At Convocation on September 11, John Knorr '89 was awarded the seventh annual Alumni Achievement Award. After graduating from Steward in 1989, Mr. Knorr earned a degree in political science from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, and planned on attending law school. However, it was a connection he made during his ninth-grade alternate program experience (aka Minimester) that set him on a different path.

"Not only was this the biggest impact during my high school years," he said, "but it would also be the biggest impact on my life."

Mr. Knorr described how his freshman internship with Steve Phillips, president of Phillips Foods, Inc. and Seafood Restaurants, laid the foundation for what would evolve into a highly acclaimed career in the restaurant industry. He joined the company in 1993 and held several different positions throughout the restaurant division before becoming chief operating officer in 2001. Mr. Knorr and his brother later acquired the Red Roost, a 400-seat crabhouse in Maryland. Today, he is co-founder and co-owner of Southern Boys Concepts, a collection of seven eclectic restaurants, and Evolution Craft Brewing Company, which distributes beer throughout the East Coast and Japan. 

He attributed his success in the food industry in part to his ninth-grade internship. But, more importantly, he reinforced the importance of connections he made while at Steward.

"School is a place where many children and young adults with different opinions, different backgrounds, and different hobbies come together to learn," he said. "I think you will find that you will not only learn from your teachers, but you will also learn so much from each other."

Read our previous profile of Mr. Knorr in the 2015 spring/summer issue of Crossroads.