Whether it be the afternoon car line, monthly mass in Cor Unum, or a freshly painted set for the musical, there is one man behind the scenes who helps make it all happen: Walt Cupit. Mr. Cupit is a devoted member of Stuart’s community that is beloved by all and serves many roles throughout the school year to make Stuart magic possible. From maintenance, sound control in Cor Unum, a fiery passion for the white team, or managing the theater program, he does it all with a smile on his face.
Mr. Cupit began his Stuart career in July of 2004 after a friend of his who was working as the Director of Communications at the time asked him to run the theater program. He was extremely excited by the offer and started immediately. Since then, he has been working tirelessly for 21 years to run maintenance and stage management for our Stuart girls. When asked what his favorite element about working at Stuart is, he stated, “the communication.” Mr. Cupit discussed his appreciation for the proactiveness of women and girls throughout Stuart because they make his job easier by communicating their needs well. The tasks of Mr. Cupit differ daily. They include but are not limited to hanging a new projector, meeting with administrators to plan logistics for big events, assisting Ms. Baldwin with sets for her many shows, or popping into a class to lend a helping hand to a member of faculty. The unpredictability of his job is an element that Mr. Cupit enjoys, and he likes to view his job as “changing with the seasons.”
Many know about Mr. Cupit’s talents with technology, but his entrance into this work just happened by chance. Mr. Cupit is very passionate about theater and acted in many shows himself. In college, a famous Hollywood actress by the name of Nancy Kulp told Cupit that he had what it takes to make it in the show industry. This motivated him to work harder and enlist in many community theater shows to build his resume. Occasionally, Cupit would be told that theaters didn’t have a part for him, but they did need assistance with technology and stage management. That’s how he began this work, and he truly fell in love with it. Although this career may not have been what his younger self imagined, he is happy and grateful that he ended up in his line of work. Mr. Cupit is confident in his capability and has continuously proven his ability to achieve the impossible through his amazing work in all sectors of our theater program.
When thinking about his personal life at Stuart and the things that truly brighten his day, Cupit referenced the students and his interactions with them. He stated that he enjoys having real conversations with real people because it brings a sense of light and hope to his day. Mr. Cupit shared his love, saying, “I have learned a lot from the students here about what it means to be a human being.” He has consistently shown his gratitude for working in an all female environment and how he wishes that women were able to be as empowered world-wide as they are at Stuart. Mr. Cupit emphasized that his interactions with students truly are a highlight of his days and allow him to bridge the gap between the traditional relationship of student and staff. He is able to have real conversations, give fatherly advice, or help students grow in their faith through his work in Campus Ministry. Walt Cupit does immeasurable work to grow our student community and exemplifies the goals daily through his devotion to the Sacred Heart mission.
Mr. Cupit may not realize how much he means to students, faculty, and parents of our Stuart community, but we all appreciate the amazing things he does for us. He is a truly loved and inspirational member of our community. Cupit stated that if he hopes people could remember one word about him when he leaves a room: honest. This word couldn’t possibly do a more exquisite job at capturing his essence and humble nature. He selflessly wakes up the building every morning at 6:45 when he arrives and works for hours catering to our community. He is a perfect example of what it means to be a Human of the Heart.
As students, educators, and members of the Sacred Heart community, we can all aspire to lead our lives more like Mr. Cupit. He is a humble, loving, capable, and intelligent man who is devoted to these green-brick walls that adorn our hallways. There is genuinely no better person to be seen as the backbone of Stuart than him, and we are extremely grateful to call him our own!
