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A Night to say Thank you, Paul!

A Night to say Thank you, Paul!

Board of Trustees Members, Foundation Members, parents, faculty, staff members, former employees, alumni and friends of Paul Williams, came together during an event to honor his 31-year career at ASF and his retirement at the end of the school year.

Approximately 600 guests arrived at the Jenkins Foundation Wellness Center at 6:30 p.m. for a special evening hosted by Aliki Elias, ASF alumna, mom, member of the Board of Trustees and friend of Paul's. Guest speakers Rosa Marentes de Pisinger from the Board of Trustees, Sloane Starke and Hugo Salcedo, representing the school's faculty, Frances Huttanus and Thurston Hamer, close friends of Paul's and Members of the Board of Trustees and Margo Torres from Fomento Educacional A.C., gave heartfelt speeches honoring some of the highlights of Paul's career and reflecting on the great legacy he is leaving behind.

Long time employees Agustina Alcántar, Pedro Tentle and Mercedes St. Aubin, gifted Paul a USB with photos and videos submitted by our community, while the Heads of School presented him with a sky view image of students forming the letters PAUL, as a thankful gesture of everything he has done for the school.

Also, Parent Association presidents who worked alongside Paul, Vicky Fuentevilla, Janet Segura, Aliki Elías, Alma Rosa Rodríguez and current president Ana Elena Pérez came to stage to hand him a special gift: a guestbook signed by all the attendants who came to the event.

A video was screened, projecting a timeline of Paul's background and hearing his own story. Finally, Paul was surprised with a major tribute: The Upper School Building is now officially named in his honor.

After receiving a standing ovation, Larry Russell, former ASF music teacher, Luis Betancourt, current ECC music teacher and his brothers Gilberto y César, along with Director of Communications, Violeta Ayala, interpreted Carole King's "You've got a friend," as guests enjoyed an assortment of drinks and canapés and ended the night on a sweet note with a beautifully arranged dessert table.

It will be sad to see Paul go but his wisdom, selfless dedication and great ideas and accomplishments will live on at ASF.