Members of Class of 2017 now Old Boys

All 66 members of the Class of 2017 were inducted into the Old Boys’ Association January 18 at a dinner put on by the OBA in Coristine Hall.

 

Although they do not officially become Old Boys until graduation in June, the dinner traditionally serves to welcome Grade 11 students as lifetime members of an exclusive group.

 

The OBA organizes over 80 events per year for its members. Some, such as the reunions, are merely “friendraisers” or social affairs. Others, such as the Old Boys and Friends Golf Tournament in May, raise large sums of money for the Old Boys Bursary Fund, the Old Boys Trip Fund, and charitable causes outside the school.

 

For the Induction Dinner, the new Grade 11s are encouraged to invite their fathers, other relatives, or significant friends who are Selwyn House Old Boys. These special guests talk to the students about future plans, and about what the OBA can offer them.

 

OBA Vice-President Charles Vennat 2005 spoke to the dinner guests about the benefits of membership on the OBA, including networking and mentoring opportunities. “No one ever refuses a call from a fellow Old Boy,” he assured the students.

 

Charles also encouraged the Grade 11s to make the most of the short time they have left at Selwyn House. Even though they are probably impatient to leave these halls, they will look back fondly on these years, and they will never get a second chance to take advantage of the opportunities offered at Selwyn House.

 

“There is no rewind button on life,” he reminded them.

 

In addition to the members of the Class of 2017, those attending the dinner were: Jonathan Aziz 2011, Charles Bierbrier '93, Mary Ann Cloherty (staff), Michael Downey (staff), Jordan Fefer 2013, Charles Gelber '78, Vince Guzzo '86, Hal Hannaford (staff), Tom Konigsthal '74, James F. McMillan (staff), Cindy Morton (staff), Geoffrey Reford '82, Matthew Rossy 2012, David Skinner '82, Ben Spencer 2000, Charles Vennat 2005 and Richard Wills (staff).