Severn School is pleased to announce that Apollo 11 Astronaut and Severn alumnus Buzz Aldrin will be its Astle Lecture speaker on April 1, 2014 at 7:30 p.m. in the School’s Edward St. John Athletic Center. This event is free and open to the public, although guests will be asked to register via an online system closer to the event.

The David Astle Memorial Lecture Series was established by Maryland State Senator John and Jayne Astle in 1998 after the tragic accidental death of their son David Sheridan Astle, a member of the Severn School Class of 1992. The David Astle Memorial Endowment funds an annual lecture series through which knowledgeable and/or inspirational speakers are invited to share their expertise, experiences, and messages with Severn School and the greater community.

A native of Montclair, New Jersey, Dr. Aldrin enrolled at Severn in 1946. Severn was a well-known and highly regarded school for intensive preparation to take the entrance exams to the service academies.

Later, on July 20, 1969, Buzz and Neil Armstrong made their historic Apollo 11 moonwalk, becoming the first two humans to set foot on another world.

“I am delighted that Buzz accepted our invitation to be our centennial year Astle speaker,” commented Head of School Lagarde. “It is particularly fitting to welcome Dr. Aldrin back to the school he attended nearly 68 years ago.”

As is customary for Astle speakers, Dr. Aldrin will address Upper School students during the school day on Tuesday, April 1, join Senator and Mrs. Astle and other guests for a private dinner reception, and then speak to those assembled.

Founded in 1914, this is Severn School’s centennial year. The School also recently merged with the former Chesapeake Academy, making it the oldest and now the largest independent school in Anne Arundel County with more than 800 students in grades preschool through 12.