Credit: Abington Education Foundation.
(The following is a press release verbatim from the Abington Education Foundation).
An initiative to build a commemorative courtyard at the entrance to Abington Senior High School has been launched by a volunteer group of Abington High School Alumni from the Class of 1972. It will help enhance the entrance to the high school while commemorating a native son of Abington and a prominent member of the AHS Class of 1972: the late Ash Carter, lifelong scientist, educator, and civilian military leader who rose to become U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2015 to 2017.
With its curated greenspace and custom-made infinity sculpture – reflecting the potential of an Abington education and invoking Ash’s boundless curiosity – the 4,000-square-foot Courtyard will be a welcoming gathering place for students, teachers, staff members and visitors at Abington Senior High School. The group of alumni is currently raising money through the Abington Educational Foundation (AEF) to fund the design and development of the Courtyard; the private donations ultimately will fund the entire project, including all materials and installation work.
“Ash had an immense impact on national security, federal leadership, public policy, and global affairs,” noted Steve Kahn, the AHS Class of ’72 member who was a lifetime friend of Carter and now leads the volunteer efforts to design and build the Courtyard. “He was one of Abington High School’s most prominent and influential graduates and the epitome of the promise of an Abington public schools education. Ash benefited from the extraordinary academic excellence, diverse extracurricular activities, top-level sports opportunities, and values-based experiences available to every Abington student.
“We hope the presence of a beautiful and immersive courtyard at the entrance to Abington Senior High School will remind all who gather there not only of Ash’s fulsome leadership, but also of the impact of an Abington education and the long-standing qualities of the superlative community the high school serves,” Kahn added.
AEF, the non-profit organization that provides funding to enhance educational opportunities for approximately 8,000 students and their families of the Abington School District, is supporting the Courtyard effort as the financial partner of the Friends of Ash Carter AHS ’72 group, ensuring that donors’ generous contributions are tax-deductible. The Board of School Directors for the Abington School District approved the donation of the Courtyard from the 1972 alumni at its March 11, 2025 meeting.
More information about the initiative is available on the AEF website at https://www.aef-pa.org/ash-carter-project.
Ashton B. Carter
Ash Carter led the Pentagon and the nation’s armed forces as America’s 25th Secretary of Defense, nominated in 2015 by President Barack Obama. The Cabinet position capped a stunning career for Carter as a nuclear scientist, public servant, leader, and educator. The nation and the world lost this Abington hero prematurely, at the age of 68 in 2022.
In January 2025, Carter posthumously was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. His citation read:
“A scientist turned Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter was a true patriot. Over four decades, in and out of the Pentagon, he was a key leader, thinker, and strategist on critical issues ranging from nuclear nonproliferation, counterterrorism, and our sacred obligation to equip, care, and protect our service members and their families. His scientific and technological innovations made our nation safer, and his integrity and mentorship inspired generations of Americans to serve and protect our nation with honor and dignity."
After graduating Abington High School in 1972, Carter went on to Yale University where he was a dual major in physics and medieval French history. His public policy interests developed while a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University, and he also obtained a Ph.D. in physics there.
Carter began his career as a physicist, then moved to public policy and served in national security and academic positions. Throughout his time as an educator, he touched the lives of thousands of students, offering them knowledge and insights to help make the world a better and safer place.
Carter authored or co-authored eleven books and more than 100 articles on physics, technology, national security, and management.
In 1989, Carter was inducted into the Abington Senior High School Hall of Fame in the Education category for his career as a nuclear scientist, Professor of Public Policy, and Acting Director of the Center for Science and International Affairs of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Plans for the Courtyard
The renovated space commemorating Carter will greet visitors at the main entrance to Abington Senior High School. It will feature an eye-catching colorful “infinity” sculpture representing Ash’s expansive spirit, curiosity, and expertise in the sciences. The Ash Carter Courtyard will provide a place for students, teachers, staff, and visitors to reflect, relax, and connect while on campus. Design work on the project is being coordinated by Architerra, PC, based in Coopersburg, PA, dedicated to quality project design and thorough professional service.
The project proposal envisions breaking ground on the Courtyard in summer 2026 with completion by autumn 2026.
Courtyard planners are working to raise $200,000 to cover design, implementation, and construction costs of the courtyard. Recently a generous Abington alumnus offered to match the next $40,000 raised by organizers. Previously, a group of AHS ‘72 classmates matched the first $50,000 in donations. AEF, the 501(c)(3) organization affiliated with the Abington School District, will collect and disburse contributions to fund the creation of the Courtyard and other aspects of the project.
Donations to support the project are being accepted by AEF at https://www.aef-pa.org/donate-now. Contributors also can send checks payable to the Abington Educational Foundation to AEF, PO Box 1, Abington, PA 19001. All contributions to support the effort should be noted for designation to the Ash Carter Project.
About Friends of Ash AHS ’72
Friends of Ash AHS ’72 is an informal group of 1972 alumni of Abington High School who knew and engaged with Ash Carter throughout his lifetime. Members of this unincorporated volunteer group live in communities around the country, with lives and careers having spanned a wide range of pursuits and professions. Group members are committed to keeping alive the leadership legacy of Ash Carter while recognizing the contribution of Abington School District public schools to the success of Ash, group members, and all Abington Senior High School graduates.
About the Abington Educational Foundation (AEF)
The Abington Educational Foundation (AEF), established in 1992, is a non-profit organization that provides funding to enhance educational opportunities for approximately 8,000 students and their families served by the Abington School District (ASD). ASD – with its exceptional administration, staff, and teachers – is a source of tremendous pride in the community and a unifying social force. In ASD classrooms, children of all races, religions, economic backgrounds, and academic abilities come together to learn and reach their fullest potential. One of about 200 Pennsylvania education foundations, AEF is committed to ensuring ASD students receive the educational opportunities that charitable investment can provide.
