Alumni
Alumni Honors
Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award
Presented annually, the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award honors an individual who exemplifies, in thought, word and deed, the school’s mission and who practices Westminster’s core values of community, character, balance and involvement.
This award was established and endowed by the Class of 1966.
Westminster is proud to honor Powell W. Holly III ’82 with the Alan F. Brooks ’55 Distinguished Alumni Award in recognition of his leadership, global impact, and steadfast dedication to the Westminster School. Established in 2013 and endowed by the Class of 1966, the award recognizes an individual who exemplifies Westminster’s mission and core values of community, character, balance, and involvement.
Holly is a partner at Broad Cove Group LLC, a venture and private investment firm focused on mortgage finance and real estate development, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Holly has more than 25 years of experience in investment banking, fixed-income portfolio management, and cross-border real estate ventures. His work has centered on expanding access to housing finance and supporting sustainable development initiatives.
Currently, Holly is a board trustee and treasurer for The Africa Society, a nonprofit organization that informs U.S. institutions about African countries in order to build mutually beneficial partnerships in business, policy, education, culture, and the arts. He also served on the boards of EcoHomes Liberia and Ghana Home Loans and Mortgage Finance Ghana.
"What makes Powell truly deserving of this honor is that his dedication to Westminster is by all means, distinguished. His commitment has never wavered,” says Director of Advancement Newell Grant ’99. “Since graduation, he has spent decades serving his alma mater and keeping our school at the forefront of his mind. From his professional pursuits and his various leadership roles at Westminster, to alumni networking and mentoring, to a calming and thoughtful voice in the boardroom, he is the embodiment of ‘committing to a life of service beyond self.’ Bene meritus!”
A devoted alumnus, Holly served Westminster as a trustee from 2016 to 2025, was chair for the Committee on Community and Culture, and was a member of the Committee for Trustees and the Committee on Faculty and Students. He has been a class agent, reunion committee member, and member of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association. As a Westminster student, he was a form officer, participated in Black & Gold and cross country, and was a member of the Forestry and Audio Visual clubs. After graduating from Westminster, Holly earned a B.A. in political science and managerial studies from Rice University. He lives in Virginia and enjoys golf, cooking, hiking and reading.
Holly is a partner at Broad Cove Group LLC, a venture and private investment firm focused on mortgage finance and real estate development, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Holly has more than 25 years of experience in investment banking, fixed-income portfolio management, and cross-border real estate ventures. His work has centered on expanding access to housing finance and supporting sustainable development initiatives.
Currently, Holly is a board trustee and treasurer for The Africa Society, a nonprofit organization that informs U.S. institutions about African countries in order to build mutually beneficial partnerships in business, policy, education, culture, and the arts. He also served on the boards of EcoHomes Liberia and Ghana Home Loans and Mortgage Finance Ghana.
"What makes Powell truly deserving of this honor is that his dedication to Westminster is by all means, distinguished. His commitment has never wavered,” says Director of Advancement Newell Grant ’99. “Since graduation, he has spent decades serving his alma mater and keeping our school at the forefront of his mind. From his professional pursuits and his various leadership roles at Westminster, to alumni networking and mentoring, to a calming and thoughtful voice in the boardroom, he is the embodiment of ‘committing to a life of service beyond self.’ Bene meritus!”
A devoted alumnus, Holly served Westminster as a trustee from 2016 to 2025, was chair for the Committee on Community and Culture, and was a member of the Committee for Trustees and the Committee on Faculty and Students. He has been a class agent, reunion committee member, and member of the Executive Committee of the Alumni Association. As a Westminster student, he was a form officer, participated in Black & Gold and cross country, and was a member of the Forestry and Audio Visual clubs. After graduating from Westminster, Holly earned a B.A. in political science and managerial studies from Rice University. He lives in Virginia and enjoys golf, cooking, hiking and reading.
Previous Recipients
2011: Alan F. Brooks ’55
2012: Abram Claude Jr. ’46
2013: Moyahoena Ogilvie ’86
2014: Johnson Winship ’48
2015: Mary M. Peck ’90
2017: C. Hiram Upson ’50, P’86
2018: Sara L. Whiteley ’91
2019: Tuey Connell ’86
2020: Rebecca Brooks ’96
2021: Seema Nanda ’88
2022: Hunter Wallace Smith ’68
2023: Michael “Spike” Lobdell ’75, P’07
2024: Eve Poole Percival '90
2025: Powell W. Holly III ’82
2020: Rebecca Brooks ’96
2021: Seema Nanda ’88
2022: Hunter Wallace Smith ’68
2023: Michael “Spike” Lobdell ’75, P’07
2024: Eve Poole Percival '90
2025: Powell W. Holly III ’82
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