A l u m n i Spo t lig ht :
KOBBY ADU-DIAWUO By Taylor (Worthington) Williams ’03 K WA B E N A ( KO B B Y ) A D U D I AW U O ’ 0 9 I S A L E A D E R in the financial industry who believes in the power of education and, as the recipient of multiple highly selective scholarships, “paying it forward” to empower others’ educations. He aims to systematically increase awareness, education, and enthusiasm around media entertainment finance (and finance at large) for aspiring students in Newark and the Oranges. Kobby joined the sixth grade at Peck in 2006, having received Peck’s selective Ross Scholarship for academic excellence and leadership potential. He is one of only 25 students to have received the scholarship—which fully funds a student’s Upper School experience with potential to fund their high school experience as well—since its inception in 2004. This scholarship paved the way for Kobby to leave his Orange-area public school for an independent education at Peck. As you might imagine, joining a class of mostly Peck lifers can be daunting for any new student, let alone an 11-year-old. However, Kobby took this challenge in stride—facing the awkwardness of being “the new kid” with excitement and positivity. For Kobby, Peck quickly became a haven
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for growth, learning, and boundless opportunity.
This was the first of many strong
He remembers being greeted by warm and friendly faces from the moment he stepped on campus, including that of Pat Dodge, former Director of Admissions, who was the first person he met at Peck. He recalls the “deep personal investment [she] made in me, ensuring my mother and I had everything we needed to feel like part of the Peck community.”
Peck in three years. Additionally,
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relationships he would forge at he credits the incredible faculty, including Woodworking Teacher Mark Mortensen and former Spanish teacher Molly Donnelly, who he credits with “transforming [his] view on school and learning.” He flourished at Peck, excelling in academics through the stimulating curriculum—he received the
