Review/Update Winter 2013 - Lake Forest Academy

Schells MakeHistoric Gift inSupport ofFinancial Aid7-figure endowed fund is largest inschool’s historyby Ruth KeysoTrustee Mike Schell ’65 likes to be at the front of the pack.One of the earliest donors to the Campaign for LFA, Mikeand his wife, Kathy, helped set the pace for the Academy’srecord-breaking fundraising initiative and serve as an examplefor others to follow.In February 2005, Mike and Kathy were approached byformer Board Chair Rich Jaros ’70 and Head of School JohnStrudwick to make a lead gift in support of the campaign.The Schells graciously committed to an unrestricted gift,which they later directed toward financial aid. The Schell-O’Connor Family Scholarship Fund is the first 7-figure endowedscholarship in LFA history. Kathy’s family suppliesthe O’Connor half of the scholarship fund name.“We wanted to help talented and capable youngsters whootherwise wouldn’t have access to educational opportunities,such as those at the Academy,” says Mike. “We’ve been fortunatein our life and want to give back, to make sure intelligentand talented kids don’t get lost in the system but havean opportunity to make a go at the world.”• • •The Schells weren’t always so close to LFA. For years after hegraduated in 1965, Mike supported the Academy Fund andattended alumni events occasionally, but wasn’t connected tothe day-to-day operation of the school. Things changed in2001. After attending an LFA reception in New York Cityand learning about the direction the school was moving in,Mike’s interest in the Academy swelled. His subsequent serv-Kathy and Mike Schell ’65The Schell-O’Connor FamilyScholarship Fund is the first 7-figureendowed scholarship in LFA history.ice on the board solidified his involvement. Mike and Kathyview their gift to LFA as an investment.“We’re supporters of education—our own schools and ourchildren’s schools. We felt LFA was a good place to invest; itmade a lot of sense,” Mike says.“I go way back with LFA. I remember my pre-admission interview on the old campus. Reid Hall wasstill smoldering from the fire that ravaged the school. I was in the first group of boys to go over tothe new campus. I remember cutting the grass there and helping to build a football field. That was atough point in the school’s history; to see the growth the Academy has experienced since that timeis phenomenal. Through my gifts I hope to encourage that growth. The Academy has developed intoa major institution, from a minor one. LFA is global and addresses education in a proper way—smallclass sizes and a curriculum that is current.”—Howard Dubin ’50, Evanston, ILAnnual fund and campaign supporter4 Update February 2013