Building Bonds and Character: Lazare Zoungrana’s Story at Brunswick

Lazare Zoungrana ‘15 was hooked from his first visit to Brunswick, sitting in on a fifth-grade class. Lazare was born and raised in New Rochelle, NY. His parents, Jean-Paul and Claire, had emigrated from Burkina-Faso in West Africa. 

“On my first day, I was assigned a desk-mate, Alex Montinaro, who would become one of my best friends. We ended up going to UVA together and are roommates still in NYC, together with another classmate, James Dudzik. While at Brunswick, I would typically stay with a local family, whether the Montinaros or the O’Malleys, on weekends.” 

Lazare would excel in sports as well as studies (an AP scholar), and was a standout in both football and lacrosse. 

“I had never heard of lacrosse before Brunswick, and it soon became the sport I’m most passionate about. I loved being a part of the 2014 team that won Brunswick’s first New England West title. But what I will always prize is the incredible sense of community and the tight bond I have with classmates. My younger brother, Bernard, was five years behind me. When our mother died in 2018, my brother and I were so moved by the entire Upper School and so many of my classmates turning out for her funeral. It’s something we will never forget.” 

Bernard graduated in 2020 and is attending Harvard. Lazare, who majored in economics at UVA, works as an associate at Audax Private Debt.