Vintage T Sweaters Ignite Spirit on School Spirit Day

Some traditions never fade; they just wait for the right moment to resurface. At today’s All-School Meeting, Tabor brought a beloved 1990s relic back into the spotlight with a high-energy raffle of rare, vintage, varsity-style letter sweaters, instantly becoming one of the most memorable school-spirit moments of our anniversary year.

The black merino wool sweaters, each stitched with a classic maroon “T,” were originally sold in the Tabor Academy Shop for $70 in the mid-90s. The design—oversized boat neck, dropped sleeves, and unmistakably 90s—appeared in a 1996 Tabor Log advertisement. For decades, these sweaters existed mostly in memory and old photos.

That changed in 2024 when Mrs. White of the School Store unearthed a forgotten box of untouched sweaters. Archivist Mrs. Arnfield immediately recognized the significance of the find. She helped authenticate the sweaters, confirm their history, and shape the vision for a weeklong anniversary-themed raffle open to students, faculty, and staff. Mrs. Arnfield and Tabor's Student Anniversary Ambassadors ensured the moment honored both the spirit and the story of the original sweaters.

Since the new archives room opened in the TRCC, visitors have routinely pointed out how much they loved the vintage Tabor sweater on display—one that was donated by Leon Hayward ’98 (Alumni Hall of Fame '22). That steady admiration made this rediscovery all the more exciting. For the first time, five lucky members of the Tabor community had the chance to own a piece of Tabor history themselves (along with Mr. Jaccaci).

A Contest That Captured Campus Attention

With one sweater available in each original size—S, M, L, XL, and XXL—the contest quickly took on a life of its own. More than 100 people entered, with the excitement building steadily throughout the week. Today's reveal was perfectly timed with Spirit Day, which saw the vast majority of the community donning modern Tabor swag.

Anniversary Ambassador Charlie Jackivicz ’26 says the energy around the raffle surprised him. “The raffle brought unprecedented interest to the archives room, as well as to Tabor history. It seems like wool sweaters are back in fashion. It is a major success,” he explains.

Fellow Ambassador Izzy Konowicz ’26 loved watching the buzz ripple across campus. “It is wonderful to see all the excitement around campus surrounding the sweaters and the 150th celebrations. It seems people can’t get enough and want to time-travel back to the 90s to buy their own,” she says.

Honoring History While Making New Memories

Seven sweaters ultimately found new homes: five raffled to community members, one presented to Head of School Mr. Jaccaci, and one reserved for the archives—a decision that ensures this rediscovery becomes part of Tabor’s lasting historical record.

The lucky winners—Adeline Wiesel ’27, Joseph Novak ’27, Madeline Carr ’27, Nate Donnelly ’27, and Ms. Britta Koeppel (HR Department)—now own a piece of Tabor heritage that hasn’t been worn on campus in nearly three decades. With four sweaters landing in the hands of juniors, expect the Class of 2027 to show up with some epic school spirit.

Today’s raffle was more than just a fun and nostalgic giveaway. It was a perfect look at what defines Tabor’s 150th year: honoring our history, elevating community spirit, and celebrating the connections—past and present—that make the School by the Sea uniquely Tabor.

Note: one additional sweater was among those discovered but it was not well-preserved in its original packaging Iike the others and was damaged. It was presented to Art Teacher Tricia Smith to upcycle, and she used her skills to repair the various holes, frays, and tears. Reports have come in that she has been seen wearing it around campus!