News & Events

Advisory is an opportunity for students to bond and teachers to mentor outside the typical classroom setting. Alumni remember the friendships and lessons that blossom from Advisory meetings and lunches long after their school days.

Upper School Assistant Director Eric Acra ’84 introduced this year's Advisory Program with a Chapel about his inspirational college baseball coach, Jeff Stickley of Washington & Lee, who provided lifelong lessons on one of Acra's worst days as an athlete. Acra shared a story from his senior year as a pitcher and team captain for Washington & Lee University, when his pitching contributed to a disastrous game.

As Acra put it, the batters were “tattooing everything I threw for base hits,” the outfield was making errors, and it was “a circus.” When the coach pulled him, Acra reacted angrily — throwing his glove and blaming teammates before heading to the bullpen.

Instead of lambasting him, Stickley called Acra to the outfield fence for a memorable talk – one that provided support, encouragement, personal challenge, and humor, when Acra needed it most.

“The best mentor and advisor I could have ever had,” said Acra, who now coaches boys basketball and girls tennis at NA.

Acra noted that the faculty at NA are ready to do all they can to foster those same mentoring relationships. The first Advisory meetings were September 18, with the first lunches the next day!