The first meeting of the NFA Alumni Association took place on December 21, 1876 at the residence of Professor William Hutchinson, the Principal of the Academy.
A committee of five was appointed to devise and decide upon the best means to raise a fund, the income of which would be devoted to the interest of the Academy. Geo. Ripley, J. Blackstone, F. Leavens, E. Norton and M. Collins constituted that committee.
The first President of the Alumni Association was George Ripley, class of 1858, who was elected May 16, 1877. The first Annual Meeting/Reunion of the Association was held on July 3, 1877 and every class that had graduated since the founding of the Academy was well represented.
The Norwich Free Academy is a private school which serves a public purpose. The creation of the Alumni Association was intended to support NFA financially and through service. This tradition of alumni support continues today.
