Worcester Academy
Worcester, MA
Founders Day 2026
Honor the people who have shaped the Worcester Academy community for 192 years.
Share a comment about who you'd like to honor with your gift or tell us why you support Worcester Academy!
Select affiliation(s)...
Thomas Meyer (Alumni ’85)
2 days ago
In honor of Irving B. Freeman
Thank you Mr. Freeman for inspiring me in the sciences and photography.
Peter Mone Sr (Alumni ’58)
3 days ago
In memory of Michael Mone
My brother was Class of 1958 and a proud benefactor of Worcester Academy
Kelly Rizy (Parent ’24)
6 days ago
In honor of Coach Mike Abraham
Coach Abes is the best coach. Both of my boys played\play division one baseball and have had many baseball coaches throughout their careers and I can honestly say that Mike Abraham is a player's coach. I'm so thankful that my boys have him in their lives. Thankful he was Mavrick's coach for two years and that Kyle will now be coaching along side of him.
Liam Port (Student ’31)
9 days ago
I am giving in honor of Ms. Tew. She has been very supportive of me and is always there when I need her help. She creates a theater community where everyone feels welcome.
Eleanor DiFranco (Student ’27)
16 days ago
In honor of Volleyball
Courtney Mili (Alumni ’18, Faculty/Staff)
10 hours ago
In honor of The athletics department!
Huge shoutout to the athletics department! The administration, sports medicine, sports equipment, facilities management, and coaches. Thank you for all that you do!!
Bridget Peterson
2 days ago
In honor of In honor of Delilah, whose friendship, kindness, and quiet strength means more than words can express. She stood beside our daughter on and off the ice, making sure she was never left behind. In founding the NISHL she helped create the opportunity for one final season that became a treasured gift. That time together meant the world to our family. May this contribution celebrate the spirit of inclusion, courage, and friendship that Delilah embodies every day.
Owen mcnamee (Alumni ’72)
2 days ago
In honor of John Nally Class of 72
One of several life long friends from WA
Donna and John Orthoefer (Parent ’28)
3 days ago
In honor of David Borrelli
David and his staff are truly a vital part of WA. David shows the students commitment and connection as well as a sense of safety. Thank you so much!
Donna and John Orthoefer (Parent ’28)
3 days ago
In honor of Dave Plante
"All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts," — William Shakespeare, As You Like It.
Dave lights the way for the players. Thank you!
Lucy Tew (Faculty/Staff)
3 days ago
In honor of the student artists of Worcester Academy – past, present, and future. I am so proud of all you create. May you never stop finding joy in the arts.
Eleanora Winston (Alumni ’21)
3 days ago
In honor of Barbara Gould
Best wishes for a well deserved retirement - and thank you for your years of dedication to WA! :-)
Lynda Thomas (Parent ’28)
4 days ago
In honor of Barbara Gould
Thank you Barbara Gould for guiding my daughter during her time at WA. You were a coach, teacher, mentor and friend. Your teachings impacted her and our family in so many ways. Good luck in your retirement. Love you, Lynda
Charlotte Diamandis (Student ’28)
5 days ago
In honor of Ms. Thompson
Thank you to my advisor, Ms. Thompson, for being so helpful, welcoming, and supportive of me these past two years. I am so grateful to have you as an advisor. Thank you for all you do for me, my peers, and the Worcester Academy community! We are so lucky to have you!
Brian Kee (Alumni ’14)
5 days ago
I would like to honor Ms. Gould. She is an incredible teacher, coach, and friend, and I'm grateful for her mentorship.
Diana Canterbury (Parent ’02)
7 days ago
In honor of Congratulations to all of the wonderful award recipients!
Owen Broude (Student ’27)
7 days ago
In honor of Dr Demerath
Thank you for always being such a great person to be around in the halls and at golf practice. It’s always great to see you and talk to you throughout the day as well. I appreciate all you do.
Larry Gordon (Alumni ’72, Trustee/Past Trustee)
7 days ago
In honor of Honoring the entire staff of the Development Office.
A hard working, dedicated team.
Neelab Kohestani (Student ’28)
8 days ago
In honor of Mr. Young
In honor of my advisor, Mr. Young.
He's a great Hilltopper who consistently creates a positive atmosphere on campus with his helpfulness and everyday kindness, such as holding the door open and greeting all the students every morning.
Violet Burgess (Student ’31)
10 days ago
In honor of Ms. Tew and Ms. Salas and the whole VPA Department
Carleton Gordon (Alumni ’72)
11 days ago
In memory of Bruce Acker
In memory of Mr. Bruce Acker, who taught us to Achieve The Honorable.
William Camp (Alumni ’71)
12 days ago
In honor of Vic Fields
Vic will be missed. Great person indeed.
Hui Qian (Parent ’27)
12 days ago
Happy Anniversary, Worcester Academy！ May the spirit of excellence continue to shine.
Jennifer Hollman (Parent ’28)
13 days ago
In honor of Mike Abraham
Thanks to Coach Abes for introducing us to WA! Looking forward to a great season:)
Caroline Reich (Parent ’06, ’08, Trustee/Past Trustee, Faculty/Staff)
14 days ago
In honor of Joel Strogoff and family
Joel was our son's advisor and mentor for many years. His gentle guidance and encouragement were, and are, deeply appreciated.
Sarah Collins (Alumni ’06, Trustee/Past Trustee)
14 days ago
In honor of Christine Thorn
In honor of my favorite English teacher Mrs. Thorn!
Sarah Sadowsky (Student ’26)
14 days ago
In honor of Mrs. Thorn
Thank you to Mrs. Thorn for introducing me to the best American literature, inspiring my love of reading and writing, and for the lasting mentorship you’ve provided!
Stephen Horan (Alumni ’81)
14 days ago
In honor of Ralph Hughes (English) and George Whittemore (Physics), two outstanding teachers
I came to WA as a PG from Worcester public schools. Mr. Hughes taught me how to not just read words, but how to read thoughtfully and critically and truly engage with the text. Mr. Whittemore taught me how engage with physics not just as an esoteric set of rules, but as an explanation for the real world dynamics happening all around us. Just two of the many excellent teachers we were blessed to have at WA.
James Lockman (Alumni ’85)
14 days ago
In honor of Elaine Bloom
Elaine was my advisor and my Latin teacher for 5 years. She was always supportive, academically demanding, and quick with a joke that may have flown over some of the students' heads, but if you were paying attention, you might catch it and have a great laugh. Thank you for letting me carve my name into the Latin 5 window sill.
Marnie Kut (Faculty/Staff)
15 days ago
In honor of Our amazing Hilltopper community of the past, present, and future.
Jennifer Quinn (Alumni ’87, Trustee/Past Trustee)
15 days ago
In honor of Ralph Hughes
I had many wonderful, impactful teachers at WA. Mr. Hughes taught English, but he really taught how to think critically. I thank him for those lightbulb moments as I learned how to peal away the noise and get to the crux of the matter under discussion.
Bobby DiFranco (Student ’26)
15 days ago
In honor of Dave, Jimmy, and Howie
Thank you, Dave, Jimmy, and Howie, for your relentless effort in keeping Gaskill Field in tremendous shape and for always having our uniforms ready to go on game day!
Jennifer DiFranco (Parent ’26, ’27)
16 days ago
In honor of Hilltoppers
I’m happy to support Founder’s Day and to honor the alumni whose generosity and love for Worcester Academy mean so much to our community.
Melissa Ciociolo (Alumni ’08, Faculty/Staff)
16 days ago
Honoring the faculty and mentors who shaped my time at Worcester Academy, believed in me, and pushed me to Achieve the Honorable. Their impact has stayed with me and left a lasting mark on my life, which is why I give back.
Sara Port (Parent ’31, Faculty/Staff)
17 days ago
In honor of Coach Val Price
In honor of Coach Val Price, an exceptional swim coach whose encouragement and positivity foster a team culture where every swimmer feels valued and supported.
Jennifer McCarthy (Parent ’21, ’24, Faculty/Staff)
3 days ago
In honor of In honor of my co-advisor Ruming Yang who has been a fantastic addition to the WA community. And to our energetic advisees: Johnny, Jason, Anna, Davis, Fifi and Sophia. Thanks for bringing great energy into every advisory gathering and discussion!!
Happy New Year!
Dick Wotruba (Alumni ’56)
4 days ago
In honor of Dee Rowe
Simply the Best
Mavrick Rizy (Alumni ’24)
6 days ago
In honor of Coach Mike Girardi
My early years at Worcester Academy were not easy. I had gone through several surgeries with an unusual knee injury missing two years of sports. Coach G believed in me before I even believed in myself. He made a huge impact on my baseball career and my life in general. Coach G made me a better man and taught me valuable lessons. Another thing that stands out about him is he was always smiling no matter what was going on. He was always positive and had a smile on his face.
Jacqueline Arce (Faculty/Staff)
14 days ago
In honor of Middle School Faculty
The MS Faculty who work hard every day to support our students and build our program.
Ira Stoll (Alumni ’90)
5 hours ago
Grateful for my excellent W.A. education from stellar teachers including Ralph Hughes, Donald Bloom, Caleb Woodhouse, Howard and Janet Shainheit, and many others.
Shana Starobin (Alumni ’96)
a day ago
In memory of Dr. Oscar and Susan H. Starobin
Forever grateful to my family for making my W.A. education possible.
Sydney LaPointe (Alumni ’17)
2 days ago
In honor of Coach Kevin Zifcak/ Coach Mary
It is an honor to give back to my high school, a place that helped shape the foundation of who I am today. This gift is made in honor of my two highschool hockey coaches, whose leadership and belief in me extended far beyond the rink. Their impact continues to guide me, and I’m grateful to pay that forward to the next generation.
Anonymous (Alumni ’16)
2 days ago
Ms. Gould was always nice to me during my time at WA. As an international student, Ms. Gould made my WA experience feel like I was at home! During my last year at the Hilltop (2016), I needed a camera, so I came to Ms. Gould with a proposal: I could edit and clean all the school pictures she would frequently take, and in exchange, she would give me one of her old cameras. She agreed. I would come into her office during my free blocks and get to work. After a few weeks, I had a camera! Happy retirement, Ms. Gould!!
Finley Hughes (Student ’26)
3 days ago
In honor of Mr. Kirk Upton
From freshman through senior year, Mr. Upton has fostered a true love of learning, always meeting his students with compassion, understanding, and enthusiasm. He has proven himself to be one of the most caring teachers I have ever had — someone who genuinely wants his students to succeed. I owe much of the way I approach challenges to the lessons I’ve learned as his student. Thank you, Mr. Upton!
Jason Port (Parent ’31)
3 days ago
I would like to honor the community of Worcester Academy. It's the community of administrators, educators, security, students, and parents that make WA an incredible place. I am grateful for all of you that make WA a place where we can all achieve the honorable.
Whitney Thomas (Alumni ’03)
3 days ago
In honor of Barbara Gould
Sophie Unfricht (Student ’26)
3 days ago
In honor of Coach Bolden! Thank you for always supporting us and making softball season so fun!
Owen McCarthy (Alumni ’21)
5 days ago
In honor of Barbara Gould
Coach Gould was a huge part of my Worcester Academy experience. She always pushed me to do my absolute best, and then some. She is the most dedicated coach I’ve ever had, and the passion she has for her swimmers and her team is unmatched. Thank you Coach Gould for making me the person I am today.
Rachel Chan (Alumni ’17)
5 days ago
In honor of Barbara Gould
Ms. Gould is the best coach I ever had, and I will always remember my swimming days at WA!
Thomas Wales (Alumni ’93)
5 days ago
In honor of Coach Barbara Gould
I might not have been on the swim team...but I was fortunate to be in Coach Gould's Anatomy class my senior year. There are many reasons that one can find to "wax poetic" about their time on the hill...my time spent in that classroom certainly is a reason for me! Cheers to the retirement of a true educator!
Jim Coghlin Jr (Alumni ’86)
7 days ago
In honor of Patty Peterleitner- Incredible teacher of Physics, motivational Ski team coach and ski club chaperone, academic guide for my son and daughter, wonderful community advocate and leader, and most importantly a life long friend. Thank you Patty!
Patty Peterleitner- Incredible teacher of Physics, motivational Ski team coach and ski club chaperone, academic guide for my son and daughter, wonderful community advocate and leader, and most importantly a life long friend. Thank you Patty!
Harold Sadowsky (Alumni ’52, Parent ’81, Grandparent ’26)
7 days ago
In honor of Sarah Sadowsky '26
Achieve the Honorable!
Lindy Imranyi
8 days ago
In honor of Delilah Cioffi
Delilah, my daughter Emily is so grateful to you for creating NISHL, a welcoming girls hockey league founded on kind conduct and competitive play! In a short time, she has grown her game and character through encouragement and positive challenges. It’s a delight to honor you! Wishing you much success with all your future endeavors, Lindy
Tina and Scott Gillaspie (Student ’27, Faculty/Staff)
9 days ago
In honor of Natalia Gillaspie
David LaPointe (Parent ’17)
11 days ago
In memory of Bernard LaPointe
Kevin Breen (Faculty/Staff)
11 days ago
To our current families-- Thank you for choosing WA as your educational partner.
David Benoit (Alumni ’72)
12 days ago
In honor of Tom Blackburn, Ralph Hughes, Ruth Neal, Doc Samko, Chet Chaisson, Johnny Ricciardi
This PG year has made all the difference in my Life's journey.
Laurie Edwards (Parent ’29)
12 days ago
In honor of The amazing faculty in the Visual/Performing Arts department and all the time, energy, and support they give students
Bill Littleton (Alumni ’73, Parent ’06, Trustee/Past Trustee)
13 days ago
In honor of William “Doc” Samko
Michael P. Wilhelm (Alumni ’86)
14 days ago
In honor of Coach Ed Reilly
Thanks to Coach Ed Reilly for all of his hard work, countless efforts, and success over the many years he was Director of Athletics in building the Worcester Academy Athletic Department to the greatness of what it is today. He is what is great about WA and life. Thanks Coach Reilly!!
Kevin Zifcak (Parent ’24, ’26, Faculty/Staff)
14 days ago
In memory of Bruce Marshall
He worked at WA before heading to UConn and was a great mentor for me. Every message he left ended with "achieve the honorable"!
Megan O'Leary (Parent, Trustee/Past Trustee)
14 days ago
In honor of Zak Johnson
Hey Zak Johnson, every now and then I’m reminded of how much you shaped my daughter’s confidence back in your homeroom. You believed in her at such an important time, and that kind of support sticks for life. Just wanted you to know those years still mean a lot to our family. 💛
Michael Coady (Alumni ’89)
14 days ago
In honor of Andrea Hayden
In memory of Edward Coady, Jr.
Hilltopper Swimming Let’s GO!
Samuel Sadowsky (Parent ’26, Faculty/Staff)
15 days ago
In honor of Harold Sadowsky '52
Achieve the Honorable
Elizabeth Keough (Parent ’27)
15 days ago
We Appreciate Worcester Academy. The Teachers, Coaches, Staff - Thank you!
Maddie Keough ‘27 - Keough Family
James Young (Faculty/Staff)
15 days ago
In honor of Upper School Faculty and Staff
In honor of our Upper School faculty and staff who work tirelessly every day to equip our students with the skills and wisdom to achieve the honorable
Megan Blomgren Burgess (Parent ’31, Faculty/Staff)
15 days ago
In honor of Ms. Tew
For her amazing work with the Theater Department and being an incredible mentor to many!
Katy Hughes (Parent ’26, ’28, ’29, Faculty/Staff)
16 days ago
In honor of the faculty, coaches, and staff at WA who have had such a positive impact on my kids’ growth as students, teammates, and leaders, and who have helped make their experience truly meaningful. Go Hilltoppers!
Barbara Venincasa (Parent ’02)
16 days ago
In honor of Joseph Venincasa
Respect for the Institution, The Students, the Faculty and the Neighborhood.
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