Long-time Faculty Member Honored with Distinguished Service Award

In addition to sharing good food and great company, Bridgton’s recent Boston gathering also included the presentation of the Academy’s Ray T. McDonald, Jr. Distinguished Service Award. The McDonald Award, initially established in 1986, recognizes meritorious support of Bridgton Academy over a continued period of time. Our 2025 recipient, Joe Daley ’77, has certainly embodied this award criteria in his forty-plus years of dedicated work here in North Bridgton.

During the award presentation, Head of School Diana J. Gleeson shared the following remarks: “If you know Bridgton Academy, you know Joe. He brings his leadership, character, and a depth of experience to each and every interaction. Joe is passionate about supporting the work and mission of Bridgton. He has a depth of institutional knowledge and stories that give him legend status. While it’s almost impossible to measure the impact on young men that Joe has had, we can estimate that, during his time to date, over 6,000 young men have been impacted by Joe, along with many faculty members who he has mentored as well. While no single person is bigger than Bridgton Academy, Bridgton Academy and Joe Daley have been symbiotic for 41-years and counting. Joe’s message of appreciation was simple upon his acceptance of the award. “Where would you be, where would we be, without Bridgton?” Congratulations to Mr. Joe Daley ’77 on this award recognition.