Aiglon's 75th Anniversary Finale: Community Spirit reconnects on the Mountain

Community spirit is at its best when we are all congregated once again back on the mountain. 

Following a year of celebratory events around the globe and months of development on the Aiglon College campus, the school hosted over 900 community members - alumni, parents, world-renowned artists, former staff and friends - to celebrate the finale of the 75th anniversary celebrations, thank our donors and volunteers, and to introduce the campus developments. 

The weekend opened with a series of celebratory events to inaugurate new spaces and thank those who had contributed generously to their realisation, including the Moghadam Campus Hub, Chalet Barbey as well as Niccolo’s Terrace at Alpina, the Applied Innovation & Robotics (AIR) Lab, and Emerging Technologies Lab (ET). The Aiglon community then took over the Villars Palace Hotel for the Gala Soirée event on Friday. We welcomed alumni for a special campus open house on Saturday, followed by a Swiss food truck rodeo and Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra playing live in the Tony Jashanmal Sports Centre. To round off the magical weekend on Sunday, alumnus Todd Barbey (Clairmont, 1967) delivered the first Aiglon Meditation in the new auditorium before a brunch in the new restaurant.

“Here at Aiglon, as we celebrate 76 years of this extraordinary school, I often find myself asking: What would John Corlette do?” and indeed “What would John Corlette think?” stated Nicola Sparrow, School Director. “I believe the answer is clear — he would be deeply proud. Proud not only of what Aiglon has achieved, but of how we’ve remained true to the values that he held dear.” 

Lang Lang Opens the New Moghadam Campus Hub

It was a privilege to be able to welcome internationally acclaimed pianist, Lang Lang, to give the first-ever recital in the Moghadam Campus Hub’s auditorium. Lang Lang performed Chopin, and the Disney classic, Can You Feel the Love Tonight? - from "The Lion King" for over 300 invited guests on the school’s brand new Steinway Model D. The piano was entirely funded through community philanthropy with each of the 88 keys a donation from alumni, staff, students and friends. Upon leaving Villars Lang Lang shared “I had a wonderful time visiting Aiglon College in Villars-sur-Ollon to open their new building.”

In March 2023, Aiglon embarked on the largest and most ambitious project in our school’s history - the construction of the Moghadam Campus Hub. Our alumnus Hamid Moghadam and his wife Tina generously made a gift of 6 million US dollars towards the development of this building - home to our new school restaurant and auditorium. Hamid and Tina will be a source of inspiration for current and future students to strive for success and achieve great things, while emphasising the importance of giving back. “The unveiling of this new Aiglon treasure is the result of an impressive amount of collaboration and dedication to Aiglon’s strategic Campus Masterplan’ stated Alessandro Corsini, (Delaware, 1975), ACSSA Chair, Alumni Association President during his ribbon-cutting remarks.

This building will serve as the central gathering point for the entire campus, where students, faculty, and staff can come together. It will accommodate social events and gatherings, including meditation, assemblies, lectures, performances, and communal dining, strengthening the community feel that lives at the heart of our educational approach.

Chalet Barbey, Niccolo’s Terrace, AIR & ET Labs

Throughout the weekend, various other spaces on campus were also inaugurated. Chalet Barbey will serve as the new Welcome Centre, hosting the Admissions team and School Director’s office. The building is named for alumnus Todd Barbey (Clairmont, 1967) whose commitment to Aiglon’s scholarship programmes has been instrumental in growing the number of places we are able to offer, giving the gift of an Aiglon education to more young people than ever before. In this new space, all Aiglonians will begin their school journey.

We also celebrated the life of Niccolo Igleasis Broi (Alpina, 2022) by opening the renovated Alpina Terrace in his memory. Made possible by the generosity of his family and friends, Niccolo’s Terrace is a special place to remember a treasured alumnus and where new friendships will be forged for generations to come. 

Furthermore, Aiglon continues to enhance its commitment to innovation with the opening of two new cutting-edge spaces: the 'Applied Innovation & Robotics Lab' (AIR Lab) and the 'Emerging Technologies Lab' (ET Lab). After successive years competing in the VEX world finals in Dallas (and making the final 16 on both occasions!), these new facilities will take our robotics and engineering programmes to the next level.

We were honored to inaugurate the new facilities in the presence of our donor families.  “This space represents more than bricks and mortar, it is a bold step into the future. I don’t know of another school space like this - certainly none that I have visited” stated Nicola Sparrow, School Director. 

The AIR Lab includes a Design, Build and Test space. The ET Lab, in particular, promises to be a voyage of discovery where students can experiment with new tools and methodologies, from virtual and augmented reality to AI-driven simulations. It will also provide a permanent home for our growing Esports teams.

More than ever, philanthropy is allowing Aiglon to do more, faster. The incredible support of our community is allowing Aiglon to develop the campus, enhance programmes, and grow the scholarship programme like at no other time in our 76 years history. Without the time, talent, and treasure of our global community, we simply would not be the school we are today. Thank you.  

Weekend Celebrations

With all of these events as the backdrop, the 75th Finale was officially marked by a gala soirée held at the VIllars Palace Hotel. Alumni and community members had registered throughout the day next to the Aiglon Chapel, enjoying reunion moments alongside the school’s archive display and shop in the chapel.

Over 600 guests descended on the Palace for an evening of music, dancing and connecting with old and new friends. The event will go down as a reunion highlight in the school’s history, and a record at bringing so many Aiglonians together under one roof. The community spirit was intertwined throughout the evening as guests drank sparkling rosé from the California vineyards of alumnus Tom Meadowcroft to dancing to the beats of DJ-alumna Michele Adamson.

Celebrations with a touch of Swiss flavour continued the next day with an afternoon of campus tours leading into raclette and fondue food trucks accompanied by alphorns reminded alumni of the many hours spent in the Swiss Alps. Jools Holland & His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra with a 22-piece set offered an evening of dancing and good times. The energy in the room was electrifying, with all generations gathered together. Jools Holland glanced into the crowd and stated “This is a very well known school, known for being openminded.” 

Aiglon Meditation 

Todd Barbey (Clairmont, 1967) hosted the first meditation in the new Hub. The theme was ‘A Meditation on Forgiveness’. The stillness and quiet fell upon the room, as his meditation resonated in the auditorium, and the sun shone with the view of the Dents du Mid. “Today we pause for a moment. Not just to be still, but to reflect on a virtue that belongs to no single culture, language, or faith: namely forgiveness” he mentioned during his meditation. 

“Thank you, Todd, for sharing such a moving meditation with us this morning,” said Nicola Sparrow. “Your words remind us of the values at the heart of Aiglon — compassion, humility, and the courage to grow together. In a community as diverse and spirited as ours, forgiveness and kindness are not only ideals but daily practices that allow us to live well with one another. We are deeply grateful, Todd, not just for your message today but for your enduring generosity and care for this school, which continues to guide and inspire us all.” 

Reflecting Our Heritage, Embracing the Future

For 75 years the Aiglon community has grown; community growth, personal growth, campus developments and our global footprint. We are all interconnected from this Alpine school experience. All Aiglonians share formative experiences and values that guide our journey through life. The community becomes a constant to which we can return; to reflect and to continue learning. By celebrating this multicultural and multifaceted heritage we look to the future and the power of human connection to enable us all to prosper, learn and give back.

“As we reflect on 75 years of vision, courage, and care, I hope you feel deeply proud — of what this school has become, and of the lives it continues to shape," said Nicola Sparrow. “We are a school that embraces excellence, but never at the expense of kindness. We educate for impact, but always with humility. And we grow not just buildings, but people — equipped to lead with character, empathy, and spirit”. 

Aiglon extends its heartfelt thanks to the whole community who were able to join us on campus, as well as those who support from afar. A special big thanks to our staff who invested over 500 volunteer hours across the 4-day programme. The weekend was defined by how important it is to celebrate community, and the many contributions of time, talent and treasure that have shaped Aiglon into the leading institution that it is today.