FWS/WOSA Virtual Reunion 2022

from Woodstock School Quadrangle 2022

In Memoriam 2022

Kim Gingerich Brenneman ’79 and Sharon Seto ’79

Woodstock Tigers: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow was the theme for the second virtual reunion.

Over the weekend of July 29-31, 2022, over 500 alumni from 25 different countries congregated virtually for FWS/ WOSA’s second virtual reunion. Friends of Woodstock School (FWS) and the Woodstock Advancement and Alumni Office worked closely together on this project. Thanks to all of you who participated, whether it was on the committee, on a panel, or as a participant. It was successful because of the goodwill that you brought to the experience. The planning committee met every other week beginning in January 2022 and thoroughly enjoyed working together.

Committee members who worked hard developing the program and recruiting moderators and panel members were Helen Arnott ’60, Kim Gingerich Brenneman ’79, Priyanka Das ’13, Bruce Davis ’73, Mary Feierabend Girard ’76, Suzanne Hanifl ’63, Sue Crain Lewis ’82, Aditya Manral, Max Marble ’67, Sharon Seto ’79, Katie Jo Walter, David Wheeler, and Connie Wheeler. David Shastry’s ’09 tech expertise was vital for coordinating and building the platform that we all were able to seamlessly access throughout the weekend.

What a brilliant time we had gathering together, catching up with old friends, meeting new friends, and talking about our time spent at Woodstock. Reminiscing about our experiences brings Woodstock alumni together, regardless of graduation year. Whether it’s recognizing athletes from our own class (thanks to Max Marble’s video of Woodstock Tigers in Sports: Past and Present) or talking about classes, hiking, or dorm life.

Priyanka Das ’13 described in her panel Dorm Life: Forged in the Foothills, “Lifelong friendships are forged here, and for many dorms are where extended families are found. No matter where we go, students and dorm parents alike carry fond memories of adventures shared among friends.” We laughed heartily as some of you “came clean” with pranks you pulled. How fascinating it is to hear about the hijinx from all generations of Woodstock alumni. Certainly a creative bunch of people!

The creativity and variety of skills and expertise of Woodstock alumni are staggering. This talent remains constant over generations, as evidenced by those who participated in the panels. The live concert, which surely would have been met with a standing ovation had we been in person, was moving. The artists in residence, who worked directly with students at Woodstock this past May, shared their experiences of returning to school where their interests were cultivated.

Ashoke Chatterjee ’51 and Sharon Seto ’79 opened up the weekend with a conversation about the history of Woodstock in terms of whom it has served and its impact in India and more broadly. We learned about the Garhwal Mountains that were so much a part of our lives at Woodstock and heard how this setting had an impact on alumni studying ecology and conservation. Max Marble’s In Memoriam was also a very moving highlight of the weekend.

Several themes such as service, diversity, and values-based education arose and were visited over the weekend. Thanks so much to the hard work of Katie Jo Walter and Aditya Manral for putting together the prerecorded videos which helped us feel as if we were at Woodstock again. How much fun it was to see the landscape of Woodstock change over the years. While the campus is upgraded (classrooms, dining hall), and innovations such as the Centre for Imagination are realized, excellence in educating students continues.

FWS 2023 Annual Meeting & Reunion

your calendar, do it now! The FWS WOSA reunion Planning Committee has been working hard, and it will be wonderful to be able to meet in person once again!.

Plus an optional Grand Canyon Tour – an FWS Alumni Enrichment Activity!