WRA Meeting (5/20/20)

I have really enjoyed my Hawken Project with Ella. We have learned a lot about boards, philanthropy, and alumni relations. A really unique and great opportunity we have had with this project is connecting with a variety of professionals in various capacities. Overall, we have met with two dozen different alumni, high school staff/faculty, college staff/faculty, board members, and professionals in the non-profit field. An interview I found especially meaningful and significant was with Ruth Andrews and Andrea Brechtelsbauer from WRA’s Advancement Office. During our conversation, we discussed a variety of different aspects of philanthropy. We talked about the importance of service opportunities and learned about a unique activity WRA has for its students. In March, the Advancement Office and a group of senior students create and implement a philanthropy week for the entire school. Throughout the philanthropy week, students are educated about WRA’s rich history with philanthropy through various fun activities. WRA is a boarding school located in Hudson, Ohio and it has students from all over the United States and the world. Essentially, the school is a cultural melting pot with students from different countries, economic backgrounds, and differing religious beliefs. WRA emphasized the importance of being cognizant of different cultures and beliefs. In order to accentuate the significance of philanthropy, extensive research was done on the background of different people and their country of origin. Learning all of this proved that philanthropic mindset could be instilled into a group of students on a cross-cultural level. This is something that Hawken should keep in mind when modifying their strategic plan to include a more diverse student body. This will especially be important if Hawken becomes a boarding school with the opening of the new Mastery School. I really appreciate the time Ms. Andrews and Ms. Brechtelsbauer spent with Ella and me.