ALUMNI WEEKEND 2016 BRINGS ALUMNI, FAMILIES, AND FRIENDS TO CAMPUS
Friday evening's music was provided by Katie Stuckey Rushing '98 with the band Grand Old Grizzly featuring Will Thomas '97 and Chris Lewis '96.
piscopal High School launched its second annual Alumni Weekend on Friday, April 1, as alumni, friends, faculty, and family gathered to celebrate the Bishops Alumni Award recipients, Andrew Hawthorn '91 and Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts '96, along with Hexagon Distinguished Faculty and Staff Award recipients, Karen Foster and Julie Rollins. In Chapel on Friday, the student body was able to take in two incredibly compelling talks by Hawthorn, a product marketing senior consultant at Dell Computers, and nonfiction writer Rhodes-Pitts, author of the critically acclaimed 2011 book, Harlem is Nowhere: A Journey to the Mecca of Black America. Hawthorn spoke of the profound impact that Episcopal High School had on shaping who he is today and also the lives of his brother and sister-in-law who are alumni. He said that the faculty and staff helped him to identify talents that he continued to explore in college as well as his career. Addressing the seniors, Hawthorn encouraged them not to forget EHS and to use the moral compass provided to them during their high school years to make the most of the next stages in their lives. He reminded the underclassmen that they are in a special place where they will learn many life lessons beyond those lessons in taught in textbooks or classroom lectures.
Rhodes-Pitts reflected on the many hours she spent in the Chapel and how participation in community service such as Student of Service (SOS), helps to foster a greater community beyond the walls of EHS. She challenged the students to think about the wider connections in their lives and to consider those who came before them as they embark upon the future. Rhodes-Pitts, currently living in Haiti researching her second book, shared that Haiti and the United States have a significant connection, and had it not been for the Haitian revolution, the Louisiana Purchase never would have transpired. Her historical references demonstrated that even though events occurred in years past, their impact is still significant today. Friday evening found Crum Field House filled with alumni, families, and friends to honor Hawthorn, Rhodes-Pitts, Foster, and Rollins. A special thank you is due to Jennifer Collins McCormick '94 who chaired the all-alumni gathering. To kick off the evening, Assistant Head of School Nancy Eisenberg proudly introduced the alumni award winners and shared an inspiring overview of their lives and careers after Episcopal High School. Her remarks reflected the lives of significance led by both Hawthorn and Rhodes-Pitts.
