After years of planning and months of construction, an informal group of Abington Senior High School alumni, the Friends of Ash Carter AHS ‘72 (FOA), hosted a dedication ceremony for the new Ash Carter Courtyard at Abington Senior High School, on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026.
Named in honor of the Abington High School Class of 1972 alumnus, Dr. Ashton B. Carter, the courtyard was designed to honor his life and legacy as a scientist, educator, and civilian military leader, who served as U.S. Secretary of Defense from 2015 to 2017.
The event marked 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, from more than 170 donors, covered all courtyard materials and installation. A $75,000 grant facilitated by the Office of Rep. Ben Sanchez also made the project possible.
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. Other design elements symbolize aspects of Carter's life, including radiating lines in the concrete that emanate from the sculpture's base, representing his global reach that began in Abington.
Carter attended Highland Elementary School before attending Abington High School, where he was president of the Honor Society, a Class Council officer, cross-country runner, wrestler, and lacrosse player. In 1989, Carter was inducted into the Abington Senior High School Hall of Fame in the Education category for being 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 University.
Shortly after being sworn in as U.S. Secretary of Defense, he returned to his alma mater for a special visit in March 2015, and continued to make time to mentor Abington Senior High School students in the years that followed.
Carter died at the age of 68 in 2022, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025, the nation’s highest civilian honor.
During the ceremony, remarks were provided by those who were close to Carter throughout his life, including from his wife, Stephanie, and a keynote address provided by his former Deputy Chief of Staff, Sasha Baker.
Rep. Madeleine Dean, Abington High School Class of '77, also provided remarks, in addition to AEF Executive Director, Rick Markham, and Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Fecher, who spoke about how Carter represents the best of Abington, serving as a shining example of the limitless potential of an Abington School District education.
After the ceremony, attendees moved into the auditorium lobby for refreshments and music provided by high school students in the Modern Music Makers (M3).
For more information on the project, as well as a brief bio about Carter, please visit the Ash Carter Project page on the AEF website.
