Warm, humid weather greeted members of the WRA community returning to Brick Row for Reunion Weekend 2010, but spirits were high for the annual event that featured good times, good food and some new programs for alumni from class years ending in five and 10.

The weekend opened with 80 golfers taking to the links for the eighth annual Alumni Association Golf Classic. The weather was beautiful -- and the golf wasn't too bad, either -- for the annual event to benefit the Alumni Association Scholarship Award fund, raising more than $7,000 this year. Carrying home the winning honors was the team of Dave Ducas '84, Simon Demian '84, Tim Lyons and Winston Breeden.

Following a fun day on the links, the Head of School's Reception and traditional fireworks display brought the first day of festivities to a close.

Saturday began early, as the traditional Chapel Program was transformed into Morning Meeting, where Director of Alumni Relations & Development Ray Murphy '81 welcomed visitors to a gathering where three major alumni awards were presented. Dr. John McDonald '77 received the Waring Prize from Robert Oldfield '77; Science Department Chair Pat Smith announced that Dr. William Crisp Jr. '43 was the recipient of the Morley Science Medal (chemistry teacher Marie Fiedler accepted the award as Dr. Crisp was unable to attend); and Jyl Brown-McLaughlin '91, co-vice president of the Alumni Association Board, presented the Alumni Association Award to Dr. John Kirk '56.

In addition, Capt. Lee Morin '70 delivered a talk, Old Towers, Old Friends, Unexpected Journeys, about his journey from Reserve to being a crew member aboard the space shuttle Atlantis in 2002. The program closed with McDonald performing a musical tribute on the piano to former faculty master William Appling, and Jimmy Yoo '93 leading a remembrance of those classmates in years ending in five and 10 who died since their last reunion.

After Morning Meeting, a series of Classes Without Quizzes rounded out the WRA Today program. Eight discussion groups were held in Seymour Hall over three class periods on a variety of topics relating to today's WRA students, from A Day in the Life of boarding students, to Where Do We Go From Here? (college guidance), Future Pioneers (the admission process) and It's a 48-Hour Day (dealing with a student's busy schedule).

"What I appreciated was just how genuinely interested a number of our alumni are in the things we do on a day-to-day basis," said Pat Smith, who presented Where Do We Go From Here with Director of College Guidance Eugene Thomas '68. "Geno and I received good questions and comments, and I think this was a great way to form yet another connection with our graduates."

"The alumni loved hearing about the national and international reputation of WRA," said Dean of Admission & Financial Aid Anne Sheppard. "I shared specifics on our reception in Shanghai last fall and they were delighted to learn that more than 30 families attended, so our presence is strong there. They got a kick out of the fact that David Venning '78, found us Eljas, our first student from Mongolia."

Alumni and family members then gathered under the big tent next to Ellsworth Hall for the Alumni Association Family Picnic, where Head of School Christopher Burner '80 spoke briefly about the current state of the school and Reunion volunteer leaders were recognized.

Saturday afternoon featured several events, including a campus tour led by Archivist & Historian Tom Vince, a wine & beer tasting sponsored by the Alumni Association, a Conversation with the Head of School for selected classes, as well as a viewing of the USA vs. England World Cup soccer match in the Green Key.

That evening, classes from 1940 through 2005 then went to their various venues on campus for their class dinners.