The school’s reunion day, organized by the alumni association, took place May 17. This reunion allowed alumni to reconnect with their former school and see how the campus has evolved. The event offered students the opportunity  to meet alumni while earning community service hours as campus ambassadors for returning graduates.  The school’s Heritage Festival  invited student volunteers to assist with family activities in the Alumni Village and Affinity Groups area May 4.

Director of Alumni Relations Sam de Castro Abeger ’07 said turnout for the event was one of the highest in recent years.

“We had over 500 attendees at our reunion, including alumni and guests,” de Castro Abeger said. “Although it wasn’t our largest reunion ever, it’s still a top three result, and we’re thrilled and excited about the outcome. The class of 2015 won the attendance participation award, with over 25% of their class registering for the reunion. The class of 1995 won the reunion giving award, indicating the highest percentage of alumni who donated. For Harvard alumni, the class of 1985 won both the attendance and giving awards.”

Student Volunteer Mattin Tashbighoo ’27 said alumni attendees’ detailed that descriptions of their time at the school surprised him, particularly when touring graduates from different decades.

“What surprised me first was how much they remembered about the school, especially those who had such specific memories,” Tashbighoo said. “It was interesting to see how different the overall way of schooling  was. I toured people from three different decades, so I was able to see how school progressed. For example, the school moved away from corporal punishment and AP tests were implemented. ”

Student Volunteer Noah Koo ’27 said learning about campus features from decades ago helped him appreciate how much the school has evolved while also maintaining ties to its history.

“While giving a tour to a pair of alumni from the class of 1985, I was surprised to learn that when they attended the Harvard School for Boys, even though it had already transitioned away from the military, there was still an armory on campus,” Koo said. “This reminded me that despite our school’s efforts to modernize, remnants of the past continue to help members of the school community remember the history that they have inherited.”