COMMITMENT TO GOVS

Jim ’72 and Polly Pierce P’08 honor Dr. Laurie Quimby’s P’14 selflessness and kindness.

In the summer of 2021, Board of Trustees President Jim Pierce ’72, P’08 began conversations with Head of School Dr. Peter H. Quimby ’85, P’14 about a long-term extension to his contract. “In those conversations, I was reminded of the central role that the head of school’s spouse plays at Govs—how much they give of themselves and how much joy they get from it,” shared Jim. He realized that not only was Peter making a commitment to Governor’s for the next 10 years, but Dr. Laurie Quimby P’14 was making the same commitment.

This got Jim and his wife, Polly, thinking about the most meaningful way for them to deepen their investment in the With True Courage campaign. They decided to honor Laurie’s example by endowing the Dr. Laura Zug Quimby P’08 Scholarship Fund to support the full tuition of one Governor’s student in perpetuity, with preference for a student with demonstrated need from Maine, a place that is dear to the Pierces and the Quimbys.

“I’ve never had a feeling like this before; this was so perfect from so many points of view—a deserving person and a strategically important area of need. It checked every box for me,” said Pierce.

“Inspired by the humanity of Dr. Laurie, as she is affectionately called by Govs students. Her generosity of time and heart in welcoming students into Mansion House each weekend and guiding them with commitment and kindness through their time at the Academy is part of the fabric of our school.”

– DESCRIPTION OF THE

DR. LAURA ZUG QUIMBY P’14 ENDOWED SCHOLARSHIP FUND

When surprising Laurie with the news of the gift at a recent board dinner, Pierce said, “For the rest of your time in Byfield, Laurie, there will always be a student at the Academy that has this special kinship with you—and then for the rest of your life, there will always be a student connected to you, too.”

By leveraging the Bass Challenge, the Pierces increased the impact of their gift by 50%.