Distinguished Alumni Awards Past Winners
[Founder's Award | Head of School Award ]
Founder's Award:
2007 - Beverly Knight Olson '68
2006 - Dr. Ken Broad '84
2005 - Laurinda Spear '68
2004 - John Flickinger '74 & Doug Weiser '74
2003 - Harry H. Anderson, Jr.'38
The following is an introduction by Head of School Ellen Moceri for Mrs. Olson, the 2007 Founder's Award recipient and the 2007 Commencement Speaker:
Beverly Knight Olson is a 1968 graduate of Everglades School and someone who so epitomizes the mission of our school - - to train a leadership class that will give more to the community than they take from it.
A trustee of the Knight Foundation since 1987, a foundation that nationwide, but especially in Miami, has supported so many civic and philanthropic concerns, Beverly has been a driving force of civic commitment, not only in her native Miami, but also in her adopted community of 20 years, Macon, Georgia. She, in fact, has made such a profound effect on all aspects of community life in central Georgia that the Georgia General Assembly passed a resolution commending Beverly Knight Olson for being one of the State's finest citizens with "an inspiring vision of community to which she sincerely devotes her actions." And they especially commended her for her dedication to the youth of the city of Macon and her many acts of kindness for their benefit. The House of Representatives concluded its resolution with these words: "Now, therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives that the members of this body honor and commend Beverly Knight Olson and express to her their utmost appreciation for her selfless devotion to her community and state." Let me just outline for you the various areas of Mrs. Olson's leadership and generosity.
Athletics: A long time advocate of athletics and physical fitness, Mrs. Olson's dedication has been recognized by her appointment to the Georgia Athletic Hall of Fame. She attracted the Macon Knights Arena 2 football team, which she owned for 6 years, to provide top flight athletic entertainment for the central Georgia area. She built Sportstown, a training camp for the Macon Knights that was also used to expand the athletic opportunities of the local youths. A corporate sponsor and mentor of the Macon Redstixx Youth Baseball team, Mrs. Olson also promotes athletic and entertainment opportunities for the youth of Macon at the Starcadia Amusement Park which she has developed on 8 acres of land near the Macon area.
Arts: A driving force and chairman of MidSummer Macon, an organization that provides classes and camps in the arts for children and adults as well as performance opportunities in the community, Mrs. Olson, as a Trustee of the Knight Foundation, was also instrumental in the planning stages and fundraising for the completion of the Performing Arts Center in Miami. The Knight Concert Hall has been named in appreciation of the $10M in grants from the Knight Foundation.
Education: Mrs. Olson has long served as a member of the Board of Directors of Wesleyan College and Stratford Academy, an Independent School in Macon. She is also a prime mover behind Partners in Education, a program that promotes taking live animals to schools so that students can learn more about them and interact with them.
Medical: Mrs. Olson has also served on the advisory Board of Children's Hospital and the Medical Center of central Georgia.
At-Risk Community: A volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, she has also chaired Project Angel Tree, an organization sponsored by the first Presbyterian Church which provides gifts to the families of prison inmates. Mrs. Olson is also Vice-Chair of the Macon Rescue Mission, an organization that tries to help men with drug addictions, and the women and children who are the subject of the abuse of those addictions, seek sanctuary.
General: And we would be remiss if we didn't point out that Mrs. Olson has been a volunteer, a chairman and often a fundraiser for the following organizations: The American Cancer Society, The United Way, The Red Cross and The American Heart Association.
As is our tradition at Ransom Everglades School, Commencement is a celebration of our seniors, our alumni, and the mission of the school. Mrs. Beverly Knight Olson is a perfect representative of the tradition of Commencement at Ransom Everglades School.
Head of School's Award:
2007 - Ray Zemon '66
2006 - Debi Braman Wechsler '78
2005 - William Holly '86
2004 - Eric Buermann '69
2003 - Hal Kendall '54
For Ray Zemon, Ransom Everglades School was a turning point in his life. Ray was born in Miami and entered The Ransom School for Boys early second semester of the ninth grade (third Form), after a less than distinguished academic performance at West Miami Junior High School. After falling in with a tough crowd in his local public school, a guidance counselor suggested he apply to The Ransom School for Boys in the middle of ninth grade. "Private school was a new concept for my family," Ray recalls, "but this was the most important intervention my parents ever made for me."
Ray adapted well to the Ransom environment and soon began to share his new friends' interests in studying and getting into college. With small classes, his strengths were identified and developed, especially in math classes where he did very well. "The teachers at Ransom--people like Dan Leslie Bowden and Michael Stokes--made me feel as if they were interested in me and invested in my success. I didn't want to disappoint them."
After graduation, Ray went on to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where his interest in math evolved into a business major. He subsequently earned an MBA and did considerable post-graduate work in finance at the University of Wisconsin before starting his career as an institutional fixed income investment advisor. Although he retired early from that field, he continues to be active in several business ventures and some quiet philanthropy.
In 1996, Ray established a full student scholarship that enables the administration each year to accept a student who needs the school more than the school needs the student. He told the School, "I'm not looking to support a star athlete or scholar, because Ransom Everglades School already offers opportunities to those who have proven their ability to excel. Ray's total contribution in support of Ransom Everglades financial aid program is in excess of $200,000.
Ray spends half of the year in his Palm Beach home, the remainder of the year in his home in Madison, Wisconsin. He has three children, two daughters ages 26, 24, and a 21 year son who attends University of Wisconsin-Madison. He also has a nephew who graduated from Ransom Everglades School in 2006.
