Catching up with Sara Stone ’09

Q: What have been some of the most significant milestones or achievements in your career or personal life since graduating from Tabor Academy?

Sara Stone: Since graduating from Dartmouth College in 2013, I have had two different career paths, each filled with their own milestones – first in public health, and then in professional sport! Right after college, I went to work for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). During my tenure at the CDC, I had the chance to work on the public health response to an Ebola Virus outbreak and went on to receive a CDC Honor Award for outstanding support and leadership in CDC's response to the Ebola epidemic in West Africa 2014-2015. This really helped to focus my public health interest in infectious diseases and emergency response. I went on to continue my studies at The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 2016 and received my MSc.

Meanwhile, I was really inspired by the all-female Team SCA in the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race, and I decided that I wanted to get more into sailing and race around the world. I transitioned from my health profession to sailing in 2018. The 2022 Newport-Bermuda doublehanded return race was the first major project that I put together and managed myself, and we (myself and my co-skipper) won the race overall! Following this result, I was named a 2022 US Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Finalist. And most recently, I was named to the New York Yacht Club American Magic Women's Team for the inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup.

Q: How has your time at Tabor Academy influenced or shaped your professional and personal journey?

SS: Tabor broadened my horizons in a way that has set the stage for my life. I learned: how to row and ended up being recruited to row Division 1 at a top school; identify my passion projects and took on leadership roles like being president of the polar bear swim club; how to learn and get academic support in classes like Algebra 2 Honors; how to fail in classes such as Honors Chemistry where I still remember leaving an exam in tears; and how to be a friend to my peers and how not to be a friend (high school is certainly a time for growth!). I would not be where I am today or the person I became without my time at Tabor.

Q: Was there a Tabor figure (Faculty or Staff Member or Classmate) that made an impact on your Tabor experience?

SS: So many! My advisory teachers, Anny Candelario before and Liz Calore after changing advisory groups; the Conleys, who taught me for math and science; the entire rowing coaching staff (Noel Pardo, Michael Bentz, Liz Calore); and of course, my teammates and classmates in the class of ’09 and in the years above and below.

Q: Is there a particular project or initiative you’re currently working on or an upcoming milestone that you’re excited about?

SS: The inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup this October in Barcelona! October 5 to October 13, 2024.

Q: What does All-A-Taut-O mean to you?

SS: All-A-Taut-O represents the preparations made (to your ship and your lines, or to your academics, or athletics, or friendships and family) to leap into life; this is what Tabor offered me and I like to think I have taken it to heart!