Paul Hines H’03

The Alumnus of the Year award recognizes an alumnus for outstanding service to the Alumni Association or to Springside Chestnut Hill Academy. It is my pleasure to present this award to Paul Hines.

When Paul Hines H’03 retired from the classroom in 2019 he started working on special projects at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH). 

His first project was the writing and publication of The Lure of the Wissahickon Inn, a history of the building that has been the center of the Chestnut Hill Academy and, since 2011, the SCH campus. 

While the completion of the book is Paul’s latest accomplishment, his 40 years at the school are much more than that. Joining the CHA faculty in 1981 as a Fifth Grade math teacher, he moved to the Middle School in 1989 where he spent the next 30 years.

During his entire career at the school, Paul has been a three-season coach: cross country in the fall, track in the spring, and, beginning in 1990, indoor track in the winter. His track teams won Inter-Ac championships in 1994, 1999, and 2001. His outstanding coaching career led to his recent induction into the Philadelphia chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.

In 2018, student Rex Leininger ‘20, led the effort to dedicate the track in Paul’s  honor. Rex said the following as part of the dedication ceremony: “He has taught his students through the lens of honesty, courage, loyalty, integrity, and sportsmanship. Thank you Mr. Hines for leading thousands of kids on the right path in life. Thank you Mr. Hines for molding and inspiring countless athletes. Thank you Mr. Hines for dedicating nearly 40 years of your life to the constant improvement of this family.”

It is an honor, as his former student and benefactor of his tremendous influence, to present Paul Hines H’03 with the 2021 CHA Alumnus of the Year award.