Bridgton Mourns Passing of a Legendary Woman - Bridgton Academy is saddened to report the passing of Hall of Fame member and 1952 graduate, Ms. Martha Flint. Martha died at her home in Bridgton, Maine, on February 24, 2011. A memorial service for Martha will be held in the Bridgton Academy Memorial Gymnasium on Saturday, March 19th at 2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, Martha requested that donations in her memory be made to the Flint Award, c/o Bridgton Academy, PO Box 292, North Bridgton, ME 04057. Memorial donations to the Flint Award may also be made online by visiting our online giving page (please select the Annie R. and Horace A. Flint Improvement Fund from the dropdown menu.) To read Martha's full obituary, please click here.

Watch BA Alumni in NCAA & NIT Tournaments - Catch the following Wolverines in the upcoming March Madness action!

This year, the NCAA tourney features a St. John's roster boasting not one, but three former Wolverine basketball players. St. John's will try to make history this March, coming off one their most successful regular seasons in years. Watch for the following Wolverines as the #6 Red Storm takes on #11 Gonzaga this Thursday at 9:45 PM (Eastern time).
Justin Burrell '06 - Forward, #24, St. John's University Senior
Paris Horne '06 - Guard, #23, St. John's University Senior
Malik Stith '09 - Guard, #31, St. John's University Sophomore

Several Wolverines will also participate in this year's NIT Tournament. Watch for ---
Aaron Ellis '07 - Forward, #0, Wichita State Senior
The #4 Shockers will tip-off against #5 Nebraska in Round 1 of the NIT on Wednesday, March 16th at 7:00 PM. Game will air on ESPN2.
Matt Pilgrim '06 - Forward, #31, Oklahoma State Senior
The #3 Oklahoma State Cowboys will face #6 Harvard TONIGHT in Round 1 of the NIT at 7:30 PM. Game will air on ESPN.

Good luck Wolverine alumni!

Hall of Fame Nominations Now Open - The 2011 Hall of Fame nomination period is now open. Hall of Fame nominations may be submitted to the Office of Alumni & Development beginning on February 3rd, and closing on March 21st. To submit your Hall of Fame nomination, please download and complete our Nomination Form and submit to: alumni@bridgtonacademy.org. Faxed nomination forms are also accepted at (207) 647-8513, or you may mail your nomination to: Bridgton Academy Hall of Fame - PO Box 292, North Bridgton, ME 04057. For more information on BA's Hall of Fame criteria, or to view a list of current Hall members, please click here.

Those who ventured out for this event were: Tad Gold '10, The Altman family P'11, Jon Cahill '97, Dave Stevens '10, Dan Connelly '79, Michael Hamori '83, Gage Whittier '73, Peter and Wendy Kelly P'98, Eric Ericson '63, Joe Daley '77, and Sean McDonnell & Jenny Sheehan P'11.  Also seen at the game were Jake Canty '08 and Shavar Bernier '06.  Even though the Wolverines lost a hard-fought battle to New Hampton with a final score of 106-78, it was a great opportunity for alumni to get together with the common theme for the evening - Bridgton Academy.  Thanks to all who came!

April 14th Event Scheduled for New Hampshire Area Alumni & Parents -

 If you live or work in the Portsmouth, NH area, we cordially invite you to attend a BA gathering at the Portsmouth Gas Light Company on Thursday, April 14th.

BA faculty will be at the Gas Light between 6:00-9:00 PM. Located in the heart of Portsmouth, High-Hanover Parking is just a few minutes walk from the restaurant. Join us for some pizza, good company, and a few hours of fun.

Please RSVP to Michelle Cross in the Alumni Office by email, or call (207) 647-3322, ext. 229. Or, RSVP on BA's Facebook page by clicking here.  

Class of 2012 Enrollment Looking Strong - The enrollment picture is looking very positive for BA Class of 2012.  Admissions activity to date has looked incredibly promising for next year.  One key indicator in predicting enrollment is the number of visitors to campus for interviews.  As Chris Webb, Director of Admission, recently reported to the Board of Trustees, "We have had 218 students and their families visit us throughout the month of February.  The previous high water mark for interviews was in 2009, with 192 through February. 2009 saw BA tie a 25-year enrollment record. When you compare those numbers, you can see why we are very excited about our enrollment picture this year." 

In January, members of the BA faculty and Admission Office took to the road for it's now annual "Boston Blitz" and "Connecticut Crush."  This recruiting initiative, where BA staff engage Athletic Directors, coaches, and guidance counselors at high schools in the metro-Boston market, has been wildly successful.  New this year, the entire state of Connecticut was added to this recruitment effort.  All told, there were 17 staff members on the road, who visited over 225 high schools between the two states. Seventy-five potential students got to speak directly to a BA staff member.  "This recruiting initiative, begun last year, played a huge part in our successful enrollment of last year's class. I have no doubt that it will have a similar impact, if not greater, on enrollment this year," said Mr. Webb.  "Look for us to expand our efforts into the Westchester, NY and Bergen County, NJ area next year," Webb continued.  

The Admission Office is also excited to announce that referring a student to Bridgton Academy, and even applying to BA, has never been easier. This year, BA introduced a new online application platform. "Students can access our online app by clicking the "Apply Now" button on our homepage," Mr. Webb explained.  "Once they click on the app, they are walked through the application process, and once completed, a confirmation email is automatically sent to the applicant."  The Admission Office has has already seen a huge increase in applicants this year, in part a result of this new, easy-to-complete form.  

Alumni Profile: Robert Luongo '68 - The Bridgton Academy Alumni Office recently caught up with 1968 graduate Robert Luongo. After spending a number of years traveling the world, Bob now resides in South Africa, where he spends his time teaching and writing.

What do you think were the most important lessons you took from BA?
To be audacious.

Did you have a favorite teacher while you were here/why?
Mr. Freeman Whitney, who believed in me as a writer, and protected me while at Bridgton.

What do you remember most about Bridgton Academy?
It was a beautiful setting in which to grow.
What is your current job position?
Lecturer at Dallas College, Cape Town.

Can you describe some of your accomplishments since Bridgton?
I raised two children, travelled the world, wrote a book or two, (re) built a house, and have always dared.

What is your favorite thing about your work?
Encouraging young people to think for themselves.

What has been your most exciting travel destination?
Istanbul

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I write, read, walk often and smoke Cuban cigars.

If you had one piece of advice for future BA students what would it be?
Keep yourself engaged: study, play your sports with passion (I played soccer and skied) and make friends that may be different from you, that you may discover something new about yourself.

What are you most proud of in your life so far?
I am most proud of my son Hasan and my daughter Nuriya.

While at Bridgton Academy, Robert authored a poem for the Northern Lights (BA's school newspaper at the time) titled "The Night the Snow Blew".

THE NIGHT THE SNOW BLEW

                                               1967, Bridgton Academy, N. Bridgton, Maine

                                               Dedicated to Mr. Freeman Whitney

                                                Dean of Students, Lecturer of Advanced English

                                               A gust of wind, a cloud of snow

I walked to where I do not know

I looked around, I could not see

I wondered now where I might be.

Again I felt the screaming cold

The snow blew higher down the road

And then I felt lost as in a dream

The snow whirls higher, I wished to
                                       scream

I'd been captured in a different
                                       world

Of wind and snow that whirled and
                                       whirled

And then a gust beyond compare

I felt my body in the air

I called, "Oh snow, where am I?"

"You are whirling in the sky."

I thought that if the snow did not mind

Nor would I, and something beautiful I
      might find.

And as I went far and higher,

My body froze, my mind on fire,

I looked around to find the store

But it was not near there anymore.

I looked around to see the school,

Keeping my eyes closed (I'm no fool).

Suddenly the wind came still

A bell, a bell till I reached a hill

That rose up high above the ground,

And there before me I had found

The Academy was all around.

I thought for sure I'd lost my head

So to my room and into bed.

News From Wolverine Baseball: Here is some recent news from the BA Baseball office...

News from the Wolverine Basketball Program - Here is some recent news from the BA Basketball office...

 BRIDGTON BLITZED IN NEPSAC PLAYOFF