For those of you who wonder if the current students and faculty at Blair really cherish the school’s history, traditions, and past accomplishments, this should put your mind at ease. With the complete support and cooperation of the school administration, the faculty, the Blair/Silver Spring community, and the 2016-2017 student body, the Montgomery County School System has approved the Alumni Association’s request to officially rename the school auditorium…. ALUMNI HALL
Naming (or renaming) any part of a MCPS building is a very concise and challenging process, requiring approval from several entities within a multi-layered approval process. We’re thrilled that in the future all of Blair’s theatrical productions, school assemblies, awards programs, and other activities will be held in a facility dedicated to you, the school’s proud graduates. The rationale for the naming of the Auditorium, which was approved by the school system, included:
a. The Auditorium is a place for all of the Blair family to go for assemblies, shows, activities, announcements, etc. Because it is a place for all, the name Alumni Hall is generic enough that it connotes both the connection between the current student body and all of Blair’s graduates, while providing recognition to those graduates without singling out any one individual
b. The name is flexible enough to allow for it to be used in conjunction with other names of future specific honorees. For example, if the Stickley Auditorium preservation project does not succeed in getting the Wayne Ave facility restored, this facility could be named something like “The Stickley Auditorium at Alumni Hall.”
c. It will provide ongoing opportunities to raise money for school needs and scholarships (alumns will have “their” place in the school and can contribute to specific needs, such as new lighting, new equipment, etc.
d. It will provide another source of “perpetual affinity” for all Blair graduates
e. It can provide a permanent home for the Alumni Association Hall of Fame
f. It will help institutionalize the lifelong impact of the Blair education/experience and encourage current students to continue their support of the school
ALUMNI HALL WALL of HONOR
CLICK HERE to donate to the ALUMNI HALL Wall of Honor
We have created a way for your support of Blair to be immortalized on the new Alumni Association Wall of Honor, to be located at the entrance to ALUMNI HALL (the new name of the Blair Auditorium). You can help us “build” our wall by purchasing a commemorative brick tile (described below) for yourself, your family, a family member who attended Blair, or perhaps to honor a Faculty Member at Blair who made an impact on your life.
We are really encouraging classmates to get together and purchase a Class Tile, to show their collective support for Blair.
All of the proceeds from the sale of Wall of Honor tiles will be used to support the school, either through our Scholarship Program or through our Special Projects Fund.
To date, our Scholarship Program has provided tens of thousands of dollars to support the continuing education of graduating Blair Seniors. Our Special Projects Fund has provided the school with funding for numerous activities, including three commemorative editions of the Silver Chips; scorers’ tables for the Athletic Department; sponsorship of the Graduation Venue Video Contest; contributions to the students’ Human Rights class campaign; and producing the 75th and 80th Anniversary events.
Please help us get this newest Blair tradition off to a good start. While our Wall of Honor will be a permanent addition to the school, we urge you to purchase your tile today. In order to assure that your tile (or your Class Tile) is among the Inaugural Contributors whose tiles will be part of the ALUMNI HALL official dedication on April 22, you need to place your order no later than March 1, 2018.
Individual Tiles – for yourself or to honor a family member or other Blair graduate
Memorial Tiles – to honor a family member or Blair faculty member
Class Tiles – to show the ongoing appreciation of your Class for Blair’s history and traditions, and to support the future of the school through the Alumni Association’s Scholarship and Special Projects programs.
**Please note that in addition to your permanent recognition as an ALUMNI HALL contributor, all tile purchasers will receive lifetime membership in the Alumni Association.