Young Alumnus Honored for Service

The Alumni Association of St. Mark’s School of Texas traditionally honors outstanding graduates during the spring Alumni Weekend. While this year’s recipients will be honored during the rescheduled Alumni Weekend on October 21–23, 2021, the School will be announcing those recipients online throughout the month of April. 

For his tireless service to the School and his fellow Marksmen, the 2021 Young Alumni Service Citation is awarded to Mark Butler ’08. In a time when gathering together has been quite difficult, Mark has worked diligently to keep his classmates connected and engaged within the St. Mark’s community. In his first year on the Alumni Board, Mark has earned a role as the Young Alumni Chair and serves on the Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee. Mark is also a member of the Activities and Alumni Weekend Committee. In addition to his work on these Committees, Mark has served the Class of 2008 as both a Class Agent and a Reunion Chair for their 5th and 10th Reunions. 

“Mark is the type of person that will answer every call and address any priority that the School identifies,” said Alex Eshelbrenner ’04, Ahlberg and Ribman Family Director of Alumni Relations. “He encourages philanthropic support and strives to engage his classmates to participate in alumni programs. Most important, Mark helps guide a strategic vision of what young alums will find most engaging and acts as a model of what service to the School means in a professional career.” 

Following his time as a student at St. Mark’s, Mark attended Southern Methodist University and is now a Development Associate at Jackson-Shaw Company. In August of 2020, Mark married his wife, Lauren Butler, in Philadelphia, PA.

“We are thrilled to honor Mark Butler as the winner of this year’s Young Alumni Service Citation,” said Michael Flanagan ’90, Alumni Awards Committee Chair. “As a consistent Class Agent, Reunion Chair, and now as a recent Alumni Board member, Mark truly sets an example to which all future alumni can aspire.” 

“St. Mark’s has done more for me than I‘ll ever be able to repay, so when opportunities present themselves to give back to the school it is not a matter of ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ but rather ‘where and when?’” said Mark. “I have enjoyed my time serving the St. Mark’s community as an alum alongside a variety of great leaders from classes that I had little exposure to as a student. It is their examples that have helped me to better understand how to contribute meaningfully.”

The St. Mark’s School of Texas Young Alumni Service Citation was created to recognize the outstanding achievements of young alumni, individuals up to their 15th reunion, who promote the School by consistently volunteering their time and support to the betterment of the community. Click here to learn more about the Alumni Awards and view past recipients.