Gregory Coleman ’91 will deliver the commencement address and Kenneth Mortenson ’63 will receive the Richard L. Duchossois ’40 Integrity and Values Alumni Award at the Academy’s 148th graduation exercises on June 12, 2021.
“We are pleased to have Mr. Coleman address the Class of 2021 and the MPA community,” Head of School Mercedes Z. Sheppard said. “He sets a tremendous example for our graduates and his experiences and insights will surely inspire them. I greatly look forward to welcoming him back to campus.”
The Duchossois Award is Morgan Park Academy’s highest award for alumni, given annually in recognition of its namesake’s lifetime achievements, outstanding professional success, and service to the Academy, his community, and society. Previous recipients are Mr. Duchossois, Dr. Frank Burd ’52, Denny Cresap ’52, Bill Hickey ’71, Al Hoffman Jr. ’52, D. Stephen Menzies ’73, Jim Mitchell ’61, Rajeev Rathi ’84, Spencer Stuart ’40, and Jerome A. Thrall ’44.
“Mr. Mortenson has been a tremendous supporter of the Academy and its students and faculty,” Sheppard said. “His contributions to both our school and his communities make him truly a fitting recipient of the Duchossois Award.”
Gregory Coleman ’91 // Commencement Speaker
Greg Coleman is the CEO of Sworkit, a fitness technology company that provides personalized, convenient, and efficient workouts to any screen anywhere and is the leading platform for delivering dynamic exercise content for any need, including those of employers, schools, kids, seniors, and physical therapists.
He has more than 25 years of leadership experience in both the public and private sectors and co-founded and led Sworkit from concept to a market leader in the digital fitness industry. Sworkit was identified as one of Fast Company’s “2017’s 10 Most Innovative Fitness Companies” and was also featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank.”
Coleman also is a Senior Advisor and Principal in the Defense Innovation Unit’s National Security Innovation Capital, the venture-capital equivalent arm of Department of Defense. In this role, he leads DoD’s investments in power and advanced energy companies.
He is a retired Air Force Colonel who served on both active duty and in the D.C. National Guard. He is a former squadron commander and Command Pilot with over 3,500 flight hours and over 60 combat and combat support missions in the Middle East and Balkans.
Coleman serves on several boards, including the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, The Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart, and Leadership Montgomery.
He earned a Master of Business Administration in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and also holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy.
Two years ago, he received Morgan Park Academy’s Young Alumni Award, which recognizes leadership and service to others.
Kenneth Mortenson ’63 // Duchossois Alumni Award
Kenneth Mortenson graduated from Carleton College and earned an MBA from the University of Michigan.
During his career at Oppenheimer Capital, he was a Managing Director responsible for investing client’s pension fund assets totaling $12 billion.
For two decades, Mortenson has been on the board of The Glaucoma Foundation, which supports cutting-edge research at universities and medical institutions around the world. He serves on the executive committee and leads the investment committee, which manages the foundation’s endowment fund.
Mortenson previously served for 14 years on the board of Partnership with Children, a not-for-profit agency that provides critical social work services to children in New York City public schools.
His other philanthropic interests include Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Citymeals on Wheels, and his alma maters.
Mortenson also returned to Morgan Park Academy eight years ago to deliver the 2013 commencement address.
