In the fall of 2004, Dorene and Jerry Hammes visited Stanley Clark to celebrate the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the new Hammes Bookstore at SCS. The mini-store, managed by 8th graders and faculty advisor Jan Ivkovic at the time, sold SCS spirit items and school supplies. Now, 20 years later, this same space in the cozy corner between Martin Hall and Bernard Hall has again been reimagined and reopened as the Roar Store at the Hammes Bookstore.

On Monday, October 7, 2024, Mr. Jerry Hammes returned to Stanley Clark for an intimate gathering as we honored his dedication to making it all possible and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the bookstore.

As SCS Board of Trustees President Micki Kidder shared at the recognition, "Mr. Hammes and his family have invested in many different aspects of education and other important endeavors across a number of organizations. Of all the campus stores, this is the only middle school and lower school store that your (Mr. Hammes') family has invested in. The others are in some of the most preeminent high schools and colleges across the country."

Jerry listened as a group of middle school students shared sentiments of their gratitude for the bookstore and the value it brings to the school and how his kindness and generosity have impacted and continue to impact the entire SCS community. Two students shared the poem "A Giving Person" by C.A. Lynch -  a perfect description for Mr. Hammes.

"To be a giving person is a gentle art,
A heart that seeks to play a selfless part.
It's sharing with open hands and open heart,
And sowing seeds of love in every part.
For giving is not just about what we give away,
But the warmth, the care, and the light we display."

As part of the gathering, 3rd graders sang a few songs, such as "Molly B’s Dream" and "Oh, I Love My Stanley Clark." A banner, designed by early childhood and lower school students, was also hung to decorate the space. Students used a recycled book to cut out triangles for the banner and added drawings or watercolors.

In addition to the bookstore, the Hammes' have supported the school in countless ways, including funding for our Hammes Soccer Field and Hammes Professional Library for faculty and staff. In addition, Jerry received our inaugural Flora P. Clark Award in 2022. As shared with the award, "Jerry's wisdom as a trustee, his care and partnership as a parent of four Clark alumni, and his generational influence on Clark through philanthropic gifts has significantly impacted thousands of Clark families throughout our school's history."

About the Author

Lindsey Hab

Director of Marketing and Communications

lhab@stanleyclark.org