Alumni Service Award Presented to Michelle Kroiz Winn '91 April 29, 2016

Upon graduating from Shipley, Michelle Kroiz Winn already had experience as a volunteer, and she also had a “suppressed desire.” Her experience was in SOS and Bryn Mawr Tutoring. Her suppressed desire was to “go into business with Ben and Jerry.”

 The Ben and Jerry plan didn’t work out. After a brief time in the legal profession, Mrs. Winn turned to service, specifically with animals. She worked for a shelter, with the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and became involved with beagle rescue. Her son Benjamin was born in 2003, and when he came to Shipley, she came back to Shipley.

 Mrs. Winn had already been serving as Alumni Class Agent for the Annual Fund. Since then, she has been a Parent Class Agent, worked on Shipley Shops, the Spring Auction, and Secret Gardens, Shipley’s signature fundraising events. She co-chaired both Shipley Shops and Secret Gardens. Since 2010, Mrs. Winn has served on the Alumni Council, and both in 2011 and this weekend, she hosted her reunion class parties.

 Mrs. Winn exemplifies a combination of Shipley loyalty with service in action. Since her days as a student participating in community service, she has had an understanding of the importance of supporting others with good will and effort. As an alumna, she understands the needs of Shipley and is willing to work hard to fill them. She personifies Shipley’s commitment to compassionate participation in the world.

 It is for these qualities that we present Michelle Kroiz Winn with the Alumni Service Award.

Acceptance Speech:

Although it may be hard to believe, I graduated from Shipley 25 years ago!
When I was told that Shipley was giving me an award for service to the School, I was at total loss for words, which many people will tell you doesn’t happen to me all that often! Before I could respond, I had to think of the volunteer positions I’ve had at Shipley, just to figure out why they would want to give me an award. I’ve done my fair share of volunteering at the school, but as cliché as it sounds, as an alumna and a current parent, for me volunteering at Shipley has been a reward in itself.

 When I graduated 25 years ago, I knew only that I had loved my experience at Shipley but really could not have imagined the role that the School would play in my adult life. As a Shipley student we had many varied community service opportunities, though not nearly as many as are offered today. But I think that as a student, I was focused on service being what we did for the world outside the School; not on service to Shipley itself.

 But once I moved away, my perspective began to change, as many people’s does. Though there are many great schools in the Philadelphia area, seeing them all from a parent’s perspective has given me an even greater appreciation for what a special place Shipley is.

 Receiving this award has allowed me to reflect on my own days at Shipley, many of which were spent sitting where you are right now, and on my personal motivations to serve the School. I love spending time here still, doing what I can to help make Shipley an even better place, and getting to be a part of this school that is such a part of me.

 Soon many of you will join me as Shipley alumni and your connection to the School will not end at graduation. I strongly encourage you to get involved as alumni, volunteering whenever possible, as like me, you may be surprised by the reward it brings.

 Thank you again for this honor, it is so unexpected and really means so much.


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Alumni Service Award Presented to Michelle Kroiz Winn '91 April 29, 2016

Upon graduating from Shipley, Michelle Kroiz Winn already had experience as a volunteer, and she also had a “suppressed desire.” Her experience was in SOS and Bryn Mawr Tutoring. Her suppressed desire was to “go into business with Ben and Jerry.”

 The Ben and Jerry plan didn’t work out. After a brief time in the legal profession, Mrs. Winn turned to service, specifically with animals. She worked for a shelter, with the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine and became involved with beagle rescue. Her son Benjamin was born in 2003, and when he came to Shipley, she came back to Shipley.

 Mrs. Winn had already been serving as Alumni Class Agent for the Annual Fund. Since then, she has been a Parent Class Agent, worked on Shipley Shops, the Spring Auction, and Secret Gardens, Shipley’s signature fundraising events. She co-chaired both Shipley Shops and Secret Gardens. Since 2010, Mrs. Winn has served on the Alumni Council, and both in 2011 and this weekend, she hosted her reunion class parties.

 Mrs. Winn exemplifies a combination of Shipley loyalty with service in action. Since her days as a student participating in community service, she has had an understanding of the importance of supporting others with good will and effort. As an alumna, she understands the needs of Shipley and is willing to work hard to fill them. She personifies Shipley’s commitment to compassionate participation in the world.

 It is for these qualities that we present Michelle Kroiz Winn with the Alumni Service Award.

Acceptance Speech:

Although it may be hard to believe, I graduated from Shipley 25 years ago!
When I was told that Shipley was giving me an award for service to the School, I was at total loss for words, which many people will tell you doesn’t happen to me all that often! Before I could respond, I had to think of the volunteer positions I’ve had at Shipley, just to figure out why they would want to give me an award. I’ve done my fair share of volunteering at the school, but as cliché as it sounds, as an alumna and a current parent, for me volunteering at Shipley has been a reward in itself.

 When I graduated 25 years ago, I knew only that I had loved my experience at Shipley but really could not have imagined the role that the School would play in my adult life. As a Shipley student we had many varied community service opportunities, though not nearly as many as are offered today. But I think that as a student, I was focused on service being what we did for the world outside the School; not on service to Shipley itself.

 But once I moved away, my perspective began to change, as many people’s does. Though there are many great schools in the Philadelphia area, seeing them all from a parent’s perspective has given me an even greater appreciation for what a special place Shipley is.

 Receiving this award has allowed me to reflect on my own days at Shipley, many of which were spent sitting where you are right now, and on my personal motivations to serve the School. I love spending time here still, doing what I can to help make Shipley an even better place, and getting to be a part of this school that is such a part of me.

 Soon many of you will join me as Shipley alumni and your connection to the School will not end at graduation. I strongly encourage you to get involved as alumni, volunteering whenever possible, as like me, you may be surprised by the reward it brings.

 Thank you again for this honor, it is so unexpected and really means so much.


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Alumni in the Spotlight

814 Yarrow Street
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Phone: 610-525-4300
Fax: 610-525-5082
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.