The Montgomery Blair High School Alumni Association

The Blair Alumni Association was started in 1986 by members of the Class of 1966 who had just held their 20-year reunion. They so enjoyed the wonderful feeling of seeing their classmates again that some of them wanted to keep the feeling alive through ongoing communications among themselves.
They then decided that there were probably graduates in many (if not all) classes who would want to be a part of that effort. At first the only activity of the Alumni Association was the publication of the quarterly Alumni News.

As more and more Blair grads joined the Association, it was a natural progression to help classes promote upcoming reunions and assist reunion committees in finding their classmates.
In 1998 the closing of the Wayne Avenue campus was the perfect time for the Alumni
Association to sponsor its first all-class event. Two thousand Blair grads roamed the halls
and filled the auditorium for a nostalgic look back at 63 years of history and glory “by old
Sligo’s winding waters.”

That same year the Alumni Association helped the Silver Chips staff publish its “Farewell to Blair at Wayne Ave.” special addition and later its Golden Chips magazine history of Blair.
2005 saw the first multi-class event sponsored by the Association as the classes from
1960–1966 had a terrific weekend that featured an Alumni Basketball game at the Wayne Ave. gym, a Hot Shoppes party, a Saturday Morning at the Movies at the Silver Theater, and an old-fashioned sock hop.

In 2006 the first Montgomery Blair High School Alumni Association Scholarships were awarded. Since then, more than a dozen Blair seniors have been awarded scholarships to institutions of higher learning. In their applications for their scholarships, one of the things the applicants have to do is describe what Blair’s history and traditions have meant to them.

2009, of course, was the Blair 75th Anniversary Celebration and the induction of the first group of members in the Alumni Association Hall of Fame.

2010 featured another all-class weekend with a golf outing, a football game tailgate party, and the re-dedication of the plaque honoring Blair graduates and students who were killed in action during their military service.

In 2014, the Blair 80th Anniversary celebration and 2nd Hall of Fame Induction was a continuation of our efforts to keep the Blair spirit alive and growing.

Montgomery Blair High School Alumni Association, Inc.
2025 ANNUAL REPORT to MEMBERS

SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE

The 2025 Alumni Association Scholarship and Named Scholarship Programs went over the $100,000 level for the second straight year. This year the Class of 1994 generously added their class scholarship, funded at their 30-year reunion in 2024, to our efforts to assist new Blair graduates get their college experiences off to a good start. When added to the other five Named Scholarships, this scholarship helped create a substantial base for the 2025 program. Support for the 2026 program is already underway, and will be highlighted at the May 14, 2026 Senior Awards Program in ALUMNI HALL.

Dear Tony Wilson Family and Friends, “I’d like to say thank you for giving me the pleasure of receiving the E. Tony Wilson Memorial Scholarship. Words cannot describe how grateful I am. With this money, I can decrease the amount I need to pay to the University of Virginia. This assistance allows me to fully focus on my academic goals. It’s released a big financial burden on my family and me, and I’ll forever be grateful for this opportunity. I am honored to be the recipient of a scholarship that means so much, and I will hold on to Tony Wilson’s morals and life lessons as I start the beginning of a new journey. “ Sincerely, Bethel Ameha.

Named Scholarship Program

2025 also saw another increase in the number of Named Scholarships awarded through the Alumni Association. These scholarships, all with an award level of at least $5,000.00, are funded by Blair graduates and the families/friends of Blair graduates and faculty for whom they are named. All of them are symbols of gratitude to our school for the quality and excellence of their Blair experience, and to honor a Blair graduate/faculty member. In 2025 these Scholarships included:

SPECIAL PROJECTS PROGRAM

In addition to our scholarship awards, the Alumni Association supports numerous other school projects. In 2025, this support included such things as: providing funding for students who could not afford their graduation cap and gown fee: sponsoring faculty appreciation events; placing advertisements in Silver Chips; helping purchase a new public sign for the front of the school; and supporting the 2025 Athletic Hall of Fame induction program.

FACULTY RECOGNITIONS

The fifth year of our Stickley-Stant Faculty Service Award recognized two more faculty members who have given outstanding service to the school. The award is named in honor of two of Blair’s longest-serving faculty: Elizabeth Stickley (1928-1970) and Norman Stant (1968-2004). Our 2025 recipients were Maritza Santeliz and Karen Taylor Boone. Maritza is a building service worker and Karen is a resource teacher in Career and Technology Education. They were given their awards at the annual Faculty Appreciation Luncheon, which is sponsored by the Alumni Association.

BLAIR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

The Alumni Association is taking a leading role in the Blair Centennial Year Celebration. We helped coordinate the September 25 Centennial Kickoff Press Conference. We are working with the Magnet Program to cosponsor a Salute to Blair’s ongoing Academic Achievement. We will be hosts to a special Faculty Recognition program with the entire Blair faculty in May. And, of course we will be hosting the 2025-2026 Centennial Year and Alumni Association Hall of Fame Inductions on May 16.