![Director of Alumni Engagement Molly Harbaugh presents the Alumni Service Award to Durant Bell]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1780080848/greensborodayorg/cpi3p7yncytwlmmxxdhf/alumni-service-20260526-01.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1780080848/greensborodayorg/cpi3p7yncytwlmmxxdhf/alumni-service-20260526-01.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1780080848/greensborodayorg/cpi3p7yncytwlmmxxdhf/alumni-service-20260526-01.jpg","width":800}])
Greensboro Day School is proud to present the 2026 Alumni Service Award to Durant Bell ’98 in recognition of his outstanding leadership and dedication to Greensboro Day School.
Durant’s service to GDS has spanned multiple leadership roles over many years. He served as Chair of the Alumni Board and was a member of the Head of School Search Committee that brought Dr. Tracie Catlett to Greensboro Day School. In 2019, he joined the Board of Trustees and is currently completing his final year as Chair of the Board.
When accepting his nomination to the Board of Trustees, Durant shared that he viewed the opportunity as a chance to “pay it forward” to the School and community that shaped him throughout his 13 years as a student at GDS. That spirit has defined his leadership ever since.
During his tenure as Board Chair, Durant helped guide Greensboro Day School through a period of remarkable growth and momentum. He played an instrumental role in helping the School and Board achieve the goals of the Be BOLD Campaign while also overseeing the opening of the Helen Monroe Preschool and the Center for Student Life and the F.M. Kirby III Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Durant also helped lead the Board through the adoption of the School’s current Strategic Vision, including the establishment of its Core Values.
While his accomplishments are extensive, those who know Durant best would likely point first to his character. He embodies the values of the School’s Community Cornerstones: Respect, Kindness, Integrity, and Responsibility.
Beyond GDS, Durant has continued to invest in the future of Greensboro. He chaired the Thrive35 Steering Committee, a regional strategic initiative focused on guiding the community through the next decade of growth and development. He is also one of the founding partners of The Pyrle, downtown Greensboro’s newest music venue and a major initiative connected to Thrive35.
Durant and his wife Mary Katherine are the proud parents of three current GDS students.
Established by the Alumni Association in 2002, the Alumni Service Award is presented annually to an alumnus or alumna who has demonstrated exemplary voluntary service to Greensboro Day School. Greensboro Day School is honored to recognize Durant Bell ’98 for his exceptional service, leadership, and unwavering support of the School.