On October 19, 2022, members of the Swain Campus community, and the Moravian Academy Leadership team, joined together to celebrate the 93rd anniversary of the founding of D. Esther Swain's school in 1929.

Members of our beloved community spent the morning honoring the founder and her mission to nurture the collective joy of learning and individual spirit within each child. 

The morning was alive with music as students in the beginning school and Cougar Choir (fourth and fifth grade
singers) performed songs spreading the themes of belonging, togetherness, peace, and love.  The Cougar Choir was accompanied by violinist Lauren Fleshman '28 and cellist Chiara Kramer '28.

Swain Campus "Lifers," a group of eighth graders who started their Swain education in either Preschool, Pre-kindergarten, or Kindergarten,  hosted the celebration. Sophia Hanna '27 emceed while Braylon Flores '27, Jacob Neff '27, Toler Wreaks '27, and Jack Veluz '27 shared the history of the Swain Campus.

The most symbolic moment of the morning was welcoming new students, faculty,  Moravian Academy leadership, and kindergarten students into our community by pinning them with the Swain Campus Honor Pin. Caroline Thompson '27 led this group as they recited the honor pledge while Mrs. Kelley Stout and students in Kindergarten recited the honor pledge in sign language. Seventh grade students shared in this special moment by pinning their Kindergarten buddies. 

The anniversary concluded by planting three dogwood trees on the school grounds.  Planting dogwood trees is a tradition on Founder's Day and these trees will live on the Swain Campus for generations to come.  Each grade level selected one student to represent their grade as a tree planter. The tree planters were Charlotte Zhou '37, Peyton Franzyshen '36, Jude Phillips '35, Scarlett Cataldo '34, Lana Phan '33, Sofie Artz-Bah '32, Sera Feliciano '31, Niamh McIntosh '30, Elise Koprowski '29, Tanner Shear '28, and all the Swain Lifers. 

The dogwood trees that were planted were generously donated by the following families:

• The Brancato Family
• The Veluz Family
• The Estrada Family
• The Ambrose-John Family
• The Wreaks Family

Special thank you and acknowledgements to: