Ringing the Bell

Jim C. Cowar t ’69

Jim C. Cowart ’69 served on LFA’s Board of Trustees from July 1, 2011 through June 30, 2020. Cowart made significant contributions to Lake Forest Academy through his nine years of conscientious and dedicated service on the board, including his role as Board Vice Chair and a member of the Executive Committee, and his leadership of the Advancement Committee as Chair and Co-Chair. He is also Co-Chair of the Inspire & Invest Initiative. Additionally, he was a member of the Advancement Committee; Committee on Compensation; Education Committee; Finance Committee; Endowment Subcommittee; Financial Sustainability Subcommittee; Governance Subcommittee; ad hoc Budget Committee; Head of School Search Team; and Head of School Transition Committee. He distinguished himself by his guidance to the Academy in the strategic areas of board governance and leadership, institutional fundraising and stewardship, social equality and justice and student programming. Cowart has also provided personal expertise and financial support for the Academy.

Th omas B. Kelley ’65

Thomas B. Kelley ’65 served as a member of the Board of Trustees from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2020 and from July 1, 1983 through June 30, 1992. Kelley made significant contributions to Lake Forest Academy throughout his thirteen years of conscientious and dedicated service on the Board, including his most recent membership on the Committee on Diversity & Global Pluralism and the Committee on Trustees. Kelley has also provided guidance and financial support for the Academy.

LFA’s FIRE Conference: Meeting in the Middle

Dr. Jamil Zaki speaks to the LFA community during an All-School Meeting.

Students met in smaller groups for icebreakers and to discuss various topics.

By Lusanda Mayikana P’14, Dean of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs

Though the 2020 FIRE conference, “Redefining Resistance and Reconciliation: Meeting in the Middle,” seems like a distant memory relative to the current COVID-19 reality, the event was immensely successful! On February 25, LFA welcomed guests from Adlai Stevenson High School, Beacon Academy, Downers Grove North High School, Francis W. Parker, the Illinois Math and Science Academy, the Latin School of Chicago and the University of Chicago Laboratory School. A total of 100 students, including LFA students, and 35 adults participated in the conference.

The day’s program came together with the contribution of a dedicated team of LFA faculty who facilitated student and faculty dialogue sessions along with taking care of their regular daily responsibilities. For the first time, the conference schedule ran concurrently with LFA’s normal G-day schedule. Teachers from participating schools also had the opportunity to workshop and share strategies for civil discourse on their respective campuses during an adult track that complimented the student program.

Guest lecturer Dr. Jamil Zaki spoke to conference attendees as well as the entire LFA community during an All-School Meeting. Dr. Zaki is the Director of the Social Neuroscience Lab at Stanford University and author of “The War for Kindness: Building Empathy in a Fractured World.” He discussed the role that empathy plays in polarized settings, a topic that remains timely and relevant today. On his opinion of the conference, Zaki remarked, “I’m inspired by FIRE and the work you are all doing, and I am glad I could add to the program. The students’ reflections at the end of the conference illuminated how empowered they felt after participating and being immersed in authentic dialogue with peers from other schools.”

After the All-School Meeting, students participated in discussions in small groups. Rachel Johns ’21 said,“I really enjoyed the storytelling activities because they gave us a chance to connect meaningfully with students from other schools. Our stories are integral to who we are, and oftentimes we have to be vulnerable to share them. The FIRE Conference gave us a chance to do that is an open and safe setting.”

Guests left feeling pleased with a day well spent and grateful for the LFA community’s hospitality. Amy, a teacher from Lake Forest High School said, “Thank you for allowing me the opportunity. I’ll be able to bring back some takeaways for my students.” Similarly, LFA faculty and staff enjoyed the experience of facilitating the conference; Executive Director of the Stuart Center for Global Leadership and the Global Youth Leadership Institute Matt Nink also shared his thoughts and summed up the day. He said, “It was a pleasure to be part of the FIRE conference. Thanks [to the Office of Pluralism and Multicultural Affairs] for the chance to work with great faculty from other schools.”

Adult participants met in the Student Center Classrooms. Trustee Rumi Kuli ’93, fourth from left, joined the group for the day. Photo Credit: Grace Kim

Class of 1996 Graduation

With the start of a new decade, LFA asked members of the Board of Trustees who graduated in the 1990s about their memories of the Academy. 30 years after leaving LFA , the trustees continue their own unique journeys as they lead the school forward.

Can you describe your LFA to you? experience? What memories stick out

“As an international student from Brazil, it was a life-changing experience. At the time, there was no internet so we could only talk to our parents once a week for ten minutes on a payphone, so I really had to learn to be independent. I fondly remember playing on the tennis team. It was interesting to see sports being valued so highly in high school in America, as opposed to what happens in Brazil. At LFA, I learned what it meant to be part of a team. I also remember all the friends I’ve made. Some of them are still part of my life after 30 years, which is amazing.” – Sylvia Barros ’90

“My mom had the foresight to encourage me to look at the Academy and I was blown away in a positive way by the diversity compared to my previous experiences as a student in Lake Forest. I think the diversity really brought forth a swath of experiences for me that I wouldn’t have gotten had I gone to Lake Forest High School. I had a great experience; I was a student-athlete, and senior year, I was a Prefect. My very best friends are the same ones from LFA. Also, I remember working in maintenance at LFA for a summer job; I laid wood chips down Caxy Drive and helped re-caulk the walls of Reid Hall.” – Charlie Cooper ’96, Board Treasurer

“I was a boarding student in Marshall Field House and later moved to Durand Cottage. Some of my favorite memories come from the dorms; Mr. Hill, our dorm parent, would load us up on the van and take us somewhere for ice cream or coffee. We were such a small dorm that we all bonded quickly. My senior year, I was a Prefect. When I was a student, I think the Formal Gardens pool was dyed red with chalk for one of the senior pranks!” – Jessica P. Douglas ’96, Board Secretary “I remember being part of the Bates dorm. On Sunday afternoons, we would put speakers out the window and just have parties on the lawn. I really felt like part of a family in that dorm. I also enjoyed participating and gaining leadership in sports like football, basketball and track and field. I had the honor to play for the 9-0 winning football team in ’89-’90. Another memorable moment while on the football team was traveling on a bus to Florida for the tournament and the opportunity to visit Disney World. LFA changed my life and gave me a whole different outlook. I was so well-prepared for college.” – Haji Glover ’92

“I actually transferred to LFA halfway through my sophomore year. As a boarder, I learned to grow up quickly. I started to understand the value of hard work at LFA. I played three sports and was the captain of all three teams by my senior year. That was instrumental as I learned to effectively balance a busy academic, athletic and social schedule. I was a Prefect my senior year; also, I have incredibly fond memories of being a leader in Bates dorm.” – Scott Kaeser ’96

“My LFA experience was nothing short of transformational. I’m from Elkhart, Ind., and had little exposure to other cultures before attending LFA. Soon I had friends from all over the world. In a new environment, I just found the right ways to grow as a young student. I was a boarder, and my friends and I would play hacky sack by the pagoda, climb the walls around Reid Hall, or just hang out in the dorms listening to the Samples and Big Head Todd. Senior year, I was a Prefect which was a real introduction to leadership; it prepared me to take on other leadership opportunities in college and beyond.” – Amish Shah ’92

How does LFA today compare to when you attended the school?

“Everything is better! More technology, no doubt, the amazing infrastructure on campus, and a school that looks more beautiful every day! I think that there is more attention being paid towards accommodating international students and their needs in terms of

Amish Shah ’92

helping them fit into the new culture and the new student life, which is always a big challenge for teenagers who come from other countries.” – Sylvia Barros ’90

“We didn’t have the four houses, which I think is a great aspect of the school now. I would have loved to have been part of the House Cup competitions.” – Scott Kaeser ’96

“LFA has, of course, changed its physical infrastructure. The dorms are so much nicer and the building structures have been updated. However, the general philosophy that LFA is an institution about personal and educational development stays constant. I think LFA student development is about how you interact with others with diverse thoughts and backgrounds. Your success comes from the expectation that you will learn, grow and be a good global citizen.” – Amish Shah ’92

Can you describe your academic and career path after leaving LFA ?

“I went back to Brazil to attend university in São Paolo and majored in business administration. I started teaching English as soon as I returned and discovered that education was something that I really liked. My experience at LFA, with small size classrooms and closer interaction with peers and teachers, was important for me. I’ve worked in education for over 30 years, and I started a franchise network of language schools for young children in Brazil.” – Sylvia Barros ’90

“I attended the University of Colorado in Boulder, Colo., where I met an even more diverse group of people. I joined the Navy after I graduated and spent five-and-a-half years being deployed to different places around the world like Japan, Southeast Asia, Israel and the Mediterranean. I then went to the University of Chicago Booth School for my MBA. I’m now Managing Director at JP Morgan in Chicago.” – Charlie Cooper ’96

“I moved to Los Angeles and went to Occidental College to major in philosophy and study Spanish literature. I then attended law school at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb. I’m now a partner at a law firm where I specialize in federal criminal work and state juvenile work. My passion revolves around access to a great education; I see the real-life effect of how kids can grow up when they have the tools to be well educated.” – Jessica P. Douglas ’96

Sylvia Barros (De Palma) during the Fall Play (far right).

corporate finance positions at Lockheed Martin, Ford Motor Company, and Honeywell International. I then led the Financial Planning & Analysis group for a generic pharmaceutical startup company Alvogen, INC., which during my tenure, grew from approximately $200 million to over $1 billion in annual turnover. Now I’m at Scholastic as the Senior Vice President of their corporate finance organization.” – Haji Glover ’92

“I went to Tulane University and then transferred to Northwestern University. My LFA experience definitely helped me flourish at college and then later in the business world. I started my career in finance at Ernst & Young and am currently a member of the executive team leading all mergers & acquisitions in the U.S. for GardaWorld, a $4.5 billion dollar security company. Many of the life lessons I learned during my time at LFA helped me get to where I am today.” – Scott Kaeser ’96

“I went to Indiana University and studied finance and economics. I was intrigued by entrepreneurship and traveled around Asia and Europe during my college years. Afterwards, I moved to London for a work study and grad school; I was also bartending and one day, a group of LFA girls actually visited by chance! Later, I went back to Elkhart to work for my father instead of taking a job with Andersen Consulting in Chicago. Since 1996, I’ve helped grow Kem Krest Corporation through several major acquisitions and have served as CEO for over 20 years. I’ve also helped start (and recently sell) an ed-tech company with Greg Gorman ’92, my good friend from the Durand quad.” – Amish Shah ’92

What brought you back to LFA

“Seven years ago, [Head of School Emeritus] John Strudwick P’13, ’15, ’18 visited São Paolo. Three other Brazilian alumni and I met with him, and soon after, he invited me to join the board. It’s a huge honor for me to be back at LFA as a trustee, to sit at the other end of the table, to relate back to my high school years and to be part of the decisions that will shape the future of the school that I love so much.” – Sylvia Barros ’90

“I always remained connected to the Academy; I continued to donate as a Cornerstone Society member and would attend reunion events when I could. But what really sparked the reconnection was being asked to speak at a dinner for graduating seniors. I then joined the Alumni Advisory Board, was later the Chair and then joined the board about five years ago. It’s interesting, because I remember going to a football camp with [Trustee] Rumi Kuli ’93 when I was a freshman and he was a senior. Now we’re serving together, along with Scott and Jessica.” – Charlie Cooper ’96

“It’s because of my time at LFA. My connections to LFA teachers really helped me a lot. I learned leadership roles as the All-School President and captain of sports teams. [Life Trustees] Bondy and Tom ’53 Hodgkins P’82, ’85, GP’19 also helped me obtain an internship at Northern Trust after my first year of college, which helped start my career. LFA was a great place to develop and learn. They all wanted it to be a family. It’s why I want to give back to the school.” – Haji Glover ’92

How has your experience been as a trustee?

“It’s an amazing experience. You truly look at the school with completely different eyes. I’m in Brazil, so it can be difficult to visit as often as I want, but I’ve really enjoyed being able to be on the board with at least 12 classmates since I joined.” – Sylvia Barros ’90

“Being a trustee allows you to get a much better sense of the effort it takes from everyone to run a school. It’s fun too, to see ideas come to fruition. In one meeting, you’re talking about a building, and three years later, it’s there. Of course there’s a lot that goes into making that vision come true, but it’s truly remarkable.” – Charlie Cooper ’96

“It’s been really great and rewarding; it’s humbling. I appreciate the confidence that the board has given me as I’ve been given more responsibility. It’s also great to work with Scott and Charlie from my class and others from my years at LFA. It’s like stepping out of a time capsule back to the 90s. We have a few more gray hairs and wrinkles, but we give each other hugs every time we see each other as if no time has passed.” – Jessica Douglas ’96

“It’s been a learning experience. I know the finances of big corporations, but the school runs as a nonprofit. We’re trying to bring new programs to students. A big part of LFA’s “X-factor” is its perspective on diversity; once you give access to all, there becomes a leveling of the playing field. It’s interesting as I incorporate some of what we do at LFA in my own company’s HR work; diversity and inclusion are important, and we need to understand what matters most to the new generations so we can continue to innovate and better the lives for everyone.” – Haji Glover ’92 As we all navigate through this pandemic, how do you think LFA will move forward?

“The school is built for the long haul. There is no way to do that without a great team; no one person can do it themselves. We’re all aligned in the same mission and that gives me a lot of confidence in the longterm stability of the school. It’s incredible that we have accelerated a decade of virtual learning into three months. We’ll apply what is more efficient and make the overall LFA experience better for students, faculty and staff.” – Scott Kaeser ’96

“This is truly an unprecedented time where there is no playbook. We’re building the plane as we take off. The keys of success in this moment, are leadership and decisiveness. Head of School José M. De Jesús P’22 and the trustees are focused on making decisions that err on the side of caution for the safety of the students, faculty and staff. Also, in times of crisis, you need community the most. When you look at an institution like LFA, that’s really what differentiates us. As we face a global issue, it’s important to see the extended family that you have and how you are helping to support one another. This is a new normal. Be sure to have some grace with everyone and we will be a lot stronger together.” – Amish Shah ’92

Anything else you’d like the larger community to know?

“I´d like to shed some light in the present moment and the enormous challenge the whole world is facing in this pandemic. And I´d like to emphasize two aspects. One is the unique opportunity the educational system has [currently]. The other is the outstanding way in which LFA has reinvented itself and has continued to provide students with academic excellence, support, guidance and care. For the educational system, this is an opportunity to value and appreciate schools and teachers. This situation has allowed us to deepen the relationships between families and schools. I am so proud to be a teacher and so proud of all teachers in this moment. Their work has been amazing. I see what LFA teachers are doing. They´ve really stepped up to the challenge.

I can only say I can´t believe it´s been 30 years, and that I am prouder every year to be part of this community.” – Sylvia Barros ’90

“I want to express my thanks to the faculty and everyone at LFA. We’re a very caring community. It shows in everything that we do.” – Jessica Douglas ’96

“I’m amazed at the beauty and improvements of LFA over the last 20 years and encourage everyone to visit. To my Class of 1996 classmates, we had great attendance at our 20th Reunion, and I challenge us to have an even better showing at Reunion 2021. Looking forward to seeing you all then or sooner!” – Scott Kaeser ’96

Looking for a simple, affordable way to support LFA?

When you set up a monthly recurring gift, you commit once and your support is lasting! It is easy to start a monthly recurring gift to help today’s Caxys become tomorrow’s leaders. $10/month = $120/year $50/month= $600/year $100/month = $1,200/year

Donors who contribute $1,000 or more in a school year become members of the Cornerstone Society, a special recognition organization that honors LFA’s most loyal and generous benefactors.

Visit www.lfanet.org/give to begin making your impact today, tomorrow, next week, next month...(You get the idea!)

Alumni, parents of current students, parents of alumni, grandparents and others in our community – even students – may now demonstrate easily their commitment to the success of LFA faculty and students through recurring giving.

Monthly giving to the Academy...

...helps keep an LFA and affordable education accessible

“Alumni before me donated so that I could have the educational opportunities that I did during my time at LFA. Everyone deserves a quality education regardless of whether or not their family is able to pay LFA’s tuition. I am trying to do experience far exceeded our expectations. This

my part in making that possible for someone else.” – Miriam Fraga ’14, Brunswick, Maine

...empowers future leaders

“Lake Forest Academy is like a home away from home. Ever since the beginning of my freshman year, I’ve been looking for ways to give back to the LFA community for the opportunities and experiences they’ve given me. I have no doubt that my peers will become the future leaders of our world because they all have amazing ideas that can change the world. Supporting LFA will help the institution continue to do great things for its future students, and I can’t wait to see what the LFA community is capable of in the future.” – Hannah Liu ’21

…is as simple as “set it and forget it”

“It’s times like this that I think it helps to remind ourselves that we are the lucky ones. It amazes me how much we can accomplish together by starting with regular, small gifts. Kids who could not otherwise afford LFA can now a recurring monthly gift because I think about my budget from a monthly basis. Because it’s automated, I can “set it and forget it,” knowing that from that point on I will be able to “pay it forward.” – Jordan Grossman ’97, Livingston, N.J.

For the price of four cups of coffee or tea per month, you can make a difference at LFA. Join us and set up your monthly giving today! www.lfanet.org/give

...prepares young adults for college and beyond

“The academics and the overall boarding get a world-class education and life experience. I set up

school was the best fit for him (Dario ’20) and we truly believe it helped him grow to be the wonderful man he is today. We are confident that he is well prepared for the world and whatever his future may bring. Monthly giving provides us financial flexibility within our budget.” – Bruno and Gina Mancari P ’20, Chicago

...helps secure LFA

’s legacy

“I give because, to me, LFA provides much more than a top-tier education – it builds lifelong friendships, character, serves as a second home to many and shapes the minds of the future. By giving, we can assure that the legacy of global citizenship continues for years to come.” – Lizett Meraz ’11, Berwyn, Ill. (second from left)