K. Lesli Ligorner '87
K. Lesli Ligorner ’87 says she chose Newark Academy because she was looking for more challenge, more opportunities to take advanced classes, and a smaller class setting than the regional public school she would have attended. “NA opened my eyes to many aspects of the world I had not experienced before,” Lesli says. “I took courses with wonderful teachers who showed a genuine interest in my academic and personal growth and who developed my passion for reading, seeing the world, and continuing to learn. That has been invaluable to me.”
In gratitude, Lesli has made a bequest in her will to support the future of Newark Academy. “I do not have children but value education,” she says, “so I wanted to make sure that I leave something to further education and specifically to help students who do not have the means to pay for tuition at NA. It was such a privilege for me to be able to attend, and I attended with the generosity of others, so I want to be able to give back in the same way.”
A lawyer for 24 years, Lesli has spent over 15 years living overseas—currently in China. She recalls the class “Revolution in Japan, Russia, and China” taught by Blackie Parlin and says, “I never imagined that I would be living in the People’s Republic of China for the better part of my professional life. That class provided me with an incredibly strong cultural foundation that helps when I work with Japanese companies and clients and further helps me on a daily basis form a deeper understanding of China. I draw on the history and events I learned from that class at least weekly in my daily life here.”
Lesli encourages others to consider the legacies they could leave with a planned gift to benefit NA. “Think back on the amazing learning and social and general life experiences that we all had—and make that possible for someone else.”
