Miller Lowry '27 Wins National Club Leader of the Year at Neurodiversity Summit
By Kara McDuffee
Out of nearly 250 Neurodiversity (ND) Alliance chapters at high schools and colleges across the country, one award goes to the student who has made the greatest impact as a club leader. This year, it went to a student at Brewster Academy, a boarding school in New Hampshire with one of the oldest ND Alliance chapters in the country, driven by the ND Alliance’s mission to improve the educational experience of students who learn differently while fostering a more equitable and inclusive society for all.
Miller Lowry '27 was named Club Leader of the Year at the 2026 National Neurodiversity Leadership Summit, held at the University of Denver. Miller, who served as club Vice President his junior year and will step into the President role, traveled to Colorado alongside incoming Vice President Emery Condon '27 and former President Callie Pilkington '26. The three represented Brewster at the nation's largest gathering of neurodivergent student leaders, a four-day summit featuring keynote speakers, workshops, and community-building sessions focused on advocacy, leadership, and the neurodiversity movement.
The award was not just about Miller. It reflected the full presence that Brewster's ND Alliance chapter has built over time. Participation in Equity Week, Connect 2 Change, and Admissions events, alongside regular biweekly affinity group meetings, all factored into the recognition.
"I was honored to receive Club Leader of the Year," Miller said. "It really meant a lot to me to see how my actions affected not only my club, but clubs all around the United States. I could not have done it without Callie Pilkington, Emery Condon, and our three faculty advisors: Ms. Wingard, Mr. Leach, and Ms. Shaw."
That kind of support network matters. The club's faculty advisors, along with Brewster's Instructional Support program, help create the conditions where students can lead confidently, both inside the classroom and in spaces like this one.
What Miller took from the summit went beyond the award. "Everyone there wanted to make you feel connected and like you were part of the community," he said. "It was very powerful to be in a safe space where everyone could share their knowledge and experiences with one another."
He came home with plans. "Brewster already has a great sense of community," he said. "I hope to bring back the lessons we learned on how to run a club and encourage more members to get involved with programs like the ND Alliance, where they can advocate to help themselves and others."
At Brewster, Miller has a track record of following through. This national recognition comes on the heels of receiving Brewster’s Warren P. Tyler Memorial Award, presented at the end of the year to the student who demonstrates self-reliance, integrity, and a "can-do, will-do" approach to every responsibility. That description has fit Miller for a while now, and it will follow him into his senior year as club leader.
The club is open to everyone at Brewster, students and staff, neurodiverse or not. This year, the chapter also hopes to connect with Brewster's ND Alliance alumni. As one of the oldest chapters in the country, there are a lot of people worth finding.
Club advisor Alicia Wingard kept it simple: "The recognition is extremely well deserved."
