Like many families, the Ogawas – Diane Harrison Ogawa, Academy 董事会 Chair; her husb和 Greg S. H. Ogawa; 和 their children, Katie Ogawa Douglas ’10 和 Al Harrison Ogawa ’14 – find that some of their most profound conversations occur over dinner. “这养老,黛安娜说。, “really came about from discussions around our table about how we can create a space for conversations around ideas 和 voices that might be new to us 和 that challenge us to think differently.”
The purpose of the endowed fund is to invite speakers yearly to 阿尔布开克学院 who challenge conventional wisdom, 质疑普遍的假设, 促进多样性, 社区, 和归属感. Diane underscores the importance of this mission, especially in today’s increasingly polarized world. “It’s about creating opportunities to explore ideas 和 initiate dialogues on topics that might not get the attention or underst和ing they deserve,她强调说.
The Ogawa family’s deep appreciation for their children’s educational experiences at the Academy plays a pivotal role in their decision to give back. “Our children had different as well as shared experiences at the Academy. We feel a deep sense of responsibility in giving back to the Academy to help provide exceptional experiences for future students.”
Endowing the speaker series was not just an act of generosity but a strategic move to ensure its longevity. “我们的目标是捐赠这份礼物,黛安娜说, “is to ensure its perpetuity 和 free up resources for the school’s other priorities.” This approach mirrors their family’s earlier endowment of the Ogawa 社区服务 Leadership Award.
演讲者选择的多样性和包容性: One of the key aspects of the speaker series is its commitment to bringing diverse voices to campus. While the family won’t have a h和 in selecting speakers, their desire is clear. “We want to create opportunities for diverse voices to be heard,” says Diane. “It’s about bringing those voices to campus 和 introducing students to ideas that prepare them for the world. The leadership of the school will choose speakers who align with this vision.”
就职演说者, Tanaya络筒机, 一个诗人, 对奥加瓦人来说有着特殊的意义, as the power of poetry 和 the ability of storytelling to connect people 和 promote healing in a 社区 was an important passion for Al during their time in medical school. 10月9日是土著人民日. Winder gave school day 和 evening presentations to the 社区 about her life journey 和 read from her poetry, 她花时间和学生们在一起. A graduate of Stanford 和 the University of New Mexico, 她的祖先来自乌特南部, 金字塔湖, 吃饭, 和黑人部落. 她的诗集包括 爱之类的词 和 为什么风暴以人的名字命名 和 子弹依然无名.
The Ogawa Speaker Series goes beyond hosting events; it seeks to create enriching experiences for students. Diane 和 her family envision opportunities for students to engage closely with speakers through workshops, 一起进餐, 小组讨论. This multifaceted approach aims to provide a unique educational opportunity for Academy students.
树立感恩的榜样,鼓励他人: Diane believes it’s essential to model gratitude 和 demonstrate how individuals 和 families can support their educational institutions. “我的工作, 作为受托人, 学院的前任家长, 一个热爱学校的人, is to figure out how to rally resources to support the incredible work that’s happening at the Academy. 这个捐赠基金只是其中的一小步. All of us in the Academy 社区 are the beneficiaries of the people who have invested in our school throughout the decades. Our family is honored to join in that important tradition.”