Aiglon ACAEA Awards 2011 Graduation Speech ... - Aiglon College

extreme commitment, deep devotion and sincere loyalty to the school that we honour him todaywith the Alumni Association's highest recognition award.On behalf of the thousands of Aiglonians who know and love this man, we publically thank DavidRhodes for his genuine warmth and ongoing connection to our school, and to our global alumnifamily. He will always be our friend, and he has our deepest respect and appreciation. DavidRhodes is the genuine article, representing one of Aiglon's ‘very best’ of all time, all wrapped upin this wonderful and vibrant package of manhood.Ladies and gentlemen, I am most pleased, and deeply honoured, to invite to the platform the 2011recipient of the ‘ACAEA Key Award’...Hilary's husband, and our great alumni friend...DavidRhodes.…and now I am pleased to present the two “Alumni Citation Awards”, presented in honour ofloyalty and commitment to the school.The first Alumni ‘Citation Award’ is being presented to:Virginia Haugen Lundin... Hailing from Minneapolis MN in the USA, and now a resident of Genevafor the past 15 years…residing on the shores of Lac Leman. Virginia attended Aiglon for threememorable years as a Clairmont girl, graduating in 1979. Virginia’s sister, Lucia, also attendedAiglon.Virginia later attended Trinity College in CT, where she received her degree in Liberal Arts, andtoday Virginia manages an equestrian centre outside Geneva at her family hotel called ‘JIVA Hill’just across the border in France.During the past 30 years, Virginia has maintained close ties to Aiglon College, and she wasparticularly proud when she and her husband, Ian, were able to enroll their two children for fouryears each; Jenna (Class of ’04), and Axel (Class of ’07). By way of example, Virginia is creditedfor encouraging other Aiglon alumni to enroll their children at Aiglon, as well as personallyhosting Mini-Reunions for her friends.Virginia has returned to the school to speak to the students about her efforts to save leopardsfound in the Sudan, where she has established a trust for their well being. More recently, Virginia,and Ian, has generously begun funding their pledge for support towards Aiglon’s ScholarshipFund, the largest ‘alumni’ donation in Aiglon's history, by providing for a student to attend Aiglonby their personally funded Scholarship Endowment.Virginia Haugen Lundin is one of Aiglon’s most devoted and loyal alumni, and we are honouredand indeed proud to present to her Aiglon’s first 2011 Alumni “Citation” Award…however, due tosome last minute family obligations, Virginia is not able to join us this morning, however, beforeher early departure, I was able to present to her this award last evening with both the Head Masterand the Chairman. Thank you Virginia...