Inspiring the Future: Career Day to Kick Off Alumni Weekend
By Stephen Taylor ('02) - Faculty
Before the reunions, the football game, and the nostalgia of reconnecting with old friends, Darlington alumni began Alumni Weekend by helping current students imagine their futures.
On Friday, Oct. 23, Career Day brought 30 alumni speakers back to campus to share their experiences, offer advice, and introduce Upper School students to the possibilities beyond Darlington. Representing diverse career paths, our alumni speakers showed students how many directions a Darlington education can take them.
Our keynote speaker this year was J.T. Watters (’97), owner of Manasas Textiles. Watters shared how the foundation he built at Darlington gave him the confidence and curiosity to grow a successful business, bringing a personal perspective to the possibilities students explored throughout the morning.
This year’s Career Day speakers were Trip Booker III (’96, LD ’19), Ben Bagley (’00, LD ’20), Cole Miller (’12), Leah Mayo (’11, LD ’22), Doug Whatley (’02), Bob Ledbetter III (’16, LD ’26), Scott Poley (’03), Kim Parnell (’98, LD ’23), Ben Pate (’07, LD ’22), Will Edwards (’07, LD ’20), Zena (Hanner) Buckley (’99), Kate Vinyard (’96, LD ’15), Stu Minshew (’00), Barton Lowrey (’05, LD ’14), Jean Early (’76, LD ’14), Emily Hendrickson (’06, LD ’25), Janie Hortman (’03, LD ’13), Lindsay Evans Willis (’12, LD ’25), David Huguenel (’03, LD ’23), Amanda Tadajewski (’03), Bess Graham (’09, LD ’17), Dusty Large (’02, LD ’14), Elliott Echols (’08, LD ’25), Frank Stegall (’02, LD ’22), Beth Wellesley (’00, LD ’26), Jennifer Peacock (’07), Chuck Boyles (’80), Vic Hixon (’92, LD ’24), Matt Duckworth (’10), and Trip Barnes (’02).
Speakers presented three sessions for Upper School students. The students were also offered a break out for Darlington Connects, which allowed all students the opportunity to meet and greet with our speakers in the Student Center.
The alumni speakers that morning have careers that have taken them around the world, into growing businesses, and into roles serving their communities. Students had the chance to connect their interests to familiar professions and discover others they may have never considered. Just as valuable was the opportunity to ask what the work is really like, how to get started, and what these alumni wish they had known as students.
Career Day offered a fitting beginning to Alumni Weekend. As alumni returned to celebrate their friendships and memories, they were also able to invest in the students who are creating the next chapter of Darlington’s story.
Darlington is so grateful to each speaker for making time to return, share what they have learned, and help students see what is possible. Their willingness to give back brings Service Beyond Self to life. And perhaps, years from now, some of those students will return to campus with stories of their own, ready to inspire the next generation of Tigers.
