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Otis Read Portrait
DYSON P. EHRHARDT ’59
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WINS THE FIRST JACK H. WILLIAMS AWARD
By: Mac Kennedy
There is no doubt Boys’ Latin School is a better place because of Dyson Ehrhardt. Last year Boys’ Latin celebrated Dyson’s 60 years of service to the School.
In every way, Dyson and Boys’ Latin are one in the same. It is hard to think of one without the other, and, perhaps, that is why many have come to consider him affectionately as “Mr. Boys’ Latin.” There isn’t anything he wouldn’t do for the School and for the BL family, and his compassion for, and mentoring of countless Lakers for countless years have endeared him to all of his fellow alumni.
At April’s virtual event The Lake Show – A Night on the Lake, Dyson received the first Jack H. Williams ‘38 Award, given annually to a member of the Boys’ Latin community, who exhibited selfless dedication, exemplified compassion towards others and embodied an exceptional personal commitment to the well-being of the School. This individual exhibits the same qualities as Jack Williams, Former Headmaster, who contributed substantially to the School, improving the lives of BL students and the Boys’ Latin community, while living the School’s motto - Esse Quam Videri - “to be rather than to seem.”
During The Lake Show, Maryland’s Governor Hogan proclaimed:
On behalf of the entire State of Maryland, I, Larry Hogan, Governor of Maryland, wish to send the State of Maryland’s, and my deepest and most heartfelt congratulations to you, Dyson P. Ehrhardt, for your 60 years of service to The Boys’ Latin School of Maryland. You have been a teacher, coach, administrator, mentor and friend to thousands of Lakers since 1962 and I know how much you are loved in the BL community. Dyson, again congratulations on an incredible career.
Dyson’s contributions to the school are immeasurable and Boys’ Latin will forever be grateful for his dedication and devotion to the School. He remains to this day “Mr. BL.”
UNDER THE BIG TOP
By: Stephanie McLoughlin
The spring of 2020-2021 was a time of great joy on Lake Avenue. A 12,000 square foot tent, aka The Big Top, adorned the front lawn of Williams Hall, creating a space to celebrate the resilience and spirit of our community. Under The Big Top, we hosted more than fifteen events to celebrate our students, faculty and staff and our alumni. Along with our 177th Commencement, fifth and eighth grade moving up ceremonies and Homecoming (featured later in the magazine), we hosted a number of smaller events.
“Our boys have worked so hard under very difficult circumstances and our community’s support and generosity have been inspiring,” said Headmaster Chris Post. “We were thrilled to be able to celebrate the boys across all divisions and host so many members of our community on campus.”
The Fifth Grade Tie Ceremony marks a significant milestone in the boys’ journey on Lake Avenue, as it is when fifth graders received their first-ever BL tie. Mr. Post spoke about how the tie connects them to all the alumni and students who have come before and those who will follow. It was a beautiful morning for the Senior Mother-SonBreakfast, a long-standing BL tradition. The breakfast was a great celebration of the Class of 2021 and the special role that moms have played in their sons’ journey.
We were thrilled to welcome back members of the Class of 2020 and their families to celebrate their resilience and to simply provide them with the opportunity to spend time with each other and members of the BL community.
Senior prom also took place under the celebration tent. There were food trucks, a magician, carnival games, ax throwing (the axes were inflatable, of course), a DJ and lots of dancing. The evening was an instant hit!
All of our employees joined us for our Faculty and Staff Appreciation event to recognize faculty service awards, those retiring and all the incredible work that has happened over the past fourteen months. Faculty that retired in 2020 also returned to campus to join in the celebration and be recognized for their service to the School.
Over the past year, every member of our community helped turn obstacles into opportunities and ensured that our boys were engaged, connected and thriving and for that, we are grateful.
