Commencement and Alumni Weekend 2026
Join the Olney Friends School community for Commencement and Alumni Weekend, June 5 and 6, 2026. Reconnect with classmates and welcome the Class of 2026.
2024 Commencement Speaker
We are excited to announce our 2024 Commencement Speaker. Rosemary Ketchum is a member of the City Council of Wheeling, West Virginia representing Ward 3. She also serves as the Executive Director of the West Virginia Nonprofit Association advocating for nonprofits at the state local level. In her tenure, Rosemary has worked closely on issues related to housing, small business, homelessness, and urban development. In 2023, Rosemary was named Appalachian Statesperson of the Year and has been a returning guest on MSNBC including profiles on The Today Show, Time Magazine, and CNN for her work in community organizing and politics. Olney Friends School’s 186th Commencement Exercises will take place on Saturday, May 25, 2024, 10:30 AM EST. Click the preceding link for details.
186th Commencement Excercises
Olney Friends School invites you to the 186th Commencement Exercises, on Saturday, May 25, 2024, 10:30 AM EST, and the following Alumni activities. SCHEDULE: Friday, May 24 4:00-6:00 PM: Alumni Reception in the Music Box. Sign in, greet friends, and enjoy refreshments. 4:00 PM Friday-2:00 PM Saturday: Silent Auction in the Collection Room. Donations are welcome – you can contact Vicki for this charitable-giving opportunity. 6:00 PM: Supper buffet in the Dining Room with seating on the front lawn. 7:30 PM: Alumni Association Annual Meeting at Stillwater Meetinghouse. The 50-Year Class of 1974 will welcome the graduating Class of 2024. Saturday, May 25 10:30 AM: 186th Commencement Exercises in Stillwater Meetinghouse. 12:15 PM: Luncheon buffet in the Dining Room with seating on the front lawn. Reunion classes have reserved tables. TBD: Class Reunions (list below): Contact your class representative to plan reunions. HOW TO ATTEND: School events and meals: General RSVP to alumni@www.olneyfriends.org or 740-425-3655 ext. 210 Accommodations: Camping in the Locust Grove – Call Bob Rockwell, (740) 425-2013 or (740) 238-2178 Several nice Airbnb’s are available in or near Barnesville (act soon!): Airbnb https://www.airbnb.com/barnesville-oh/stays Sleep Inn & Suites by Choice Hotels Belmont/St. Clairsville, $58 & up 41371 Reco Road, Belmont, OH, 43718, US (740) 421-4417 Days Inn & Suites by Wyndham Belmont, $62 & up 66774 Belmont Morristown Road, Belmont, Ohio 43718 (740) 202-9846 Restaurants to consider for evening reunions: Barnesville On the Rocks Grill & Tavern (740) 425-3456 Main Street Barrel House (740) 619-0591 Belmont The Pike 40 (740) 782-0001 Days Inn & Suites Restaurant (740) 202-9846 St. Clairsville Many choices at & across from the Ohio Valley Mall Questions? Contact us by email, or phone 740-425-3655: Vicki Lowry, Silent Auction, Main Office: mainoffice@www.olneyfriends.org Danyel Stringham, Events Coordinator: danyel@www.olneyfriends.org Anne Marie Taber, Development: annemarie@www.olneyfriends.org, phone+210 Shea Bugala, Development: alumni@www.olneyfriends.org, phone+253 2024 Reunion Classes: 1944 – 80 years | 1984 – 40 years 1949 – 75 years | 1989 – 35 years 1954 – 70 years | 1994 – 30 years 1959 – 65 years | 1999 – 25 years 1964 – 60 years | 2004 – 20 years 1969 – 55 years | 2009 – 15 years 1974 – 50 years | 2014 – 10 years 1979 – 45 years | 2019 – 5 years
Silent Auction
We are getting everything ready for this year’s upcoming commencement ceremony. One of our annual traditions is our Silent Auction. We are reaching out looking for donations for this charitable-giving opportunity. All proceeds will go towards Olney Friends School. To donate a gift for this year’s Silent Auctions please contact Vicki Lowry at vicki@www.olneyfriends.org, or call the school at (740) 425-3202
Juniors Atlanta Trip
Olney Juniors were invited, along with other schools in the Greater Ohio Valley, to visit Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Atlanta, Georgia through a grant given to the Wheeling YWCA. While on this trip, students visited the Harvey B. Gantt Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina, visited Clark Atlanta University, and got a behind-the-scenes look at Atlanta’s Channel 2 News Station. The students had a great time, made lots a wonderful memories, and some plan on applying to CAU in the Fall! So many thanks and appreciations to Ron Scott Jr. of the YWCA for making this trip happen!