2024 Margaret Bailey Speer Award Presented to Beverly Vaughn ’69, MD
The Margaret Bailey Speer Award is given to a graduate who has shown “Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing;” whose deeds have helped to make the community stronger and freer; who has in some way helped to lessen prejudice, intolerance, and injustice; or whose accomplishments, political, artistic, literary, or scientific, bring credit to her/him and also to The Shipley School.
Beverly Vaughn ’69, MD, is a highly accomplished obstetrician and gynecologist with over four decades of experience dedicated to advancing women's health. Raised in West Philadelphia, she transferred to Shipley School in eighth grade, graduating in 1969. Beverly earned a Bachelor of Arts from Oberlin College, majoring in Psychology and Dance, before returning to Philadelphia to pursue her interest in women’s healthcare.
She obtained her medical degree from Temple University's School of Medicine in 1978 and completed her internship and residency at Pennsylvania Hospital between 1978 and 1982. From 1982 to 1984, Dr. Vaughn fulfilled a scholarship obligation with the U.S. Public Health Service at a clinic in Germantown.
In 2023, after a long and accomplished medical career, Dr. Vaughn retired from her thriving private practice specializing in general gynecology, menopausal medicine, and sexual health. In addition to her practice, she served as the Medical Director of the resident ambulatory facility, where she had both administrative and educational responsibilities. She also held the role of Associate Program Director for the Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN) Residency Program at Lankenau Medical Center and was a Clinical Assistant Professor at Jefferson Medical College (now Sidney Kimmel Medical College).
Throughout her career, Dr. Vaughn has been actively involved in professional organizations, community service, and advocacy initiatives, including Planned Parenthood and educational symposiums. Her commitment to excellence has been recognized with numerous accolades, including the March of Dimes Women of Achievement Award and Philadelphia Magazine's Top Docs recognition.
In addition to her clinical and academic pursuits, Dr. Vaughn has made prolific contributions to medical literature and media presentations, further underscoring her dedication to advancing women's health and shaping the future of healthcare.
Dr. Taylor, a Shipley alumna and distinguished scholar, has dedicated her career to African American literature, teaching, and leadership at HBCUs. Now Director of the Clark Atlanta University Art Museum, she leverages her experience to elevate the museum, stewarding its collection and sharing the richness of the African diaspora.
Morgan is the Director of Behavioral Health for a Philadelphia nonprofit and oversees multiple mental health programs and advocates to reduce stigma in minority communities. A former SURE president and Shipley alum, Morgan credits Shipley’s diverse opportunities for shaping her advocacy skills and encourages current students to embrace growth and new experiences.
In this Shipley Class of 2020 Young Alumni Spotlight, All School President Declan Buckley ’20 reflects on his path since Shipley, sharing insights from his studies at Harvard and his work in production finance at NBC Sports. He discusses the value of Shipley’s community, risk-taking, and embracing new challenges in shaping his journey after graduation.
In the first Young Alumni Q&A spotlight of the Shipley Class of 2020 series, Caroline Milgram ’20 reflects on her path from Shipley to her current role as an Underwriting Analyst in New York City. Joining Shipley in 9th grade, she embraced extracurriculars like Student Government and theatre, while developing perseverance and self-advocacy. Caroline credits Shipley’s supportive environment with helping her navigate challenges, including transferring universities, and preparing her for success at the University of Pennsylvania and beyond.
Shipley alumni Katrina F. Sherrerd ’75 and Chris Comstock ’10 are shaping the School's future with new endowment funds that champion inclusivity and artistic expression, ensuring Shipley remains a place where students and educators thrive for generations to come.
After 37 years shaping Shipley’s art program, Chris Wagner’s passion for art flourishes in a new way. Discover how a chance watercolor class in France sparked a vibrant second act in her artistic journey.
In his Commencement Address to the class of 2024, Prashant Bhuyan ’96 emphasized the importance of maintaining humanity in an increasingly AI-driven world. He advised the graduates to think critically, foster meaningful human connections, and use technology to create new paradigms that benefit humanity, thereby becoming leaders in the future.
The son of a North Philly cop and South Philly educator, Shipley alumnus Robert "BJ" Glenn III ’07 demonstrated prowess as an athlete and as a student. Knowing the importance of a good education, BJ's parents enrolled him in Kindergarten at Shipley where he soon made his mark in class, and later on Shipley’s playing fields in lacrosse, baseball, and other sports. But it was at daily recess at age 6 when he discovered a sport that perfectly blended his budding speed and agility with a strong leg: soccer.
Just before graduating in 2020, Lexi Wojtelwicz reflected on her time at Shipley, writing, “Shipley is constantly presenting different ways to try something new…. There are so many ways to step out of your comfort zone, grow, and discover your passions while knowing you have the support of the whole community”. Now a senior at Penn State University, Lexi will be representing her Greek organization, Delta Gamma, in THON 2024. Lexi shares more about THON and her leadership role.
Princeton University graduate Ishea Johnson ’19 credits her Shipley teachers with creating an environment where she developed and thrived as an independent learner, contributing to her success in college. "Shipley is truly outstanding in that it simultaneously provides its students with a rigorous, academically challenging curriculum while also fostering intellectual exploration and creativity," she says.
Shipley All School President Henry Katz ’19, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May with a BA in Political Communication. This summer, he served as an intern at The White House in the Office of Scheduling and Advance, and has recently started a new position as a Political Strategist at Schoen Cooperman Research in New York City.
Carter Barnhart ’10 is the co-founder and CEO of Charlie Health, with the goal of providing high-quality, personalized mental health treatment to a broader population through a virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) that combines group, individual, and family therapy sessions delivered entirely online. In 2022, Carter was named to Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 100 list for her work to rapidly grow Charlie Health.
When Helen “Honey” Beuf ’78 lost her daughter to suicide, she turned her grief into action. Working with a good friend who is a movie producer, Honey and her other daughter, Tess, decided to produce a documentary film called My Sister Liv. In making the film, Honey says she became aware of unmet needs of kids in learning about suicide prevention and mental health.
Shipley is lucky to have two of its own at the helm of a re-energized Alumni Engagement Office after a two-year hiatus from hosting regional and major events. Aly Mason ’07 took over the role of Director in September 2022, joining Assistant Director Ali Schwartz ’10 in the shared endeavor of connecting with alumni of all ages through robust alumni programming.
This beloved former French teacher and Admissions Director retired from Shipley in 2009 after 32 years of serving in various teaching and administrative roles. Having served on the Boards of Church Farm School and Benchmark School, Mr. Coleman is back at Shipley as a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Alumni Service Award is presented for outstanding volunteer service to The Shipley School by an alumna or alumnus as demonstrated by strong loyalty, exceptional contributions of time and effort, and personal commitment to the advancement of the School’s mission.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding achievement, the dedication, and the personal accomplishments of a Shipley alumna or alumnus in a particular field of endeavor, whether it be in a chosen profession, through formal volunteer activities unrelated to the school, or through a personal commitment to an issue, project, or cause.
The Shipley School Young Alumni Award recognizes a Shipley alumna or alumnus who has graduated within the preceding twenty years and demonstrates innovation, curiosity, and creativity in the pursuit of excellence in a particular field, whether it be in a profession, through formal volunteer activities unrelated to the School, or through a personal commitment to an issue, project, or cause.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.