After a five-year absence, the Alumni Wall of Fame is making its return. LFHS will host a ceremony Monday in the Raymond Moore Auditorium to honor alumni who have been thoughtfully reviewed and selected as the newest additions to the Wall.
The Wall of Fame celebrates alumni who have achieved success across a wide-range of fields. Every few years, the Alumni Association selects individuals from various decades who have made a meaningful impact throughout their careers. Due to COVID-19, the addition of new honorary members was temporarily put on hold.
The Alumni Introduction Ceremony is announcing this year’s chosen members for the Wall. These alumni will deliver speeches in recognition of receiving this honor.
This round of additions to the Wall will welcome three honorary members. The LFHS Alumni Association has not announced the new members but promises that they are a “talented, accomplished, engaging alums to the high school in order to inspire students to learn with passion, know themselves, and make a difference.”
The Wall of Fame is located in the short hallway between the Glass Common doors and the library. For students who may not have noticed, it’s positioned right next to the photo of the first graduating class.
This hallway is a physical link between the old and new sections of the building. The Wall of Fame was intentionally placed here to connect alumni with the current student body, and as English teacher and alumni committee member Carolyn Konz explains, “to connect the past to the present.”
The very first Wall of Fame was established in 2005, initiated by LFHS Director of Communications Anne Whipple and Joy Murawski, LFHS Communications Assistant and Social Media Specialist, and member of the Class of ‘79. It was created in response to a request from English teacher Peter Ferry, who sought a way to recognize successful alumni. Due to the successes of alumni and author Dave Eggers, Peter Ferry was motivated to recognize his achievements.
The first group of honorees added included actor and producer Vince Vaughn (Class of ‘88), former Lake Forest mayor James Swartout (Class of ‘48), CBS sportscaster Tim Weigel (Class of ‘63), jewelry designer Thierry J. Chaunu (Class of ‘74), and Mindy Conover Meads (Class of ‘70), CEO of Victoria’s Secret Direct and former CEO of Lands’ End.
In 2014, Susan Athenson (Class of ‘81), led an effort to expand the selection committee. This committee includes alumni representatives from each decade, originally spanning from the 1940s to the 2000s. This group is responsible for selecting the individuals who will be honored on the Alumni Wall of Fame.
The selection committee ensures they are choosing adequate people for the Wall by carefully examining their achievements and their personnel.
“We look for people whose talents and accomplishments are wide reaching. Someone who affects people in a positive way,” Konz said.
According to Lesley Fisher, Class of ‘90 and Alumni Coordinator, the Wall of Fame is valued not only by current students, but also by alumni, many of whom return to visit and stay connected to the community.
“When alumni return to the building for tours during reunion weekends, to watch sporting events and performances, or even to attend parent-teacher conferences for their own children, they can’t wait to visit the Wall,” Fisher said.
Fisher is proud of LFHS for recognizing and honoring alumni in such a “visible and collaborative way.” Juniors and seniors are invited to attend the ceremony.
“I especially appreciate that upperclassmen students have the chance to attend the April 14th ceremony to better understand the triumphs and challenges of their journeys, to ask the questions, and to be inspired. The value of connecting alums and current students cannot be underestimated.”
Others see the Alumni Wall of Fame as a source of motivation—a reminder of the success students can achieve when they apply themselves. As both an alumni and current teacher, Konz believes that Lake Forest provides students with the foundation to lead successful and fulfilling lives, a message that the Wall of Fame proudly reflects.
It is encouraged that students work to be successful, but do not aspire to be on the Wall as their prime motivator, according to Fisher.
“Follow your passions and you’ll be on the right track. Instead of aiming to be on the Wall, take note of the characteristics of those who have been honored, and find inspiration in their good, hard work, and use it as fuel,” Fisher said.
The Wall showcases an array of successful alumni, including Richard Noblock, who was a part of the team that dropped bombs on Hiroshima during WWII, and Amy Krouse Rosenthal, a children’s book writer who was later featured in the New York Times.
Maureen Grinnell, also a member of the Alumni Selection Committee and former Editor-in-Chief of The Forest Scout, personally knew one of the honorees on the Wall of Fame. When the Wall was first established, she “knew she would be nominated” and brought the individual to the attention of the committee. As a result, she was invited to join the committee herself.
“The story I know best is that of Carol Brown, who was a good friend from my graduating class. Among other involvement, Carol started the CLAW Club, which stood for ‘Clean Land, Air and Water,’ her junior year, when recycling was a very new concept,” Grinnell said. “She attended Princeton University in just the second or third class that admitted women. While at Princeton, she joined the newly established women’s rowing team and subsequently won a Bronze medal in Rowing at the 1976 Olympics.”
By adding three honorary members, the Alumni Association aims to send a meaningful message to the Scouts as well as the entire Lake Forest community.
“This Wall of Fame space sends the important message that LFHS values ALL of our Scouts, before they arrive at the high school, while they are students here, and after they graduate,” Fisher said. “Our alumni honorees mirror our school’s mission, as they inspire the passion to learn, the insight to know oneself, and the courage to make a difference.”
