Alumni Day 2022

The bonds between Hackley alumni are strong, spanning generations and decades. Every year, alumni mention how special it is to return to campus, remembering a place where lifelong friendships were formed. That special bond is most visible on Alumni Day. Year after year, alumni return to the Hilltop like hornets to a hive for this Hackley tradition.

On Oct. 15, more than 350 alumni and friends attended Alumni Day 2022. We celebrated milestone reunions, reconnected with one another, and remembered what it means to be part of the Hackley family. During the Annual Meeting of the Alumni Association, we honored beloved members of the community posthumously at the award ceremony, and we paid tribute to recent retirees, recounting the impact each had during their time on the Hilltop.

Head of School Michael C. Wirtz P ’29, ’31 gave the State of the School Address together with H. Rodgin Cohen P ’08, President of the Board of Trustees. You can watch the recording by scanning the QR code below. Alumni enjoyed the nature hike with science teacher Tessa Johnson, a tour of the apiary with James Pratt ’97 of Fly Honey Farms, and an exploration of the new orchard. An enthusiastic group joined Anne Siviglia’s Creative Writing Workshop, and Middle School science teacher Oshon Temple taught alumni and their families how to build bottle rockets, which were launched on Akin Common amidst great fanfare. Classmates and friends gathered to cheer on our Hornets at the varsity games, ending the day with a toast at the Alumni Cocktail Reception and the 50+ Club Reception and Dinner. www.hackleyschool.org/alumni/alumni-day

Though Hackley’s campus has grown and changed, what remains the same is the love and admiration we have for the teachers and coaches who guided and inspired us, and the affection we have for each other and our School. Returning to the Hilltop is like coming home. Thank you to those who joined us this year. We hope to see many more of you next year!

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Alumni Association Awards

Alumni Service Award

James “Jim” Holden Jr. ’66 was awarded the Alumni Service Award posthumously for his outstanding contributions to the Hackley Alumni Association Board, the School, and its students. Jim was a Board member for more than two decades, a champion of financial aid, and a steward of the HAA Endowment Fund. His friends and former teammates Michael Thomas ’65 and Don Jackson ’66 presented the award to Jim’s family.

Honorary Alumnus Induction

Eric Landman ’66 inducted former history teacher and varsity tennis coach Thomas Braine as an Honorary Alumnus, the highest honor bestowed on a faculty member by the HAA. Former professional tennis player Dick Stockton ’69 also paid tribute to his former coach via video, and numerous tributes from former students were read during the induction. Paul Petterson ’66 said, “Thomas Braine was a World War II veteran of the Pacific Theater. Significantly injured through serving his country, he carried the visible evidence of this sacrifice in all he did, never letting it get in the way of his mission of scholarship, teaching, coaching, and advising. He was a solid and lasting influence on the future of us all, and we were fortunate to have him in our lives.”

Impact Award

The HAA Board presented the newly created Impact Award during the HAA meeting. This award is given to Hackley employees who inspired and impacted the lives of alumni while they were students on the Hilltop. The HAA was proud to give this award to the late Marlene Bellamy, Hackley employee and FLIK Associate for 30 years. HAA President Christie Philbrick-Wheaton ’00 spoke about Marlene’s warmth and how she held students to high expectations for their behavior and treatment of one another. She went on to say, “You did not get into Marlene’s line to be served quickly; you got in her line to see her, to share a moment, and to be uplifted.” Kenda L. Kittrell Chavis ’91 also paid tribute to Marlene virtually. Marlene’s daughter Rhonda Simpson accepted the award on behalf of Marlene’s family.