The Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH) crew community, classmates, family and friends assembled on the dock of the University Barge Club on Sept. 22 to dedicate a new carbon Filippi F31s quad named in memory of former crew team member William Connor Newbold, Class of 2017, who died tragically as a result of suicide in May 2022.

“When we thought about how we wanted to memorialize William, I immediately thought of the SCH crew program, said William’s mother, Leslie. “William's experience with the crew team gave him a sense of meaning and purpose in his life. He felt incredibly good about himself during this time. The hope is that all the crew team members feel the same way as they go through the program.”

Leslie explained that her son thought often about how life can be viewed from different perspectives, half full or half empty, and he adopted the mantra "choose your perception,” a phrase that is now etched on the quad that also bears his name and class year.

William’s family has shared his story – and dedicated this boat – in an effort to help others choose life. “We hope all of us continue with our glasses overflowing in his honor,” Leslie said. 

To date, the Newbolds have raised $22,244, donated by almost 200 people, for suicide prevention programs through the non-profit they created to host a walk/run in his honor, “WILLPOWER-Empowering the Spirit, Healing Hearts.” Their goal is to help educate the community to recognize depression and prevent suicide.