Blair Academy’s 2025-2026 school year ramped up with a flurry of events throughout the first week of September. After journeying to the hilltop Monday—some for the very first time—students moved in, connected with their roommates, greeted old and new friends, and bid farewell to their families. Orientation quickly followed; by Tuesday morning, classes had begun and students began settling into their campus routines. 

To usher in the new year, students and faculty dressed in their best came together to celebrate the 178th academic year at Convocation, a ceremony that dates back to Blair’s founding. A bagpipe-led procession of students wound its way through the heart of campus toward Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts, where faculty cheered them inside. Once seated in DuBois Theatre, Rev. David Harvey officially opened the ceremony steeped in tradition.

Senior Class Council members Khang Nguyen ’26 and Jess Neary ’26 both took to the stage to address the student body. Khang spoke first, lamenting on just how quickly his four years at Blair had gone by and advising all students to appreciate the moments they have ahead of them.

“I’ve come to realize that time moves fast, and even faster when you sort of drift through life without truly living it, until one day you look back and realize it has all just flashed past you,” Khang said. “But, each of you, no matter how long you have left in your careers here, still has plenty of time to make memories that endure.”

Before the Blair Academy Singers took to the stage for a performance of “Welcome Back” by alum John Sebastian ’62 and the “Blair Love Song,” Jess also addressed her fellow classmates, sharing what the culture of Blair has meant to her over the past four years. Beyond the pomp and circumstance of cheering the loudest at games and going the hardest during Headmasters’ Societies Games, Jess explained that, to her, Blair’s culture is defined by the love the community has for one another, which causes those outward expressions of affection.

“I know I felt that sense of Blair culture in moments both monumental and seemingly mundane,” Jess explained. “I believe Blair culture is best on display through authentic connections within the community, no matter how small they may seem.” 

The Convocation ceremony concluded with remarks by Head of School Peter G. Curran P’27 ’27, who shared life lessons learned from summer jobs in the service industry. His overarching message and charge to the community was to always try to “see the good,” one of Blair’s Five Fundamentals. He illustrated this by sharing the experiences of Blair graduates who have gone on to meaningful lives of service, whether as a new cadet at West Point or as the founder of the largest mutual fund company in the world.

“As we officially step into Blair’s 178th year, please know that seeing the good does not mean you are denying what’s hard. Instead, you’re planting the seeds of what can grow,” Mr. Curran noted in his final remarks, which includes sharing the Blair Leadership Stories Project video of The Vanguard Group founder Jack Bogle ’47. “There is incredible power when you embrace this mindset, individually and collectively; I look forward to seeing the ways in which this will make Blair–and all of us–better in the year ahead.”

With new friendships taking root, traditions honored and the call to “see the good” guiding the way, Blair Academy’s 178th year is off to a meaningful start—one filled with promise, purpose and the shared spirit of community.