GFS SCHOOL NEWS

The 2017 Garrison Forest School Leadership Recognition Dinner—the annual event bringing together leadership donors, parent and alumnae volunteers and Board of Trustee members—was held on Friday, September 15, 2017 in Alumnae Dining Hall. Lila Boyce Lohr '63, Interim Head of School, and Kit Jackson '83, President of the Board of Trustees, offered remarks on the qualities and importance of leadership to the school. Current parent and Fund for Garrison Forest volunteer Steve Sarigianis received the 2017 H. Brian Deady Volunteer Award, presented by trustee and fellow current parent, Peter J. Korzenewski. Sealy Hathaway Hopkinson '78 received the 2017 Distinguished Alumna Award presented by Molly Mundy Hathaway '61, trustee and aunt of Sealy. The honorees addressed the warm crowd with expressions of gratitude for and support of the GFS community.

Thank you to the many leadership donors and volunteers who generously support Garrison Forest.

Distinguished Alumna Award Recipient: Sealy Hathaway Hopkinson '78

Established in 1981, the Distinguished Alumna Award annually honors an alumna whose leadership and service to the school merits special recognition and appreciation. Sealy Hathaway Hopkinson's '78 work both within the GFS community and her service to the greater community makes the Distinguished Alumnae Award a well-deserved honor. Sealy, who served on the GFS Board of Trustees from 1997-2001, started at GFS as a student in 1970, and while at the school was president of riding club, a Ragged Robin and member of the French club.

Her love of languages followed her to the University of Virginia where she graduated with her bachelor of arts degree in French. Her career in the arts and antiques world led her to Sotheby's as vice president in business development. She also worked as director of marketing for Haughton International Fairs and as the international fine arts and antique dealer for their New York shows. She is the former manager and consultant with the North Shore Land Alliance, whose mission it is to protect precious natural resources on Long Island's north shore. Sealy recently embarked on a new venture: she is now the Mid-Atlantic States Associate for NYE & Company, a regional auction house in Bloomfield, New Jersey.  

Her board and volunteer work is equally as impressive. She is a secretary and trustee of the Middendorf Foundation in Baltimore, vice president of the Community Foundation of Oyster Bay and is a past trustee and chair of the Buildings and Grounds committee of the University of Virginia's Jefferson Scholars Foundation. She has served as board chair of the East Woods School and as vice president of the North Country Garden Club.

In her speech, Sealy joked about wondering whether she were old enough to truly be called "distinguished" and spoke about her initial worry over whether she had done enough to be worthy of the title. She was then calmed by the school's motto—Esse Quam Videri (To Be and Not to Seem). "Garrison's motto talked me off the ledge and actually helped to sharpen my focus about who I really am," said Sealy.

She reflected on the engaged faculty, supportive environment and warm community that were a part of her experience and remain true of the school today. "We were supplied with every key element to provide the best foundation possible for future success and lives of consequence."  

Congratulations, Sealy, on your award and thank you for all that you do for GFS!

 

H. Brian Deady Volunteer Award Recipient: Steve Sarigianis

Established in 2001 in memory of the late Brian Deady, parent of Anne '01, who served as a Garrison Forest volunteer for over a decade, the Deady Award honors the parent volunteer who emulates Brian's extraordinary enthusiasm and commitment to Garrison Forest over his 13-year career as a Parent Fund Agent. The 2017 H. Brian Deady award recipient is Steve Sarigianis, father of Emma '18.

Steve has been an active steward for the Fund for Garrison Forest since Emma was in Lower School. He served as Parent Fund Volunteer for many years, eventually stepping into leadership roles, including Vice Chair and Chair of the Fund. During his introduction, Peter Korzenewski, who also served as Chair of the Fund remarked: "When I followed him [Steve] in the role as Chair, it was the solid foundation Steve had built that was an integral part of our success."

After accepting his award, Steve thanked the Deady family, Anne, her wife Wendy and mother Pat who were in the audience. He then recognized the many parent volunteers who have become his close friends and have been vital to the success of the fund each year. "I personally feel that ALL of the parents who give of themselves to our school are all worthy recipients of the Brian Deady Award," Steve said.

He ended his speech by looking back again at his first time being at the dinner, and then looking ahead to the future of his own daughter, who will graduate from GFS in the spring. "The first night my wife and I came to this event our daughter, Emma, was in Pre-K and now she is a senior, class of 2018," he said. "While we were driving home that night many years ago we thought how cool it would be for Emma to come back to her alma mater as a distinguished alumna and tell her Garrison Forest story. Time will tell."

Congratulations, Steve! Thank you for your many years of service to the GFS community.