by Mike Clark, alumni association president
HARDWICK – The Hardwick Academy – Hazen Union Alumni Association had an eventful year highlighted by many activities.
An alumni Facebook page was created that now has over 1,000 members and includes highlights and photos of yearbooks from every class from 1940 to 2022. The association also built a database of alumni mailing and email addresses to be used for contacting alumni.
The association registered as an official entity with the State of Vermont and partnered with Hazen Union to support the Purple and Gold Night which honored former Hardwick Academy Championship teams and players with the introduction of players and the raising of a banner, as well as cheerleading from H.A. cheerleaders and the singing of the Alma Mater.
The Class of 2023 was hosted at a banquet and welcomed as alumni and the association presented service awards of $500 each in honor of Richard Brochu and Richard LeCours to two Hazen Union graduates.
A chicken barbeque at the Hardwick Spring Festival raised funds for the association, and the association organized the 2023 alumni reunion that included the Masters Golf Tournament at Ryder Brook in Morrisville where long-time H.A and H.U. teacher, administrator and coach Dan Hudson was honored.
Plans for the coming year include a Banner Night at Hazen Union on Friday, Feb. 4, honoring female athletes and coaches. The night will include the unveiling of new championship banners from years past. The fundraising chicken barbecue is planned for the Hardwick Spring Festival on Saturday, May 25.
The association again will award scholarships to two seniors from the Class of 2024, and it will host the Masters Memorial Golf Tournament on Saturday, June 21, with the alumni reunion to be held Saturday, June 22 at the Brochu family property at 2244 West Hill Road in Hardwick.
