ADVANCEMENT
The Class of 2021 Celebrates Old Traditions & Starts a New One Blair is a community rich in tradition, and a few years ago, the senior class gift to Blair started as a way for graduating students to come together one last time and leave their mark on campus. Seniors and their parents joined forces to raise funds, and the Senior Class Council designated them to a scholarship for future students. This year, the class of 2021 upheld that tradition, with parents and students raising $139,842 for a future Blair Buc. “This is a wonderful opportunity that allows future students to attend Blair who otherwise wouldn’t have the opportunity,” said Susan Long, assistant director of advancement for parent relations. A yearlong effort, the Class of 2021 Scholarship campaign started in the
fall with a kickoff pizza party under the tent on Hardwick Commons lawn and culminated at the Senior Prize Assembly on May 21, where advancement ambassadors Jasneen Meghadri ’21 and Jonathan Wong ’21 presented the class gift to Head of School Peter G. Curran. Ninety-eight percent of the senior class contributed to the student portion of the gift, which totaled $1,946. Having upheld an established tradition, the class of 2021 then sampled a new one—the inaugural Senior Dinner, hosted by the advancement office and Board of Governors President Robert Van Stone ’69. Stretched out at round tables scattered beside Blair Lake, seniors sat next to friends while tucking into a delicious meal of chicken Parmesan and
tortellini on May 22. At each place rested a gift to remember the campus where students had spent the last four years, a silver tray etched with the Blair seal. Mr. Van Stone welcomed the class officially to the alumni/ae association and encouraged students to keep Blair close and come back to visit. “As you become alumni/ae this week,” Chief Advancement Officer Craig Hall added, “remember this hilltop. Keep in touch with classmates and faculty. Get involved and care for this school.” The dinner kicked off a series of activities in the seniors’ final week at Blair and marks a wonderful new tradition to add to graduation week. “It was a great introduction into the alumni/ae society,” said Jessica Wilm ’21. “It let us know how welcome we are.” ■
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