Greetings from campus!
With just weeks to go before winter break, campus has never been busier! Families, friends, (and pets!) were back on campus for Family Weekend; the arts scene was thriving with choral, instrumental, and dance concerts, the fall play, and fine arts on full display. Make sure to scroll down and click through to our Flickr galleries to get a taste of all the excitement.
With all this activity on campus, we don't want you to suffer from a fear of missing out! We are looking forward to hosting alumni, parents, and friends at holiday celebrations in Western Mass, NYC, and Boston. See details and register on our alumni events page. For those of you who want to visit with other alumni from the comfort of your couch, check out upcoming virtual events for winter months.
Jill Stern, Director of Alumni Engagement
Notes from Campus
It was a busy playoff season for Williston teams. Special shout-out to runner Abigail Touhey '22 who became only the second WNS girl to ever win the NEPSAC individual championship! (One week later, Abigail went on to win the NEPSAC All-Star meet.)
The Writers' Workshop welcomed poet Ross Gay in November and looks forward to a December 10 visit from author Colson Whitehead.
Artist Jeff Stauder's "The Reckoning" series of paintings will hang in Grubbs Gallery from December 2 to January 5. His work addresses the themes of climate change and humans' loss of connection to nature. An artist's reception will be held December 11 from 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. You can see more of his work at jeffstauder.com
Stay up-to-date with campus news: If you can't get your hands on the latest print edition, you can always read The Willistonian online. Recent articles have included the history of the building now housing Tandem Bagel and a report on 27 Williston Scholar projects.
Looking for the perfect Williston pom-pom beanie, sweatshirt, or stuffie for your favorite Wildcat? Visit the online Campus Store and shop early because of potential shipping delays this season.
Cyclists: you can work out with Wildcats! If you work out with a Peloton bike, or use the app, you can now cycle with the Williston community. Just type in the tag #WillistonSammy1841 and you can ride with or compete against fellow Wildcats.
Spotlight on: Zoë Neal François ’85
Champion baker and style icon Zoë Neal François ’85 is experiencing sweet success with a delicious new book and TV series. François also has a recipe-packed blog, a vibrant Instagram account, a way with a blowtorch, and an absolutely stunning new book called Zoë Bakes Cakes for which she did all of the styling and most of the photography. With the holidays fast approaching, find inspiration and Zoë's tips for creating sweet treats here.
Spotlight on: Larissa Bates ’99
“...The idea that there could have been an entirely different Larissa interests me—as does the way in which culture shapes us: our language, our religions, how we conceive of family, our prescribed gender roles, our entire understanding of reality.”
The paintings of Larissa Bates ’99 draw inspiration from many parts of her life story—from the death of her mother, her half-Costa-Rican-half-Vermonter heritage, and her fascination with topics such as colonialism, family, power, and identity. Read how this alumna explores her roots thought her art.
Spotlight on: Gordon Sullivan ’69
Here’s how Gordon Sullivan ’69 wants you to think about your next glass of wine: It’s alive. It contains thousands of organic compounds, all in flux. So if you want your wine to be its best, says Sullivan, a wine expert and a devotee to the beverage, pour it out of the bottle and let it breathe. Swirl it around the glass. That will allow those compounds to create aromatic changes, enhancing your enjoyment in the process. Read on to learn more about what's in your glass or watch Gordon's Zoom talk for alumni, available on The Wildcat Hub.
Alumni Events
Remember how much fun you had at our holiday celebrations? Well they're back! Mark your calendars and join us at one of our holiday celebrations this December in Northampton, Boston, and NYC. Watch for spring events in California, Florida, DC, and maybe even a few surprise cities near you! The latest news is always on the Alumni Events page.
WillistonConnects, our alumni networking platform, brings you expert advice to create a stress-free, profitable life! On Tuesday, November 30 from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m., join business strategist and coach, Dana Gangel Corey ’78 for this virtual event, and learn the five simple steps that can help you quickly create a positive change in your relationships with money. Register here to receive the Zoom link for the presentation.
Search to find alumni who share your professional and personal interests, then connect at the click of a button. Members of the community are ready and willing to offer advice and perspective no matter where you are in your career journey. It takes less than five minutes to answer a few questions about your past Williston Northampton School interests and your career to complete your profile. If you have started, but not completed your profile, we want to know why you stopped! Email jstern@williston.com and tell us how we can make this platform work best for you!
With nearly 1000 members and growing, the Williston Alumni and Alumni of Color LinkedIn Groups are your go-to resources for professional contacts. Tap into the power of your Wildcat Networks!
As we head into this season of gratitude, we are grateful to you for all you made possible in 2020-21. Despite all the pandemic-related challenges we faced, Williston Northampton School had a remarkably successful year. Click through to the 2020 -21 Impact Report to see all the ways your gift and commitment to Williston positively benefitted our students, faculty, and campus.