Golden Jubilee
50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
DATE: September 20, 2025
TIME: 4:00-8:00pm
LOCATION: Green Space
is turning 50, and we’re pulling out all the stops for the unforgettable Golden Jubilee! Join us on September 20, 2025, in the green space as we honor 50 incredible years of memories, community, and spirit. Don’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime celebration—mark your calendars and get ready to make history with us!
Admission to the event is FREE! The whole family is welcome to attend. Please let us know if you’ll be attending so we can plan accordingly: RSVP .
HOTEL RESERVATIONS: Planning to stay in town for the festivities? We’ve reserved a block of rooms at Hilton Garden Inn just for our guests! Enjoy comfort and convenience for three nights. Be sure to mention “ School SRP code WS925” when booking to get our special rate! Rooms are limited and only held until August 18, so book early and stay close to the action! Call 502-690-3325 or
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• Live music by This, That & the Other
• $5/plate BBQ, hot dogs, & veggie burgers from Morris’s Deli
• Treat trucks with delicious options
• Arts & crafts and face painting for the kids
• Cash bar for the adults
• Petting zoo for all animal lovers
• Hot air balloon rides for a breathtaking view!
• “Walk Down Memory Lane” experience
• Alumni VIP area
• And more!
Become a sponsor
School is celebrating its 50th Anniversary, and we invite your family or business to be part of this monumental milestone with our exclusive sponsorship opportunities! By becoming a sponsor, you’ll gain up to 12 months of exposure to our vibrant community of over 280 students and 230 families.
Alumni Events
Attention alumni! You’re invited to join us for special 50th Anniversary alumni events.
Alumni Open House
WHEN: Friday, September 19
WHERE: School
TIME: 9:00am
Join us for the ribbon cutting with St. Matthews Chamber of Commerce, coffee and refreshments, and tours of the school.
Alumni After Party
WHEN: Saturday, September 20
WHERE: • 1575 Story Ave. Louisville, KY
TIME: 8:00pm
We've reserved the Underground Bar at Vernon Lanes! It's way more than just a bowling alley—enjoy pool tables, pinball, darts, arcade games, music, and a 65-foot bar.
commemorative apparel
Want to celebrate ’s 50th Anniversary in style? Show off your Golden Jubilee pride and support the school with our exclusive 50th Anniversary commemorative t-shirts! These special edition shirts are the perfect way to honor five decades of spirit. Check out the apparel .
Our Story
School was founded by Dr. Edward F. Vermillion in 1975, as an independent, coeducational school, offering a K-12 college preparatory program in an environment where curiosity and an enthusiasm for lifelong learning would be fostered.
School was named in honor of Henry David Thoreau’s book (1854), which stressed respect for individuality. Since School’s founding in 1975, there has been a strong emphasis on small class size and a strong fine arts education, to complement a rigorous curriculum grounded in critical thinking. graduates enter the world as creative and innovative thinkers, who value diversity and compassion, and appreciate their roles as ethically-minded scholars, citizens, and leaders in a global community.
was originally located on the KMI (Kentucky Military School) campus on LaGrange Road, before relocating to our current Westport Road home in 1981. is an accredited member of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS), and the Kentucky Association of Independent Schools (KAIS).
![MATT NIEHOFF CLASS OF 2000“The most rewarding thing that has happened in my life since , would be our film, Overtime…[the film] went on to premiere at the Fright Night Film Festival here in Louisville, where it won 8 awards including: Best Fil…](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/593065398419c2cf6d78ea64/1582892506223-Z2BYPFYNAIIW4OC7FUUH/5Q6A9881.jpeg)
“The most rewarding thing that has happened in my life since , would be our film, Overtime…[the film] went on to premiere at the Fright Night Film Festival here in Louisville, where it won 8 awards including: Best Film, Best Actor, and Kentucky Filmmaker of the year to name a few. That really was the pivotal moment where I said: “I did it.”
Alumni Association Drum Award
The Drum Award was created in 2010, by a committee of Alumni, to publicly recognize and honor a person whose exceptional achievements have promoted School and have served to inspire and challenge today’s students. The Drum Award’s name is based on Thoreau’s quote: “When a man does not keep pace with his companion, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer, let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” Ted Bressoud a graduate of 1979, an architect, artist, and a volunteer and former Board of Trustee, designed and created the actual award you see on display at ’s campus.
Past Award Recipients
2010 - Charlie Sexton, 1981
2011 - Linda Van Houten
2012 - Jonathan Holloway, 1982
2013 - Marcy Tucker
2014 - Christy Sherman Llewellyn, 1978
2015 - Brooks Bower
2016 - Leslie Broecker, 1980
2017 - Carroll Frey
2018 - Doug Proffitt, 1982
2019 - Joe Steinhauer
2020 - Jim Hunter
2022 - Kim Sorise
Alumni Map
FIND YOUR CLASSMATES
Over years of collecting alumni information, we've launched our Alumni Map! Zoom into the map to discover which alumni are in your hometown or across the globe! Prepare to reconnect with your fellow classmates….click the top right corner of the map to view full screen.
Spotlight on Lifers & The Giving Tree
WALDEN LIFERS
Students who attend Kindergarten-12th Grade at are honored with a plaque on the Lifer tree found in the High School lobby. Their names become part of the interwoven network of "roots" that aptly represent a growing foundation of alumni who participated in the full educational experience. To date, we have 53 Lifers and growing!
THE GIVING TREE
The Giving Tree is a commemorative wall sculpture honoring the individuals who supported through generous donations from 2002-2013. We are grateful to the many families, alumni and friends whose generous contributions enabled the construction of invaluable facilities: High School, Bower Athletic Field and the Field House.
Connect with Us
We'd love to hear from you! We're happy to answer any inquiries about attending/planning alumni events, how to become involved with the community or scheduling a class reunion. For more information about School's alumni events and reunion programs, please email Sarah Smith, Director of Development, at ssmith@walden-school.org
SARAH SMITH
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
ssmith@walden-school.org
CONNECT ON FACEBOOK
School's Official Alumni
SUPPORT FOR WALDEN'S FUTURE
Your contribution to matters. Every donation we receive from our community is not just monetary support; it is a pledge of your belief in the bright future of . Funds donated to go directly into making the school a better learning environment. The development of new learning spaces, technology resources, better athletic equipment, campus beautification, etc. are just a handful of improvements your donation helps to make possible.