Alumni
Alumni News
List of 20 news stories.
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Donate Items to ForKids Toy Drive through Dec. 12, 2024
One way our students serve society is by serving their community, and this holiday season our Student Council Association and Student Government Associations are hosting a ForKids toy drive to benefit local homeless families in need.Last year, thousands of children enjoyed a brighter holiday through this organization, and this year, our students hope to do the same by stuffing the Oak Mobile with donations from Norfolk Collegiate!ForKids Volunteer Coordinator Jennifer DesRoches recently spoke to middle school students about the organization's mission and how students can help other students and families in the 757.ForKids' mission is to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for families and children in Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore.
"What could you do and how could you be a part of our mission, even if you don’t have a driver's license," DesRoches asked students. You can volunteer. Host a toy drive. Help clean our rooms between guests. Talk about ForKids with other people and help educate them, for example.If you would like to help by donating to their efforts, please send new, unwrapped toys in with your student or drop them off at our upper school or lower school entrances now through Thursday, Dec. 12. Click here for a list of requested items. -
Order Your Winter Team Fan Gear, Lululemon Gear Now Through Nov. 14
We are opening our winter sports team stores today through Nov. 13 and it's open to anyone to order not only those with students playing on the teams. These team stores below will be ordered directly through our partner BSN and shipped to the school for pickup.For holiday gifting, we have an exclusive opportunity to order Norfolk Collegiate fan gear through a partnership with Lululemon. These orders will be shipped directly to you in time for the holidays for your favorite Oak fan! Those items can be found here and the shop closes on Nov. 14! Don't wait to order before this specialty item store closes for the year! -
"Pride & Prejudice" Comes to Collegiate Nov. 15-17, 2024
Mark your calendars to join our upper school students as they present their fall play, "Pride & Prejudice" in the Hackey Theater in the Meredith Center for the Arts at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 and Saturday, Nov. 16, and at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 17.This vibrant production of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," adapted from Andrew Davies' hit 1995 BBC TV series is a delightful comedy of manners that follows the witty and headstrong Elizabeth Bennet as she navigates family, society and her evolving (and often rocky) relationship with the proud yet captivating Mr. Darcy. Filled with humor, heart and fantastic performances, this production brings Austen's beloved characters to life in a way that will leave you smiling and cheering for love and laughter. You won't want to miss this timeless classic on stage!Admission costs $5 for students and $15 general admission (cash and card accepted) and benefits Collegiate's amazing theater department. This is open to the public, so invite everyone!For more information, please contact Brendan Hoyle at bhoyle@norfolkcollegiate.org. -
Bess Renn Participating in Haymakers for Hope Beltway Brawl
Shoutout to Bess Renn '14!
After earning her a degree in Government and Psychology from the University of Virginia, she spent five years in Austin building her career in technology and customer success. Bess now leads the Punchh Senior Customer Success team at PAR Technologies, working closely with brands like Smoothie King, Papa John's, iHOP and Zaxby's to develop custom loyalty programs.Having recently settled in Richmond, Bess has become involved in her community, including participating in the 2024 Haymakers for Hope Beltway Brawl in Washington D.C. on Sept. 19, where she will be stepping into the ring to raise funds for cancer research, care, awareness and survivorship. Visit the Haymakers for Hope website to learn more about Bess' journey.Way to go, Bess! And good luck on Sept. 19!!! -
Reilly Gallagher '20 Gains Invaluable Experience During Kleinfeld Bridal Internship
Shoutout to Reilly Gallagher '22! She's entering her junior year studying Fashion Merchandising at High Point University. This summer she had the opportunity of a lifetime interning at Kleinfeld Bridal, the renowned home of “Say Yes to the Dress” and the world’s largest collection of gowns!"My internship allowed me to shadow various consultants, and learn the art of styling and assisting brides in finding their dream dresses, and model the new arrival of gowns for various designers," said Reilly of the experience. "Additionally, I had the chance to network with top designers such as Pnina Tornai, Netta BenShabu, Lazaro, and Randy Fenoli during Kleinfeld’s weekend trunk shows. This experience has been invaluable in pursuing my aspiration to become a bridal and evening wear designer. Kleinfeld’s has been a significant learning experience and has become a home away from home, thanks to the meaningful connections and friendships I’ve formed with colleagues and brides alike."Reilly is also the vice president of events and programming for Kappa Delta sorority where she oversees and plans their formals, philanthropic events, mixers, tailgates and confidence-building activities. She's also active in several honor societies and the Fashion Forward Club.Way to go, Reilly! -
Braeden Thomson '20 Graduates from Cornell University
Shoutout to Braeden Thomson '20. He recently graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, concentrating in ocean science. He also majored in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Environmental Biology and Applied Ecology.As an undergraduate, Braeden engaged in several lines of research with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In Hawaii, he connected sound and spatial ecology in the Palila, helping to shape approaches for conserving this critically-endangered honeycreeper species. He also earned an honors distinction for completing a senior thesis on the oxidative physiology of black-throated blue warblers, a small songbird common to Eastern North America. In addition to research, Braeden was a teaching assistant for field ornithology and oceanography courses.Braeden took a gap semester in spring 2022 to pursue some extra-scholastic endeavors. In March of that year, he traveled through Europe, volunteering at a refugee camp on the Ukrainian border. From April through mid-August he hiked from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail to raise money and awareness for the Ukrainian refugee crisis.This summer, he's spending his time at Shoals Marine Lab in the Gulf of Maine deciding what area of research he wants to pursue in graduate school.Way to go Braeden! -
Bren Coakley Graduates From East Carolina University
Congratulations to Bren Coakley '20. She graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing with a minor in Fashion Merchandising. Bren is currently job searching while enjoying some summer family activities and looking forward to starting her new career.Way to go, Bren! -
Grace Georgo '18 Begins Career with Tennessee Attorney General
Congratulations, Grace Georgo ’18! She’s working as a law clerk at the U.S. Attorney's Office where she’s responsible for working on legal projects with attorneys from both the criminal and civil divisions.This July, she’ll begin working for the Tennessee Attorney General in the law enforcement and special prosecutions division. This division represents the state and various state agencies—including the state’s law enforcement agencies—defending civil rights cases, tort claims, and the constitutionality of state statutes. It also handles a limited number of criminal prosecutions.This fall she’ll also enter her final year at Vanderbilt Law School. Way to go, Grace! -
Kelly Tiblier '04 Graduates from Liberty University
Shoutout to Kelly Tiblier '04! She recently graduated with her doctorate in Education with a focus in Curriculum and Instruction from Liberty University!Way to go, Kelly! -
Ray Tahhan '20 Featured in Old Dominion University Publication
Congratulations, Ray Tahhan '20. Ray recently graduated from Old Dominion University with his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences with a concentration in pre-health.Ray was named a College of Sciences Scholar and he reflects on his time at ODU, his service to the community and the school, his work in the lab on antibodies and vaccines and what his next chapter looks like.
“That was super interesting and super fun, mostly because I got to dive into some of the immunology behind it," he said of his work....I think if students have the opportunity to do research at the undergraduate level in the sciences, they should. It's super beneficial, and it can only help you build practical skills early on, and for me it was a no brainer, and I loved it.”
Ray will be attending Eastern Virginia Medical School's Medical Doctor's Program this fall. Read the article here.Way to go, Ray! -
Seth Smith '20 Spends Summer as Merchandising Intern at Dollar Tree Corporate
Shoutout to Seth Smith '20! He's a senior majoring in Management and Economics at Old Dominion University. He's also spent his summer as a merchandising intern at Dollar Tree Corporate."It has been an eye-opening experience to observe the inner workings of a Fortune 500 company that generates billions of dollars annually," said Smith. "My team is responsible for researching, selecting and managing many of the products customers see in the over 8,000 Dollar Tree stores nationwide, as well as identifying trends and opportunities in the market."The internship will conclude the second week of August and is his fifth internship during his undergraduate career and his second experience with a Fortune 500 company."I've interned with Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP), The Breeden Company/Breeden Construction, and the newly founded ODU Monarch Internship and Co-Op Office," said Smith. "I've gained a plethora of knowledge from every internship I've completed. If there's one piece thing I've learned throughout my undergraduate journey, it's that internships shape the trajectory of where you go in life, especially in business and when you're in college. I've arguably learned more outside of the classroom by engaging in experiential learning opportunities (including internships or LEAP when I was at Collegiate) than I ever have in a lecture hall."Post-graduation from ODU, Seth plans to apply to the University of Virginia for his master's degree. -
Summer Strength & Conditioning Begins June 10
Summer Strength and Conditioning is back, Oaks! Sessions will begin on June 10, 2024, under the tutelage of Coach Matt Talley, and will continue through Thursday, Aug. 1. Sessions will be held Monday through Thursday daily in the Watt-Baker Gymnasium.- 9-10 a.m. varsity/JV athletes and young alumni
- 10-11 a.m. middle School athletes, families and faculty
- Please note that there will be not be training on June 19 and July 4.
We would love to see you there, Oaks!
Questions? Contact Coach Jon Hall at jhall@norfolkcollegiate.org. -
Students attend community Diversity Dialogue Day
Several upper school students participated in the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities’ Diversity Dialogue Day at Old Dominion University. The one-day event brings together students from public and private schools. With the help of trained facilitators, the program works to increase the students’ understanding of what prejudice is, decrease stereotypic attitudes and develop an expanded awareness of discrimination and its harmful effects on individuals and groups. It also works to expose students to diverse perspectives and create connections between peers.Students learned about the LISTEN Model which emphasizes:
LOOK: Look at the person speaking and make good eye contactINQUIRE: Ask open-ended questionsSUMMARIZE: Reflect your understanding of what the person is sayingTAKE NOTES: Write down or make mental notes about what the other person is sayingENCOURAGE: Use positive nonverbal and verbal cues to encourage the person to say moreNEUTRALIZE: Try to stay positive and avoid bias
The goal was to have students leave feeling an increased sense of personal empowerment and recognize the positive impact they can have on their own school and communities. -
Mike Cutter '88 Tip-Off Tournament
Read MoreDear Norfolk Collegiate Community,This past Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023, Norfolk Collegiate School hosted the inaugural Mike Cutter ’88 Tip-Off Basketball Tournament welcoming four schools including our own Mighty Oaks! The tournament was developed to honor the legacy of leadership and service of Mike Cutter ’88. Amy Cutter joined us at the tournament to share in her words the impact Mike made on his family, the school and the community.We are pleased to share Amy’s words with you and the announcement of the new Mike Cutter ’88 Student Leadership Endowment Fund. The fund will help provide Collegiate students with leadership and service opportunities to carry forward Mike’s legacy in the Norfolk and Hampton Roads communities. If you would like to support this fund, please make a gift using this link.Sincerely,Stacy NixonAssistant Head For Advancement -
"A Christmas Carol" Comes to Collegiate
Read MoreMark your calendars to see “A Christmas Carol” on Friday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. or Sunday, Dec. 3 at 3 p.m. on the Hackney Theater stage in the Meredith Center for the Arts.This family-friendly adaptation of Charles Dickens' classic tale and adapted by Michael Marrone has all the familiar characters we know and love who nimbly bring us through Scrooge's journey of self-reflection and redemption. -
Former Head William W. King Passes Away
Read MoreThat this was the letter was shared with our community from Head of School Scott Kennedy:
Dear Norfolk Collegiate Community,It is with a heavy heart that I share the news that Mr. William W. King passed away on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023. Will served as headmaster of Norfolk Collegiate School from 1988 to 2008. He provided compassionate and visionary leadership to the Collegiate community while also tirelessly dedicating his time to civic organizations throughout Hampton Roads. Will left a remarkable legacy on this school, this region and this Commonwealth. -
Oaks Athletics is Now on Hudl
Norfolk Collegiate is excited to announce a new partnership with Hudl, a video software company used by 162,000 teams worldwide and more than 4.1 million active users. Oak Nation will have its first opportunity to check out the Hudl cameras the week of Sept. 25-29, 2023, as our teams take to the fields and courts. The cameras will capture competitions for our fans near and far! After the competitions, the games will be available for viewing for those who may have missed the game or want to see a replay of their favorite Oaks.To watch Collegiate games, Oaks fans can go directly to our Hudl page, (fan.hudl.com/NCOaksAthletics). Collegiate has invested in three cameras, with one located on the Franklin Family Field, one on the Mathas Family Field and one in the Watt-Baker Gymnasium. For varsity, junior varsity and middle school teams playing in those locations, fans will be able to sign on and cheer on their teams!
As we implement this new and exciting system, there are a few key things to share with families:- The Hudl camera does record our athletic competitions and games will be available for replay on the site.
- When student-athletes are competing off-site, if the host school also offers Hudl, the game will be recorded and shared with Collegiate.
- For Collegiate athletic activities offered off-site, Collegiate is exploring opportunities to leverage the Hudl platform to include those sports.
- The Hudl camera will record sound from the sidelines, so cheer on our Oaks loudly!
For more information, please contact Jon Hall, director of athletics, at jhall@norfolkcollegiate.org. -
Student Pottery to be Sold at Empty Bowls Charity Event
Read MoreFourteen Pottery and Advanced Pottery students, along with middle and upper school art teachers Ms. Emily Pope and Mrs. Cathy Wright, donated soup bowls to be sold at this weekend’s Empty Bowls charity event at Virginia Wesleyan University (VWU).
The Empty Bowls project is an annual event dedicated to raising money for feed-related charities to assist the hungry in their community. Local artisans and crafters make bowls and donate them to the event.Collegiate’s students were challenged to make two bowls each—one to give and one to keep—experimenting with different shapes and surface decorations, such as texture, slip trailing, engraving and additives. They then did some sample layering with the high-fire glazes on some pieces that had been left in the studio and finally glazed and fired their pieces. -
Administrators, Faculty Gain Better Understanding of Experiences of Students of Color During Professional Development
Dr. Jackson Collins, Prep for Prep executive director, shared insight on the importance of lived experiences and a sense of belonging for students of color in their school during a recent professional development workshop. The session delved into research conducted on the experiences of students of color in independent schools in which they were the minority.Faculty and staff worked together to share how Dr. Collins’ story affected them and to share their stories using “Cards on Race,” which is a deck of cards that helps individuals “develop racial literacy, empathy and the healthy racial coping strategies needed to navigate everyday world and our most challenging conversations on race,” according to CardsonRace.com.
Dr. Collins’ workshop was one of many that Collegiate faculty, staff and administrators are participating in as part of our comprehensive Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice Initiative to create a more inclusive and supportive learning community for all students, families, faculty and staff. -
Student-Produced "Into the Woods" Hits the Stage April 14-16
Read MoreNorfolk Collegiate is proud to present Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s “Into the Woods” at 7 p.m. on April 14 and April 15 and at 3 p.m. on April 16. The student-produced, student-teched production is musically sophisticated and weaves fairytales together for a twisted adventure.“Being a part of the cast is hard work. We're memorizing lines, music, choreography, blocking and more while making sure to keep up with school and extracurriculars,” said Alexa B. ’26. “Luckily my class, Theatrical Production, revolves around our musical. We're responsible for designing and building the set pieces.”
