A Conversation About Giving and Receiving a Chance

By Griffy Whitman '25

Griffy Whitman ’25, a lacrosse player with a deep interest in writing and literature, was named a Maine Scholar and is starting a newspaper at SCH Academy through his CEL Capstone course.

It wasn’t until I learned that I had won the Jordie Maine ’79 Scholarship that I knew for sure I was going to SCH. Receiving that offer from the Maine family inspires me every day to take chances myself, now that I’m here.

A member of the CHA Athletic Hall of Fame, the late Jordie Maine ’79 was well-rounded, well-liked, and just an all-around authentic person. I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity and responsibility of perpetuating his positive impact at SCH and in the community he cherished.

Being chosen for the scholarship assured me that I would be capable of upholding Jordie’s legacy and able to succeed here at SCH. For me, that means pushing past the norm to be extra friendly in the hallways or extra participative in a tired class on a Monday morning. Thinking about honoring Jordie and the scholarship often serves as motivation to do another workout or take initiative in a club.

Recently, I was able to sit down for a conversation with Emery Maine Greenwood ’06, one of Jordie’s daughters, also an Athletic Hall of Fame inductee, who has two children at SCH. The Maine family has found that the scholarship has been the impetus for alumni and friends to re-engage with the school with Jordie’s “legacy and memory as the motivation,” for which the family is endlessly appreciative. “Our ability to do something meaningful came from the support of so many people,” she said. This conversation was rewarding for me because I was able to both express my gratitude for the opportunity I have to be at SCH, as well as gain some insight as to Ms. Greenwood’s thoughts on giving chances, and what people can do with them when they’re offered.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR CONVERSATION.

GW: I'M SO GRATEFUL TO BE HERE EVERY DAY AND FOR THE OPPORTUNITY THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY (AND FRIENDS) GAVE ME. ON YOUR END, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO GIVE A CHANCE?

EG: That's such a good question. It feels really good. I think that's ultimately why we wanted to do this: to feel a personal connection to something in honor of my dad. This place was so much a part of our everyday lives and was so much a part of my dad's life. It feels amazing to be able to give this opportunity to students like yourself who are so deserving and just incredible people and have so much to offer. We think that SCH benefits so much from you being here.

And so, to be able to have a small part in having you be at the school and having my dad be connected to that and to keep his name and his memory alive here is, it's just the best feeling for us, for him.

THANK YOU.

Like I said, you deserve it.

I THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME, KEEPING YOUR DAD’S SPIRIT AND LEGACY ALIVE AT SCH. WHAT DO YOU HOPE MAINE SCHOLARS DO WITH THEIR CHANCE?

I love that SCH sort of meets you where you are and wants to foster what you want to do. I feel like the first thing to do with that chance is to make the most of your time here; rely on the people who want to support you, help you grow, and push you to just explore whatever you want to do. Everybody's available to you, everybody's accessible. And so whatever it is that you're interested in or passionate about, there's somebody here that can help you take that to the next level if you want to. Chance, if you want it, is here for you. You just have to go get it.

I WAS WONDERING IF YOU REMEMBER A TIME THAT JORDIE TOOK A CHANCE ON SOMETHING HE MAY HAVE BEEN UNSURE OF OR THAT PERHAPS HAD UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

He decided to take a big chance and leave his position at his firm in 2015. He was going to get out of the financial services business entirely. And in the interim, he just wanted to have a break. He—we all, really—had the best summer. I had just left my job. He had just left his job. My brother had just graduated from college. My sister was going into her senior year of college. So we were all at this inflection point.

THAT'S AMAZING.

There was fishing and beach and family time. It was just the pinnacle; it was the best month. And then he ended up getting sick. Labor Day weekend is when we found out, when our world turned upside down. But in hindsight, we're so grateful that he had that time, that we had that time as a family. It was the perfect period of time when he was free, he was resetting, and we were with family. Obviously, I wish that went on for longer, but that was a big chance that he took.

THAT DOES SOUND LIKE A BIG LIFE CHANGE. AS I SEE IT, STUDENTS ARE OFTEN SCARED OF FAILING. BUT WHAT DR. DINKINS SAID IS THAT THE GOAL OF TAKING A CHANCE IS TO EFFECT POSITIVE CHANGE. I THINK THAT THE PEOPLE WHO TAKE CHANCES ARE THE PEOPLE WHO END UP MAKING CHANGE IN THE WORLD.

Chance takers are change makers. You should patent that. Change is always scary. That's something that my dad definitely said to me. And I still think about it. But you have to take that jump to get there. Things that are important, like effecting change, are going to feel a little scary.

RIGHT, EXACTLY. I’LL KEEP THAT IN MIND. AND, SPEAKING OF CHANCES, I’M STARTING A STUDENT PUBLICATION, A NEWSPAPER THROUGH MY CEL CAPSTONE COURSE. THERE'S NO STUDENT-LED NEWSPAPER RIGHT NOW.

That's awesome because it would be easy to say, “Oh there’s no student newspaper so I guess I’ll do something else.” That’s the easy path. You have to find where there are opportunities for change or opportunities for growth. I’m really proud of you, I can’t wait to read it.

THANK YOU, AGAIN. AND, AS YOU SAID, THE THINGS THAT ARE HARD ARE OFTEN THE MOST REWARDING.

Yes, absolutely. You summed it up, right there.

The Jordie Maine Scholarship

The Maine family: From left: Jack Maine ’11, Libbie Maine ’12, SCH Trustee Debbie Maine H’16, Emery Maine Greenwood ’06, and SCH Trustee Thomas Greenwood ’01.

Established in 2016 by the Maine family, The Jordie Maine ’79 Scholarship is awarded to a scholar-athlete who exemplifies Jordie’s incredible character, talent, and leadership abilities. Its recipient is someone who is well-respected by peers, teachers, and coaches and who has attained a high level of achievement in the classroom and in athletics. Most importantly, the recipient of this award has demonstrated a passion for the school and, like Jordie, displayed through his/her actions a deep understanding of the values represented by the jersey stripes: courage, honesty, integrity, loyalty, and sportsmanship. The scholarship supports one student in each Upper School class. The Maine family planned the "Maine Event" golf tournament soon after Jordie’s passing, gathering with friends, family, neighbors, trustees, and current and former SCH, CHA, and Springside alumni with the goal of fundraising for this scholarship.