Lawrence Woodmere Academy

Private school in Woodmere, New York, US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lawrence Woodmere Academy, also known as "LWA", and "Woodmere Academy", is an independent school located in Woodmere, New York, United States. It is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools and the New York State Board of Regents.

Coordinates40.6352°N 73.7140°W

School typePrivate, College-prep, Independent

MottoVeritas, Integritas, Servitium – "Truth, Integrity, Service"

Established1912

Quick facts Location, Coordinates ...

Lawrence Woodmere Academy
Location

336 Woodmere Boulevard Woodmere , New York 11598 United States
Coordinates	40.6352°N 73.7140°W / 40.6352; -73.7140
Information
School type	Private, College-prep, Independent
Motto	Veritas, Integritas, Servitium – "Truth, Integrity, Service"
Established	1912
Dean	Fortune Gilbert
Head of school	Hank Williams
Faculty	18
Grades	Pre-K – 12
Enrollment	120
Mascot	Tiger
Nickname	LWA
Team name	Tigers
Website	www.lawrencewoodmere.org

History

The history of the Academy began with the founding of Lawrence Country Day School in 1891 and Woodmere Academy in 1912. The institutions merged in 1990.^[1]^[2]

The motto of Woodmere Academy was Disce Servire, meaning "Learn to Serve". When Woodmere Academy and Lawrence Country Day School merged, the motto was updated to Veritas, Integritas, Servitium, "Truth, Integrity, Service".^[3]

Students came from all parts of Long Island, as well as countries abroad.

Officials with the Lawrence Woodmere Academy announced Friday July 18, 2025, that the school will not open for the 2025-2026 academic year this fall. The school's board of directors said in a statement that it, "made the difficult decision not to open the school for the 2025–26 academic year. This follows a period of extensive efforts to stabilize operations, including the pursuit of new partnerships and long-term strategic planning." The board added that pausing school operations "is the most responsible course to avoid disruption to students, families, and staff." The board said it will "focus on exploring sustainable paths" for the school during the pause, including a review on how the school can continue to serve the Five Towns community.^[4]

Notable alumni

Roger Berlind (1930–2020; class of 1948), theatrical producer who won 25 Tony Awards^[5]
Stuart Beck (1946–2016, Class of 1964), Lawyer and diplomat for Palau who helped negotiate the Compact of Free Association, which established Palau as an independent nation in free association with the United States in 1994.^[6]
Matthew Blank, (Class of 1968), CEO of Showtime Networks
Karen Burstein (Class of 1960), politician and former judge who was the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for New York State Attorney General in 1994.^[7]
Michael Cohen (Class of 1984), Executive Vice-President, Trump Organization; Special Counsel to Donald Trump.^[8]^[9]
Jordan Dingle (born 2000), college basketball player for the Penn Quakers of the Ivy League.^[10]
Andrew Barth Feldman (born 2002), winner of best actor at the 2018 Jimmy Awards and star of Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway
Barbara Heldt (born 1940; class of 1958), emerita professor of Russian and Slavic studies.
David A. Kessler (born 1951; class of 1969), former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner and best-selling author^[11]
Victor LaValle (born 1972; class of 1991), author
Richard LeFrak (born 1945; class of 1963), real-estate developer
Neil David Levin (1954–2001, class of 1972), Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, killed during the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.^[12]
Tyrone Nash (born 1988, class of 2006), professional basketball player^[13]
Michael Pertschuk (1933–2022; class of 1950), chairman of the Federal Trade Commission from 1977 to 1981
Tony Petitti (Class of 1979), Chief Operating Officer of Major League Baseball
Steven T. Ross (1937–2018, class of 1955), military historian^{[citation needed]}
Jesse Sheidlower (Class of 1985), lexicographer.
Robin Wagner (born 1957, class of 1975), Olympic figure-skating coach.
Bob Wolff (1920–2017, class of 1938), sports radio broadcaster.

References

[1]
Monahan, Sharon. 'Schools' Plan to Sell Land Opposed", The New York Times, January 28, 1990. Accessed February 17, 2025. "The Lawrence Country Day School, founded in 1891, is on nine acres of a former estate in the village of Hewlett Bay Park. It has 150 students ranging from nursery-school age to ninth grade. It will merge with the Woodmere Academy, established in 1912, which has about 450 students ranging from nursery school through 12th grade."
[2]
About LWA, Lawrence Woodmere Academy. Accessed February 17, 2025. "Lawrence Woodmere Academy (LWA), is a co-educational, non-religious, elite private college preparatory school. The school was formed more than a century ago with the founding of Lawrence Country Day School in 1891 and Woodmere Academy in 1912. The 1990 merger of these two respected schools resulted in the strongest source for independent secondary education on the south shore of Long Island."
[3]
A Message from the Head of School, Lawrence Woodmere Academy. Accessed February 17, 2025. "The founders of Woodmere Academy adopted a motto of 'Disce Servire' or 'Learn to Serve.' After the merger, the motto of LWA was expanded to 'Veritas, Integritas, Servitium' or 'Truth, Integrity, Service.'"
[4]
Berman, Melissa (July 17, 2025). "Lawrence Woodmere Academy announces closure of 2025-2026 school year after revenue shortfall". Herald Community Newspapers. Retrieved October 3, 2025.
[5]
Seelye, Katharine Q. "Roger Berlind, 90, Dies; Broadway Impresario Who Amassed 25 Tonys", The New York Times, December 24, 2020. Accessed February 17, 2025. "The family moved to Woodmere, on Long Island, when Roger was 3. He attended Woodmere Academy and went on to Princeton, where he majored in English."
[6]
Roberts, Sam. "Stuart J. Beck, American Who Helped Guide Palau Into Nationhood, Dies at 69", The New York Times, March 1, 2016. Accessed March 2, 2016. "Stuart Jay Beck was born on Dec. 23, 1946, in Manhattan, the son of Martin F. Beck, a radio broadcasting executive, and the former Lorraine Hills. He was raised in Brooklyn and on Long Island, in Lawrence. He graduated from Woodmere Academy (now Lawrence Woodmere Academy), Harvard University and Yale University Law School."
[7]
Fisher, Ian. "Burstein Brings an Edge to Attorney General's Race", The New York Times, August 7, 1994. Accessed March 2, 2016. "Ms. Burstein, the oldest of six children, grew up in Baldwin and Lawrence, L.I., and attended the Woodmere Academy, becoming the school's first female president of the student body."
[8]
"LI's Michael Cohen: Trump's Secretary of Loyalty". Newsday. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
[9]
"1600: Court with Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels". Newsday. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
[10]
Piatt, Joey. "Freshman Jordan Dingle has been impressive, but his coach says it's only the beginning", The Daily Pennsylvanian, November 14, 2019. Accessed March 8, 2023. "After starting his high school career at Lawrence Woodmere Academy, Dingle spent his final two years at Blair Academy, a boarding school in Blairstown, N.J. that has produced NBA players like Luol Deng and Charlie Villanueva."
[11]
Bessen, Jeff. "Kessler named chief science officer for Covid vaccine drive", Long Island Herald, January 15, 2021. Accessed February 17, 2025. "Kessler, 69, graduated from the Woodmere Academy in 1969, which merged with Lawrence Country Day School to form Lawrence Woodmere Academy in 1990."
[12]
Lawrence Woodmere Academy, LWA Centennial Edition Centennial Edition
[13]
"Tyrone Nash - University of Notre Dame". und.com. Archived from the original on October 30, 2018. Retrieved October 30, 2018.

Lawrence Woodmere Academy

History

Notable alumni

References

External links

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