Dear Friends, Happy 2026! I hope 2026 is off to a great start for you and your family. January is often a time for resolutions, goals, and lists of what we wish to accomplish. In the months ahead, as you prepare to put your plans into action, I hope that engaging—and in some cases reengaging—with Friends Seminary is on the top of your list. There are many opportunities for alumni to connect on campus, whether by attending an upcoming performance, scheduling a tour, or simply

January 2026 Edition Connection, Gratitude, and Looking Ahead The holiday season at Friends Seminary was marked by joy, reflection, and reconnection. Throughout December and into early January, it was a pleasure to welcome so many alumni back to campus, gathering in familiar spaces, reconnecting with classmates and teachers, and renewing ties to the school that helped shape their paths. These moments remind us that Friends is not only a place of learning, but a lifelong commu

Save the Date Regional Friends Gatherings : Los Angeles | February 5, 2026|6 - 8:00 PM |SoFi Stadium | Hosted by Joanna Hunter August '02 San Francisco | February 7, 2026 | 6 - 8:00 PM | Hosted by Andrew Owen '78 Boston | March 11, 2026 | 6 - 8:00 PM | Hosted by Alicia Rubin Yamin '83 and Jeremy Yamin '83 Atlanta | March 26, 2026 | 4 - 8:00 PM |National Center for Civil and Human Rights Celebrating Black & Latinx/Latine Excellence  | Friday, May 1, 2026 | Meetinghouse 6

2025 Alumni Appreciation Reception Jamie Brunstad '18 , Beatrice Findlay '18 , Bless Reece '18 and Matthew Brunstad '16 Patrick Smith '12, Ben Salom '12, TY Fujimura '06 , Justin Bain '06 and Golriz Amid '02 Bob Landau, Andre Caiola '22 , Connor Zenker '22 and Ben Frisch Evan Olonoff '08 and Nick Rouner '10 2025 Holiday Assembly Careers in Law Networking Event On December 1, 2025 Friends Alumni were treated to a tour of the NYC Civil Courthouse led by Justice of the App

What is a key lesson from Friends that you’ve taken into adulthood? One lesson that was reiterated a lot throughout my time at Friends was that everyone has value and a unique set of gifts, talents, and traits that should be equally prized. I feel like that dovetails into the fact that we weren’t in competition with one another but rather were only expected to improve upon past versions of ourselves. Some people at Friends were great at math and science, others at English, La

Friends Seminary is proud to celebrate Ava Rikki ’15 , who has been named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in Marketing & Advertising, a recognition reserved for young creators who are reshaping how stories are told and shared in today’s entertainment landscape. A director and cinematographer based in Los Angeles and New York, Ava moves fluidly between narrative film, music videos, commercial campaigns, and photography. Her portfolio spans work with cultural institutions and br

Class of 1956 As Written by Gretchen (Gretty) Dumler '56 : Dear mates of '56, Do you realize we're coming up to another REALLY BIG celebration? Eddie reminded me: we're coming up to 70!!! How impressive is that? You know! Please forgive all the punctuation, but I'm really excited. Friends reunions are fabulous - every year. The day is spiritual, educational, and yummy - yes, guys, breakfast, lunch, and a superb bar, right after Meeting -oh those Quakers! If you haven't yet se

Peace Week Peace Week is a special time in our school year—a moment to pause, reconnect with our Quaker testimony of Peace, and consider how each of us can help create a more compassionate and just world. This year’s theme, Grounded in Spirit, Growing in PEACE, encourages us to draw strength from our inner Light as we nurture peace within ourselves and extend it to those around us. In a time when division and dehumanization can feel overwhelming, Peace Week invites us to slo

February 2,1945 - March 5, 2025 With sadness, we report the passing of Deborah Ann Garretson '62. Deborah Ann Garretson '62 , Friends class of 1962 died quietly on March 2, 2025, of complications of stage 4 lung cancer. She had just celebrated her 80th birthday. A long-term resident of the Upper Valley of New Hampshire, she was a professor of Russian at Dartmouth College from 1976 until her retirement in 2019. Deb led a peripatetic life of accomplishment and adventure. She w

June 26,1943- November 22, 2016 With sadness, we report the passing of David Phillips Garreston '61. David graduated from Friends Seminary in 1961 and always had fond memories of years there and especially of Dr. Hunter. He was born in Syracuse, New York and died in New Hampshire after a lengthy struggle with cancer. In 1946 the family moved to New York City where his father joined the faculty of New York University to teach International Law, but the next year we moved to Et

Dear Friends, This November marked the second annual celebration of National Philanthropy Day at Friends. It was the culmination of week-long activity across the School, gathering the entire community to celebrate the ways we support causes and organizations that care for our world, as well as Friends Seminary itself. On November 13, The Advancement Team hosted an assembly for the Upper School with guest speaker  Neil Blumenthal '98 , co-founder and co-CEO of Warby Parker . C

From the Desk of the Director of Institutional Advancement December 2025 Edition A Season of Gratitude and Giving As autumn settles over the city and we enter the season of gratitude, we are reminded of the many ways philanthropy shapes the life of Friends Seminary. Each act of giving, whether of time, talent, or treasure, strengthens the foundation of our community and sustains our mission. In celebration of National Philanthropy Day , Friends was delighted to welcome Neil B