leadersmatter
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ith the presentation of the George Ripley Student Humanitarian Award on the opening day of school, the NFA Alumni Association honored three extraordinary seniors. Nominees were Marissa Fitzgerald and Connie Ma. The award recipient was Cichen Lamu.
Teachers and peers alike recognize Lamu for her commitment to human rights, her great empathy for others, and her active efforts to improve our world at local and international levels.
Ripley Award nominations recognize a select segment of the senior class – talented, The NFA Alumni Association established committed, involved, multi-dimensional the George Ripley Student Humanitarian students. Ma was nominated for her work Award, given annually since 2009, to with Unified Club, Special Olympics, school recognize academic and personal climate committee, Student Advisory accomplishments and qualities of Board, and the National Honor Society. commitment, selflessness, She was the recipient and integrity in service of the National Youth to others. Ripley, one Service Award – Norwich “Treat others the way you of the Academy’s first Area, and was selected want to be treated back. graduates in 1858, was to attend the national It’s common sense.” the Alumni Association’s Generation Unified Leadfirst president. ership Summit in Los – Cichen Lamu Angeles this past July. When she was six and a half years old, Lamu came Fitzgerald is one of NFA’s to the United States from Tibet. Now, on student ambassadors, assisting with campus Friday nights she runs a Tibetan school from tours, orientation, and Wildcat Beginnings, her home, teaching nine younger children a summer program to familiarize incoming her native language. During the school freshman with campus and NFA life. She is a week, she is busy with her classes and leader in Project Outreach, has an interest in involved with the Business Club, the Cat video journalism, and is an active member Shack, Project Outreach, the Chinese of the yearbook staff. National Honor Society, and the Asian Lamu’s advice to younger students is simple, Culture Club. However, it is her work as but it is meaningful to people of all ages –“Be president of the Amnesty International yourself, find your friends and be confident.” Club and her passion and advocacy Lamu is proud of this recognition. She for human rights that brought forth her believes the Ripley Award proves that she nomination for the award by faculty has accomplished something meaningful. members Karen Cyr Cook ‘89, Kelley Coull The Alumni Association believes that the and Kasey McNatt, all members of the recognition is only a glimpse into the promise Social Studies Department. of the accomplishment and achievement “Cichen possesses a great interest in the of a bright future to come. world around her . . . ” wrote Cook, “feels “When I’m older I can look back and say, ‘I compassion for others and views herself as did something in the past, why not now?’” an active participant in global change.” Fall 2015
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