ABINGTON TOWNSHIP, PA — After years of planning and months of construction, an informal group of alumni will host a dedication ceremony for the new Ash Carter Courtyard at Abington Senior High School.
The Abington Senior High School alumni, the Friends of Ash Carter AHS '72 (FOA), will hold the event from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday.
Named in honor of the Abington High School Class of 1972 alumnus and Hall of Fame member, Dr. Ashton B. Carter, the courtyard was designed to honor his life and legacy as a scientist, educator, and civilian military leader.
Carter served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2015 to 2017.
He died at age 68 in 2022, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025, the nation's highest civilian honor.
The event will mark the official opening of the outdoor space adjacent to the school's main entrance, which was constructed this summer after more than a year of fundraising efforts led by the FOA, with the support of the Abington Educational Foundation (AEF). The funds raised by the FOA covered all courtyard materials and installation.
Designed by Architerra PC, with construction work performed by T. Schiefer Contractors, Inc., who was awarded the project through a public bid, the 4,000-square-foot courtyard is intended to be a welcoming gathering place for students, teachers, staff members and visitors at Abington Senior High School.
The curated greenspace has a custom-made infinity sculpture at its center, reflecting the potential of an Abington education and invoking Carter's boundless curiosity.
At the dedication ceremony, remarks will be provided by those who were close to Carter throughout his life, with a keynote address provided by his former Deputy Chief of Staff, Sasha Baker.
Attendees will move into the Abington Senior High School auditorium lobby immediately following the ceremony for refreshments.
For more information, including a brief bio on Carter, please visit the Ash Carter Project page on the AEF website.
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