On May 4, 2025, Ron Brown Scholar and educator Errol C. Saunders II (RBS 2002) received the Hopkins Medal, the highest honor awarded by Hopkins School in New Haven, CT. The medal recognizes over two decades of unwavering service and leadership that have shaped not only the school’s academic programs but also the lives of hundreds of young students.
Since joining the Hopkins community in 2004, Errol has been a catalyst for change. His work with Pathfinder—a program formerly known as Summerbridge and Breakthrough—has grown the program from a small summer initiative into a robust, year-round academic platform that now reaches over 120 students from 20+ New Haven schools. Under his guidance, Pathfinder became a launching pad for middle schoolers to envision and pursue educational success, many for the first time in their lives.
Errol reflected on the power of imagination and mentorship in his acceptance remarks. “There are so many kids who are smart enough, who work hard enough, and no one bothers to tell them how to imagine success,” he said. “Our job as educators is to help them see what is possible.”
Hopkins honored Errol for his service and his ability to lift others and create spaces where students are seen, supported, and inspired to thrive. His departure to Boston to join the Cambridge of Weston marks a new chapter in a career already marked by deep commitment to equity and empowerment.
The Ron Brown Scholar community celebrates this tremendous honor with Errol and invites you to watch the ceremony, including his moving remarks starting at 44:45.
Congratulations, Errol, and thank you for living the values of leadership, service, and imagination that define our community.
