WFS was pleased to present three Alumni Awards at Homecoming 2024 to Carol Bancroft Morley '68 (Outstanding Service Award), Leslie Davis Guccione ’65 (Distinguished Alumna Award), and Stephanie Bonnes ’04 (Young Alumna of the Year Award). The three were honored for their dedication to their professions and community service. They are the embodiment of what a Friends education stands for.
Carol Bancroft Morley '68
Carol Bancroft Morley ’68, is being honored with the Outstanding Service Award for her remarkable contributions and unwavering dedication to both her profession and the community. Carol’s career spans over four decades, marked by her exceptional work as a physical therapist and educator. She has held various roles in notable institutions, including The Methodist Hospital in Houston, St. Luke’s Episcopal Hospital, and Delaware Technical & Community College, where she served for 27 years, most recently serving as the Assistant Dean of Instruction until 2019. While at Delaware Tech, she participated in service activities to raise scholarship money for students.
Beyond her professional achievements, Carol has been a steadfast volunteer and community leader. Carol has actively served on boards including the Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education, United Cerebral Palsy and The Mary Campbell Center. Carol's dedication to community service is further highlighted by her involvement with her church. She is active with The Outreach Committee, Family Promise, St. Stephen’s Food Pantry and Epiphany House, non-profits that work to reduce homelessness and food insecurity.
In addition to serving the broader Wilmington community, Carol has been a dedicated volunteer to WFS. She has served as a class agent since 1981, organizing reunions and supporting various alumni activities. Her contributions to the school and broader community reflect the values instilled in her during her time at Friends. Carol's colleagues and friends praise her thoughtfulness, care, and tireless commitment to service. Her life’s work stands as a testament to the profound impact that dedicated and compassionate individuals can have on their communities.
Leslie Davis Guccione '65
Leslie Davis Guccione ’65, armed with art degree and college creative writing, began her fundraising career with Wilmington’s Shipley Associates. Two years later her move to Boston launched a decade of award-winning appeals for nonprofit organizations including record-setting letters on behalf of Red Sox players for Dana Farber Cancer Center’s Jimmy Fund.
All the while the now married, mother of three continued to dabble in fiction. The simultaneous sales of her teen mystery and adult suspense, with plots drawn from local lobstermen, harbor masters, cranberry growers and sailors made full time novelist possible. Her prolific career includes 31 novels in eight languages concluding with Barnes & Noble debuting their ebook division with her light-hearted The Chick Palace. Seven young-adult titles feature deaf protagonists. Her middle-grade Brandywine Valley Underground Railroad historical fiction Come Morning, was inspired by research at Wilmington Friends School (WFS) and is dedicated to her classmates. Leslie’s honors include state Teen Choice Awards, School Librarians International’s Best Books Selection. Beyond her personal achievements, she spent 14 years influencing the next generation of writers as mentor and adjunct faculty at Seton Hill University’s Writing Popular Fiction MFA program.
Leslie’s noteworthy commitment to volunteer service began with “play lady” shifts at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. Her marriage to independent school administrator Joseph Guccione took
them to three states where she chaired church altar guilds, junior sailing programs, art associations, historic preservation research, mentored teen writers and juvenile offenders. Leslie returned to Delaware after Joe’s death from ALS. She remains available to ALS caregivers and as a dedicated member of Christ Church, serves the community through their extensive outreach programs, from first aid packages for Ukraine, children’s Easter baskets to the Interfaith Thanksgiving Project. For the third year she has meticulously restored a donated dollhouse for the annual Christ Church Christmas Green Show fundraiser.
Leslie’s connection to Wilmington Friends School remains strong. She organizes reunions, contributes to the Annual Fund, and is a member of the 1748 Planned Giving Society. Described by her peers as one of the most positive and upbeat individuals, Leslie embodies the spirit of generosity and excellence that Wilmington Friends School strives to instill in its students. Her extraordinary literary career, combined with her unwavering dedication to community service, makes her a deserving recipient of the Distinguished Alumna of the Year award.
Stephanie Bonnes '04
Stephanie Bonnes ’04 exemplifies the impact of a Quaker education through her commitment to social justice and equality. As an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of New Haven, Dr. Bonnes has made significant contributions to understanding and addressing systemic inequality, particularly within the U.S. military. Her groundbreaking research, which began with her dissertation on the harassment of servicewomen, culminated in her 2024 book, Hardship Duty: Women’s Experiences with Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, and Discrimination in the U.S. Military (Oxford University Press). This work critically examines the persistence of sexual abuse in the military despite extensive prevention efforts, highlighting Dr. Bonnes’ dedication to uncovering and addressing deep-seated institutional issues.
Dr. Bonnes’ academic journey is marked by an impressive array of degrees, including a Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Colorado, Boulder, an M.A. in Political and International Studies from Rhodes University, and a B.A. in Sociology and History from Gettysburg College. Her scholarly achievements include numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals, focusing on gender inequality, workplace harassment, and violence against women. Notable articles include "The Bureaucratic Harassment of U.S. Servicewomen" in Gender & Society and "Femininity Anchors: Heterosexual relationships and pregnancy as sites of harassment for U.S. Servicewomen” in American Sociological Review. Her work has garnered multiple awards. In the last year she won the "Scholarly Achievement Award" from the Society for the Study of Social Problems' Crime and Justice Division, the "New Scholar Award" from the Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences' Victimology Section, and the "Inconvenient Woman of the Year Award" from the American Society of Criminology's Division of Feminist Criminology.
Beyond her academic and research accomplishments, Stephanie remains deeply connected to the Wilmington Friends School community. She actively serves as a class agent and loyal donor, continuously fostering the bonds formed during her time at WFS. Dr. Bonnes' unwavering dedication to service and integrity, alongside her scholarly contributions, make her a truly deserving recipient of the Young Alumna of the Year award. She joins fellow Class of 2004 classmates, Colleen Farrell, Jeff Palmer, and Sarah Lester in receiving the award.
WFS was pleased to present three Alumni Awards at Homecoming 2024 to Carol Bancroft Morley '68 (Outstanding Service Award), Leslie Davis Guccione ’65 (Distinguished Alumna Award), and Stephanie Bonnes ’04 (Young Alumna of the Year Award). The three were honored for their dedication to their professions and community service. They are the embodiment of what a Friends education stands for.
Adrian Burston, a former Friends teacher and Vice President of the Kennett Underground Railroad Center, and his wife Debbie Burston, recently presented to 10th grade American History classes about the local history of the Underground Railroad and the involvement of Quakers in the local abolition movement.
Lower school students enjoyed spending time with middle and upper school student-athletes today. During their visit, athletes discussed the strategy behind their respective sports, demonstrated various drills that students could practice at recess and home, and excited everyone in the lower school by leading them in some of their favorite cheers!
The WFS middle school concluded its celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month last week with an educational and interactive performance by Los Bomberos de la Calle.
WFS recently hosted a workshop for the Chinese Language Teachers Association (CLTA), gathering kindergarten through college Chinese educators to exchange ideas and experiences on organizing summer study abroad tours.
Gavin Jefferson '26 became involved with the Jester Artspace for a project in his Quakerism class, and continued helping the organization even after his project was complete. Click here to read more.
I am excited to announce that Chris Loeffler ’00 has been appointed the next Head of Lower School. Chris’s philosophy that education extends beyond knowledge acquisition to making the world a better place along with his comprehensive understanding of our school community make him uniquely qualified for this role.
Upper school students visited with Lindsay Rademaker Reinhold '94 during a Lunch and Learn hosted by the Service Committee to hear more about the work she does with Canine Partners for Life and how they can become involved with the organization. Students also got to meet Lindsay's current puppy-in-training, Abby!
Yesterday was our first lower school Culture Quest, an exciting opportunity for students to learn more about other cultures. This first event in this school year-long series explored the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah through reading, crafts, and food!
Middle School Bonding Day is an important tradition at the beginning of each school year where our middle school grades take a day away for fun games and activities to help them bond as a class.
Parents and guardians were treated to performances by the Jazz Band and Chamber Singers at yesterday's upper school back to school night. #WFSArts #WFSUpperSchool
The annual upper school Clubs and Committees Fair allows students to learn about the many clubs and committees at WFS. From the Economics Club to Quaker Cares, there's something for everyone! #WFSUpperSchool #WFSBeyondtheClassroom #WFSLeadership
Statement of Nondiscrimination as to Student Enrollment
Wilmington Friends School admits students of any race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of these schools. Wilmington Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.