No matter your opinion of our school, you can’t deny that we generate some of Memphis’ most intelligent and accomplished graduates. One model example is Dr. Alan Lightman, who has found success as a physicist, author, and social entrepreneur.

Currently, Lightman is a professor of the Practice of the Humanities at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. However, from 1962-1966, he was simply a White Station high school student.

“It was a great experience,” he said of his years at White Station. “I remember very good teachers, but the other students were the best part of my experience.”

Lightman was the editor of The Scroll and was active on the tennis team, debate club and in the theater department. He attended White Station from first grade to high school graduation back when the school included all twelve grade levels, and experienced racial integration during his senior year.

“When I was in high school, White Station was [considered] the best public school in the city… and I felt very lucky to be there… I’m happy to see that it’s so diverse now,” he said.

After attending college and attaining a Ph.D. in theoretical physics, Lightman began to publish scientific essays and short fiction in various magazines. By 1993, he released his first novel, Einstein’s Dreams, which later became a bestseller and has been adapted into numerous theatrical productions. He has since written six more novels and many other scientific writings.

In 2003, Lightman began to focus more on his humanitarian efforts by establishing the Harpswell Foundation. This nonprofit organization provides housing, education, and leadership training for young Cambodian women. He was inspired by a young woman he met and her experience of living without housing while attending college in Cambodia.

“It was the story of this woman… and her courage to live underneath the college building for four years just to get an education… [that] motivated me to help out… and raise money to build dormitories for the female students.”

Dr. Lightman’s accomplishments in science, writing, and humanitarianism shows that our Spartans can achieve anything they put their minds to. With a diploma from White Station, only the sky is the limit.