T.C. Staton ’03

Twenty-one new pottery wheels, a computer-controlled kiln and a state-of-the-art pugmill that prepares, mixes and recycles clay were installed in the Castle Art Center in the summer of 2013.

This upgrade was due to the generosity of businessman and artist T.C. Staton ’03, who cherished his time at Punahou and wants to ensure that current and future students have the same great opportunities. The new equipment replaced older models that had served students well but were past their prime, said Academy Art faculty member Robert McWilliams, who teaches ceramics. “It’s pretty amazing. Students will benefit for years from this gift,” he said. “We can’t thank T.C. enough.”

After Punahou, Staton earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Rhode Island School of Design and continues his passion for ceramics, working clay in his home studio after his “day job” as co-owner of Quality Turfgrass in Waimanalo.

“Ceramics is something that I will do my whole life and that passion was truly ignited at Punahou,” said Staton, who enrolled in seventh grade. “As a student, the artistic community here is a wonderful thing to be a part of; I’m happy to be able to contribute to those opportunities.”

T.C. named Punahou School as a contingent beneficiary of his estate in the event he has leaves no heirs. Because his bequest is revocable, he is free to modify his bequest should his circumstances change. In the meantime, he has provided a planned gift as his investment in the future of Punabou School.