All In The Campaign for Blair Academy 2018-2025
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Blair appreciates who you are,

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No matter what your interests or where you are from,

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Grandson of former President Richard M. Nixon, Christopher Nixon Cox, Makes Second Visit to Blair’s Hilltop

Since the United States was founded in 1776, only 46 individuals have beat the odds to become president. That means only 46 families in the country of 336 million current citizens can say that they are related to one of the world’s most powerful leaders. Visiting Blair for the second time on Tuesday, September 26, for Skeptics will be Christopher Nixon Cox, the son of former President Richard M. Nixon’s eldest daughter, who plans to speak about his unique upbringing and his own path to public service. 

“I’ve always been interested in public service,” said Mr. Cox in a pre-event interview. “At my alma mater, Princeton University, part of our unofficial motto at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs was to lead not only the United States but also all nations in this effort for service in humanity. It was there where I started to become even more serious about my own political career and figure out the steps needed to achieve my goals.”  

Prior to committing to a career in public service, Mr. Cox fortified his skills and found success in both legal and business endeavors. After graduating with his bachelor of arts in politics at Princeton in 2004, Mr. Cox obtained his JD from the New York University School of Law while simultaneously working to get a certificate in finance from New York University’s Stern School of Business. 

Shortly after graduating, Mr. Cox served as the executive director for then New York State Senator John McCain in 2008. Today, Mr. Cox splits his time between running private equity firm Lightswitch Capital as its CEO and working in public service as an aid at the Richard Nixon Foundation. Most recently, Mr. Cox worked on initiatives to assist Ukraine in their war against Russia.

Mr. Cox looks forward to sharing his recent endeavors and unique background with eager Blair students. “I’ve spoken at Blair before about fifteen years ago after one of my best friends, Blair alum and Board of Trustees member Victoria (Cummings) Bailey ’97, connected me with the institution, so I’m fully aware of the Skeptics program and can’t wait to connect with the students,” said an equally excited Mr. Cox.

“I look forward to talking about my grandfather and our stories while weaving in my own anecdotes and telling the students that they can most certainly chart their own careers. Being at Blair means they are already a part of an elite group of people who will have the power to make a positive change in the world.”

All are welcome to hear Mr. Cox speak in the forum of the Chiang-Elghanayan Center next Tuesday at 7 p.m.


History of Skeptics
 
The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.
 

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.

A group of students climb an obstacle at Orientation.

Their presence was intimidating. The “Blue Crew” stormed the bleachers—cheering Buccaneers dressed in Blair blue and face paint, filling benches and ready for the epic matchup. Their support was paramount to securing not one, but two shutouts at Soccerfest. In the end, Blair’s varsity soccer teams defeated Delaware Valley, with the boys’ team winning 2-0, and the girls winning 2-0.

It was the capstone event to a legendary lineup of Community Weekend activities over the past two weeks, designed to build camaraderie across the hilltop and celebrate the beginning of a new academic year. The weather was perfect for students, faculty and families to come together for face painting on the Hardwick Quad before rallying behind the players on Hampshire Field under the lights. The tradition of Soccerfest is a great opportunity for students from diverse backgrounds—some at Blair for the first time—to unite and form bonds around a common goal.

“Our first two weekends here at Blair are designed to transition students from home and their previous school to the Blair community and have it be as fun, informative and creative as possible,” said Associate Dean of Students Rod Gerdsen.

While Soccerfest was a highlight of the second weekend, a host of other trips and activities kept students engaged through Sunday. When the games let out, a Spikeball tournament ensued on the turf with fun, food and spirit. More than 150 students gathered early Sunday morning to spend the day in New York City for The Feast of San Gennaro, an annual Community Weekend trip that has occurred for nearly two decades. Other students enjoyed the beautiful fall weather we are experiencing in and around Blairstown, with apple picking and fishing trips in the great outdoors. No matter the event, the last two Community Weekends have celebrated community, togetherness and the strong relationships that are at the heart of the Blair experience.

Be sure to scroll through the photos below, capturing some of the highlights of Soccerfest at Blair, taken by Director of School Photography Tyson Trish, and The Feast of San Gennaro trip. 

blue crew storm
 
san gennaro streets
boys soccerfest huddle
soccerfest face paint
girls soccerfest
 
soccerfest fans
boys soccerfest
 
soccerfest girls
soccerfest with flag fans
blue crew girls paint
soccerfest boys paint
 
pagotto san gennaro

For more photos of happenings across campus and beyond, please check out Blair Academy on Photoshelter, where we regularly post images.

cellphone policy speaker
Max Stossel all-school speaker

Disconnect to connect. The phrase seems counterintuitive, but according to founder and CEO of Social Awakening, Max Stossel, it’s a strategy that will lead to happier, healthier and more fulfilling lives. During an all-School presentation Monday, Mr. Stossel spoke to Blair students about the effect technology—social media, in particular—has on their lives, typically without anyone even noticing. His visit came a few weeks into a new academic year in which Blair has put an updated cellphone policy in place to teach healthy phone habits and cultivate even more in-person connection across our community.

“My hope is that Mr. Stossel’s visit will help our students make positive meaning from what we are asking them to do,” Associate Head of School Ryan M. Pagotto ’97 said. The new policy of “away for the day” means that cellphones are not to be seen in hallways or academic buildings; in classrooms without permission from a teacher; in community gathering spaces; or on the pathways, roads or courtyards throughout campus during the academic day. “My hope is not only that he will help students reflect individually on their own interactions with their phones and social media, but also reflect on their role as community members and how phones can pull them away from the very cool people around them and the beauty of this hilltop.”

During his presentation, Mr. Stossel acknowledged the importance of technology and the “magical” power of having the world at your fingertips. “But ask yourself this,” he prompted the crowd, “am I using technology or is technology using me?” A one time industry insider, Mr. Stossel began his career running social media and marketing many of the social media structures discussed in the presentation. He explained the gamification these companies are having on their users’ social lives, likening the addiction of scrolling feeds for acceptance and pleasure to gambling on a slot machine. “These companies are not on the same team as us,” Mr. Stossel warned the audience. “They sink into our actual relationships in ways we wouldn’t opt in to if we knew.”

Throughout the presentation, Mr. Stossel encouraged the audience to prioritize real life connections. He instructed everyone in the DuBois Theatre to turn to the person sitting next to them and share a time they felt alive, free and connected to the people they love. When the group reconvened, Mr. Stossel asked, “Did anyone bring up a time when they were on their phone?” Nobody raised their hand.

Citing studies that show that academic performance is not only affected by looking at your phone but also by having it in the room with you, the award-winning poet, filmmaker and speaker shared some advice about how students can minimize the control social media has on their lives. He suggested turning off notifications that aren’t from a human being, unfollowing Instagram or TikTok accounts that make you feel bad and finding ways to make the algorithm work in your favor. “Put your attention and energy into what you have control over,” he advised.

After his presentation, Mr. Stossel met with a smaller group of campus student leaders—along with Mr. Pagotto—to talk about social media and how the new policy is working. Most students agreed that the policy has reduced screen time and they aren’t missing their phones during the day, but the evenings and weekends are times when it is harder to stay off their devices. Together, the group brainstormed how they can acknowledge the difficulties and work together to promote healthier use and lifestyles for the community. “Being a human being means learning how to deal with hard things,” Mr. Stossel said, “and having a judgment-free space where you can recognize it’s hard and talk about these difficult things will help.” 

At the center of everything we do at Blair, we prioritize the health and well-being of our community. Our students cannot reach their full potential if they can’t cope with the stress, anxiety and the pressure of living in the fast-paced and demanding world beyond Blair. As we seek to graduate students who are prepared for success in life, we hope that the discussions prompted by leaders like Mr. Stossel will help them engage in-person with the world around them and understand the appropriate use of cellphones and other devices.
 

Founder & Managing Director of Vanguard Solar Services Rick DeFino ’07 ‘Enlightens’ Society of Skeptics

Not a day seems to pass when our society isn’t reminded of the harmful effects of climate change. Forest fires frequent civil populations and global temperatures reach new, unfortunate highs. At the upcoming Skeptics on Tuesday, September 19, Blair students will get to hear from a leader and former Blair student who is trying to help make the world a better, cooler place: Rick DeFino ’07.

Upon graduating from Blair, Mr. DeFino went on to obtain his bachelor’s degree in international relations and economics, political science and government at St. Joseph’s University in Pennsylvania. Aspiring to travel the world, Mr. DeFino researched and accepted global professional opportunities whenever he could. Between 2013 and 2015, Mr. DeFino traveled to countries such as Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Nepal, Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand, where he not only gained professional experience but also cultural awareness as well.

“At Skeptics, I plan to talk about my path from Blair and what I learned while at Blair, my travels visiting over 60 countries around the world, and the founding of my solar company,” said Mr. DeFino in a pre-event interview. “I’d like to elaborate on how I developed my leadership style and my thoughts on the evolving renewable energy industry, my work on developing solar microgrids for containerized hydroponic installations. I’d also like to explain the policy and congressional bills that have allowed my industry to succeed and what the future may hold for renewable energy and sustainability.”

While working in Australia and New Zealand for nearly two years, Mr. DeFino began to rapidly develop his professional skills and education in renewable solar energy. After running successful branches of the companies he worked for at that time, the Blair graduate took the calculated risk to return to the United States and eventually build his own business, Vanguard Solar Services in Denver, Colorado.

Today, Vanguard Solar Services proudly serves as Colorado’s premier commercial and industrial solar installation company, while their additional business model of Operations and Maintenance (O&M) maintains the production and health of renewable energy assets. Vanguard Solar Services manages and repairs the 1,300+ solar installations of the Denver Housing Authority and other solar assets of publicly-traded companies while building brand-new solar installations for building owners and municipalities.

Having had the opportunities he did to travel the world, Mr. DeFino has accrued a vast arsenal of life lessons that have influenced his professional ones.

“It is a privilege to be on the other side of the podium and communicate my perspective and lessons learned since graduating from Blair 16 years ago,” said Mr. DeFino. “It is an honor to share my past, my values, my irregular path and the choices that have led me to the career and life I have built for myself with the school that was so formative.”

“A life lesson I’ve learned is that you should never become paralyzed by your own fear. Repetition in taking chances, believing in your own ability, cultivating comfort with the unknown allows you to achieve incredible things.”

All are welcome to hear Mr. DeFino speak in the forum of the Chiang-Elghanayan Center next Tuesday at 7 p.m.


History of Skeptics

The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.

 

A group of students climb an obstacle at Orientation.
Despite some unfortunate weather during the first Community Weekend at Blair, Super Sunday’s schedule of Kon-Tiki boat races, egg toss competition, dunk tank and last but certainly not least, The Soap Slide, delighted the hilltop and created memories to last well-beyond the first few weeks of school. In this visual essay, Director of School Photography Tyson Trish captured the pure and purposeful joy the Blair community shared while fostering teamwork and unity during some beloved traditions.
girls soap slide 23
 
boys build kon-tiki boat
boys race in kon-tiki
kon-tiki crowd
dunk tank 23
 
girls kon-tiki race
egg toss 23
 
curran dunk tank
boys soap slide 23

For more photos of happenings across campus and beyond, please check out Blair Academy on Photoshelter, where we regularly post images.

joe guerriero cuba

In an exhibit titled “Still Waiting for Normal: Cuba and the United States,” professional photographer Joe Guerriero creates a portrait of life in Cuba under the U.S embargo and how it affects the citizens. The exhibit will be on display from September 19 to October 13 in Blair’s Romano Gallery.

“There is an attraction that people feel about Cuba after visiting even once,” Mr. Guerriero explained. “It’s mostly about the people, their warmth and friendliness, their art, music and culture. I hope my work will open people’s eyes to the struggles and strength of those who have endured more than half a century of obstacles and oppression.”

Mr. Guerriero first traveled to Cuba in 1999 with the Maine Photo Workshops, the first outside group permitted to hold workshops in the country. After that trip, he was hooked, and acquired a photojournalist license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury to continue telling the stories of the Cuban people. In more than 20 subsequent trips since then, he also began making documentary films. He completed an award-winning feature documentary in 2010, Curtain of Water, about the U.S. embargo of Cuba, which aired on PBS television and was screened at many colleges, universities and organizations. Curtain of Water was even selected for inclusion in the 2014 International Festival of New Latin American Cinema (The Havana Film Festival).

A professional photographer for more than four decades, Mr. Guerriero operates a commercial studio out of his home in Northern New Jersey, teaches photography courses at Sussex County Community College, and leads photography groups to Cuba, Bhutan and Tuscany. In addition to his work in Cuba, Mr. Guerriero has completed international photo projects about Pakistan, Turkey and China. His work has appeared in publications including Sports Illustrated, Family Circle and Photo District News. 

An artist’s reception will be held at the Romano Gallery on October 5, beginning at 7 p.m., and members of the public are welcome to attend. 
 

Announcing All In, the Comprehensive Campaign for Blair Academy

As Blair Academy celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2023, we publicly announced All In, the largest comprehensive fundraising campaign in School history. The seven-year campaign, which began in 2018, seeks to raise $140 million to support faculty talent and excellence, forward-thinking programs, campus enhancements and Blair's financial strength in the future. Thanks to the leadership of so many Blair parents, alumni and friends, it is indeed an exciting time for our School as we look back at where we have been and ahead to Blair's bright future. 

Read more about the people, programs and places this campaign aims to support, as well as the progress that has been made to date, here

A group of students climb an obstacle at Orientation.
The first week of classes kicked off with an action-packed Orientation Day that got students working together and bonding with classmates new and old. Informative seminars, fun activities, and a variety of team-building challenges helped new and veteran students and teachers get to know one another before they hit the books at the start of the academic year. In this visual essay, Director of School Photography Tyson Trish captured the excitement and enthusiasm the Blair community shared during the orientation of the 2023-2024 school year.
synchronized orientation 2023
 
female student attempts ninja blocks at orientation
upperclass obstacle course from below
new students meet during orientation
girls on obstacle wall
 
monkey bars
students gather in cec during orientation
 
students solve puzzle during orientation
female students solve labyrinth at orienation

For more photos of happenings across campus and beyond, please check out Blair Academy on Photoshelter, where we regularly post images.

Robotic Surgeon Dr. Peter Caravella P’25 Kicks Off Society of Skeptics for New Year

Traveling from Las Vegas, Nevada, to commence Blair Academy’s Society of Skeptics program for the new school year is Dr. Peter Caravella P’25, a celebrated vascular and general surgeon who has performed over 5,000 robotic procedures since starting his medical career. On Tuesday, September 12, Blair students will get to hear Dr. Caravella’s life story and the reasons he finds his line of work–practicing medicine using modern, innovative technology–so enthralling.

Robotic surgery, also called robot-assisted surgery, is a modern medical practice that enables doctors to perform a variety of complex procedures with more accuracy and control than via traditional methods. One of the earliest devices that paved the way for the field’s success was the DaVinci system, a device that the FDA fully cleared in 2000, according to the National Library of Medicine. 

A doctor with over a decade’s worth of experience in robotic surgery, Dr. Caravella officially converted his entire practice to robotic surgery in 2017, after becoming enamored with the innovative instrument. 

“I plan to speak to the [Blair] students about my experience over the years. I started with  ‘open surgery,’ and transitioned into a more minimally invasive approach, which gets patients back to work a lot sooner, keeps them away from opioids, and allows them to recover more quickly, which generates better outcomes for patients receiving soft tissue surgery,” said Dr. Caravella in a pre-event interview. 

“I want to expose them to what the current and latest technology is in my field,” said Dr. Caravella, who seeks to pay it forward to students and give them every advantage in helping them find what interests them most.

“When I went into this career, we didn’t have technology for minimally invasive surgery. Now, not only do we have that, but we have artificial intelligence and machine learning. I’d like to expose them to the latest and greatest and maybe spur their interest in engineering or medicine. There are so many fascinating professions today because of innovative technology and my career is but one small facet of it.”

Apart from giving his time to high school students, Dr. Caravella is also lauded for being a generous mentor to his colleagues. Recently, he was named a national Key Opinion Leader (KOL) for Robotic Surgery and is well known for training surgeons across the nation. He also serves as a proctor for newly trained robotic surgeons, and his practice serves as a case observation site, where surgeons observe Dr. Caravella and his staff performing robotic surgery.

His love for teaching is evident, and Dr. Caravella, who is the proud parent of Madison Catron ’25,  hopes that students visit him after his event on Tuesday with questions. 

“I would be happy to speak with students and keep in touch even after my event. I have had high school students come and intern with me for a few weeks over the summer,” offered Dr. Caravella. “They can even come inside the operating room to see what we do and see whether or not they think the career is for them.”

All are invited to hear Dr. Caravella speak in the forum of the Chiang-Elghanayan Center next Tuesday at 7 p.m.


History of Skeptics
 
The Society of Skeptics was established as a forum for students and faculty to discuss and debate important global issues; it has grown to become one of the premier high school lecture series in the United States. Each week, speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas share their unique perspectives with students, who are encouraged to engage with presenters, asking questions and debating points of view.

The program, which is funded in part by the Class of 1968 Society of Skeptics Endowment Fund, is an outgrowth of the Blair International Society, begun in 1937. Forty years later, former history department chair Elliott Trommald, PhD, Hon. ’65, established the modern Skeptics program as a regular forum for student discussion and debate; history teacher Martin Miller, PhD, took over in the mid-1980s and molded the program into a weekly lecture series, one that has since continued without interruption. Under the tutelage of Dr. Miller and his successor, history department chair Jason Beck, Skeptics has featured a wide variety of speakers who are thought-provoking, engaging, accomplished in their respective fields and often controversial. For a listing of upcoming Skeptics programs, please visit Blair’s website.

kady seck at convocation 2023

Blair’s chaplain, the Rev. David Harvey, opened up the 176th Convocation ceremony Wednesday night with the sentiments felt throughout our community this week: “It is a joy to see your faces, and it is a joy to be together.”

The collective joy was evident as students gathered prior to the ceremony for class photos, hugging friends they had reconnected with at Orientation a day prior and posing for snapshots, dressed in their best formal attire. Next, the community gathered on the Hardwick Quad for an all-school photo to commemorate the start of an exciting new chapter in their Blair careers before students marched the historic path to Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts’ DuBois Theatre, led by the traditional bagpipers and flag bearers proudly waving their countries’ flags.

“I’ve always found this particular tradition moving,” Head of School Peter G. Curran P’27 ’27 shared with the audience. “We are following in the footsteps of so many Bucs who lived and learned here and then went out into the world and made it a better place, carrying forward all that is best about a Blair education.”

Mr. Curran then welcomed Machua Muchugia ’24, a member of the Senior Class Council and boys’ soccer team, who serves as prefect in the Insley Hall dorm. “When was the last time you tried something for the first time?” Machua asked the audience, sharing his hope of “creating a year defined by the many and incredible new first experiences to come.” During his speech, Machua urged new faculty and students to make the most of their new experiences on the hilltop. “At Blair, the best moments always come unexpectedly and on the other side of a little bit of discomfort,” Machua advised.

Fellow Senior Class Council member, girls’ soccer player and prefect Brynne Grant ’24 addressed the Blair community next. “Convocation is the celebration of the beginning,” Brynne began. “While we are all together in celebration of the same thing, this beginning looks very different for all of us.” She shared her Blair journey with the crowd, admitting that once she committed to being “all in,” the School helped transform her into the well-rounded individual she is today. Before concluding, Brynne left the community with a small piece of advice, “Don’t take life so seriously.”

The evening progressed with a heartfelt performance of “Siyahamba” by the Blair Academy Singers, led by Director of Vocal Music Ryan Manni, before Mr. Curran returned to the stage to share a message that echoed Brynne’s closing remarks. “As we begin a new year,” Mr. Curran said, “I hope we can approach it with a joyful purpose that allows us to pause, reflect, and appreciate the Blair experience and the impact this community has on all of us.” 

To watch this year’s Convocation ceremony in full, click “play” below:

blair flag waving at Peddie Day

The objective of any single sports competition is simple—win. But, at Blair, behind that goal lies a greater purpose, and it is the reason more than 170 athletes ended their summer breaks early and returned to the School for preseason—to build character. For Blair athletes, character encompasses a myriad of skills obtained both on and off the field: sportsmanship, growth, unity and teamwork. Throughout preseason, these are the skills coaches, advisors and leaders aimed to instill in their players long after the physical drills ended.

“Preseason is a kickstart to the season and a new school year for the Bucs,” Athletic Director Paul Clavel ’88 said. “It’s a great opportunity to get to know one another and participate in activities that are important for a well-rounded athlete.” 

After moving in early, preseason athletes began a schedule of practices with drills aimed at refining skills and punctuated with activities to build character, foster teamwork and bond teammates in a way few other activities can.

During preseason, senior captains and leaders also took time to sit down with Mr. Clavel, Assistant Athletic Director Rhett Moroses ’13 and Dean of Campus Life and Director of Leadership Programs Carolyn Conforti-Browse ’79 to discuss their leadership abilities and how that translates to their teams’ potential for success or failure. The session was part of a program first initiated five years ago. The group discussed what it means to be a leader, how to create a positive culture and how to move from the “groaning zone to the growing zone,” as Mrs. Conforti-Browse explains it. The dynamic group brainstormed ways to improve team morale and discussed their pitfalls in leadership that will become the focus of future workshops throughout the year. 

“Be positive this year,” Mr. Clavel advised the group. “It’s a new day; take every negative and turn it into a positive. You’ve got to flip the narrative. I have a really good feeling about the leadership in this room. I’d put you up against anyone.”

With strong leadership to captain each team, preseason activities progressed into other programs that forged well-rounded athletes with character. Together with Mrs. Conforti-Browse, Bucs brainstormed positive traditions to introduce this year, discussed how to be a good teammate and learned how to foster unity during team-building sessions. English and mindfulness teacher Sarah O’Neil worked with teams in multiple capacities, hosting yoga classes for all teams and sharing a presentation about the mental game in sports performance, which combined mindfulness techniques with sports psychology. Ms. O’Neil’s lessons on mindfulness, or “attention with intention,” will help develop the mental grit needed in those difficult games in the upcoming months, including the much-anticipated Peddie Day.

Along with focusing on mental strength, athletes worked with Geno Palmasano, Blair’s strength and conditioning coach, to ensure the Bucs are taking care of themselves physically as well. With a state-of-the-art facility that includes cardio machines and premium Hammer Strength equipment featuring two full elite power squat racks, six half elite squat racks and one Smith Machine, the training curriculum focuses on implementing safe practices in efforts to not only improve performance, but also reduce injuries throughout athletes’ seasons.

As the fall season commences, the training and effort that athletes put in as summer came to a close will soon pay off. They have equipped themselves with skills to be successful not only on the field, but also in all aspects of school life. Soon, fans will be filing onto Hampshire Field to cheer them to victory and begin another exciting season of Blair Athletics. Go Bucs (Beat Peddie)!
 

Blair Alum Chris Ayers ’98 Secures Justice for Henrietta Lacks

Thanks in part to the efforts of Blair alum Chris Ayers ’98, a measure of justice has finally been secured for Henrietta Lacks, whose cells have proved indispensable to modern medicine. Mrs. Lacks grew up in southern Virginia during the Great Depression, the child of a Black family of tobacco farmers with few resources. By the time she was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 31 in 1951, she was mother to five children. 

Mrs. Lacks’ cancer cells, which showed a remarkable ability to replicate, were collected without her knowledge or consent by doctors and nicknamed “HeLa,” from the first two letters of her first and last names, to conceal Mrs. Lacks’ identity. Those cells have since played a revolutionary role in Western medicine, leading to the development of the polio and COVID-19 vaccines and proving central to dozens of medical breakthroughs that include genome mapping and in vitro fertilization. 

In 2010, the best-selling book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and subsequent film brought widespread attention to Mrs. Lacks’ story, highlighting the use of unethical medical practices on people of color and raising important ethical questions about informed consent, patient privacy and the commercialization of medical research. In 2021, the Lacks family sued biotech giant Thermo Fisher Scientific, stating in court documents that the company “made staggering profits by using the HeLa cell line.”

Now, thanks in part to the work of Blair alum Chris Ayers, the Lacks family is finally being compensated for their mother’s contribution to science. Counselor Ayers, a partner at the law firm Seeger Weiss, is one of the attorneys representing the Lacks family and, at a press conference last month, announced that a legal settlement had been reached. 

“The fight against those who profit, and chose to profit, off of the deeply unethical and unlawful history and origins of the HeLa cells will continue,” Mr. Ayers said, according to articles in The Washington Post and The New York Times

“It’s a true honor to represent Henrietta Lacks’ family in our historic lawsuit against Thermo Fisher Scientific with titans Chris Seeger and Ben Crump,” he wrote on social media. 


A talented wrestler at Blair, Chris Ayers graduated in 1998 and went on to become a four-year varsity athlete on Brown University’s wrestling team. After earning his Bachelor of Arts from Brown in 2002, Chris secured his Juris Doctorate in 2007 from the University of San Diego School of Law. Today, he is a highly respected trial attorney with Seeger Weiss and represents individual and corporate plaintiffs throughout the United States. He has most recently been honored by The New Jersey Law Journal, which named him as a New Leader of the Bar for the 2023 New Jersey Legal Awards, and Lawdragon, which recognized him in 2022 as one of the nation’s leading plaintiff consumer lawyers.

preseason movein

As the blistering final days of summer give way to crisp September mornings on the hilltop, Blair Academy is excited to welcome the Class of 2027 to campus. A talented cohort of gifted scientists, writers, artists, athletes and more will soon fill the halls of Clinton and begin the transformative journey that connects generations of Bucs across continents. After receiving a record-breaking 1,600 applications during the latest admission cycle—dropping the acceptance rate to an all-time low of 14 percent—Blair’s new class has proven to be the most competitive yet and embodies what it means to be “all in” for this experience.

“As the admission team traveled around the world this year to bring the best of what Blair has to offer to prospective families and meet future Buccaneers, we heard from so many who share our vision for the boarding school experience,” Dean of Enrollment Teddy Wenner ’96 said. “Our mission—to balance a warm and supportive environment with superior academic opportunities—resonates with so many students and parents, and it is what continues to make Blair a top choice among the nation’s boarding schools.”

The Class of 2027 will join a diverse community on the hilltop, reflective of the world they will enter upon graduating. Blair students represent 23 countries and 28 states, with 17 percent international students and approximately 36 percent of students and families receiving financial aid in an effort to support the best and brightest applicants of all socioeconomic backgrounds at Blair. “It is hard to believe that 2022-2023 was our first year back to a completely normal admission cycle in four years,” Mr. Wenner reflected. “To finally have a summer and fall without the presence of COVID restrictions was a welcome change. Families came to campus free of masks, distancing or any other precautions that were part of our lives for too long.”

Throughout the admission cycle, the admission team was excited to share with prospective students the campus enhancements that the Class of 2027 will benefit from this year:The Romano Dining Hall underwent renovations this summer to elevate the on-campus dining experience and provide easier access to healthy dining options. Our state-of-the-art fitness center in Hardwick Hall was revamped with updated equipment to enhance team and individual athletic performances. In the spring, construction is set to begin on the new Center for Health and Well-Being, which will mark an additional step in the mission of caring for our students as a whole and promoting health and wellness across the community.

“Throughout this year, we’ve learned that support for adolescent physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health continues to be at the forefront of what parents are looking for. Now, more than ever, we are helping students acquire the skills that support their well-being through a wide range of offerings,” Mr. Wenner explained. “The new center will allow us to educate our community about the importance of physical and mental well-being, as well as nutrition, mindfulness and spiritual health in one central location.”
 
“I am incredibly excited about our incoming class and what they will bring to the Blair community,” Mr. Wenner stated. “Our School is built upon an incredible culture of warmth and rigor, and we pride ourselves on filling our classrooms and pathways with kind, caring, bright and talented students and the Class of 2027 certainly carries on this tradition.
 

casey gottlieb pr
casey gottlieb 25

Casey Gottlieb ’25 strives to have a positive impact on the people she connects with and the spaces she occupies. “Even if it’s just in the life of one person, I want the world to be a better place because I was in it,” she said on the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business podcast, “Future of the Business World.”

Casey was featured on the monthly podcast in May after launching her own public relations (PR) firm, Lumaire Agency. Her interview—Wharton’s first feature on a PR guru—was a prelude to the Essentials of Entrepreneurship program at the University of Pennsylvania through the Wharton School’s Global Youth Program Casey attended this summer. On the podcast, she chatted about all things public relations, her business and how her debate experience helped shape the entrepreneurial spirit within her. Listen to the full podcast here.

Since founding her company, Casey has helped a handful of clients—while remaining a full-time student—with content creation, media placement, social media management and so much more. “Public relations is the bridge between a business and the public,” she explained on the podcast. “All communication, whether visual, in writing or just the message you take away from a company, is public relations. PR is about helping a business shine in the public eye and resonate with its audience.”

During the entrepreneur program, Casey improved on experience she already had to craft an even better footing for Lumaire and her future endeavors. Through lectures on business building, effective communication and the business world, she immediately implemented her newfound knowledge into Lumaire’s business plan, revamping her website and incorporating experimentation with AI platforms to make her work more efficient. 

“The program took my understanding of business and transformed it into a panoramic view of the intricacies behind business decision making,” Casey said, adding that her experience helped secure a few more clients for Lumaire. “One of my biggest takeaways from the program was that successful business is not about using the current approaches to solving gaps in the marketplace,” she explained. “It is about taking calculated risks to implement new practices to solve existing gaps.”

In the upcoming school year, Casey hopes to continue Lumaire’s growth and success. Communication is one of her biggest tools and she enjoys harnessing the power of connection she experiences on Blair’s hilltop to further her entrepreneurial pursuits. 

“Through the advancement office, I have had the opportunity to meet impressive women in business, and I am going to combine the lessons I learned at Wharton with the lessons from Blair alumni to take my junior year and my business to their maximum potential,” Casey concluded. “I am looking forward to more Blair events where we learn from and connect with alumni.” 
 

caroline and joanne
caroline wilson and joanne brandwood

        Sean Lex not pictured.

As Blair’s faculty and staff came together to celebrate a new academic year at the annual Opening of School Dinner on August 24, three members were honored for their continued service to the School. Following a reception at Sharpe House, the entire body of faculty and staff shared a meal in the Romano Dining Hall, where Head of School Peter G. Curran P’27 ’27 thanked the employees for their 10 years of service to the School and the success of its students.

To commemorate this milestone, faculty and staff members received wooden chairs engraved with the Blair seal. Joining this esteemed group in 2023 is Senior Associate Dean of Admission and Director of Financial Aid Caroline Wilson, who serves as assistant coach of Blair’s varsity swim team and dorm head of Locke Hall. History teacher Joanne Brandwood also celebrated a decade of working at Blair. When she’s not in the classroom, Mrs. Brandwood directs the annual Day of Service, serves as a monitor for the sophomore class and is a co-leader of the Blair Service Corps. As technology has rapidly evolved over the past 10 years, Assistant Director of Technology Sean Lex has ensured that Blair keeps pace, supporting the day-to-day digital operations of the School and keeping members of the Blair community connected.