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African-American Valedictorian Delivers Historic Speech at Lawrenceville Prep

By Kam Williams

On Sunday, May 25, 2008, Rory MacQueen's valedictory speech received a warm reception from his fellow graduates in Lawrenceville Prep's class of 2008, and from all the families and friends who had gathered in their honor on the campus of the prestigious school. MacQueen made history as the school's first African-American valedictorian ever, with his sage insights serving as the final remarks to an attentive audience before he and his classmates were awarded their diplomas.

Commencement 2008

In the speech, he not only congratulated the seniors but also encouraged the underclassmen to enjoy, as fully he had, all the opportunities that Lawrenceville has to offer. As for his college plans, the academic standout was accepted to Harvard, Yale and the University of Pennsylvania, but ultimately opted to attend Stanford University in Palo Alto, California in the Fall. In the interim, MacQueen will be working as an intern at Morgan Stanley Bank in New York City.

Prom 2008

An active member of the community since his freshman year, Rory appeared in the school's theater production of Shakespeare's "As You Like It." His other extra-curricular activities included cross-country track, the Model UN, and serving as editor-In-chief of Prize Papers during his senior year.

Despite all the accolades and his considerable accomplishments, Rory remains humbled to be joining a long line of distinguished alumni which includes the late Malcolm Forbes, pollster George Gallup, NBA star Joakim Noah, Walt Disney CEO Michael Eisner, pop singer Huey Lewis and Connecticut Governor Lowell Weicker, to name a few. Founded in 1810, and located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Lawrenceville is one of the oldest prep schools in the country and has a highly selective admissions policy along with an equally-rigorous academic regimen.