Updates from Jo-Ann Lovejoy
and the Office of Alumni Advancement
January 6, 2022
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Joyful
As we mark the Winter Solstice and the start of the new year, we remain extraordinarily grateful for the simple joys of gathering for classes and enjoying the mundane aspects of school life that we missed so very much last year. Through the entire community’s efforts, we have come through the fall with great spirit, and we are joyful!
It was fun to see so many alumni return to LA to attend the annual hockey tournament on December 16th, followed this year by a post-game gathering at the Publick House in Groton. Thanks to all who made their way over post-game to enjoy the company of other alumni, faculty, staff, current parents, grandparents, and parents of alumni.
With continued gratitude to all members of our community, we especially acknowledge our alumni who worked closely with the Alumni Council and us this fall. Thanks to you, we produced the “LA Careers in Sports Panel Part II” and the LA Alumni Speaker Series featuring a talk with Sam Rowse ’65, P ’92, ’94, GP ’24 about heritage breeds and farming of Wagyu beef.
We were also delighted to gather in Boston in late November for our first in-person pre-holiday event, which included the entire LA community of Alumni Parents, Parents of Alumni, Grandparents, friends, faculty, and staff. We will continue to monitor current CDC guidelines as we consider future gatherings into 2022.
Inspired by an anonymous alumni donor to support LA’s Annual Fund, the Alumni Triple Play Challenge has had an extraordinary impact on our community. We look forward to reporting the final numbers in further detail soon following the December 31st deadline. We appreciate the kindness and generosity of all who have participated in achieving these results for LA, especially our anonymous and very enthusiastic donor who believes that LA’s greatest days are indeed still ahead. We thank you all for your partnership on behalf of LA.
Wishing you all the very best in 2022 and looking forward to an adventurous year together as we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Winterim on June 10th and Reunions on June 11th! Stay tuned for more details, and please send along your Winterim stories and photos to help us capture the magical moments you remember dearly.
Sincerely,
Chief Advancement Officer
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Recap of the Alumni Council's
LA Careers in Sports Panel: Part 2
Monday, November 30th, 2021.
Ben Lord ’75, Scott Brewitt ’82, Greg Rybarczyk ’86,
and Julia Tesoro ’12
On Monday, November 30th, 2021, LA held its 4th virtual LA Career Panel, which featured a continuation of the profound career insights from our four LA alumni panelists: Ben Lord ’57, Scott Brewitt ’82, Greg Rybarczyk ’86, and Julia Tesoro ’12. Alumni Council member Lindsay Howard ’00 moderated the discussion and posed a series of questions for the panelists to answer.
Each panelist offered insights on maintaining a solid network, being willing to be flexible and adaptable, thinking creatively, and working collaboratively. The panelists connected back to their LA education to emphasize their public speaking skills, presentation skills, research skills, and collaboration skills through working on labs, projects, athletic teams, or Winterim groups. Developing strong relationships with their key constituents was another point of emphasis, and communicating effectively was also highlighted.
Additionally, being able to analyze and make inferences from the available data are essential factors in advancing one’s career in the field of sports. The expertise shared by each of our panelists truly provided the audience with several nuggets of sage advice for anyone interested in pursuing a career in the sports arena.
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Recap of LA Speaker Series:
A Conversation with Sam Rowse ’65, P ’92, ’94, GP ’24:
Farming, Heritage Breeds, and Wagyu Beef
Monday, December 6th, 2021
Sam Rowse shared the fascinating story of the trials and tribulations of his life and how he has evolved into becoming a farmer in Mason, New Hampshire.
Before enrolling at Lawrence Academy, the only educational experience Sam had encountered was in a one-room schoolhouse in a small, rural, New Hampshire town. Lawrence Academy was a whole new world for Sam, with dormitories, a dining hall, a study hall, master teachers, athletics, debate team, and performing art productions. After graduating from Lawrence Academy in 1965, Sam attended Nasson College in Springvale, ME. Upon graduating from Nasson, his father asked him to return home to learn the family apple orchard and juicing business. Insisting that his son learn every aspect of the business, Sam spent several years as an apprentice in every part of the operation of the farm – learning tooling, mechanics, farming and horticulture, processing, manufacturing, sales, and shipping.
Sam credits his experiential education to be the most significant benefit to successfully developing and inventing the single-serve juice container production that propelled the family juicing business to becoming a transformational industry leader in beverage sales and distribution. Before being bought by Kraft Foods Inc. in 2004, Veryfine Products held the highest market share of single-serve beverage distribution in the country, generating $200 million of business per year. After the business sold and his parents passed away, Sam took on the challenge of restoring the family farm to a working animal farm.
Starting with a Heritage breed of sheep named Horned Dorset’s — known for their outstanding food quality, as well as exceptionally desirable wool (and one of the best in mothering and birthing of the breeds) — Sam and his fiance’, Diana Templeton, plan to maintain a flock of 100 sheep, Berkshire pigs, Narragansett Turkeys, silver laced Wyandotte’s and Wagyu cattle (a unique breed of beef cattle). Heritage breeds are traditional livestock raised by our forefathers. Before industrial agriculture became a mainstream practice, these were the breeds of a bygone era. Heritage breeds store a wealth of genetic resources that are important for our future and the future of our agricultural food system.
Sam and Diana’s desire is to raise the best breeds under the most humane advantageous conditions to yield outstanding results for their family and those who choose the simpler path less traveled for their culinary needs.
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A Word From Ben Rogers ’02
Director of Annual Giving
Hello Fellow Lawrence Academy Alumni!
Welcome to 2022!
When I was a student at LA, I loved the weeks between Thanksgiving and the holiday break. It was the best time to be on campus. There were so many fun activities; from the winter concert to the LA/Cushing hockey game (and all other holiday tournaments) to overall campus cheer, LA was always abuzz. I’m happy to say that the current experience between the two breaks is no different from mine when I was a student here. And now, as it was then, the return to school - while bittersweet - remains exciting as we return to favorite friends and faculty.
To be honest, being back for just five months now (I returned to campus this past August) has not just brought back many memories of my time as a student but has made me prouder of our alma mater every day. Returning to Groton, seeing our former teachers teach, coaches coach, and just hearing the bells ring every hour makes me love LA more and more.
Speaking of loving LA…
As we move into these winter months, I encourage you to get involved. There is so much happening on and off-campus. Get involved and become active!
Finally, coming off the heels of a very successful alumni “Triple Play Challenge,” thank you to all alumni who made a gift in December. The results will be sent out shortly. If you did not support this challenge but still want to make a gift to LA, you certainly can. As always, your generosity is greatly appreciated, and we will continue to move LA forward.
Go Spartans!
Director of the Annual Fund
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Days of Giving – March 9-11th
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50TH Anniversary of Winterim – June 10th
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Reunion – June 11th
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The Elm Tree Gazette | Volume IX | January 2023
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