Westtown School Alums

How do our environments shape our health, and how can we empower communities to connect with the landscapes around them? 🌿🔬

Join us this Wednesday, June 10, at 7:00 p.m. EST for the next virtual session of Westtown’s Conversations from the Facing Bench series!
Grounded in the Quaker wisdom of “letting your life speak,” series creator and moderator Toby Zuckerberg ’21 sits down with Nicole Solano ’13, a Disease Ecology PhD Candidate at the University of Georgia.

Nicole’s vital research examines how environmental and human-driven factors shape mosquito population dynamics and disease transmission. Beyond the lab, she is a passionate educator and mentor who uses science, art, and education to transform how communities experience the natural world.
Together, they’ll explore Nicole’s journey from Westtown to higher education, the crucial intersection of environmental health, and what it looks like to live a life dedicated to community engagement and scientific discovery.

🔗 Link in bio to will allow you to join virtually via Zoom this Wednesday!

Alums Weekend 2026 ☀️ Check out the full Saturday schedule below so you don’t miss a moment. From the Annual Meeting to the Explore Westtown sessions, it’s going to be a day to of connection, nostalgia, and shared laughter.

Not on campus? 💻 We want you to be part of the celebration from wherever you are! Virtual offerings are available so you can tune in from afar.

Check the full schedule and find virtual access links at the link in our bio! 🔗

But the celebration isn’t just limited to Saturday! Make sure to join us for the bookends of the weekend:

🎤 Friday Afternoon (4:00 p.m.): Kick things off with the Alums Panel in the West End Collecting Room. Hear how “Westtown DNA” has shaped the lives of graduates across the decades.

🥞 Sunday Morning (9:00 a.m.): Join us for our Closing Breakfast followed by Meeting for Worship at 10:30 a.m.—the perfect, peaceful conclusion to our time together.

✅ Decided to join us last minute? Don’t worry! Walk-in registrations are welcome on Saturday at the tent in front of the Belfry. (Just a friendly reminder: if you’re planning to stay for lunch, registration is required!)

We can’t wait to see you soon!

Your story is part of our history! 📖 One of the most special parts of Alums Weekend is hearing your Westtown stories. This year, we are returning to a tradition (begun by Karl Vela ’03) where stories are preserved for generations to come.

Stop by the Alum Storytelling Booth in the Library this Saturday! Whether it’s a funny dorm memory, a reflection on a life-changing teacher, or the story of a lifelong friendship that started right here, we want to hear it.
Saturday, May 16 | Storytelling Hours:
🕙 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
🕐 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
Drop in or sign up for a time when you arrive. Your recordings will be shared and kept within our official Archives as a permanent part of the Westtown legacy. 🎙️🏛️

Coming for the day? If you haven’t registered yet, don’t worry! Walk-in registrations are welcome on Saturday morning. ⚠️ Friendly Reminder: If you plan to join us for lunch, registration is required. Be sure to secure your spot at the registration desk so we can celebrate together over a great meal!

One week until Alums Weekend 2026! ✨ We are just seven days away from welcoming you back home. If you haven’t secured your spot yet, this is your moment—registration ends this Sunday, May 10, at 11:59 p.m.!

To kick off the weekend, join us next Friday, May 15, at 4:00 p.m. for one of our most anticipated events: The Westtown Alums Panel. 🎤

This cross-generational conversation is open to all students and alums. Come hear how the Westtown experience and Quaker values have shaped the careers and lives of these incredible Westonians:

🎖️ Darrell Mayers ‘81: Service, Discipline, and Leadership in Military & Education.

🎬 Hannah Shakespeare ‘83: Storytelling for Social Justice in the Film Industry.

🤝 Harve Nichols ‘84: Empathy and Community in Public Health & Social Work.

🍎 Adam Salo ‘97: The “Student Pulse”—Insights from current Westtown Faculty.

🍃 Claire Murphy ‘16: Stewardship and Policy at the Dept. of Energy.

💻 Sammie Pavlov ‘16: Innovation and Strategy in the world of Big Tech.

From navigating high-pressure boardrooms to advocating for the planet, our panelists will share how their Westtown cornerstones continue to ground them.

Don’t miss out on the panel, the Annual Meeting, the Alums Games, and so much more! ⏳ Registration CLOSES Sunday night. Help us make sure there’s enough food and fun for everyone by signing up now!

🔗 Register at link in comments!

Happy Founder’s Day, Westtown! 🤎 Let’s kick things off with a bit of history. On this day in 1799, we officially opened our doors on these same 600 acres in Chester County.

Trivia Challenge 🧐 Our first class was co-educational from day one, but do you know how many students were a part of that inaugural class? Drop your guess in the comments! 👇

The Heart of the School ✨
This sketch by architect Addison Hutton (c. late 1800s) shows the Main Building as seen from a “bird’s eye” over the South Woods. While our historic buildings are an integral part of Westtown’s legacy, they are merely the frame.

The true heart of Westtown is—and always has been you—the Westonians who have filled these spaces with life, turning stone and mortar into a home for over 225 years.

Don’t miss the centerpiece of Alums Weekend 2026! ✨ If there is one event you absolutely cannot miss on Saturday, May 16, it’s the Alums Association Annual Meeting. This isn’t just a meeting—it’s the high-energy heart of our weekend where the past, present, and future of Westtown come together in one room.

🎤 Keynote Speaker Gary Linnen ’96: We are incredibly honored to welcome back Gary Linnen, CEO of PeerForward and Westtown Trustee. Come hear his inspiring perspective from his Westtown experience and over 20 years transforming the lives of more than 700,000 students by harnessing the power of peer influence. Come hear his inspiring perspective on leadership, youth development, and the impact of the Westtown mission.

✨ Young Alum Changemaker: Join us as we celebrate the incredible impact of our recent graduates! We’ll be presenting this year’s Young Alum Changemaker Award to a Westonian who is truly “lighting the way” in their professional or volunteer life.

📜 The Roll Call of the Decades: It’s time to get loud! Whether you’re representing the Class of 1956 or 2025, join in our most spirited tradition as we celebrate every generation of Westonians in the room.

🎶 Community & Song: Hear from Head of School Chris Benbow ’90 and join the Community Choir in a rendition of our Alma Mater.

From the latest campus updates to the infectious energy of seeing classmates from across the years, the Annual Meeting is where the Westtown spirit truly shines. All alums are welcome! If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time—you won’t want to miss this!

🔗 Register today at the link in the comments below.

Your Westtown adventure is waiting. Which path will you take? 🧭✨ This Alums Weekend, we’ve designed a series of sessions that let you curate your own afternoon based on what you would like to “explore” around campus. And, every session is led by our passionate faculty, staff, and current students!

Choose your adventure:
🕯️ The Mission & The Future
- The Foundation of Quaker Education
- Lighting the Way—Campaign Update
- Enabling Student Thriving

🗝️ Hidden History & Iconic Spaces
- The Main Building—Secrets & Subterraneans
- Backstage in the CLA

🔬 Innovation, Science & Tech
- The Science of Food
- Metal Moose Robotics
- The GenAI Generation

🌍 Stewardship of our Community
- The Global Village
- Sustainability

Whether you’re heading into the tunnels, visiting the greenhouse, or diving into our mission, come experience the Westtown spirit in action.

🔗 Pick your sessions and register now at the link in the comments!

NYC Westonians! Join us for an exclusive look at Westtown’s highly-anticipated Dining Building project! 🍎✨ Guests will experience a fully immersive virtual tour of the proposed design in SHoP’s 360° Tranquility Room. This award-winning firm is led by Westonians Chris and Bill Sharples, class of ’83, and includes Corie Sharples, Bill’s wife—Bill and Corie are also parents of an alum.

Stay after the tour for hors d’oeuvres and conversation with other Westonians as we gather in community. We can’t wait to see you!

The Details:
🗓️ Tuesday, April 28 | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
📍 233 Broadway, 11th Floor, New York, NY
📝 Register by April 27 at https://events.westtown.edu/e/friends-of-westtown-reception-new-york-city

Just 4 weeks until Alums Weekend 2026! 🗓️ Get ready for a weekend defined by connection, shared stories, and discovery. Whether you’re here for the major milestones or the memories around campus, we look forward to seeing you there! 🔗 Register now at: https://events.westtown.edu/e/2026-westtown-school-alums-weekend/

What’s waiting for you:
✨Discovery: Experience campus today through our brand-new Explore Westtown sessions or engage with the Deep Dive Incubator.
✨Connection: Share your own history at the Alums Storytelling Booth or catch up at the Alums Annual Meeting and Panel.
✨Tradition: Lace up for the classic Alums Games or have fun with the little ones with some dedicated kids activities.
✨ Community: Join special gatherings like the Belonging is Sweet social or the G.O.L.D. (Graduates of the Last Decade) meetup in the West Chester Borough.

Register and make plans today! If your class year ends in 1 or 6 and need help connecting with your reunion planner, send a DM 📩