Boarding School Alumni: Accomplishments
There are many unbelievable student success stories that take place each day on the campuses of independent boarding schools.
Here is a list of some well-known notable alumni who attended a North American independent boarding school.
Politicians
- His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain – Lakefield College School (ONT)
- His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York – Lakefield College School (ONT)
- His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan – Eaglebrook School (MA) & Deerfield Academy (MA)
- Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan – Concord Academy (MA)
- U.S. President Franklin Pierce – Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
- U.S. President Calvin Coolidge – St. Johnsbury Academy (VT)
- Honduras President Ricardo Maduro - Lawrenceville School (NJ)
- U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt – Groton School (MA)
- U.S. President John F. Kennedy – The Choate School (CT)
- U.S. President George H. W. Bush – Phillips Andover Academy (MA)
- Republic of China President Dr. Sun Yat-sen – 'Iolani School (HI)
- Panama President Martin Torrijos Espino – St. John's Northwestern Academies (WI)
- U.S. President George W. Bush – Phillips Andover Academy (MA)
- U.S. President Donald Trump – New York Military Academy (NY)
- U.S. Senator John Kerry – Fessenden School (MA) & St. Paul’s School (NH)
- U.S. Senator John McCain – Episcopal High School (VA)
- His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan – Cushing Academy (MA)
- U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy – Portsmouth Abbey School (RI)
- U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy – Fessenden School (MA) and Portsmouth Abbey School (RI)
- Canadian Prime Minister John Turner – Ashbury College (ONT)
- Bermuda Premier Paula Cox – Havergal College (ONT)
Actors/Actresses
- Glenn Close – Choate Rosemary Hall School (CT)
- Will Arnett – Lakefield College School (ONT)
- Blythe Danner – George School (PA)
- Steve Carell – Middlesex School (MA)
- Jean Harlow – Lake Forest Academy (IL)
- Matthew Perry – Ashbury College (ONT)
- Burgess Meredith – Hoosac School (NY)
- Jane Fonda – Emma Willard School (NY)
- Kiefer Sutherland – St. Andrews College (ONT)
- Michael Douglas – Eaglebrook School (MA) and Choate Rosemary Hall (CT)
- Bette Davis – Cushing Academy (MA)
- Marlon Brando – Shattuck’s-St. Mary’s School (MN)
- Jack Lemmon – Phillips Andover Academy (MA)
- Téa Leoni – Putney School (VT)
- Wayne Rogers – The Webb School (TN)
- Felicity Huffman – The Putney School (VT) & Interlochen Arts Academy (MI)
- Peter Fonda – Fay School (MA) & Westminster School (CT)
- Owen Wilson – New Mexico Military Institute (NM)
- Alexandra Paul – Groton School (MA)
- Raymond Massey – Appleby College (ONT)
- Matt Salinger – North Country School (NY)
- Leslie Hope – St. Michael's University School (BC)
- John Cena – Cushing Academy (MA)
- Sam Waterson – Groton School (MA)
- Sigourney Weaver – Ethel Walker School (CT)
- Uma Thurman – Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
- James Van Der Beek – Cheshire Academy (CT)
- Julie Bowen – Garrison Forest School (MD) & St. George's School (RI)
- Ted Danson – Kent School (CT)
- Sipiwe Moyo - Indian Springs School (AL)
- William Hurt – Middlesex School (MA)
- Jennifer Cooldige – Cambridge School of Weston (MA)
- Jimmy Stewart – Mercersburg Academy (NJ)
- Stacey Farber – Branksome Hall (ONT)
- Matthew Fox – Deerfield Academy (MA)
- Christopher Lloyd – Fessenden School (MA)
- Jim Gaffigan – La Lumiere School (IN)
- Seth MacFarlane – Kent School (CT)
- Spencer Tracy – St. John's Northwestern Academies (WI)
- Andrew Masset – Trinity-Pawling School (NY)
- Laura Liney – Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
- Charlie Day – Portsmouth Abbey School (RI)
- Benicio del Toro – Mercersburg Academy (PA)
Science
- Mario Capecchi – George School (PA)
- NASA Astronaut Pete Conrad – Darrow School (NY)
- Philip S. Hench – Shady Side Academy (PA)
- NASA Astronaut Alan Shepard Jr. – Admiral Farragut Academy (FL)
- Stephen Malawista – Berkshire School (MA)
- NASA Astronaut Charles Duke – Admiral Farragut Academy (FL)
- NASA Astronaut Story Musgrave – St. Mark's School (MA)
- Jack Hanna – Kiski School (PA)
- NASA Scientist Dr. Jack Baker – Berkshire School (MA)
- NASA Astronaut Jerome "Jay" Apt – Shady Side Academy (PA)
Athletes
- Alison Firestone (Equestrian) – Foxcoft School (VA)
- Morgan Pressel (LPGA) – Saint Andrew's School (FL)
- Amanda Kessell (Ice Hockey Olympian/PWHPA) – Shattuck St. Mary's School (MN)
- John Cena (Wrestler) – Cushing Academy (MA)
- Dave Calder (Olympic Rower) – Brentwood College School (BC)
- Chipper Jones (MLB) – The Bolles School (FL)
- Ryan Murphy (Olympic Swimmer) – The Bolles School (FL)
- Vinnie Del Negro (NBA) – Suffield Academy (MA)
- Jordan Eberle (NHL) - Athol Murray College of Notre Dame (SK)
- Hobey Baker (Ice Hockey) – St. Paul’s School (NH)
- Scott Young (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – St. Mark’s School (MA)
- Rod Brind’Amour (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – Athol Murray of Notre Dame (SASK)
- Steve Nash (NBA) – St. Michael's University School (BC)
- Barry Trotz (NHL) – Athol Murray of Notre Dame (SASK)
- Vincent Lecavalier (Ice Hockey Olympian NHL) – Athol Murray of Notre Dame (SASK)
- Brian Leetch (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – Avon Old Farms School (CT)
- Ward Burton (NASCAR) – Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
- Kacey Bellamy (Ice Hockey Olympian/NWHL) – Berkshire School (MA)
- Mari Holden (Olympic Cyclist) – Ojai Valley School (CA)
- Kendall Coyne Schofield (Ice Hockey Olympian/NWHL) – Berkshire School (MA)
- Dominic Seiterle (Olympic Rower) – St. Andrew's School (DE)
- Angela Ruggiero (Ice Hockey Olympian/CWHL) – Choate Rosemary Hall School (CT)
- Larry Fitzgerald (NFL) – Valley Forge Military Academy (PA)
- Dee Brown (NBA) – The Bolles School (FL)
- Hillary Knight (Ice Hockey Olympian/PWHPA) – Choate Rosemary Hall School (CT)
- Miles Chamley-Watson (Olympic Fencer) – Knox School (TN)
- Jack Harrison (Professional Soccer Player) – Berkshire School (MA)
- Victor Cruz (NFL) – Bridgton Academy (MA)
- Jayson Tatum (NBA) – Chaminade College Preparatory School (MO)
- Steve Heinze (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – Lawrence Academy (MA)
- Melvin Stewart (Olympic Swimmer) – Mercersburg Academy (NJ)
- Christian Wilins (NFL) – Suffield Academy (CT)
- Ric Flair (Wrestler) – Wayland Acadmey (WI)
- Ryan Semple (Olympic Alpine Skier) – Ashbury College (ON)
- Alexandra Carpenter (Ice Hockey Olympian/PHF) – The Governor's Academy (MA)
- Paul Stewart (NHL Player and Referee) - Groton School (MA)
- Jamie Hagerman (Ice Hockey Olympian) – Deerfield Academy (MA)
- Morgan Williams (Professional Rugby) - Albert College (ON)
- Beth Botsford (Swimming Olympian) – Garrison Forest School (MD)
- Joel Embiid (NBA) – Montverde Academy (FL)
- Andrew Weibrecht (Olympic Skier) – Northwood School (NY)
- Bradley Beal (NBA) – Chaminade College Preparatory School (MO)
- Bob Mathias (Olymian Decathlete) – Kiski School (PA)
- Francisco Lindor (MLB) – Montverde Academy (FL)
- Brett Hull (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – St. John’s-Ravenscourt School (MB)
- Jennifer Botterill (Ice Hockey Olympian/CWHL) – St. John’s-Ravenscourt School (MB)
- Gillian Apps (Ice Hockey Olympian/CWHL) – Havergal College (ONT)
- Meghan Duggan (Ice Hockey Olympian/NWHL) – Cushing Academy (MA)
- Brandon Wu (PGA) – Eaglebrook School (MA) & Deerfield Academy (MA)
- Plaxico Burress (NFL) – Fork Union Military Academy (VA)
- Jonathan Toews (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – Shattuck St. Mary’s School (MN)
- Sam Cassell (NBA) – Maine Central Institute (ME)
- Sidney Crosby (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – Shattuck St. Mary’s School (MN)
- Carmelo Anthony (Basketball Olympian/NBA) – Oak Hill Academy (VA)
- Anthony Nesty (Olympic Swimmer) – The Bolles School (FL)
- Mike Richter (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – Northwood School (NY)
- Bill Guerin (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) – Wilbraham & Monson Academy
- Roger Staubach (NFL) – New Mexico Military Institute (NM)
- Ben Simmons (NBA) – Montverde Academy (FL)
- Laurie Baker (Ice Hockey Olympian) – Lawrence Academy (MA)
- Tory Holt (NFL) – Hargrave Military Academy (VA)
- Joakim Noah (NBA) – Lawrenceville School (NJ)
- Gary Sutter – (Ice Hockey Olympian/NHL) - Culver Academies (IN)
- Cayla Barnes (Ice Hockey Olympian) – New Hampton School (NH)
- Brita Sigourney (Olympic Freestyle Skier) – Santa Catalina School (CA)
- Scott Frandsen (Olympic Rower) - Brentwood College School (BC)
- Andrew Drummond (NBA) – St. Thomas More School (CT)
- Ryan Murphy (Olympic Swimmer) – The Bolles School (FL)
- Mo Vaughn (MLB) – Trinity-Pawling School (NY)
- Chris Waddell (Sit-Skier & Wheelchair Track Paralympian) – Eaglebrook School (MA) & Deerfield Academy (MA)
- Jeff Batchelor (Olympic Snowboarder) – Appleby College (ON)
- Colleen Coyne (Ice Hockey Olympian) – Tabor Academy (MA)
- Tessa Gobbo (Olympic Rower) – Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
- Doug Brown (NHL) - Fay School (MA) & St. Mark's School (MA)
Musicians
- James Taylor – Milton Academy (MA)
- Stone Gossard – The Northwest School (WA)
- Joe Perry – Vermont Academy (VT)
- Michael Brun – Culver Academies (IN)
- Chris Frantz – Shady Side Academy (PA)
- Pete Seeger – Avon Old Farms School (CT)
- Cee Lo Green – Riverside Military Academy (GA)
- Trey Anastasio – The Taft School (CT)
- Jewel Kilcher – Interlochen Center for the Arts (MI)
- Bonnie Raitt – Oakwood Friends School (NY)
- David Crosby – Cate School (CA)
- Huey Lewis – Lawrenceville School (NJ)
- Kara DioGuardi – Masters School (NY)
- Taylor Eigsti – Woodside Priory School (CA)
- Talib Kweli – Cheshire Academy (CT)
- Natalie Cole – Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)
- Clifton Murray – Brentwood College School (BC)
- Kurt Elling – Culver Academies (IN)
Authors
- Claudia Emerson – Chatam Hall (VA)
- Oliver Stone – The Hill School (PA)
- J.D. Salinger – Valley Forge Military Academy (PA)
- Michael Ondaatje – Bishop's College School (QUE)
- Mark Strand – Oakwood Friends School (NY)
- Helen Keller – Cambridge School of Weston (MA)
- Charles Wright – Christ School (NC)
- John McPhee – Deerfield Academy (MA)
- Michael Beschloss – Eaglebrook School (MA) & Phillips Academy (MA)
- Daniel Alarcón - Indian Springs School (AL)
- James Merrill – Lawrenceville School (NJ)
- John Irving – Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
- Bob Ryan - The Lawrenceville School (NJ)
- David McCullough – Shady Side Academy (PA)
- Vermont Royster – The Webb School (TN)
- Chris Wallace – The Hotchkiss School (CT)
- David Hartman – Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)
- Elizabeth Cady Stanton – Emma Willard School (NY)
- John Green - Indian Springs School (AL)
- Tucker Carlson – St. George's School (RI)
- John Knowles – Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
- John Meacham – McCallie School (TN)
- Tobias Wolff – Hill School (PA)
- Jon Scieszka – Culver Academies (IN)
- Dan Brown – Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
- Robert Ludlum – Rectory School (CT) & Cheshire Academy (CT)
- Stephen Sondheim – George School (PA)
- Suzy Welch – Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
- James Dickey III – Darlington School (GA)
- Al Dubin – Perkiomen School (PA)
- Anne McCaffrey – Stuart Hall School (VA)
- Howie Carr – Deerfield Academy (MA)
- T.S. Eliot – Milton Academy (MA)
- Tim Footman – Appleby College (ONT)
- Peter Gammons - Groton School (MA)
Business
- Sarah Leary (Co-Fonder of Nextdoor – Middlesex School (MA)
- David Bigelow (Bigelow Tea Company) – Avon Old Farms School (CT)
- Kevin O’Leary (Shark Tank) – Stanstead College School (QUE)
- Juliette Gordon Low (Founder of the Girl Scouts) – Stuart Hall School (VA)
- James McLamore (Co-Founder and Chairman of Burger King) – Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
- Henry R. Kravis (Founder of KKR) – Eaglebrook School (MA) & Loomis Chaffee School (CT)
- Edsel Ford (President of Ford Motor Company) - The Hotchkiss School (CT)
- Daniel Gerber (Founder of Gerber Baby Foods) – St. John's Northwestern Academies (WI)
- Mark Zuckerberg (Founder of Facebook) – Phillips Exeter Academy (NH)
- Ross Cameron (President of Charms Candy) - West Nottingham Academy (MD)
- Lilly Pulitzer (Founder of Lily Pulitzer, Inc.) – Miss Porter’s School (CT)
- John Dryden (Founder of Prudential Insurance) – Worcester Academy (MA)
- George Steinbrenner (New York Yankees Owner) – Culver Academies (IN)
- Mark Cohoon (Canadian Football League Commissioner) – Upper Canada College (ONT)
- Kevin Plank (Founder of Under Armor) – Fork Union Military Academy (VA)
- Roberto Goizueta (CEO of The Coca-Cola Company) – Cheshire Academy (CT)
- Frank Batten (Co-Foudner of The Weather Channel) – Culver Academies (IN)
- S. Prestley Blake (Co-Founder of Friendly's Ice Cream) – Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
- Ty Warner (Founder & CEO of Beanie Babies, Inc.) – St. John's Northwestern Academies (WI)
- Lamar Hunt (Founder of the American Football League, Major League Soccer, World Championship Tennis & the Kansas City Chiefs) – The Hill School (PA)
- Roger Penske (Founder & Chairman of Penske Corporation) – Culver Academies (IN)
- Edgar J. Kaufmann (Owner's of Kaufmann's Department Store) – Shady Side Academy (PA)
- Rawleigh Warner Jr. (President & CEO of Mobile) – Lake Forest Academy (IL) & Lawrenceville School (NJ)
- Douglas Tompkins (Founder of North Face Inc. & Co-Founder of Espirit) – Indian Mountain School (CT) & Pomfret School (CT)
- Stewart Butterfield (Co-Founder of Flickr & Slack) – St. Michael's University School (BC)
- Nicholas Kraus (Founder of Wounded Warrior) – Forman School (CT)
- Leon Leonwood Bean (Founder of L.L. Bean) – Kents Hill School (ME)
- David Andrews (President and CEO of the American Hockey League) – King’s-Edgehill School (NB)
- Ted Turner (Founder of CNN) – McCallie School (TN)
- Steve Butterfield (Founder of Flickr & Co-Founder of Slack) – St. Michael's University School (BC)
- Ted Rogers (Founder of Rogers Communications) – Upper Canada College (ONT)
- Steve Forbes (Chairman and Editor in Chief of Forbes Magazine) – Brooks School (MA)
- Michael Eisner (Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Walt Disney Company) – Lawrenceville School (NJ)
- William Clay Ford Jr. (Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company) – The Hotchkiss School (CT)
- Leigh Perkins (President & CEO of Orvis) – Suffield Academy (CT)
- Sam Calagione (Founder of Dogfish Head Brewery) – Eaglebrook School (MA) & Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)
- JP Morgan (Founder of JPMorgan Chase & Company) – Cheshire Academy (CT)
- Richard Yeungling Sr. (President and Owner of Yeungling Brewery) – The Hill School
- Tom First (Co-Founder of Nantucket Nectars) – Concord Academy (MA)
- Jake Burton Carpenter (Founder of Burton Snowboards) – Marvelwood School (CT)
- Norman Brinker (Founder of Jack in the Box, Steak and Ale) – New Mexico Military Institute (NM)
- Michael Sabia (President & CEO of Bell Canada) – Ridley College (ONT)
- Paul Percy Harris (Founder of Rotary Club) – Vermont Academy (VT)
- Henry Ford II (President and CEO of Ford Motor Company) – The Hotchkiss School (CT)
- William Rhodes (President, Chairman & CEO of Citibank) – Northfield Mount Hermon School (MA)
- Eric Molson (Chairman of Molson Coors) – Bishop's College School (QUE)
- David Burpee (President of the W. Atlee Burpee Co.) – Culver Academies (IN)
- Allen C. Mayer (Vice President & Chairman of the Oscar Mayer Company) – Ashville School (NC)
- Oscar Tang (Co-Founder of Reich & Tang) – Rectory School (CT) & Phillips Andover Academy (MA)
Artists/Designers
- Cy Twombly – Darlington School (GA)
- Jason Wu – Eaglebrook School (MA) & Loomis Chafee School (CT)
- Georgia O’Keefe – Chatham Hall (VA)
- Nate Berkus – Cushing Academy (MA)
- J. Seward Johnson – Forman School (CT)
- Li Chung (Sandy) Pei – Middlesex School (MA)
- Frederick Law Olmsted – Phillip Andover Academy (MA)
- Garry Trudeau – St. Paul's School (NH)
- Perry Dye – The Winchendon School (MA)
- Eric Fischl – West Nottingham Academy (MD)
- Will Day – Cushing Academy (MA)
- Kristen Baker – Bekshire School (MA)
- J. Robert Seyffert – Fay School (MA)