This is a renaming of an existing award: the Alumni Greater Good Award, which was established in 1993 by the Dunn Family for “meaningful contributions to humanity.”  It will be awarded during the Cum Laude Ceremony in the spring of each year.  The Student Greater Good Award will continue to be awarded separately in the fall of each year at Founders’ Day.

Born in Brooklyn, New York and the son of immigrants from Haiti, John Thompson entered Lawrence Academy in the 1879-1880 school year as one of the school’s first two Black students.  After Lawrence Academy, Thompson attended Yale Medical School and graduated with high honors as its 4th black graduate.  After training and study in Paris, Thompson returned to New York City to establish his medical practice.  Known as a scholar of both French and international law, Thompson was appointed consul general to Haiti in 1885 and was succeeded in that position by Frederick Douglass.  Following his time in civil service, Thompson returned to medical practice, providing medical care in underserved communities for the remainder of his life.

The Greater Good Award honors those who understand that education is not an end in itself, nor simply a means to a good job. The award honors those who, in their actions, have demonstrated an understanding of their responsibility to use their education for the greater good of humanity. The award is given to a student in the fall at the Founders’ Day assembly and to an alumnus in the spring at the Cum Laude Day assembly. The Greater Good Award was established by members of the Dunn Family (Jay ’83, Peter ’86, Marty ’85, Margaret ’90, and their parents), and is supported by the fund the Dunn Family established: The Lawrence Academy Endowment Fund for Service, Social Justice, and Global Awareness.

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This is a new award that will be given at reunion in a rotation with the Athletic Hall of Fame.

Robert Terrell was a speaker at both his Lawrence Academy and his Harvard University graduations.  Following graduation as the 3rd Black graduate in Harvard’s history (and the first to deliver an oration at Harvard’s Commencement), Terrell went on to become the valedictorian at Howard University Law School and had a distinguished career as a teacher, lawyer, principal and federal judge—the first black federal judge in the United States.  Terrell modeled a life of bold distinction, conviction, and achievement across many fields.

The Robert Heberton Terrell Award for Distinction in Alumni Achievement recognizes an alumnus or alumna who has attained high distinction in arts, letters, profession, and/or life and career achievement.  As Terrell’s life’s work serves a shining example for all generations of Lawrence graduates, it is the intention of this award to recognize comparable levels of achievement that can inspire both past and future graduates of Lawrence Academy and serve as an example of an educational mission fulfilled through a life well-lived. 

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The Lawrence Academy Athletic Hall of Fame, meanwhile, was established to honor and perpetuate the memory of individuals and teams that have made outstanding contributions to the quality of LA Athletics and have helped bring recognition, honor, and excellence to the Academy and its athletic program throughout its history. Honoring outstanding LA athletes old and new, the Hall of Fame highlights athletic character, sportsmanship, achievement, and pride, and provides a positive link between the student-athletes of the past and those of today.

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Established in 1997 by Suzanne Schiller Loonie ’88, and voted on by the alumni, the Alumni Faculty Appreciation Award is given annually at Reunion to a current or past faculty member for his or her commitment and dedication to the students of Lawrence Academy. LA alumni are asked to submit their nominations throughout the year and the highest cumulative vote recipients are presented to the Head of School for final determination of the recipient.

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Established in 2004 to acknowledge and honor alumni for their outstanding volunteer service to Lawrence Academy. This award recognizes LA alumni/ae for their loyalty, service, and commitment to forwarding the mission of Lawrence Academy.

Established in 1993 as part of the bicentennial celebration, The Founders’ Day Award is given annually at Founders’ Day for extraordinary service to Lawrence Academy. Each year nominations for the award flow to the Head of School, who then discusses the award with the President of the Board and determines a recipient.

The Kathy Peabody Book Award is given annually to that member of the non-teaching Lawrence community, including Academy staff and family members, who help to create a secure and positive environment in which all members of the community may achieve their best.

Kevin McDonald '70 (pictured above on the right) and his dorm mates from Pillsbury House established this award in 1997 to honor Mrs. Peabody. Mr. and Mrs. Peabody were the dorm parents in Pillsbury House, which was a boys’ dorm back when LA was an all-boys school. Kathy Peabody was a distinguished English teacher at Groton-Dunstable High School.

The Peabody Award plaque hangs in the Schoolhouse and there you can see names of previous recipients.