SEPTEMBER 2022
Greetings!

Alumni Weekend & Reunion 2022 is Sept. 23-24! I hope you are planning to return to campus for the celebration. We have a host of fun activities planned, including the Hall of Fame/Woman of Distinction ceremony, where we honor alumni and community members for their achievements and service. Retired LFA faculty members Mark Dryfoos P'96, '00 and Steve Ryder P'15, '17, whose combined service to the Academy tops 70 years, will be among those inducted into the Hall of Fame. Come out to congratulate them. Register TODAY!

Have a wonderful fall and thank you for your enthusiasm and support of the Academy.


Ruth Keyso
Director of Alumni Engagement
847.615.3268 (office)
847.224.6072 (cell)
LFA Opens With Largest Enrollment in History at 440 Students
We officially opened the 2022-23 school year on August 22, with an opening ceremony in The Cressey Center for the Arts and the All-School Handshake in the Formal Gardens. Our student community is the largest in LFA history: 440 students (219 boarding, 221 day) from 14 states and 38 countries and territories. Our opening of school events enjoyed nice coverage in the local news.
Class of 2022 Gift on Display
For its senior class gift, the LFA Class of 2022 gifted the Academy a bronze sculpture of a handshake, in celebration of the traditions at LFA, namely the All-School Handshake.

The handshake was displayed on the first day of school in the Formal Gardens. After shaking the hand of every single community member, our students, faculty, and staff touched the bronze sculpture before exiting the gardens. Thank you, Class of 2022, for this lovely tribute gift that celebrates community at our school! View photos here and here.
Remembering Alumna and AAB Member Lauren Neal '02
Lake Forest Academy and the Alumni Advisory Board (AAB) are heartbroken to report the passing of alumna and AAB member Lauren Neal '02. Lauren passed away in June 2022. We treasure the memory of Lauren and are grateful to have had the opportunity to know her. What a kind and thoughtful woman who made everyone feel special and important. Lauren is the daughter of Life Trustee Jeff Neal and Susan Cellmer and the sister of alumnus Brian Neal '00. May she rest in peace. A celebration of Lauren's life will be held at a later date. Read the remembrance of Lauren here.

During Alumni Weekend & Reunion, there will be a Remembrance Ceremony on campus, where we will honor alumni who have passed, including Lauren.
Zafirovski '04 to Deliver Keynote at Family Weekend
The Academy welcomes alumnus Matt Zafirovski '04 to campus on October 14 as the keynote speaker for the Opening Lunch during Family Weekend. Matt, a 2004 graduate of LFA, holds degrees from Duke University and Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He lives in Winnetka, Illinois, with his family and is chief operating officer at ACP CreativIT, headquartered in Buffalo Grove, Illinois. Matt will talk about his journey to LFA, his path post high school, and how and why he stays engaged with his alma mater.
Caxys Connecting
Thank you to our many alumni who are willing to engage with students and serve as a resource to them during their LFA years. One group of particular focus is our student of color population. As the DEIB Council (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) works to fulfill recommendations from the Head of School Equity Task Force, we welcomed to campus a cohort of local alumni during Opening Weekend to meet students and re-engage with the Academy. We hope these alumni-student partnerships are an additional source of care and commitment from adults in our community toward our students.

caption: clockwise from bottom left: Gael Ayala, Evelyn Pineda '18, Johnnie Johnson '01, P'26 and his wife, Vrinda, Felicia Edwards Houston '90, Lizett Meraz '11, and Dean of Pluralism & Multicultural Affairs Lusanda Mayikana P'14
We're Ringing The Bell
The newest issue of LFA's gift planning newsletter, The Bell, is now available online! The newsletter provides helpful information on ways you can support the organizations that matter to you most - like LFA - through estate gifts, retirement assets, life-income opportunities, and more. This issue includes a profile of LFA alumnus and school trustee Dr. Bancroft O'Quinn '72. To learn more about ways to support our students, visit our gift planning website at lfa.givingplan.net.
Alumnus in the News
Congratulations to alumnus Trevor Wilson '09, who was recently featured in the Arizona Rubber for his work coaching youth hockey in Arizona. Visit the LFA website for a link to the published story.
caption: Goalie Trevor Wilson '09 during his senior season at LFA
Students Awarded Academic Honor
Congratulations to the following LFA seniors who were recently honored by the College Board with the National Hispanic Recognition Award: Abigail Trejo, Alejandro Quiroz, Benjamin Arthurs, Mia Hernandez, Miranda Hernandez, Xitlali Ayala, and Yaelle Ortiz.

Read more about this academic achievement honor here. Congratulations, Caxys!

caption: l to r: Xitlali Ayala, Yaelle Ortiz, Miranda Hernandez, Abby Trejo, Mia Hernandez, Alejandro Quiroz, and Ben Arthurs 
College Dinner Series Resumes
Our college dinner series kicks off in October with gatherings at Case Western Reserve University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Watch your email for upcoming dinner locations and dates. These gatherings are a great opportunity for the Academy to stay connected to its college Caxys.
Upcoming Alumni Gathering in Milwaukee
LFA will host a gathering of alumni in the 1990s through 2010s in Milwaukee on Wed., October 12. If you recently moved to the Milwaukee area and would like to join us, email Ruth Keyso at rkeyso@lfanet.org
Were You a Scholarship Student at LFA?
Did you receive a scholarship/financial aid to attend LFA? Would you be willing to share your story? 

During the Inspire & Invest Initiative, several alumni shared their experiences with the Academy, particularly how financial aid at LFA changed their life trajectory. As a result, dozens of alumni and parent donors have stepped forward to support scholarships, inspired by these remarkable stories.

If you would be willing to be interviewed about your LFA journey and the impact that a scholarship had on your life, please email Ruth Keyso (rkeyso@lfanet.org)
Class of 2022: Sign Up for a College Care Pack
Class of 2022, watch your email next week for a sign-up link to receive a college care pack in November from the Alumni Engagement Office! Best of luck as you begin your college experience. We miss you back here at LFA.
Save the Date: NYC
Alumni in the NYC and tri-state area, please mark December 1 on your calendars and plan to join LFA in New York City for a gathering with Head of School Chris Tennyson. More information to come.
Link In with Us
Alumni, stay connected with us through the LFA Alumni LinkedIn page. As our students graduate from LFA and start building their networks of alumni contacts, we'd like our LinkedIn site to be as robust as possible. Thank you for joining our group.