Home means something different to everyone. To some, it is a place of comfort and familiarity. For others, home is a feeling—or even a person. As Maya Angelou once said, “The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.”

The experience of venturing home was felt across the hilltop during Alumni Weekend this June, as classmates returned to the School to relive fond memories and forge new ones. The festivities kicked off with the traditional Blair Cup Golf Scramble on Friday, followed by a tennis and pickleball tournament. Players came together for an awards ceremony for the winners before freshening up for the Welcome Back, Bucs, Party that evening. The Class of 1974 celebrated their 50th Reunion with a dinner at the Chiang-Elghanayan Center for Innovation and Collaboration (CECIC). Taking over their own corners of campus by class, alums retreated to dorms they haven’t stayed in for years, swapping stories while burning the midnight oil.

“I am beyond excited to see everyone back on campus to celebrate 25 years,” shared Bridget (Brennan) Hodakowski ’99. “It is wonderful reconnecting with so many in a place that has felt like home since the fall of 1995. I can hardly believe that 25 years have passed since we graduated on the front hill of Blair—and yet it feels like just yesterday we stood in our white dresses and navy jackets excited about what the future would bring.”

Joined by an influx of fresh faces on Saturday, the community took part in myriad activities spread across campus that celebrated the bonds forged on the hilltop, regardless of time passed. Throughout the day, attendees enjoyed campus tours and hikes of the Siegel Property, while an Arts Open House in the CECIC maker space welcomed creative guests to craft keepsakes to remember the weekend. Standout athletes and artists were honored at the Athletic Hall of Fame and Arts Guild induction ceremonies, and the Blair community celebrated outstanding volunteers and class representatives at the Head of School Assembly. To cap off another terrific Alumni Weekend, everyone gathered for a delicious dinner full of food, camaraderie and laughter with DJ Jeremy Duncan ’01 providing the perfect soundtrack for the night.

“Alumni Weekend is a wonderful opportunity to relive memories and reconnect with the people and places that contributed to our shared experiences,” Jo Wrzesinsky ’94 said. “To return to Blair is to return home.”

Stival Court Dedicated

During Alumni Weekend, the Blair community dedicated Stival Tennis Court in honor of former faculty member Lewis Stival. Over their 33 years at Blair, Lewis and his wife, Lois, served in many roles, including advisors, mentors and dorm heads. In addition to her position as day student coordinator, Lois planned many Blair events over the years, including the prom, Parents’ Weekend, Alumni Weekend and various fundraisers. A former English teacher, Lew headed up the School’s college counseling office for most of his Blair tenure and coached girls’ and boys’ varsity tennis for many years.