An Alum Adventure of a Lifetime in Scotland
What began as a casual conversation at the class of 1973’s 50th reunion evolved into a trip of a lifetime. In summer 2023, much of the class gathered at Concord Academy to mark their five decades since graduation. For Stephanie Lugg ’73, the milestone reunion carried special weight. It was the first reunion she had ever attended, and it sparked an idea that would soon take her classmates far beyond CA’s campus.
Lugg, who has lived in the Scottish Borders for nearly a decade, noticed a recurring theme in her reunion conversations. When classmates learned where she lived, their reactions were immediate and enthusiastic: They shared stories of past trips, long-held travel dreams, or places still lingering on bucket lists. After the reunion, she followed up with a handful of classmates to test a question that felt both bold and inviting: What if the class traveled to Scotland together?
The response was overwhelmingly positive. Within weeks, an email went out to the entire class, and interest quickly grew. Though the trip was planned nearly two years prior and participation shifted as schedules and circumstances evolved, 14 travelers—10 alums and four spouses—ultimately made the journey to the Scottish Highlands in summer 2025, many of them traveling from the United States.
In addition to Lugg, the adventure-seekers included Susie Helme ’73, Cynthia McCallister ’73, Sue McDonald ’73, Wendy Persson Monk ’73, Elizabeth Campbell Peters ’73 and Howie Saxner, Emily Simonoff ’73 and Hugh Collins, Andrea Williams ’73, Sarah Witte ’73 and Drew Cheney, and Cathy Wolf ’73 and Fred McMane.
“I think it was quite remarkable,” Lugg says. “There were multiple comments from those of us who didn’t know each other particularly well during school about how much we bonded and enjoyed each other’s company. We were able to talk openly and easily about the past 50-plus years.”
The group gathered in Argyll, a region known for its dramatic landscapes, coastal waters, and deep archaeological history. The fourteen travellers stayed at two different places near Kilmartin Glen and Kilmartin village, six at Kilmartin Castle, and eight in two cottages on the Ederline Estate.
Rather than following a rigid itinerary, the trip balanced structured group experiences with time for smaller adventures. The class carpooled to their destinations, creating an easy rhythm of togetherness and independence.
Highlights included multiple group meals—ranging from a casual pub dinner to a private chef experience—as well as a full day of exploring Kilmartin Glen, an expansive valley home to hundreds of Neolithic carvings, standing stones, and burial cairns dating back more than 4,000 years. The group also enjoyed a private tour of a historic castle and a voyage aboard a private boat charter, where many of them spent the day sailing around the Inner Hebridean islands.
Though the travelers came from a wide range of professional backgrounds—as artists, writers, doctors, educators, designers, filmmakers, and business leaders—they found common ground in their shared curiosity and willingness to explore.
Their CA spirit revealed itself in a spontaneous rendition of “Jerusalem” during the group’s final dinner. “Out of nowhere, everyone sang on pitch without making any mistakes in the words at all,” Lugg says. “It wasn’t planned, it just happened. That was pretty special.”
The trip was also a shared celebration of turning 70, a milestone the group toasted with non-alcoholic champagne and plenty of laughter. The experience reaffirmed the value of an alum relationship long after graduation.
Reflecting on the trip, Witte shares, “I’m finding it hard to explain to other people how it all came to pass, and how magical and wonderful our time was. What we shared was our intention to be open-hearted and a lot of friendly curiosity. A good plan for any day, any gathering.”
“I know without a doubt how lucky I am to have shared our week exploring Argyll,” McDonald adds. “I’m thankful for the group’s thoughtfulness, kindnesses, adventurousness, positive energy, good humor, and remarkably complementary interests and skill sets!”
Plans are already taking shape for a class trip to Provence, France, and interest is growing, including from classmates who were unable to join the Scotland trip but hope to participate in future adventures.
Since returning home, the group has also made a point of staying connected. A recent hybrid class lunch in Cambridge, Mass., brought together those who had made the Scotland trip as well as other classmates, both in person and on Zoom. Their continued classwide invitations have reinforced that these journeys are not exclusive but an open continuation of shared class life.
More than 50 years after graduation, the class of ’73 discovered that reunion doesn’t have to end when the weekend does—and sometimes the best way to revisit the past is to set off together toward somewhere entirely new.
