News
Hershey Honored for Distinguished Service by VAIS
Former EHS Headmaster Rob Hershey was recently honored with the 2019 Sally K. Boese Distinguished Service Award by the Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS).
“Hershey’s career work," notes the announcement from VAIS, "exemplifies the qualities desired for the Sally K. Boese Distinguished Service Award winner: an ability to create an outstanding program extending beyond (his) own school; a talent for inspiring others and encouraging meaningful collaboration that produces lasting results; an advocacy of independent school education, whose effort benefits all independent schools; and, a concerted effort on behalf of VAIS by contributing time, effort, and ideas in planning, leading, and promoting VAIS programs.”
Hershey led Episcopal for 18 years as its 11th head in the School’s illustrious history (read more about Hershey and the other former heads of school here). He began his educational career in 1970 at Woodberry Forest School following his graduation from Williams College. At 29, he accepted his first headship at Durham Academy in North Carolina. After a decade of leadership there, he returned to his alma mater, leading Collegiate School in Richmond for a decade before transitioning to Episcopal.
Throughout his time in education, Hershey’s influence and involvement reached well beyond the boundaries of the schools he led, serving in multiple roles with VAIS, including multiple terms as president of the organization, as president of AISGW (Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington), and on the board of other schools and organizations.
“He was a very helpful mentor and support for any number of new and younger school heads in VAIS and AISGW and was always ready to lend a hand in any situation where a fellow head or school was facing a difficult challenge,” the statement reads.
Hershey’s successor, current Head of School Charley Stillwell, was on hand for the award presentation.
"It was exciting to be in attendance as Rob was honored for his remarkable career," Stillwell said. "His tenure of leadership at Episcopal was outstanding, and he has always served as an inspirational example to me and many others in his pursuit of excellence in independent school education and in his loyal support for those teachers at our schools who establish transformational relationships with their students and dedicate their lives to their schools."
