Graduates of boarding schools end up doing all sorts of things. Many of them become distinguished leaders in their chosen fields. Almost all of the alumnae and alumni selected below have also chosen to return time, talent, and treasure to the schools that gave them such a solid start to their careers. They serve on boards of trustees, raise money for their schools, and act as stalwart supporters of these institutions.
That's the point of this little piece: the dream of being something when you are young. Attend a school that will help you realize those dreams by giving you the skills, confidence, and belief that you can accomplish whatever you set out to do. That is the essence of a boarding school education.
Now, I hear you thinking everyone on this list is or was fabulously wealthy. Indeed, some are. But many were not quite well off when just starting out. All of these graduates share one thing in common. They had families that valued the sound, balanced approach to education that the schools they attended afforded them.
Notable Graduates
- Audrey McNiff, Goldman Sachs (retired), Lawrence Academy, Groton, MA
- Arthur Bunn, Bunn-O-Matic Corp., The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ
- Betsy Licht Turner, Northern Trust Investments, The Madeira School, McLean, VA
- Bette Davis, Actress, Cushing Academy, Ashburnham, MA
- Betty White, Actress, Horace Mann School, New York, NY
- Chelsea Clinton, The Clinton Foundation, Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DC
- Dan Brown, Writer, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
- Daniel Pinkham, Composer, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
- David Cameron, Politician, Eton College, Windsor, England
- Denzel Washington, Actor, Oakland Military School, New Windsor, NY
- Donald Trump, The Trump Organization, New York Military Academy, Cornwall on Hudson, NY
- Elizabeth May, Green Party of Canada, Miss Porter's School, Farmington, CT
- Eric Trump, The Trump Organization, The Hill School, Pottstown, PA
- Ethan Hawke, Actor, The Hun School, Princeton, NJ
- George W. Bush, President of the U.S., Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
- Glenn Close, Actress, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT
- Henry Dupont IV, Investments, Trinity Pawling School, Pawling, NY
- Hugh Laurie, Actor & Comedian, Eton College, Eton, England
- Humphrey Bogart, Actor, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
- Ivanka Trump, The Trump Organization, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT
- J.D. Salinger, Writer, Valley Forge Military Academy, Valley Forge, PA
- James E. Bass, Ojai Goliad, LLC, St. Mark's School of Texas, Dallas, TX
- James J. Wong, Paulson & Co., The Peddie School, Hightstown, NJ
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Editor, Miss Porter's School, Farmington, CT
- Jason Wu, Fashion Designer, Loomis Chafee School, Windsor, CT
- Joe Perry, Musician, Vermont Academy, Saxtons River, VT
- John Cleese, Comedian, Clifton School, Bristol, England
- John F. Kennedy, Jr., Editor, Phillips Academy, Andover, MA
- John Kerry, Secretary of State, St. Paul's School, Concord, NH
- John McCain, Politician, Episcopal High School, Alexandria, VA
- John P. Reardon, Jr., Harvard Alumni Association, Milton Academy, Milton, MA
- Langdon Van Norden, Jr., Attorney, St. George's School, Newport, RI
- Laura E. Ellison, Google, The Governor's Academy, Byefield, MA
- Leon Leonwood Bean, Merchant, Hebron Academy, Hebron, ME
- Lilly Pulitzer, Lilly Pulitzer, Inc., Miss Porter's School, Farmington, CT
- Malcolm C Moran, Artist, Cardigan Mountain School, Canaan, NH
- Marion Freeman, Kepware Technologies, Concord Academy, Concord, MA
- Mark Zuckerberg, Founder of Facebook, Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter, NH
- Michael Douglas, Actor, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT
- Michael Eisner, Businessperson, The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ
- Owen Wilson, Actor & Film Producer, St. Mark's School of Texas, Dallas, TX
- Paul Fireman, Reebok, Tabor Academy, Marion, MA
- Rachel Blanchard, Actress, Havergal College, Toronto, Canada
- Randall Thompson, Composer, The Lawrenceville School, Lawrenceville, NJ
- Richard Griswold Woolworth, Jr., The Woodstream Corporation, Groton School, Groton, MA
- Robert Minicucci, Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT
- Seth Priebatsch, SCVNGR, Noble and Greenough School, Dedham, MA
- Sigourney Weaver, Actress, Ethel Walker School, Simsbury, CT
- Steve Forbes, Forbes Magazine, Brooks School, North Andover, MA
- Stockard Channing, Actress, The Madeira School, McLean, VA
This video offers conversations with Stockard Channing.
- Ted Rogers, Rogers Communications, Upper Canada College, Toronto, Ontario
- Tucker Carlson, The Daily Commentator and Fox News, St. George's School, Newport, RI
- Uma Thurman, Actress, Northfield Mount Hermon School, Gill, MA
- William Clay Ford, Jr., Ford Motor Company, The Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT
- William Hurt, Actor, Middlesex School, Concord, MA
- William F. Weld, Attorney and former Governor of Massachusetts, Middlesex School, Concord, MA
Did we leave somebody out? Contact us on Facebook. @boardingschoolreview
#boardingschools #famousgraduates
