Leadership is both an art and a skill. It can be learned, but not easily taught. The seven young men who were tapped as prefects at Stepping Up last May earned that honor thanks to their demonstrated commitment to the School: contributions to clubs and activities, success in the classroom and athletics, and overall presence as role models. Headmaster Bill Taylor assigns each prefect a specific area of oversight as part of that young man’s leadership responsibilities. Here’s a snapshot into the Class of 2019 Prefects and how they perceive their duties.
John Garvey (Head Prefect, Hamden, CT) “From what I have observed in my three years here, prefects have been the ones who made a notable difference day in and day out. The role comes with adversity and long hours of responsibility, but being able to overcome everything will lead to class success. My job is to enrich student life and stay attuned to overall morale. The Class of 2019 intends to uphold the traditions of Trinity-Pawling.”
Robby Phillips (Junior Prefect, Pawling, NY) “Being a prefect means not only being a leader before the whole school, but also doing what’s needed behind the scenes to make the student experience the most enjoyable and rewarding it can be. While I oversee the academic picture, I feel my role is to serve as a voice between the faculty and students. What inspires me the most is simply that the school community has entrusted me with this position, which makes me want to do the absolute best I can. I think the most challenging piece will be balancing my responsibilities as prefect with my place as a student.”
Will Rickert (Pawling, NY) “I’m in charge of the Arts so I want to encourage more kids to step out of their comfort zone and participate in the Arts. I want them to discover new talents.”
Nolan LaPlante (Lake Tahoe, CA) “As Prefect of Zeal, I unite the student body through activities and events and keep the campus enthusiasm high. My goal is to get kids out of their dorm rooms, challenge them to be a little vulnerable, and find ways to have good, clean fun.”
Jack Haims (Bronxville, NY) “My area to oversee is honor. As a member of the Honor Council, I want kids to consistently do the right thing, help them to value honor, and be aware of the Honor Code.”
Ryan McBeth (Port Moody, British Columbia) “I’m focusing on service. I plan on collaborating with Father Robinson to help the boys find ways to serve, contribute, and to get involved with the world in a fun and meaningful way.”
Evan Ruschil (Katonah, NY) “Mr. Taylor put me in charge of victuals. Once I realized that meant food, I decided I should work with the dining hall and Cave staff to make the food consistent with what we want to eat. Guys like to eat so this is a pretty important role.”
Good luck to all the 2019 Prefects!