Greetings from campus!
It’s August, and there is a sense of excitement on campus. Summer projects are coming to completion, the campus is looking spiffy, and students arrive in just two weeks. I hope all of you have had a fantastic summer and plenty of fun adventures!
In early July, we shared the sad news of the death of longtime Williston faculty member, Rick Francis, whom you can read more about on this tribute page and on his In Memoriam page. The outpouring of memories has been remarkable, with so many alumni and faculty sharing what a profound effect Mr. Francis had on them at Williston and beyond. For me, this is another reminder of what makes the Williston Northampton experience so unique: The dedication of the faculty and their care and concern for their students. While he was known as the Athletic Director and football coach, Mr. Francis was also a math teacher to many, including me. While I was never his star Algebra pupil, he always remained supportive and found ways to bring out the best in me. This is the Williston way.
With Regards,
Steve Hoyt '95, P'25, '25 Director of Alumni Engagement
Calling All 'Cats: To LinkedIn
This summer, we revamped our LinkedIn page and are excited to further connect with our alums. If you don’t already, be sure to follow us and add Williston to your Education section. Already a follower? Invite your other classmates to follow!
Our alumni base has a vast array of professional experiences. LinkedIn is a great way to network, search for alums in your field or join affinity groups such as Alumni of Color and Women of Williston. Check them out and ask to join today!
Sharing and spreading the word about Williston Northampton increases our profile on the platform. When we post something, please like, comment, share, and repost. Our alums do some incredible things, let's build the network and show the professional impact you are making!
Notes From Campus
A Celebration of Life honoring Rick Francis will take place on Saturday, September 30, at 1 p.m., at Phillips Stevens Chapel on Williston's campus. A reception will follow in the school’s Dodge Room inside the Reed Campus Center. All are invited to attend both the service and the reception. Livestream will be available here. Guests are also welcome to attend a 3:30 p.m. home football game vs. Hotchkiss on Sawyer Field, a fitting contest for a coach so dedicated to excellence on the gridiron.
Williston English teacher Sarah Levine doesn’t just love teaching—she loves learning, too. Thanks to a Fulbright Award, this year she’ll be doing both: teaching her usual classes at Williston, while taking classes herself as part of the Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms Program. Read more here.
When Mike Doetsch '82 was looking for the first athlete to award a West End Alumni Fund scholarship to, he decided to look back home to Williston. Jayden Clerveaux '23 was waiting there to meet the moment. Read more here.
The Spring/Summer Bulletin should have made it to your mailbox by now. If you haven't received it, you can view it online (and don't forget to update your information so you don't miss the next issue!) Please click here to submit a Class Note for the Fall Bulletin.
BUILD IT FORWARD—Earlier this fall, we asked two dozen alums, ranging from the class of 1965 to the class of 2013, an open-ended question: What did Williston Northampton build in you? Their answers ran the gamut—creativity, leadership, opportunity, character, and more—but all shared a common theme rooted in their formative experiences at the school and their desire to build the same opportunities for the next generation of students. New videos will be rolling out over the next few months. Please enjoy the latest videos below with Shaun Chapman '98 and Brandon Diaz '12. Click here to watch more videos.
Alumni Spotlight
Banking on Fine Art: Jamie LaFleur '94
“If all the information about a market is held by those who are selling the assets, you might have to be a little concerned about what information they’re sharing with you,” he says. By creating a first-of-its kind standard benchmark for the art world, his company is removing the guesswork one van Gogh at a time.
Alumni Spotlight
AI and US: cauri jaye ’90
Futurist, entrepreneur, and technology translator cauri jaye ’90 lives for solving intractable problems. “I like the challenge,” he insists. “That’s been a theme throughout everything that I’ve done.”
Read the full article here
Alumni Events
Alumni events are ramping up and we have a full schedule planned. Look for us this fall and as always, check our events page here on a regular basis to stay updated. We are looking forward to a fun-filled year!
Calling All 'Cats! We love nothing more than to see our alums come back to campus. This year we are sending out the Cat Signal when an exciting event is happening on campus. Our first Cat Signal of the year is for Saturday, September 16 White Out Football game vs. Deerfield at 7 p.m. Join us for this awesome night! Future events include Saturday, October 21 home sports games and February 16 winter Williston Theatre production.
Send us notes or photos for the next issue of the Bulletin! Click here to submit! Extra points if you are rockin' your Willy gear. Show that Wildcat pride wherever your summer travels took you!
Students come to Williston eager to change the world and themselves, and your support fuels their dreams!
The Williston Northampton Fund—the school’s annual fund—is the cornerstone of Williston Builds: The Campaign for Our Community and it supports emerging opportunities while enriching our community and programs. Gifts of any amount count towards the campaign and inspire others to join you in investing in and strengthening our school.