On November 6, 2024, a group of Germantown Friends School alumni and friends gathered at Oxfam America in Boston’s North End for a cocktail reception. Just one of a number of regional alumni events that GFS has organized over the past few years, the event provided an opportunity for alumni to socialize and build intergenerational community connections. 

The evening was hosted by Abby Maxman '84, President and CEO of Oxfam America and GFS School Committee member Hardin L. K. Coleman '71, who both gave remarks to the group. They each spoke about the importance of being in community and shared that their work as change makers is directly linked to their experiences at GFS, where they learned the importance of service to others. The messages resonated with many of the alumni in attendance.

A young alum Nat Carr '23, currently an undergraduate student at Harvard, also addressed the event guests with reflections of his time at GFS. He focused on the support he received from his Upper School teachers, and how that support is ongoing.

“Just in the past week, while trying to decide on my course load for the upcoming year, I took a photo of the concepts covered in a notoriously difficult statistics class and sent them to my junior year math teacher at GFS, to help decide if I should take the class or not,” Carr said. “I still feel connected [to the school] even after graduating.”

Carr has two younger siblings who are still at GFS, and looks forward to running into familiar faculty and staff when he returns to campus for their sports games and, eventually, graduations. 

“But, even if my teachers aren’t there, and even if the specific people change,” he noted, “I can confidently say there is not a place or a group of people I would rather have taking on such a vital role in my brothers’ lives.”

The GFS Alumni Relations Office has more regional events planned in 2025! Save the date for:

• January 12: Portland, OR
• January 15: Seattle, WA
• March 5: New York City 
• April 16: Washington, DC

And, mark your calendar for Alumni Weekend: May 16-18, 2025.