Alumni Homecoming 2023 Recap
Farragut Homecoming was a Tremendous Success! Thank you to all the one hundred plus Alumni, for making the effort to return to campus, to support your friends being honored, to catching up and sharing stories about your time at Admiral Farragut Academy. It was a special weekend filled with lots of laughter and reconnecting with old classmates and meeting new ones.
Homecoming is a time we try to provide the best of the traditions of the past, and more than a glimmer of hope for the future. Time together is so important. So, the opening reception on Thursday evening, followed by a home basketball game in the gymnasium and soccer matches on Ross Field kicked it off. Friday morning the cadets Performed in the Pass and Review Parade which included a change in command on the field. Images of the parade https://farragut.smugmug.com/UpperSchool/2022-2023-School-Year/Alumni-Week-Parade/
The campus was buzzing with the opportunity to see some of our signature programs—Aviation Lab, drone demonstrations, STEM Lab, paleontology group who shared their ancient finds, to the waterfront with boat rides and sailing. More images here…https://farragut.smugmug.com/Alumni/Alumni-Homecoming-Events/Homecoming-2023/
A delicious lunch in Farragut Hall provided additional time to gather and hear the State of the School from the Interim Head of School, Kevin Lockerbie.
Friday evening we shared in the amazing performance from Karen Bacon’s live band, Sweet Charity, who rocked the Tailgate Social in the Damkoehler Theater. The BlueJackets soccer team defeated Sarasota Military Academy 4-2 in an evening match played under the lights.
Saturday morning was an opportunity to enjoy a plane ride with Director of Aviation Program, Rob Ewing over the campus or alumni enjoyed free time with their classmates.
Saturday evening kicked off with a beautiful Alumni Reception and the naming dedication for the The Damkoehler Family Theater. The Damkoehler family has supported Farragut for over fourteen years and has had three kids to graduate from Farragut, Alexa Smith ‘14, Kyle Damkoehler ‘16 and Kyle Smith ‘20. Gary Damkoehler, the patriarch of the family has served on the Farragut Board of Directors from 2008 – 2017. The Damkoehler family has provided unwavering support and has donated an inspirational and generous gift. This magnificent donation will transform our current students and will inspire generations to come as we provide STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) opportunities.
David Yoho ’68N served as the MC over the evening and included Rice Baxter ’66S and Robert Hudson ’71S who introduced and honored the Hall of Fame inductees (Bowen ‘64S, Crossen ’71S, and Wolff ‘71S).
Richard Fisher ’67N VIP Guest Speaker watch the video
The evening was filled with an alumni slide show including all the images of the years of those who were in attendance. The event was topped off with our VIP Guest Speaker Richard Fisher ’67N who shared from his humble beginnings to his Farragut experience and becoming a true American success story. Richard Fisher received the Distinguished Alumni Award for his transformational work as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative under the Clinton Administration, and implementing the NAFTA to serving as the former President and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Truly the evening was an honor to share company with so many alumnus who have made an impact in our local and global communities.