Greetings from campus!
Hello, and welcome back! With the school year in full swing, there is no shortage of energy and excitement on campus. On a daily basis, I am reminded of the immersive experience that Williston provided. Just last week, while searching for the right words to describe fall and campus life, I received an email from The Willistonian with a list of articles the staff had just completed. Several articles resonated with me and contained aspects of our community that have remained unchanged over the years. In many ways, these were the same reasons I fell in love with Williston during my first visit here in the fall of 1991. So take a moment to read what these current students have to say, and rest assured that while the school continues to evolve, the cultural foundation remains stable and strong. Williston is still a place where you can Be Yourself.
Williston MVP: Robin LeClaire— If you have ever seen the smiling face at the end of the omelet line, you know.
Tight-Knit Community Enhances the PG Experience— What is different about Williston for post graduates.
Why Williston?— The reasons why current students were led to Payson Avenue.
Always Proud of the Green and Blue!
Steve Hoyt '95, P'25, '25 Director of Alumni Engagement
Notes From Campus
The Celebration of Life honoring Rick Francis was held on Saturday, September 30, at Phillips Stevens Chapel on Williston's campus. It was a wonderful celebration, followed by a thrilling victory by the football team on Sawyer field. If you were unable to attend, you can view the entire celebration on his tribute page.
We celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with a rousing performance by Afro-Puerto Rican dance and music company Bomba de Aquí during an all-school assembly. Watch this fantastic video that includes some well known faculty dancing and see photos from the performances.
A new student organization called Active Minds, which focuses on promoting better mental health for students, held its first large event with the help of the girls varsity soccer team. During their September 30 game against Wilbraham & Monson, the team hosted a “Green Out.” Active Minds began on campus this fall, and is led in part by Christa Talbot-Syfu, Senior Associate Director of Admission, in partnership with Anne Zager, a School Counselor. Talbot-Syfu says Active Minds exists “to change the conversation around mental health and encourage those who need help to seek help.” Read more about the Green Bandana game and Active Minds.
Alumni Spotlight
Going the Distance: Alexis Ryan ’17
Alexis finds success playing professional women’s hockey in Budapest. "I had never seen that many people at a game in Europe,” Ryan recalls. “There was chanting, there were drums. It was just very high energy.”
Alumni Spotlight
Climate Champion: Kevin Zongzhe Li ’16
Li’s steps since his Williston days have only solidified his interest in combating climate change, with a specific focus on how better collaboration between China and the U.S. could lead to environmental improvements.
Read the full article here.
Alumni Events & News
Dare we say it's...Cat-tober! Alumni events are happening all over! We are Calling All 'Cats back to campus for the Fall Sports Weekend this Friday and Saturday, October 20-21. Come cheer on your favorite Wildcat teams and join us for a tailgate lunch. In the following weeks, we will be in Denver on October 24 and Boston for the Young Alumni Reception on October 26. Check out our events page to RSVP.
We hope to see you in the Phoenix/Scottsdale area on November 7 & 8. Join us for a casual post-work gathering or a mid-week lunch…or both. RSVP from our event page.We know Arizona’s a big state and our alumni are far-flung. If business or leisure is bringing you to the Phoenix/Scottsdale area, please plan to join us!
The annual Wildcat Luncheon took place in Mystic, Connecticut, on September 29 at The Fisherman at Long Point. It was great to see esteemed alums from Connecticut to California join us in Mystic! Many thanks to Alan Case '59 and Serra Aladag '00 for teaming up to continue this tradition.
Holiday parties are right around the corner. Join us! We are getting things started early with the New York City party on November 28 and the Western Massachusetts party on November 30. We then head to Boston on December 5 to conclude our celebration tour. To RSVP visit our event page today!
We are hard at work on producing the fall edition of the Bulletin, but it's never to early to think about the next! Send us class notes or photos for use in the spring issue of the Bulletin! Click here to submit! Extra points if you are rockin' your Willy gear. Show that Wildcat pride wherever your travels take you!
MAKING A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER
In this final year of Williston Builds: The Campaign for Our Community, we stand taller while remaining squarely who we are—helping Williston Northampton School hold true to its values while emerging as the best possible version of itself. We continue to double down in support of our remarkable students and faculty and we invite you to join together to make a difference through your gift to the Williston Northampton Fund.
Build It Forward today through your gift online or by Venmo. Thank you!
Questions? Comments? Ideas? We want to hear from you! Email us: alumni@williston.com