Alumni Honors

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.

 

“As honored, humbled, and grateful as I am for this recognition,” said Holly during the award ceremony, “I’m also saddened that I can’t share this moment with the man for whom this award is named, Alan Brooks, the person most instrumental in my coming to Westminster during his time as director of admissions.” Holly was attending Dwight-Englewood School where Rob Carson, Westminster Class of ’55—and classmate of Alan Brooks—was the director of admissions when Holly’s father was transferred from New York City to Hartford. Carson suggested that the Hollys look at Westminster and contact Alan Brooks. “Thank you, Mr. Carson, for that suggestion, and thank you mom and dad for taking his advice,” remarked Holly.

 

Holly spoke of his transformative development at Westminster and how the academic rigor, dedicated faculty, and diversity of the student population was an invaluable learning experience that set the foundation his college experience and professional career. “Because of the transformative development I experienced and the way Westminster prepared me for interacting with people both domestically and throughout my international travels, I vowed that I would make Westminster the primary institution I would support in the highest capacity that I can,” said Holly.

 

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,” said 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.

 

Holly thanked the Class of ’66 for establishing the award and the entire Class of ’82, who “contributed so meaningfully to my incredible years at Westminster.” Holly also mentioned his late parents, Glenn and Powell Holly, and said, “If there was one thing this evening that I would love to say to them, it would be: Thank you for listening to Rob Carson when he said, ‘Go visit Westminster and talk with Alan Brooks.’”