INTERVIEW

As a bright-eyed sixth-grader,

Jordan Stone walked onto St. Martin’s campus ready to make friends, enjoy wonderful traditions, and learn. He never imagined leaving with an everlasting love for the place he called home for seven years.

While at StM, Jordan was active on the student council and the speech and debate team, where his love for government and the law flourished. He treasures his time in these two clubs. “[StM helped me] build a passion for government and the law, and that has followed me wherever I’ve been,” said Jordan.

Jordan fondly remembers sitting in the Upper School as Mr. Charles Rivet passionately taught civics. Mr. Rivet played a pivotal role in Jordan’s life, helping him grow his fondness for civics which has formed the foundation for his whole career. “Mr. Rivet was always willing to stay a little bit [later] and talk through ideas. I have a ton of respect for him.”

Thinking of his English teachers and the dreaded Locke and Hobbes paper from Mrs. Mary Quinet’s history class, Jordan said, “St. Martin’s taught me how to write. I struggled through that Locke and Hobbes paper, but I enjoyed it. I appreciate Mrs. Lee Klebba, Mrs. Eileen Beckman, Ms. Michelle Scandurro, and Mrs. Quinet for their patience and help. I was young and headstrong and probably horrible to teach at times. They taught me how to write, which created the foundation of everything that I do.”

Upon graduation in 2005, Jordan was prepared to attend a college nearby, but his college counselor, Mrs. Edith Long, encouraged him to look elsewhere. “Without Mrs. Long, I would have never thought to apply to a school in New York and push myself.” With her guidance, Jordan applied to Vassar College and graduated with a B.A. in geography, followed by his Juris Doctor from Louisiana State University. When asked why he gives back to St. Martin’s, Jordan answered without hesitation.

Why I Give INTERVIEW WITH JORDAN STONE ’05

“I was a Belle Johnson Scholar. StM offered me a chance to grow both academically and experientially. I want to make sure that those experiences are there for all students. I believe in the education that St. Martin’s provided me. I very much appreciate StM, and when I had the opportunity and the wherewithal to contribute, I wanted to make sure that I did.”

Jordan has grown into a hardworking, intelligent, and kindhearted man. He uses the skills and abilities he learned at St. Martin’s to create a successful career at the Association of American Railroads, where he supports the industry’s government affairs and advocacy efforts in Washington.

It is not lost on him that St. Martin’s had a large impact on his academic life and, even more importantly, his character. Jordan had this to say when asked what message he would want to leave the current students at St. Martin’s. “Be present and find the things that you enjoy. You are only young once. Stay on top of your work, but don’t turn down things that can help you grow. Make sure that you celebrate the successes of others as much as you celebrate your own. If you find people that do the same, you’ll always have a good community around you. That is something that

St. Martin’s has always done a really great job of: fostering the spirit of community.”