Ransom Everglades Alumni

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Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the Founders’ Alumni Award, Matthew Beatty ‘01 and the Head of School’s Alumni Award, Miguel Dueñas ‘95.

Each year, the Founders’ Alumni Award recognizes an alum whose service and leadership have made a meaningful impact on the broader community. At The Miami Foundation, Matthew helped grow Give Miami Day into a nationally recognized philanthropic initiative that raised more than $170 million for local nonprofits, and today, he serves as the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of The Carrie Meek Foundation. He also founded The State of Black Philanthropy, helping expand investment and support throughout Greater Miami.

Presented during the Senior Awards Ceremony, the Head of School’s Award for Distinguished Service to the School recognizes an alum who exemplifies exceptional leadership, integrity and dedication. As Head of School Rachel Rodriguez shared, from reimagining the College Counseling Office and advancing the faculty Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Endowment to guiding plans for the new Sundheim Humanities Center, Miguel’s thoughtful leadership has helped shape transformative initiatives at RE. Through it all, his unwavering commitment comes back to one question: What is best for our students and faculty?

Matthew and Miguel have each found meaningful ways to lead, serve and create lasting change. Congratulations to both on these well-deserved recognitions.

Today, on what would have been Dan Leslie Bowden’s 97th birthday, we celebrate the life and legacy of one of Ransom Everglades’ most legendary educators.

For more than six decades, Mr. Bowden challenged, inspired, entertained and transformed students. His classroom was more than a place to study literature. Through his commanding presence and unforgettable wit, he left an indelible mark on thousands of lives.

Happy Birthday, Mr. Bowden. Your influence will forever be woven into the fabric of our school.

Have you gotten married, taken a memorable vacation, achieved a career milestone, hired a fellow Raider or bumped into some old RE friends? Click the link below to submit your note by August 1, 2026. Please submit the photo in 600 KB or larger and submit a caption, including names of those in the photo. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJlyxGUwm9m2oPVzfSwq1K-8xPo5ViaVCxKKJJOwMtl7cekg/viewform

The RE Alumni Board celebrated a year of accomplishments at its final meeting of the school year. They honored outgoing board members Cristi Mendoza Edmunds ’86, Brian Moore ’08, and John McGee ’91, and welcomed incoming members Nicole Roederer ’16, Allan Serviansky ’99 and Todd Gross ’01.

In the spirit of Paul C. Ransom’s letter, the board made time to give back to the community by assembling 150 brown-bag meals for the Community Fridge in Coconut Grove. Created by Buddy System MIA, the Community Fridge is a 24/7 refrigerated pantry that provides free meals to neighbors in need.

Programs like the Community Fridge thrive because of people who come together in service. We are proud to continue that tradition and grateful to our alumni leaders for making a difference both within and beyond the RE community.

Today, we celebrate the life and legacy of Harry Anderson ’38, a visionary leader and one of Ransom Everglades’ greatest champions.

From helping relocate the school from the Adirondacks to Coconut Grove and supporting the merger that created Ransom Everglades, to serving as the first chair of the Ransom School Alumni Association in the 1950s and helping launch the school’s first capital campaign, Harry’s leadership helped shape the institution we know today. He also worked tirelessly to preserve beloved campus landmarks and ensure the future of sailing and waterfront programs. His impact can be felt across every corner of our community. He became a Lifetime Trustee in 1985 and he remains the longest-serving trustee in school history.

“Ransom Everglades has been my lifetime pursuit,” Harry once said. Today, on his birthday, we honor a life devoted to learning, leadership, and the future of the school he loved.

Happy Birthday, Harry. Your legacy sails on. 💚⛵

The 14th Annual Ransom Everglades Epic Fishing (R.E.E.F.) Tournament and Dock Party was a tremendous success, bringing together the entire RE community for a day filled with fishing, great food — including barbecue from RE parent Spencer Crowley — live music by Tiki Flores and children’s entertainment by Tiny Big Steps. Thank you to everyone who joined us for an unforgettable day on the water and on shore at Biscayne Bay Yacht Club.

Thanks to the incredible generosity of our participants, sponsors, and supporters, we were able to sponsor two Breakthrough Miami scholars and raise over $14,000 for the RE Waterfront.

The REEF Tournament continues to engage the entire RE community in support of projects that fulfill the school’s mission to give back. We are deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s event such a meaningful success. A special thank you to our co-chairs Christian Falk ‘91, Kevin Grossfeld ‘95 and Aabad Melwani P’28, ‘32 and the entire REEF committee.

Check out photos from the event here - https://ransomeverglades.canto.com/v/R4VPJH5UNB/folder/VKEGV?viewIndex=0

We would like to welcome the RE Class of 2026 to the alumni community! Congratulations 🎉

We’re excited to share this RE Alumni Spotlight featuring Marcel G. Laniado ’02!

Marcel continues to live the RE Way both professionally and personally. Recently recognized as the United Way of Miami’s Next-Gen Philanthropist of the Year, he shared his reflections with us about the importance of giving back, family time and the lifelong friendships and mentorships formed at RE.

“Success means being of service to clients, helping my team grow and improve, contributing positively to my community and having the time and resources to care for my family and friends.”

Read the full interview here - https://www.ransomeverglades.org/news-detail?pk=1416954

Senior Sendoff 2026 was one for the books! We honored Ransom Everglades legacy families with commemorative plaques showcasing parent and senior yearbook pages side by side. This year, a record-breaking 38 seniors will cross the graduation stage, following in their parents’ footsteps and continuing their families’ RE legacy.

The afternoon continued with a cherished RE tradition, the Brick Laying Ceremony, in which graduating seniors take part. It serves as a physical reminder that no matter where life takes them, their name is forever etched into the heart of Ransom Everglades.

Congratulations, Class of 2026! Once a Raider, always a Raider 💚🩵