Amy Harris Wacaster ’94 and Alex Graham ’00 Named Alumni of the Year

The Alumnus of the Year Award is given during Reunion Weekend to an alumnus who has consistently provided exemplary service to Episcopal by enhancing the mission, success, stature, and well-being of the school. This year Alumni Board President William Milne ’00 presented the award to two people for the first time ever: Amy Harris Wacaster, Class of  1994, and Alex Graham, Class of 2000. They are the first alumni to co-chair a capital campaign for the school – and have led the Boldly ESJ campaign through its “quiet phase,” month by month securing both donations and pledges. The campaign has currently raised $19.4 million for the new Haskell Center for Science and Student Life, renovations to the Buck Student Center, the conversion of the original science classrooms in the Foerster Building to English and history classrooms, and the school’s endowment fund.  

And that’s just what they’ve accomplished this year.

Amy chaired the Board of Trustees at Beaches Episcopal School prior to its merger with ESJ and now serves on the ESJ Board. She is an active and involved member at Christ Episcopal Church and volunteers for multiple community organizations. Amy has been an invaluable ESJ volunteer serving as a grade level chair for the Episcopal Fund, Beach Bash Parent social volunteer, and a key leader in the campaign for the new Beaches Campus Gym and Performing Arts Center. She and her husband Steven are members of the Great Oak Society of leadership givers. Their two children, Harris, Class of 2028 and Gigi, Class of 2030, attend ESJ on the Munnerlyn and Beaches Campuses. While a student at Episcopal, Amy was in Cum Laude, served as the editor of the yearbook, and rowed.

Alex has served as a Class Rep, President of the Episcopal Alumni Board, and chaired the Board of Trustees at St. Mark’s Episcopal Day School, of which he is a graduate, prior to its merger with ESJ. He has attended career days for Upper School students and provided internships for ESJ alumni through his company Duval Motors. As a student, Alex was a member of both the Varsity Football and Varsity Track teams, was named Prom Prince and Homecoming King, and was selected for inclusion in the National Art Honor Society. He is currently a member of the Board of Trustees at Episcopal. Alex is a member of the school’s 1966 Society; the 50 by Fifty Society; and is a Great Oak Society leadership donor. He is also a longtime supporter of the St. Mark’s Campus Ascension St.Vincent’s Ortega River Run and A Vision for Art. Alex is a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church and serves on the church’s Foundation Board of Trustees. He has four children, Luke, Class of 2028; Adams; and he and his wife Frances have son Mackie who will attend St. Mark’s Campus next year in ELP 1 with his sister, Josephine, who is in ELP2.

Congratulations Amy and Alex and thank you for your extraordinary service to Episcopal!