CAMPAIGN NEWS

Every ten years, Milton Academy undertakes a self-study in preparation for reaccreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. This period of thoughtful, thorough reflection relies on the participation of the full Milton community. We need to hear your voices! Your insights as graduates will help us to identify Milton’s distinctive strengths and discern opportunities for our future growth. In the next few weeks, you will receive an email with more details about the self-study process and a link to a brief online survey. Please take just a few minutes to share your thoughts. We appreciate your participation.

The inaugural TEDxMiltonAcademy event filled King Theatre with ideas about belonging, health, climate, identity, and psychology, as six speakers from the Milton community shared carefully crafted and passionate talks on subjects of their choosing. The event featured talks from three alumni: Cecilia Guan ’18, who discussed the psychology of a “beginner’s mind”; Michael Kennedy ’01, who shared ideas for involving low-income stakeholders in clean-energy solutions; and Katherine Walker ’02, who spoke about finding humanity as a physician in a pandemic-stricken intensive care unit. Two students, Nika Farokhzad ’23 and Scarlett Eldaief ’24, spoke about the need for comprehensive, national sex eduation and about the complexities of Middle Eastern/North African identity issues, respectively. English Department faculty member Kristine Palmero shared her story of donating bone marrow and the connection she forged with the recipient. Read more.

We are pleased to offer a host of affinity spaces and cultural groups across a wide range of identities, including gender, ability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, nationality, and race. Trained facilitators are working with school leadership to create and maintain spaces that are affirming for identity development and supportive of cross-cultural interactions. To learn more, visit https://www.milton.edu/graduates/engage/affinity-groups, or to join an affinity group, please fill out this form.

You’re not alone! Many alumni say that the Class Notes section of Milton Magazine is one of their favorite things to flip through. That’s because people want to know what you’re up to! Share your news and life updates with your Milton family by submitting your class note by December 2 at forms.gle/4NHrztmPtjPpGq6n6.

Pictured is Sarah (McGinty) London ’98 who was named to Fortune‘s 2022 Most Powerful Women in Business. Centene Corporation, where Sarah serves as CEO, noted that “this recognition is a testament to Sarah’s leadership and ability to inspire our team members to deliver on our purpose of transforming the health of the community, one person at a time.”

Last week, Austin Vyas ’17 delivered a beautifully restored Harkness table to Milton just in time for the start of school. This restoration was part of a large, four-table project that Vyas took on as an homage to his career at Milton. Vyas shares, “As a 2017 graduate, I certainly benefited from the Harkness style of learning. I thought it very important to get back to that style of learning after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic had passed.” Vyas also had the help of his brother, Ryan Vyas ’19, in repairing the tables, and Evan Scales ’17 in documenting the project. You can see more photos of Vyas’ restoration work on his company Instagram page, @avyascarpentry.

Have news to share? The fall issue of Milton Magazine will be delivered to mailboxes in the coming weeks, but there’s still time to share your news for the spring issue. Share your accomplishments and life updates with your Milton family by submitting your class note by December 2 at https://forms.gle/VFu3UpDzobUZ9bLB6.

Pictured is Annie Jean-Baptiste ’06 who shared that she launched a LinkedIn learning course on equitable design practices, which focuses on helping organizations build inclusive and equitable products across various industries.

Milton will celebrate alumni in class years ending in 3 and 8 on Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17, 2023, and there are many opportunities to get involved as a volunteer. If this is your reunion year, and you would like to explore ways to stay connected and support Milton during this milestone year, please take a moment to complete this brief form, and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss volunteer opportunities: https://forms.gle/yz9UhMwTXxrMNBDr6

This fall will feature several virtual and in-person events, including Milton at the Boston Red Sox, annual receptions in Boston and New York City, Milton-Nobles Day at Nobles, the annual Gratwick Concert featuring award-winning violinist Keila Wakao, and much more. Visit our events calendar at www.milton.edu/graduates/events-calendar for more information!

The best way to stay connected to Milton and be sure you receive news and invitations to our featured events is to keep your contact information current. Update your contact information today at https://signup.e2ma.net/signup/1769091/1741325.

Alumni and parent volunteers serve as a vital resource for our students, build community for those who are no longer on campus, and support our annual fundraising activity. If you would like to explore ways to stay connected and give back to the Milton community in the upcoming year, please take a moment to complete this brief form to indicate your interests, and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss volunteer opportunities: https://forms.gle/yz9UhMwTXxrMNBDr6

After a two-year hiatus, Milton returns to the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for Milton at Tanglewood. Join us for this celebrated tradition on Sunday, July 31, with a lunch hosted by former trustee Dottie Weber ’60 and Steve Weber P ’04 before the concert. With Andris Nelsons conducting, the concert will open with a BSO co-commissioned piece by American composer Elizabeth Ogonek, followed by “Symphony No. 3” by French female composer Louise Farrenc, one of the most accomplished musicians of the early Romantic era. Beethoven’s final concerto “Emperor” will end the program, perfectly balancing virtuosity with substance and depth. Lawn and Shed tickets are still available for purchase. Already have tickets? You may also RSVP for the lunch only at www.www.milton.edu/invite/tanglewood2022.

Save the date! Milton will celebrate alumni in class years ending in 3 and 8 on Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17, 2023. Reunion will feature sessions with current students and alumni, classroom experiences with Milton faculty, class gatherings, and more. So mark your calendars and plan to join us back on campus to celebrate with your classmates! Stay tuned for more details.

Alumni and parent volunteers serve as a vital resource for our students, build community for those who are no longer on campus, and support our annual fundraising activity. If you would like to explore ways to stay connected and give back to the Milton community in the upcoming year, please take a moment to complete this brief form to indicate your interests, and a member of our team will be in touch to discuss volunteer opportunities: https://forms.gle/yz9UhMwTXxrMNBDr6

Alexandra (Alixe) H. Callen ’88 has been selected by the Board of Trustees to be Milton Academy’s 13th head of school, effective July 1, 2023. Callen, a Milton graduate with extensive teaching and leadership experience in both public and independent schools, currently serves as the head of St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island, a position she has held since 2017. Read more.

This year, Milton expanded time and resources for extracurricular activities. The Milton Fund supports opportunities for students to think creatively, solve problems, work as a team, become leaders, and serve their community. Visit www.www.milton.edu/donate by June 30 to support the programs that provide transformational opportunities for students on campus today. 

Andi ’25 shared that the Habitat for Humanity club has helped her grow, in and out of the classroom. ”A skill that Habitat for Humanity has given me in the classroom setting at Milton is giving me practice with speaking up and sharing my opinion … and that is something that’s required in a Milton class.”

On April 30, the Board of Trustees honored its outgoing president, Lisa Donohue ’83, with the Milton Medal, recognizing her years of leadership and dedication during a significant period of growth for Milton Academy. “Lisa’s incredible service to Milton clearly makes her deserving of this important honor,” said Board member Claire Hughes Johnson ’90, who will succeed Donohue as president on July 1. Read more.

This year’s Graduation speaker is Heather C. McGhee ’97. She is an author and public policy advocate who designs and promotes solutions to inequality in America. For nearly two decades, she helped build the policy organization Demos, serving four years as its president. Her New York Times bestselling book, The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together, was long-listed for the National Book Award and the Carnegie Medal for Excellence. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Yale University, a J.D. from University of California at Berkeley School of Law, and has been awarded several honorary degrees. McGhee lives in Brooklyn with her husband, whom she met in Class III at Milton, and their three year-old son. Graduation will be held the morning of June 10.

Reunion is just under one month away! Will we see you there? 200 alumni have already registered. Reunion will feature sessions with current students and alumni, a classroom experience with Milton faculty, lunch on the Quad, class gatherings, and more. New this year, some of our in-person programs will also be available virtually for alumni unable to join us on campus. Don’t miss out! Register today, and visit our Reunion website to learn more!