Ralph O. West, 1942

Improving the prospects of young people through his dedicated service to the independent school community.
At Vermont Academy, Ralph West, class of 1942, was an honor student, active in sports, clubs, and school government, voted “most likely to succeed,” “most versatile,” and “senior who had done the most for VA.” He did achieve success and continued to contribute to schools like the Academy. For improving the prospects of young people through his dedicated service to the independent school community, Vermont Academy honors Ralph O. West with the Florence Sabin Distinguished Alumni Award.

After graduating Harvard University, West returned to Vermont Academy to teach, before renewing his studies and receiving his Masters Degree in Education from Harvard in 1951. He became head of the history department and Assistant Director of Admissions at St. John’s School in Texas, returned to New England to be Headmaster of Cushing Academy, and served two years as Executive Secretary of Harvard’s Gradate School of Education Association. While working at Harvard, he was also Director of the Evaluation Program for Independent Secondary Schools of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). In 1963 he was appointed as Director of the NEAC, and later became Director of the Commission on Independent Schools. Ralph West retired in 1989, after 23 years of service to the NEASC and 42 years in independent school education.
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Vermont Academy is a coed college preparatory boarding and day school in southern Vermont, serving grades 9-12 plus a postgraduate year.