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2024 Dream Grant Recipients Announced
For more than a decade, St. Luke’s faculty and staff members have been invited to apply for the annual Faculty Enrichment Award, funded by the generosity of former St. Luke’s parents Steve and Liz Goldstone. More commonly known as “Dream Grants,” this monetary award allows faculty and staff to pursue a personal project or journey that will enrich their lives.
St. Luke’s is excited to announce the 2024 Dream Grant recipients: Maggie Lauer, Middle School Music Teacher; Sean Lynch, Upper School Art Teacher & Art Department Chair; and Valerie Parker, Visual Media Director.
Maggie will embark on a two-week cultural immersion in the Republic of Georgia. As an adopted person with Georgian biological parents, but limited exposure to Georgian culture, she feels a deep curiosity and connection to her heritage. This grant will provide Maggie with the opportunity to explore the country, its people, and its traditions firsthand.
After researching his great-grandfather's journey from a poor tenant farmer in Roads, Cahersiveen, Ireland to North America, Sean was inspired to bring his family to County Kerry, Ireland. With grant funds, they plan to explore their family's former residence, the nearby workhouse, and the church they once worshiped in. Sean has already connected digitally with relatives in County Kerry and hopes to meet them in person during his visit.
To honor the memory of her late mother, Valerie will travel to Sivananda Ashram Yoga Retreat in The Bahamas, a place her mom frequented for many years. Valerie’s two sisters (who include SLS Director of Community Connections Kate Parker-Burgard) will accompany her as they explore and discover all that inspired their mother to make this annual visit to the ashram.
Past winners of St. Luke School's Dream Grant have pursued a diverse range of dreams, including traveling to Vietnam, exploring family roots on a road trip out West, reimagining backyard spaces, rediscovering childhood passions, purchasing new musical instruments, engaging in creative hobbies, and enjoying memorable anniversary trips.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
