Distinguished Alumni Awards 2024

The Jan Morrison Award recognizes an individual who inspires, encourages, mentors, and supports the Palmer Trinity Alumni Community. This individual has a strong positive influence in shaping the lives of alumni from Palmer Trinity School.

Elena DeVilliers has been an active member of the Palmer Trinity School community since 1984 when she started working at the Palmer School before it merged with Trinity School. During her tenure, she taught every level of math from 6th grade to AP Calculus BC. In addition to teaching, she was involved in many aspects of school life and served as an advisor to a number of student organizations including the Mu Alpha Theta, Math Honor Society Advisor, and the Key Club. One of her favorite roles was working as the Student Activities and Community Service Director where she got to collaborate with students implementing important service projects outside the classroom. DeVilliers instituted PTS’s annual Starfish Awards to recognize students’ community service endeavors, which is still going strong today. She retired in 2015, but has continued to advocate for her former students, keeping in touch with hundreds of alumni through social media and cheering them on through their achievements. 

Delaney Reynolds, class of 2017, exemplifies these values through her passionate work in environmental advocacy. During her time at Palmer Trinity School she was a member of the Wildlife Conservation Club, was President of the Eco Club, a member of the Marine Club, a Director of the Coral Lab, and led the initiative to build the solar power system at the Falcon's Nest.

Delaney earned her Bachelors in Science at the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science where she graduated with a double major in Marine Science and Coastal Geology and minoring in Climate Policy. Today, Delaney is a dual degree graduate student at the University of Miami's Abess Center for Ecosystem Science & Policy where this coming May she will graduate with her law degree (J.D.) and in 2026 will earn her Ph.D. 

As a student at Palmer Trinity School, she founded her nonprofit organization, The Sink or Swim Project, to educate people about our climate crisis. Delaney has engaged millions of people all over the world. 

Her policy work has seen her lead the historic climate change lawsuit Reynolds v. Florida; conceive, co-author, and help implement Florida’s first-ever municipal solar power mandate; advocate for changes within Miami Dade County that led to its inaugural climate budget funding and first Chief Resilience Officer, and most recently led the statewide Petition that resulted in the Florida Department of Agriculture creating rules to shift our state’s electrical energy system to becoming 100% based on sustainable sources by 2050.

Doug Rothfeldt, class of 2010, has been a dedicated member of the Palmer Trinity Alumni community since his graduation. Doug was a member of the Alumni Board from 2015 to 2022. He was then asked to serve on the Board of Trustees, which is a position he currently holds. 

He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Finance with a concentration in the Oil & Gas Industry from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business in 2014. Doug currently serves as Vice President at Goldman Sachs, working  in Private Wealth Management. In this capacity, he provides invaluable advice to entrepreneurs, their families, foundations, and private companies on various facets of investment and wealth management.

Doug's interest in the finance world started from the time he was at Palmer Trinity school as a student. He co-founded the PTS Investment Club in 2007 which has grown since its founding to almost 100 members. Doug has been a dedicated mentor, personally guiding club members and coming to speak on campus frequently. Doug has also served as a mentor to alumni, teaching a Master Class in 2021, and to Faculty and Staff, educating them in personal investing.