Giving Tuesday – Arete Prep

What if the Sky is NOT the Limit?

Pierce Garver is an Aviation officer for the US Army, and for the next year and a half he’ll be studying for a MS in Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford; but just a few years ago he was sitting at a desk right here at Arete Prep.

He graduated in 2019 and says he considers his High School experience to have played a pivotal role in finding his true life calling. We are thrilled to share more about his journey with you today.

From High School Physics to Astronautics

“Inside the [Arete] classroom, I developed a love of learning. Mr. Alvarez’s math classes equipped me with the skills I would need to study space physics during my undergrad, and aerospace engineering during my graduate education,” says Garver.

“In Mr. Vaughan’s 12th grade humane letters class, I had the joy of discussing The Brothers Karamazov, a truly life changing book, and I built the moral principles which inform how I live my life,” he says.

More importantly, he says, he learned to enjoy being curious and use that curiosity to solve complex problems.

Outside the classroom was no exception. Garver says that the small size of our academy made it possible for him to pursue multiple sports.

“Arete Prep provided me with the opportunities, skills, and character which led me to where I am today and will continue to guide me throughout my life,” he says.

“In middle school, I was able to play on the basketball and football teams with no prior experience while also playing baseball. My teammates became lifelong friends. With them, I had the opportunity to learn the value of hard work, leadership, and how to be a good teammate. By 12th grade, I had the honor of serving as a team captain for all three sports,” Garver says.

While he attended Arete Prep, Garver was a Mentor, athlete, and advocate for our school. Today, he still supports our mission and visits campus each year to lecture on Physics alongside our Arete Prep staff.

The Limit Does Not Exist!

At the young age of 23, Garver is studying Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford, and working as a researcher at Stanford’s LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) Group.

“My positive physics experience at Arete drove me to pursue a BS in Space Physics at West Point. I have now decided to do some practical applications of physics through my current study of Aeronautics and Astronautics which will support my career as an Army pilot,” Garver says.

Garver hopes to continue to learn and grow, and to someday become a test pilot or aviator in the 160th special operations aviation regiment.

“From there I aspire to become an Army astronaut pushing the limits of manned space exploration. Following my military career, I would like to return to academia conducting propulsion research and influencing space policy for sustainable continued space exploration,” says Garver.

We are so grateful for Pierce and his family’s continued support for Arete, and we cannot wait to see where he goes next.

Stories like Garver’s prove the importance of a strong liberal arts education. Please make a donation to community investment today in support of your student(s) and help us fill the gap in funding. Your financial support is needed to continue our mission.