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Alumni Awards
Alumni Awards Congratulations to the 2020 award recipients!
Dr. Carol Quillen is the current and first woman to serve as president of Davidson College. She has increased recruitment of students from all backgrounds and led a $425 million capital campaign. The president of The Aspen Institute describes her as “a transformational leader with a brilliant mind, a devotion to students, and the courage of her convictions. Davidson College has become an even more remarkable institution because of her vision, will and skill.” Before becoming the President of Davidson College, Carol taught History and was Vice President and Vice Provost, as well as the director of the Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance at Rice University. Carol continues to appreciate the Quaker values that served as the foundation for a WFS education and says it helped her realize, “learning is liberating.” Carol and her family have been strong advocates for WFS. Her father, Judge Bill Quillen ’52 served as a dedicated class agent, her mother Marcia Stirling Quillen ’56 was the former Director of Development of WFS, and her sister, Tracey Quillen Carney ’80 is the former Director of Communications and parent of two alumni. Carol’s strong family ties to WFS and her dedication to “seeing that there is that of God in everyone,” keep her connected to the School. We are thrilled to honor her with the Distinguished Alumna of the Year award.
Eden Wales Freedman ’99 Young Alumna of the Year
Dr. Eden Wales Freedman ’99 is an accomplished professor, scholar, and author, who recently became the Vice Provost of Faculties and Academic Affairs at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota. Before joining St. Mary’s, Eden was an associate professor of English, director of diversity studies, and department chair of communication, literature, and arts, as well as the Dr. Thomas R. Feld Chair for Teaching Excellence, and deputy Title IX coordinator at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Eden published her first book in February 2020. Reading Testimony Witnessing Trauma: Confronting Race, Gender, and Violence in American Literature explores how readers can engage literary representations of race, gender, and trauma both critically and empathically. Eden’s work focuses on empathy and social justice. She credits WFS with instilling in her the values she holds today and inspiring her work in education. She affirms: “Friends’ mission, to challenge students to seek truth, to value justice and peace, and to act as creative, independent thinkers with a conscious responsibility to the good of all, continues to inform me.” Eden’s achievements illustrate that she truly “lets her life speak.” We are proud to call her a WFS alumna and to honor her with the Young Alumna of the Year award.
Tom Scott ’70 Outstanding Service Award
Tom Scott ’70 has worked tirelessly to strengthen the Wilmington community. From a young age, Tom’s parents, Robert and Margaret (Muff) Scott, taught him the importance of giving back, and he has continued to carry on their legacy by supporting numerous non-profit organizations in the area, including Christ Church, Wilmington Garden Day, Friendship House, Lutheran Community Services, Urban Promise, and DE Humane Association, to name a few. He has also been an avid supporter of WFS, and has served as a class agent and member of the Alumni Board for many years, as well as a former Trustee. He and his wife Betsy Lord Scott ’70 are also parents of alumni, Clay Scott ’15 and Lex Scott ’16. In addition to Tom’s volunteer work, he is the founder and owner of Incite Solutions, a software development and information management company helping organizations find technology-based solutions. Incite Solutions, along with its partner company 82 North, has helped numerous non-profit organizations host successful events and reach their fundraising goals. WFS is honored to recognize Tom with this year’s Outstanding Service Award. His involvement with both WFS and the broader Wilmington community, all while being both humble and impactful, is impressive and appreciated.
Nominate an Alum for a WFS award!
The Wilmington Friends School Alumni Association recognizes alumni annually for their outstanding achievements and service to the school and community. These individuals exemplify the best qualities of a Friends School graduate, including honesty, integrity, fairness, a commitment to serve others, and a commitment to equality and social justice. For more information or to submit a nomination, please contact Tina DiSabatino, Director of Alumni Programs and Giving, at tdisabatino@wilmingtonfriends.org or 302.576.2981.
Jones House Intern-Thank You!
The Jones House was grateful to have the help of upper school senior Olivia Ivins ’20 this school year. Olivia gained real-world experience through developing skills in writing, social media, fundraising, event planning, and more. Her efforts as an intern made an impact on the greater WFS community in supporting the School’s mission to help students let their lives speak. Thank you, Olivia!
“Zooming” to a town near you!
The WFS Alumni/Development Office hosted several virtual regional reunion happy hours via Zoom in the spring. While we would have enjoyed catching up with alumni and friends in person as we’ve done in the past, the COVID-19 pandemic gave us the opportunity to engage with our community in a different way. Head of School Ken Aldridge enjoyed catching up with those who were able to join us and he shared information about the School’s transition to remote learning, planning ahead for the summer and fall, and progress on the lower school project. Thank you to everyone who attended. We were happy to see alumni and friends from around the world. (Herbert Rasinger ’66 joined us from Austria!)
Virtual gatherings were hosted in Atlanta, New York City, Washington, DC, Southern CA, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Boston. Thank you to our hosts: Brian Mand ’90 (Atlanta); Ned Davis ’62 (New York City); Carolyn Appleby Bruce ’85 and Rob Hoopes ’85 (Washington, DC); Crystal Nix Hines ’81 and Chris Shedd Selecky ’72 (Southern CA); Ron Pownall ’65 (Boston); Faye Paul ’03 and Ethan Cooperson ’87 (Chicago).
