The Class of 2016 has officially turned the corner from students to alumni, which is a good reason to share news of many other alumni who returned to campus during Reunion Weekend May 13 to 15 to be honored for their achievements, both on and off the athletic fields.

During a ceremony where he told students not to give back, but to pay it forward, Ed Michael Reggie ’71 received the Ward Medal, Williston’s highest honor. It recognizes individuals who exemplify the values of humanitarian service and volunteerism, and who have made outstanding contributions to their communities. Reggie received his award during a special all-school assembly on May 13 in the Phillips Stevens Chapel. A banker-turned-venture-capitalist, Reggie leads FutureFactory, an entity dedicated to inventing and growing smart businesses. Read a profile about Reggie here; read the text of Reggie’s acceptance speech here; and see photos of the event here.

An Alumni Awards ceremony was held in the chapel on May 14 where students presented awards recognizing fundraising acumen, professional achievement, and devotion to the school (see photos here). Timothy Murphy ’96, director of placement at The Fessenden School, received the Daniel and Jane Carpenter Award. Michael “Mickey” Meyer ’03, cofounder of online and television comedy forum JASH, took home the Alumni Trailblazer Award. Trustee John Booth ’83 received the Founders’ Award. Booth is the upper school academic dean at The Brunswick School. Jay and Betsy Grant, longtime beloved faculty at Williston, received the Distinguished Service Award on the eve of their retirement.

An emotional Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony took place during Reunion on May 13, when current students presented awards to exceptional alumni athletes (see photos here). Marilyn Lash Cluett ’65 accepted the Hall of Fame award for her late father Dale Lash, who was athletic director at Williston from 1942 to 1967. The late Westcott Moulton ’27, known as “Mr. Hockey,” became the best collegiate ice hockey player in New England. The late Laura Hurd ’01 also excelled at ice hockey and set many school and NCAA records. Her mother, Jennifer Hurd, accepted the award on Laura’s behalf. Stephen Durant ’64, who played football and lacrosse, was “one of the greatest athletes to ever compete for Williston.” He was on hand at the ceremony to be welcomed into the Hall of Fame. Also on hand were members of the 1991 Girls Cross Country team whose coach, Greg Tuleja, enthused about their speed and heart. Runners were delighted to hear current cross country teammates chant their fight theme under the big tent at dinner that night. And in a beautiful moment of connection, Catherine Saint Louis ’92, a member of the 1991 team, at a meet the following day, witnessed Rachel Rockwell ’16 breaking a hurdle record Saint Louis had set in 1990. “She told me to, ‘Go get it, I know you can!’” Rockwell recalled after introducing herself to Saint Louis at Friday’s Hall of Fame ceremony. “It was such a cool moment.”

This spring, the Williston Northampton School Bulletin won a 2016 Council for Advancement and Support for Education (CASE) Circle of Excellence silver medal in the Independent School Magazine category. Circle of Excellence is the national category, so the magazine was judged alongside publications from colleges and independent secondary schools across the country. Williston submitted two magazine issues, “Reunion” and “Williston Academy.”

The judges’ citation praised the issues for being well thought out and well written, with informative and engaging content. They also commended the paper stock and photography, and noted, “the creative and envelope-pushing article headlines are in a class by themselves.” This brings the number of CASE awards, including regional CASE District I awards, earned by Williston’s Communications Office to 12 in the last three years.