Category Archives: Visiting Speakers

“I Didn’t Play Chess in Soviet Russia, Newsflash!”

“This day was not so much a surprise to those of us who knew her well,” said Peter Gunn as he introduced his former student, Jennifer duBois ’02, author of, A Partial History of Lost Causes and recently named one of the National Book Foundation’s Five Under 35.

It was a night of memories as duBois, who participated as a student in the Writers’ Workshop series, became the first alumna to also return as a guest author in the program.

As a student duBois studied The Odd Sea, written by Frederick Reiken, and was greatly influenced by something he said at her Writers’ Workshop.  She was having trouble grasping the truth in writing something she hadn’t experienced firsthand and Reiken said, “You write what you know, but you know more than you think you know.” Continue reading

15th Annual Writers’ Workshop

From October 16 to November 8, The Williston Northampton School is hosting the 15th year of the Writers’ Workshop Series. This event brings some of today’s most accomplished and honored writers to campus where they give public lectures and teach private classes for Williston students.

On Tuesday, October 16, Williston hosted Jen duBois ’02, the first alumna to participate as both a student and as an author. Anita Shreve, a Williston parent and award-winning author of The Pilot’s Wife and other novels, spoke on Monday, October 22. Renowned author of the Knuffle Bunny children’s series, Mo Willems, will speak on Thursday, November 1.  Mount Holyoke Mellon Professor of English, Christopher Benfey, will conclude the program on Thursday, November 8.

All lectures are held at 7 p.m. in the Dodge Room, Reed Campus Center. The lectures are free and open to the public.

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Stillmotion Filmmakers Inspire Students to Chase their Dreams

As a rule, Patrick and Amina Moreau always let their curiosity get the better of them.

The founders of Stillmotion, a Toronto and San Francisco based company, the Moreaus visited The Williston Northampton School campus on Tuesday, September 25 as the first speakers in this year’s Photographers’ Lecture Series.  During their visit, which was made possible by the Canon Explorer of Light program, the pair spoke about the importance of, and difference between, affect and effect in their work.

“What we’re really talking about here with affect versus effect is having some kind of emotional quality or purpose rather than just making something look cool,” said Patrick.

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Struggle as Motivation at 172nd Convocation

Whether it was one of time or distance, speakers at The Williston Northampton School’s 172nd Convocation spoke of various journeys, and the bumps they had encountered along the way.

© Matthew Cavanaugh

“For me, being successful means getting from point A to point B no matter what obstacles may be ahead of you,” Class President Matthew Freire ’13 told the assembled Williston community.

“In my opinion, no one can be a success without first encountering obstacles preventing one from achieving his or her success in the first place,” he said.

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Celebration of Williston Northampton’s 172nd Convocation

The Williston Northampton School will open its 172nd academic year with a Convocation ceremony on Friday, September 14, 2012 at 5:00 p.m.  Our distinguished speaker this year is the President of the Board of Trustees, Elizabeth Manning D’Amour P’00, ’03, ’04, ’07.

Convocation, which marks the official opening of school, will begin with a procession of Williston faculty and special guests.  During the ceremony, which will take place on the quad in front of the Reed Campus Center, Ms. D’Amour will address the gathered students, alumni, faculty and staff, honored guests, community members, and friends of the school.

Watch the event live at www.williston.com/live.

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