Historic Campaign Enters Final Push

Direct Impact By the Numbers

Beth Corcoran and Jon Newton are future-proofing our girls through iCAST—a legacy celebrated with the naming of the Media Lab Student Alcove.

For Beth Corcoran and Jon Newton iCAST is nothing less than “a completely different way to learn." 

Parents to Grace (Grade 11) and Catherine (Grade 9), Beth and Jon gave to iCAST because they believe it’s built to nurture the kind of thinking, making and communicating that will define the next generation of leaders.

“Grace and Catherine will have opportunities to pursue ideas that genuinely matter to them and to explore learning in a much more applied and experiential way,” says Beth.

"One of the biggest shifts happening in organizations is that success increasingly depends on adaptability, learning agility, collaboration and innovation," says Beth. "Technical knowledge alone is no longer enough."

What iCAST offers, in her view, is something harder to teach and more durable than any single skill set: the human capabilities that hold their value precisely because they can't be automated.

"Critical thinking, creativity, communication, resilience, ethical decision-making—those are the skills

that will help young people navigate uncertainty and lead through change."

The Media Lab holds a particular significance for Beth and Jon. "It's where ideas come to life," says Jon.

"We believe it will help students develop the confidence and fluency to communicate ideas, experiment and solve problems."

The word “confidence” comes up more than once. iCAST, they hope, will give Grace and Catherine the chance to test ideas, embrace uncertainty and "see themselves as capable of creating meaningful change."

That shift from passive learner to active contributor is, for these donors, the whole point. "It gives students opportunities to identify problems, think entrepreneurially and develop solutions with real impact," Beth says.

"That's often the foundation for leadership and social impact later in life." Their gift to iCAST is this very foundation. 

Learn more about iCAST and the Make Way campaign.

Angus Cheung and Jacqueline Lo are excited for Tanya (SK) to explore her emerging passion for Robotics in iCAST's Robotics Lab.

North Toronto patisserie owner Jacqueline Lo still remembers one of her daughter Tanya’s earliest displays of playful humour. After discovering that her grandmother found the strawberry yuzu cake a little too tangy, Tanya began cheekily offering it to her at every opportunity, delighting in the running joke. 

For Jacqueline, it was more than a funny family moment. It was an early glimpse of Tayna's creativity, confience and instinctive understanding of her audience.

“She knew exactly how to spark a reaction and make everyone laugh,” says Jacqueline. "It was playful, but it showed such awareness."

That same spirit of creativity, curiouslty and connection is what Jacqueline and Angus hope to celebrate through their support of iCAST and naming of a Stepping Stone.

“We are firm believers in STEM education for girls, and iCAST aligns perfectly with that vision,” she says.

They also value the additional hands-on training iCAST is uniquely positioned to develop.

“The Noodle Expo last year made real-world learning tangible—watching students present entrepreneurial ideas with such polish and purpose.”

With iCAST becoming Noodle’s permanent home this fall, the family’s gift felt deeply personal. “Being able to leave a memento at such a fantastic facility is a beautiful bonus,” Jacqueline adds.

Tanya already dreams of building robots, pursuing her interest through school programs and weekend activities in the Toronto area.

Jacqueline is especially excited about the Robotics Lab and Pitch Space in iCAST—spaces designed to help students take risks, bring ideas to life and communicate them with confidence.

Learn more about Stepping Stones.

Michelle TESLIA O'Brien'03 with husband Conor, daughters Gracy, Ruby and incoming Grade 5 student Isabel, is delighted about iCAST's distinctive approach to hands-on learning.

As a member of Branksome’s Rowing team, Michelle TESLIA O'Brien'03 learned early that every seat in the boat mattered. That discipline stayed with her as she launched Aiyana Nutrition, a meal delivery service supporting new mothers.

Now an incoming parent, Michelle is giving back through the iCAST Equipment Fund as her daughter Isabel prepares to enter Grade 5 this September.

“Supporting iCAST felt like a meaningful way to stay connected to a place that had such a lasting impact,” she says. “You realize how much the right environment shapes how girls see themselves and what they believe they’re capable of.”

What excites Michelle most is iCAST’s forward-thinking approach. Robotics, AI, entrepreneurial thinking and creative production are rarely offered together in one school setting.

“The most valuable learning comes from being actively engaged—testing ideas, solving problems and working with others. iCAST is built for exactly that.”

Michelle is especially inspired by the Pitch Space, having spent years building a business by encouraging customers and collaborators to believe in an idea before it fully existed. She believes learning to communicate ideas with clarity and confidence is a skill rarely taught, yet deeply important.

“I picture a student starting with an idea that feels uncertain,” she says. “She experiments, collaborates and gradually sees it take shape. That moment when she realizes she’s capable of more than she thought—that’s what stands out to me.” Through her gift, Michelle hopes to help create more of those moments for the next generation of innovators.

Learn more about the exciting equipment going into iCAST.

Holden Pan with Kaya (Grade 10), Travis and Bethany, and wife Elaine, hopes to help more students access transformative programs like Debate.

Every parent knows teenagers like to debate, but when Holden Pan discusses current events with his daughter Kaya on the drive home from school, he admits he’s often outmatched. “I wish I could do it like her,” he says.

Holden’s support of the Opportunity Fund was inspired by Branksome’s Debate and Public Speaking program and Coach Grace Nolan’s commitment not only to excellence but also to expanding access for students who may not otherwise afford competition opportunities.

Kaya, now in Grade 10, has earned impressive results in national and provincial competitions, but for Holden, the true value of debate goes far beyond trophies.

There is no doubt she has gained a lot from debate,” he says, pointing to her growing critical thinking, leadership and understanding of perspectives beyond her own. “Debating is something I wish I could have done when I was young.”

What he hopes Kaya carries forward is even deeper: “I hope she becomes a thinker, a leader and a caregiver.” Through his gift, Holden hopes to help more students access transformative programs like Debate, which he believes build the confidence and foundation girls need to navigate a rapidly changing world.

Learn more about the Opportunity Fund and how your gift supports programs like Debate and Public Speaking.

Through matching alum donations, Mary Pat JONES Armstrong'63 and C.K. PURKS Hoffler'80 are grads that have set the tone for ongoing engagement and support of today's students.

Financial Assistance: Alums Making Every Dollar Count

Seventeen years apart, C.K. PURKS Hoffler'80 and Mary Pat JONES Armstrong'63 arrived at the same conviction: the most meaningful way to honour their Branksome education is to help another girl receive one.

Together, the two alums have committed a $35,000 matching gift to Financial Assistance, doubling every donation from a fellow alum and unlocking up to $70,000 for students who otherwise would not have access to a Branksome education.

For Mary Pat, giving back has defined much of her life, from serving as a former Branksome Board Chair to helping establish Canada’s first Ronald McDonald House and co-founding Camp Oochigeas (now Campfire Circle).

“I feel so lucky that I can contribute,” she says. What excites her most is

that a Branksome education equips students not only with knowledge but with the confidence and skills to make a difference in the world.

For C.K., CEO of an Atlanta-based law firm and former President of the National Bar Association, supporting young women feels more urgent than ever. “Institutions that are grooming future leaders need to step up in a stronger way than before,” she says. “Global dynamics are eating at the fabric of young girls’ futures. That informs my contribution.”

Together, their gift is both an act of generosity and an invitation for fellow alums to create collective impact. A Branksome education changed their lives—and now it can change someone else’s.


Alums: Double your gift for Financial Assistance.

LIFELONG FRIENDSHIPS GOING STRONG: (left to right) The Class of '86; Class of 1996 Reunion Co-Chairs Shannon LEWIS MacDonald'96 and Christie GORRIE Chapman'96; Class of 1966 Reunion Co-Chairs. Back row: Penelope PLANT Murch'66, Caley WAITE Taylor'66, Sally ADAMS Medland'66, Front row Anne DONOHUE Cumming'66, Mary RUSE Musgrave'66.

Reunion Giving: Legacies Span Decades of Memories 

When alums return to Branksome Hall for Reunion on May 30, the school spirit will raise the roof! This year, the Class of 1966, the Class of 1986 and the Class of 1996 are channelling that spirit into something that will outlast the celebration itself. These efforts are supporting Financial Assistance for deserving Branksome students and emotional well-being:

Class of 1966 Bursary Fund

"We’ve remained deeply loyal to Branksome Hall and to one another, sharing a lasting appreciation for the opportunities the school provided and celebrating the enduring friendships formed during our time there. It's in this spirit that we are proud to support future generations of students through the Class of 1966 Bursary."

– Reunion Co-Chair Sally ADAMS Medland'66

Class of 1996 Community & Student Leadership Fund

“What made our Branksome years so meaningful wasn't only the academics; it was Spirit Week, Clan competitions, cross-grade friendships and the feeling of being part of something bigger. To honour that, the class has established

this fund to ensure those connective experiences continue to thrive for today's students.”

– Reunion Co-Chairs Shannon LEWIS MacDonald'96 and Christie GORRIE Chapman'96

Class of 1986 Mental Health Initiative 

“Supporting the Class of ’86 Mental Health Initiative is about making sure today’s students don’t have to navigate things on their own the way many of us did. As a class, we’ve always taken care of each other, and this is our way of extending that care forward. It’s incredibly meaningful to be part of something that helps students feel supported, understood and less alone.”

– Linton CARTER’86

Read an article from our December 2025 issue for more about the history of the Class of 1986 Mental Health Initiative in celebration of their 40th Reunion. 

There’s still time for alums to register for Reunion 2026 here.

Did You Know?

Recent Events

Branksome Innovation in the Media

Noodle in the Academic News

The Chandaria Research Centre was published in the International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship. The article examines the pilot year of donor-funded Noodle through the lens of self-determination theory. The research highlights how this Grades 4–12 initiative builds students' business competence and fosters relatedness through teamwork and mentorship. Read the full article here.

PrincipalED Podcast: New Students Dream Big

What happens when you give young girls the space to dream big? In the latest episode of PrincipalED, Principal Grace McCallum sits down with new students Hayden (Grade 6) and Maia (Grade 4). Maia plans to take over the cosmetics industry. And both are already envisioning what they'll create inside iCAST.

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