Last week MICDS was pleased to bestow the Distinguished Alumni Award upon four former students, welcoming three alumni back to campus for medal presentation and a lively panel discussion for Upper School students.
The four winners of the 2020 Distinguished Alumni Award: K.K. DuVivier ’71, Ting Wu ’72, Ernest L. Greer ’84, and Sterling K. Brown ’94. These alumni have distinguished themselves in their chosen fields and continue to make a positive impact on our world. From renewable energy to genetics education, from professional and charitable leadership in the practice of law to ground-breaking performances in film and on stage, each one of these former students personifies the mission of MICDS. They are “responsible men and women who can meet the challenges of this world with confidence and embrace all its people with compassion.” They think critically and have resolved to stand for what is good and right, and they live lives of purpose and service.
Ms. DuVivier, Mr. Greer and Mr. Brown returned to campus for an intimate reception last Thursday night, visiting with family, friends and classmates in Brauer Hall. Head of School Jay Rainey welcomed guests and remarked that Dr. Wu was unable to join as she is currently sequencing the human genome in Europe.
On Friday, Upper School students, faculty and staff, along with guests of our honorees, gathered in Brauer Auditorium to hear from the Distinguished Alumni. JK-12 English Department Chair Lynn Mittler led the panel discussion, using questions from students to spark conversation. The overwhelming message from our guests was this: embrace who you are and what you want to be, while recognizing the need to be flexible enough to seize unexpected opportunities. Each of our guests overcame hardships and stumbling blocks to achieve greatness, and they did it with grace, kindness and acceptance. You can watch the entire panel discussion here:
After the assembly, our guests spent time mingling with students at a reception, over lunch and in class. Upper Schoolers appreciated the opportunity to connect personally with our honored guests.
Congratulations to our 2020 Distinguished Alumni! (Want to learn more? Read their full bios here.)