CAPSTONE BRINGS ELECTION EXPERTS HOME Lawrenceville brought U.S. election experts to Fifth Formers enrolled in its Capstone course — not as planned in Woods Memorial Hall but instead right to their homes. Speakers previously scheduled to address Lawrentians on campus did so virtually, allowing students to continue their examination of this year’s topic, the 2020 U.S. presidential election. “Since its inception, this course has been about a citizen’s duty to think deeply about questions that do not have obvious answers and are open to debate,” said history master Erik Chaput, co-director of the Capstone program, who added that the course “is about what much of Lawrenceville is about: citizenship and public affairs.” Chaput was grateful to the series of speakers who made themselves available for online speaking. The spring terms saw Capstone students benefit from the scholarship and expertise of: L Kristi Anderson, the Chapple Family
Professor of Citizenship and Democracy, Emerita, at Syracuse University, who provided an overview of the 2020 U.S. presidential race; L Keith Bybee, vice dean and the Paul E. and
Hon. Joanne F. Alper ’72 Judiciary Studies Professor at the Syracuse University College of Law, who addressed “The Contentious Supreme Court”; L William Hudson, professor of political
science at Providence College, who spoke about “Challenges to American Democracy”; L Julian Zelizer, the Malcolm Stevenson
Forbes, Class of 1941 Professor of History and Public Affairs at Princeton, who addressed “Crises in American Democracy”; L David W. Blight, the Class of 1954
Professor of American History and director of the Gilder Lehrman Center for the Study of Slavery, Resistance, and Abolition at Yale University;
Capstone speaker Julian Zelizer, a professor of history and public affairs at Princeton, is also a regular contributor to CNN.
L Jami Floyd P’20, host of NPR’s All Things
Considered, on “Presidents and the Media”; L Sam Wang, professor of molecular biology
and neuroscience at Princeton and founder of the Princeton Election Consortium, on “Elections and Political Polarization”; L Michael J. Klarman, the Kirkland & Ellis
Professor at Harvard Law School, on “Brown v. Board of Education”;
UNDERFORM PRIZE ANNOUNCEMENTS CLOSE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR On the last day of classes in June, Lawrenceville awarded four of its most prestigious awards for underform students. Prizes awarded to graduating Fifth Form students are listed in the Commencement 2020 coverage on page 20. The Reuben T. and Charlotte Boykin Carlson Scholarship Witt Phillips ’22
L Gabe Debenedetti ’08, national
Awarded to a Third Form boarding student who epitomizes the traits of an exemplary Lawrentian. This award covers a portion of the student’s tuition and expenses for his/her remaining two years at Lawrenceville.
correspondent for New York magazine, on how COVID-19 will affect the election.
The Mario Award
L Robert George, the McCormick Professor
of Jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Institute at Princeton; and
In addition to learning from outside experts, students consumed a wide range of opinions on issues concerning the election before sharing and discussing their conclusions. Students then drafted papers addressing the three issues they believe will have the most impact on the election. Since 1990, the Culbertson Capstone Program has educated Lawrentians in contemporary issues, providing an opportunity for Fifth Formers to synthesize the intellectual skills they’ve developed over the course of their Lawrenceville careers. The course is highlighted by lectures from nationally known experts who present diverse points of view on topics of contemporary relevance — from climate change, to post-Katrina New Orleans, to religion and politics. In addition to Chaput, other Capstone instructors include history masters Kayla Corcoran, David FigueroaOrtiz, co-director Cara Hyson, and Regan Kerney.
Caroline Foster ’21 Eric Morais ’21 Given annually to two Fourth Formers — one from the Crescent and one from the Circle — for their contributions to their Houses and the greater Lawrenceville community. Recipients receive a portion of their Fifth Form year tuition, as well as funds for a summer experience of their choice, a House celebration, and for general House events.
The Katherine W. Dresdner Cup Stanley House Presented annually to the Crescent House earning the best record in both House and School athletics.
The Foresman Trophy Griswold House Presented annually to the Circle House earning the best record in both House and School athletics.
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