Coming Home
Hampton Roads Academy welcomed approximately 300 guests to campus for the largest Homecoming in the school’s history. For alumni as well as current students, faculty, staff, and families, the fun-filled weekend was proof of the strong, enduring bonds that unite the HRA community, no matter how far a Navigator may have moved or how long they have been away.
Head of School Jay Lasley Connects with Navigators from Years Past
“I always enjoy seeing alums return to campus for the Friday and Saturday night events,” Lasley said. “Their joyful stories of their days at HRA, particularly about the profound impact their teachers have had on their lives, are so much fun to hear and reaffirm how much of a positive influence a school community can have on its students.”
A Quirky Start to Spirit Week
Donning mismatched shoes, Groucho glasses, and colors and patterns with no rhyme or reason, Jennifer Massengill’s fourth graders understood the assignment on Wacky Dress Day!
Middle Schoolers Bring Athletic Energy to the Halls of HRA
Director of Middle School Abigail Whorley stepped in as referee, but she could barely contain students’ excitement on Sports Day.
From Seniors to Senior Citizens
In honor of “Through the Ages” Day, HRA’s oldest students aged themselves up by grabbing canes, pulling on gray wigs, and playacting back pain well beyond their years. Juniors dressed as working adults, sophomores took their style back to toddlerhood, and freshmen—the babies of the Upper School—transformed into infants for a day.
Making Some Noise at the Homecoming Pep Rally
Navigator spirit soared at the pep rally, as Lower, Middle, and Upper Schoolers came together to celebrate HRA’s varsity athletes, join in all-school cheers, and play exciting games like “Hula Hop” and “Mattress Mayhem.”
A Grand Entrance
The first graders accompanied their toga-clad senior buddies as they made their entrance at the pep rally to applause from the entire school.
“Ring the Admin”: Coach Swanson Gets in the Homecoming Spirit
During the pep rally, cross-divisional teams of students and faculty members competed in a giant ring toss—with school leaders as targets! Director of Admissions and varsity boys basketball Head Coach Ed Swanson had a blast as the inflatable hoops stacked up.
Familiar Faces Back on Campus
HRA graduates from all eras reconnected and geared up for the Homecoming varsity football game at the annual All-Alumni Tailgate. Alumni traded stories and shared laughs over chicken wings, pulled pork sliders, and other delicious pre-game bites prepared by HRA’s own Executive Chef Uwe Schluszas. With more than 250 guests in attendance, the event was brimming with nostalgia and Navigator spirit!
Old Friends, New Memories
The All-Alumni Tailgate brought Navigators as far back as 1967 together with students who graduated just this past May. “I haven’t seen a lot of these people in a long time,” said 1986 class ambassador David Hood. “Some came in from very far away.” Though she had only been away from the Academy for a few months, Ellie Smith ’26 said, “It’s great to be back. I miss the community.”
Solitary Harmonies by Doug Parsons
On Friday night, honorary All-Alumni Tailgate host Doug Parsons ’81 treated fellow Navigators, families, friends, and faculty members past and present to a selection of hits specially selected for classes celebrating reunions this fall, from Sam Cooke’s “Twistin’ the Night Away” and Van Morrison’s “Brown Eyed Girl” to the Zac Brown Band’s “Toes” and the Killers’ “Mr. Brightside.”
Al Fitchett, Jr.: A Link to the History of HRA
Fitchett (far right, with Danny Hogg ’81, Jim Holt, and John Ames ’81), an honorary tailgate host and son of HRA’s beloved original custodian, Albert Fitchett, had not been back to the Academy since his father was recognized with a plaque on the Wall of Honor in 2001. Having worked alongside his father during summers in his teenage years, Fitchett was thrilled to gather with a community that has embraced his family since 1959.
Coach Rodney Taylor Huddles Up with His Players
Navigator varsity football faced The Covenant School under the lights in an action-packed Friday night game. “This team has no quit in them,” Coach Taylor said. “They fight hard, they play hard, and they do it for HRA!”
The Navigators Give Their All on the Gridiron
The Homecoming game transported alumni athletes, like honorary All-Alumni Tailgate host Chris Harvey ’91, back to their glory days on the field. “I played a lot of football here,” Harvey said, “so it means a lot to be back for a game.”
Alumni Take the Field
Alumni carried on a time-honored HRA Homecoming tradition by marching onto the field by decade for a celebration at halftime. Surrounded by cherished friends, every graduate in the lineup was proud to be a Navigator, no matter how much time had passed.
Honoring Sports Champions
This Homecoming, HRA saluted 18 conference and state champion teams marking milestone anniversaries during the current school year, reaching as far back as spring 1977. Among those recognized on the field at halftime was Jason Knight, representing his father, the late Coach Larry Knight, who led the 1987 girls track team to their fifth straight undefeated season and a conference title. “My dad would’ve been rolling in his grave if I weren’t here,” the younger Knight said. “I ran on that very track, and I’m a coach now, so this is a full-circle moment for me.”
Football Fans Fill the Stands
The Navigator community packed the bleachers during the Homecoming game, with seniors turning out in force to cheer on their classmates on the field—William Harrah, Tyler Jones, Sam Lasley, Chase Sutton, and Mekhi Ward.
Reminiscing over Class Photos on Campus Tours
With student volunteers as their guides, alumni from throughout the decades toured the campus Saturday evening, reliving old memories and marveling at how much HRA has evolved since they graduated. The Academy may be an expanded school with new state-of-the-art facilities, but what has not changed is the spirit of community that has defined HRA from the start.
Dancing the Night Away
Students cut loose on the dancefloor at Saturday night’s Homecoming Dance. With a live DJ, blackjack tables, a photo booth, and frozen treats provided by Sweet Frog, it was a lively party for HRA’s Upper Schoolers.
A Multi-Class Reunion for Ones and Sixes
At a Saturday evening on-campus reunion party honoring classes ending in six and one, HRA graduates gathered with friends and family to catch up, remember the old days, and enjoy a night of music and gourmet hors d’oeuvres prepared by Chef Uwe. Kelley Ritchie Whitley ’06 was reminded that HRA is “more than just a school we attended. It’s a place where we grew up, formed lifelong friendships, and made memories that have stayed with us long after graduation.”
Susie & the Pistols
Susannah Hornsby ’01, back on campus for her twenty-fifth reunion, rocked out at the Saturday night party with her “Cajun-tonk” band Susie & the Pistols. Featuring special appearances by her father, former HRA student Bobby Hornsby, and an encore by Doug Parsons, the energetic performance filled the Mary and Larry Pope Dining Hall with the band’s distinctive Americana sound.
A Walk Down Memory Lane
Flipping through old yearbooks, alumni recalled their time as students at HRA, bonding over the shared experiences that shaped them into the people they are today.
Once a Navigator, Always a Navigator
Members of the Class of 1986, celebrating their fortieth reunion, embodied the spirit of Homecoming: many years may have passed, but these alumni are as connected to one another, to their alma mater, and to the HRA family as they have ever been.
