Alumna Stacey Shreiner Kley, Class of 1974, attended Shipley from 7^th through 12^th grade. During her time as a student, Mrs. Kley was a member of the Math and Science Clubs, played field hockey, basketball, and lacrosse, and was Senior Class President. It was probably no surprise to her classmates that, upon her graduation, she was awarded the Class of 1944 Bowl, for “the highest standard of citizenship and leadership.” After Shipley, Mrs. Kley enrolled at Princeton University, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Economics, and she later obtained her Master of Business Administration degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mrs. Kley, whose grandfather founded nearby Church Farm School, has supported independent schools throughout her life. She has served on the Boards of both Church Farm and Montgomery School, was Director of Professional Development for the Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, and is now the Director of External Affairs for Montgomery School. A firm believer in the value of independent school education, Shipley’s in particular, we have been lucky to have Mrs. Kley’s help in advancing the mission that helped shape her.

Mrs. Kley has served Shipley as a fundraising volunteer for decades, contacting other alumni and parents—her daughter Jennifer is a 2008 alumna of Shipley—to encourage their support. Her most significant volunteerism, however, has been her service on Shipley’s Board of Trustees. After roles on the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee, Head’s Support Committee, and Committee on Trustees, Mrs. Kley has been Vice Chair of Shipley’s Board since 2011. She has executed this role with both the courage and grace one would expect of a Shipley alumna, earning the respect of her peers on the Board as she once earned the respect of her classmates in school. A fellow Trustee says about Mrs. Kley, “Over the past nine years, Shipley has benefited from her insightful grasp of the complex issues facing independent schools. Her calm demeanor, deep understanding of Shipley’s mission and school culture, thoughtful and inclusive leadership style, and excellent organization and communication skills have made a deep and lasting impact on the School. She is also a wonderful and warm person with a clear love of Shipley. I have great respect for her contributions of time and talent.”

As Mrs. Kley prepares to step down this June from her nearly decade-long appointment as a Trustee of Shipley, we offer our deepest thanks for her dedication, leadership, and thoughtful guidance of the School in this role and others. We hope that Mrs. Kley will continue to offer her time and wisdom to Shipley in years to come, and we are honored to present her with Shipley’s 2014 Alumni Service Award.

Good morning, Shipley community. I am honored to be with you here today and to receive this year’s Alumni Service Award.

I graduated from Shipley in 1974, long before most of you were even born. Our school uniforms, which we wore through 12th grade, consisted of pleated green tunics, white dress shirts, very sturdy shoes, knee socks, and bloomers (and if you don’t know what bloomers are - well, just Google it later). When I arrived at Shipley in 1968, I was a very shy 12 year old, but my 7th grade classmates welcomed me warmly, and I quickly made friends. The friendships I made at Shipley have been lifelong ones, and many of my classmates are here this weekend to celebrate our 40th reunion. When I graduated six years later, I was still shy, but I had grown in ways that I did not fully appreciate until much later. Shipley had instilled in me a sense of confidence and purpose that I carry with me today. Shipley not only prepared me for college, but helped to prepare me for life. It was my teachers and my coaches who made this happen: Mrs. Symington, Mrs. Ralph, Mrs. Trice and Mrs. Gramley, to name just a few. I will be forever grateful for their inspiration, their wisdom, and their impact on my education.

I would like to talk for just a moment about service. Shipley’s motto, Courage for the Deed; Grace for the Doing, is something Shipley ingrained in me during my six years here, and I try to live by it every day. I think it is part of the reason why I made the decision to give of my time, my energy, and my resources to Shipley over the years. Through our service, we can each make a difference in the organizations that mean the most to us. I know I have received much more in return for my service to Shipley than I have given. I challenge each of you to live by Shipley’s motto, and to be of service to your school and to your community.

Thank you.