Church Farm School will honor Lori McDermott, its Director of Alumni and Community Engagement, with the 2025 Newton Disney Service Award at its Alumni Dinner on May 10.
McDermott’s commitment to service — not just to CFS, but to many other local organizations — has been extraordinary during her 18-year tenure at the school. And it will be recognized with an award she worked with alumni to institute in 2016 in honor of a graduate and former coach.
Hardworking, empathetic, and dependable, McDermott is often asked to serve on many different committees at CFS and was one of two faculty members invited to participate in the recent Head of School search. She spent many hours attending and hosting meetings, fielding phone calls, culling through survey data, and considering viewpoints. Annually, she serves on the Family Weekend, Pageant, and Commencement committees, while also maintaining a busy schedule of Advancement events, alumni meetings, township meetings, student ambassador meetings, and church meetings.
In all of her interactions — whether on the clock or off it — McDermott is quick to promote Church Farm School and how other people can get their organizations involved with the school’s unique mission.
“I just want to pay it forward,” she said. “My time was not my own when raising my children, and I appreciated the support and available activities others helped to provide. This is my small way of giving back. I want to contribute where I can and to leave this world in a better place.”
Learn more about how Church Farm School serves boys from a range of socio-economic circumstances who are seeking an extraordinary educational opportunity.
