Retiring Faculty Member: Mrs. Loosigian
In her nine years of dedication to ESSO, coordinator Laurie Loosigian has seen the organization grow from a haphazard collection of smaller clubs to the vibrant community service coalition that it is today.
“When [Ms. Loosigian] began working with ESSO, it was a small, student run organization, but her ability to listen and mediate, as well as mentor and encourage has allowed generations of Exonians and partners in our community to thrive from non sibi,” head of Global Health initiative Lucy Weiler said.
Prior to Loosigian joining the staff, ESSO was largely disorganized and divided into groups of students that lacked decisive adult leadership and supervision. Consequently, many students had a longing to volunteer and improve the social service programs, but they could not find the means to do so.
“Up until 2005, ESSO was a student club and was much smaller. Groups like Best Buddies were individual clubs, and so students in these groups spent most of their time fundraising and not actually participating in programs,” Loosigian explained. “Exonians seemed to be frustrated, and they wanted an organization that would help fund them and let them instill more meaningful change to the community.”
Loosigian was hired as the Academy’s first ESSO Coordinator in 2005. Since her arrival, Exeter has been introduced to countless exhibitions, shows, programs and new clubs that have been helping to raise awareness for the value of community service and strengthening the student body’s embodiment of the school's motto “Non Sibi.”
Senior Audrey Zheng, head of the ESSO group Exeter Microcredit, which gives invaluable loans to present or future small businesses, emphasized the ways in which ESSO has benefited from Loosigian’s service for the past 9 years.
“Ms. Loo has helped ESSO grow since day one. Ten years ago, ESSO was just a handful of clubs under student activities. Students wanted to get out into the community and make a difference, but they recognized the need for adult help,” Zheng said. “Students started a petition to the trustees to hire someone as ESSO coordinator, and the school responded by bringing in Ms. Loosigian.”
Zheng continued, noting Loosigian’s accomplishments in various facets of ESSO.
“Thanks to her care, support, and unwavering commitment to enabling us to serve and grow, ESSO has become an organization of over 70 clubs in addition to ESSO Global with a reach as close as the Harris Family Children's Center and as far as China,” she said. “Her energy and drive has sparked the growth of every student she has worked with as leaders and as citizens of the world.”
Ms. Loosigian’s involvement and devotion to community service started before she was even chosen for the job.
“I emailed Mr. Hassan, who was the Vice Principal at the time, saying something needs to be done about ESSO, since it is not being used to its full potential. In the end, Exeter chose to hire someone for the position of ESSO Coordinator, and they chose for me to have the position in 2005. I have been doing it happily ever since then.”
Weiler, head of the Global Health Initiative, which raises awareness for certain global health-related issues, outlined the reasons for Loosigian’s influence in building ESSO.
Another essential facet that defines Loosigian’s efforts and service as successful is her style of leading the organization.
“For the past nine years, I have worked to ensure ESSO is truly student driven under student initiative, and not something faculty choose to have, so that the Exonians that do join the club are really motivated to do well,” Loosigian said.
Although community service programs at other New England preparatory boarding schools have stronger adult involvement, Loosigian feels that the student-oriented process of ESSO she has maintained during her Exeter career is the most effective.
“Ms. Loo came to the organization and really helped bring it to center stage in the Exeter community. Throughout her time working with ESSO, she never lost sight of the fact that it was really a student run organization,” upper Drew Goydan, a co-head of the tutor group Reading Buddies, said.
“She is such a talented leader because she knows what role she has to play and how much she can delegate to the students. She really trusts us which in turn, I think, empowers us.”
In addition to Loosigian’s confidence and pride in Exonians, during her time, she led the group with unmatched fervor and ambition.
“She's enthusiastic about service, the Exeter community, and Exonians,” Senior Flora Wang, former co-president of ESSO, said. “Whenever I drop by the ESSO office, she often has a new idea that she wants to talk about with me. Most importantly, I can tell that she really cares about students and she takes the time to form relationships with those she meets.”
Although Loosigian has mainly served as the ESSO Coordinator, she also influenced countless students on campus as a role model, inspiration, and a dependable adult figure.
“I have known Ms. Loo since my lower year; needless to say, we've spent a lot of time together,” Wang said.
“She helped me get my Chinese class started, and she also taught me a lot of leadership skills. Looking back on my 2 years on the ESSO leadership team, I've realized that Ms. Loo played a fundamental role in teaching me not just how to coordinate clubs or plan events but also how to approach service in a meaningful way.”
Weiler added, “Ms. Loosigian has been a steady and reliable resource for me, as both a club head and just a student on campus. Her can-do attitude is infectious, and everything she does she does for the betterment of our community.”
But as various pastimes and duties piled up in her ,it became apparent she could not lead the organization any longer, and this year, she chose to retire.
“My husband and I bought an apple orchard in 2010, and when I took the job here I knew we were eventually going to make the purchase,” Loosigian said. “On top of that, I need to take care of my mother and a dog that needs a lot of attention. It has been hard recently to balance all the things in my life, so it seemed like it was time to move on.”
Loosigian said she will continue to crave dearly for the job and all the joys it brought to her.
“My favorite part about being the coordinator was just the whole experience: being able to work with the students to coordinate and host fun, meaningful events-- it is a close knit group that I will always cherish. Everyday I was happy to work for the betterment of others in the Exeter community.”
All members of the Academy community agreed that she would be deeply missed.
“I truly don't know if it is possible to replace Ms. Loosigian,” Weiler said.