Former Faculty Member Continues Support

For someone who is not an alumnus of University School, Henri "Hank" Pell Junod, Jr. certainly bears all the qualities of one.

Throughout the 1970s, Hank was a beloved US teacher of history and political science, a revered coach of soccer and other sports, dean of admissions, and the ninth grade dean.

Since that time, Hank has been an important philanthropist in Cleveland and a wonderful supporter of US. Recently he contributed to We are US! The Campaign for University School with a gift of a history classroom. He has also made a bequest to be paid at the time of his death to provide endowment funding to support international studies. Throughout he has remained a consistent and generous supporter of the Annual Fund at the highest levels. Hank has certainly made his mark on the school and the greater Cleveland community.

As he looks back on his time at US, Hank says it was the "best eight years of my life." He remembers former headmaster Rowland McKinley allowing him to rise through the ranks at a fast pace. He recognized his fellow faculty members as "a group of dedicated, committed educators working hard to have a positive impact on a unique and positive group of young men." He is still awed by long-time faculty member Terry Harmon taking an exceptional interest in students far beyond the confines of Terry's biology classroom. The faculty worked "way beyond the job they were being paid for - and their impact on the boys was palpable," he noted.

Hank, too, has gone above and beyond, by providing direct tuition to support two students at US.

To this day, Hank is invited to multiple reunion parties each year. In Hank's view, US has only become better with time. The school has stayed true to its enduring values of Responsibility, Loyalty, Consideration, and has embraced the ever-evolving and diverse world in which its students will live and must thrive.

"Schools like US are going to be special only so long as people provide the support required to keep them great," he said. "Now, the need for resources is even greater - more and more families are not able to afford a US education, technology and educational theory require constantly updated facilities, and the demand for great teachers is increasingly competitive. Without the support of alumni and friends, the school will not be able to compete on all these fronts. By providing philanthropic support to US, you allow the school to attract the brightest students, and to draw and retain the best faculty."

Hank provides philanthropic support in a number of ways. In addition to numerous outright gifts, he is a member of The Headmaster's Club, the school's legacy recognition society, and has elected to make a bequest to provide endowment funding to support international students.

"I hope other alumni and friends of US will support the school through their estate plans. Together, we can ensure US will continue to produce young men of character and promise. I am a huge believer in gift planning as a way to support the institutions I believe in and want to see endure."

He is pleased that the support he provides each year through the Annual Fund is directed to support salaries and professional development for the faculty. For these many ways Hank continues to lead at US, the school is enormously grateful.