CLASS NOTES
The Class of 1997: Where Are You Now? Before each issue of Friends magazine, we survey one class of graduates for updates on their lives, work, and reflections on Friends. For the fall/winter issue, we focus on the class celebrating its 15th Reunion. We might have been a little late this year, since many members of the Class of 1997 sent updates last spring; but we are happy to add the replies below to that news. Dorothy “Daisy” Church works in San Francisco as an artist and animator. She is currently working as Art Lead at Natural Motion Games developing titles for games on iOS and Android. Previously, Daisy was based in Los Angeles as an animator for television, commercials, music videos, and independent films. You may have seen her work on Metalocalypse, Wow Wow Wubzy!, The Mr. Men Show, The Ricky Gervais Show, and more. Daisy graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a BFA in fine art and a minor in history and then from the University of Southern California with a MFA in animation and digital art. She wrote, “If not for the guiding light of Mrs. Cynthia Stan Mellow, I would not be where I am. She is the one who pushed me and showed me the many possibilities of careers in the arts, and I very much credit her (along with the support and love of my family) for where I am today. Working as an artist and animator has allowed me to continually learn and observe the world around me, and truly give me a chance to do what I love for a living. It’s a hard road, but one with many, many rewards. I also cannot forget to credit Friends with teaching me the values and responsibility of leadership. From yearbook to Prism to the many (many!) organizations I belonged to in my time at WFS, I feel my involvement helped form my leadership and organizational abilities.” Daisy also actively works as PR champion for various animal rescue groups in Los Angeles by helping with online networking, administering Facebook pages, and promoting donation drives. Los Angeles animal shelters are badly underfunded, overcrowded, and she urges everybody to adopt when looking for a new pet! In addition to her animation career, Daisy exhibits her fine art in galleries worldwide. Her first solo show was held in Los Angeles in 2009, and she continues to develop and polish her personal style. Daisy is happily married to a fellow artist and animator, Damon O’Keefe, and they both love traveling, creating art, and taking care of their two cats and one very spoiled horse. Feel free to visit her online at www.daisychurch.com and on Facebook!
In her fourth of a five year Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology program at the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology (now called Sofia University), Elizabeth Anne Caine is working on her pre-doctoral internship hours in Clinical Psychology training at Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County and completing her dissertation proposal. Liz noted: “I plan to research the effects of spiritual versus secular meditation/mindfulness practices on levels of death anxiety in adults by comparing Buddhist practitioners with secular meditators. I live in San Francisco and enjoy spending my weekends in Sonoma County (wine country!).” Prior to her Ph.D. work, Liz received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies from Long Island University, Friends World Program; an M.A. in Engaged Buddhism from Naropa University; and an M.A. in Psychology from the Institute of Transpersonal Psychology. She wrote:“I was greatly influenced by the Quaker values espoused at Friends. I went on to do a year of community service through AmeriCorps (City Year Philadelphia) after I graduated before attending a Quaker-inspired undergraduate program where I learned more deeply about becoming a global citizen. I attribute some of my development in terms of my progressive values, pacifism, and appreciation for silence and spirituality to my experience of Quakerism from my time at Friends. I know that Friends instilled a desire to have a positive influence on the world, compassion for other people, cultures, and the planet as well as a desire to continue learning and growing in these areas throughout my life. “As a Psychology Intern at Catholic Charities, I work in community mental health with underserved populations who would otherwise be unable to afford mental health care. Particularly, I work with low-income older adults. I utilize a spiritually-oriented approach to treatment which includes mindfulness and body awareness techniques.” Mckenzie M. Jones received her B.S. from the University of Delaware; her pre-medical post baccalaureate certification from the University of Vermont; and is working toward her M.A. at Teachers College at Columbia University. She is an avid volunteer and works as a Jr. Board member for the Brooklyn Community Pride Center; is a Jr. Board member for the Eco Health Alliance, New York City; and works with Street Squash, an urban youth squash program in Harlem. Olivia Kurtz received her B.A. from Bryn Mawr College, and currently lives in Arlington, VA, with her husband, Matt Meyer, and their 16-month-old daughter, Sophie. Olivia is the energy and environment policy advisor for Senator Susan Collins of Maine. Matt also works on Capitol Hill as chief of staff for a House member from Tennessee. Olivia noted, “Friends taught me to be inquisitive, to love to learn new things, to speak up, and that by working together we could make things happen. Friends fostered many oppor-
tunities to develop leadership skills—through sports, group work in the classroom, committees—and provided us with the sense that as students we could help (and were expected to) shape our school community.” Pliny Reynolds graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design, receiving a Bachelors of Fine Arts in ’04 and Masters of Architecture in ’05 and currently resides in Austin, Texas, where he has been since 2005. Pliny wrote, “I am a Project manager for StudioGee Architecture and I design and develop Whole Foods Markets in the Northern California region. I have worked on stores (WFM) from Washington, D.C. to NYC over the past seven years. My firm has participated in many service-oriented activities over the years. These include hands-on construction for Habitat for Humanities and donating hand-crafted dog houses to raise money for the local SPCA. “In March of 2013, I will be relocating to Portland, Maine. I intend on using my design experience to develop a restaurant concept in downtown Portland. My goal is to trade my drafting desk for an apron and follow my life’s other passion, food. Come up for a visit!” Pliny shared his insight on his Friends education: “I think overall, WFS has inspired me to follow my passion and be a force of positive change. I have always endeavored to bring people together in various ways—most recently through architecture, and soon, over long tables of wonderfully crafted food.” Jennifer Helfand Shahin received her B.S. from Penn State University and her M.A. TESOL from West Chester University. She shared this update with us: “I have been teaching French/ ESL at Norristown Area High School for 11 years, and I am currently a member of the School Leadership Team. We live in Bucks County, PA, with our two children, Alex (5), and Sophia (6 months). My husband Ramy recently left corporate America to join me in a more service-oriented role as a nurse. “I can never say enough about Friends School. The values and behaviors I learned and developed while in school drive everything I do in my life: how I teach, how I raise my children, how I treat and work with others, and how I continue to better myself. I reflect constantly on experiences I had in the classroom and on the athletic fields to drive my instruction and lead my students down the path to good citizenship. As the advisor of my school’s French club, we do a variety of fundraisers per year to raise money for different groups in need. We have held two 5Ks for Haiti and Japan Disaster Relief in the last two years.” Jesse Soff lives in Los Angeles with his wife and son. Jesse graduated from Emerson College, with a B.A. in Film, and reported, “I own a production company called Rainfall Films, specializing in production, post-production, and visual FX for films, commercials, music videos, and really anything else that comes our way!”
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