Almost Alumnae, Always Connected

Frances Fondren-Bales didn’t expect to gasp, but she hadn’t been warned that the senior class had selected a very distinctive - and very bright - costume for Halloween.

So when she glanced outside that October morning to find the entire Class of 2025 wearing fluorescent onesies and adorned with blond mustaches, she couldn’t help but exclaim.

“All I saw was a sea of orange Loraxes ready to infuse the day with fun,” she said.

That blend of spirit, unity, and humor defines Harpeth Hall’s Class of 2025, which gathered on Thursday with their mothers and other important women in their lives for the Almost Alumnae Luncheon — an annual tradition that marks the transition from student to alumna with stories, personal reflections, and fun memories.

This year’s event held resonance as longtime teacher Art Echerd prepares to retire after 39 years in the classroom. Addressing the group as a surprise guest, he shared that he chose to retire this year because of the enthusiasm and respect this class demonstrates — a memory he would like to close his career with. Then, he shared a thought that spoke to the significance of the Almost Alumnae event: “Living is the best thing you can do,” Dr. Echerd said. “… At times you need to tell the people you care about how you feel about them — that’s what we are doing today.”

The luncheon offered that very chance, with remarks from students, parents, and faculty. Jennie Stevens Witherspoon ‘94, a Harpeth Hall alumna and mother to both a current senior and a recent graduate, spoke about her own school experience. “I was not the top of my class in grades or an elected leader. I never scanned the top of the lawn on Awards Day …,” she said. “Nonetheless, the impact that Harpeth Hall has had on me becoming the adult I am is no less meaningful.”

Ms. Witherspoon’s ties to the school run deep. Her grandmother went to Ward-Belmont, her aunts and sister attended Harpeth Hall, and she still vividly remembers her first campus tour in 6th grade, immediately falling in love with the idea of being a student at Harpeth Hall. 

Years later, Ms. Witherspoon hoped that her own daughters would one day attend, and they did.  Her senior, Draper, is one of 11 girls in the Class of 2025 who have mothers who are Harpeth Hall alumnae; seven girls have alumna grandmothers. Draper even wears the very same plaid skirt her mother once did — a visible thread connecting generations. But the physical representations of campus are not all that endure.

“While the buildings and campus are the tangible Harpeth Hall that you have currently experienced, this experience will not end the last time you drive up Esteswood to park in your senior parking spot,” Ms. Witherspoon said.

She reflected on the enduring strength of the Harpeth Hall community, describing how alumnae have supported her daughters during their college search. “I watched the way Harpeth Hall alumnae would carve out time to meet with my daughters. They would give extra tours, even offering overnights and lunch meetings,” she said. “It was so natural and immediate that when my girls reached out, [the Harpeth Hall alumnae] wanted to help.” 

That same connection, she said, will carry the Class of 2025 forward. “You will find that this network is always here for you and will support you throughout your life,” Ms. Witherspoon said. “... You may be leaving Harpeth Hall, but Harpeth Hall will never leave you.”

That sentiment goes both ways. Ms. Fondren-Bales wants to hold onto the memory of this class just as much as they want to remember Harpeth Hall. She keeps a small item from each graduating class in a keepsake box — a way to remember the spirit of the group. For this class, it is a Lorax mustache, a nod to the seniors’ Halloween enthusiasm, which delightfully surprised her and left a lasting impression. 

Senior class president Clara Scott Harden put that feeling into words as she closed the program and spoke to her classmates, reflecting on the Class of 2025’s supportiveness, joy, and connection.

“Looking out at everyone so happy made me realize I have 99 sisters I know will have my back in the future,” she said. “... Thank you all for being the best class and the best friends ever. I am so proud to be a part of this grade and can’t wait to watch you all soar.”