Though the years have passed, the faces linger—etched with time, a little wiser, gently lined—yet still unmistakably familiar. A quick smile and you suddenly fall right back to where you left off, English class in Clinton Hall or sledding down the front hill on lunch trays. Suddenly, it feels like no time has passed at all. That is the magic of Alumni Weekend, and this past weekend, the hilltop was brimming with it.

“Leaving Blair for the final time as a student was a bittersweet moment but there was a new journey ahead,” Garrett Long ’20 shares. “What I’ve found is that all roads lead home and that’s exactly what Blair is, a home away from home. Returning to campus as an alum brings so many amazing memories flooding back.”

The celebration began on Friday as the Blair Cup Golf Scramble teed off beneath a clear blue sky. Alumni, old and new, gathered on the lush nine-hole course, their laughter and groans at missed shots proving that, club in hand or not, their Blair spirit never faded. Not far away, the Shipyard buzzed with energy as players of all ages took up paddles for the pickleball tournament. Cheers and lighthearted banter filled the air, culminating in a warm reception where stories were shared and awards handed out with smiles all around.

Elsewhere on campus, a different kind of journey was underway. Returning alumni wandered familiar paths transformed—buildings gleaming with fresh renovations, spaces reborn with new purpose. Current students stood ready to share their experiences, their voices bridging past and present during a lively panel discussion on what life at Blair means today. Inside Clinton Hall, the atmosphere softened with a touch of nostalgia. “Classrooms without Quizzes” invited guests to once again settle into desks and absorb lessons. Many took the opportunity to attend English teacher Bob Brandwood’s final official class, a bittersweet moment marking the end of an era. The evening concluded with milestone reunion gatherings that dodged patchy rain showers, a memorial service led by former chaplain Rev. Peter Amerman, the Class of 1975 Reunion Dinner and a Welcome Back, Bucs! Party under the stars on Hardwick Quad as DJ Jeremy Duncan ’01 kept the spirits high.

“It was a treat to reconnect with everyone, catch up with faculty and just enjoy being back on campus,” says Kat (Hood) Nelson ’05. “It will always feel like home.”

Saturday dawned with the kind of energy only Blair Bucs can bring. From power walks and putting practice at the Urdang Practice Greens to morning hikes across the Siegel Property, alumni embraced the day with enthusiasm. The campus buzzed with anticipation for the tenth annual Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony, where the Blair community gathered to celebrate wrestler Ben “Buzzy” Bishop ’66, runner Emily Ferguson ’95, rower Christine (Geiser) Nalty ’03, the 2009–2010 boys’ tennis team, and longtime coach and Athletic Director Daniel Hazen (read more on page 54).

The spirit of the day carried into the Alumni Parade, a vibrant procession from the Arch to the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts. Spanning generations—from the Class of 1954 to 2020—the crowd radiated Blair pride. At the Head of School Assembly, that pride deepened as dedicated alumni and former employees were honored with the Peachey Awards, Alumnus of the Year and Citation of Merit, recognizing the quiet leadership and lasting impact that makes these events memorable. While classmates caught up and stories flowed at the alumni lunch, Andy Peters ’00 engaged the crowd with a magic show that brought a touch of wonder to the midday festivities for the youngest members of the Blair family.

Later, the arts took center stage. At the Arts Guild induction, Blair recognized the contributions of Don Jay Smith ’65, P’11, Timothy Sullivan ’95 (aka Tim Fite), Cristina Marie Vivenzio ’00 and Lukas Dong ’15—artists whose work has shaped Blair’s creative legacy and inspired beyond its campus (read more on page 58). In a heartfelt moment, the Class of 1965 surprised Don Jay by dedicating the Arts Guild wall in his and his late wife, Linda’s, honor—a lasting tribute to their impact on the Blair community.

The event drew to a close with the All In Alumni Dinner & Celebration, a fitting finale for a historic occasion. As The Grooveline, led by 2023 Arts Guild inductee Jon Williams ’89, filled the night air with music, the Blair family raised a glass to the historic campaign that shaped today’s campus—and to the bright chapters still to come. In that moment, surrounded by laughter and legacy, it was as if no time had passed at all. Take a moment to watch the video below that captures the spirit of the weekend and the joy of our community in returning to the hilltop to renew their connections and make new ones.