Miss Helen Baker, founder of The Collegiate School, laid down these fundamental goals for the graduates of her school in 1919: “I hope you have learned many things … besides the very important facts outlined in various books of knowledge … I would have you live for humanity’s sake. I would have you good citizens in the widest sense …”
Since 1975, the Collegiate Alumni Association has taken a moment at Commencement to recognize outstanding alumni who exemplify Miss Baker’s ideal of service and excellence. In 1991, the association established two awards to honor alums who continue to serve the school or achieve significant success. The following are the announcements which were made at the 2008 Commencements:
The 2008 Award for Outstanding Alumni Service
The first award is our Outstanding Alumni Service award, which recognizes an alumni who has generously and loyally given of his or her talents, energies and time to Collegiate.
Today's recipient had left his mark with selfless service that has produced both material and intangible benefits to the school. A former member of the Alumni Board, he served as vice president and president of the Alumni Association. He has served on the Leadership Committee for the Parent Annual Fund and has also led the Alumni Annual Fund to great results.
Inspired by his love of the school, today's recipient was instrumental in creating one of Collegiate's newer traditions- the Athletic Hall of Fame- which honors former students who excelled in sports. He promoted the Hall of Fame not only to pay tribute to those with notable athletic abilities, but also- and perhaps more importantly- to preserve the ideals these athletes represent in student life: achievement, school pride and spirit, and good sportsmanship.
Because of his leadership--in envisioning and executing this recognition--the Hall of Fame provides a deep tie to Collegiate for alumni, who can continue to take pride in the school and their shared experiences, many years after play has been abandoned.
In his words, the Hall of Fame recognizes former students who "through fair play, have brought recoginition, honors, distinction and excellence to the school." We believe that today we have the opportunity to honor an individual who brings his own distinction and mark of excellence to Collegiate for his service and support of our community.
This year's recipient is a graduate of the class of 1976 and with his wife Jennifer-is a parent of four sons- all here at Collegiate. This year's Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Service to Collegiate goes to David Gorsline.
The 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award
This year’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Distinction in Field honors Commander Gordon Fogg, a 1982 Collegiate School graduate who soars in the top echelon of Naval aviators. Since his commissioning from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1986, Commander Fogg has flown some of the country’s most advanced fighters.
He began training in F-14 Tomcats at Oceana Naval Air Station and served two deployments on the USS Saratoga during Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Deny Flight. His deployment on the USS Eisenhower supported operations in the Persian Gulf and Balkans.
In 2000, Commander Fogg graduated with distinction from the United States Naval War College, earning a master’s degree in National Security and Strategic Studies. He served on the Armed Forces Staff College before reporting to NATO military headquarters in Belgium.
In 2004 he became commanding officer of the Navy’s Strike Fighter Squadron 146 “Blue Diamonds” at Lemoore Naval Air Station in California. As Commanding Officer, he led his squadron on an around-the-world deployment that included combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Selected for promotion to captain and currently assigned to the Pentagon, Commander Fogg is Joint Strike Force Requirements Officer attached to the Chief of Naval Operations, managing development of the Navy’s newest Strike Fighter, the F-35 Lightning.
He has been recognized with the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Meritorious Service Medal and numerous Air and Navy medals, including combat recognition. He received the Michael G. Hoff Award as AIRLANT Attack Aviator of the Year in 1997 and was selected from more than 300 peers as a finalist for the Vice Admiral James Stockdale Leadership Award in 2005.
In honoring Commander Fogg, we honor all of the Collegiate men and women who have served in the military, representing America in peace and conflict, and especially those who are currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
We are thrilled that Commander Fogg is here with us today, with his wife Dawn and their two children, to receive this award. It is my distinct honor to present this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award for Distinction in Field to Commander R. Gordon Fogg, Collegiate Class of 1982.
Distinguished Alumni Awards - Past Recipients
Distinguished Alumni Award for Service or Distinction in their Field
1975 Mary Ross Scott Reed '25
1976 Jane Bell Grinnan Gladding '25
1979 Elizabeth Boinest Conner '41
1980 Bryce D. Jewett, Jr. '64
1982 Carmen Pettus LeCompte '43
1982 Alex Smith '65
1985 Carolyn Moore McCue, M.D. '33
1987 Malcolm U. Pitt
Award for Outstanding Alumni Service
1991 Helen M. Tanner '49
1992 H. Pettus LeCompte '71
1993 Thomas Earl Pruitt '71
1994 Sandra Davis King '66
1995 Mary Stuart Cruickshank '51
1996 Anne Day Friddell ’71
1997 Gay Montague Jewett ’65
1998 Cristy Conner Jarvis ’68
1999 Lindsay Burn Wortham ’69
2000 Ann Rowland Beauchamp ’75
2001 William “Brother” Scott ’71
2002 Brenda Britten Mathews ‘72
2003 Franklin Bain Heiner ‘66
2004 Katie Cabell Belk Taylor ‘71
2005 Martha Fleming Moore ‘75
2006 Beth Watlington Marchant ’72 and Ry Marchant ‘71
2007 T. Gaylon Layfield III ’69
2008 W. David Gorsline, Jr. '76
Distinguished Alumni Award
1991 Martha Clark Goss '67 Businesswoman
1992 Ann Cottrell Free '34 Author
1993 John Charles Wood '70 Doctor
1994 Joellyn T. Duesberry '62 Artist
1995 Alice Reed McGuire '55 Community Volunteer/Leader
1996 Gertrude Murrell Howland’27 Archeologist
1997 Franklin Wood Kelly ’71 Curator
1998 Stanley F. Druckenmiller ’71 Investment Strategist
1999 Eugene W. Hickok, Jr. ’68 Educator
2000 Antoinette Marshall Lucas ’87 Athlete
2001 Steve Kelley ’77 Syndicated Cartoonist
2002 Martha Hill Newell ’39 Playwright
2003 Anne Louise Coleman ’76 Doctor (Ophthalmology)
2004 David Allen Schools ’83 Musician
2005 Eric Cantor ’81 Politician
2006 Nancy Meyers Marsiglia ’71 Community Volunteer/Leader
2007 Rohan Hazra ’84 Doctor (Pediatric AIDS/Research)
2008 CDR R. Gordon Fogg, USN, '82 Naval Pilot
|