All boys. All boarding. Grades 9-12.
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Unbroken Hero Visits Forest
On October 17, 2011, students had the privilege of meeting Louis Zamperini, subject of the headmaster's all-school summer reading selection, Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand.
Mr. Zamperini spoke to the school about competing in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin, surviving for forty-seven days in a life raft after the crash of his bomber over the Pacific, being imprisoned in Japan, and converting to Christianity. His message was one of hope and inspiration, summarized in the motto, “Be hardy.”
Accompanying Mr. Zamperini was John Naber, winner of four gold medals and one silver medal in swimming in the 1976 Olympic games. He and Mr. Zamperini have been friends for nearly thirty years.
Accompanying Mr. Zamperini was John Naber, winner of four gold medals and one silver medal in swimming in the 1976 Olympic games. He and Mr. Zamperini have been friends for nearly thirty years.
Students attentively watched a video piece chronicling the life of Louis Zamperini, heard him share numerous stories, and asked him questions about his faith and his Olympic experience. After the talk, they lined up to shake Mr. Zamperini’s hand and thank him for his service.
An added highlight of the evening was a visit by Jacob Rainey ’13, who was seriously injured early in the fall during a football scrimmage. His first time back on campus since the accident that led to the amputation of his lower leg, Jacob was greeted by fellow Tigers with a standing ovation. After the assembly, Jacob met personally with Mr. Zamperini for encouragement and advice on overcoming hardship.
Woodberry Forest School is an exceptional private school community for high school boys in grades nine through twelve. It is one of the top boarding schools in the United States and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the country.
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Woodberry Forest admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, and national or ethnic origin to all of the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, disability, religious belief, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs. The school is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant students.