Murray Fisher '93
Mr. Fisher speaking to Lower School students
...and Middle Schoolers
Taylor Jenkins-Thompson, Harbor School graduate who now attends Virginia Union University came to Collegiate today to see Mr. Fisher
Head of Middle School Charlie Blair, Mr. Fisher, Head of School Steve Hickman
Fellow Cougar alums Andy Mathews '94, Clark Coulbourn '93 and Tom Callahan '94 came out to Collegiate to hear their friend kick-off Collegiate's new Networking Group.
Speaking with biology class

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Centennial Speaker Murray Fisher '93 Visits

9/23/2015

As a young boy, Murray Fisher '93 loved anything to do with nature. Knowing that about himself and a willingness to persevere were defining attributes that led to his founding of The New York Harbor School and now the Billion Oyster Project.

As one of our Centennial Speakers, Mr. Fisher talked today to Lower and Middle School students, addressed a group of alumni, faculty and parents at an Alumni Networking lunch and visited science classes to tell the story of his journey from Collegiate to Vanderbilt University to the Amazon and back. In his job with Riverkeepers, an organization which aims to keep our rivers clean and safe, he realized that the New York Harbor had all of the essential components of an education. His idea to start a maritime public high school in New York City was met with enthusiasm and assistance by those he shared it with, and he founded the New York Harbor School in 2003.

Today, the Harbor School is located on Governor's Island right in the middle of the New York Harbor and students benefit from its mission: "To provide a college-preparatory education built upon New York City’s maritime experience that instills in students the ethics of environmental stewardship and the skills associated with careers on the water."

While leadership of the school has changed hands, Mr. Fisher remains president of the New York Harbor School Foundation which has launched the Billion Oyster Project, an ecosystem and education project that will help restore the New York Harbor. The project is carried out by the Harbor School. He discussed this project and the Harbor School's involvement with all he spoke to today.

Many thanks to Mr. Fisher for taking time to come to Collegiate today and inform us about his inspiring work. To learn more, visit these pages:
New York Harbor School
Billion Oyster Project

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