2025 Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Greg Bamford ('92)

Congratulations to the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award recipient, Greg Bamford (’92). This impressive and inspiring Overlake alum, former faculty member, advisor, coach, trustee, and so much more, spoke to students earlier this month about how his Overlake experience shaped his trajectory.

Originally thinking he wanted to go into politics, Greg attended Georgetown before realizing very quickly that politics was not for him. Then he remembered the day one of his Overlake teachers, Jill Anthony, said, “You should be a teacher.” At the time he disregarded the comment, but it stuck with him years later as his career led to working in schools where he embraced hands-on learning and became a teacher, a head of school, and held many other roles at different schools, including Overlake.

A theme of his presentation was trying new things and pivoting when needed, while always staying curious. Greg talked about the many opportunities he pursued that didn’t work out the way he hoped and jobs he never got. The biggest takeaway from those experiences was, “feedback is just information. You tried a thing, and it didn’t work.” He encouraged students not to get stuck on one path for the future. “Keep an open mind,” he shared. “Life is really long, and it will change in ways you don’t expect. Sometimes you have to try things to know they’re not for you.”

Greg spoke fondly of some of his favorite teachers and showed pictures from his Overlake years including faculty and staff currently working at Overlake—a fun moment for students to spot their teachers and coaches in the photos.

Thank you, Greg, for returning to the nest and sharing your experiences with our Owl community! And congratulations again on receiving this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award!

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