Jeremy Betz ’25, who was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) during the summer before his junior year, was honored by Co-Director of College Counseling Sue Kinney for the 37th presentation of the Stifel Award.

The Henry G. Stifel III Award is named for Mr. Stifel, who was paralyzed in an automobile accident during his junior year at Pingry. The Stifel Family established the award at Pingry in 1984 to “be awarded to the person who best exemplifies those characteristics exhibited by Henry G. Stifel III ’83 in the aftermath of his accident and spinal injury: courage, endurance, optimism, compassion, and spirit.” A Pingry lifer, Mr. Stifel is a former trustee and Letter-In-Life Award recipient, is a Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, and works at Morgan Stanley.

ASD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that can make it difficult for someone to read verbal and nonverbal communications in social interactions. “Jeremy has tackled his diagnosis by learning as much as he can in order to understand how autism affects his behavior and how his behavior is often interpreted by others,” Mrs. Kinney said. Highlighting Jeremy’s activities at and outside Pingry—actor, writer, editor, Peer Leader, Buttondown, member of the fencing team, Eagle Scout, and more—she delineated how Jeremy’s actions exemplify the characteristics of the Stifel Award:

Courage: “never gives up—even though he has been misunderstood or excluded, he still puts himself out there and continues to try”

Endurance: “does not avoid social situations—he leans into every opportunity he can”

Optimism: “looks at gifts he has and makes the most of them”

Compassion: “selfless nature—always thinking about others”

Spirit: “stays positive and fully commits himself to everything he does”

Also addressing the audience, as he does each time this award is presented, Mr. Stifel pointed out the humbling nature of being on stage to recognize someone with an award named for him. “Our purpose is to recognize an individual who has shown incredible perseverance, despite any headwinds, in order to allow their true character and spirit to shine.” He shared his own story of figuring things out to move forward. “I re-learned how to be present and be in the game. What does that mean, to be ‘present’? We all, individually, have self-worth that’s additive to the moment . . . I was being given a second chance to be an equal amongst my peers and to participate. I was being given a chance to, once again, be present. My self-worth was needed to be woven back into the fabric of this community because a piece of that fabric was missing . . . thank you, Pingry community, for always being there for me and many countless others.”


Contact: Greg Waxberg ’96, Communications Writer, Editor of The Pingry Review