Hannah Mallory Perkins Alumnae Service Awards
2011 Award: Jenni Booker

Leadership that Inspires:

Looking back at the past two years of leadership of Margaret Jennings “Jenni” Booker ’93, only scratches the surface of her dedication and volunteerism to St. Margaret’s School. This June, Jenni rolled off of the Alumnae Board as President and was honored for her work with the Hannah Mallory Perkins ’40 Alumna Service Award. This award is given to an alumna, who over the years has given back to the community of St. Margaret’s School through gifts of time and talent. Jenni has been consistently been present with ideas, energy, and positive thinking for the past 18 years.

After graduating in 1993, Jenni took on the role of Class Agent, determined to keep everyone connected and informed of their important life moments. They each belonged to a sisterhood that Jenni “is so lucky to be a part of, no matter how far they are away from each other.” She went on to attend Randolph-Macon Woman’s College and major in Communications—only to return to St. Margaret’s in 1999 as the Director of Alumnae Relations and Annual Giving. Where she belonged, fundraising and planning special events for alumnae and friends, Jenni was instrumental in establishing the annual Rappahannock River Run and Crafts Festival. This two day, Alumnae Association sponsored event brought life to the association and its ability to give back to the school financially through crafter and runner registrations.

The Alumnae Association (AA) would then receive a different perspective from Jenni when she was asked to join the Alumnae Board in 2003, after leaving her position at the school. She held multiple roles as Annual Giving Chair and member at large.

Her knowledge and experience of non-profits expanded with leadership positions as the Director of Development at The Cultural Arts Center of Glen Allen, and Director of Programs & Communications at the Virginia Foundation for Independent Colleges, and manager of Community Development at the Richmond SPCA.

In 2009, Jenni would return to the Alumnae Board as its leader and president. She believed whole heartedly, the power and strength of the group. Over a two year period, the board would make strides to initiate the senior class into the AA with “welcome back” care packages and incorporated Senior Charms Chapel; inspire alumnae to become a part of a “Scottie Pride” movement where alums cheered on students at athletic games and other like events like the Monument Avenue 10k in Richmond; establish the first Alumnae Association Endowed Scholarship program for deserving SMS students; prioritize AA gifts to include yearly Annual Fund leadership gifts and Charting our Course, Capital Campaign gifts.

Her volunteerism, influence, and determination has helped St. Margaret’s become

I have had the fortunate opportunity to get to know so many wonderful women and friends of SMS and have loved every minute of it.