Chris Clark ’02
Chris Clark ’02 gets nostalgic when he visits Catherine Hall and compares the school to the memories he formed as an MHS student. After growing up in Steelton, PA, Chris enrolled at MHS as a seventh-grader.
“Coming [to MHS] opened up a lot of different opportunities I may not have had if I would have stayed in the same home environment I came from,” said Chris. “I don’t think I would have ever played a sport or stayed involved in certain things. MHS definitely gave me opportunities to do and see different things.”
After graduation, Chris transitioned to active-duty military. He’s stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and does logistics as a member of the 82nd Airborne Division. He has been a loyal member of the U.S. Army for 13 years.
“It was an easy transition for me from MHS to the military because of the structure we had here,” Chris said. “At MHS, we had to get up early in the morning and do chores. In the military, you have to get up in the morning and do physical training. MHS did a great job providing the structure we needed.”
As an MHS athlete, Chris was inspired by athletic director Bob Guyer who shared a motto that continues to stick with Chris to this day—especially during his work in the military.
“Guyer had three words that we always lived by: team, pride, and poise,” explained Chris. “I still live by those three words, and they directly correlate to what I do in the military. I have my team, I will always have pride in my country and my unit, and I have poise regardless of the situation.”
These values were instilled in him during his time at MHS, and Chris reflects on them often as he serves our country.
“The biggest thing I learned from MHS is to never quit and never accept defeat,” said Chris. “That’s what it is in the military as well. We never quit, and we never accept defeat.”
Chris also loves to reminisce with his brothers and sisters from MHS, and he proudly wears his class ring every day.
“Being an MHS alumnus is unlike any other school. We’re family. We’re brothers and sisters,” Chris said. “We’ve overcome adversity, continue to persevere no matter what, and stay true to ourselves. I’m proud to be an MHS Spartan.”