Hear from our Chief Executive and new Non-Profit Directors
Tim Cagney, Chief Executive, is delighted to launch ACS International Schools in America Inc. our New York-based 501 (c)3 non-profit organisation that supports the work of ACS around the world. ACS' mission is to widen access to and promote our unique international education to benefit more students. As it's new President, Tim comments:
"We want to transform young people's lives from across the US through investment in our schools and through new scholarship programmes enabling them to travel to ACS in the UK to study. As part of our alumni and friends community across America, you form part of a growing community of 13,000 and we look forward to working with you to help shape the future of our charitable organisation across America."
We would like to introduce our new non-profit Directors of ACS International Schools in America Inc.
Augusto Liparachi Knudsen
An ACS Hillingdon Class of 1988 graduate who later enrolled his daughter as an IB Diploma student and boarder at ACS Cobham, Augusto Liparachi Knudsen brings a world of business experience to his role as a volunteer Director of ACS International Schools in America, Inc., the US 501 (c) (3) nonprofit corporation leading fundraising here in the US.
An engineer by training, Augusto has enjoyed a 27-year career within Central and South America, spending over 21 years on expatriate assignments in Brazil, US, Mexico, and Panama. Currently, he is the Latin American & Caribbean Commercial Director for the PET Division of Ravago which is headquartered in Arendonk, Belgium. Based in Panama City, Augusto greatly valued his international education that he sent his daughter, Leticia, to boarding school, first near Boston to Philips Academy, Andover as preparation for the International Baccalaureate Diploma and then onto ACS Cobham for one year boarding experience during her sophomore year. His daughter graduated from the International School of Panama in 2017.
Although his ACS experience was decades ago, the memories remain vibrant. Augusto recounts a few; “I may not remember what I ate last week but my ACS memories are indeed very vivid. I still have contact with my best friends from ACS. I believe that the intangibles of an ACS education are what make a difference in a world where you need to compete with “machines” and re-invent yourself every day. You cannot enumerate or categorise what ACS provides. The full experience of having the opportunity to have attended this fine institution is what differentiates and opens the doors.”
Augusto is committing his time and resources to the cause of advancing international education, the kind that directly benefited him and his daughter. He explains why;
Mark Webb
Among the many ACSers inspired early on to become lifelong learners, ACS Knightsbridge Class of 1975’s Mark Webb, Ph.D. now chairs the Philosophy Department at Texas Tech University in Lubbock. As the department’s senior academic leader, Mark still finds time to teach classes in his specialty, Philosophy of Religion, and pursue original research, advancing knowledge in his field by contributing to respected journals.
With extensive experience in higher education, including fundraising, Mark Webb will share his insights as one of the three inaugural directors of ACS International Schools in America, Inc., the just-launched non-profit entity responsible for nationwide philanthropy initiatives here.
The experiences shared at ACS Knightsbridge remain central to his life as a teacher-leader. He explains, “Two kinds of memories of ACS stand out for me: First, the faculty at the school were all, without exception, committed to and excited about education, and they communicated that in their classes. Because of them, I have a lasting passion for the sciences and for languages and linguistics. They were such sterling examples that I decided at the tender age of 16 that I wanted to be a University Professor, a dream which has come true. The other memories are of dear friends, many of whom are dear friends still, from lots of different parts of the world and walks of life. I learned a great deal from them about the value of friendship. They also helped me move past a parochial view of the world to a more tolerant attitude, and to love diversity of all kinds as a valuable part of education.”
Joining ACS International Schools in America, Inc.’s new board as a director and committing his time and resources to the new non-profit, Mark is keen to give back to the schools that started his educational journey. "I agreed to become a Director because I believe that education, especially the kind of education I got at ACS, is able to set people on a path to become better people. Many of the problems of the world can be greatly mitigated by improving the education of children. I wanted to give something back to the school that meant so much to me, and at the same time be a help to those who don’t have the opportunities to take advantage of that kind of education."
Sam McGee
Sam McGee attended ACS Cobham from 1986-1988 as a middle school student when his family worked on a North Sea Oil and Gas project. Sam co-founded Avondale Wealth Management in 2010, serving now as its Co-CEO and Chief Investment Officer. Avondale provides financial planning and investment advisory to affluent and high net worth families, primarily Americans living in the US and some abroad. Having earned an MBA from the University of Houston and the highly regarded Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation, Sam will lend his business acumen to the ACS International Schools in America, Inc.
Sam’s memories of ACS and his commitment to its future resonate. “ACS was an experience and positive influence in many ways beyond a great education. Culturally, it enabled me to understand a more global view and develop a better sensitivity to other ways of doing things. Socially, I forged bonds with very dynamic and interesting people. From an education perspective, honestly, the level and quality was unmatched until I went to college. My time at ACS was middle school, and it served as a wake-up call. It was perhaps a great preparation for the type of rigor that would be needed later in college, and beyond,” he concludes.
Sam is committed to helping lead ACS’s philanthropic efforts in America. Like his fellow directors, Sam McGee will contribute his time and resources. He is also motivated by a higher purpose.