Forty-three Gilman students and four faculty and staff members took to the icy waters of the Chesapeake Bay at Sandy Point State Park on Wednesday, January 29, raising $8,041 for Special Olympics Maryland in the process as part of the 2025 Maryland State Police Polar Bear Plunge.

Gilman's 2025 team, Greyhound Plungers, exceeded its $6,000 fundraising goal by 33%. Three underclassmen led the pack in fundraising this year, with Sean Broadbent '27 leading with $875, Drew Klein '27 bringing in $770, and Charlie Dieveney '28 raising $650.

Jackson Armacost '26 has captained Gilman's plunge team for two years. "I love to do the plunge each and every year," said Armacost. It is an incredibly special event, and seeing a large group of Gilman guys come together to make a difference for an incredible cause is an awesome sight to see."

Upper School Learning Specialist Alica Brady, the faculty sponsor of Greyhound Plungers and several other service-oriented Upper School clubs and initiatives, agrees. "One of the driving forces that brought me to Gilman is the school's tireless dedication to serving all people in every community," said Brady. "The Polar Bear Plunge is just one of the ways that Gilman serves to improve the lives of every individual."

Gilman was one of 130 school-affiliated teams to plunge over three days as part of the Cool Schools Plunge, followed by police, corporate, and the main Maryland Plunge on Saturday, February 1. Celebrating its 29th year in 2025, the MSP Polar Bear Plunge has raised more than $40 million since its inception in 1997 for Special Olympics Maryland, which supports 19,000 athletes and Unified® teammates who train and compete year-round free of charge.