By Phoebe Garrett ’25
Over the past two years, I have served as Co-Chair of the Social Committee, a role that has provided me with the meaningful opportunity to bring Webb’s student body together outside of the classroom. As I enter my senior year and reflect on the traditions and new experiences we are able to share as a community, I recognize how these united moments encourage personal growth as well as stronger connections with one another, both of which define the unique experience integral to a Webb education.
Students at the Pie-Baking Competition
My Co-Chair this past year, Annabel Bornebusch, and I shared a common goal to celebrate student life and foster a sense of community on campus. We loved working together to execute our vision.
The commencement of the year began with a joyful Welcome Back Social geared to introduce the freshman to their new home and family- including faculty, staff, and the returning student body. Subsequent fall-semester highlights included the Halloween Party hosted by the freshman class, a faculty-judged pumpkin carving contest, and Oktoberfest.
The senior class hosted Casino Night which included lots of games, a silent auction full of fun prizes, as well as live music from the talented Max Mah ’24. The Christmas Party, our final fall-semester celebration, was a cozy gathering where students donned their pajamas, decorated gingerbread houses, and gifted each other with creative presents.
In the spring semester, we held a pie-baking competition in honor of Pi Day. The junior and sophomore classes hosted festive parties in the pub on St. Patty’s Day and Cinco de Mayo.
Michael Coppi ’25 enjoying the slip and slide.
Our biggest event of the year, Webbstock, always takes place in early June, as it represents one of the last hurrahs before final exams. This year, the front lawn served as the event venue where alumni, students, faculty, and guests enjoyed performances by 10 different bands, a playground of large inflatables slides, obstacle courses, and lawn games, as well as a snow cone machine and BBQ feast.
Finally, Gatsby was a beautiful celebration marking the conclusion of a successful school year. Seeing my peers and their guests enjoy the sun setting over the Long Island Sound in formal attire is one of my favorite memories of the year. We all enjoyed a catered Italian meal, danced to live music by a local 1920s swing band, and took lots of pictures to commemorate the night. The event would not have been as special without the generous sponsorship offered again by the Class of 2008, in loving memory of their inspiring classmate, Johanna Lee Exner. Johanna was a passionate leader during her time at Webb committed to social experiences, and her legacy continues to live on at Webb today.
Over the past year, Annabel and I have been able to be more successful in our execution of events because of the support and mentorship offered by Alyssa Caliguri, Gailmarie Sujecki, Laurie Martecchini, and Kayla Green. We would like to thank them for their dedication to enriching the social opportunities at Webb and for inspiring us with their gracious approach and benevolence. Serving on the Social Committee has underscored how the experiences students share both inside and outside of the classroom contribute to our education during the four years spent at Webb. The traditions and social opportunities encourage the student body to foster friendships, develop support networks, be present and active within our community, and find positive outlets to reduce the pressures inherent in our academic lives. Collectively, these add dimension to our education, encourage us to build life skills and lifelong relationships, and prepare us for the obstacles and adventures that await us.
As my term on the Social Committee has come to an end, I know the 2024-2025 year will be full of fun and significant moments under new leadership. I also am excited to have taken on my new position as Honor Council Chair. It is a privilege to serve in this capacity and uphold the honor code that embodies Webb and the character of its student body. As the first female student who has been elected to this role, I am excited for the opportunity and am committed to promoting a supportive and equitable environment in which Webbies continue to help each other succeed.
