THE MACFARLANE LEADERSHIP SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
“ The MacFarlanes’ belief in the power of a Chadwick education is more than personal. ”
“Their story is a reminder of the power of purposeful giving — and the enduring change that can come om believing in young people with promise.”
DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT TRENT JACKSON
In every great school community, there are families whose enduring commitment and generosity help shape the institution’s future. At Chadwick School, the MacFarlane family has long stood as a pillar of enduring vision and support. Their most impactful legacy is the creation and ongoing expansion of the MacFarlane Leadership Scholarship Program, which continues to open doors for promising students and nurture the values of academic excellence, character and leadership that define the Chadwick experience.
Established in 2007 by longtime Chadwick supporters Ruth and Roger MacFarlane, the scholarship was created to identify and support students who demonstrate both need and promise — young people whose academic achievements, integrity and potential for leadership merit investment and encouragement.
The MacFarlanes have been generous stew-
ards of the school for decades and their children Taryn ’94, Alex ’95, Katherine ’05 and Jessica ’07 are all Chadwick alumni. Ruth MacFarlane has served as a member of the Roessler-Chadwick Foundation Board of Trustees, and she and Roger co-chaired the Annual Fund in both 1996 and 1997. Their belief in the power of a Chadwick education is more than personal — it is philanthropic and forward-thinking, rooted in the idea that opportunity and leadership should go hand in hand.
The MacFarlane Leadership Scholarship is awarded to incoming ninth-grade students who demonstrate not only high academic achievement but also outstanding character and leadership potential. Scholars are selected not just for what they’ve already accomplished but for the ways they show promise as future leaders in their communities and the world.
Ruth and Roger MacFarlane at the annual dinner celebrating the growth of the program they founded.
more scholars in the future,” says Roger.
Eligibility for the scholarship is based on financial need, with students required to qualify for at least 50% tuition assistance. The support provided goes well beyond tuition alone, covering transportation, books and other school-related costs — ensuring that financial circumstances never become a barrier to full participation in school life.
Perhaps most notably, students are given the opportunity to participate in domestic and international trips as part of the MacFarlane Scholarship Program. These experiences allow students to stretch their understanding of the world, grow in confidence and apply their developing skills in real-world contexts. Under the direction of Director of Global Education Tommy Hattori, students research one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals annually. Next year, the Scholars will research UN Sustainable Development Goal #16, “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.” Students will travel to Los Angeles, San Francisco and South A!ica, learning as they travel, and applying these lessons in their local communities. They will present their observations at the annual MacFarlane Scholar Dinner in the Spring of 2026.
“I want to recognize the alumni who return each year, and we are so impressed by the demonstration of continued leadership in these students. For that reason, we are very excited to enhance and strengthen this program to include
In the years since its founding, the scholarship has grown significantly, thanks to continued gi"s !om the MacFarlane family and !om other inspired supporters. This year, the MacFarlanes have committed an additional $3.6 million, which will expand the program currently serving 12 scholars annually to serve 16 scholars annually by 2030.
Ruth adds, “This is such an extraordinary family with 21 alumni, 12 current scholars and three new incoming students. It is a miraculous thing! Every year, we see the transformation in these Chadwick students !om shy !eshmen into senior leaders with a clear mission and clear values.
Let’s make that family even bigger!”
For the MacFarlanes, philanthropy is not simply about giving — it’s about investing in potential. At Chadwick, their vision is felt not only in the scholarship but also in the spaces students inhabit, most notably the MacFarlane Family Courtyard, a welcoming campus hub named in their honor.
Now entering its third decade, the MacFarlane Leadership Scholarship Program continues to transform lives. Its recipients go on to thrive at Chadwick and beyond, shaped by the same values and aspirations that inspired Ruth and Roger to launch the program so many years ago.
“In New York, I witnessed firsthand how the concept of sustainable cities plays out in the way people live, how the city embraces everyone and how it continually aims to address genuine needs.
Seeing that made U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 11 feel tangible and personally meaningful.”
— ELLI ’27
“The program allowed me to feel part of a family that values character and leadership, and who works to share those values with others.”
— MAX ’24
“The MacFarlane Scholars allowed me not only to travel to South Africa, but also to practice being a curious scholar and curious leader while experiencing new cultures and communities.”
— JESSICA ’24
Ruth and Roger MacFarlane enjoying the MacFarlane Scholarship Dinner.
Roger at the dedication of the MacFarlane Family Courtyard in 2024.
MacFarlane Scholars in 2024-25 traveled to Tokyo, Japan (photos 1 and 2), downtown Los Angeles (photo 3) and to New York (photo 4).