There are people who choose a profession, and there are people who are called to one. Lu Anne is the latter. Over more than twenty-five years, she has sat across from thousands of young people at the most uncertain crossroads of their lives and met every single one of them with patience, wisdom, and a warmth that cannot be manufactured. Prior to becoming a college counselor at FCDS, Lu Anne was Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Forsyth Country Day School. As my partner at Wood and Hogan, she shaped futures in ways that stretched far beyond any acceptance letter. What she has given to this community and to this profession is immeasurable.

Lu Anne does not simply guide students through the college process, she shows up for them. Fully. When a student is discouraged, she steadies them. When a family is overwhelmed, she brings calm. She sees students not as applicants to be packaged, but as whole people to be understood. Her knowledge of this profession is extraordinary, but what truly sets her apart is the humanity she brings to every conversation. She is exceptional in a field full of capable people.

Her giving spirit has always extended beyond her professional walls. Her volunteer work has opened doors for students who might never have believed those doors were meant for them. Her faith community has long known what Winston-Salem has come to understand: Lu Anne’s kindness is not occasional, it is constant, and it is rare.

In Winston-Salem and far beyond, her name carries real weight, not because she sought a reputation, but because integrity and excellence, sustained over decades, earn one naturally.

As her partner at Wood and Hogan, I have learned from her about this work, about grace, and about what it looks like to put students truly first. More than any professional lesson, I have been given her friendship, a gift I will carry for the rest of my life.

I am continuing on in this work feeling strong and excited, but it will be bittersweet without my dearest friend beside me. Lu Anne Wood has not just shaped the lives of thousands of students. She has shaped mine.