June 2025 Alumni Association Update

The Alumni Board of Directors had a most productive year and looks forward to new opportunities next year. The Board asks YOU to join us in these activities as we engage with our current students and fellow Alumni: 

Here are a few Highlights from 2024-2025: 

•    The six regular Board Meetings had presentations regarding: Realignment Update from the Head of School; Branding Strategy Implementation; Admissions Update; CFO Update on AA Finances; Athletics Update; and a conversation with Student Council Representatives (Boys and Girls) on Realignment in the Upper School, “under one roof.”

•    Of all the Presentations, the meeting with the Student Council Representatives in April 2025 was most reassuring of the progress being made in realizing the goal of Realignment. 

•    The Alumni Board’s Special Committee on the Student Leadership Program completed its review, with the Alumni Board of Directors approving the Report at the Annual Meeting on May 22. The Special Committee had been tasked to review and provide recommendations to the Board of Directors during Academic Year 2024-2025 for increased engagement opportunities by Alumni with students, as well as to review after twenty years the Student Leadership Program at this time of Realignment, so to assist in preparing all graduates for lives of leadership and service. The Report has been forwarded to the President, Board of Trustees and Head of School for their review and implementation, as deemed appropriate.

•    The Alumni Board is most pleased to report the status of Elections held at the Annual Meeting, with the following individuals beginning their new or continuing responsibilities on July 1, 2025; CONGRATULATIONS!

              Returning Directors: (3-year Terms)

                                Anthony Tracey ’00 (3rd Term)
                                Kirk Harbinger ’85 (2nd Term)
                                Ben Williams ’99 (2nd Term)              
  
              New Directors: (3-year Terms)
 
                      Dan Burgess’14 (1st Term) / Chris Chryssovergis ’85 (1st Term) /
                      T.J. Conti ’97 (1st Term) / Dave Picotte ’01 (1st Term)
                       
                Officers: (2-year Terms – all 1st of 2 possible)

             President: Mark Spiers ’99
             Vice President: Anthony Tracey ’00
             Secretary: Mike Murray ’99
             Treasurer: K. C. Weafer ’95

Several other Association members have agreed to serve as non-Board Committee members, effective July 1, 2025. Might YOU be interested in serving on one of our Board Committees next year – Events; Audit and Finance; Athletic Hall of Fame; or Awards? If so, please contact Anthony Tracey at ajtracey@gmail.com. 

•    Reunion Weekend had numerous memorable events, as more than 300 Alumni, Alumnae and their guests returned to Academy Road! The Arts Hall of Fame event was again superb, as was the Athletic Hall of Fame Induction! Class of 1975 Fiftieth Reunion Class, as well as the Class of 1965 (60th) and Classes of 1995, 1985, and 1980 were all well represented. At Reunion, we honored many most deserving Alumni in multiple categories of excellence, while Academy students, as well as during their professional and personal lives after leaving Academy Road: 

                            Distinguished Alumnus 2025: Thomas F. Flynn ’65

             Academy Arts Hall of Fame Inductees 2025:
 
                           James “Jim” Forni ’80
                           Robert “Rob” Najarian ’95
                           Christopher “Chris” Paul Sainato ’10                 

AA Alumni Assoc Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees 2025:

                             John Harris ’85
                             Kevin Connell ’95
                             Joseph Milot ’00
                             Christopher Ashley ’05
                             2004-2005 Basketball Team
                             Paul Weafer (Service)

•    Alumnae/i Mentor Event: The following Alumni participated in-person on April 30 in discussions with our Form V students about college and careers: Miles Heller ’59,      Jeff Hubbard ’60, M.D., Richard Rowley ’74. M.D., T. J. Conti ’97, and        Anthony Tracey ’00, M.D. THANK YOU! The Next Mentor Event is in the Fall for our Form VI students; Date TBD. Please contact Laura Hopper if interested in receiving an invitation to participate as a Mentor: HopperL@albanyacademy.org. 
•    Class of 2025 Alumni Induction: The Class of 2025 was welcomed into the Alumni Association at the Class of 2025 BBQ on May 2 with a gift of a white Academy 2025 ballcap and the AA Alumni pin. Vice President Mark Spiers presided over the induction.

•    Alumnae/i Regional Receptions: Three Regional Receptions were held this year – in Boston, Fort Lauderdale and New York City. Additionally, Young Alumni Events were also included as a separate outreach initiative, concurrent with the Regional Visits. Events for next year, 2025-2026, are being planned for Chicago, Washington, D.C., and the West Coast!  Please contact Laura Hopper with coordination assistance and /or other suggested sites for the future!

•    AAG Archives Project: Join the AAG Archives Project to preserve treasured memories and inspire future generations:
                      https://boostmyschool.com/albanyacademy-aag-archives
Please consider contributing personally to the AAG Archives Project.

•    Farewell to Neil Johanning: The Board and I extend sincere appreciation to              Neil Johanning ’73, who is completing his Alumni Board service on June 30, while also most significantly contributing in numerous ways to the Association -- as a Class of 1973 Leader for his 50th Reunion; Treasurer and Secretary of the Alumni Board; and Chair, IA / Events Committee. Well Done!  

•    Please consider attending First Chapel in September 2025: 
First Chapel / Light Breakfast Social will be held in the Trustees Room – 
open to all Alumni:
7:30 AM, Friday, September 5

Please don’t forget to contribute to the Academy Fund prior to June 30 … the Academy education cannot happen without ALL of us being a member of the Team!

A Personal Note:

I have been most fortunate and grateful to have served as President of The Albany Academy Alumni Association, on your behalf, working alongside an outstanding, dedicated team of Alumni Board volunteers, as well as with the Institutional Advancement Office staff members, all of whom care deeply about our Academy and its future. 

During my four years as a student at Albany Academy, and to this day, regardless of other personal or professional accolades received, I still hold close the title of being an Academy Boy. As Headmaster Meislahn often stated at Commencements, “You will no longer be a Sixth Former, but you will always be an Academy Boy.” I remain most appreciative for the opportunity of an education that was demanding, but also open to possibilities of personal, academic, athletic, and leadership growth, with the support of a faculty dedicated to our success.
 
I can report that the Alumni Board of Directors saw this past year as an exciting time for our Academy, as the Upper School realignment was implemented, with the Girls joining the Boys together fully in the Upper School Building, after 50 years of “coordinate education.” Now two cultures of excellence are combining in one place. The Alumni Board and I look forward to Alumnae and Alumni working together and sharing in this moment of change, as traditions are retained, while new experiences and opportunities are realized. Our presence and perspective, as well as support, are essential.

As I relinquish this leadership position on June 30 to Mark Spiers ’99, I ask you once again to consider being that Academy Boy – this time, as an involved Alumnus – as you recall our school, in a time and place, in your life that helped shape and define YOU, for all your days since. We need your stories, expertise, ideas, partnership, presence, and yes, financial support, but we need YOU, as we continue to move into the Third Century of a school, that is being realigned, yes – but remains a school ready to provide an education that will prepare our current and future students to achieve their aspirations, as was the case for us!

Come and be an Academy Boy, again!

Finally, I offer the traditional Navy farewell:

                I extend to each of you personally, the Alumni Association, and the Academy, my desire for you all to have “Fair Winds and Following Seas” on the voyages that lie ahead …

                                                 Sincerely,

                                                 Joe Fitzgerald ’74
                                                    
                                                 President
                                                 Board of Directors
                                                 The Albany Academy Alumni Association

                                                 C: 518-366-1843
                                                 jgfitz56@gmail.com

                                                 221 County Home Road
                                                 Rockingham, NC 28379