institution that provides education and resources to so many students who would otherwise be without them,” said Chuch. “I have no doubt that our work is deeply within Moody's original aspirations, but the work is far from over.”

Chuch called for a greater push to enroll and provide resources for students of color and Native students, as well as expanding representation of those students’ heritage and stories across campus. He also exhorted the NMH community to stand firm in its commitments against the rising tide of bigotry and discrimination threatening our world.

“A threat to the rights of any of us is a threat to the rights of all of us. This is a moment for us to pause as an institution and ask, ‘How should we move forward?’” Chuch said. “We have a moral obligation to do so. Because I love this place, I challenge people to grow towards the best version of who we can be, both as an institution and as individuals. I hope you are kind to one another. Be competent in what you care about, and rebuff injustice at every possible corner. 

“Do not let hurdles stop you from achieving your most noble of aspirations: to grow into the best human you can,” he continued. “It is a necessity, not an option, that the empathy you can learn from this place be spread beyond our school’s or nation’s borders.”

NMH chaplain the Rev. Lee-Ellen Strawn gave closing remarks, encouraging the community to speak up for those whose voices have been silenced and leverage privilege into action on behalf of those in need.

“To do this, we will need to hold on to our faith for a world we hope for but do not yet see,” said Strawn. “That was Mr. Moody's message to us, above all: Have faith in the power of goodness and the power of love to prevail. May our light shine on this hill and into the world today and always.”

Read Head of School Brian Hargrove's full remarks.

Photos by Matthew Cavanaugh Photography. See more on Flickr.