“Lawrence is the place where I became me”

By Anne O’Connor ’78

Most people mature and come into their own during college, but David Betses ’74’s journey began at a younger age. “Lawrence is the place where I became me. My character developed at LA,” he says.

David and his wife, Jean, are thoroughly impressed with the direction Lawrence Academy is taking under the leadership of Head of School Dan Scheibe. “It would be a great time to be at LA now, I think, based on his leadership,” David says.

When Jean first attended a reunion with David, she instantly fell in love with Lawrence’s students. She saw that faculty cared for them and noticed how the relationships between students and faculty gave the teens sophisticated ways of communicating with people who are older than them. “They can write. They can talk. They’re just a joy to be around,” Jean says, adding that the new Community Commons building, which will integrate the dining hall and student center and bring students together, is just what bright, smart kids who can get lost in their desire to succeed need.

Jean also loves LA’s work with students who learn differently. “For someone who lived it, that means everything,” she says, explaining that she was in her junior year at Vassar College before someone put a name to her learning differences. “You can’t imagine the weight that lifted. I’m so glad to hear that the kids are going to get support,” she adds.

David and Jean are excited to support LA. Jean sees a campus that values the diversity and the specialness of its strong, interesting students, while David sees a school where students are excelling. “Spending time with the students is LA’s best advertisement,” David says.

“In just every way,” he adds, “we feel comfortable supporting LA.”