海角视频鈥檚 Centennial Celebration Energizes the 海角视频 Community
From June 9 through 11, 2023, more than 600 海角视频 community members gathered at 海角视频 to be part of a historic moment. The final and largest of several observances of the school鈥檚 100th anniversary, the Centennial Celebration was both one heck of a party and a tribute to the power of a 海角视频 education. The celebration balanced opportunities to mingle and programs that engaged guests and speakers in deep discussion. While reunion classes enjoyed special class dinners, the event was also an unprecedented opportunity for alums from different decades and generations to connect. Sunshine alternated with showers, and the campus looked its finest by the glow of lights and lanterns. The predominant sense was one of a collective renewed energy. One alum, in a note of gratitude, called it a 鈥渇ountain of youth.鈥
鈥満＝鞘悠碘檚 Mission in Motion: Centennial Speaker Series鈥 was the centerpiece of the celebration. In this series of panel discussions, nearly 30 alums offered their perspectives on topics as wide-ranging as journalism鈥檚 role in democracy and artistic models for transforming cultural understanding鈥攁ll of them speaking to this community鈥檚 investment in positive change. Over four hours, in two keynote panel discussions and six additional moderated conversations among alums鈥攕cientists, artists, activists, educators, academics, and creative professionals鈥敽＝鞘悠碘檚 love of learning shone brightly. .
The opening session, 鈥淭he Power of Personal Stories,鈥 engaged some of 海角视频鈥檚 celebrated authors in dialogue with moderator Lucille Stott, former faculty member and administrator and author of 海角视频鈥檚 Centennial book, 海角视频 at 100: Voices from the First Century. Drew Gilpin Faust 鈥64, historian and president emerita of Harvard University, reflected on the role stories play in providing role models and in shaping a world we want to live in, as well as 海角视频鈥檚 part in her own life story, which she has chronicled in a forthcoming memoir. Biographer David Michaelis 鈥75 spoke about the importance of being able to 鈥渓ive in strangeness,鈥 to inhabit the mind of another, and his most recent subject, Eleanor Roosevelt, who, he said, 鈥渇ound her humanity in others.鈥 Princeton professor and National Book Award-winning author Imani Perry 鈥90 shared her drive to make a 鈥渞esourceful, creative story to do justice鈥 to her subjects, from playwright Lorraine Hansberry to the song 鈥淟ift Every Voice and Sing,鈥 the Black national anthem. Read more about this session.
In the closing session, 鈥淭he Future of Education,鈥 moderator Trelane Clark 鈥92, P鈥22 framed the conversation around 鈥渆ducating whole human beings鈥濃攏ot only preparing students to thrive academically but 鈥減reparing whole people to change this world.鈥 Head of School Henry Fairfax spoke about 海角视频鈥檚 future in light of its origins as a girls鈥 school, part of the women鈥檚 equality movement. 鈥淚 find that we are uniquely positioned to do something really significant,鈥 he said, and he emphasized the work that lies ahead in 海角视频鈥檚 commitment to striving for equity. Researcher, policymaker, and strategist Turahn Dorsey 鈥89 challenged the audience to think broadly about the role of independent schools as private institutions that can be reengineered 鈥渇or public purpose.鈥 He shared a vision for 海角视频鈥檚 future that involved nurturing young people as 鈥渁gents for justice鈥 and 鈥渃reating communities that lift everyone up.鈥 Read more about this session.
In between, each of the conversations that took place deserves a spotlight. We invite you to learn more about the alums who helped us mark this moment by engaging with intelligence and heart.
- 鈥Changing the Lens: Women in Entertainment Share Essential Perspectives,鈥 featuring Susanna Fogel 鈥98, Danielle Lee 鈥93, Rachel Morrison 鈥96, and moderator Natalia Winkelman 鈥11.
- 鈥Designing for Resilience and Sustainability: The Future Is Up to Us,鈥 featuring Lisa Dreier 鈥85, Sonia Lo 鈥84, and Tony Patt 鈥83.
- 鈥In Pursuit of Truth: A Conversation About Journalism and Democracy,鈥 featuring Alexandra Berzon 鈥97, moderator Julia Preston 鈥69, Richard Read 鈥75, and Freddie Tunnard 鈥07.
- 鈥Creating Connection: Transforming Models of Art and Cultural Expression to Build Understanding,鈥 featuring Emily Harney 鈥94, Julian Joslin 鈥05, moderator Amy Spencer P鈥13, and Zack Winokur 鈥07.
- 鈥Improving the Human Condition Through Science: Discovery for the Benefit of All,鈥 featuring Peter de Blank 鈥92, Connor McCann 鈥14, moderator Lucy McFadden 鈥70, and Gail Weinmann 鈥67.
- 鈥Making Change: Leaders Discuss Empowering Communities and Social Progress,鈥 featuring Dave Cavell 鈥02, Catherine Gund 鈥83, moderator Lara Jordan James 鈥80, and Tremaine Wright 鈥90.
Throughout the weekend, guests took advantage of these and many other opportunities to reflect on 海角视频鈥檚 first century and to consider 海角视频鈥檚 role in shaping a more just and sustainable future. A decade-by-decade archival display in the Main School hallway and an oral history video project got alums reminiscing. For those who hadn鈥檛 been back in a while, student-led tours provided an orientation to 海角视频鈥檚 campus, and 海角视频 administrators shared the vision for campus improvements and 海角视频鈥檚 .
A moving memorial service recognized the alums, former faculty and staff members, and trustees who passed away within the past year, as well as all members of the 海角视频 community whose lives we still carry within us today. Those who attended took home wildflower seeds to plant in their memories.
In the Math and Arts Center, a digital alum art exhibition organized by former faculty member Ben Eberle 鈥99 was on display alongside works by current students and a reprisal of the 鈥淥rigin Stories鈥 photography show that former faculty member Cynthia Katz curated in 2019.
The town of Concord was also livelier than usual throughout the weekend. Some guests borrowed canoes to paddle down the Sudbury River, and others explored Concord on walking tours that focused on the town鈥檚 Revolutionary history as well as the women and Indigenous people who inhabited this land.
At the celebratory dinner on Saturday evening, animated chatter rippled through the enormous tent that had been erected for the occasion behind the Chapel. Guests raised glasses of champagne for several toasts, by Fairfax and Fay Lampert Shutzer 鈥65, president of the Board of Trustees; Elizabeth Newbury 鈥98, the great-great-granddaughter of one of 海角视频鈥檚 founders, Anne Chamberlin Newbury 鈥29; Jake Dresden and Tom Wilcox P鈥01, former heads of school, with Sarah Yeh P鈥24 鈥27, former interim head; and Fairfax with incoming Student Head of School Jessie Ma 鈥24. In a toast by Amy Cammann Cholnoky 鈥73 and Thaddeus Danforth 鈥73, who were celebrating their 50th reunion, Cholnoky shared a wish that 海角视频 continue to 鈥渉elp students be their best selves鈥 through a 鈥渢ransformational鈥 education that helps them find their unique ways of contributing to change. 鈥淭he world needs 海角视频 students and alums now more than ever,鈥 she said.
The evening was also given over to music of sorts. An alum chorus, assembled just for the occasion and directed by former faculty member Keith Daniel, performed a madrigal as well as a medley of Beatles tunes. Guests enjoyed the funky groove laid down by the Centennial Student Ensemble and the pop-country stylings of Nashville-based singer-songwriter Lena Stone 鈥11, who reprised the first song she had ever written and performed at 海角视频 in 2009. Some even danced to the tunes of the band Hank Wonder (featuring Annie Bartlett P鈥24 and Ben Bartlett 鈥24), which closed out the evening.
The weekend concluded on a quieter note, with community members lingering over a sunny farewell jazz brunch. In all, the Centennial Celebration was a time for the 海角视频 community to think, connect, and re-energize. Guided by its mission, there鈥檚 no telling the impact this school will have on the world in its second century.
Story by Heidi Koelz
Photos by Cole and Kiera Photography, Jodi Hilton, and Nicholas Pfosi
