“Traditions are important,” Dean Tanella ’78 explains from a sun-soaked hilltop in May, while a portrait of John I. Blair observes him from his stately place on the wall. “Whether it’s Sunday night dinner or a family movie night, they’re important to continue. I love the fact that we’ve started this tradition of honoring Jack Bogle ’47 and gathering in the name of his scholarship.”

Blair Board of Trustees Chairman Emeritus Jack Bogle established this scholarship, first awarded in 1975, in honor of his brothers, the late David C. Bogle ’47 and William Y. “Bud” Bogle III ’45. His mission was to give students the same opportunity afforded to the three brothers to attend Blair. The scholarship has been given to students “of special promise to obtain necessary funding for their Blair education,” after demonstrating financial need, academic ability, character and determination. 

One of those students was Dean, a day student who became the first direct recipient of Jack’s generosity here at the School. “Blair Academy changed the trajectory of my life,” Dean shares. “There was no Blair Academy for me without a scholarship, and there was no scholarship without the generosity of Jack Bogle, who came here on a scholarship as well.” 

Jack and his wife, Eve, pored over hundreds of letters from students at Blair sharing their academic pursuits and daily life on the hilltop. He delighted in meeting his scholars at an annual luncheon and kept in touch with many of them long after graduation. After Jack’s passing in 2019, his brother, Bud, carried the tradition forward, ensuring scholars could continue to connect and appreciate the invisible string that ties them together.

“Blair is, at its heart, about community and connection,” shares Director of Stewardship Catie Urfer. “The Bogle Brothers Scholars Luncheon is a cherished tradition that nurtures a special bond among this subcommunity, allowing it to grow stronger with each passing year.”

This year marked a poignant shift in the annual tradition, as scholars gathered for the first time with the Bogle Brothers present only in spirit after the passing of Bud in January. Dean, Emmanuel Bello ’04, Kristen (Bogart) Salmon ’01 and Corey Downey ’20 returned to campus to meet with current scholarship recipients over lunch and honor the impact the Bogle Brothers Scholarship had on them all.

“It’s important to honor people who have done something for you that’s extraordinary,” Dean continues. “When someone with no direct connection becomes a blessing to you, opens a door for you or gives you an opportunity…They are worthy of being honored.”