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Community Corner

Hamden Hall Honors Rolan Young Smith with Alumni Achievement Award

Hamden Hall Country Day School honored local attorney and philanthropist Rolan Joni Young Smith recently with an Alumni Achievement Award for her many personal and professional accomplishments.

Smith, who resides in Orange, is a senior partner with Berchem, Moses & Devlin, P.C., in Milford. Her areas of practice include, among several things, affordable housing and community and economic development. Additionally, Smith was the Macklin Fleming Visiting Lecturer in Law at the Yale University Law School clinic on affordable housing and community development from 2002 to 2003.

“The one thing that hasn’t changed at Hamden Hall is the sense of community – the sense of love,” said Smith during her acceptance remarks.  “There is acceptance here, and I remember how much all of you put into us.  We were embraced and we were loved.”

Hamden Hall’s Alumni Achievement Awards are presented to graduates of the school who have distinguished themselves in some particular manner worthy of recognition. Their achievements or contributions are spread across a diverse array of endeavors, with recognition in categories such as community service, society and world affairs, and professional excellence. 

“The recipients uphold the highest standards and values in their pursuits, are passionate about their chosen undertaking, and are role models who inspire others,” said Hamden Hall Head of School Robert J. Izzo.

Smith graduated from Hamden Hall in 1978.  She was presented her award by her former English teacher, Betty Lou Blumberg, with whom she has remained close.

Following Hamden Hall, Smith attended Dartmouth College, graduating in 1982.  She earned her juris doctorate from American University, Washington College of Law, in 1985.Smith was named Minority Business Person of the Year in 1999 and was listed among 20 Noteworthy Women in 1999. Among her long list of professional associations and memberships: former chair of the board of Directors of the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority; former President of the Greater New Haven NAACP; chair of the board of directors of Start Bank, and a member and past chair of the board of directors of the Community Foundation of Greater New Haven. 

Smith is married to Rev. Dr. Eric Smith. 

Other honorees included Fairfield attorney and author Richard Kent, New York Times columnist and author Ross Douthat, David Wade, who serves as Chief of Staff to Secretary of State John F. Kerry, Hamden Hall art teacher Sue Spivack Bennett, and Bill Polinsky, a Yale University graduate and retired vice president of M. Schiavone & Sons. 

Hamden Hall Country Day School, the nation’s fourth country day school, forms partnerships with the best resources in the area to bring learning to life for students. Since its founding in 1912, the school’s mission has been to challenge PreSchool through Grade 12 students to develop a strong sense of personal integrity, social responsibility and a global perspective while preparing them for demanding academic programs at the collegiate level.  Hamden Hall is a coeducational college preparatory school that enrolls students from over 35 communities.  ###

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