When Tommy Noonan joined Dawson as a ninth grader, he immediately felt the difference. From his very first class trip, he discovered that Dawson wasn’t just a school, it was a community where opportunities were limitless, and learning extended far beyond the classroom.

At Dawson, Tommy embraced the chance to do it all. He played four varsity sports, served as class president, and pursued rigorous academics, all while exploring passions he hadn’t known he had. Whether it was designing a custom golf training aid in the Innovation Center, immersing himself in French culture during a Winterim in France, or tackling the challenge of AP Chemistry and AP Calculus, Tommy experienced an education that was personalized, relevant, and connected.

“Anything I was interested in, Dawson found a way to make it happen,” Tommy recalls. “It never felt like I had to choose one path. I got to do everything.”

That holistic approach to education set Tommy apart when it came time for the next step. Early in his college search, Naval Officer Don Price visited Dawson to speak about service and leadership. The presentation sparked Tommy’s interest and inspired him to pursue the challenge of a service academy—ultimately graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2025. He credits Dawson with preparing him both academically and personally. 

“Freshman year at the Academy, I realized how ready I was. Dawson taught me how to learn, how to persevere, and how to engage with others in a healthy, collaborative way,” he says. “I never felt like I was competing against classmates at Dawson—it was always about lifting each other up.”

Today, Tommy is a first-year medical student at Texas A&M, still guided by the lessons he carried from Dawson. While he hasn’t yet chosen a specialty, he sees surgery and emergency medicine as possibilities. Whatever path he takes, he knows Dawson’s emphasis on grit, character, and intellectual challenge will continue to shape his journey.

Looking back, Tommy describes Dawson’s culture in one word: family. “I always felt surrounded by people who cared about me and wanted me to succeed. Dawson is an investment, but it’s one that pays off for life. The opportunities are everywhere, and the support makes it hard not to be successful.”