In Memory of Berkley Duckson '20

We were deeply saddened to hear of the devastating loss of Berkley Duckson '20 on Saturday, February 20, 2021.

Berkley was a beloved member of the Minnehaha Academy community since preschool and was a freshman at Texas Christian University.

"In June of 2020, Berkley graduated from Minnehaha Academy with honors. He was a bright and inquisitive student who took care in finding truth. Berkley was a member of the prestigious International Space Station project, a varsity hockey teammate, and a co-founder of the MA fishing team. His classmates voted him most likely to run a Fortune 500 company. Many of the friendships developed at Minnehaha Academy were ones that began as early as preschool." Read more about Berkley in his obituary

Duckson was also incredibly humble, said his senior year AP micro and macroeconomics teacher David Hoffner. "He got into all twelve schools he applied for for college, but he was humble," Hoffner said. "He wasn't patting himself on the back or announcing it, he just humbly took care of business.... Berkley entered class every day with a smile, and physically eager to learn. This was a kid who was relentless in his desire to really master subjects."

Students, faculty, and staff at Minnehaha wore purple in honor of Berkley Duckson, a beloved 2020 alumni and Redhawk for life.

The Minnehaha Hockey Team remembered Berkley in a Jersey Retirement ceremony. Student athletes dedicated the game to Berkley. "Berkley was the first guy to make sure that kid had a ride to campus, and to hockey practice," Hockey Coach Hoekstra said. "He made sure that person wasn't left out. He went out of his way for the little guy, that's something I love about him."

We are praying for his father, Jay, along with Berkley's extended family, former teachers and coaches, and many friends as we grieve the sudden loss of this wonderful young man.