Remote auction inspires community, supports financial aid

Stephanie Sayfie Aagaard ’88 and parent Shane Battier emceed the hour-long showcase, which included a welcome and remarks from Head of School Penny Townsend and Board Chair Jeff Hicks ’84. It featured insights from musician Connor Munroe ’21, swimmer Magnus Kron ’21, student-body president Georgia Murphy ’21 and drama student Natasha Rodriguez ’23; and performances by the RE dance team and musical theater star Jaerla Sajous ’25.

 

Most notably, it included inspiring comments from three accomplished alumni who received financial aid during their years at RE. Gloria Johnson-Goins ’81 explained that she had been so grateful to receive financial assistance that she vowed to be a “model student.” (She ended up receiving the Head of School’s Award at commencement.)

 

“When you give to our scholarship fund, you give to students like me,” Johnson-Goins said. “And when you give, your contribution goes to our future. And it comes back to those students, to our school, and to our communities in ways you can’t possibly dream of or imagine.”

 

“In my opinion … Ransom Everglades is the greatest school in the country, if not the world,” said Thomas Willis ’04, a full-financial-aid recipient and former employee who spoke from his new home in Connecticut. “I’m so happy about what the school gave to me, and what it continues to give to kids, in and out of the classroom … It’s such a beautiful, amazing, wonderful, accepting place.”

 

James Weaver ’90, co-president of the alumni board who played football and tennis at RE, provided his testimonial from the stands at Walker field. “I realized this was a lifetime opportunity … financial aid was absolutely critical for me to attend,” he said. “Thirty years later, I remain very proud to be an alum of this fine school of independent learning.”

 

Under the direction of REPA President Vicky Hucks, many parents worked tirelessly to make the event a success. Charlotte Hicks served as Social Media Chair; Lauren Funke as Sponsorship Chair; Soledad Awad as Vice President of Technology and Auction Administrator; Susan Woolsey and Javier Lugo as Auction Administrators; Nickelle Crowley and Mary Seabrook as Action Acquisition Co-chairs; and Katharine Rubino and Lola Pegg as Auction Co-chairs. Allison Holly assisted as REPA President-Elect, and Vicky Vega Capote served as Vice President of Communication.

Members of the RE community bid on hundreds of items, from vacation getaways to sports tickets to dining certificates.

“Every dollar raised tonight goes to scholarships to help kids of promise to attend RE regardless of their ability to pay,” Jeff Hicks had said at the outset of the event. “Bid high, bid often, and support an amazing school.”