Alumnae "Catch the Spirit" at Reunion

5/8/2023

More than 100 alumnae returned to campus May 5-7 for a “Catch the Spirit”-themed Reunion that invited attendees not only to reconnect with each other, but the spirit of Chatham Hall.

“We really wanted to help our alumnae reconnect not only with their friends and classmates, but also with the spirit of some of our beloved School traditions such as Chapel, a lantern event featuring our seniors, and even a Cookie Break. I think those bits of nostalgia allowed our alumnae to remember why they love Chatham Hall,” said Associate Director of Alumnae & Parent Relations Kristin Reese Solomon ‘08.

In addition to beloved traditions, the Reunion schedule also included an interactive student showcase, Parade of Classes, Alumnae Council Silent Auction, a peek at recently renovated faculty housing, an exploration of Curtis’ Garden, and a history of Chatham Hall athletics with School Archivist Dr. Bill Black. Alumnae were also invited to cheer on the Turtles at a Varsity Soccer game, and watch the Riding Program in action at a jumping clinic at Mars Arena.

The Alumnae Association Annual Meeting included Dr. Sarah Dababnah '96 receiving the Distinguished Alumnae Award and Jennifer Howard '10 receiving the Leader on the Rise Award. Other award winners included Judy Carter '63 receiving the Ellie MacVeagh Award as an alumna who best represents the School’s goals for fellow constituents, and Jean Sherrill '63 receiving the Mildred Harrison Dent Award as an alumna who demonstrates an enthusiastic long-term commitment and devotion to the ideals of Chatham Hall.

This year’s Reunion also included a special event: the groundbreaking for the new athletics, health, and wellness center to be built on the site of the current Gym. Chatham Hall Board of Trustees Chair Alison Carter-Cady ‘91 and Vice Chair Michelle Thomas Supko ‘02 broke ground first, while Chatham Hall’s Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Hiltwine struck a hole in the Gym wall to symbolize the impending demolition. Following the ceremony, alumnae and students alike were invited to “make their mark” on the building with festive purple and gold spray paint.

“This was a wonderful day for Chatham Hall,” said Chief Advancement Officer Christine Cutright Knight P’19. “Our Boundless Potential campaign is bringing to life a dream that has been decades in the making, and it’s hard to believe that we are now so close to a state-of-the-art facility which will offer our students a destination to explore all of the facets of Living Well.”

The Boundless Potential campaign kicked-off in October 2022 and is Chatham Hall’s most ambitious fundraising initiative in history. In addition to building the new holistic wellness center, the campaign aims to ensure the renovation of campus living spaces including faculty housing as well as to secure the School’s financial future. To learn more, visit www.chathamhall.org/boundlesspotential.

For pictures from the Reunion events including the groundbreaking, please visit the School’s SmugMug account.

Back