When Andy Schwarz arrived at The Pennington School in the fall of 1961, he carried with him years of uncertainty about his learning differences and a growing belief that he was “smart, but lazy,” a refrain he had heard throughout his childhood. Diagnosed at a young age as a “mirror reader,” he had spent his earliest academic years at a private school in New York, where he was instructed to switch from writing naturally with his left hand to using only his right hand. “Although I was clearly left-handed, the ‘cure’ back in the early 1950s was to make me right-handed,” he recalled.

By the end of eighth grade, after facing numerous school challenges, a difficult home environment, and an injury that disrupted his academic year, Schwarz began searching for a place where he could truly thrive.

He and his mother visited Pennington and met with Dean James O. Brown, which transformed their lives. Schwarz remembered Dean Brown telling him that if he had been a Pennington student when he had been injured, “Pennington would have sent teachers and tutors to the hospital to make sure I did not fail.” At that moment, Schwarz began to see his past experiences differently. “He convinced me that Pennington was a place that cared about its students. And he told me that I had not failed, but that the prior school systems had failed me.”

Schwarz entered Pennington as a ninth-grader in 1961. As he adjusted to a new learning environment, key experiences began to rebuild his confidence. He discovered a natural talent for swimming, especially in the backstroke. His swim coach was also his biology teacher, and that supportive relationship helped him maintain focus and excel academically.

A major milestone came during his junior year, when he enrolled in a typing class. Learning to touch type completely transformed the way he worked. “I learned to type more than seventy words per minute without mistakes,” he said. “That was the first and most important turning point in my life.” Typing allowed him to avoid mixing up letters like “Ds” and “Gs,” and his academic performance strengthened. His growing confidence did not go unnoticed. One day, Dean Brown pulled him from class and asked him to guide a prospective student around campus. “I was stunned,” Schwarz recalled. That vote of confidence was deeply meaningful.

By senior year, Schwarz’s growth was unmistakable. He ran for school president and won. He spoke at assemblies, parent gatherings, and alumni events, and discovered a new strength. “I found that I had a gift for public speaking, and it jolted my self-confidence to a new level.” His academic performance earned him a place among the top students, and he was elected to the National Honor Society. He continued to excel in swimming, earning recognition at the state level, and became an active leader in many campus activities. “I left Pennington with tools that I have used all my life,” he wrote. “That self-confidence accompanied me through college and into my career on Wall Street.”

After graduating from Marietta College, Schwarz built a remarkable career in finance. He rose through the American Stock Exchange, became a pioneer in the listed options business, founded his own firm in the late 1970s, and competed successfully with major industry leaders. He has received numerous honors, including being named American Stock Exchange Man of the Year in 2010. Upon retiring, he gave away his business to his employees.

Schwarz’s personal life also flourished. He and his wife, his college sweetheart, recently celebrated 55 years of marriage. They raised three sons and now enjoy seven grandchildren. Two of their children faced similar learning challenges, and because of Schwarz’s own journey, he knew how to support them. Their success, he noted, is evidence of how much progress has been made since the days when dyslexia was “treated” by switching a child’s writing hand.

Schwarz often credits Pennington as the school that helped him redefine his abilities and understand his potential. It was here that he discovered his strengths, gained lifelong tools, and built the confidence that guided both his personal and professional lives. 

Following Schwarz’s recent campus visit, which included meeting with the Director of the Cervone Center for Learning and Edmund V. Cervone Endowed Chair Jo Prockop, and celebrating his 60th reunion with classmates, we invited him to share some words of reflection:

“The most inspiring and enjoyable change that I noticed at Pennington is watching the School click on all cylinders. One only has to look at the happy faces of the students and the faculty to realize that the School is filled with happy students who are excited to be there. There is a visible camaraderie that explodes into School spirit and pride at being part of the student body. The teachers that I met are more than caring; they are engaged and focused on changing lives for the better. The physical campus has, of course, changed since my classmates and I walked the halls, but I had a smile on my face to see Pennington doing as well as it currently is.”

“I spent the better part of an hour with Jo Prockop and wished I could have spent the entire day. The Cervone Center program is a creative and transformative approach to learning. It is one of the pivotal assets Pennington offers, setting it apart not only from public education but also from other prep schools,” he said. “Pennington is built to care for its students on an individual basis. The Cervone Center provides students with the necessary tools to develop academic skills that can be life-changing. It is not possible to spend time with Jo and not be totally impressed with the Cervone Center.”

For Schwarz, seeing that same spirit of care and connection thriving decades later reaffirmed just how deeply Pennington has remained a part of his life. His story continues to reflect the power of community, the importance of encouragement, and a belief in the potential of every student.