Reunion/Homecoming 2024 took place on a gorgeous fall day in late September. We were pleased to welcome back alumni from as far back as the Class of 1958 and as recent as 2024.
On Saturday morning, alumni, parents and students gathered in the Chapel to recognize several outstanding alumni for their contributions to Hebron Academy and their communities. The ceremony opened with a welcome from Chair of the Board of Trustees Matthew Lyness, Class of 1976.
Matthew welcomed the community, shared highlights from our current program, and held a moment of silence in remembrance of all our alumni friends that are not with us today. Following his welcome, Director of Athletics Rob Morris introduced our Hall of Fame tradition and welcomed Leslie Gunther, former Director of Athletics and Hall of Fame member, to induct our newest member.
Hall of Fame inductee Jennifer Agnew Ridley '99 pictured with her family following the ceremony.
Athletic Hall of Fame
The Hebron Academy Athletic Hall of Fame was established to honor former student athletes, coaches, administrators and supporters who have brought distinction to themselves and Hebron through their achievements, contributions, sportsmanship and/or leadership in athletics. Leslie Gunther had the honor of inducting Jennifer Agnew Ridley, Class of 1999, into the Athletic Hall of Fame for her leadership and contributions to athletics at Hebron Academy as well as for many youth and youth organizations.
Volunteer of the Year Award winnder Megan Brooks Carolla with Head of School Patrick Phillips
Volunteer of the Year
Megan Brooks Carolla, Class of 1989 received the Volunteer of the Year Award. She was a four-year Hebron Academy student from Massachusetts. In her first weeks at Hebron, Hurricane Gloria knocked out power, and she and other boarding students had to live with local day-student families until power was restored. This challenging situation showed Megan what a caring and close-knit community we have at Hebron, something which she has continued to foster in the years since her graduation.
Head of School Patrick Phillips recognized Megan as a model Hebron Alumna, helping to steward the next generation through her generosity, enthusiasm and commitment to the enduring success of the school. She has been the perfect event host, generously offering her time, energy and expertise to bring together our alumni community, reconnecting old friends and forging new bonds.
Since 2000, Megan has served as the manager of the Carr Foundation, and through her work there she has been deeply involved in a project focused on the restoration of Mozambique's Gorongosa National Park, which has been ravaged by environmental destruction and Mozambique’s civil war. Through her efforts she has helped the foundation direct more than $100 million to restore and protect the park's biodiversity, and to assist communities living adjacent to the park with health care, education and agriculture.
Mal Davis '58, left, received the Jay L. Woolsey Distinguished Service Award.
Jay L. Woolsey Distinguished Service Award
The Jay L. Woolsey Distinguished Service Award was presented to Robert (Mal) Davis Class of 1958. Among his many accomplishments, Mal established the first independently owned and operated Registered Investment Advisory firm in Maine, and that firm, RM Davis, Incorporated, has grown to be the largest such firm in Northern New England, and has been a long time, generous steward of the School.
In 2022, Mal published a retrospective of his 56-year career in wealth management titled “I Made House Calls” sharing key ideas and experiences that shaped his success. Now retired, he remains a pillar of many communities for his years of service and engagement, including an impressive list of roles. Over the last sixty-six years, Mal Davis has been one of Hebron's most loyal, dedicated, and generous alumni. His work has been instrumental in moving Hebron forward and in creating a strong foundation to allow the school to look toward the future. Please join me in recognizing and congratulating this year’s Distinguished Service Award winner, Mal Davis.
Alumni at Homecoming/Reunion 2024 enjoyed a luncheon overlooking the athletic fields.
Homecoming
Following the morning’s recognitions, alumni enjoyed a beautiful lunch outside the Williams Center overlooking the athletic fields and cheered on our Lumberjacks. In addition to watching today’s student-athletes, alumni walked down to Marshall Pond and some even took canoes out on the water. Green Key Ambassadors led tours and shared Hebron today, while other alumni opted for the self-guided historical tour.
New gear in the Hebron campus store was a big hit and alumni closed the evening with a local Maine beer tasting and reception on the lawn of Red Lion. Thank you to all the alumni, partners and families who joined us for reunion this year and we look forward to connecting with many of you in the future!