Mr. Gates continued to recognize the importance of developing innovative thinking and problem-solving skills at an early age. “Five years [after developing the Grubstake Fund] my father remarked, ‘it’s almost too late,’” recalled Ms. Diane Gates ’69 Wallach, daughter of the late Mr. Gates. “He believed that third graders could be more creative than adults, emphasizing the need to encourage them to think like entrepreneurs from an early age.” Recognizing that Graland offered a more hands-on approach to education than many other institutions, Mr. Gates proposed his idea for an invention competition, to which the school enthusiastically agreed.

The choice to endow the Gates program was made with careful consideration. “When we weighed the options between establishing an endowment versus annual funding, we realized that the endowment would provide better oversight of the funds,” Ms. Gates Wallach explained. “Moreover, we wanted to ensure that the program would always have financial support, allowing coaches to focus on students rather than worrying about funding or the program’s continuity.”

Over the past 25 years since the Gates program began, the Gates Family has continued to support Graland, notably during the ASCEND campaign in 2015. In addition to funding the program itself, the family established the Charles C. Gates Director of Innovative Learning, which is currently held by Martin Twarogowski. “We are thrilled to have contributed to the creation and endowment of this position, ensuring its security. It is a tremendous gift to Graland,” Ms. Gates Wallach said.

 

In 2008, Ms. Gates Wallach introduced the Gates program to another institution. “While serving on the Board of Cardigan Mountain School, an all-boys boarding school in New Hampshire, I decided to present the Gates Innovation and Invention Competition. Although Cardigan is more traditional than Graland, I recognized the importance of providing boys with opportunities to experiment and create,” she stated.

Cardigan is celebrating its own 15th anniversary with the program and, for the last five years, has benefited from their own Gates Lab, located in the Wallach Center for Exploration at Cardigan Mountain School. The center offers a dynamic learning environment that integrates design, engineering, and the arts. With its bright and active spaces, the program encourages hands-on exploration and creativity. Ms. Gates Wallach shared, “The lab’s design was inspired by discussions with Martin [Twarogowski] and Andy [Dodge, co-director of the Gates program]. I am delighted that Graland played a role in sharing its insights and successes with Cardigan.”

Looking back on the history of the Gates program at Graland, Ms. Gates Wallach expresses pride not only in the program’s achievements but also in its broader impact on students’ mindset. “Dad always believed that innovative thinking is an essential life skill. He often said that Graland provided him with the best education he ever received, surpassing any higher education or graduate program he attended. The Gates program empowers students to engage actively in problem-solving rather than merely discussing challenges,” she shared. “Our underlying goal was to embed this mindset throughout the entire school. The Gates program serves as a means to offer students the chance to dream, innovate, test, and enhance their problem-solving abilities. We take great pride in witnessing how this philosophy has been integrated across all classrooms and grades at Graland.”

Ms. Gates Wallach continues to carry the torch that was lit by her father. Her steadfast commitment to the students, coaches, and ethos of the program is unmatched.

As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Gates Innovation and Invention Program, the Graland Country Day School community extends heartfelt gratitude to the Gates Family for its vision and legacy that fosters student innovation, creativity, and expression.