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Alumni Service Award Presented to Lea Harrison Bolling ’47, Lana Holladay Crawford ’47, and Suzanne Fuguet Steigerwalt ’47 May 4, 2012

The three recipients of this year’s Alumni Service Award, Lea Harrison Bolling, Lana Holladay Crawford, and Suzanne Fuguet Steigerwalt, have more in common than just their class year: these members of the Class of 1947 have maintained a lifelong commitment to serving Shipley. Throughout the 65 years since they graduated, Mrs. Bolling, Mrs. Crawford, and Mrs. Steigerwalt have helped make the Shipley experience better for all who have followed in their footsteps.
Lea Harrison Bolling’s classmates wrote about her in their yearbook, “Her home has been the happy haven of many boarders’ Sunday afternoons, and her hospitality and ‘good hostessing’ will long be remembered.” While spending weekends with friends, Mrs. Bolling spent most of the week on the playing field. A varsity athlete in four sports, she was a natural choice for President of the Athletic Association as a student, and after graduation she continued to use her leadership skills as a longtime member of the Alumni Board. When she later became a Shipley parent and grandparent, Mrs. Bolling’s volunteer roles expanded to include Annual Fund volunteer and Reunion Manager. This year, in fact, she has played an instrumental role in planning and generating enthusiasm for her class’ 65th reunion.
Lana Holladay Crawford had a reputation among her classmates as someone who “always manages to show a smile and takes time enough to stop and have a chat.” After graduation, her cheerful nature spurred Mrs. Crawford to become an active member of the Shipley community, serving as a Trustee and as a member of the Alumni Board. Her volunteerism also included serving as Reunion Manager and Annual Fund volunteer, as well as donating her home to be featured on Shipley’s 2007 Secret Gardens Tour. At the same time as serving Shipley so well, Mrs. Crawford has maintained significant service commitments to other organizations as well.
Suzanne “Sanna” Fuguet Steigerwalt’s senior yearbook described her as having “the wonderful ability to make friends with everyone.” After graduation, Mrs. Steigerwalt put those superior people skills to work as a member of the Alumni Board for nearly two decades. During her service, she was Alumni Board President and held the position of Alumni Trustee for two terms. She was also a significant help to Shipley’s professional staff by traveling to alumni gatherings all over the country as an ambassador for the School. Later, Mrs. Steigerwalt became involved as a parent and grandparent at Shipley, and she held volunteer roles for the Annual Fund, Shipley Shops, and the Shipley Fashion Show. This year, she has worked closely with the School to plan her 65th reunion and is hosting her class party at her home tomorrow evening.
In truth, it is impossible to enumerate the myriad contributions these three women have made during the decades they have given back to Shipley, especially since much of their service occurred before such acts of volunteerism were recorded in any formal way. But one thing is certain: At every turn, Mrs. Bolling, Mrs. Crawford, and Mrs. Steigerwalt have stood at the ready to help Shipley in whatever way they can. They have given their time, their talent, and their financial contributions to a school they love…and we love them for it. Lea Harrison Bolling, Lana Holladay Crawford, and Suzanne Fuguet Steigerwalt are, indeed, deserving recipients of The Shipley School’s 2012 Alumni Service Award.

Acceptance Speech

Little did we guess that on our 65th reunion, the three of us would receive such an award from The Shipley Alumni Association. We are indeed honored.
We graduated from Shipley in 1947, a class of all girls, half day students and half boarders, and if you can believe it, not one of us has a college diploma! Shipley is our formal education, and it has served us well. Between us we have six children who graduated from Shipley as well as grandnieces and grandnephews, all of whom continued their education. Lea [Harrison] Bolling ’47 has three granddaughters here today.
Shipley laid the groundwork for our sense of self. We are privileged to have attended a school that gave us the best kind of education, with teachers who inspired continued learning, instilled responsibility to the world and its people, and taught with perspective and humor. A school that can give such an education must be enabled to continue giving these qualities to future students.
Our interest in and service to Shipley has been strong since graduation. We hope that this interest and support will be true for all of you, as well.
Thank you.
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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.