Pass It Forward 

Dontae Thomas ’20 first connected with Forman School through John Strawson, Boys’ Varsity Basketball Coach and now Director of Athletics. The two played together in a recreational young men’s basketball league when Dontae was a senior at Torrington High School. Recognizing Dontae’s potential, John encouraged him to explore Forman for a postgraduate year. 

Dontae arrived at Forman in the fall of 2019, excited about continuing his basketball career. The experience pushed Dontae out of his comfort zone, and he was grateful for the support he received along the way. 

“At first, it was a little rocky start. I was just focused on basketball, basketball, basketball,” Dontae says. “I stuck through it, and it was probably the best experience ever. It really is something that I look back at every day and think, wow, this was amazing.” 

“I liked how they were teaching,” he adds. “I wish, honestly, I had gone there for all of high school. It was really cool.” 

John recalls how Dontae embraced Forman. “Dontae always talked about our community and how it was different from Torrington High School,” he says. “He loved how invested everyone was in the students’ lives and often referred to our team as his family. Dontae is all about ‘family comes first,’ and he saw that same spirit at Forman.” 

Dontae joined the Cross Country team in the fall and was ready to hit the court for the Basketball season. That winter, the Boys’ Varsity Basketball team won the 2020 Housatonic Valley Athletic League Championship.

“Everything we said we were going to do happened,” Dontae says. “When we won the championship, it was like the buildup all season came full circle.” 

“The best skill Dontae has is his mental toughness,” John shares. “There are many players who excel at the fundamentals like dribbling, passing, and shooting, but what sets Dontae apart is his ability to take over and control a game while involving others. He was always prepared to put the team on his back or get everyone else involved. He worked harder than anyone in practice and games—something that can’t be taught, only respected.” 

The COVID-19 pandemic, unfortunately, interrupted Dontae’s time at Forman, and he finished his year with a virtual graduation. Today, Dontae tries to play basketball every day and enjoys returning to Forman to play in the annual Alumni Basketball Game. “Going back gives me the feeling that I’m still there,” he says. 

He also serves as a Direct Support Professional (DSP) at Community Residences, Inc. (CRI) in Winsted, CT, a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, medical needs, and behavioral needs. 

“[This job] has made me see things that I really have not seen before, the amount of dedication that you need, and just things for everyday life,” he says. “It has really opened my views on true society and how people act, how you should act, and how you should just do things out of the common love of your soul.” 

Dontae is committed to giving back, a promise he made to himself when he was given the opportunity to attend Forman. “When I first went to Forman, my oath was to pass it forward,” he says.

This article was originally published in Forman School's Fall 2025 Forman Letter magazine.