What a fantastic evening for the BA family!  Beaufort Academy sparkled at the Golden Gala, on Saturday, October 18, which was filled with stories and memories from alumni speakers.  They were sentimental, thankful, informative — and, let’s be honest, hilarious! What a night to be an Eagle.

BA’s 50th school year is a time for reflection as well as for planning for the future. The Golden Gala was not only filled with alumni, parents of alumni, and former faculty, board members, and headmasters, but also current parents, faculty, board members, and the new headmaster.  It was an evening of telling tales of the “Then”, hearing hopes and dreams from the “Now”, and planning for the “Always.”

[caption id="attachment_19506" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Co-chairs.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19506" alt="Event co-chairs Jodi Bush Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Aimar Jr." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Co-chairs-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a> Event co-chairs Jodi Bush Miller, and Mr. and Mrs. Charles Aimar Jr.[/caption]

The evening kicked off with a warm welcome from event co-chairs Charles Aimar, Jr. (BA ‘80) and Jodie Bush Miller (BA ‘97). It was then turned over to the MC for the evening, Bob Bundy (BA ‘94), who in turn introduced the pairs of speakers, respectively: Ricky Akers (’81) and Robert Trask (’81), Ginny Meeks Fowler (’87) and Sydney Meeks Shuman (’89), and Colin Crumpton (’04) and Bill Dalton (faculty since ’94 and current parent). Headmaster Stephen Schools introduced an inspiring video featuring current BA students, and then turned it over to Garrett Wreden (’01).  Garrett is the Vice President of the Board of Trustees, as well as the Co-Chair (with Bill Hatcher) of the Capital Campaign, which he unveiled at the end of the Golden Gala. The campaign for these exciting changes and additions will be introduced publicly soon.

The evening, complete with a multi-course meal and set in a gym transformed into an elegant black tie setting, ended in perfect birthday fashion with the cutting of a 50th School Year cake by Stephen Schools and the special guest speakers.

Beaufort Academy is especially grateful to:

[caption id="attachment_19507" align="alignright" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Alumni-cheer.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19507" alt="Alumni cheer" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Alumni-cheer-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a> Alumni cheer[/caption]

<b>Event Co-Chairs:</b> Mr. and Mrs. Charles Aimar Jr. and Ms. Jodie Bush Miller.

<b>Supporting Vendors:</b> Amazing Events, Burris Family; Artistic Endeavors, Tei Tober and Priscilla Trask; Bill’s Liquor and Fine Wines, Massalon Family; Brown Sugar Custom Cakes; Coleman Creative Design Studio, Louise Coleman; JLK Events, Liz and Jamie Bodie; Plum Productions, Jodie Miller; Saltus River Grill, Lantz Price; and Michael Jones, Vick Varner.

<b>Speakers:</b> Ricky Akers, Bob Bundy, Colin Crumpton, Bill Dalton, Sydney Meeks Fowler, Ginny Meeks Shuman, Robert Trask.

<b>Volunteers: </b>AMI Kids, Marjorie Gray, Gracie Guest, Michelle Hiers, Tracey Hines,  Anne Lindsay, Wendi Lynn, Maggie Mitchell, Julie Musselman, Ellen Nicks, Virginia Rhodes, Shannon Roberts, Laura Roddey, Christy Schools, Vivi Verity, Alice and Carl Young.

[caption id="attachment_19508" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Speakers-Ginny-Meeks-Shuman-and-Sydney-Meeks-Fowler.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19508" alt="Speakers Ginny Meeks Shuman and Sydney Meeks Fowler" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Speakers-Ginny-Meeks-Shuman-and-Sydney-Meeks-Fowler-300x205.jpg" width="300" height="205" /></a> Speakers Ginny Meeks Shuman and Sydney Meeks Fowler[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_19509" align="alignright" width="200"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-MC-Bob-Bundy-e1414081720669.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19509" alt="MC Bob Bundy" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-MC-Bob-Bundy-e1414081720669-200x300.jpg" width="200" height="300" /></a> MC Bob Bundy[/caption]

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[caption id="attachment_19510" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Event-overview.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-19510" alt="BA Golden Gala overview" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Z-Event-overview-300x200.jpg" width="300" height="200" /></a> BA Golden Gala overview[/caption]

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