The Heights History Project
What is the Heights History Project?
As The Heights approaches its 60th year it is more important than ever to capture firsthand testimonials from members of the school community. Collecting and preserving these personal accounts is essential to safeguarding the history and character of The Heights for current and future generations.
What has already been done?
Preserving the history of The Heights is an institutional priority. Beginning in 2017, in preparation for the school’s 50th anniversary, testimonials have been collected from founding members and original collaborators. These testimonials include written, audio, and video accounts covering key aspects of the school’s development. Some of these interviews have already been published in Cavalcade and other outlets.
Alongside this initiative, The Heights established a dedicated section of the school’s library to serve as an official archive. This repository contains a wide range of historical documents. In addition, the school continues to maintain and regularly update an alumni database, now containing 1,976 constituents.
What is still needed?
Firsthand accounts of life at The Heights remain a vital component of the school’s archive. The goal of this present initiative is to collect 250 alumni testimonials — roughly five per graduating class across the first fifty years (1974-2024) — though all alumni are encouraged to participate. Parents of alumni and friends of the school are also invited to share their experiences and perspectives (using a separate form). These testimonials will be preserved in the school’s archive and be used to support a comprehensive written history of The Heights currently underway.
Timeline
The aim is to gather all testimonials by Alumni Weekend 2026 (October 10, 2026). Alumni will be contacted directly with an invitation to participate, and project updates will be shared throughout the effort. As a token of gratitude, each participating alumnus will receive an engraved lighter with their name and class year at Alumni Weekend 2026.
Testimonials
Below are links to download testimonial forms. In addition to a few general questions, each form asks for recollections of six areas of the school experience: academics, faculty, facilities, athletics, spiritual life, and social life. Completion should take about 30 minutes. Responses should be brief and focus on specific events, people, or things. Once completed, please email the form to James Kolakowski at jkolakowski@heights.edu.
Methodology, reasons to avoid sentimentality
A history needs clear data to be useful. Dates, names, character descriptions, smells, sounds, conversations, and other concrete details are essential. Emotional details have their place, but are less useful in compiling a narrative. Please refrain from dwelling on sentiment over specific things you recall during your time at The Heights. See examples of completed responses for guidance.
DOWNLOAD FORM HERE
Parent and Friend Response Form
EXAMPLE OF COMPLETED RESPONSE
Completed Alumni Response Example
Completed Parent and Friend Response Example
Please email completed form to James Kolakowski ’03 (jkolakowski@heights.edu)
Contact James Kolakowski with questions (jkolakowski@heights.edu)