Dear Blair community,
It is truly hard to believe that half of the academic year has already come to a close, and we couldn’t be prouder of all that our students have accomplished since beginning last fall. At Convocation in September, I challenged our community to approach the months ahead with genuine curiosity about one another and the world, resisting the temptation to jump to hasty conclusions or predetermined judgments and instead seek mutual understanding and connection. They certainly took this charge to heart throughout the fall, and the desire to learn from and share in the lived experiences of others was on clear display during our recent Christmas Vespers and Winter Gathering services.
These traditions were a wonderful celebration of the season and a fitting way to mark the end of a calendar year. This semester students pushed themselves outside of their comfort zones; they embodied our Five Fundamentals and deeply impressed our faculty with their determination to get the most out of the Blair experience. Beyond all of their academic pursuits and co-curricular commitments, students have learned to manage their time, resolve conflicts with roommates and peers, and advocate for themselves as learners. The self-awareness, self-reliance and maturity they are developing will allow them to enter college with confidence and ease.
As always, thank you for all your partnership and support. I hope you enjoyed meaningful quality time with your family—free from distractions and full of gratitude—as we welcomed 2025, and I look forward to sharing with you all of the ways in which our students fully engage with life on the hilltop as we embark on this new semester.
All the best for a happy New Year.
Cheers,
A Look Around Counseling at Blair
Blair’s counseling team comprises three full-time, licensed clinicians who prepare students for the challenges that life will inevitably throw at them. They provide individual, solutions-focused counseling, meeting students where they are and identifying goals in collaboration with them. To get to know the counseling office better, Project Ally teamed up with our counselors and Video and Marketing Specialist CJ Palanca to capture a look around the third floor of Clinton Hall.
Smiles & Memories Fill Blair’s Family Weekend
The hilltop was filled with love and cherished memories as families gathered on campus for this year’s Family Weekend in early November. Over three days, families enjoyed a glimpse into their student’s daily life at Blair—attending classes, practices and experiencing dorm life.
“Our hearts were full of joy and pride when we left knowing that our son had chosen a school that provided such incredible opportunities to grow and discover his best self,” Shannon McCauley P’26 shared.
Families cheered on their Bucs in a slate of athletic competitions against Lawrenceville School that saw wins from girls’ varsity soccer and field hockey. They also had the chance to watch our talented performers on stage, featuring scenes from Clue: On Stage and selections from the upcoming fall concert, relax in the sun on Hardwick Quad and explore everything our campus has to offer. The program was thoughtfully designed to showcase the full Blair experience, creating a meaningful opportunity for students to share their life here with loved ones.
“Seeing your child in a classroom setting is a unique experience,” Lynda Bernouy P’27 explained. “To see them shine, participate and truly experience the magic of a Blair classroom is an unforgettable moment as a parent. Parents Weekend is genuinely an example of why Blair is the best!”
A key highlight of Family Weekend was the chance to engage with Blair’s close-knit community, where friendships and teacher-student relationships have a transformative impact on students’ lives. This occasion allowed families to interact with faculty and meet other parents, further enriching their understanding of the Blair experience.
“As families immersed themselves in school life this weekend, I hope they had the opportunity to embrace what’s at the heart of the Blair experience,” Head of School Peter G. Curran P’27 ’27 shared, “building relationships and making meaningful connections with other members of the Blair family.”
For more photos of the weekend, please check out Blair Academy on Photoshelter.
Valiant Effort & Super School Spirit Showcased by Bucs on Peddie Day
Blair’s annual Peddie Week and Peddie Day brought incredible energy, school spirit and tradition once again this year. Though the Bucs’ valiant efforts did not result in bringing the Cup home, the competition was spirited and intense, with our students giving their all and representing Blair with pride, sportsmanship and unwavering support for their teammates.
Inspiration Strikes at Blair’s Fall Concert
For centuries, inspiration has sparked creativity in unexpected ways. For today’s Blair musicians, there is no telling when or where inspiration will strike, but one thing is for sure. For this year’s Fall Concert on November 22, the performers were ready.
For the Blair Academy Singers, inspiration came in the form of Head of School Peter G. Curran P’27 ’27’s opening remarks at Convocation—be curious and suspend judgment—one of the Five Fundamentals of the School. Director of Vocal Music Ryan Manni-Brennan explained that the choir used Mr. Curran’s advice to pick the fall and spring concert themes, selecting “Be curious” up first. Musical selections from all over the globe, from Norway to Indonesia, demonstrated the Singers’ curiosity throughout the concert.
“This concert had pieces that make you think about the dialect and emotional journey of the song, even if it isn’t in English,” senior singer Cheyenne Joachim ’25 shared. “If I were to give this concert an emotion, it would be anticipation because it had people on the edge of their seats.”
Anticipation for this fall’s concert was also building for cellist and composer Ben Lo ’25, who premiered his “Symphony in C Minor.” Drawing inspiration from favorite composers like Tchaikovsky and John Williams, Ben crafted an ambitious orchestral work with the help of Director of Instrumental Music Jennifer Pagotto.
“This experience means a lot to me, not only as a student but also as a musician,” Ben noted. “Being able to perform my own piece in front of hundreds of my peers is a very rare experience, and I am grateful for Mrs. Pagotto, who has guided me along the way. This is also a major step in my musical journey, and I have experienced tremendous growth working with the orchestra.”
Mrs. Pagotto was equally excited to debut Ben’s piece, along with other music with gravitas the orchestra has been exploring this year. Additionally, this was the first year the Advanced Jazz Combo collaborated—in addition to their work with the Jazz Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra—to explore several jazz standards that are quintessential to the genre and perform “All Blues” by Miles Davis at the concert.
Naomi Limann ’26 Challenges Social Media’s Impact
According to the U.S. surgeon general’s 2023 warning, “Up to 95% of youth ages 13–17 report using a social media platform, with more than a third saying they use social media ‘almost constantly.’” Stressing the need for more research to fully understand the impact of social media on youth, the surgeon general calls attention to “ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents.”
Naomi Limann ’26 sees the effects firsthand, and she shared her thoughts on the matter in an opinion piece this summer, published by PennLive, Pennsylvania’s leading online local news platform.
“The fact that young children are going around wearing adult-styled clothing, using makeup and looking like teenagers is dangerously bizarre,” Naomi wrote. “It reflects the lack of monitoring of children’s media consumption and the huge impact of social media on youth.”
Naomi’s article was published during her summer internship sponsored by the World Affairs Council of Harrisburg and PennLive. During the program, interns met with leading officials in Harrisburg to learn how the city works and the challenges they face. They also had the opportunity to reach out to international leaders to discuss issues on a national and global scale. “It was an amazing experience,” Naomi said. “It inspired me to evoke change.”
Darryl Bellamy Teaches Blair to be Fear(less)
What comes to mind when you hear the word “fear”? Is it a memory, a challenge or an unknown? On October 7, students at Blair were asked to confront this question by the all-school speaker, Darryl Bellamy Jr. His challenge was simple yet profound: reflect on whether fear has ever stood in the way of reaching the next level.
Mr. Bellamy, who left the corporate world to pursue a career as an international speaker, captivated the packed DuBois Theatre with a message of reframing fear to become empowered. “When we feel that fear,” he said, “instead of stepping back or shying away, we want to take action—even if we might fail—and give ourselves grace in the process.”
A graduate of the University of North Carolina–Charlotte, Mr. Bellamy is now an author, consultant and founder of Fearless Inside, a movement aimed at fostering belonging and happiness in students’ lives. Since 2017, he’s been on a mission to help people “fear a little less”—not to eradicate fear, but to embrace it as a pathway to growth.
Mr. Bellamy’s presentation invited students to “trace” their fears—encouraging them to recognize and confront the anxieties that weigh them down. Backed by research, he explained how naming and sharing fears can significantly reduce their grip on us. “It’s important to share those things outwardly, to get it out of your head in some way,” Mr. Bellamy shared. “That’s how we’re able to move forward.”
Speakers from Near & Far Present at Skeptics
As is tradition, Blair’s Society of Skeptics welcomed speakers from the political, social, scientific, economic and literary arenas to campus, encouraging the community to engage with presenters, ask questions and debate points of view. Read on to learn more about this fall's lectures.
College Signing Day Celebrates Student-Athletes
As the fall athletic season came to a close, several Blair Buccaneers took the next step in their athletic careers by committing to play collegiate sports upon their graduation from the hilltop. The tradition honors these students’ commitment and dedication not only to their academic pursuits but also to their respective sports. With a joyous ceremony, family, friends, teammates and coaches celebrated these standout athletes across the spectrum of Blair sports on this momentous occasion.
“The caliber of athletic programs these Bucs are committing to today represents the hard work, dedication and passion these student-athletes have shown during their time on the hilltop,” Director of Athletics Paul Clavel ’88 said. “We know they will make an impact in their collegiate careers and look forward to cheering them on from Blair.”
Congratulations to the following student-athletes who made commitments:
Blair Football Wins 7th MAPL Championship in Program History
It was a season full of battles and adversity for the varsity football team. However, the Bucs were able to win the 2024 MAPL championship, after recording an undefeated league record and ending their season with a 42-7 victory over the Peddie Falcons on November 9.
Notable performances versus Peddie include JuJu Anderson ’25, who had two sacks, one tackle, one tackle for loss and a forced fumble. On the defensive side of the ball, Richard O’Day ’26 led the team with five tackles, followed by senior captain Carson Bowman ’25 and Nate Bush ’25. Nate ended the season as the team leader in tackles, followed by Carson in second with 44 and MJ Scialla ’25 with 41.
Offensively, Andrew Pearce ’26 had an impressive four rushing touchdowns on 148 rushing yards. Mikey Antonelli ’26 added 31 rushing yards. Quarterback Merritt Fisher ’25 went 6-12 with 44 passing yards. Mayan Muchugia ’26 had two receptions, totaling 20 receiving yards.
The team finished undefeated in the MAPL, including a 14-12 win over Pennington, 40-34 win over Hill and the 42-7 win over Peddie.
Andrew Schmeelk ’04 Kicks off Alumni Roundtables
On October 3, Blair students had the opportunity to connect with alum Andrew Schmeelk ’04, who enthralled Blair’s young minds with insights from his finance background and experience in capital management. The event marked the official kickoff of Alumni Roundtables, a series that brings graduates from a wide range of industries back to campus to share their professional and life experiences with current students. The first Roundtable session this year took place in history department chair Jason Beck’s classroom, following Blair’s traditional formal-style dinner, and included discussion as well as a lively Q&A.
Working in capital management for over 20 years, Mr. Schmeelk, who is the managing member of Blackfin Holdings and a senior advisor at Morgan Creek Capital Management, is a man of many numbers. During the well-attended event, the former Buccaneer shared an impressive array of figures tied to his work managing specific accounts and financial investments. For instance, he helped raise $11 million for SpaceX, the renowned spacecraft and satellite communications company built by Elon Musk. Furthermore, during his stint at Morgan Creek Capital Management in North Carolina, he helped deploy between $500-600 million across 30 companies. Yet, despite these impressive figures, it was the powerful words and insightful advice of the New York native that captivated the young audience.
“Be open and take chances. Put yourself out there,” shared Mr. Schmeelk early on in the discussion. “If there’s one thing I recommend right after college, it’s to try everything. You’re not going to know what you want to do for the next two, three, four, or 20 years at age 23.”
Big Mozz Founder Matt Gallira ’08 Nourishes Students’ Minds at Alumni Roundtable
Students may have seen his products while shopping in the aisles of Whole Foods, Harris Teeter’s or their local grocery store. On November 14, Blair students had the opportunity to connect with alum Matt Gallira ’08, founder of Big Mozz, a premium mozzarella stick brand. Mr. Gallira spoke about his journey since leaving Blair, rowing at Dartmouth college and becoming a successful entrepreneur in the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods space. The event marked the second Alumni Roundtable event this year.
“We made the first premium mozzarella stick and it was not what I thought I would leave Blair to do,” admitted an energetic Mr. Gallira.
Throughout the event, curious students interjected to ask questions about entrepreneurship and general life advice. One of Mr. Gallira’s biggest pieces of advice was to “find a way to be entrepreneurial in anything that you do. Doesn’t mean you have to be the owner of a company but even if you work in a big job, think of ways you can take ownership of a project or idea and be invaluable with your ‘super power.’”
The Blair Fund provides the resources to ensure that Blair students feel known and supported and that Blair faculty and staff members have the tools to provide a rich and meaningful educational experience.