Ladd Discovery Award

Geoffrey Andrew Ladd, a Saint Andrew's Episcopal School student from 1987 to 1995, was 11-years old when he died suddenly of a brain haemorrhage. Overcome by the greatest of all losses, his parents turned their darkness into light, by establishing the Geoffrey Andrew Ladd Discovery Award.

During his school years, Geoffrey participated in the junior service program, represented his school on the fifth grade basketball team and took pride in sharing his computer skills with his classmates. Geoffrey always had the latest state-of-the-art computer technology. The friendships he made at school were very important to him.

Geoffrey was an avid tennis player and fan of the game. He delighted in discussing famous players and competitions and had the opportunity to visit Wimbledon and the Melbourne Tennis Center. Geoffrey played baseball with the Saratoga Little League for two years, and, for several years, enjoyed the art of horsemanship. He was always willing to explore and try new skills.

Geoffrey loved to plan international journeys with his parents. He reveled in the discovery and exploration of new lands and during his life had many opportunities to do so. In fourth grade Geoffrey spent a semester in London and attended Hill House School. As part of his Hill House experience, he was selected to spend time at their Swiss campus location where he skied the Alps. His summers were always filled with adventure. He could be found fishing in Scotland or on the Great Barrier Reef, touring the Holy Land, or sampling the risotto in Italy. Geoffrey had a profound interest in and concern for the natural environment in each of these countries.

During his short life, Geoffrey deeply touched the lives, of his family, friends, classmates, and teachers. He is remembered for his self-confidence, acceptance of others, innate ease, telling stories about his beloved dog Casey, joy for living and his big, contagious smile. He packed more grins into eleven years than most people manage in a lifetime.