Head of US Scott Small Speaks at Prize Day
For me, events like this one have a slightly dissonant undertone—taking absolutely nothing away from the tremendous accomplishments and individuals that we have recognized today, I know that we have missed the opportunity to celebrate many in the audience who have also done remarkable things. Still, the aspirational intent of today is ultimately about acknowledging that pursuing lives of purpose and service (an intent deeply embedded in our Mission Statement) starts here in these moments of fulfillment—both recognized and otherwise—that define what it means to think critically and compassionately and to stand for what is good and right.
Mr. Armstrong, our Classics Teacher, introduced me to a book recently by retired United States General Stanley McChrystal entitled On Character – Choices that Define a Life. In this book, General McChrystal asserts that character is not an innate trait earned at birth nor is it something that will inevitably manifest itself because of your education or your perceived station in life. General McChrystal’s belief is that one’s strength of character comes down to a succession of choices—some great, some small—that each of us will make over the course of our lives. And, he states the importance of this progression resolutely on the very first page of his book: “Character [is] the most accurate, and last full measure, of who we choose to be. Every other metric is superfluous.”
Early in my career here at MICDS, I met a gentleman by the name of Spencer Burke, CDS Class of 1965. You may have seen Mr. Burke’s name etched in concrete in the breezeway entrance to the STEM building or have heard of him as a successful and civically engaged St. Louis businessman or this may be your first introduction to him. I first met him when he was the Chair of the MICDS Board of Trustees and I came to value his leadership very much, but I want to share a story about Mr. Burke earlier in his life when he was a college student-athlete that was recently relayed to me and, I believe, speaks to this framing of character that General McChrystal articulates.
In 1969, Mr. Burke was just a little older than most of you in the audience and was a squash player at the University of Pennsylvania. In the semifinal round of that year’s National Collegiate Squash Tournament, he was one point away from defeating and upsetting the two-time defending national champion, Anil Nayar. On his third match point, Burke played a ball off the side wall that Nayar could not return—a seemingly perfect shot. The ball hit the ground, Burke received the point and, in so doing, won an upset victory and the opportunity to compete in the final. Nayar went to shake his hand and congratulate him on the win, but Burke turned to the officials and said that his own shot had fallen just outside the boundary marker and that this actually was a point for Nayar.
I want to pause here and restate this—No official made this call and no spectators watching could see the ball hit out of bounds. Burke called a penalty on himself. He demonstrated remarkable character by acting as he did when only he had seen, and only he knew, that this was the right thing to do. Nayar ultimately went on to win the match and then the championship, but what he spoke about from that experience in the years since has been about his sense of awe and respect for the decision that Burke made and the remarkable demonstration of integrity it represented. In Lucky, a book chronicling his life and success as a US Hall of Fame squash champion, Anil Nayar shared the following: “My name was on the record board, yet he was the hero. Spencer’s highest standard of sportsmanship has always stuck with me as the gold standard.”
Today, we have celebrated so many wonderful achievements and aspirations. To our deserving award recipients today, I congratulate you on your many accomplishments and offer the gentle reminder that what you choose to do with these opportunities and the ensuing succession of choices that General McChrystal references will continue to define your character. For all of us in this assembly today—as we wrap up our year with all of the academic responsibilities still remaining as well as the life experiences that will undoubtedly present themselves, I want us to think about the “gold standard” set by Mr. Burke in that act of profound integrity and character when only he knew what was good and right.