Alumni seek to enliven minority population with alumni dinner

Two Hawken alumni, Scott Hamilton and Wayne Lawrence, are actively involved in a Cleveland Council of Independent Schools initiative that brings alumni of color together around a special event that will help raise funds for minority scholarships and, in the process, reengage graduates with their respective schools. The four-school fundraiser, involving graduates from Hathaway Brown, University School and Laurel School as well as Hawken, will be held May 19 at Chester`s, a restaurant in East Cleveland, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Last year`s event, at Moxie`s restaurant in Beachwood, was a successful gathering of friends and this year`s party is already counting over 100 attendees. In addition to embracing their association with CCIS schools, the Dinner with Friends/Embrace has four goals, according to Lawrence, who, with classmate Hamilton, has been leading this year`s effort on behaldf of Hawken alumni. \"Our goals are to represent our school and alumni with pride while encouraging alumni of color who are not actively involved in the school to have a reason to come and give back,\" Lawrence said recently. \"With this sense of involvement and support,\" he continued, \"we gain active alumni of color in this community who help attract other minority candidates to the school and create a scholarship fund to support those qualified students who would love an opportunity to join the Hawken family but may seek some assistance.\" Lawrence said the dinner is more than a meal and party. \"Yes, we can look at the dinner as a simple event, but it can also serve as a springboard to a broader program committed to those stated goals and supported by our school. Hawken could send a message.\" Lawrence reported that this year`s event will double in number those who attended the inaugural gathering last year. But he said more help is needed in spreading the word about the event, the group and its value to the school. \"When Hawken embraces an idea or cause, we truly rally around it from the leadership through its volunteers, as evidenced by its capital campaigns for new academic wings, state-of-the-art aquatic center and even its current commitment to the new football stadium. These all add value to the student experience that makes Hawken great.\" Persons interested in attending this year`s event should contact the Alumni Office at Hawken of Mr. Hamilton of Mr. Lawrence.