Unearthing Buried Treasure

On Saturday morning of Reunion Weekend, I was meeting with a sizeable group of alumni to discuss the many ways KUA has evolved and stayed true to its core since their years on The Hilltop. We had a wonderful time together, as their excitement at the remarkable progress the school has made in programming and infrastructure was matched by the deep appreciation I felt for their probing for the heartfelt storylines that define a KUA experience.

Some of the people we talked about that morning come alive in the pages of this magazine. You’ll want to hear what powered three students out of bed in the early hours of a spring Sunday. Legendary KUA teacher and mentor Scrib Fauver P’09 ’12 shares what drives him in the classroom after all these years. The stories we explored together, unsurprisingly, all spoke to amazing people, both past and present, who unselfishly gave of themselves to support others and led the Academy to be successful and proud.

An alumna in attendance, Andrea Murray ’87, is featured for her work as the principal architect in the rebuild of two of her old homes—Kilton and Welch residence halls. Our retiring faculty were also of great interest to our alumni, who were happy to salute these amazing educators and delighted to hear we will find their faces in the crowds of future productions and competitions. With alumni returning for the weekend to celebrate everything from a fifth to a seventieth reunion year, sometimes the stories of “Stretch” Gillum and “Grubby” Douglass would get intertwined with John Kluge ’66 and Rich Ryerson. Thankfully, Steve “Bish” Bishop H’00 was in attendance and could decisively resolve any inconsistencies in the plot lines.

Following the group’s curiosity, we took deep dives into KUA history. Our alumni were amazed to find the deepest part of our history had been hidden for decades in the most unlikely of places: behind the walls and hung ceilings of the old Snack Bar. Its relocation this past year was a journey of unearthing buried treasure. Even better than the barn’s physical structure, we found, were the stories the space tells. From the earliest days of Daniel Kimball to the beautiful reflections you will read in this magazine from current students, there is a depth to the people at KUA that is readily accessible if you take the time to truly understand their stories, motivations, and perspectives.

Every year, it is a great exercise in humility to remember the amazing journey we have completed and the remarkable seniors we send off to the corners of the world. They follow scores of graduates who marched off this very same Hilltop equally equipped to write the next chapters of their stories. The joy we take in celebrating our current students never fades, as our alumni inspire our continued awe with their thriving professional and personal lives. With each passing year I spend here at KUA, my confidence is affirmed as we are connected to more and more of our alumni.

We look forward to seeing you soon. K