The Hill School is pleased to announce that

Wallace G. Gundy ’04, president of The Hill School Alumni Association since 2020, will deliver the Commencement address during the School’s 175th Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 23, 2026.

Ms. Gundy’s Hill journey began when she was just an infant, as the daughter of two Hill faculty members, Jay Gundy, who served as assistant headmaster of external affairs, and Kim Gundy, who was a member of the college advising office and director of testing. As a Hill student, she embraced every opportunity to serve her School community. She was a prefect in Robins Dormitory; editor-in-chief of the Dial yearbook; president of the Ellis Theatre Guild; Admission Office Head of Tour; and member of the varsity field hockey and squash teams.  At the 2004 Commencement ceremony, she was awarded two of The Hill’s most prestigious prizes: The Archibald R. Montgomery Prize, for demonstrating the greatest friendship and personal concern for her fellow students, and The Nicolai H. Hiller Prize, for best demonstrating the spirit of exemplary effort and loyal service to fellow students and the School.

Ms. Gundy’s loyal service to Hill has not wavered since her graduation. In 2020, she became the first alumna to serve as Alumni Association President. During her tenure, she led the effort to establish the Whatsoever Things Are True Award and co-chairs the selection committee alongside Alumni Association Executive Committee (AAEC) Vice President Rick Bragdon ’70. She organized several retreats for the AAEC, helping the group plan strategically and map out future initiatives, in addition to representing the AAEC on the Athletics Hall of Fame selection committee. She also helped to recruit and build a strong and engaged Alumni Association Executive Committee. Ms. Gundy has served as the 2004 class secretary since graduation, previously was president of the Boston regional chapter of the Alumni Association, and she spent three years as the Association’s vice president before assuming the presidency in 2020.

“As president of The Hill School’s Alumni Association, Wallace has led with energy, generosity, and an unwavering love for The Hill,” shared Shelley Baumgarten, Director of Alumni Affairs. “She is a true volunteer extraordinaire, and an all-around goodwill ambassador for the School. Throughout her presidency, she fostered collaboration, encouraged alumni to get involved at every level, and championed meaningful initiatives. Above all, she has been one of The Hill’s most enthusiastic cheerleaders, inspiring others through her dedication and spirit.”

Ms. Gundy earned her degree in English from the University of Virginia in 2008 and then spent the next 10 years working in the Admissions Office at Portsmouth Abbey School, where she also led a fourth form girls' dormitory and coached squash and lacrosse. She earned her M.B.A. from the University of Rochester's Simon School of Business and was named one of the best and brightest 2020 M.B.A. graduates by Poets and Quants. She now leads Quality & Commercialization for Amazon's Consumables Private Brands business in New York City. She lives in Hoboken, New Jersey with her partner, Dave Schryver, and their four-year-old labradoodle, Genny.

Preceding the Commencement Ceremony, which begins at 10:30 on the Quadrangle, the Baccalaureate service will be held in the Alumni Chapel at 9 a.m. This year’s Baccalaureate address will be offered by Rick Wood, Hill’s chief financial and operating officer who will retire at the end of this school year. Mr. Wood joined The Hill faculty in 2017 after serving as CFO at the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Massachusetts since 2002. He also previously served as is the president of the Association of Business Officers of Preparatory Schools (ABOPS), an association of the 40 most selective boarding schools in the United States, including The Hill.

We are excited to celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of the Class of 2026 with family and friends. A livestream of the ceremony will be available via The Hill’s website.