Ruth Gorham Alumni Award

 

At the inaugural Master Teachers ceremony in 1998, Ruth Gorham's fellow master teacher and dear friend Phil Hickey paid tribute to her ability to “open the eyes of hundreds of youngsters to new cultures, languages, and history. Always, everywhere, she ignited a spark in all of her students, continually nurturing a joy for learning.”

 

Mrs. Gorham's career at Graland spanned from 1930 until 1992, during which time she taught English and French to countless students and mentored numerous younger teachers. Her fondness for the school knew no bounds, and, due to her long tenure she became a meticulous chronicler of the School's history. She spent several years writing Graland Country Day School: the First 50 Years, which remains the authoritative history of the school's formative years.  Mrs. Gorham passed away in 2004 at the age of 99.

 

Her deep commitment to the School and involvement with generations of students evolved into a position as the de facto head of alumni relations at a time when there was no such formal position on the staff and no volunteer alumni board. It is therefore particularly fitting that in 2007, the Graland Alumni Association Board passed a resolution to establish a formal tribute to the formidable woman whose role in Graland's history was indeed noteworthy.  The purpose of this award is to honor alumni who have made extraordinary contributions to the school.

 

The following areas of interest will be reviewed during the selection process:

Please send nominations to Anna Natassja Scheitler by email or to her attention by regular mail:

 

Graland Country Day School

55 Clermont St

Denver, CO 80220

 

Past recipients of the Ruth Gorham Alumni Award have included:

2023 - Dr. Adam Barkin ’91 and Dr. Beth Linas ’97
2022 - Ben Duke III '68
2021 - Max Caulkins '87
2019 - Kim Fuller ’86 Jacoby
2018 - Greg Goldberg '83
           Edward Murane '78
2017 - Phil Hickey H'81

2016 - Jim Arneill '66
2015 - Andrea Sodano '65

2013 - Ted White '73
2012 - Bruce Rifkin '72