Despite graduating three decades apart, Joshua and Rudy share traits and habits we seek to foster in all Ransom Everglades graduates. Both aspire to help others, work tirelessly for causes bigger than themselves, and elicit gratitude and appreciation from those whose lives they touch. Their efforts have been transcendent. 

Though barely out of college, Joshua has been dedicated to the fight against global hunger and poverty through the Joshua’s Heart Foundation for nearly two decades. His foundation has raised more than $5.5 million and assisted more than 700,000 people. In 2012, Joshua became the youngest recipient of the Champions of Change Award presented by the White House, and in 2017 he was awarded the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Most recently, Joshua was invited by the White House to participate in the first National Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health. A graduate of the New York University Stern School of Business, Joshua currently works with Fiserv, a global fintech and payment services company, while continuing to lead the Joshua’s Heart Foundation.

Rudy, who will leave the Ransom Everglades Board of Trustees this summer after 15 years of service, has shown selfless devotion to RE in every role: as an alumnus, parent, trustee, board chair and generous philanthropist. The founder and chief executive officer of Banyan Street Capital, Rudy has been a strong community leader and campus friend. At RE, the Touzet Patio at La Brisa and the Touzet Quad outside the STEM center are named in honor of the Prio Touzet family: Rudy, Lydia, Rudy Prio Touzet Jr. '18 and Jack Prio Touzet '20. Board chair Jonathan Fitzpatrick recently shared his admiration for Rudy, who served as board chair from 2016-18: “Rudy is the full package,” Jonathan said. “He truly bleeds blue and green. Rudy and Lydia have given back to Ransom Everglades in so many ways: their time, their passion, their dollars and their love of the school.”

Joshua and Rudy are excellent examples of The RE Way in action, and yet they are not the only practitioners of our core values. I would like to take this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the Ransom Everglades Parents’ Association for a truly extraordinary year of service to the school in 2023-24. Under the direction of President Soledad Awad, REPA provided excellent parent programming, kept families engaged and informed, and helped our professional community feel valued and appreciated throughout Teacher Appreciation Week in early May. REPA also served gallantly and selflessly after the tragic death of Ella Adler ’27. Our hearts and sympathies remain with her family and close friends. During those extremely difficult days, REPA members offered our students special breakfasts and snacks, and they displayed resilience, compassion and kindness that were invaluable. 

Finally, I would also like to thank Jonathan Fitzpatrick for his service as chair of the board of trustees for the past two years. He has been an encouraging leader who has demonstrated steady, consistent leadership throughout his tenure. He has provided me with unwavering support, thoughtful guidance and wisdom that I will carry forward. We are fortunate that he will remain on the board for the coming years.

I wish all of you a safe and rejuvenating summer filled with quality time with family and friends.