Alumni Day for the Class of 2023

The Class of 2023 convened in the Manger Trophy Room this week for the annual Alumni Day festivities presented by the Alumni Association Board.

Following a continental breakfast in the Activities Gym, the group headed next door to hear from Lanier Frank ’79 (P ’09), Director of Alumni Relations, about how his circuitous path—first as a volunteer, then as a parent—led to his current role at the school. (He offered the fun fact that the 1938 space in which the boys were sitting was donated by the school’s oldest living alumnus, 102-year-old Dr. Charles Manger ’40, while still a student!)

Vice President of the STA Alumni Association Thomas Duckenfield ’82 (P ’26) then began by moderating the Alumni Engagement and Annual Giving Panel. Current Board Members Bobby Cunningham ’11, Matt Grieb ’08, Jon Hauck ’95, Nick Folger ’10, and Ben Seesel ’97 (P ’30) spoke on their experiences as volunteers for the school, the importance of staying in touch (with the school as well as one another), and the need to give back.

The second session on college life was moderated by Jason Cross ’95, President of the STA Alumni Association. Recent alumni Spencer Hall ’22, Will Harmon ’20, George McBride ’22, and Kyle Parizek ’21 spoke on their college experiences (positive and otherwise) and fielded questions from their eager former schoolmates.

The third and final session, Careers and the Importance of Networking, was the most anticipated. Dave Anderson ’96, Matt Grieb ’08, Mark Johnson ’91, Justin Ochs ’91, and Terrence Keaney ’98 were moderated by Brendan Sullivan ’93 on the many different options available to the Class of 2023. They reminded the students that the careers that they were set on while at STA were not necessarily the paths that were followed and encourage the future alumni to keep an open mind for new opportunities. Lunch from Rockland’s BBQ capped off the day, at which the class selected their new Class Secretaries and voted on the McCune Prize (to be awarded to the faculty member who best emulated the spirit of sixth Headmaster John F. “Gentleman Jack” McCune on Prize Day).