Alumni News Archive

In February, young alumni came together in New York City for City Nights, Hudson Lights—a special evening of celebration, reconnection, and philanthropy in support of Hackley’s Hudson Scholars program. Organized by the Hudson Scholars Alumni Mentor Network, Director of the Hudson Scholars Program Dave Sykes, and the Alumni Office, the event was filled with camaraderie, nostalgia, and a shared dedication to empowering the next generation of scholars. Through their generosity and enthusiasm, attendees reinforced the lasting impact of the Hudson Scholars program and the strength of the Hackley alumni community. Click here to learn more about Hudson Scholars. 

In January 2025, Oren Tirschwell ’20 returned to campus to visit Dr. Rigby’s seventh-grade orchestra class, where he played alongside students and shared insights from his journey as an accomplished cellist and musician. During his visit, he also had the chance to explore the Center for the Creative Arts and Technology, immersing himself in the school's vibrant creative spaces.

Vice President of the Hackley Alumni Association Tim Kubarych ’06 spent some time on the Hilltop in December speaking with Mr. Sykes’ Economics class and Mr. Lobko and Ms. Siviglia’s Advanced Creative Writing class (pictured). Tim spoke about his role as a partner and deputy director of research at Harding Loevner with the Economics students, sharing valuable insights into finance and investing through his unique perspective grounded in behavioral science and real-world experience. He discussed decision-making, critical thinking, collaboration and reflection in a way that felt universally relevant, offering lessons that extend far beyond the world of finance. Also a poet, Tim helped the writing students consider questions about how to find an audience, what writing on a regular basis looks like, how to build up the resilience that a writer’s life requires and more!

Emily Colwell ’88, MSSW, ND, shares insights from her 30-year career as a therapist and physician in What If You’re Right?, challenging the constant pursuit of self-improvement. Through her own experiences with chronic illness, cancer, shifting sexual orientation and childhood trauma, she discovered that feelings of anxiety, fear and fatigue aren’t wrong — they’re messengers of wisdom. Her book helps readers embrace curiosity over self-judgment, update their relationship with challenges, and find relief by trusting themselves.

Author and historian Andrew Burstein ’70 explores the inner lives of early Americans in his latest book, Longing for Connection: Entangled Memories and Emotional Loss in Early America. Spanning from the Revolution to the Civil War, the book delves into how poetry, fiction, humor, and biography shaped their experiences in an anxious, five-mile-an-hour world.