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ALUMNI NEWS
THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 2020/2021 PRESIDENT Charlie C. Keller ’95 FIRST VICE PRESIDENT Heather Elliott Hoover ’91 P’20 ’23 ’24 SECOND VICE PRESIDENT Gregory G. Melconian ’87 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Charles Hughes ’68 Ralph Spooner ’75 Tres Arnett ’79 P’16 Matt Dominy ’65 Elizabeth Greenberg Wilkinson ’02 Emily Wilson ’05 Morgan Dever Morris ’06 Porter Braswell ’07 ALUMNI TRUSTEES Heather Woods Rodbell ’91 Mark M. Larsen ’72 P’01 ’04 ’06 Jennifer Ridley Staikos ’91 Vincent J. “Biff” Cahill ’68 P’09 SELECTORS James A. Rowan Jr. ’66 Emily Wilson ’05 Rocky Barber ’69 P’08 Nina Mackenzie Kumar ’02 Maine Huang Park ’88 P’22 ’23 Emily Starkey ’03 FACULTY LIAISON Emilie Kosoff H’88 ’96 ’00 ’18 P’19 EX OFFICIO Cat Bramhall ’88 (Lawrenciana)
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FROM THE ALUMNI ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT
s a parent of two elementary school children, I feel as though my job is threefold: 1) to keep them safe; 2) to impart the Golden Rule and raise them to be considerate and compassionate human beings; and 3) to make sure they develop some grit, i.e., the resilience and resourcefulness to handle the challenges that life will throw at them. On a neardaily basis I am reminded that it is an ongoing process, but I believe in the importance of the mission, and I want to do it well. I see the same at Lawrenceville. My final year as president of the Alumni Association was eventful, to say the least; our school is not immune to localized adversity, nor to the forces that have so dramatically changed all of our lives around the world. I have watched Lawrenceville respond, and I am immensely proud of our leadership and our community. I have often said that — for better or for worse — the point of a private institution is to create its own culture. I have always felt that Lawrenceville has done it for the better, and I believe that now more than ever. Having had the chance to work closely with the School’s culture-setters for the last few years, I have great faith in our trustees, led by Michael Chae ’86, and our administration, led by Head of School Stephen Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21, to guide Lawrenceville through challenging times. I have seen crises arise and be met with great integrity. I have seen difficult circumstances acknowledged and addressed with accountability and good faith. Most recently, I have seen the School and its many constituents respond to a global pandemic with tremendous resilience, determined to make the best of an unfortunate situation and to continue moving forward. Our alma mater was founded shortly after the American Revolution by a Presbyterian minister who was unequivocally optimistic about this new country and about the ability of Lawrenceville graduates to use their gifts to improve upon the life of man, which, as Thomas Hobbes observed, is all too often “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” We have successfully nurtured that optimism for 210 years because we care deeply about Lawrenceville and its place in the world. Today is no different; we will once again rise to the challenges that face us, overcome them, and be better for the considerable efforts asked of us all. It has been an honor to work with all the members of the Alumni Association Executive Committee, and I greatly appreciate the assistance provided to us by the Alumni Office. I am grateful for the thoughtful guidance and advice of my predecessors Leigh Lockwood ’65 P’97 ’02, Tim Wojciechowicz ’78 P’06 ’10 ’12, and Jennifer Ridley Staikos ’91, each of whom led the Alumni Association with skill and grace. I know that my successor and classmate Charlie Keller ’95 is more than ready to step in as president, which he did in July. I wish you and yours all the best as we collectively navigate all that 2020 has in store for us — and whatever comes next. Let us move forward with compassion and resilience, and with optimism. To be a Lifelong Lawrentian requires nothing less. Kind regards, Ian Rice ’95 Outgoing President, Alumni Association ianrice@gmail.com
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