In honor of grandparents and Emeritus Trustees, Jan and Craig Sher, their daughters recently created The Jan and Craig Sher Service Learning Fund. This fund supports up to two high school students’ service learning trips each year and will continue to be supported for at least the next ten years.  

Funding covers a student’s trip tuition along with some additional trip expenses. Recipients of the support must qualify for at least 50% financial aid, have and maintain a GPA of 2.5 or higher and have no suspensions. Students who apply submit an essay about why they are interested in participating in a specific service learning trip and what they hope to gain from the experience.  

As described by Stacy (Sher) Conroy last spring, “Jessica, Ali, Will, and I want to do something meaningful to honor our parents on their 40th anniversary. Shorecrest is an organization that is near and dear to all of our hearts, so it immediately came to mind.”  Values that the Shers instilled in their daughters are the importance of helping others and giving back, as well as a love of travel and new learning experiences. With that in mind, and after further conversation with Shorecrest, the decision was made to provide support to cover the expenses for a high school student's national or international service trip that, due to the expense, they may not be able to attend otherwise.

The inaugural student recipient of this award traveled with fellow students to New Orleans in March 2017, where Chargers partnered with a local non-profit to perform service in areas like tornado relief, environmental restoration, school renovation and neighborhood beautification. While 11 years have passed since Hurricane Katrina ripped through New Orleans, damage still remains. The trip to New Orleans is just one of many service trips that take place during the Upper School Service Week as part of the school’s commitment to student service and community engagement.