Alumni Connections

Meet the Team:

Jessie Newell
Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement

Noel Pardo
Associate Director of Constituent Engagement

Sarah Pladsen
Young Alumni Engagement Officer

Becky Love Macomber
Alumni & Parent Engagement Coordinator

In just two years at Tabor Academy, I’ve witnessed firsthand the enthusiasm and spirit radiating from our young alumni community. I’ve had the pleasure of engaging with Seawolves who married a fellow classmate and had peers in their wedding party, heading to a prestigious grad program, learning to navigate a new city, or started a business… just to name a few accomplishments made by this group of Seawolves. Every alum I’ve connected with has such gratitude for Tabor and how the lessons learned at the School by the Sea prepared them for the future. Each dialogue begins with love and pride for being a Seawolf and concludes with a touch of envy for today’s Seawolves, wishing they could be at Chapel, cheering on their friends at Duffy Fields or enjoying the sunset on Sippican Harbor. It’s clear that the Tabor pride is beaming, near and far and across all 15 class years.

Over the last few months, our young alums have shown up as Seawolves do and my favorite young alumni event so far was our Young Alumni Meetup in Boston, MA. Held at the Castle Island Brewery, this gathering brought together over 50 alumni, creating an atmosphere filled with “it’s been so long” moments, heartfelt hugs, and promises to reconnect at a future event. We also had special guest appearances from Mrs. Kelly Walker, Mr. Noel Pardo, Ms. Lydia Caputi ’14 and Mr. Chris White, adding a touch that made the night special for our guests.

Beyond the Boston meetup, the ways in which our young alums have shown up for Tabor are both numerous and noteworthy:

• In November, we launched the “Young Alumni Challenge,” rallying support from 55 passionate alums for the Fund for Tabor. This marked an impressive 129.17% increase in the number of donors compared to the previous year.
• Our 5th, 10th, and 15th Reunion Committees have formed and are ready to celebrate Reunion Weekend with their peers. (Classes 2009, 2014, and 2019, get ready for June 7-9—you’re in for a fun and memorable weekend!)
• Through virtual and in-person events, many of our young alums have forged mentorship connections across various classes, fostering a sense of community.
• Can’t visit campus? We’re coming to you. We are exploring opportunities for gatherings in several U.S. cities. Stay tuned!
• From talking to alums there is a hunger for professional growth programming, so we’ve held virtual programs on Real Estate and How to Handle Difficult Conversations in the Workplace. Looking ahead, we’re brainstorming additional ways to engage alumni through LinkedIn and other networking opportunities.

As we navigate this school year, the journey of getting to know our young alums has been incredibly rewarding and the catchphrase “Seawolves Show Up” extends far beyond Front Street. If you ever find yourself interested in connecting or sharing your Tabor experience with me, please reach out!