The 2025 Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni Luncheon will be held on Saturday, September 26, 2026 12pm at the Dining Hall & Performance Center
Submit your nomination by May 15, 2026
Established in 2014, the Maclay School Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest award presented by the Maclay School Alumni Association.
The Selection Process
Candidates will have distinguished themselves through personal or professional achievement, must have attended or graduated from Maclay, and may not be a current member of the Alumni Board.
This award will be given to recognize Maclay alumni for any or all of the following areas:
- Notable achievement in a professional field
- Service to his or her community, state or nation
- Service to the arts, sciences, or humanitarian causes
- Loyal member of the Maclay Community
The Alumni Board, in conjunction with the Alumni Office, will solicit nominations each year from alumni, parents, trustees, faculty, staff, and friends of Maclay School. From those alumni nominations, a Selection Committee reviews the names and determines the most appropriate person for that year. The Selection Committee submits a slate to the Alumni Board and the Board votes on the slate. The approved slated is submitted to the Head of School for final approval. There will be one Distinguished Alumni Award recipient each year who will be honored at a ceremony on the Saturday after Homecoming each year.
Distinguished Alumni
2025
The 2025 Distinguished Alum: Erinn "Ebs" Burnough ('98)
The portrait of a Maclay Graduate describes an independent thinker, confident communicator, creative problem solver, who is engaged and connected in the greater community. Erinn ‘Ebs’ Burnough embodies this portrait in every way. During his time at Maclay, Ebs served as Senior Class President, Editor-in-Chief of the Andalusian, and was an active member of Brain Bowl, Youth in Government, Civitan, Key Club, and the Charter Debate Club. He was recognized with the prestigious Lomax Teal Award as the Outstanding Junior of the Year, served on the Honor Council, and found his love for theatre as a member of Company. His senior quote, borrowed from Booker T. Washington, foreshadowed the life he would go on to lead: “Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome while trying to succeed.”
After graduating from Maclay, Ebs attended Northwestern University, where he earned his degree in Theatre and launched a career that would span politics, public policy, the private sector, and the arts. He worked at Sotheby's as his first job after Northwestern, and then joined political campaigns and traveled around the country. He moved to New York City and worked for the Service Employees International Union on political campaigns, later serving as the Vice President for politics and legislation, overseeing their growth in DC, Maryland and VA. Following a time at the White House as Social Secretary, he launched a lifestyle brand for cosmetics entrepreneur Aerin Lauder.
Today, Ebs is a film, TV, theatre, and podcast host, director and producer. He serves on several corporate boards and not-for-profits, including currently chairing the board of the Sundance Institute. He is also the CEO of Hatch House Media, a production company. Additionally, he is the senior advisor to Mrs. Wordsmith, an education technology company that teaches children how to read. His work continues to influence culture and inspire audiences, reflecting the creativity, leadership, and commitment to service that were evident during his years as a Marauder.
Most recently, Ebs directed Kerouac’s Road: The Beat of a Nation, a new documentary world-premiering at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. The film examines how Jack Kerouac’s iconic novel On the Road still resonates today, weaving together the stories of modern-day travelers, cultural observers, and those influenced by the author to explore what it means to prioritize experience over material success and authentic connection over digital convenience.
Ebs is married to Pierre Lagrange and they have four children, Bernie, Frankie, Paul and Margaux. He lives in London, England, and spends a great deal of time traveling for work and fun.
2024
Daniel Wingate
Class of 1988
The portrait of a Maclay Graduate is described as an independent thinker, confident communicator, creative problem solver, and an honorable, respectful, and accountable individual who is engaged and connected in the greater community. Daniel Wingate, Danny as he is known to his classmates, exemplifies just that. He attended Maclay from 9th- 12th grades, graduating in 1988. He was a member of Key Club, Company, Publications, played tennis one season and soccer both his 10th and 12th grade years. In his senior yearbook he was described as quiet and shy for teachers and parental units, but if you really knew “Dan the Man” you knew he was a rebel in disguise. Even in 1988 his classmates could see that he had a “sharp eye for art and style.” Danny set big goals for himself as a young Maclay graduate and set out to achieve them.
After high school, Danny went to the University of Georgia for his freshman year then transferred to Parson School of Design in New York. He graduated from Parsons in 1992 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Fashion Design. While attending Parsons Danny was Design Assistant at GEOFFREY BEENE in New York. After graduation he became the Head Designer at JCREW in New York.
In 1998 Danny took a job as Head Designer for STRENESSE in Nördligen, Germany. There he worked directly with Gabriele Strehle on a signature collection in all product categories from day to evening. In 2000, he became Head Designer of the women’s line for MARC O‘ POLO in Rosenheim, Germany. After two years he transitioned to be the Designer for HUGO BOSS woman in Stuttgart, Germany. Danny was the designer for all leather, denim, and (FOB) out- sourced categories for the Boss woman collections. In 2003, he became the Senior Designer for ESCADA, then he moved to a position as Design Director with ESCADA. In this position Danny was responsible for the Escada Collections stylistic direction, colors, silhouette and all developmental duties of creating a four season concept for all. He was responsible for working with all VIP clients, events, MET gala, and red carpet / celebrity dressing. In 2012 Danny became the Creative Director for Escada taking on more creative responsibilities an overseeing a team of 15 designers.
After more than 20 years in the industry, Danny launched his own collection. WINGATE celebrates women with character, those who are dynamic, a delight to the party, and women not afraid of embracing every crease and curve they might have. She stands for comfort not conformity, is bold not boring, a beauty that is characterized by her fearless esprit. Daniel Wingate believes that clothes should be timeless and as season-less as possible. Inspired by his niece in her twenties, a sister in her fifties, and a mother over seventy, he aims to create designs that are desired by all generations. Every garment is tested with the question: 'Will it make one feel and look Ageless?'
2023
Byron Knight
Class of 1977
Byron Knight was known as a well-traveled citizen of the world when he came to Maclay having lived in England and toured Europe. During his four years as a Marauder, he was active in a service club where he served as Vice-President. He was also a member of the band and had a reputation of being a ‘super mechanic’ since he was fascinated by automobiles and airplanes.
Dr. Knight is a native of Tallahassee. Both of his parents were graduates at FSU and sacrificed to give Byron a ‘top-notch education.’ After graduating Maclay in 1977, Knight headed to the University of Michigan where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later continued his education with a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1990, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida in 2000.
Knight began his career in 1982 with the Harris Corporation developing ground-based and space borne antenna systems, and then with Lockheed Corporation as a National Aeronautics Space Agency (NASA) space shuttle thermal protection systems engineer for the Shuttle Atlantis. From 1986 to 1988, he worked for the Unisys Corporation as the division mechanical engineer developing signals intelligence hardware systems for the Department of Defense.
Dr. Byron F. Knight is currently a United States Department of Defense Intelligence Senior Leader and serves as the Chief Scientist in the Advanced Systems and Technology Directorate at the National Reconnaissance in Chantilly, Virginia. In this capacity, he is responsible for developing research technologies for space and ground reconnaissance systems. His leadership, vision and technical expertise helps guarantee that the U.S, will continue is space dominance, providing an unblinking eye of vigilance over the United States and its armed forces around the world.
Additionally, Dr. Knight is also an active member of the community, offering his time and expertise as a volunteer teacher, tutor, and even science fair judge at various educational events. He has spoken to ROTC and Military Academy cadets promoting the 6-week NRO internship program and volunteers with the American Heritage Girls Organization and Wreaths Across American program.
Knight is the first Distinguished Alum to be nominated by a group of his classmates – the Class of 1977 – demonstrating the immense respect and admiration they feel towards their fellow Marauder and all his accomplishments since leaving Maclay.
2022
Jennifer Parker LaVia
Since returning to Tallahassee after graduating law school at the University Florida, Jennifer Parker LaVia has asserted herself into the Tallahassee law and general community like few others. From practicing trial law, to being a published author, to assisting with countless volunteer initiatives involving the Tallahassee community, LaVia has made it a priority to help those in need. LaVia founded the Kearney Center legal clinic, where she volunteered from 2012-2017, and then joined Mobile Law for All as a volunteer lawyer in 2018. Currently, in addition to her legal volunteer efforts, LaVia opened her own office, LaVia Law P.A., which operates as a low bono firm providing access to affordable legal services for those are ineligible for legal aid but cannot afford full-price legal services. For seven years, LaVia served as an active board for Kid Incorporated of the Big Bend. She was also a member of the Foundation for Partnerships in Correctional Excellence from 1999 to 2001. Additionally, LaVia was involved with Boys Town of North Florida in multiple different roles, as well as St. Stephen Lutheran Church. She is also a former board member here at Maclay School.
2019
Matt Hill
Class of 1991
1991 graduate Matt Hill was a National Merit Scholar during his time at Maclay and was always headed to make an impact in the world. After graduating from the University of Chicago and the University of California with his Master of Mathematics, he took on Wall Street where he built a successful career. After 15 years in the financial world, Hill retired to Madagascar for a more simple, natural, and relaxed lifestyle, but his work was not done yet. He immediately went to the African country and began working on projects to help the people of Madagascar. He worked with training school teachers, designed a program to help local fishermen protect their own coral reef, and re-grew a local rainforest which had been consumed by wildfire. He was so fascinated with the process of re-growing the forest, that he decided to create a non-profit, Green Again: Madagascar, working to restore the forests of Northeast Madagascar. In 2015, after establishing his organization, Hill decided to get his Master of Restoration-Ecology from the University of Minnesota, graduating in 2018.
2018
Mary Shovlain
Class of 1988
The 2018 Distinguished Alumnus honoree is 1988 Maclay graduate Mary Shovlain. After Mary finished her education at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross where she received a licentiate degree in theology and graduated Summa Cum Laude she did extensive work with Vatican Radio, providing live coverage of the Pope’s international trips and Vatican events. Mary created television and radio programs from the Eternal City and also collaborated on projects that have aired on the History Channel, National Geographic, and PBS. She also hosted her own program, The Vatican Report with Mary Shovlain, on SIRIUS XM’s The Catholic Channel. This weekly radio program focused on the activities of Pope Francis and explored Vatican news headlines with experts and Vatican officials. Beginning in 2015, she served as a correspondent and producer for EWTN News Nightly and works as a liaison with members of the press and opinion makers in Rome regarding the policies of the American government.
2017
Bettie Kathryn (B.K.) Grant
Class of 1976
The 2017 Distinguished Alumnus honoree is 1976 Maclay graduate Bettie Kathryn (B.K.) Grant. B.K. was a member of Maclay’s state championship basketball team as well as a member of the softball team, Anchor Club, and was selected a Key Club Sweetheart. After graduating Maclay, she attended Clemson University where she earned her degree in Forest Management. B.K.’s career has encompassed more than 25 years of science and technical operations support in Alaska, South Central and South America, and the South Pole. In 1991, B.K. took a position overseeing the satellite communications and operations at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station, operated by the National Science Foundation (NSF) where she supervised a staff of ten. B.K. has received many NSF Outstanding Service and Dedication Awards, Employee Morale Support awards, and has received several Lockheed Martin Best of the Best awards, including the NOVA award. Located in the valley between the Communication Heights and Mount Ash in the Darwin Mountains of Antarctica, is the “Grant Valley” in honor of B.K.’s many years of work and dedication.
2016
Dr. Deryk Jones
Class of 1982
Dr. Deryk Jones (’82) attended Emory University and The Stanford University School of Medicine where he received his Doctorate of Medicine. He then completed his residency at the Harvard Combined program and was selected as Chief Resident at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Later, he completed his fellowship training in Sports Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and then joined the staff of the Tulane University School of Medicine. Today, he is ranked in the top 1% in the field of Sports Medicine and Orthopedic and provides medical care for numerous college and high school athletes along with serving as the team physician for the New Orleans Saints NFL team and the New Orleans Pelicans NBA team.
2015
Brigadier General John B. Richardson IV
Class of 1987
Brigadier General John B. Richardson IV, a graduate 1987 graduate of Maclay School, spent ten years at Maclay and was active in student council and several athletic teams. Upon graduation, he attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He went on to become a highly decorated combat veteran with over 24 years of service in U.S. Army. He has received numerous awards, including the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star for Valor, Purple Heart, three additional Bronze Star Medals, and a host of other decorations and honors. In May 2015, the President of the United States nominated Johnny for promotion and the Senate confirmed his nomination for promotion to Brigadier General. Richardson became the first member of his West Point class to make General Officer with the added distinction of becoming the youngest General in the Army.
2014
Lawton Langford
Class of 1975
Lawton Langford is a 1975 graduate of Maclay School. He has served in various leadership positions including Maclay’s Chairman of the Board from 2002-04, and Chair of the Trustee committee for the $2.5 million Building of Excellence capital campaign in 2004. Most recently, he and his wife Beth participated in the iTHINK campaign for the creation of the Beck Family Research Center and Beck Family Innovation Center. Langford was President and CEO of Municipal Code Corporation (Municode), a leader in publishing (electronic and hard copy) loose-leaf documents. His civic involvement included serving as Chairman of the Young Presidents Organization, Tallahassee Community College Board of Trustees, the Seminole Boosters, Inc. and the United Way campaign for eight counties; and as director for Tall Timbers Research Station, the Community Foundation of North Florida, FSU’s School of Information Studies and Strozier Library’s Advisory Boards and Goodwill. Langford’s continued support and leadership has been invaluable to the growth and direction of Maclay School over many decades.