2023 RAD Prize Awarded to Gauri Balasubramanian ’25

In mid-November, Rutgers Preparatory School awarded the 2023 RAD Prize to Gauri Balasubramanian ’25 to honor the memory of Rutgers Prep alumnus Russell A. Divak ’85. Russell was part of a group of friends at RPS that began playing poker together around 9th grade. This turned into the Creative Cards Club, which would play poker with the elderly at the local nursing homes and it has continued every year since. 

Every group of friends probably has a similar mix—the organizer, the wild one, the comic relief, the all-star, the brain. Russell was the storyteller, the source of new and unusual information. For 32 years, Russell entertained his Prep friends with tales and facts he found fascinating, whether from the world of Latin in high school, the world of medicine from his BU grad school roommate (and Prep classmate) or from the world of law, his professional passion. Russell’s easy-going manner, lousy poker playing skills, and genuine concern for others made him the kind of friend everyone should be fortunate to have in life.

The Russell A. Divak (RAD) Friendship Prize was created by Russell’s family and friends to celebrate Russell’s life and, most importantly, the kind of person Russell was. The award is given each year to a current student (a freshman, sophomore or junior) who personifies the characteristics of friendship that defined Russell—a genuine concern for others’ well-being, the willingness to go the extra mile for someone else, an engaging personality that attracts others, and a curious mind that wants to share knowledge with their peers.

This year’s recipient wrote an essay about what friendship means to her as a member of the RPS community, and she read it for the Upper School, the Divak family, and some of Russell’s classmates at Morning Meeting (see the full video below). Congratulations to Gauri on her recognition and for helping keep Russell’s memory alive.