February 3, 2022
 
Hello, Friends,

We’re getting ready at the Academies for more winter weather here in Albany but that won't deter us from making plans for events. We have many coming up in the next few months that you can read about below.
Celebrating art and artists
Tonight at 7 p.m. we hope you’ll join us for ARTrageous, our annual virtual fundraiser to support the arts at the Academies. In addition to experiencing the amazing work of our talented students, you can help us honor our first inductees into the Academies’ Arts Hall of Fame. We’ll be recognizing theater teacher, director, and performer Alexis Karol ’97; actor, poet, and playwright Adam LeFevre ’68; hip hop artist and emcee Prosper Muna ’09; video game concept artist Daniella Dora Zeman ’10, and entrepreneur, philanthropist, author, and storyteller Craig Hatkoff ’72.
To view tonight’s event, visit www.cmiav.events/artrageous.
Alumni/ae Speaker Series focused on the law
The latest session in our popular Alumni/ae Speaker Series took place yesterday afternoon, February 2, and focused on the legal profession. Students heard from Brittiny Belmonte Razzano, Esq. '04, P'34; Andrew Safranko, Esq. ’91, P’23, ’26; Matthew Smalls, Esq. ’93; and Suzanne Walsh, Esq. ’87. It was a wonderful and lively discussion! If you'd like to view a recording of the session click here.
Alumni/ae Gatherings coming up
If you’re in the area, we hope you’ll join us at one of these upcoming Alumni/ae Gatherings: Young leaders will meet at 6:30 p.m. at Granary Tavern in Boston on Thursday, February 24. Other alumni/ae will gather at the home of Mila and Tom Tuttle ’84 in Palm Beach, Florida on Saturday, February 26 at 4 p.m. and at the home of Bryonie Byers and Kevin Avery ’80 in Chevy Chase, Maryland on Thursday, April 7 at 6 p.m. Don’t miss these great opportunities to reacquaint with other alums and make new Academy connections! To register for any of these events, visit albanyacademies.org/events.
Special alumni and alumnae Admissions event on February 12
Families who are interested in an Academies education for their children are welcome to attend a special Admissions Information Session on Saturday, February 12 at 1 p.m. Following the meeting and tour, families are welcome to our Open Skate in the Robison Hockey Rink in the Michael B. Picotte Field House at 2 p.m. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Director of Admissions Nicholas Forcier at forciern@albanyacademies.org.
Mid-Winter Dinner coming in March
Dr. Robert Higgins ’77, president of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Executive Vice President of Mass General Brigham, will be the featured speaker at the Mid-Winter Dinner, sponsored by the Alumni Association. The event will be held on Thursday, March 10 at 6 p.m. in Caird Chapel and we hope to see you there. To register, click here.
Common Threads registration is open
Online registration is now open for Common Threads, our newly named annual Alumnae Association event, which will be held on Sunday, March 13 at noon in the Stevens Center. Wendy Cohen Summer ’69 will be the featured speaker. Click here to register.
Save the date for Reunion
Be sure you have marked Reunion weekend on your calendar for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 19, 20 and 21. We hope you’ll plan to join us for this special weekend celebration. The annual Hall of Fame celebration (traditionally held on the Saturday of Reunion weekend) will now be held on Thursday evening, May 19 at the Crowne Plaza Albany – The Desmond Hotel. You can find the full Reunion schedule here. If you are interested in assisting with plans for your class, please contact Joanne DelCarpine at delcarpinej@albanyacademies.org.
Celebrating Chinese New Year
On Monday, January 21, we celebrated Chinese New Year at The Albany Academies. Parent volunteers worked alongside International Coordinator Dr. Jessica Chen P’32, ‘33 to make more than 2,000 dumplings – which involved 150 pounds of meat, 40 hours of prep time, and three hours to prepare and cook the dumplings. Our students and professional community enjoyed the delicious dumplings during lunch.
Robotics Team wins award
Congratulations to The Albany Academies Robotics team for winning the first place Design Award at their first competition of the season last weekend at the NY-Excelsior MVCC Utica Remote Qualifier. We were very proud of the Upper School boys and girls team!
Academy alumnus spotted with Bode Miller
Sam McHugh ’95 was recently at the Yellowstone Club at Big Sky in Montana and met Bode Miller, a member of the US Ski Team and an Olympian. Sam was a speaker on a panel about cybersecurity for a business partner where Bode is a board member. Pretty cool!
Be well and stay in touch,
Ann Wendth
Chief Advancement Officer