Anica Bush '25 was announced as a Laramore Award recipient in May of 2024. The award recognizes students who are "quiet givers." Students are encouraged to use award funds on projects that will help the George School community. And in true Laramore Awardee-fashion, Anica’s project planning was underway well before she was announced as the recipient.

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“I wasn’t going to go to Assembly that day.”

Eager to decompress after an arduous IB French exam in May of 2024, Anica Bush ’25 was on track to miss a defining moment of her George School career. However, Becky Hutchins, science teacher and Anica’s advisor, intervened and urged her to attend—knowing that this Recognition Assembly was one she would not want to miss. Anica had no idea that she was moments away from being announced as the Laramore Award recipient.

“They don’t tell you before you win the award,” said Anica. “But when they started describing the person who was receiving the award, I thought, ‘oh, sounds kind of similar to me.’”

The Julius B. Laramore Award, named after a former longtime head of Orton Dormitory, recognizes students who are “quiet givers.” Recipients will have assisted others on a one-to-one basis in areas characteristic of Mr. Laramore’s values and interests: education, community service, entrepreneurship, and spiritual growth. The Laramore Award is typically given to students who have not received a great deal of attention or public recognition during their time at George School. This is an opportunity to call attention to their quiet giving, and to celebrate and honor it. Students are encouraged to use award funds on projects that will help the George School community.

For nearly a year prior, in collaboration with the Science Department, she had been planning to bring students attending under-resourced schools to George School to participate in a science lesson and lab and visit campus. She knew exactly what she wanted to do with the funds.

I took a transformative Biotechnology class my junior year where we used really nice equipment and completed cool labs. I wanted to share my love of science with others who may not be able to have that experience.Anica Bush '25

Anica’s enthusiasm for science is palpable and extends far beyond the school day. In 7th grade, Anica used a microscope for the first time and fell in love with studying the world around her. Her grandparents gave her a microscope of her own and she spent her spare time analyzing whatever microorganisms she could find in her backyard and the creeks in her neighborhood. Fast forward to today and you’ll find that she is especially interested in genetics, doing her own research on gene editing and taking a microbiology summer class at Stanford University—eager to share the wonders of science with others.

This fall, Anica connected with the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization offering enrichment programs to students in under-resourced communities. The organization was thrilled to collaborate with her to bring club members ranging from 5th-11th grade to campus for the lab. She recruited three friends to help her lead the lab–Avery Frank ’25, Anaiya Patel ’25, and Abby Kaufman ’26.

“What started as one student’s caring initiative blossomed into a beautiful partnership between students,” observed Science Department Chair Pascal Lanciano. “She never sought the spotlight, yet her impact has created lasting ripples through both the George School and the Boys and Girls Club communities.”

It was important to Anica that the lab show students how science can lead to future opportunities far beyond their grade school career. That is why she chose to teach a DNA extraction lab. Students examined DNA using gel electrophoresis, a common technique used in fields like forensics, medicine, and biochemistry.  

“Some of them were very shy. After a while, they warmed up,” said Abby. “You could tell they were absorbing the knowledge. Some of the kids were really interested in it and asking questions. They were so engaged.”

As a senior, Anica knew it was important to invite a junior to collaborate on this initiative with the hopes that this long outlasts her tenure at George School. Abby is excited and eager to carry on the project next year. “It was really cool that Anica wanted me to be part of this project,” said Abby. “A lot of the groundwork has already been laid. This was a great experience, so I’m looking forward to leading it next year.”

Though the project came to life through Anica’s determination and leadership, she has deep appreciation for the community members who believed in her vision and helped her make it a reality. “I am so appreciative of the faculty who worked with me, like Tom Hoopes ’83, Pascal, Polly Lodge, Brian Patton, and the entire Science Department,” said Anica. “One of the biggest things I came away from this project with is the community I built with the Science Department and the relationships I made with the students who helped me.”

One of the main reasons Anica loves science is because she likes learning about how small parts make up a complete whole. Though the science lab in and of itself was educational, its impact reached far beyond simply teaching students about the merits of gel electrophoresis. “As I watched Anica present the science lesson to the rapt audience of younger students, I observed her intense focus and clarity of purpose,” reflected Tom Hoopes ’83. “Seeing the students from the Boys and Girls Club soak up the possibilities of an academically ambitious education made me appreciate the power of what Anica had created. She had helped those kids imagine for themselves a possible trajectory that previously may have eluded them.”

“What's truly remarkable about her work is how naturally it all came together,” said Pascal. “She simply saw that students at the Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia could benefit from hands-on science experiences, and instead of just talking about it, she rolled up her sleeves and made it happen. No fanfare, no fuss–just pure dedication to making a difference. Anica is exactly the kind of quiet changemaker who makes our community shine brighter.”