Alumni Spotlight: Aidan Cyrus

In celebration of our 25th anniversary of Ambleside School, each month we’ll be featuring a short spotlight article about graduates of our school and what they’re doing now.

"Ambleside gave me a happy childhood,” Aidan recalls, looking back on his years at Ambleside School.

Some of his most vivid memories — like pressing flowers — come from the class times where outdoor explorations to observe nature were the focus of the day’s lessons. He even remembers creating endless outdoor games. "Those days weren't just about play; they were lessons in engaging with the world around us," says Aidan. For him, this connection with nature and a hands-on approach to learning ignited a sense of wonder that’s still with him today.

Aidan’s classroom experiences indoors taught him how to notice and listen more attentively. "We delved into classics like Treasure Island and Wordsworth's poetry, all the while being introduced to the works of great composers. These experiences honed my listening skills and fostered a deep appreciation for the arts," he shares.

Perhaps most significantly, Ambleside instilled in Aidan a confidence that has been instrumental in his life. From reciting Shakespeare to singing in school gatherings, these performances helped him find his voice. "Ambleside taught me to express myself, to be confident in my thoughts and words," Aidan reflects. Something that undergirds his role as a Director of Development today.

His time at Ambleside was a journey marked by positive, impactful personal growth where the value for simple living took root. Those lessons from the Ambleside faculty taught him to appreciate nature and sparked his imagination. Today, Aidan's life with his wife Abigail continues to be shaped by everyday joys like cooking, reading, and spending time with friends.

Thanks to Ambleside, Aidan developed a commitment to education and personal growth that has remained with him to this day. Though lost for a short while in his later teenage years, it re-emerged with vigor during college, leading to a reconnection with the joys of reading, sketching, and a spiritual life. "The seeds of curiosity and faith planted at Ambleside bloomed in unexpected ways," he notes.

Now, he shapes the future of Saint Martin's Academy in Fort Scott, Kansas. Here, Aidan sees similar experiences threaded into the young mens’ Catholic boarding school experience: a love of the outdoors, studying beauty, and an emphasis on prayer. Here, Aidan carries the lessons of Ambleside — learning that goes beyond textbooks and instills deep values — and continues to impart them everywhere he can.