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Trey Whitfield Memorial Lecture at Brewster Academy
2010 2009
In his address, Whitfield explained how Trey had come to attend Brewster – on the recommendation of a teacher at another school Trey was attending who was about to become a faculty member at Brewster Academy. The teacher thought Brewster would be a better fit for Trey. Whitfield stated that the teacher was right, because Trey flourished at Brewster – academically, socially, and in sports. Whitfield went on to tell the students that they should realize how lucky they are to be at Brewster being taught by such caring, passionate teachers. Whitfield also pointed out that history had been made on this campus 20 years ago, when Brewster students, led by his son and Tim Radley, a former teacher and now activities director, “stormed the capital” of New Hampshire, as he put it, to insist that the state recognize and celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. day, which proved successful. “Brewster Academy is not just academics, it teaches the spirit, too,” said Whitfield. He advised the students that they too could make a difference in the world if they learn to be spiritual, loving, caring, and sharing adults. The Trey Whitfield School, co-founded by Trey’s mother Janie C. Whitney, provides a strong academic curriculum along with character-based instruction. Together, Whitfield and Whitney founded the Trey Whitfield Foundation, which motivates and helps to support deserving boys and girls of all nationalities from all over the United States with scholarships, and recognizes outstanding adults who serve children and communities. After sharing a video chronicling parts of Trey’s life and the work of the Foundation, Whitfield introduced the choir from the Trey Whitfield School, who were there to entertain and inspire, led by choir directors Donna White (Whitney ’07) and pianist Bobby Banks. The choir sang several spirited songs alternating with soulful hymns. Amanda Graham ’10 (a Trey Whitfield School graduate), accompanied by Andy Campbell, performed a solo, Mary Mary’s “Can't Give Up Now,” which included the chorus, “I've come too far from where I started from Nobody told me the road would be easy and I don't believe He brought me this far to leave me.” The finale of “What the World Needs Now is Love” included lots of audience participation, with first all the females in the audience being asked to sing together, then the males were asked to stand and sing together. Then as a surprise to both – and to the delight of the choir and the audience –Whitfield and Mike Cooper were asked to come up on stage and sing the song together. They performed with gusto, and the audience gave them a standing ovation at the end. 2008
Vandross is in his 11th season on the Boston University men's basketball staff, and in May of 2007 he was promoted to associate head coach. Prior to this, he served as an assistant coach at Massasoit Community College where he also advised his student-athletes on academic, personal, and professional placement issues. A 1992 graduate of American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts, with a B.S. in marketing, Vandross played for the Yellow Jackets' basketball team, helping the team win 55 games in his final three seasons. Vandross began by expressing how overwhelmed he was by the turnout of the Brewster community for this event and thanked everyone for being there to celebrate Trey’s life. He said he had decided not to use his prepared speech but instead to speak from his heart, and he did a wonderful job painting a picture of the Trey Whitfield he knew. “Trey had a unique ability to communicate, to connect with people,” he said. “He could and would talk with anyone on any subject and make you feel he cared about you and your life.” He recalled that students did not get too excited about the weekly required formal dinner, especially since they were required to wear a suit and tie, and sometimes could not wait for it to be over. The students and faculty at Trey Whitfield’s table, however, were always the last to disperse, because the group was so engrossed in animated conversations because Trey was there. “People were drawn to Trey because he inspired them.” "He embraced
every opportunity that came his way,” Vandross continued. Vandross explained
that Trey drafted him and the other members of the basketball team as actors and
singers in the school’s production of “Damn Yankees.” “He got me to rehearse,
and rehearse, and rehearse, and even to get up and sing in front of people. He
had confidence in me that I never had in myself.”
Vandross shared that Trey was the student who spearheaded the first Martin Luther King Jr. Day observance at Brewster, with a dinner, a moment of silence, and the reciting of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. “It’s amazing to me that here we are, still honoring Trey after he’s been gone 19 years. It shows how much he affected those who knew him.” In closing, Vandross asked the students to think about their own legacies and how they might want to be remembered. He encouraged the students to emulate Trey and reach out, to get involved with people outside their comfort zone, their close circle of friends and usual activities. “Because Trey got me involved in that play, I have continued to be interested in the arts,” Vandross stated. “This all-school is always great, it really shows how much of a close community Brewster really is,” said Scott Cameron ’08. “That’s what attracted me to come here in the first place, the sense of community.” Cameron, a tour guide, had just finished taking a prospective student and parents on a tour of Brewster, and added, “I told them how great the all-schools are, especially the winter ones, because they bring us all together for great performances and add so much to our high school experience.”
2007
“His parents took that legacy … and made it into something spectacular and powerful affecting many, many lives,” Cooper said. The story of the bright young man whose life was cut short just before his high school graduation, although told and retold, continues to inspire others. One of those inspired lives was that of the day’s guest speaker, Dr. Joyce L. Ferris, former academic dean at Brewster. Like Ferris was about to do, Cooper reminded everyone in the standing-room only assembly hall that hopes and dreams can carry us through our darkest moments. Ferris began by talking about how the Trey Whitfield Memorial Lecture came to be. It was 1990 she explained and Trey’s parents, A.B. Whitfield and Janie Whitney, along with numerous family and friends, including Ferris herself, were still in much pain from Trey’s death. Ferris, A.B., Janie, and then headmaster David M. Smith came up with the idea for a memorial lecture in Trey’s memory. “It helped to ease our pain,” Ferris said. “It never occurred to me that I would be here as the speaker,” she added.
Ferris spoke candidly about her trepidation of being new to the community; however, she recalled having the good fortune of arriving at Brewster for the Sunday night barbeque during opening of school weekend. She described feeling intimidated, standing at the edge of the crowd, watching students reunite after summer break and welcome new students. “Here comes across the lawn, running, not walking, dodging people … there was my friend Trey, his arms outstretched … he lifted me, spun me around.” “I was a small person, but Trey made me feel tall and regal, like a Queen.” “If I was in with Trey, I was in at Brewster. I had it made,” she recalled smiling. “In the midst of this good time, this reunion, he was thinking of me.” And, that was Trey Whitfield. Although often remembered as a 6’5” athlete who performed magic on the basketball court, Ferris recalled Trey the scholar, remembering fondly the day that every teacher cherishes, when he or she witnesses one of their students who “gets it.” It was a mythology lesson and Trey chose to write about Theseus, the Greek god who was known to have relied on his knowledge, not his physical strength, to meet his challenges. “I remember very well and understand what Trey got out of that class,” Ferris said. “He read the material. He listened. He formed an insight that was meaningful to him. Trey chose the mind.” Ferris offered more stories of Trey, each one describing a young man who genuinely cared about his friends and teachers but who remained open to their own strength when he needed to draw on it. And with that, she advised students to reap all the benefits of their education and the opportunities offered at Brewster. “I want you to listen to your teachers because they really do listen to you.” "I found it to be inspirational, and it really gave me a feel of what he was like," said Alison Waldorf '08. Before Ferris concluded, she joyfully introduced the Brooklyn, New York-based Trey Whitfield School Choir, always a highlight of the annual lecture. The choir, comprised of students in grades 2-8 and under the energetic direction of Donna White, delivered a powerful, uplifting performance of inspirational songs.
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January
19, 2009 -- 
The choir
has performed for the Brewster community and friends for the past 19 years in
conjunction with the annual Trey Whitfield Memorial Lecture, honoring Trey
Whitefield ’89 who died shortly before graduating. Head of School Mike Cooper,
in his opening remarks, spoke of how Whitfield’s parents, Janie Whitney and A.B.
Whitfield, in a show of how the spirit can overcome adversity, turned a personal
tragedy around to help other children. The couple established a school in
Brooklyn dedicated to teaching local children and instilling in them the social
values that guided their son. Cooper introduced this year’s featured speaker,
Orlando Vandross ’88, who was a friend of Trey’s. 
Ferris and Trey first met while Trey’s older brother Alvin was a student at Cushing Academy and where Ferris was the director of studies. “We called [Trey] the little guy and I couldn’t wait to have him as a student,” Ferris said. After Trey’s freshman year at Cushing, he transferred to Brewster. A year later, Ferris joined the Brewster community as the academic dean.