During Leaders’ Weekend last Friday, Andover presented five Abbot Academy and Phillips Academy alumni with the inaugural set of Andover Alumni Awards of Distinction in recognition of their endeavors after graduation.
Former President George H.W. Bush ’42, Wendy T. Ewald AA ’69, William S. Knowles ’35, Stacy A. Schiff ’78 and Peter M. Sellars ’75 received the award for serving with “distinction in the fields of public service, education, science, literature and history,” according to Debbie Murphy, Director of Alumni Affairs, in an e-mail to the student body on November 5.
“[The five alumni] in their own distinctive fashion, have led lives of varying purpose, have led lives of non-sibi, and in spirit of Non Sibi, made our world a better place,” said Thomas A. Beaton ’73, President of the Alumni Council, in his opening remarks at the Leaders Recognition Luncheon held in Paresky Commons.
Leslie G. Callahan III ’68 presented the award to Bush, 41st President of the United States, who was recognized for his service as a global leader, according to a press release on the Andover website.
In addition to serving as the 41st President of the United States, Bush was also Ambassador to the United Nations, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, the youngest Naval Aviator during World War II and Vice President under President Ronald Reagan, according to the press release.
Because Bush was not able to attend the ceremony, Callahan played a recorded video of Bush thanking the Alumni Council for the award.
Susah Urie Donahue ’73 delivered the award to Ewald for her work in the Literacy through Photography Program, according to the press release.
As founder of the program, Ewald utilizes a teaching philosophy that encourages children to explore their worlds through photographed scenes from their own lives, according to the Literacy through Photography Program website.
“It was very amazing to be honored with these talented recipients. It is important to also consider that [Andover] meant something different to all of us,” said Ewald.
Michael Schmertzler ’70 presented Knowles with the award. Knowles received the award posthumously, according to the Murphy’s e-mail.
Knowles won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2001 with two of his colleagues for the development of catalytic asymmetric synthesis, a synthesis in organic chemistry that can selectively produce an excess of a form of a molecule.
Although Knowles passed away last June, his daughters Leslie and Elizabeth Knowles joined the ceremony on his behalf.
Schiff was awarded the Alumni Award of Distinction, presented to her by Lee Sullivan ’68, for her contributions in the field of writing.
Schiff has won multiple writing accolades over the years, including a Pulitzer Prize in 2000 for “Vera (Mrs. Vladimir Nabokov)” and the George Washington Book Prize in 2006 for “A Great Improvisation: Franklin, France, and the Birth of America.”
In 2010, Sullivan wrote “Cleopatra: A Life,” which was named one of the 10 Best Books of the Year by the “New York Times,” according to the press release.
On behalf of the Alumni Committee, Alfred A. Blum Jr. ’62 awarded Sellars with the prize for his contributions to the performing arts.
Sellars said, “I’m overwhelmed to be here [at Andover], since I haven’t been here for 40 years… [My] Andover experience was radical and out there. I was super empowered and just took direct action. I just went out didn’t take no for an answer.”
Sellars teaches “Art as Social Action” and “Art as Moral Action” at the University of California, Los Angeles. He is also an opera and stage director and recently directed John Adams’ “Nixon in China” for the New York Metropolitan Opera, according to the press release.
After the award ceremony, a welcome reception and buffet dinner was served in the Smith Center to the Andover Alumni Award Recipients.
“[The Alumni Award of Distinction] was incredible. It highlighted the diversity and the excellence of this school. I am so happy that I was able to meet these talented classmates and alumni today,” said Betsy Evans Hunt ’74.
“The Alumni Award was an excellent opportunity to take a good look at the legacy of Andover. I am always reminded that I am part of the big tapestry of really accomplished individuals,” said David Brown ’95.
This fall’s Leadership Weekend welcomed over 200 alumni to campus for the weekend to connect with other alumni, students and faculty members, according Murphy.
The weekend included meetings for alumni committees including the Alumni Admission Representatives Committee, the Athletics Committee, the Non Sibi Committee and the Multicultural Affairs Committee.
