Standout Spartan: Gates Fox '23

A hearty Sparty congratulations to Gates Fox ’23, who earned her Master Diver Scuba Certificate through the Professional Association of Diving Instructors this summer while living on a boat and sailing around the Caribbean Islands, starting in Grenada and ending in St. Lucia. In addition to completing her Advanced Open Water certification and First Response certification, Gates completed her Emergency Rescue Diver certification, which is First Aid and CPR for land and water. 

After spending many hours in the water, students executed their final scenario: a 20-minute solo search and simulated rescue of an unconscious diver. Gates, the only student out of 40 to get a perfect score on the written portion of the certification process, was also required to have a minimum of 50 qualifying dives and five specializations (including night diving) in order to become certified.

“I learned to swim before I could walk and grew up loving the ocean,” said Gates. “When I got a snorkel at age six, I became fascinated with the idea of breathing underwater.” She loves seeing the diversity of marine life. “During my dive trips, I can take a break from my everyday life, meet people with like-minded interests, and focus on enjoying the adventure that every dive brings.”

Gates, a member of the varsity girls basketball and lacrosse teams at Steward, is also an admissions ambassador and a member of the Student Government Association, school newspaper staff, yearbook staff, Stewardship Club, and Entrepreneurship program. She’s also a member of HOSA, an international organization for future health professionals. 

At Steward, “There are so many ways I can pursue different interests” said Gates. “I can explore anything I am interested in and find what I am truly passionate about.”