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Newark Academy Hosts First Annual Women’s Summit During Reunion 2023

During a day of reminiscing, catching up and celebrating more than 250 Newark Academy alumni returned home to campus to reconnect with each other, faculty and staff at Reunion on Saturday, May 6, 2023.
 
The jam-packed day kicked off with the Alumni Awards Luncheon in which the Alumni Association conferred its top honors for distinguished alumni to Lanny Davis ’63 and Eric Sumner ’73 (Alumni Achievement Award), Lara Coraci-Basile ’88 (Fulton H. MacArthur Award), Akshay Oberoi ’03 (Artistic Achievement Award), Robin Feldman ’03 (Athletic Hall of Fame Awards) and Anthony Ungaro (Distinguished Faculty Award). Read more about the ceremony here.
 
Newark Academy later held its first annual Women’s Summit in Kaltenbacher Hall featuring a faculty panel including Upper School Principal Dr. Catherine Atwell, Director of Equity and Inclusion Rochelle Outlaw Edwards and Director of College Counseling Kerry Winiarski; as well as an alumnae panel of Sarah Marcus Hansen ’06, Jenna Smith Schwerdt ’98, Victoria Rames ’92 and Dr. Smita R. Ramanadham ’98, moderated by alumni parent Suzanne Willian. 
 
During this event, Newark Academy women of many generations came together to learn about the ways in which NA is working toward empowering and cultivating female leaders from the faculty panel as well as have open and honest discussions with the alumnae panel about finding a work-life balance as a female in a leadership role.
 
Chair of the 1774 Society Marjorie Lopus Jameson ’77 closed out the event with remarks that encouraged everyone to stay engaged with Newark Academy and embrace the special “NA Connection” that they will find throughout their lives.
 
“Anywhere I go, if I say ‘Newark Academy’ and there’s that connection with someone, we’re [automatically friends.],” Marjorie said. “Newark Academy is a home, where people know your name even though they don’t know you… It’s a worthwhile place to put a legacy into the next generation.”
 
Following the Women’s Summit, the Reunion celebration continued during the annual Alumni of Color Reception, which took place in the David Teiger ’46 Gallery for Studio Arts. Newark Academy alumni of color gathered together to reunite with old friends and faculty and also make new connections.
 
The evening capped off with NA’s landmark outdoor reunion dinners in which alumni from classes ending in three and eight reconnected with each other, reminisced about their shared Newark Academy experiences and caught each other up on their successes.
 
View more photos from Reunion here.
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An independent school for students in grades 6-12