Honoring the Best of the Marauder Legacy

The 2026 Hall of Fame and Distinguished Alumni Luncheon will be held Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 12:00pm in the Dining Hall and Performance Center.
Established in 2014, the Maclay School Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor presented by the Maclay School Alumni Association. Each year, one Maclay graduate is recognized for exceptional personal or professional achievement, meaningful service to their community, or a lasting impact on the arts, sciences, or humanitarian causes.

Who Qualifies
Candidates must have graduated from Maclay and may not be a current member of the Alumni Board. Recipients are recognized for notable professional achievement, service to their community or country, contributions to the arts or sciences, or exceptional loyalty to the Maclay community.
How they are Selected
Each year, the Alumni Board and Alumni Office solicit nominations from alumni, parents, trustees, faculty, staff, and friends of Maclay. A Selection Committee reviews all nominees and submits a slate to the Alumni Board for a vote, with final approval from the Head of School.
When they are Honored
One Distinguished Alumni Award recipient is selected each year and honored at a ceremony held the Saturday after Homecoming.
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.









