The Hill School celebrated the generosity of Jody Arena '81 and his wife, Barbara, at a dedication ceremony for the new Arena Student-Athlete Development Room on September 8, 2023. Thanks to this gift to the School, Hill’s football, lacrosse, and wrestling teams now have a dedicated place to hold meetings and review film together. This space also will allow for opportunities for teams to bond off the field and mat, and where our coaches can teach our student-athletes invaluable lessons that they will carry with them in college, careers, and life. View additional photos of the dedication ceremony below.
Jody and his brother, Scott Arena '76, visited Hill last year and met with Wilbur C. Riley Director of Athletics and Co-Curricular Programs Seth Eilberg P'22 '23 '25. They enjoyed reminiscing and visiting the spaces on campus where they, along with their late brother, Charles “Chip” Arena '67, spent their formative years.
“After their visit, Jody called me to express his desire to support our school and athletics program,” remarked Eilberg during the dedication ceremony. “This space was our vision for how we could impact the experience of our athletes in football, wrestling and lacrosse, sports that the Arena brothers excelled in during their Hill careers. As a coach himself, Jody certainly understands the impact of teaching the game and creating spaces, both literally and figuratively, for teammates to be together.”
Head Football Coach Mike Boyer P'25 expressed his gratitude to the Arena family during the ceremony, noting that “this is really a special moment in Hill Athletics history and something that I am so excited to be a part of.”
“On behalf of myself, my staff, our players, and all the future players that will be a part of Hill Football and have the opportunity to learn the game of football in this room, with my deepest gratitude, I say, thank you,” he remarked.
In addition to Arena Student-Athlete Development Room, Jody and Barbara funded the renovations to the connecting Alan L. Reed '51 Athletics Locker Room. Improvements will include new, individual lockers that can accommodate the full rosters of the football, wrestling, and lacrosse teams. Both gifts are in honor of all the Arena brothers, including Harry Arena, and in memory of Chip Arena '67, who passed away in 2015.
Jody noted that he and his brothers, Chip and Scott, were honored to have attended The Hill. “Like my brothers before me, the time we spent at Hill were four magical years where we grew from boys into young men,” he recalled. “Hill prepared us for what college and the years beyond had in store for us.”
“The Arena Family looks forward to many years of continued success for Hill football, wrestling, and lacrosse!” Jody concluded.