On Feb. 11, Head of School Pieter Mulder announced this year’s Kellogg Grant winners, Alba Escalante and Marc Wysocki. 

The award is given to two members of the faculty and/or staff for service and dedication to the School and its students. Now in its 35th year, the award was made possible through an endowment established by Elizabeth Kellogg in honor of her husband, James C. Kellogg ’33, who was a student, alumnus, parent, grandparent, and finally, member and eventual chairman of Berkshire's Board of Trustees. 

Award winners are selected by a community-wide vote, and each year two people are honored who have contributed to the school community in a special way by virtue of their tenure and commitment. Mrs. Kellogg’s hope was that funds would be spent on a well-earned vacation and enjoyed by the recipient and any family involved.

Alba Escalante has been at Berkshire since 2002 as a member of the housekeeping staff. "Alba works tirelessly to ensure that all the places and spaces we live and work in are clean and welcoming," Mulder shared at the award announcement at all-school meeting. "She is humble and unassuming, and she takes great pride in her work in Chase House and CGR.  She brings kindness and a ready smile to each day, and she is deeply respected by her colleagues and friends here at Berkshire.”

Marc Wysocki has supported our student-athletes and teams since 2001. “As our Head Athletic Trainer and Assistant Athletic Director, Marc makes sure our athletes receive the best of care, heal quickly, that our coaches are well supported, and that all our practices, games, and championships have the Bears at our best," explained Mulder. "Beyond these responsibilities, he is a dedicated advisor, a former dorm parent, and our resident EMT who is usually the first one on the scene in the event of any on-campus emergencies. While he often eagerly dodges the spotlight, everyone here knows he is hugely deserving of it.”

Congratulations, Alba and Marc, and bon voyage!