Saint Ignatius prayed:  Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous. Teach me to serve as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil and not to seek for rest; To labor and not to ask for reward; Save that of knowing that I do your will.

A devout and humble man, Laurence Wade Freeman '82 exemplifies these words by the pilgrim, Ignatius.

For nearly three decades, Laurence has faithfully served The Rock.  First hired by Fr. Tom Pesci, SJ, as the Executive Director of Development and Alumni Affairs in 1994, Laurence ultimately served four presidents (Fr. Pesci, Fr. Terrence Baum, SJ,  Fr. William Sheahan, SJ, and, most recently, current RHS President David Laughlin) in roles that included Executive Director of Alumni Affairs & Assistant to the President, and Chief Advancement Officer.  Across those 27 years, Rockhurst has created new physical facilities, academic programs, expanded spiritual Masses and offerings and awarded tens of millions of dollars in scholarship assistance.  Each of these has been supported directly and indirectly by Laurence's personal efforts working with donors, partners and the Province. 

To those who have known and worked with him, he is generous of heart, intention and action.  A tireless servant-leader, he has devoted immeasurable time, energy and talent to Rockhurst High School and all who have passed through it before him, during his tenure, and all the students and families who will come after him.  Laurence is the first to daily Mass and more often than not, the last to leave the campus on any given day.  Through it all he has greeted visitors, alumni, and prospective students, parents and friends with genuine enthusiasm and unbridled faith.  For all of this, his reward has been knowing that he made a Rockhurst High School education and formation a reality for thousands of students, families and their futures.  In short, he is a living example of a "man for others."

To honor Laurence and his work as he and his wife, Susan, begin the next chapter of their life story, Rockhurst High School announces the Laurence Wade Freeman Man for Others Scholarship created to serve current and future Hawklets by the grace of Laurence’s enduring legacy.

The Fund will be formally announced November 11, 2021 at the Annual Alumni Spaghetti Dinner, a celebration begun under Laurence’s tenure to honor the work of Fr. Mario Puricelli, SJ.  For information about the 2021 event, please visit https://www.rockhursths.edu/spaghetti. With any questions regarding the Laurence Wade Freeman Man for Others Scholarship fund, or the Annual Alumni Spaghetti Dinner, please contact Diane Marty, EdD, CFRE at 816.363.2039 x538 or email dmarty@rockhursths.edu.