Head of School Jay Lasley Celebrates Homecoming and Reunion Weekend with HRA Alumni
“Homecoming is a special time in the life of a school,” Lasley said. “We celebrate it as a day, a week, and a season! It’s synonymous with fall, with cooler temperatures, with spirit and togetherness, and with connections through generations.”
HRA Alumni Return to Campus
Reconnecting with old friends and with their alma mater during Homecoming weekend, our alumni proved the old dictum “Once a Navigator, Always a Navigator.”
The Class of 1980 Honors Fellowship, Memories, and Departed Friends during Homecoming Weekend
HRA’s 1980 graduates unveiled a special gift to the school as they celebrated their forty-fifth reunion. The classmates donated three benches memorializing the late Jones Macon ’80, Chip Temple ’80, and Doug Snead ’80, along with a commemorative boulder paying tribute to “the laughter shared, the lessons learned, and the memories cherished.” After two years of work by class ambassador Faye Ferguson ’80 to bring her old friends back together, fully half the class was in attendance during Homecoming weekend, gathering to reunite with one another and support varsity football coach David Legg ’80 as his team took the field.
Middle Schoolers Roll Out of Bed and into Pajama Day
HRA’s Middle and Upper School students kicked off Spirit Week in cozy style!
Lower Schoolers Bring Athletic Flair into the Classroom
Savannah Whitten and her fourth-grade class represented their favorite teams for Sports Day.
Country vs. Country Club Day
With hobby horses, cowboy boots, and ten-gallon hats, Upper School students brought the spirit of the American West to the halls of HRA.
Middle School Students Show Their Navigator Spirit at the Homecoming Pep Rally
The Middle Schoolers triumphed in the pep rally’s “Shake It Off” contest, leaving their friends in the Lower and Upper Schools in the dust as they removed sticky notes from their bodies without using their hands. The winning team consisted of Crew Sorensen ’33, Virginia Hankins ’32, Gio Simelaro ’31, Arnesh Patel ’30, and science teacher and varsity football assistant coach Zach Minor.
Senior Josie Brindley ’26 Sails to Victory in a Cross-Division Relay Race at the Pep Rally
Brindley was joined on the winning team by eighth grader Lauren Cash ’30, fourth grader Yuna Mazaheri ’34, and Upper School art teacher and varsity girls volleyball assistant coach Emma Kamerer.
A Memorable Middle School Lip Sync Contest
From masterful moonwalks to props that brought musical favorites to life, one act after another lit up the stage at Friday afternoon’s Middle School lip sync contest. Lilah Lindquist ’30, Madeleine Wells ’30, and Kayla Pacheco ’30 took home the top prize for their theatrical interpretation of “Keep Your Friends Close” from Epic: The Musical.
All Smiles in the Dunk Tank
Middle and Upper School choir director Marshall Severin’s joy was irrepressible as a string of students plunged him into a vat of cold water at the annual Fall Festival. “I love it! I do it every year,” he said. Minutes later, after ending his stint volunteering and stepping dripping wet into the brisk autumn air, he changed his tune: “Okay, maybe now I’m starting to regret it!”
High Spirits at Fall Festival 2025
Offering a remarkable array of activities, including a rock climbing wall, a haunted house, a petting zoo, pony rides, and more, this years Fall Festival was fun for all ages. Senior Carys Casper ’26 explained that she appreciates that the yearly celebration is that “it’s a whole-school event—Middle, Upper, Lower. Everybody’s here.” Fall Festival would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the HRA Parents’ Association. The school extends special thanks to Navigator parents Jenn Treiber, Julie Patterson, and Sonja Seutter.
Friendly Faces from All Eras
With over 200 guests in attendance, the turnout for this year’s All-Alumni Tailgate was outstanding! As they geared up for Friday night’s Homecoming varsity football game, alumni from across the decades reconnected with one another and enjoyed delicious snacks prepared by HRA’s own Executive Chef Uwe Schluszas.
Coach David Legg ’80 Huddles Up with the Varsity Football Team
Coach Legg’s Navigators faced Atlantic Shores Christian School under the lights as his fellow 1980 alumni cheered them on.
Action on the Field
Junior Tyler Jones ’27 showed off fancy footwork during Friday night’s game.
Recognizing Alumni and Champions
At halftime, HRA honored alumni from every decade and Navigator sports teams celebrating the tenth, twentieth, thirtieth, and fortieth anniversaries of conference and state championships. Among those recognized on the field were the Academy’s first state champions in any sport, the Athletic Hall of Famers of the 1995 girls swim team, led by Coach of the Year Barbara Schmidt.
Seniors Cheer on Their Fellow Navigators
Filling the stands during the varsity football game, members of the Class of 2026 supported their classmates on the field— Sam Lasley, Amauri Lymon, Tyler Motley, Chase Sutton, and Mekhi Ward.
Touring a Transformed Campus
On campus tours led by current HRA students, alumni from decades past learned how their alma mater’s facilities had grown and changed since they graduated.
Busting a Move
HRA Upper Schoolers hit the dancefloor (and the blackjack tables) at Saturday night’s Homecoming Dance.
Reunion Party for Fives and Zeros
Alumni caught up, shared laughs, and relived their HRA days at the on-campus reunion party Saturday evening. Having missed his class’s last reunion 25 years ago, Bruce Rucker ’80 found the experience of seeing dozens of old friends in one place to be delightfully overwhelming. “It’s like drinking from a firehose, seeing all these people again,” he said with a smile.
Gourmet Hors d’Oeuvres
Chef Uwe prepared a delectable spread for the reunion party.
Turning the Pages of Shared History
Alumni celebrating class reunions reminisced as they flipped through their old yearbooks.
The Compass Combo
HRA Upper School jazz musicians Weston Stilley ’28, Aaron Carlson ’27, and Zion McHenry-Wilson ’28 provided live entertainment Saturday night.
A Salute to the Navigator Family
Posing for a group photo during their thirtieth reunion, members of the Class of 1995 are reminded that they will always have a home and a family at HRA—no matter how much time has passed.
