Alumni Association Bestows Honors

FWCD’s Alumni Association hosted its 16th Alumni Awards Dinner on September 22, 2022, to honor the Alumni Award winners. The evening felt extra special since the last awards ceremony took place in 2018. Asad Dean ’90, Alumni Council President, introduced each recipient with kind words about what makes them special and why they deserved each award. The 2022 Alumni Award winners are:

Dr. Jay Herd ’79, Fort Worth Ob/Gyn –Distinguished Alumni

When presented with his award, Dr. Herd said, “I really want to thank Fort Worth Country Day for all they have done for me … being a shy, young student and being accepted into the community. As a [college] preparatory school, I think it prepared me … academically, athletically, socially and everything else, to become a leader and do the things that are required to do the different jobs I have now. I want to end with a quote from Eddie Schenecker, Founding Trustee: ‘To the students who remain, I offer the challenge to continue this era of excellence and to set the example for those to follow in your footsteps, to participate, to lead in a positive manner and to maintain, or even improve upon, those standards of citizenship and academic achievement set by those who preceded us.’”

Dr. Jay Herd ’97, Fort Worth Ob/Gyn, was honored with the Distinguished Alumni Award, and Andy Cordell, former Upper School Science Teacher, received the Honorary Alumni Award.

Andy Cordell, Former Upper School Science Teacher – Honorary Alumni

“It has always been my pleasure to teach students,” Cordell shared, “I enjoyed teaching at every place that I taught, but Country Day is a family. I found that out not too long ago when my wife had an accident. The people of FWCD were the ones that responded with help, calls and bringing food. They are truly family.”

Laura Bonnell Alexander ’88, Hilltop Securities Senior Managing Director – Jean Webb Service to Alma Mater

Bonnell shared: “I am honored to be a recipient of this year’s Service to Alma Mater Award, and I am proud to be associated with the distinguished list of former recipients.

I had a wonderful experience as a 13-year student at Fort Worth Country Day. As a result, I have tried to make giving back to the School a priority in life over the subsequent 30plus years, and I have worn many different hats as a Falcon volunteer. Serving this school as an alum has, in some ways, been a continuation of my student years at FWCD with the opportunities to learn, to grow, even to compete. Fort Worth Country Day has long been, and always will be, an intricate part of who I am. It has been a privilege to contribute my abilities toward the betterment of such a wonderful institution.”

Jill Klabzuba Ahrens ’97, American Film Producer and Founder and Principal of Argent Pictures –Falcon Star

Ahrens was unable to attend the ceremony. Her award was delivered to her in California.