Laurel Fund 2017 Appeal

This is the Laurel Fund. “To inspire each girl to fulfill her promise and to better the world.�

“When her School is bold, a girl can soar.”

- ANN V. KLOTZ, HEADMISTRESS

Introduction For over 120 years, Laurel School has been at the leading edge of all-girls education. Innovation has been our tradition. A Laurel education is transformational, built upon academic excellence and an unparalleled community. Through research-based curriculum and individualized learning paths, we hold our girls to the highest personal and academic standards, preparing them for an evolving educational landscape and an increasingly complicated world.

What we do matters. And we could not do it without your support. Enjoying a celebrated tradition of philanthropy and loyalty, our girls continue to be the beneďŹ ciaries of your generosity—a community invested in their success. Your gift to the Laurel Fund has a direct impact on the dreams and aspirations of each Laurel girl and small boy.

We share with you six examples of Laurel girls, highlighting the boundless opportunities the Laurel Fund sustains.

The education a Laurel girl receives is the foundation on which she will build her future. An education that is unlike any other, creating independent thinkers and daring leaders, ready to change the world.

This is the Laurel Fund.

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“Laurel has given me nonstop support in anything I want to accomplish, and a community that I know will be there for me in the years to come.�

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Alex Cade ’17 • Captain of the Varsity Soccer and Basketball teams • Continuing her education at Yale to study mechanical engineering and play basketball • Passport trips: - Dominican Republic – helped renovate an elementary school - New Orleans – helped rebuild the 9th ward - Bahamas – marine research • Two-time recipient of the Laurel Branch Award, nominated by classmates, chosen by faculty, for bridge-building, goodwill and a positive approach to life Alex came to Laurel in Fourth Grade and has seen incredible growth throughout the nine years she has spent in these dear walls.

Alex is grateful to Laurel’s exemplary faculty who embraced the needs of a student with Dyslexia and ADHD. They challenged her, and she excelled in the classroom and on the court. Alex is an exceptional student, athlete and member of the Laurel community.

Your gift matters to Alex.

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“The greatest benefit of a Laurel education is learning how to learn. My teachers at Laurel taught me how to pursue answers to challenging questions, and their lessons continue to empower me to push myself intellectually.�

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Berthy Feng ’15 • Majoring in computer science at Princeton University • Interned for Senator Sherrod Brown with the Senate Banking Committee • Peer Academic Advisor and Teaching and Learning Center tutor • On the HackPrinceton organizing team • Plays club tennis Berthy has excelled during her first two years at Princeton, noting her Laurel education beautifully prepared her for the challenges of an Ivy League school. Feeling confident and comfortable, Berthy immersed herself in activities that piqued her interest, including embarking on a male-dominated educational path in the STEM world.

Berthy credits her time at Laurel for being a confidence builder— pushing her to pursue her passions, regardless of obstacles. Berthy is proud to support the Laurel Fund, as it continues to support purposeful education for girls.

Your gift matters to Berthy.

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“Not only has Laurel prepared me for college academically, but it has prepared me for the world beyond that in more ways than one.

Most importantly, Laurel has given me a sense of community that I will always hold on to.�

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Allison Spivak ’18 • Alli is a Lifer, having started her journey in our Preschool • Plays Varsity Soccer and Lacrosse and wants to pursue a career in sports management • Capstone Scholar focusing on Civic Engagement - Plans to intern with the Indians or Cavs to study the interactions between major league sports teams and their communities • Teaches Hebrew at her Temple Alli is a shining example of the entirety of a Laurel education. Having started as a 3-year-old in our Pre-Primary Division, Alli has spent her life developing her purpose and passion in a community she describes as rigorous, yet supportive.

As a leader on the field and in her community, Alli is compassionate and driven—and ready to take on the world.

Your gift matters to Alli.

seven

“T.S. Eliot asked, ‘Do I dare disturb the universe?’ Laurel allows me not only to find myself, but to stand firm in who I choose to be.

Staying true to oneself, by nature, disturbs the universe, and that is what Laurel prepares me to do.”

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Ajah Hale ’18 • A member of Green Key and works in Laurel’s After School program • Co-President of the Black Student Union • Capstone Scholar focusing on Global Studies - Plans to study Black women’s invisibility to bring awareness to underrepresented groups • Has completed two Protégé internships with the Cleveland Clinic • LaureLive Protégé internship focusing on the planning, logistics and execution of a multi-day, multi-stage music festival Ajah came to Laurel in Sixth Grade through our North Star Collaborative with Warner Girls Leadership Academy, a single-gender school in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. To Ajah, Laurel immediately felt like home.

Citing the plethora of opportunities to get involved and to become a leader, Ajah appreciates the diversity a Laurel education provides, empowering young women to pursue their goals with vigor.

Your gift matters to Ajah.

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“I think about the value of my Laurel education every single day.

Thanks to its academic rigor, leadership opportunities and supportive community, I left Laurel well-equipped to handle challenges and create my own path in life.�

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Alison Leddy ’11 • Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering and sociology from The University of Notre Dame • Founder of Notre Dames, a group dedicated to strengthening the female voice on campus • Venture for America Fellow • Founder of Bust a Move, a company that provides specially engineered sports bras of all sizes to keep girls in the game - Won crowd favorite and first place at Start-Up Weekend - Won $2,500 award from Give Back Hack to begin prototype creation Alison demonstrates how a Laurel education builds a foundation for the future. At Laurel, Alison learned to voice her opinions confidently and to remain physically active to promote a healthy body and mind.

Alison’s resilience contributed to her quickly becoming a leader on her college campus and in her career. She embraces the challenges around her, continuing to explore ways to better the world. Alison is proud to support the Laurel Fund, as she knows firsthand the value of the education it delivers.

Your gift matters to Alison.

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“Laurel has provided a community and environment that has enabled me to grow and develop as an individual. I have learned to be comfortable and confident in my abilities and in who I am as a person.�

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Annella Fernandez ’17 • Cum Laude member and National Merit Finalist • Wrote and published a book titled, What I Learned and What You Need to Know: A Brief Introduction to Behavioral Disorders in Adolescents • Will continue her education at Washington University in St. Louis • Two-time captain of the Varsity Lacrosse team • Two Protégé internships with the Cleveland Clinic and a third in photography Annella has thrived in her seven years as a Laurel girl, benefiting from a research-based curriculum backed by Laurel’s Center for Research on Girls that stimulated her own interest in research and cognitive studies.

Annella has taken advantage of the opportunities Laurel offers beyond the typical classroom in order to dive into deep academic engagement in areas suited to her specific interests. An artist, an athlete and a published author, Annella successfully integrated different disciplines to create a unique and purposeful education.

Your gift matters to Annella.

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Your gift matters to Laurel.

From one generation to the next, Laurel girls hone their intellect, develop their conďŹ dence and discover their passions.

They become leaders in their colleges, industries and communities and develop bonds of friendship that last a lifetime.

This strong tradition of academic excellence and self-discovery has been sustained by an equally important tradition of school loyalty and philanthropy that spans across the generations.

Your gift to the Laurel Fund enhances the resources not fully covered by endowment income and tuition revenue to provide a Laurel education for every Laurel girl and small boy.

Thank you for your support!

LAUREL FUND Dream. Dare. Do.

Office of Advancement One Lyman Circle Shaker Heights, Ohio 44122 LaurelSchool.org/Giving 216.455.3031

SHAK E R HEIGH TS, OH I est. 1896

Principal Photography: DOWNIE PHOTOGRAPHY Copyright © 2017 Laurel School.