The V Form has voted History Teacher Jennifer Parnell to be their Faculty Speaker, an honored role given annually to a teacher who has deeply influenced and touched students with their kindness and spirit.
While she teaches U.S. History Survey, Honors Government, and the electives American Presidency and Capstone: A.I. Applications and Ethics, she also coaches cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field, and advises The Lawrenceville Historical Review. “In these roles, I have had incredible opportunities for meaningful discussions with students about the most basic questions of our history; who we are, how we describe our past, how we choose to govern ourselves, and how we progress as a society. I'm always inspired by the students I encounter,” she commented. She views Lawrenceville as an environment of pure “energy, intelligence, kindness, and humor.” “I also love the many communities we share: academics, athletics, and residential life,” she added.
When V Form Level Director Etienne Bilodeau told Parnell of her selection, she was “extremely surprised and very grateful” and said, “It is such an honor to be chosen.”
Parnell will deliver a speech to the Class of 2024 in May, and she hopes to “provide a moment of connection and community.” To her, the speech is a chance to celebrate the V Form. “I started at Lawrenceville when these students were III Formers, so I’d like to think we have grown together as a community of learners. I think the faculty speech provides an occasion to look to the past with gratitude and to the future with hope and anticipation,” she concluded.