Last month, Townsend Harris held its annual Founder’s Day ceremony at Colden Auditorium on the Queens College campus. As with previous years, this year’s ceremony featured the senior skit, numerous musical performances, and speeches about the mission of the school. In particular, this year featured a keynote speech by class of 2003 alumnus and FDNY captain Tim Murphy, and some new additions to the ceremony’s lineup of performances.

Townsend Harris Alumni Association Co-President Selina Lee introduced Captain Murphy. According to Ms. Lee’s introduction, Captain Murphy joined the New York City Fire Department in 2008, driven by a commitment to service. His dedication led to promotions to lieutenant in 2016 and captain in 2024. While serving as a firefighter, he earned a nursing degree from CUNY LaGuardia in 2011 and became a registered nurse.

“Through his dual expertise in emergency response and healthcare, Tim continues to exemplify the Ephebic Oath through professionalism, compassion, and dedication to the people of New York City,” Ms. Lee said.

“I survived freshman year on fumes and got through sophomore year by the skin of my teeth,” Captain Murphy said. In junior year, however, he said that he realized other students struggled similarly, not just him and things began to change for him. Looking back, he said that “struggling through Townsend Harris was one of the, if not the, best things to ever happen to me.”

He then spoke about how that struggle led him to the path he’s on now. He closed his speech by encouraging students to recognize one another’s struggles and to be there for them.

“Be bold. Leave your comfort zone and help them,” Captain Murphy said. “You can improve someone’s life by asking them, ‘Hey, are you okay?’ telling them, ‘Let me help you with this project.’ You have worked so hard and accomplished so much just by getting to where you are now. Be proud of who you are. Be proud of this great city that we’re from. Keep working hard, but most importantly, help the people around you.”

In addition to a new keynote speaker each year, there are usually two other traditional “new” things about the event: the new freshman who are there to swear the Ephebic Oath and new teachers who also participate in the ceremony for the first time (and are asked to swear the oath as well). 

One of this year’s new teachers, English teacher William Lacker, directed a short performance by the Nightingale Theater Company that focused on celebrating Townsend Harris High School’s history. The skit focused on a student falling asleep in class and having a dream about the true meaning of Founder’s Day.

Mr. Lacker said, “What surprised me about Founders Day was the abundance of community. I think [community] is the point of Founders Day. It’s nice to feel like a small part of something good that is bigger than yourself…It’s fun to pledge and devote yourself to a charge in a positive way to contribute to the school.”

Freshmen also discussed what it felt like to participate in their first Founder’s Day.

Freshman Brianna Oliver talked about how she felt after taking the Ephebic Oath. She said, “I felt like I was like fulfilling the legacy that everybody else has, and like it made me more proud to be part of this school.” 

Assistant Principal Rafal Olechowski, who organized the event and served as host, said that one of the messages of the event is about community, especially for those attending for the first time: “You have a community which you didn’t know you had before, and that’s a powerful message,” he said.

“Founders Day was a really fun experience, and I love how everyone comes together as a whole to share special moments and traditions at our school” said sophomore Sarah Alie.