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Kassem L. Lucas ’90
How did being a student at George School change your life? I came from the Bronx to George School through the Albert G. Oliver Program, which recruits top black and Latino students for independent boarding schools. At George School I found a welcoming community, pleasant environment, challenging academics, and teachers, coaches, and mentors who guided me. Sports were a major influence. I played on one JV Football team and eleven varsity teams (football, basketball, and baseball). Most of my lifelong lessons—about leadership, integrity, teamwork, and dedication—come from my athletic experiences. Having the opportunity to attend George School and play sports opened a lot of doors.
Fitness and Athletics Capital Initiative Donor*
You’ve had other roles since then. Why do you stay connected? After college, I jumped at the opportunity to come back to live in a dorm, teach history, and coach the three sports I had played. George School had given me many opportunities, and I wanted to do the same for other kids. The plan was to teach for a year before law school, but one year became two. Then I ended up going to law school at night and living in Drayton for eleven years, even after I was a lawyer at a large firm. Since 2005 I’ve been on the George School Committee. I love the school and want to see it continue to grow, create good citizens, and do for others what it did for me.
I love the school and want to see it continue to grow, create good citizens, and do for others what it did for me.
Why do you feel contributing to sports facilities is important? George School sports are important for many students and alumni. On the athletic fields there’s camaraderie between people of different backgrounds. It doesn’t matter what race you are or where you’re from. We need to match the type of facilities other schools have today. And the facilities won’t just be for athletes. They’ll be for people who want to stay fit. Our kids deserve it, and it’ll only make George School better.
A graduate of Yale and Temple’s School of Law, Kassem is a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, where he is a litigator and also oversees diversity initiatives. He lives in Yardley and serves on the George School Committee and the executive committee of the Boys & Girls Club of Philadelphia. * A s a member of the school’s governing board, Kassem understands the importance of raising funds for new fitness and athletic facilities. Students are already benefiting from a new turf field and running track, dedicated to four beloved George School coaches.
P. Todd Makler Jr and Susan Rarig Makler ’65 Claudio and Savanna J. Mapelli Edward Marshall III and Joanna M. Bassert ’77 § Joseph and Barbara Marshall § Carolyn Walton Martin ’65 Dwayne L. McCoy ’94 John M. McDaniel III ’60 Elizabeth Cope McDonald ’69 § Debi Field McGrath Robert D. McNeil and Jennifer Cox McNeil ’77 § Pamela A. ’70 and Victoria Mederos-Streetz Ryan S. Mellon ’02 and Lauren Mauro Mellon ’01 Walter and Arlene B. Meranze Delia Mercene Natalie Sperry Meyer ’48 §
Dale K. Miller and Dorothy Pusey Miller ’48 Donald S. ’65 and Lynda Miller Gary M. Miller ’77 S. David Miller ’67 § Stephen P. Miller ’78 Jamaal B. Mobley ’00 Bethann Morgan ’81 Stephen A. ’82 and Laurie Moyer Lindalee Knight Mulligan ’80 § Bruce E. Nayowith ’73 § Tiffany M. Neidhardt Theodore and Marjorie Nickles § Emily Nicklin ’71 § Ralph and Sondra Nuzzolo George Oechsle Martin and Elizabeth Ogletree § Louis M. Onori Jr ’94 John D. Orr ’47 and Diane Siesel Orr ’52 §
Jane Oswald Frederick C. Paine ’71 Elias F. Papatestas ’90 W. Blake K. Jr ’65 and Janice Parry § Katherine Eudy Patterson Amanda Sloan Perez ’83 George L. ’58 and Nancy Pickering § William D. ’55 and Katherine K. Pickering § Martin Pincus and Patricia Kramon Pincus ’68 Chickie Poisson Andrew M. Popkin ’83 and Amy Taylor Popkin ’82 Arthur L. Powell § Nancy E Powell ’71 § Hugh L. Preece ’85 Susan Quinn Kevin S. Raff ’88
Christine Rauschkolb-Loeffler Huston Ripley Rodney Robinson § William B. Rodgers and Jody A. Krosnick Rodgers ’79 Seth A. Rosenthal ’78 § Daryl W. Roskos Jean Platt Rospondek ’69 Edith Holden Roth ’74 Michelle Ruess Douglas S. Russell ’62 Stella Lee Harned Russo ’65 Sally Holton Sakewicz ’62 Dudley W. Saurman ’62 Craig and Kim Scott Nicholas R. Segal ’79 Richard M. and Bette Segel § Phyllis F. Sexton § Jianqun Shao and Xin Zhang Michael D. Shepard ’80 §