By Tyler Goff ’14, Staff Writer

This year, as every year, Newark Academy hosted a large alumni class reunion following Homecoming Day, offering a chance for alumni from various graduating years and backgrounds to come together for one day and mingle with old friends and reacquaint themselves with their alma mater.

Several distinguished alumni and teachers were recognized for their achievements in a bedecked Newark Academy cafeteria.  Scott Russell ’65 and Van Stevens ’65 both received the Fulton MacArthur Award for helping raise $500,000 for the school and bringing back older alumni who had not been seen walking the halls of Newark Academy for quite some years.  Roger A. Lowenstein ’60 received the Alumni Achievement Award for the charter school, the Los Angeles Leadership Academy, he opened to help students from various backgrounds achieve a better education. Lauren Jackson ’85 received the Athletic Hall of Fame Award for her athletic career at Newark Academy and Bucknell University.  Captain of the field hockey and lacrosse teams, Jackson made the All-Prep, County and State First Teams and participated in the 1984 field hockey State Championships. (Source: Alumni Office) In addition to the alumni awards, two former Newark Academy teachers no longer with us, Mrs. Carol Heaney and Dr. Henry Bartol, were honored with the Distinguished Faculty Award for their admirable teaching in the sciences.

According to Ms. Nancy McGaughan, Director of Alumni Relations, the goal of this alumni reunion was, quite simply, to keep alumni connected.  Ms. McGaughan reports that more than 200 people arrived at the actual reunion but a sizeable amount also attended the tailgate party.  From Ms. McGaughan’s point of view, every alumni event is different, but they all revolve around what is happening today at Newark Academy, and they all aim to make it easier for alumni to stay connected.  Networking, as a result, is one of the effects of alumni reunions.

Ms. McGaughan believes that two key aspects of organizing alumni events are details and communication.  “Alumni events are the bedrock of Newark Academy,” Ms. McGaughan asserts. Since “alumni are dedicated and love Newark Academy,” the various alumni events throughout the year, which kick off with the Homecoming Reunion and awards, help to ground Newark Academy.  Alumni events this November included a Book Club on November 3rd and an upcoming Alumni Party on November 26th.