University Liggett School honors longtime parent volunteer

University Liggett School parent Lisa Updike was recognized with the Shelli Elmer Parent Volunteer Award during the school’s Volunteer Recognition breakfast. 

Updike has been a longtime and committed volunteer at the school in countless ways. She has donated her time to virtually every volunteer opportunity available at the school since her daughter started attending ULS as a sixth grader. She and her husband, Chris, have been longtime supporters and advocates for the school’s robotics program. 

“When Lisa became a parent at ULS seven years ago, she hit the ground running and immediately got involved. I personally have had the pleasure of working with her closely through our robotics programs, and she is always willing to pitch in and help in whatever way we need,” said Kim Galea, Robotics Team Coordinator. “I am so grateful to have her working with our teams.”

In addition to devoting her time to the robotics programs, Updike has also donated her time to the STEAM Faire as a member of the STEAM Faire steering committee, the Upper School Treasure Hunt, Homecoming, Liggett Knight, the Parents Association, classroom volunteering and teacher appreciation week. 

Updike and her husband, Christopher, have a daughter, Maddie ‘24, at ULS.

The Shelli Elmer Parent Volunteer Award was created in 2016 and given posthumously to Elmer, who for many years, volunteered at school events. In addition to Elmer, previous recipients include Connie deRuiter and Kelley Vreeken in 2017, Susan Azar ’87 in 2018, DeAnn Lukas ‘85 in 2019, Colleen Fitzgerald and Lan-Huong Reilly in 2020, Gretchen Knoll in 2021, Jennifer Barnhart-Fozo ‘87 in 2022 and Barbara Yoshida in 2023.