We were delighted to have current SAA dad and alumnus, John Summers ’97, join us as the Alumni Monday speaker on February 13, 2023. John spoke to our boys about The Academy’s foundational pillar of Brotherhood, and what it was like to begin attending SAA his 6^th grade year.

John went to a public elementary school, so coming to The Academy for middle school was a bit of an adjustment. Small class sizes, being with the same students each day, and an all-boys school were all new experiences for him. However, it’s for these very reasons that the friendships formed at SAA are often said to be more like that of a brother.

“Spending so much time with the same people every day…Oftentimes, people outside The Academy don’t understand what that’s like,” said John. “But some of the bonds that you are forming here today will last you for a lifetime.”

Active in soccer, basketball, and lacrosse, John became best friends with two of his Academy teammates and fellow Class of 1997 graduates: Reeves Craig and Chris Ford. The three boys attended Saint Mary’s Hall for high school, where they remained close, continuing to share experiences together in class, on the athletic field, and outside of school.

Once they graduated from high school, John attended Hobart and William Smith Colleges. While the boys didn’t attend the same college, they have continued to remain close, serving as groomsmen in each other’s weddings and godfathers to each other's children.

Referencing a photo from his wedding day, John said, “These are the people that I continue to have relationships with, that I can trust, that I know will hold me accountable, and I know that I can hold them accountable.”

Thank you, John, for showing us what brotherhood at The Academy is all about. #BondofBrothers4Life

About Alumni Mondays: Each Monday, we welcome an Academy alumnus to speak to SAA boys during Chapel. During this presentation, our alumni speakers share meaningful stories and lessons from their days at SAA. View Alumni Monday Showcase

To view John's full Alumni Monday presentation, view the following recording: