At the beginning of the 2025-2026 academic school year, Head of School Peter G. Curran P’27 ’27 tasked the Blair community to “see the good,” one of the Five Fundamentals of the School. He connected the lesson with the story of two Blair alums, the late Vanguard founder and former Blair Board of Trustee Chair Jack Bogle ’47 and U.S. Military Academy West Point cadet Libby Russell ’25. When facing difficult circumstances in life, both Jack and Libby rose to the occasion, saw the good and encouraged others to do the same. It is a value instilled during day-to-day life on the hilltop—a common thread tying members of the Blair community together across generations.

Looking around at Alumni Weekend festivities in June, those who returned to their alma mater could “see the good” playing out in every space across campus. Old friends reconnected over shared memories, new relationships formed over exciting activities, and bonds were strengthened through laughter and joy. Despite the time that passed, alums slipped into old ways and found the good in being together once more.

Friday’s itinerary was packed with good-natured competition as the Blair Cup Golf Scramble and pickleball tournament went underway. Elsewhere, alums stepped back in the classroom for lessons on academics at the School today and tried their hand at some of the state-of-the-art technology in the maker space. The good times rolled at milestone reunion gatherings in the evening, and the day concluded with a festive Welcome Back, Bucs! Party on Blair Commons, featuring delicious catering by Emily Downs ’02 and Tom Kehoe ’83, while the Class of 1976 partook in a 50th Reunion celebration—complete with karaoke.

The next morning began with the newest inductees of the Athletic Hall of Fame reflecting on the good Blair brought to their lives. This year’s class included Colin Kilrain ’77, Nicole Helmstetter ’89, Zack Esposito ’02, Paula Hong ’16, and former Assistant Athletic Director and Coach Rick Stowell Sr.

“Being back on campus and being recognized for my sports career has allowed me to take a walk down memory lane, and I have truly enjoyed reflecting on my time here at Blair,” Nicole said during her acceptance speech. “I didn’t know it then, but my time on the field and court was really shaping me in ways that have proven so impactful in my life: learning how to be a teammate, win or lose, shapes and teaches us how to show up for ourselves and others. That lesson guided me through many life experiences, and that’s a core lesson I learned here at Blair.”

It was sunny skies for the traditional Alumni Parade, led by bagpipers as well as Blair Trustee and 2026 Citation of Merit recipient Hoby Van Deusen ’54 and his wife, Nancy. The classes proceeded, in order, to Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts for the Head of School Assembly, where Mr. Curran shared not only where Blair has been, but also where the School is headed thanks to the support of so many alums gathered in DuBois Theatre.

Announcing the Peachey Awards, associate director of annual giving Kristine Scialla remarked on their tremendous support. “Blair would not be the School it is today without such a wonderful community of people—those who remain on the hilltop and the alumni and parents who take Blair with them into the world.” The final award for Alumni of the Year was presented to Lauren (Makar) Haley ’93.

After the assembly, alums and their families spilled onto Blair Commons for an old-fashioned picnic, complete with the rhythms of DJ Jeremy Duncan ’01 and a magic show by Andy Peters ’00. Before long, festivities moved back to Armstrong-Hipkins for the Arts Guild, where John Cassavetes ’47, Anthony D’Amato ’06, James Hinton ’06, Cass Gardiner ’07 and former faculty Wayne “Razz” Rasmussen.

“When I got here, nobody asked me to pick a lane,” James Hinton ’06 reflected. “I loved music and math, and the teachers treated that as a gift, not as a problem to solve. Thank you for being the kind of place that hands a young person permission and then trusts them to use it.” 

For all the Bucs looking to “see the good” in Blair as they returned for Alumni Weekend, it was not hard to find. Between shared hugs and smiles, the good was found in the simplest places, reminding everyone why they stay connected to dear old Blair.
 

To watch a video recapping the weekend, click play below.