27 minute read
In Brief
CELEBRATING UNDERFORM ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Lawrenceville celebrated high achievement by Second, Third, and Fourth Form students at the annual Underform Prize Ceremony in June at the Kirby Arts Center.
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“This year has been one of adaptation and strength, pride and courage, and hope over fear,” Head of School Steve Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21 said. “It takes a remarkable group of young people to overcome adversity and triumph to great heights. I am proud to say I am looking at just such a group.”
Below are all underform awards; prizes awarded to graduating Fifth Form students are listed in the Commencement 2021 coverage on page 26.
Jeremy K. Mario ’88 Award
Annie Katz ’22 Manoc Joa-Griffith ’22
The Visual Art Department Prize
Stephanie Xu ’23
The Performing Arts Department Prize/Dance
Calli Colvin ’22
The John H. Imbrie Humanities/English Prize
Roscoe Heuer ’24
Yewon Chang ’23
Dhruv Khurjekar ’22
Josue Ramos ’24
The Lawther O. Smith Computer Science Prize
Rebecca Chou ’22
The Richard C. Smith Physics Prize
Arthur Li ’22
The Lever F. Stewart Prize
Carina Li ’22
Mr. and Mrs. W.R. Niblock Award
Sofiya Belovich ’22
The John T. O’Neil III Mathematics Team Award
Tristan Wan ’23
Mid-Atlantic Prep League and Lawrenceville Athletics All-Academic Team
Fall
Thomas Atkinson ’22 Joshua Cigoianu ’22 Carina Li ’22 Quincy Leung ’22 Ayan Schwartzenberg ’22 Matthew Kutam ’22 Kate Feiner ’22 Nikita Coppisetti ’22 Federica Sagebien ’22 Sabrina Yeung ’22 Quinn Thierfelder ’22 Sara Xu ’22 Houston Holford ’22 Arthur Li ’22
Winter
Annie Katz ’22 Carina Beritela ’22 Praewprach Lerthirunvibul ’22 William Yee ’22 Oliver Solensky ’22 Elisabeth Clements ’22 Matthew Kutam ’22 Jamie Nicholson ’22 Sara Xu ’22 Philip Park ’22 Arthur Li ’22 Helen Liu ’22 Robert Cloninger ’22 Emilia Apfel ’22 Dhruv Khurjekar ’22
Spring
Hawkins Sutter ’22 Joshua Cigoianu ’22 Benjamin Gubbay ’22 Caroline Bednar ’22 Angel Zhang ’22 Elisabeth Clements ’22 Thomas Atkinson ’22 Emilia Apfel ’22
The Lawrence L. Hlavacek Bowl
Kazuya Shimada ’22 Sofiya Belovich ’22
The Eisenhower Leadership Award Allison Haworth ’22
The Peter W. Dart Prize
Caroline Bednar ’22
The Beverly Whiting Anderson Prize
Conan Cheng ’24 Claire Robbins ’24
The Marcus D. French Memorial Prize
Victor Colliluori ’24 Emily Piggee ’24
The Smith College Book Award
Rebecca Chou ’22
The Rutgers University Book Award
Katherine Dillard ’22 Jessica Fernandez ’22
Wellesley Club of Central Jersey
Yee Xin Cher ’22
The Williams College Book Award
Joshua Cigoianu ’22
Dartmouth Club of Princeton Award
Sara Xu ’22
The Yale Club Book Award
Ashley Cohen ’22 Benjamin Gubbay ’22
Harvard Club of Boston Prize Book Award
Minh Le Tran ’22
The Brown University Alumni Book Award
Kate Feiner ’22
The Megna-Schonheiter Award
Connor King ’22
Eglin Society Pins
Emmy Apfel ’22 Caroline Bednar ’22 Hale Brown ’22 Ye Xin Cher ’22 Joshua Cigoainu ’22 Robert Cloninger ’22 Jessica Fernandez ’22 Yendi Foo ’22 Elizabeth Pierre-Louis ’22 Dylan Pinkins ’22 Coco Sandoval ’22 Ayan Schwartzenberg ’22 Minh Le Tran ’22 Luke Trowbridge ’22 Sara Xu ’22
The Reuben T. and Charlotte Boykin Carlson Scholarship
Jack Patel ’23
The Katherine W. Dresdner Cup
Stanley House
The Foresman Trophy
Griswold House
First-Ever Wasp Sighting Causes a Buzz
Tai Tumpunyawat ’21 spotted Tai Tumpunyawat ’21 recently a Yellow Ichneumon wasp documented what may be the similar to this one on campus first-ever sighting of a Yellow Ichneumon Wasp (Xanthopimpla this spring. Experts believe the sighting is the first in the United States. (Photo punctata) in the United States – courtesy: Vengolis) and he didn’t need to leave campus to do it.
While participating in the School’s annual BioBlitz competition, Tumpunyawat spotted the wasp near the Getz Sports Complex and snapped a photo. Science teacher John L. Clark P’20 ’22, sensing Tumpunyawat might have spotted something special, reached out to scientists who have published on the taxonomy of Xanthopimpla.
Clark was right. The identification was confirmed by Gavin Broad, the principal curator in charge of insects at The Natural Museum in London, and Ilari E. Sääksjärvi, director of the Biodiversity Unit at the University of Turku, Finland. The pair said there are records of Xanthopimpla’s accidental introductions in Europe, but this is probably a first for the United States. The wasp is typically found on the Indian subcontinent and in southeastern Asia.
“Discoveries of biodiversity happen regularly in poorly explored areas such as the Neotropics, but it’s not often that this sort of discovery happens in an urban setting like Lawrenceville,” Clark said. “It just shows what can happen when you set loose hundreds of motivated students to explore and document local biodiversity. It’s so much fun!”
Clark has now offered a $100 reward to any member of the current School community who is able to safely obtain a specimen of the wasp. He’ll provide the nets and collecting gear to any Lawrentian who is interested.
MORRIS RETAINS BIOBLITZ TITLE
Shattering his own School record with a remarkable 777 species identifications and 1,744 observations, Michael Morris ’22 captured the Lawrenceville BioBlitz contest for the second consecutive year. Morris edged classmate Hanaway Croddick ’22, who identified 744 species.
To compete in BioBlitz, School community members downloaded the iNaturalist app to their smartphones, created an account, and began uploading their photographic observations to the “2021 Lawrenceville School BioBlitz” project. The photos are visible to naturalists from around the globe, who help identify each species of plant or animal.
Morris topped his own 2020 School record of 749 species during a compressed BioBlitz timeframe. Some of the species he photographed included a Big Brown Bat (Eptesicus fuscus) and a Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius).
COIFFURES CUT FOR CANCER RESEARCH
Lawrenceville’s annual fundraiser in support of St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a leading pediatric cancer research organization, was once again a cut above. Students banded together in May to raise more than $14,500 for the foundation, pledging money for their peers who volunteered to have their long hair cut and, in some cases, completely buzzed from their heads.
Lauren McKinnon ’21, Annie Katz ’22, and Danica Bajaj ’21 teamed up with the Community Service Office to organize and lead this year’s event, which took place over two days. During School Meeting, students listened to Bajaj chronicle her brother’s battle with cancer before they rallied to support two Lawrenceville community members whose haircuts were live-streamed. That weekend, students supported the St. Baldrick’s Foundation and the additional nine shavees and hair-cuttees. Students also enjoyed a night of lawn games, student performances, games, and Crescent and Circle food vendors, whose proceeds went to St. Baldrick’s.
— Lauren McKinnon ’21
AKHTAR EARNS JACK KENT COOKE FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP
Esha Akhtar ’21 is among 43 current Cooke Young Scholars who will continue to receive the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation’s comprehensive educational advising and financial support as Cooke College Scholars this fall. Through the program, scholars receive up to $40,000 per year for up to four years to complete a bachelor’s degree.
The president of the Student Diversity Council, Akhtar is the founder and editor-in-chief of In The Margins and was a features associate at The Lawrence. She was also president of the School’s Young Democrats club, an executive board member of the Religious Life Council, a member of the Muslim Students Association, part of the 2020-21 cohort of Lawrenceville Merrill Scholars.
FRIEDMAN FÊTED FOR ACADEMICS AND ATHLETICS
A former Lawrenceville quarterback, Drew Friedman ’21 also starred in lacrosse for Big Red and will play the sport next year for Yale.
Yale-bound Drew Friedman ’21 was honored for his academic and athletic success with the 59th annual George Wah Scholar-Leader-Athlete Award in March. The award is sponsored by the Delaware Valley Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame.
Friedman was unable to compete as Lawrenceville’s varsity quarterback in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but departing head coach and history teacher Harry Flaherty said his starting signal-caller remained focused on improvement in and out of class.
“He has performed well in a competitive academic environment, maintaining almost all A-range grades in one of the more challenging curricula in the country,” Flaherty wrote in nominating Friedman for the award. Having had the opportunity to teach Drew in the classroom, I experienced a student who was not only diligent, but one who maintained a consistent interest in improving – meeting with me to review his writing and slowly, steadily making adjustments to bring his writing up to a college level.”
WAN QUALIFIES FOR MATH OLYMPIAD
Tristan Wan ’23 qualified for the United States of America Junior Mathematical Olympiad. His outstanding score on the American Math Competition – which placed him among the top tenth-grade math students in the nation – and the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME) qualified him for the Mathematical Olympiad. Only the top 5 percent of AMC test takers will qualify to take the AIME.
FOUR SHINE AT MERCER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING FAIR
All four of Lawrenceville’s entries in the 69th annual Mercer Science and Engineering Fair received honors.
Four Lawrentians who competed in the 69th annual Mercer Science and Engineering Fair in March brought home medals.
Satvik Dasariraju ’23 and Lauren Zhang ’22 both won Air Force Research Laboratory Awards and tied for first place in the biochemistry, biology, and medical category for their respective projects, “Detection and Classification of Immature Leukocytes for Diagnosis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia” and “Shape-Tunable Plasmonic Gold Nanosensors for Quantitative Circulating Tumor DNA Screening.”
Michael Zhang ’21 placed second in the environmental science and engineering competition with his project, “Metal-doped Zinc Oxide Nanochip for Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopic Sensing of Opioids in Liquids.” A project by Ian Lee ’24, “Localization of Natural Disaster Survivors Through Drone-based Sound Source Localization,” took third in the general engineering division.
THE LAWRENTIAN TAKES TWO
The Lawrentian received two Communicator Awards for Distinction, hosted by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), in May. The spring 2020 and winter 2021 issues were honored in the corporate LawrentianWINTER 2021 THE communications category. Founded over two decades ago, The Communicator Awards is an annual competition TURNING honoring the best in advertising, A HOUSE corporate communications, public INTO A HOME relations, and identity work for print, Natalie Tung ’14 and her HomeWorks Trenton residential program video, interactive, and audio. The 27th imbues girls with a sense of community, confidence, and consistency. Annual Communicator Awards received more than 5,000 entries.
KATZ ELECTED PRESIDENT
Annie Katz ’22 was elected in April by the student body as its president for the 2021-22 School year. The announcement was brought to the Lawrenceville community via L10 News, which comoderated the online presidential debate with The Lawrence.
“I think we have a lot of potential to make next year just an incredible year, and I’m really excited to get that started,” Katz told Caroline Bednar ’22, L10 News anchor and executive director of production.
With an eye on returning to full inperson instruction in the fall, Katz ran on a platform she called “Discover,” an acronym touting: • Diversity, equity, and inclusion; • Integration program for new Third
Formers; • Social life and spirit revamp; • Continue and pass on the hype for beloved Lawrenceville traditions; • Organize and democratize diversity work; • Virtual contingency plan; • Encourage grade bonding to eliminate day student/boarder divide; and • Re-orientation program for current
Second Form and Remote Learning students. “The people here are so incredibly smart, fun, and interesting and everyone here … is worth getting to know,” Katz said following her election. “That’s why my favorite part about Lawrenceville is the people and what they bring to this campus and the energy on this campus.”
Former president Soleil Saint-Cyr ’21 passed the mantle to Katz at the Commencement ceremony in June.
BEDNAR REPEATS AS GATORADE RUNNER OF THE YEAR
Charlotte Bednar ’22 was named the 2020-21 Gatorade New Jersey Girls’ Cross Country Runner of the Year in April. Last year, Bednar became the first competitor ever from Lawrenceville to be honored with this award. Gatorade has presented the awards to high school athletes in all sports since 1985.
The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Bednar as New Jersey’s best high school girls’ cross country runner.
Running unattached, Bednar won the Holmdel Invitational in the fall with a time of 17:21, the fastest clocking ever by a New Jersey high school runner on the historic course. She also took second at the East Coast Championships in 17:46.7.
During the spring outdoor track season, Bednar broke her own New Jersey state record in the 5K in April, clocking in at 15:52.10 at the Garden State Track Club Spring Opener. In doing so, she moved into the top five all-time nationally for high school girls. Bednar had set her previous record – 16:44.21 – at the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Meet of Champions in March. She is now one of just eight girls to run under 16 minutes outdoors in high school.
Bednar’s exploits were not the only record-setting feats by Big Red runners this year. Kiera Duffy ’22 established a School record in the girls’ outdoor mile at the National Scholastic Athletics Foundation Meet of Champions in Myrtle Beach, S.C., with a time of 5:05.79 in March. Duffy ran unattached in the meet, sanctioned by U.S.A. Track and Field.
Charlotte Bednar ’22 (left) and Kiera Duffy ’22 blazed their way into the Big Red record books this year.
BIG RED ROCKETRY BLASTS OFF!
The Big Red Rocketry team placed eleventh overall at the 2021 Team American Rocketry (TARC) National Championship – the world’s largest rocketry contest – and took first in TARC’s Most Imaginative Costume competition. Lawrenceville was among 615 teams from 46 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to compete and was the only New Jersey team to qualify for nationals. The TARC finals were held at ten sites around the United States and Big Red captured “Best at Launch Site” for its performance in Syracuse, N.Y.
ROWING RETAINS BROWN CUP
The boys’ and girls’ varsity crew squads outrowed Peddie at the Mid-Atlantic Prep League championships at Caspersen Rowing Center in West Windsor, N.J., in May to keep control of The Brown Cup. The points trophy was established in 1994 based on the results of the boys’ and girls’ 1V (varsity), 4+, 2V4+, 3V4+ and N (novice) 8+ races, with weighted points awarded. With the two schools deadlocked at 46 apiece, the tie was broken in Lawrenceville’s favor, because Lawrenceville had won both 3V4+ races.
BIG RED GIVING DAY ROCKS!
It was a great day for Lawrenceville! Lawrentians around the globe came together to support The Lawrenceville Fund – including the Parents Fund – with the kind of enthusiasm usually reserved for rock concerts. More than 850 of you made gifts, triggering challenges and joining the alumni and parents worldwide who shared their Big Red Pride via social media, email, phone, GiveCampus, and carrier pigeon. (OK, we’re only guessing at that last one.)
“We knew Lawrentians would come out to support Big Red Giving Day this year, and we’re thrilled to have surpassed our donor goals,” said Skylar Beaver, assistant director of advancement and director of The Lawrenceville Fund and alumni and family engagement. “The success of this year’s effort proves the loyalty of Lawrentians to their School, and we are so grateful for their generosity.”
KOSOFF NAMED DEAN OF FACULTY
A longtime member of the history faculty who served the past four years as associate dean of students, Emilie Davis Kosoff H’88 ’96 ’00 ’18 ’20 P’19 was appointed Lawrenceville’s dean of faculty in March. Responsible for recruiting, developing, supporting, evaluating, and ensuring the overall outstanding quality of the Lawrenceville faculty, Kosoff began work in her new role on July 1.
“I could not be more pleased to announce this appointment,” said Head of School Stephen S. Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21, who co-chaired the search committee. “Dean Kosoff rose to the top of an outstanding and diverse field of candidates, and it was evident during the rigorous search process that over the course of her remarkable tenure at Lawrenceville, she has earned the faith, trust, and respect of this entire community. With all of her experience and expertise, she is wonderfully positioned to build on the excellent work of her predecessor, Dr. Chris Cunningham P’14 ’18.”
Kosoff will also partner closely with the dean of academics to oversee the engaging pedagogy practiced within each discipline, and to maintain the highest-quality classroom experience for Lawrenceville students.
“I will continue to work tirelessly to create a community of professionals where all feel like they belong and have an opportunity for growth,” she said following the announcement. “This can only be accomplished through building trust and a positive culture that is grounded in the core values of the School. I will prioritize this work as it will help us to retain current faculty and attract new talent that mirrors the diversity of the student body.”
Kosoff brings 28 years of experience as an independent school administrator, teacher, coach, and House leader to the dean of faculty position. As associate dean of students – a senior staff position – she managed a range of student-centered initiatives focused on facilitating student leadership training and developing residential curriculum centered on the School mission. A past chair of the history department, Kosoff managed 16 faculty members and co-chaired a review of the Third Form history curriculum to reshape the required European History class into a more global course. She remains a member of the history department and is an assistant girls’ varsity lacrosse coach.
“I look forward to being part of the leadership team to further innovate teaching practices, create systems to evaluate professional work, and establish partnerships to make Lawrenceville the best school in the country,” Kosoff said.
EMILIE DAVIS KOSOFF
H’88 ’96 ’00 ’18 ’20 P’19
■ Dean of Faculty
Professional
L Associate dean of students, 2017-21 L Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Council L Henry and Janie Woods Meritorious
Service Award, 2019 L Graham and Carol Cole Distinguished
Teaching Chair, 2009 L Joukowsky Distinguished Teaching
Chair, 2001
Education
L M.A.L.S., Liberal Studies, St. John’s
College L B.A., History, Colby College
THIRD FORMERS SHINE IN LAX SHOWCASE
Attackman Hunter Chauvette ’23 and goaltender Timothy Piacentini ’23 were selected as standout players in the GEICO High School Lacrosse Showcase. LacrosseBucket.com lauded both Third Formers for their performances in an April 23 road game against Malvern Prep, ranked tenth in the nation, that aired nationally on ESPNU. Big Red lost to the Friars 16-3, but bounced back the following day against Princeton Day School with a 14-2 win.
PRIDE FLAG FLIES ON DAY OF SILENCE
Tripp Welborne H’58 P’21, dean of athletics and co-curricular education, helped hoist the School’s Pride flag during Pride Week in April.
Lawrenceville observed Pride Week in April, underscored by two notable events. For the first time, the rainbow-hued Pride flag was hoisted to the yardarm at a height below the Stars and Stripes on the Lawrenceville flagpole. Some Lawrentians also participated in the GLSEN Day of Silence, a national, student-led demonstration where LGBTQ students and allies around the world take a vow of silence – emblematic of silent suffering – to protest the harmful effects of harassment and discrimination of LGBTQ people in schools.
The Center will empower students to actively seek solutions to some of the greatest societal challenges of our time.
As Lawrenceville endeavors to strengthen its culture of belonging and to prepare its students as critical thinkers and doers, the School has announced the forthcoming Hutchins Center for Race and Social Justice in June.
Consistent with Lawrenceville’s mission to “challenge a diverse community of promising young people to lead lives of learning, integrity, and high purpose,” this interdisciplinary hub will promote academic research and active civic engagement. Framed through the lens of the “Energize Academic Culture” pillar of Lawrenceville 20/20, the School’s strategic plan, the Hutchins Center will advance the vision of applied, experiential learning and will empower students to pursue original research and writing, actively seeking solutions to some of the greatest societal challenges of our time. It will offer direct access to scholars and leaders at highly respected national organizations, as well as opportunities for guided student research, faculty and staff fellowships, and summer studies. “The newly established Hutchins Center for Race and Social Justice will create meaningful and enriching experiences that will inspire lifelong learning, critical thinking, and impassioned action in each and every
Lawrentian,”Head of School Stephen S. Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16 ’21 said. “As we endeavor to stimulate and support student and faculty intellect and ambition, this academic research institution provides unparalleled leadership opportunities and vital connections.”
Leaders of the Lawrenceville Black Alumni Association developed the original concept for this landmark initiative. An advisory board with leading practitioners at Rutgers University, Princeton University, and New York University, as well as select Lawrenceville School community members, produced and refined the full vision for the Center. Primary financial support for the Hutchins Center is provided by Trustee Emeritus Glenn Hutchins ’73, who also was highly influential in developing the vision that focuses on both scholarship and social activism. In concert with the Hutchins Family Foundation, Hutchins has made enduring contributions to the School through initiatives like the Hutchins Scholars Program, which provides enriching research experiences for Lawrenceville’s most committed student scientists and prepares them for leading university science programs and related careers.
The Hutchins Galleries at Lawrenceville offer rotating exhibitions, integrating art into campus life and inspiring individual reflection and community dialogue. Hutchins is also a benefactor of both the Obama Foundation and the Hutchins Center for Africa and African American Research at Harvard University, as well as other organizations like Brookings and CARE that seek both to promote justice and to take concerted action.
“Lawrenceville’s motto, Virtus Semper Viridis, exhorts us to create an ever more perfect school,” Hutchins said. “Like many fine institutions, our dear alma mater seeks today to act upon its virtues by reconciling with our imperfect past while preserving the best of our hallowed traditions – and preparing young leaders who can ensure our ongoing vitality. If this new Center nudges us along that path, we will have done some small share of the unfinished work of those who preceded us.”
Inspired when they heard the news about the Hutchins Center, Trustee Emeritus David Ottaway ’57 and his wife, Marina P’86 ’91 GP’24, have provided additional generous support, helping to ensure a strong launch and a successful future.
When it opens in the fall, the Hutchins Center for Race and Social Justice will be housed in the Hutchins Galleries, once home to the John Dixon Library.
BOSTON ROCKS GCAD
SAM BOSTON ’21 CREATED A FENDER TELECASTER REPLICA IN THE GRUSS CENTER FOR ART AND DESIGN.
The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame is full of Telecaster guitar players, from blues giant Muddy Waters to rock great Keith Richards, from the inimitable Prince to the extraordinary Edge. The “Tele” creates a distinct sound that has launched – or influenced – generations of legendary guitar players.
The Fender Telecaster – the first commercially successful solid-body electric guitar – is simply designed, allowing the musician to shine with the instrument rather than because of it.
“I think it’s the most beautiful guitar,” Sam Boston ’21 said. “The simplicity is gorgeous.” Boston decided it was exactly what his music needed, so he headed right to the Gruss Center for Art and Design, or GCAD, to consult with Rex Brodie, Lawrenceville’s director of design and fabrication. The task: figuring out how Boston could make his own Telecaster replica.
Using the Rhino design program, Boston created a 3D model of the guitar’s body, then followed the model to complete the instrument, using both the computer numeric control (CNC) router and drill press.
Boston customized the rest of the guitar using a stock Fender neck, and selecting specific pickups, tone knobs, and wiring. “I think the most unique features are the custom wiring and pickup design,” he said.
All of the woodworking was done in GCAD, and Boston completed the rest of the guitar at his Connecticut home. The entire process took approximately two months.
“I think I’m definitely fortunate to have, especially this senior year, all of these opportunities to use the resources in GCAD,” he said. “You can just choose to do a project, and there are people there to help you do it, which is pretty cool. I don’t think you’ll find that in many other places, or find someone like Mr. Brodie, who is going to spend hours and hours just working with you on making the perfect piece of wood.”
Brodie, Boston noted, was always willing to put in extra time to perfect the guitar.
Fittingly, the first song Boston played on his custom guitar was his own composition, “Plastic Bag Tumbleweed,” recorded with fellow guitarist Brendan Casey as East River Caviar. You can listen to the tune, as well as several other of their songs, on the streaming source of your choice.
Boston is now looking forward to the day when he can play his music for a live audience and already has a special dedication for the first song: “This one goes out to Mr. Brodie. Thanks.”
PAIR SELECTED AS ROBERTSON SCHOLARS
Danica Bajaj ’21 and Zack Finacchio ’21 were selected to the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program, which recognizes students who have demonstrated outstanding potential to become great leaders in college and beyond. The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program provides eight semesters of full tuition, room and board, and most mandatory fees for scholars at Duke and the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Scholars also have access to Generous funding for up to three summer experiences, for conferences throughout the academic year, and for two semesters of study abroad.
HUNTER ELEVATED TO AP QUESTION LEADER
English teacher Enithie Hunter was promoted to Question Leader for one of three questions on The College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) Literature and Composition Exam for the 2021-22 school year. During the annual reading of student exams, Hunter will assign work, communicate expectations, ensure that readers have necessary resources, and monitor the performance of several hundred university professors and high school teachers, as well as over one hundred table leaders.
Welcoming New Trustees and Board Leadership
Edited by Sean Ramsden Illustrations by Joel Kimmel
Jonathan G. Weiss ’75
■ President • Elected Trustee in 2015
• Senior executive vice president and CEO of corporate and investment banking for Wells Fargo & Company since February 2020; also serves on the company’s Operating Committee.
• Previously was head of Wells Fargo’s Wealth & Investment Management division; president and head of Wells Fargo Securities. • Spent 25 years at JPMorgan Chase; head of JPMorgan Chase’s global financial sponsor business; head of investment banking for Chase in Asia Pacific.
• Serves as chair of the Corporate & Investment Banking Diversity & Inclusion Council.
• 45th Reunion Committee member; alumni trustee.
• Bachelor’s degree in romance languages from Princeton University. • Lives in New York City with wife, Barbara Asch, who teaches high school history at the Spence School in New York. They have two children: Emily, 29, and Ben, 26. Lawrenceville’s Board of Trustees welcomed three new members, electing them to the Board at its spring meeting in May. Porter Braswell ’07, Leucretia Brown Shaw ’94, and William L. Robbins ’86 officially joined the Board on July 1, joining three current trustees – Hyman J. Brody ’75 P’07 ’08 ’11, Daniel M. Tapiero ’86 P’20 ’22, and Meera Viswanathan, Ph.D. – who were re-elected and whose terms will also expire in 2025.
The Board also elected Jonathan G. Weiss ’75 as president and Celeste M. Mellet ’94 as vice president effective July 1. They replace outgoing President Michael Chae ’86 and Vice President Whitney Hailand Brown ’91 P’23. The terms of Chae, along with trustees Bert Getz ’85 P’18 ’20 and Heather Woods Rodbell ’91, are expiring, while Brown remains on the Board.
Chae and Brown’s leadership was evident throughout their stewardship of the School’s ambitious Lawrenceville 20/20 Strategic Plan, which includes the current master plan for campus. The Gruss Center for Art and Design, the refurbished Bowl, and sweeping renovations to Abbott Dining Hall were all completed. Construction of the Tsai Field House is also well underway. Most recently, the Hutchins Center for Race and Social Justice was established; the Emerge Transformed Campaign for Lawrenceville and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategic Plan were launched; and the School safely and successfully navigated the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We are blessed with a Board of Trustees that is deeply engaged and supportive of our School, and I am tremendously grateful for all that they do,” said Head of School
Stephen S. Murray H’54 ’55 ’65 ’16 P’16
’21. “I am delighted to welcome our newest Trustees, who will be formally announced later this summer – their talents, expertise, and dedication to Lawrenceville are just terrific.”
Celeste M. Mellet ’94
■ Vice President • Elected Trustee in 2014
• Senior managing director of Evercore, an investment banking advisory firm; will assume the position of chief financial officer of the firm in September 2021. • Responsible for Evercore’s financial, tax, internal audit, information technology, investor relations, communications, and real estate functions.
• Previously was executive vice president and chief financial officer of Fannie Mae from 2018 to June 2021.
• Former class agent; 25th Reunion Committee member; Bicentennial Campaign National Committee member; Meritorious Service Award winner.
• Bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University. • Lives in New York City with her husband, Dan Turrentine, and their children, Davis, Xavier, Harlan, and Thatcher.
Leucretia Brown Shaw ’94
■ Incoming Trustee • Dean of strategic initiatives and associate dean of admission at Blair Academy; faculty member since 2010.
• Member of the senior administrative team, works with admissions, faculty hiring and support, alumni relations and student life. • Former Spanish teacher, assistant dean of admission, and assistant director of multicultural affairs at Lawrenceville.
• Member of Lawrenceville Black Alumni Association; served on multiple Reunion Committees.
• Bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University; master’s degree from Columbia University Teachers College. • Lives on Blair’s campus in Blairstown, N.J., with her husband, Nigel, daughter, Nia, and son, Ian.
William L. Robbins ’86
■ Incoming Trustee • Serves on investment team at The Capital Group of Companies, one of the world’s oldest and largest investment management companies, with $2 trillion in discretionary assets under management. • Partner and director emeritus of the Capital Group who serves as a portfolio manager of Capital International Investors. • Principal investment officer for the firm’s Private Client Services; chair of Capital International Research.
• Member of the Investment Committee and serves on his 35th Reunion Committee; 20th Reunion Committee; alumni admissions ambassador.
• Bachelor’s degree magna cum laude and M.B.A. from Harvard University. • Lives in San Francisco with wife, Elizabeth “Sissy” Robbins, and children Caroline, Will, and Gordon.
Porter Braswell ’07
■ Incoming Trustee • Co-founder and CEO of Jopwell, an HR tech platform that helps diverse students and professionals unlock opportunities for career advancement.
• Named to LinkedIn “Next Wave, Top Professionals Under 35,’ Fast Company “100 Most Creative People in Business 2017,” Inc. Magazine “30 Under 30,” Vanity Fair “Future Innovators Index.”
• Author of Let Them See You: The Guide for Leveraging Your Diversity at Work, published by Penguin Random House. • Host of Harvard Business Review’s “Race at Work with Porter Braswell.”
• Active in Lawrenceville Black Alumni Association; Alumni Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council; Alumni Association Executive Committee.
• Bachelor’s degree in political science and government from Yale University. • Lives in New York City with wife, Juliana, and their young daughter.
