Service of Distinction

Both current and former faculty and staff, as well as fellow alumni, were in attendance in Oates Theater, where the award ceremony was held, to help illustrate that show of thanks to all recipients. The theater was packed with spirit, representative of the vast and supportive alumni network. Collegiate remains strong because of the alumni that represent the School beyond North Mooreland Road. It was that green-and-gold spirit that was felt during the ceremony. “The ceremony honoring some of our most distinguished alumni was a pinnacle Collegiate moment,” Anne Gray Siebert ’97, Director of Alumni Engagement, said of the event. “So many alumni throughout the country — some of whom hadn’t been back to campus in years — came to show their support.”

Collegiate’s Alumni Association Board assembles annually to sift through nominations they will bestow on two deserving alumni that have left indelible marks on both their alma mater and the community at large.

This year’s meeting was swift, the decision of nominating Rob Hershey ’66 and Beth Watlington Marchant ’72 an easy and unanimous one. 

 

Marchant, who was nominated with the 2024 Alex Smith ’65 Service Award, is the embodiment of service to Collegiate. Since her graduation, she has remained an unwavering and integral part of the community, offering her time, talent, and support in countless ways. Whether it’s her quiet work behind the scenes or her involvement in more public capacities, Marchant’s impact on the School has been both profound and enduring.

 

Marchant’s connection to Collegiate runs deep. “Collegiate was like family to me,” she said. “The teachers, my friends, the athletics, and the traditions we experienced together — all of this gave me a foundation that carried me throughout my life.” This foundation inspired Marchant to remain an active part of the Collegiate, ensuring that future generations have the same opportunities and experiences.

 

Her dedication is most evident in her role as a volunteer. She has served on the Alumni Board and the Athletic Hall of Fame Selection Committee, lending passionate insights to both of these roles. She often gives her time quietly, behind the scenes, never looking for recognition but always happy to be giving back. Sometimes the work takes the form of stuffing bags for reunion classes; sometimes she’s called upon to write In Memoriam notes for deceased alumni. No matter the task, Marchant can always be relied on. Her involvement with the Development Office and alumni outreach initiatives is invaluable, making her an indispensable member of the Collegiate community. “There are some people whose hearts are geared toward service, and Beth has one of those hearts,” Peyton Jenkins ’00 said of Marchant at the award ceremony, held the last weekend in September, during Reunion Weekend. “She is the epitome of you first and me much, much later.”

 

For Hershey, an icon of independent schools, who was awarded with this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award, service has always been about paying forward the gifts he received throughout his life’s journey.

 

He began his career in education in 1970, immediately following his graduation from Williams College. He began teaching history and economics and served as the varsity basketball coach at Woodberry Forest School, in Virginia. While at Woodberry Forest, he held various administrative roles, including Director of Student Life, Director of Admissions, Assistant Headmaster, and Associate Headmaster.

 

In 1978, Hershey was appointed Headmaster of Durham Academy in North Carolina, which he led for a decade. During his tenure, he was elected president of the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools.

 

Then, in 1988, he returned to his alma mater, a school that had grown significantly since he left Collegiate as a student. With a keen, firsthand understanding of Collegiate — its community and its past — he returned eager to lead the School towards a bright future. “I didn’t return to Collegiate to ‘come back home again,’” Hershey has been quoted saying, in Collegiate’s Centennial book, regarding his return. “I went to Collegiate because I stepped back and realized Collegiate was a really fine school, led by Mac Pitt with all the right values. The Board, at the time of Mr. Pitt’s retirement, seemed to want to accelerate and move forward. I believed that accepting the position as president of the School was a wonderful professional opportunity, not a homecoming.”

 

He took on the new professional opportunity with aplomb. During his leadership, he guided the School through a significant transition from coordinate to coeducational, evolving “The Collegiate Schools” into “The Collegiate School.” Under his stewardship, the core values of honor, love of learning, excellence, respect and community that continue to guide students today were established. During his time as Head of School at Collegiate, he oversaw the renovation of the Middle and Upper Schools, improved faculty compensation, placed a strong emphasis on the integration of all areas of study, grew the School’s endowment, and completed a successful capital campaign. In recognition of his impact, the Hershey Center for the Arts was named in his honor. “What has really distinguished Rob is his ability to conceive, create, and lead a community,” Wortie Ferrell ’88 said of Hershey during the award ceremony. “He has been a sustainer and steward of the community.”

 

Hershey's final headmaster role was at Episcopal High School in Virginia, where he served from 1998 until his retirement in 2016. Across every institution he led, Hershey remained laser-focused on the quality of the student experience and the support of faculty and staff. This commitment was recognized on all the campuses where he served. 

 

Throughout his career, Hershey was proud that he was in the classroom and taught a course in economics every semester during his 46 years. Hershey was an amazing mentor to so many independent school teachers and administrators who have gone on to great careers. Hershey was deeply involved in numerous educational organizations, including serving as Chair of The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS), the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS), and the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS). He held board positions with several other organizations, including the Center for the Study of Boys and Girls Lives and the Secondary School Admission Test Board (SSATB).

In retirement, Hershey continued to contribute to independent school education, consulting with over 30 independent schools from 2016 to 2022. His dedication to education has been recognized with prestigious awards. The Distinguished Alumni Award is yet another recognition and articulation of thanks for all that he has given to Collegiate.