Earlier this month, members of the Development Office team embarked on an exciting trip to visit alumni on the East Coast, beginning in the vibrant city of New York City and then heading to the historic, cobbled streets of Boston.
The first stop in New York City was a great success, as Johnians gathered at the Whitby Hotel for an unforgettable evening of celebration. Hosted graciously by Kit and Tim Kemp in the elegant Reading Room, the event kicked off with a drinks reception, offering a warm and welcoming atmosphere for alumni and their guests to reconnect and share stories. The evening continued with a speech from the Master, who shared updates from the College, including recent achievements and progress on our Dobson Free Places Scheme, before guests enjoyed dinner.
Members of the team and the Master held individual meetings to catch up with alumni and generous supporters of the College. Travelling between those meetings, the team were able to catch a glimpse of some key landmarks such as the Empire State Building and The New York Public Library. And, of course, enjoying a classic New York bagel in Central Park was a must!
Looking ahead, our next New York event will be on 5 February. If you’re based in the area, be sure to keep an eye out for further details in the new year.
The team’s travels then took them to Boston and ‘the Other Cambridge,’ where they met with local Johnians and hosted a drinks reception at the prestigious Harvard Faculty Club. The event brought together alumni from various year groups, offering the chance to reunite, reminisce and exchange stories of their journeys since their time at the College. The Boston alumni have now set up a WhatsApp Group and are already planning their next gathering in December.
The team had some time before their flight home on Saturday so, after a delicious breakfast at a Johnian-owned restaurant, South End Buttery, they followed recommendations from the alumni community and set off to explore the historic Freedom Trail. With hearts full of history and minds enriched by the connections made, they said their farewells to the East Coast and made their way back to the UK, where the rainy and windy weather awaited them.
We would like to extend a special thank you to our US Advisory Committee, whose dedication and support help make events like these possible. We are currently seeking new members to join the Committee, so if you live in the US and are interested in applying, please fill out this form. Your involvement would be invaluable in helping us continue to build and strengthen our alumni community across the United States.
Thank you for your continued support and we look forward to more opportunities to connect with our alumni in the future.