Alumni Awards
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Steven Lawrence ’81 is a dedicated Friends Select alumnus, having attended from sixth through twelfth grade. He was an active member of the community, wrestling from middle school to upper school and serving as co-captain of the Varsity team. After graduating in 1981, Steve continued to give back to his alma mater by co-organizing every class reunion over the past 45 years. He also contributed his time and leadership as a member of the National Board of Visitors from 2009-2023, including several years as president. Beyond Friends Select, Steve is a recognized expert in affordable housing, where he currently oversees the affordable housing portfolio in Washington, D.C., is a frequent contributor on LinkedIn, and is the former co-host of the Real Estate Shop podcast. Outside of work and service, Steve’s greatest joy is his family. He relishes his once-a-month trips to see his four grandchildren and family. |
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Desiree Harmon P’19 serves as the director of middle school at Friends Select, where she has been part of the school community for more than two decades. During that time, she has worked as a teacher, dean, and administrator, developing a deep commitment to supporting students during the critical middle school years. Desiree focuses on building strong relationships with students and employees while fostering an inclusive and engaging school culture. Desiree works closely with families, faculty, and senior administrators to support a dynamic and inclusive middle school educational program. She has led initiatives focused on student belonging, social justice education, and equitable school practices. An active contributor to the broader independent school community, Desiree has presented at the Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools (PAIS), Advancing Independent Schools (ADVIS), and National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) conferences and remains committed to fostering student-centered learning environments. |
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Bill Klose P’21, ’25, has served in various roles at Friends Select School for 20 years, including as a parent, a physical education and health teacher, an athletic trainer, and currently, as the director of athletics. Bill has coached softball, basketball, and soccer on different levels. As the head coach of Varsity girls’ basketball, the team won over 60 games in five years. As head coach of Varsity softball, the team has won over 200 games, including playing in multiple district championship games and five Friends Schools League (FSL) championship games, winning three championships for the Falcons. As the director of athletics, Bill has served as the FSL clerk and is currently on the executive board of the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association (PAISAA). Recently, Bill presented at the Advancing Independent Schools (ADVIS) conference on leveraging athletics to drive enrollment, community, and retention. Bill holds a B.S. in Kinesiology from Temple University and an M.S. in Sports Medicine from California University of Pennsylvania. |
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Traci Green ’96 is the Sheila Kelly Palandjian Endowed Head Coach of Women’s Tennis at Harvard University, in her 19th season at the helm. A 2022 Ragatz Family Coach of Excellence, she led Harvard to the 2025 Ivy League Championship while building one of the conference’s most competitive and respected programs. Her philosophy emphasizes character, connection, and competitive consistency. Before Harvard, Green spent three years as head coach at Temple University, leading the program to its first national ranking. She earned a Master’s degree from Temple. Green earned a full scholarship to the Division I University of Florida, where she helped win the 1998 NCAA Championship. Green serves on multiple boards, including the Black Women in Sport Foundation, and was a U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) Presidential Appointee. She was inducted into the USTA Middle States Hall of Fame and the Black Tennis Hall of Fame. She leads initiatives focused on mentorship, leadership development, team effectiveness, and high-performance environments. |
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Friends Select’s 2000, ’01, ’02, ’03, and ’04 Varsity girls’ basketball teams enjoyed an unprecedented period of success. The teams won a total of 94 games in five years, including a 49-4 league record and five Friends Schools League (FSL) titles. In 2000, the team avenged their only regular-season league loss by beating Friends’ Central in the championship game. The 2001 team finished the regular season with a 9-0 league record en route to its second title. The three-peat team of 2002 finished with 22 wins, the most during the five-year run. Back-to-back 8-1 regular season league records in ’03 and ‘04, and dominant playoff runs ended the historic five-peat. The teams placed six different players on the All-League Team a total of 13 times. |
