The 2023 winners of the Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) and our newest inductees into the D-E Athletic Hall of Fame (AHF) were recognized during the Reunion 2023 Alumni Awards Ceremony.  This year’s DAA Honorees are Donald I. Baker ESB ’53 and Robert Lane ESB ’73, and our AHF 2023 Inductees are Julia Schneider Phipps ’08 and Emily Linn ’08 and the 1993 Boys Basketball Team.

The ceremony began with welcome remarks from Head of School Jeremy Gregersen, who noted how the alumni being honored each epitomize the School’s mission in distinctive ways, providing us with examples of leadership that can be modeled by our current students, and faculty/staff and families by extension. Steve Abrams ESB ’70 then provided an introduction of DAA Honoree Donald I. Baker ’53, whose professional roles include being a lawyer and serving as former Head of the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, and being a member of the faculty of Cornell University. Dr. David Hovsepian ESB ’73 then provided introductory remarks for DAA honoree Robert Lane ESB ’73. Rob is an architect, community-based designer, planner, researcher and educator, who has co-authored a book on the subject of design of urban manufacturing. (Editor’s note: For additional details about Donald and Robert, please see “Meet our Distinguished Alumni Award (DAA) Honorees.”)

After a brief intermission, the ceremony then transitioned to honor the newest inductees into the School’s Athletic Hall of Fame. The audience first heard from D-E’s new Athletic Director JD Sand, who spoke to the ongoing aim of D-E Athletics to provide an environment in which student athletes can excel and concurrently strengthen life-long learning and teamwork skills. Following JD’s introductory remarks, alumna Samantha Pullman ’08 provided a warm and heartfelt introduction for her “best friend” and AHF inductee Julia Schneider Phipps ’08.  Samantha noted how Julia’s ‘triple threat’ prowess while playing Softball, Basketball, and Soccer — and her mentorship and leadership at all times — had an invaluable impact on her and their teammates. Longtime former D-E Athletic Director and current Girls’ Varsity Soccer Coach C. Christian Schmid (“Schmiddy”) then came to the podium to introduce AHF inductee Emily Linn ’08. Mentioning Emily’s capable playing as a student, Schmiddy spoke to her contributions also as a former coach for D-E’s Golf and Field Hockey Teams. The final AHF Team Inductee, D-E’s 1993 Boys Basketball Team, was first recognized by Robert Ragasa ’92 on behalf of former D-E Athletic Director Tom Curry.  Robert then turned over the podium to alumni players Derek Frank ’93 and David Berk ’93. Derek and David together reflected on the enduring nature of the friendships they forged while playing with the Boys’ Basketball Team, through both losses and wins (including the team’s 68-52 victory over Wardlaw-Hartridge School at the State Prep Basketball Championship tournament). 

To view a video recording of the complete Reunion Awards Ceremony, please visit d-e.org/reunion or scan the QR Code.