Five Germantown Academy alumni were honored with Alumni Mission Awards at the biennial awards ceremony in the Arts Center on November 9, 2023. The awards, given by the Alumni Society Board, reflect how this class of inductees are Independent in Thoughts, Confident in Expression, Compassionate in Spirit, Collaborative in Action, and Honorable in Deed. Inductees were lauded in front of Upper School students and faculty before attending a reception with all faculty in their honor. Congratulations!

Laure Biron ’03

During a decade spent engaging at-risk youth in public art projects, Laure Biron realized she was more interested in the service aspects of her work than the actual painting. So Biron earned a social work degree at Bryn Mawr College and found her niche at Broad Street Ministry, the human services nonprofit where she is now CEO. Joining Broad Street in 2019 and becoming CEO in 2020, Laure launched a meal program called Step Up to the Plate to meet heightened need during the pandemic. Under her leadership, Broad Street went from serving 70,000 on-site meals annually to a four-site pickup operation that provided 1 million meals to hungry Philadelphians during the pandemic’s first two years. For guests, the meals often provide a gateway to transformative programs.

“Today, Broad Street Ministry has become the region’s most creative social service organization for people experiencing deep poverty,” says Biron. “We provide life-stabilizing services to more than 7,000 guests a year,” she adds.

Biron now oversees a $3.5 million operating budget, the organization’s first strategic plan in nearly two decades, and pilot programs like a mobile hygiene truck. She’s also expanded training for employees of other nonprofits on topics like de-escalation, anti-bias and what she calls “radical hospitality,” her favorite descriptor of Broad Street’s mission.

“We sustain a … [hope] that one day this practice of hospitality will be pervasive,” Biron says, “and no longer considered a radical act.”

             (sources: GridPhilly & The 2023 Above & Beyond by City & State Pennsylvania)

 

William Hyndman V  ’88

It is no surprise to anyone who knows him that perseverance is Bill Hyndman’s favorite core value. He believes that many of life’s challenges have helped build him into the person he is today and has experienced great satisfaction by facing his obstacles and never giving up on his goals.  

As a 12-year Army veteran who served as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, company commander, and personnel officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, Hyndman received three Meritorious Service Medals during his service. After leaving the military, he started a business called Patriot Connections, which focused on helping transition and place veterans in corporate positions by providing free career counseling and other job-search skills. Then, following his life-long passion, he joined First Tee - Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit dedicated to integrating the game of golf into life skills curriculum, as Executive Director in 2015. As one nominee wrote, “Bill has helped build a golf program that services over 150 schools and youth centers. His non-profit annually teaches over 45,000 students in the Philly area, and has also built an endowed scholarship program for kids to attend private schools in the area. He has taken over two bankrupt city golf courses and provided a safe after-school program for children. Bill has impacted thousands of kids and instilled life skills they will use for the rest of their lives.” 

In addition to the incredible work he has done for our veterans and in the Philadelphia community, Hyndman continues to give back to GA. He serves as a resource for senior projects and partnering with our golf team to create a mentorship program with the children at First Tee. 

 

Steven Jackson ’04

"Media that resonates. Experiences that move you." -- Jackson-Cor Mission

In 2015, Steven Jackson met his future business partner, Ricardo Calderon, as community organizers in the Philadelphia area. Their work intersected in the areas of community building, social justice, and storytelling. After some time they created Jackson-Cor, a media services company that focuses on the power of relationships to inspire positive change. Through the production arm of the company, Steven has produced short films such as “Be You: A Story of Self Love” and “Open Your Eyes: Conversations about Gun Violence and Healing”. More recently, the Jackson-Cor team formed a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania and the Center for Black Educator Development to produce a short film that will feature youth and Black male role models discussing the intersection of health, Black men, and community. 

Jackson has also shared his gifts of mentoring with GA through his leadership on the Alumni Society Board, Black Alumni Alliance, and involvement with our Black Student Alliance. As one nominee wrote, “Steven spearheaded a mentor program for our Black male students called GAME (Germantown Academy Mentoring Experience), providing encouragement and guidance for our students who wanted to connect with our Black alums. He has been a passionate advocate for all students of color and is having a profound impact on the experiences of these students at GA.” Jackson’s compassion and dedication to community building have reached far and wide as he proudly works towards enacting real change.  

 

Derrick Pitts ’73

From infinity to beyond is the best way to describe Derrick Pitts, the Chief Astronomer and Planetarium Director for the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. He is not only the first African American to hold these dual titles at a major science institution in the United States, but he is also the first American to set this benchmark. 

From serving as NASA Solar System Ambassador since 2009 and the “Astrobiology Ambassador” for the NASA/MIRS/UNCF Special Program Corporation’s Astrobiology Partnership Program to appearing as a science content expert on the “Colbert Report” on Comedy Central and “The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson” on CBS, his reputation as a trailblazer spans the globe. However, it is his life’s work to make science and astronomy accessible for young people.

“The saying goes - each one, reach one, teach one,” Pitts said. “My one favorite thing to do here at the Franklin Institute really is to see the lightbulb go off above someone’s head when they understand the concept that they’ve always found challenging but now they’ve been able to understand.” 

He’s had an amazing journey to the top of his profession, has broken down barriers, and opened up opportunities for thousands of young people nationwide. 

“You can always do something, you just have to find the path to do it. Never give up looking for that path and continue to follow that which excites you,” he said.

(sources: CampusPhilly & CBS Philadelphia)

 
 

Kurt Wetzel ’88

Kurt Wetzel embodies the GA mission in so many ways. As an alum, parent, teacher, coach, and mentor, he exemplifies compassion and collaboration daily. As one nominee wrote, “whether he is balancing the discipline/motivation/empathy line with Lower School students or instructing X’s and O’s with his Upper School players on the soccer field, Kurt just gets it. He knows the history of GA, he believes in the spirit of GA, and he is an omnipresent face for students, athletes, parents, colleagues, and other alumni.” 

A veteran member of the 5th Grade team, Wetzel develops connections with his students that go beyond their time in his classroom. Each year he is constantly looking for opportunities to volunteer and bring together the community to make GA stronger in whatever capacity he can.  

In addition to his impact in the classroom, Wetzel has been coaching various teams of soccer at GA since 2003 and currently serves as the boys varsity coach, winning the Inter-Ac League in 2021 and tying for 2nd in 2022. He has also headed up the GA Summer Programs soccer camp as coach and director since 2003. Another nominee summed it up best by saying “Kurt’s name speaks for itself regarding his involvement throughout the GA community. GA alum, parent, teacher, coach, traffic coordinator, mentor…you name it, Kurt exemplifies compassionate in spirit and resonates all things GA.”