Reunions
Alumnae Reunion 2008:
Reunion Weekend – A Grand Success!
In what turned out to be one of the School’s largest reunions, Chatham Hall welcomed to campus 223 alumnae and guests April 17-20, 2008. Alumnae from 28 classes, ranging from the years 1943 to 2003, traveled to campus from 31 states, the District of Columbia, Spain, England, the Bahamas, and Canada.
It was a beautiful weekend full of celebration and renewed friendships as classmates gathered to share their memories, and create new ones. Director of Alumnae Relations Ashby Cothran said, “Reunion at Chatham Hall is a family affair, suddenly you find yourself in the midst of hugs, laughter, deafening squeals of elation at seeing old friends and faculty – a poignant symphony – or better, perhaps a cacophony of sounds of joy. I simply love being a part of the crowd. What an event!”
The Class of 1958, celebrating its 50th Reunion this year, had 22 members on campus – the largest class to return this year! Nancy Berckmans Hall from the class of 1943 had not been back to Chatham Hall since her graduation 65 years ago! We were so delighted to see her!
Reunion Highlights:
? Distinguished alumnae and two Chatham Hall faculty members gave presentations to packed audiences. Dr. Sarah Morris ’72, the Steinmetz Professor of Classical Archaeology & Material Culture at UCLA, gave a talk called Adventures in Archaeology; Dr. William Black, Chatham Hall teacher and School Historian, gave a talk on The Phoenix Riddle; Ms. Leila Daw ’58, a nationally-renowned artist and sculptor, discussed her large-scale installation artwork in Creating Art for Public Places; and a talk on Engineering, Women, and Chatham Hall was presented jointly by Chatham Hall math teacher Ken Tyburski, Gretchen Blair Clark ’92, President of Reynolds-Clark Development, and Michelle Lee Thomas ’02, Associate Consultant at Bain & Company.
? The Alumnae Association presented awards to Sarah Dabney Gillespie ’77, Wissie Thompson ’58, and Kerrington Ramsey Molhoek ’93. The Association also made Alice Cromer, who has taught English (among other things) at Chatham Hall for the past 31 years, an honorary alumna, and, much to her surprise, Director of Alumnae Relations Ashby Cothran was made an honorary alumna as well.
? In recognition of a generous gift given by Dora and Nevin Thomas to the School, Chatham Hall dedicated its Chemistry Laboratory to Danielle Thomas ’04 and Michelle Thomas ’02.
? A special reunion was held for past and current members of St. Mary’s Choir, and Chaplain David Smith celebrated the Holy Eucharist as the community gathered together in Chapel.
? At a special breakfast for Chatham Hall Benefactors on Sunday morning, Dora Thomas, President of the Board of Trustees, announced that the Class of 1958 had made a considerable gift of $165,186 in outright and estate gifts and that of that total, $116,750 will endow a Class of 1958 Memorial Scholarship honoring Anne “Kathie” Bagley Grant, Pat Clark Gurwith, Mary “Rutledge” Clement Ward, Eileen Field, Jane Goff Hodgkin, Linda Hall, and Susan Sanford Jones.
? The Class of 1993 doubled its giving this year and, at an impromptu meeting during Reunion led by Kerrington Ramsey Molhoek, the class voted to direct nearly $4,000 (and whatever else is raised through the Annual Fund by June 30th) to a 2008-2009 Class of 1993 Scholarship.
? The Alumnae Council’s raffle was a huge success, raising approximately $4,000 for the Alumnae Legacy Scholarship Fund. The Council raffled off a week at Little Black Creek Lodge in Mississippi, two nights at the Boars Head Inn in Charlottesville, a fabulous handmade quilt, and much more!
Please check our website regularly and look in the next Chat for information on next years Reunion!
See Who Came!
Please click on the class lists below to see a list of class members who attended this year's event.
Alumnae
Note: Chatham Hall encourages and helps make possible–through this web site and other means–communication between alumnae. However, the School does not endorse the use of mass e-mails from alumnae for commercial or other purposes. We encourage everyone to use e-mail in ways that respect the time and inboxes of others.