Kassia Davis '06
YOUNG ALUMNA AWARD
Kassia Davis '06 is a Boston-based entrepreneur, mom, and business leader with decades of experience in the activewear industry. She is the founder and CEO of KADA, a sustainable ready-to-wear brand focused on elevated essentials. At KADA, she leads an all-women team committed to redefining how women think about what they wear.
Before launching KADA, Kassia spent more than a decade at New Balance, gaining extensive experience in product, sales, and global merchandising. She is also the owner and Executive Chairwoman of PF Flyers, where she spearheaded the relaunch of the iconic ’90s sneaker brand.
Kassia is deeply engaged in the Boston nonprofit community. She serves on the board of directors of the West End House Boys and Girls Club, the board of advisors for the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, and the board of trustees for the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. She’s also a committee member for the Boston Winter Ball, which benefits the Corey C. Griffin Foundation, and Big in Boston, an annual event supporting Big Sister Boston.
Recognized for her leadership and impact, Kassia was named one of Boston Magazine’s 150 Most Influential Bostonians and was a finalist for the 2024 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
A proud Worcester Academy alumna like her father, Jim Davis, Kassia was a standout student-athlete, playing varsity soccer and lacrosse. She went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Hispanic Studies from Boston College. Kassia now lives in the Boston area with her husband and their two children.
Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez '99
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA AWARD
Kelly M. Fay Rodríguez '99 has built a distinguished career at the intersection of labor rights, international law, and diplomacy. Most recently, she served in the Biden-Harris Administration as the lead diplomat for international labor policy, directing the U.S. Department of State’s Office of International Labor Affairs. In that role, she launched the first presidential initiative to embed labor rights into U.S. foreign policy.
Born and raised in Worcester in a proud union and immigrant family with roots in the Dominican Republic, Kelly found her voice at Worcester Academy. She was a student leader, scholar, and athlete—serving on the Board of Monitors, participating in the Multicultural Club, and earning the Thimble Club Scholarship. She played varsity soccer, basketball, and track and field, and was captain of both the soccer and basketball teams.
Kelly graduated from Worcester Academy in 1999 and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Trinity College. She received her law degree from CUNY School of Law as a Haywood Burns Civil and Human Rights Fellow.
Her early career included work with the AFL-CIO and the Solidarity Center, with assignments in Washington, D.C., and Bangladesh. She later practiced labor law with the Service Employees International Union and the New York State Attorney General’s Labor Bureau, advocating for workers’ rights and protections. Kelly has also participated in election observation missions in ten countries across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Jessica Phillips ’89
COLE PORTER ARTS RECOGNITION AWARD
Jessica Phillips '89 is an acclaimed Broadway and television actress whose career spans more than three decades. She is currently appearing in her ninth Broadway production, Redwood, at the Nederlander Theatre, where she stands by for Idina Menzel. In 2023, she earned critical acclaim for her starring role in Penelope, a one-woman musical that reimagines The Odyssey from the perspective of its long-waiting heroine.
A native of Sutton, Massachusetts, Jessica discovered her love for performing at Worcester Academy. She starred in school productions such as Sister, Sister, Princess Ida, and Picnic, and sang in the Worcester Academy Chorus under the direction of Donald Irving. These formative experiences sparked her passion for the stage and set the course for a lifelong performing career.
After graduating from Worcester Academy in 1989, Jessica earned her degree from Emerson College. She went on to build an impressive list of Broadway credits, including Dear Evan Hansen, Next to Normal, Leap of Faith, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Jesus Christ Superstar, and The Scarlet Pimpernel.
Her television work includes recurring roles as ADA Pippa Cox on Law & Order: SVU and Joan in Why Women Kill, as well as guest appearances on Elementary and Royal Pains. In addition to stage and screen, Jessica has performed in concerts across the country and was a featured vocalist during the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' 100th Anniversary celebration at The Kennedy Center.
Jessica currently lives outside New York City with her wife and is the proud mother of two sons.
Aliyah Boston ’19
VARSITY CLUB AWARD
Aliyah Boston '19 has distinguished herself as one of the most accomplished athletes in Worcester Academy history and beyond. Her success began with USA Basketball, where she earned multiple gold medals at international competitions including the 2017 FIBA Americas U16 Championship, the 2018 Youth Olympic Games, and the 2019 FIBA U19 World Cup. A consistent leader in scoring and rebounding, she established herself as a dominant force on the global stage.
After graduating from Worcester Academy, Aliyah attended the University of South Carolina. There, she earned numerous honors including the Naismith Trophy, Naismith Defensive Player of the Year (2022), the Honda Cup Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year, and SEC Roy F. Kramer Female Athlete of the Year.
In 2023, Aliyah was selected as the number one overall pick in the WNBA Draft by the Indiana Fever. She made an immediate impact, earning WNBA Rookie of the Year honors and a starting spot in the All-Star Game. She became just the eighth player in league history to achieve that distinction as a rookie. Aliyah led all first-year players in scoring, rebounding, and field goal percentage, and was a finalist for WNBA Defensive Player of the Year. Her poise, leadership, and all-around game quickly established her as one of the league’s rising stars.
In 2024, Worcester Academy retired Aliyah’s jersey, number 00, making her the first person in school history to receive this extraordinary honor.
Trailblazing Women of the Class of 1975
HALL OF FAME AWARD
The 2025 Hall of Fame inductees are the trailblazing women of the Class of 1975: Kathryn Bard, Denise Brennan, Nadine Hill, Carole Hilton, Donna Kayarian, and Margaret Prunier.
As Worcester Academy’s first women graduates, these remarkable alumnae helped lead the way during the school’s historic transition to coeducation. Their courage, resilience, and leadership helped shape the inclusive and vibrant community we know today.
