15 minute read
Supporting Westminster
New Trustees Join Board for 2020-2021
Five new trustees and three new ex officio trustees were named to the Board of Trustees at its September meeting.
Elisabeth Gailun Baird ’98 is a
graduate of Middlebury College, where she earned a B.A. in English. She and her husband, Jamie, live in New Canaan, Conn., with their children, George, Henry, Charlie and Anna. Elisabeth is a board member of the New Canaan Winter Club and the Weekapaug Yacht Club, and a member of the Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital Council.
William L. Beckford ’89, P’23, ’23
serves as executive director at Morgan Stanley in the Fixed Income Division. He earned a B.A. in economics from Union College. He and his wife, Randy ’89, and their children Ava ’23 and William Jr. ’23, live in Baltimore. Will is a member of the board of directors of the Baltimore City Chamber of Commerce and of Gilchrist, which provides hospice care. Additionally, he is a founding member of the Baltimore Food Policy Initiative.
Christopher J. Campbell ’91 is
senior partner of CapVest Partners LLP, a London-based private equity firm. He earned a B.A. in European history from the University of Pennsylvania. Christopher and his wife, Christina, live in London with their children, Alexander and India. He is a trustee of the John Badley Foundation, an educational charity associated with Bedales School in Hampshire, England, and is a past member of the Executive Committee of the Westminster Alumni Association.
Euni Han-van Vredenburch ’84, P’21
is an anchor-correspondent for ABC News Audio. She and her husband, Pieter, currently live in White Plains, N.Y., with their two daughters, Nina and Sasha ’21. Euni has volunteered extensively at Rye Country Day School and the Rye Arts Center. She received her B.A. in international relations from Mount Holyoke College and enjoys tennis, dance and the arts. Martin Kelly P’22 is chief financial officer and co-chief operating officer of Apollo Management LLC. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in finance and accounting, from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia. His community involvement includes serving as treasurer and board member of his co-op, on the Parents Council of the University of Michigan and on the University of New South Wales Foundation Board of Directors. He and his wife, Allegra, live in New York City with their children, Ethan, Jack ’22 and Aidan. Martin enjoys cycling, tennis, golf and running.
Ex Officio Members
As president of the Westminster School Alumni Association, Jakub B. Mleczko ’00 is an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees. He lives in New York City with his wife, Kristen, and their children, Roman, Gabriel and Hanna. Jakub works in investment banking and is an executive director in the restructuring group at Perella Weinberg Partners. He is a graduate of Emory University, where he earned a B.A. in political science, and of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, where he earned an MBA.
As co-chairs of the Parents Committee, Alison P. Pappas and William Pappas
P’22 serve as ex officio members of the Board of Trustees. They live in New York City and are the parents of Charlie ’22 and Teddy.
Alison earned a B.A. in art history from Denison University, where she has served on the Board of Advisors. She has also been a board member of Shinnecock Hills Education Fund. Will is a graduate of Duke University where he earned an A.B. in economics and history. He is a founding partner of Endicott Growth Equity Partners
New Leadership in Alumni Relations
Last fall, Westminster welcomed two alumni to new leadership roles in alumni relations. Cris Gomez ’10 was named director of alumni relations and Kelsey O’Brien ’11 assumed the role of director of young alumni programs and assistant director of leadership gifts.
Following his 2010 graduation from Westminster, where he served as head prefect, Cris earned a B.A. in politics and international affairs with double minors in Latin American studies and international studies at Wake Forest University. While a student there, he served as a peer ambassador for the university’s international study programs and was a member of the executive board of Sigma Chi fraternity.
For two years, Cris was a teacher with Teach for America at Democracy Prep Harlem Elementary School in New York City. He managed a classroom of 25 students, created weekly lesson plans and analyzed data to ensure students met rigorous proficiency requirements in mathematics and reading. During his time with Teach Cris Gomez ’10 for America, he earned an M.Ed. at Fordham University.
Upon his return to Westminster in 2016, Cris served one director of young alumni programs,” said Cris. “It is important year as associate director of admissions before assuming the role for alumni to feel like they are still part of Westminster’s of director of young alumni programs and assistant director of close-knit community, especially during these difficult times. leadership gifts in the Advancement Office. After a brief interlude COVID-19 changed many of the ways we interact with our at GiveCampus, an education technology startup, he returned to alumni, so I have been finding ways to continue connecting Westminster in fall 2020 to serve as director of alumni relations. alumni with Westminster in a remote world, either via virtual “I love building relationships with Westminster alumni, and events or connecting over Zoom. I very much look forward to this new position allows me to continue the work I was doing as when we can resume in-person alumni programs safely.” While a student at Westminster, Kelsey was a member of First Girls’ Hockey, First Girls’ Lacrosse, and Black and Gold. At Wheaton College, she earned a bachelor’s degree in history and was a member of the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse Team and a First Year Ambassador. She also spent a semester studying abroad at the University College Cork in Ireland. Before returning to Westminster last fall, Kelsey was an advancement officer at Middlesex School, where she served as a prospect manager and co-head of the school’s giving day. She created communications, attended events, oversaw class reunions, worked closely with young alumni and assisted with stewardship. Before that, she worked as a development associate for three years at Belmont Hill School, where she supported the annual fund team, worked with young alumni, planned and ran alumni events, and worked with the senior class on a gift to the school. “I am very excited to be back at my alma matter,” said Kelsey. “How fun to build relationships and connect with alumni who I know and to fundraise for a school that I hold near and dear to my heart. My biggest goal is to continue to engage Westminster’s young alumni and to continue to build its already robust Young Alumni Program. I want to make sure our young alumni have opportunities to stay connected with Westminster and with each other, and remember their favorite Kelsey O’Brien ’11 times spent on the Hill.”
Rebecca Brooks ’96 was presented the 2020 Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award in a virtual ceremony shared with the Westminster community Jan. 28. The award, which was established in 2011 by the Class of 1966, is given annually to a former student who exemplifies in thought, word and deed Westminster’s mission and its core values of community, character, balance and involvement.
A graduate of Williams College, where she earned All-American honors in soccer, basketball and track, Reb played professional sports before deciding on a career in education. She spent 15 years as associate director of admissions and director of financial aid at Pomfret School where she also coached girls’ varsity basketball. Since 2019, she has served Brewster Academy as director of financial aid in the Admission Office and coach of girls’ varsity basketball. She and her husband, Dolph Clinton, live on the Brewster Academy campus in Wolfeboro, N.H.
Reb is the daughter of Alan ’55 and Marie-Pier Brooks P’89, ’91, ’96, and her brothers, Fletcher ’89 and Ethan ’91, also attended Westminster. Alan was a longtime faculty member at Westminster and is the namesake of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
“Awarding the Alan Brooks Distinguished Alumni Award is always one of the happiest occasions in the school year, since we celebrate devoted, leadership alumni ambassadors,” said Head of School Bill Philip at the beginning of the ceremony.
Former Westminster faculty member Dick Adams P’93 presented the award to Reb. He served on the faculty from 1970 until 2013, during which time he taught English and history, served as dean of students, and coached basketball, football, baseball and soccer. He was also the holder of the Walter E. Edge Jr. ’35 Master Teacher Chair and the John Gow Master Chair. Adams Dining Room is named after him and his wife, Barbara, a former Westminster English teacher.
“It is easy to think back on what Reb has accomplished and conclude that it all came so easily for her, but as one who watched her almost every day of her Westminster life, both in the classroom and on the playing field, I know that it didn’t,” said Dick. “Throughout her years at Westminster and afterward, Reb epitomized
Rebecca Brooks ’96
the Grit & Grace we try to instill in our students. It is for those qualities, her loyalty to Westminster and for her accomplishments that we honor her.
“As her English teacher for two years, I watched Reb move from a shy, uncertain student in her early years, to one who fell just below the top 10 students in her Sixth Form year. Her athletic accomplishments at Westminster were staggering.”
While a student at Westminster, Reb was a three-season varsity athlete in soccer, basketball and track. She was the soccer team’s goalie for four years during which time it lost only six games and made four consecutive season-ending Division I Tournament appearances. In basketball, she was recognized as All-New England three years in a row and named to the first team her last two seasons. In track and field, she dominated the New England Championships, winning the shot put three years in a row and the discus her last two years; she took first place in the shot put, discus and javelin as a Sixth Former. She also participated in Serving Our Neighbors, was an admissions tour guide and volunteered as a student tutor.
“Few athletes can expect to match their high school performances in college, but Reb exceeded them,” said Dick. “She not only played three sports each of her four years at Williams — an incredible commitment that we just don’t hear about these days — but she also achieved AllAmerican status in each.”
In basketball, Reb was the top scorer and rebounder her senior year, finishing as Williams’ fifth all-time leading scorer and second all-time leading rebounder. She was named to the All-NESCAC First Team in her junior and senior years. In track, she was named All-American her last two years, winning the shot put her senior year and placing eighth in the hammer throw in the national finals.
“But her soccer career at Williams perhaps reveals the real athlete and person Reb is,” explained Dick. She did not start as Williams’ goalie until her senior year because her coach had an announced policy that she always started her oldest goalie. Reb waited three years to get the starting position, and in her senior year, recorded 13 shutouts in 18 games and led Williams to its first appearance in the NCAA Final Four. At the conclusion of her senior year, Williams recognized Reb with the Purple Key Award, given to the top Williams athlete for leadership, athletic ability and character.
Following college, Reb worked as a professional athlete, playing with the Lavalle Knights professional soccer team from Montreal, a basketball team in France, in the women’s soccer league with the W-2 team Springfield Sirens, and with the Springfield Spirit in the National Women’s Basketball League, which was the off-season league of the Women’s National Basketball Association.
In 2006, she was elected to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.
Reb began a new chapter in her life when she joined the Pomfret School faculty and coached girls’ varsity basketball. “She brought Grit & Grace with her,” said Dick. Her teams won three Class B Championships, one with an undefeated team.
“My only concern is that all of these marvelous statistics might hide the person, Reb, and the way in which she reflects Westminster’s values,” added Dick. “Despite all of her achievements, Reb has always been unassuming and encouraging to her friends and teammates. An enthusiastic supporter of Westminster, she never misses a reunion and regularly contributes to the annual fund. Her presence onstage before our student body during Westminster’s celebration of 125 years was a particularly powerful moment, especially for our aspiring female athletes.”
Dick concluded by telling Reb: “My only regret is that I cannot present this award to you in person, surrounded by so many people who care about this school and celebrate its values.”
In accepting the award, Reb said: “There are so many things I am thankful for from my years at Westminster. I learned how to balance three seasons with a rigorous academic load, although I can tell you now, it wasn’t all that rigorous. And thanks to Scott Berry and Sara Deveaux, I learned the value of being on time, or at least the consequences of not being on time. I learned how to structure my day independently, so when I got to college it all felt really easy. But the biggest takeaways for me by far were the people and the relationships that I formed, because without them, the experience would not have been the same and I would not have been the same.”
She recounted how she asked herself why she was selected for the award. “And the only answer I could come up with is that I am now following in the footsteps of all those great people who mentored and guided me, and even yelled at me when needed,” she said. She expressed appreciation to all of her Westminster coaches and teachers, and closed by saying: “I am so incredibly humbled to be the recipient of the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award. Thank you to everyone who helped get me here. Thank you, Westminster.”
Transformational Gift for Student Support Announced
Curtis Brockelman ’86, P’19, chair of Westminster’s Soar Together Campaign, announced Jan. 5 a transformational gift of $5 million to the campaign from a small group of alumni, parents and trustees to create the Jenny and Bill Philip Student Support Fund. The fund honors the legacy of Head of School Bill Philip and Jenny Philip P’06, ’09, who will be departing Westminster at the end of June.
The fund will impact and support the experience of students receiving need-based financial aid at Westminster by helping to underwrite academic, technological and extracurricular supplies; tutoring and counseling; off-campus athletic, arts and academic trips; allowances to enjoy activities with friends; and family travel to campus events. The fund will also help Westminster compete with peer schools by diminishing financial obstacles for those promising students who can take full advantage of all that the school has to offer.
“The Philip Student Support Fund makes it possible for all students to have similar experiences at Westminster,” said Kelly Babbidge, director of financial aid and associate director of admissions. “This guaranteed funding allows the financial aid department to fully support students in all aspects of life on the Hill.”
Every Gift Counts, Every Student Benefits
Gifts to The Westminster Fund ensure that students are able to enjoy enhanced learning opportunities in and out of the classroom. This year, The Westminster Fund supports so much more, including the many protocols that allow for successful in-person learning.
Visit gift.westminster-school.org to make your gift. The Westminster Fund closes on June 30.
SUPPORT FACULTY SUPPORT FINANCIAL AID SUPPORT STUDENT LIFE
A Smart Solution
Bill Childs ’54 and his brother, David Childs ’52, P’80 attended Westminster School while their parents lived and worked abroad. Westminster represents Bill’s foundation, and he considers it home for those formative years. Bill has wanted to do something to show his gratitude toward Westminster for some time, and followed the process closely when his brother joined the Thring Society with a charitable gift annuity.
In 1968, Bill inherited some highly appreciated stock that his father had purchased in 1940. The shares began dwindling in value when the company experienced difficult times and the dividends had fallen to nearly 1%. With this downward trend in mind, Bill decided to use the stock to create a charitable gift annuity and joined the Thring Society in 2019. He was able to increase his income from 1.2% to 8.5%, Bill Childs ’54 and David Childs ’52, P’80 decrease and spread out the payment of the capital gains tax, and get a tax deduction while making a meaningful gift.
Charitable gift annuities are life-income gift vehicles that pay you or another beneficiary annually. Charitable gift annuities are just one tax-smart way to support the mission and make an impact on the future of Westminster School. If you would like more information or to see a charitable gift annuity illustration, please contact Jennifer Keyo, Director of Planned Giving, at 860-408-3039 or jkeyo@westminster-school.org. How it works: • You transfer cash or low-yielding stock to Westminster and sign a charitable gift annuity contract. • You can add one other beneficiary. • You receive an immediate tax deduction, an annual income stream, and possible estate tax savings. If you give appreciated stock, you also receive favorable tax treatment on the gain. • Westminster receives the remaining principal when your estate is settled.
The Soar Together Campaign aims to support the people and programs of Westminster by increasing endowment for financial aid, faculty support and programs. If you want to find a way to give back to Westminster for all that it gave you, contact: Jennifer Keyo Director of Planned Giving (860) 408-3039 jkeyo@westminster-school.org
