Breck School is an Episcopal, independent, college-preparatory day school enrolling students of diverse backgrounds in grades preschool through twelve.
Mission
We create confident learners who lead lives of intellectual curiosity, self-knowledge, and social responsibility.
Core Values
Compassion: Honor the dignity of all human beings.
Excellence: Strive with integrity for the highest standards.
Inclusivity : Foster a just and welcoming community.
Respect : Value each other’s unique talents, spirit, and potential.
Breck students participating in the annual Native American Gathering on May 1 in the Anderson Gym.
In this issue
7. 20 Questions with Liv K. ’26, Mark Garrison, and Leslie Hayes ’14
10. Mustang Moments
12. Program Highlight: Advanced English Scholarship and Research
14. Division Highlight: Middle School Competencies
16. Sports Highlights
32. Where Are They Now: Wayne Wilderson ’84
34. Alumni Class Notes and In Memoriam
38. Retiring Faculty and Staff
40. In Their Own Words: Sohana M. ‘25
44. Alumni Spotlight: Jon Septer ’01
From the Head of School
Dear Breck community,
When I began my career in education as a Lower School classroom teacher, the moments that wrapped up a school year represented some of the biggest jumps in learning and growth for my students. The difference between a September first grade student and a May first grade student is truly remarkable — and this makes the end of the school year such a magical time.
May is also so magical because we take time to reflect and celebrate the year’s journey of growth for all our students, including through our Baccalaureate and Commencement celebrations, which are among the most beautiful chapel services we have all year. It fills me with Mustang pride to see our graduates cross the platform to receive their treasured diplomas, knowing all they’ve accomplished within our walls and everything they will achieve once they go out into the world.
At Commencement this year, I stood next to my dear friend and colleague Dr. Troy Baker, who led the Upper School for the last four years and will transition this summer into his headship at Church Farm School. The thing I will miss most about Dr. Baker is his distinctive leadership style and passion for creating the context for young people to succeed. It is educators like Dr. Baker who cultivate the environment where our school culture can thrive and our students can learn, grow, and achieve beyond anything they ever thought possible.
Celebrating our students’ milestones at the end of each academic year offers our Breck community the gift of reflection. We look back on big moments and small ones, as well as successes and failures, and we are filled with gratitude for those who taught, coached, and helped us along the way. We appreciate the opportunities we’ve had to help others and contribute positively to communities across the Twin Cities. Importantly, we use all we’ve learned to catapult us into next year. B
Warmly,
Spot the Mustang
This Breck Mustang is hiding throughout the pages of this magazine. How many Mustangs can you find? Email communications@breckschool.org with the number of Mustangs you see to earn a special prize!
Natalia R. Hernández, Ed.D. Head of School
Dr. Hernández is pictured above delivering cupcakes to Lower School students on her birthday this spring.
Upper School students and faculty acknowledging award winners at the Department Awards on May 29.
What music are you listening to lately? It depends on the mood, but I can always turn on The Lumineers, Noah Kahan, or Taylor Swift.
What’s one of the last books you read? Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. It’s a beautifully written story where video game design meets modern romance. It’s a must read.
What’s your favorite time of year? Definitely summer. I love the warm weather and the long days when the sun doesn’t set until 9:00 p.m.
What’s one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done? Once, on a tour boat in Iceland, I ate a raw scallop straight out of the ocean — slimy!
What is your favorite Breck lunch? The crispy chicken sandwich is craveworthy.
What’s your dream job? To be a referee at the FIFA World Cup!
What’s one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? Coming to Breck when I got the opportunity. I’m very lucky to receive such a wonderful education, and I’m so grateful for my friends, teammates, teachers, and coaches.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Don’t worry too much. Everything will work out.
What do you remember from kindergarten? I went to a Montessori school, so we learned how to peel and cut carrots, tie shoelaces, write in cursive, and make tea!
What is the most important room in your home? The kitchen. That’s where my family spends the most time together.
What’s your favorite place on the Breck campus? It’s a tie between McKnight Stadium and the Upper School Art Room.
Favorite comfort food? A box of Annie’s mac and cheese.
Favorite treat: salty or sweet? Sweet! I love chocolate.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Sedona” by Houndmouth.
Favorite line from a movie? “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” —Gangster Johnny, Home Alone. It never gets old!
Favorite family tradition? Every year on our birthdays, my parents cook pancakes for my sister and me in the shape of our new age!
Three people — living or dead — you’d want to have dinner with? Frederick Douglas, Megan Rapinoe, and Galileo!
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? I really want to visit the Pyramids of Giza.
What’s your pet peeve? People who treat personal space like a suggestion, especially at the airport! I can’t stand getting bumped into or cut off.
What keeps you up at night? Knowing I’ll have to leave my dog, Winnie, at home when I go to college. B
20 Questions with
Mark Garrison Assistant Head of School
What music are you listening to lately? Anything from Neil Young and Beyoncé to my friends Martha Scanlan and August James.
What’s one of the last books you read? I read James prior to meeting with the Advanced English Scholarship and Research class, and I just finished The Eight Mountains. It is a beautiful book that Director of Technology A.J. Colianni recommended.
What’s your favorite time of year? Autumn, because I love the cooler temperatures and the color pop of the trees.
What’s one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done? In 2001, my wife, Norah, and I paddled a canoe 3,000 miles across Canada from Minnesota to the Arctic Ocean. It was an epic four-month adventure that few people have ever attempted. The lessons we carry from that expedition still impact how we live our life today.
What is your favorite Breck lunch? I always start at the salad bar.
What’s your dream job? If I was not doing this, I’d want to find a way to travel the world seeking adventure and meeting interesting people.
What’s one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? I started working in the summer between 3rd and 4th grade. I’ve always had a job since then, and each role has opened up new experiences, connections, and opportunities.
What advice would you give to your younger self? Be more curious than confident.
What do you remember from kindergarten? My family moved a lot when I was young. Those early years are a blur.
What is the most important room in your home? The kitchen — it is where we always gather with friends and family.
What’s your favorite place on the Breck campus? I love the happy community of the Chapel Green on a Friday all-school lunch cookout.
Favorite treat: salty or sweet? Sweet.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Big River” by Johnny Cash.
Favorite line from a movie? “There’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.” —Sam Gamgee, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
Favorite family tradition? Road trips, adventures, and backcountry expeditions mark the passage of time for our family.
Three people — living or dead — you’d want to have dinner with? Ernest Shackleton, Rick Rubin, and Jacinda Ardern.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Southern Chile is currently high on my bucket list.
What’s your pet peeve? When people act without regard for others.
What keeps you up at night? I sleep pretty well, but missed opportunities can gnaw at me. B
20 Questions with Leslie Hayes ’14
Doctoral candidate in counseling psychology | University of St. Thomas
What was your favorite Breck lunch? Anything that involved the underbaked chocolate chip cookie bars for dessert. 1 2 3 5 4
What music are you listening to lately? I’ve been listening to a lot of UMI, Anees, and Alicia Creti. At the gym, my current playlists contain a lot of gospel and early 2000s rap and R&B.
What’s one of the last books you read? I just finished the third book of Tomi Adeyemi’s Legacy of Orisha series, Children of Anguish and Anarchy. I’m currently reading Rule Number Two: Lessons I Learned in a Combat Hospital by Dr. Heidi Squier Kraft.
What’s your favorite time of year? I love the few weeks between spring and summer where you can be outside and rest in the sun without getting too hot.
What’s one of the most adventurous things you’ve ever done? Joining a group of only Spanish speaking fishermen on a boat in Costa Rica to fish for the food that would feed 150 people at a retreat center. As an avid fisher and lover of the water, it was one of the best experiences of my life.
What’s your dream job? To own/operate a hybrid psychology practice and bakery/cafe. I could practice my two passions everyday: psychology and baking.
What’s one of the best decisions you’ve ever made? Having the opportunity to go out of state for college allowed me to uncover pieces of myself that would have been hard to discover if I stayed near home.
What advice would you give to your younger self? To not stress the details, perfection is not always the answer, and that you should listen to your mom more because she does often know what’s best.
What do you remember from kindergarten? Not being able to fall asleep during nap time so I would count the tiles next to my nap spot.
What is the most important room in your home? The living room. It’s where we go to socialize, watch TV, do puzzles, and play games together.
What’s your favorite place on the Breck campus? Salas Commons. It’s the perfect place to both do work and be social.
Favorite comfort food? Popcorn and peanut M&Ms.
Favorite treat: salty or sweet? Sweet. However, see above for the perfect treat.
If you had a theme song, what would it be? “Girl on Fire” by Alicia Keys.
Favorite line from a movie? “I’ll trade you this pickle for a nickel. How about two cents?” —The Little Rascals
Favorite family tradition? Christmas Eve seafood dinner and everyone opening pajamas before going to bed.
Three people — living or dead — you’d want to have dinner with? Marcus Samuelsson, Ina Garten, and Christina Tosi. We would be cooking dinner together prior to enjoying the meal!
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? Greece.
What’s your pet peeve? People cutting others off mid-conversation.
What keeps you up at night? Many things, but right now the most apparent is my dissertation. B 12 13 14
Leslie also works as a training student at the Wilder Foundation. She was the alumni speaker at the Breck Class of 2025 Commencement on June 3 and also serves as a Breck affinity faculty advisor and substitute teacher.
MUSTANG MOMENTS
Spring 2025 semester in photos: 1. Jackson C. ’25 winning the annual Tour de Breck for his team on May 15. 2. Middle School students exploring virtual reality after returning from winter break in January. 3. Kindergarten students planting trees on campus. 4. Breck students welcoming newly accepted Mustangs to campus this spring. 5. The Breck Robotics team at the Minnesota 10,000 Lakes Regional FIRST Robotics Competition in March. 6. The Class of 2033 and Performing Arts Department Chair Sharon Mazion at the annual fourth grade celebration on May 22. 7. Upper School Counselor Carla Davies-Vue at the annual Staff Appreciation All-School Chapel after being awarded the 2025 Cloverfields Foundation Breck Faculty Chair. 8. Lower School Directors for a Day Ella ’25 and Florence ’37 C. take an important meeting with Head of School Dr. Natalia R. Hernández and Lower School Director Katie Mahoney. 9. Preschool students admire the maple syrup they tapped from maple trees on campus. 10. Middle School students performing during the spring production of High School Musical JR
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Habits of mind
New Middle School Competencies help guide student learning.
Grades are important at a place like Breck, but so is becoming a well-rounded, well-adjusted human who demonstrates agency, communicates effectively, thinks critically, works collaboratively, and knows oneself as a learner.
“The A to F grading system can be limiting,” says Middle School English teacher Katie Scherer. “It doesn’t always see growth.” This is one of the many reasons why Scherer — along with fellow MS teachers Becky Jacobson and Alex Law in addition to Julie Kallio, lead researcher at the Peter Clark Center for Mind, Brain, and Education — led the creation and implementation of the new MS Competencies, a set of student practices to align and guide learning experiences (listed left).
Officially launched during the 2023–24 school year, these competencies empower students to become active meaning makers who seek deep understanding and are able to transfer their learning. They also give students an opportunity to reflect on who they are as learners and how they learn best.
“We’re working toward a clear understanding of what skills students are taught throughout the Middle School outside of content,” says Scherer. “We’re looking for increased visibility around expectations of student success.”
While these competencies are being slowly integrated into each grade level and course differently, some teachers choose to list on various assignments which competency is being addressed. That way, students can be empowered to focus on competency areas they most need to develop.
“We’ve had big projects in each of our classes that have many of the competencies reflected in them,” says Ada P. ’31, “like creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.”
The competencies have also been helpful during conferences, as students share with their family and educators the areas they see as their strengths and weaknesses. Eventually, Scherer hopes eighth grade students will do a portfolio defense where they will be able to talk about their growth throughout Middle School.
“One reason why we have these competencies is our kids are so product driven, so sometimes we need to pump the brakes and have them also focus on the skills and the habits that we know will be important for them down the road,” says Sky Fauver, Middle School director. In doing so, students develop the dispositions necessary for broader and deeper learning. “We feel that these are the most essential skills that students should have in place before walking down the hall to Upper School.” B
Eighth grade students high five before being recognized on stage at Middle School Closing on May 30.
Winter/Spring Sports 2025
Gritand glide
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MEET THE
ATHLETE
Three questions with Nordic skiing phenom Josh F. ’25
What do you love about Nordic skiing?
It's a very fun feeling just gliding across the snow in skis. But it’s also a really hard effort. Each race I’m thinking about how I am going to try and push myself to go harder. It’s a really great feeling when you know you’ve pushed yourself as hard as you can and have done everything you can. Even if sometimes the result isn’t necessarily what you want, or you’re a little disappointed, you have to be happy with that effort. It’s the “type two” fun sometimes when you’re in a lot of pain while you’re doing it, but afterwards, it’s a really, really good feeling.
What should people know about your sport?
There are a lot of different pieces to ski racing that you wouldn’t necessarily think about. You have to train a lot of hours to get your fitness up. It’s hard to balance on skis, so you have to work on balance. You have to work on technique. There’s a lot on the mental side, too, because it’s a really hard sport. You also have to take care of your equipment and your skis — you have to know how to wax them. So it’s a lot of working on pulling those pieces together.
What've you learned on the Nordic team?
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I love all the people I ski with at Breck. It’s a very supportive community. We’re competitive, but we also have a lot of fun, too. I’ve learned a lot of patience because with all the pieces that you have to put together, a lot of times stuff won’t work out. You have to be okay with that. You have to be patient with yourself and patient with your teammates. Even if you haven’t ever set foot on skis before, everyone’s welcome to join Nordic at Breck. B
Josh will ski next year at Williams College in Massachusetts. This winter, he competed in the MN State Nordic Ski Race, finishing in the top 25.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSTANGS
Hooping with heart
Middle School basketball player Lucinda C. ’29 leads by example.
As an 8th grade student on the Middle School basketball team this season, Lucinda Chorney ’29 naturally — and gracefully — stepped into a leadership role from day one.
“This year has been really fun. I lead warm ups, so calling out high knees, butt kicks, that sort of thing,” she says. “It really starts to get people excited at the start of practice. And there’s a positive sort of spirit.”
Lucinda models that positive spirit at every practice and game because, for her, being a leader is “more about your attitude than about anything you do.” Even during a game when the team is down by 20, Lucinda keeps the momentum and excitement up to encourage her teammates.
This season, Lucinda has also enjoyed bonding with students she wouldn’t have known otherwise, and she believes that being on a team — and participating in athletics — “can turn a bad day into a great day.”
Lucinda’s advice to younger students who hope to one day be a team leader? “Put your heart into the team. Don’t just show up. Bring all of your energy and all your excitement.” B
Lucinda illustration above drawn by her teammates.
Third place at state!
Congratulations to Breck’s boys basketball, gymnastics, and boys swim & dive teams, who all placed third in their respective state tournaments this spring. Go Mustangs!
Par for the course
Walt Larsen has been a fixture of the Breck golf program for 44 years.
Unless you’ve played golf at Breck, you have probably never heard the name Walt Larsen.
“I’m probably the least known long-term employee in the history of the school,” Larsen jokes. “If I walk through Breck, nobody knows who I am other than the people in the athletics department.”
That’s the nature of coaching a sport that doesn’t practice or play on campus. But when you talk about Mustang coaching legends, Larsen is definitely a name to know.
A former Edina and University of Minnesota golfer, Larsen joined the Breck golf coaching staff as an assistant coach in 1981 at the suggestion of a fellow Gopher golfer who at the time was a teacher at the school. When she left for grad school a couple years later, Larsen inherited the golf program — and hasn’t looked back since.
Larsen was the head coach for both the boys and girls teams for a number of years before hiring Craig Teiken to take over the girls program in 1999. He’s coached countless siblings and multiple generations of families over the years and was awarded the Del Carter ’50 Memorial Award for his dedication to his athletes and the program. And he’s done all this while also building and owning a successful advertising agency.
What has kept Larsen at Breck all these years?
“I thoroughly enjoy my involvement in Breck,” he says. “I have a knack for teaching the golf swing, and I have a passion for golf. I love being around kids, and I also am pretty competitive.”
While his athletes sometimes characterize Larsen as intimidating because of his impressive tenure, a golf parent once called the program “a hidden gem at Breck” thanks to his leadership and impact on his golfers.
“I tell the kids at the beginning of the season that the whole point of this is to have fun,” he says. “I happen to think it’s fun to win. I happen to think it’s fun to learn, and I happen to think it’s fun to participate with other people with a common goal.”
People have asked Larsen when he might retire. His answer is not anytime soon. “Why would I?” he says. “I love what I do.” B
Use your voice
Five things you need to know about Upper School Community Partnership Voterama’s inclusive approach to civic engagement on campus.
Graham B. ’25 (pictured below) might be one of the most civic-minded people at Breck. And he can’t even vote yet — he’s only 17. A leader of the Upper School Community Partnership (CP) Voterama, Graham believes deeply that anyone who is eligible should vote — and everyone should engage in the civic process in whatever way they can.
During the 2024 presidential election cycle, Graham and his peers worked across divisions to educate the Breck community about the political landscape, leaning into the importance of Breck’s missional commitment to social responsibility. Their work began in the spring 2024 semester, included attendance at the Minnesota Youth Voter Summit at the University of St. Thomas over the summer and meetings with school leadership along the way, and spanned across the 2024–25 school year.
“In the Breck community, maybe more than other places, we are really excited to be civically engaged,” says Graham. “And I think that’s really promising.”
Read on to learn more about Voterama and the important work it completed this school year.
It’s a nonpartisan Upper School CP started after the 2020 election that’s dedicated to increasing voter awareness and turnout in historically underrepresented communities — most notably, young people. “Historically, younger people don’t really utilize the power they could have in impacting the results of elections,” says Graham. “And young people are more likely to respond to voting if other young people are the ones telling them to do it, instead of just adults.”
It’s mainly student run (with oversight by faculty advisor Catherine Pearson, innovation coach) and, due to a surge of interest, participation was by application only this year — which is not typical for other US CPs. “It’s a really good area for students to have their input and try to affect change themselves,” Graham explains. “In this presidential election year, people were really excited, so it made our job easier and also allowed us to have a greater impact and connect with more people.”
They ran mock elections across divisions (results on right), prepared lesson plans on things like the electoral college for Middle and Lower School students, and presented at US and MS assemblies and SDIC Community Night. “It was really fun to get to help Lower School students vote, because they were the most excited and seemed to really be enjoying themselves,” Graham says. “We showed how Upper School students can serve as role models for the rest of the school.”
They leaned into Breck’s core value of inclusivity by remaining staunchly nonpartisan through their initiatives and events. The best example? Their lunch-and-learns after presidential debates. “Voterama is a space where the sole mission is to just try to get people to vote, whatever side of the aisle they’re on,” explains Graham. “At the lunch-and-learns, there was room for both perspectives, and people were actually engaging with the other perspective in a way that I didn’t really expect.”
The group’s intentional engagement across the school feels uniquely Breck. “Voterama’s work felt like one of the most authentic student-led ways in which we had all of the divisions coming together,” says Catherine Pearson, Voterama faculty advisor. “I’m not aware of any other schools that have a P–12 reach the way Voterama has established.” B
The results are in!
During the mock elections this fall, students in each division voted on a number of age-appropriate issues with outcomes they could see firsthand. A selection of the results are below.
PRESCHOOL
& KINDERGARTEN
Which book would you like a Breck celebrity to read aloud to your class?
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus
The Gruffalo dragons love tacos
Where the Wild Things Are
LOWER SCHOOL GRADES 1–4
What should the name of the Trout Tank be?
Taylor the Tank frank the tank
Thomas the Tank Engine
Tracy the Tank
MIDDLE SCHOOL
What should Dani the Dog dress up as before winter break?
Olaf (from Frozen) the grinch
Buddy the Elf Santa Claus
UPPER SCHOOL
Should students in grades 9 and 10 eat first on Fridays?
Yes no
A garden of learning
A first-of-its-kind digital tool, Breck’s new Dynamic Learner Profile equips students with the necessary strategies to help their brains blossom.
Illustrations by Simona Bortis-Schultz
It was in the middle of a seventh grade math test when Maria V. ’27 froze. There was a problem she couldn’t remember how to solve, and she couldn’t move forward. She left the rest of the test blank.
“I was like, ‘Okay, if I can’t do that one, I can’t do the rest of them,’” she remembers. “My brain just kind of shut down. I couldn’t do it anymore.”
As a 10th grade student, Maria now understands herself more as a learner and feels better equipped to handle academic setbacks like this one thanks to Breck’s Dynamic Learner Profile (DLP), an innovative new digital tool that uses research from psychology, cognitive science, and education to support metacognitive conversations between student and advisor to develop deep, personal understanding of how a student learns. In short, the DLP, the first app of its kind created through Breck’s Peter Clark Center (PCC) for Mind, Brain, and Education, helps students learn how they learn best using an interactive, real-time tool.
“I found [the DLP] super helpful,” Maria says. “It tells me straight forward what I need to work on, what I’m good at, and then the strategies that I set up are also really helpful. They’ve also just really enhanced my learning and helped me learn to regulate my emotions when I get stuck. I feel a lot more confident.”
Building a learning toolbox
The DLP, taken during advisory, presents students in grades 9–11 with a series of “like me” and “not like me” self-assessment questions about themselves as learners. Their responses generate a spider chart across 14 components — from memory to emotion to organization and planning — that visualizes their individual strengths and areas for improvement. Students can then select from targeted strategies to improve those particular areas, and the app helps them track those strategies and their effectiveness.
The results also serve as important conversation starters between a student and their advisor and parents, giving them a tangible way to connect about academics without looking at grades or performance. With the guidance of their advisor, students can better articulate and advocate for themselves, and, hopefully, enjoy school more, perform better, and have a growth-mindset about learning.
“We know that kids really are in charge of their brains, and we have to help them pull back the curtain on learning,” says Sarah Flotten '85, director of the PCC.
“Kids are busy, so how do we put strategies in the hands of the learner when they’re not sitting in front of a teacher in a class?” That’s where the DLP comes in.
Let’s say the DLP identifies metacognition as an area of growth for you: You may “tend to not always realize when you’re not understanding something or when your approach to a task or assessment isn’t working as effectively and efficiently for you.” A suggested strategy could be to make a list of all your ideas down on paper before picking the best choice.
A student may focus on one strategy for two weeks, then check in with themselves and their advisor about how it’s working. Introducing small habits and behavior changes through these strategies “will make you more resilient in building your toolbox [as a learner],” says Flotten.
Room for growth
Each time a student takes the DLP self-assessment — typically twice per year — it gives them insight into how they are showing up as a learner at that time. The emphasis on being a dynamic learner and regularly checking in about how you learn best is extremely important. What could be a growth area today could be a strength six months from now.
“The idea of dynamic learning comes from what we know about the brain and the idea of neuroplasticity,” says Flotten. “Your brain is always growing and changing by every experience, every book you read, every interaction you have. It is actually physically changing because of your experiences.”
Breck rolled out the DLP in the Upper School during the 2024–25 school year. There’s currently an AI component that’s in development and beta testing, which Flotten calls a “next-level game changer.” Breck is leading the way nationally through the development of this type of innovative tool, and the PCC has begun working on licensing the app for use in schools across the country.
For students like Maria, the DLP has entirely changed the way she thinks about learning. “I can be more articulate about my thoughts and feelings and pinpoint better what’s happening, what’s not working, what is working,” she shares. “I want to keep working on becoming even more well-rounded so that I can become a better student.” B
A DLP strategy might be…
Take planned breaks
Use a timer to create purposeful breaks, giving your brain a chance to rest and reset.
Challenge yourself academically
Push yourself to take academic risks.
Practice optimism
Practice realistic optimism.
Remove the biggest distraction
When in study/work mode, put your phone out of sight. If you can see it, it’s a distraction.
Mindful innovation
A dream becomes a reality, thanks to software developer and Breck alum Alejandro Fenn ’12 and alum parent, Elizabeth Sarquis.
The Peter Clark Center (PCC) for Mind, Brain, and Education is named for a former Breck faculty member, Peter Clark, who dedicated his career to demystifying learning for students. His understanding of learning and the brain was well ahead of his time, and his legacy is lived out on a daily basis at Breck — including through the development of the Dynamic Learner Profile (DLP).
In 2018, the PCC piloted an analog version of the DLP in grades seven to nine to help students better understand themselves as learners. Then, in 2020, Breck was awarded an Edward E. Ford Educational Leadership Grant to support the creation of the groundbreaking digital DLP.
Shortly after, at an event celebrating Peter Clark’s life, Sarah Flotten, director of the PCC, connected with alum parent Elizabeth Sarquis (Brandon ’03, Tess ’06, and Alejandro Fenn ’12) who not only wholeheartedly believed in the work of the PCC but who, with the help of her son Alejandro, could help bring the digital DLP to life.
Fenn, who describes himself as “an entrepreneur trying to build cool things using technology that hopefully makes the world better,” Sarquis, and their associates worked hand-in-hand with Flotten to build the platform from the ground up, ensuring that it both fulfilled their current needs and was properly equipped to evolve and change in the future.
“It’s a good, stable first version of what it can be,” says Fenn, “and it can evolve in who knows how many ways.”
Fenn is excited about the forthcoming AI features of the DLP and believes Breck will be at the forefront of effectively integrating AI into education. He also feels honored to be advancing the work of Peter Clark, who deeply impacted him as a person and student while he was at Breck.
“Carrying out the legacy of such a great person, someone who I was lucky enough to call a friend and mentor, that’s very special,” he says. B
First grade students, directed by Vocal Music Teacher Melita Anderson, singing during Lower School Closing on May 30.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW
From Breck to the big screen
Wayne Wilderson ’84 has made his mark in Hollywood. He got his start in theater at Breck.
You may have seen Wayne Wilderson ’84 in Seinfeld. Or The Office. Or CSI, Evan Almighty, or How to Get Away with Murder. Or maybe it’s Veep that you recognize him from. Or, most recently, Abbott Elementary. Or, perhaps, it was the 1980 Breck production of Bye Bye Birdie.
Wilderson has built an impressive career in Los Angeles as a TV and film actor, appearing on a laundry list of comedies and dramas over the last three decades. And it all started at Breck.
First enrolled at Breck in fourth grade, Wilderson was encouraged to try theater in fifth grade.
“The drama teacher, Barbara Bradley, stopped me in the hall,” he remembers. “I think I owe everything to her. She said, ‘You should take my drama class.’ I did, and I loved it immediately.”
By eighth grade, Wilderson had done his first Breck show, Bye Bye Birdie, and, from then on, he knew he wanted to pursue a career as an actor.
After graduating from Breck, Wilderson studied theater at Boston College (at the urging of his friends Maya ’81 and Peter Tester ’81, who were already there) and joined the improv comedy group My Mother's Fleabag. Then, later, members of the group formed a new comedy troupe called Every Mother's Nightmare, which relocated from Boston to Minneapolis following their graduation.
Back in Minneapolis, Wilderson scored a coveted acting job at the Guthrie Theater.
“I thought it was the greatest gig,” he says. “You get out of college and you get into the Guthrie? That was my dream job since I was a little kid. I grew up like 10 blocks from there. I did two years there, but I thought if I did a third year, I might stay there forever.”
In April 1992, Wilderson, with his two cats and a U-Haul in tow, moved to Los Angeles, where he got an agent and booked his first job — a commercial for Minnesota-based Target. He’s been working as an actor ever since, putting together an extensive list of appearances on some of the most popular shows on TV, plus work in film and theater, too.
Life as a working actor can be challenging and, at times, uncertain, but Wilderson has learned to navigate the industry with determination and grace.
“The thing you hear most in this job is ‘no,’ and you cannot ever, ever take it personally,” he says. “I’ve noticed in the many years since I’ve been in LA how that skill has formed in me.”
His Breck education has definitely played a role in helping Wilderson get to where he is today. “I think Breck has quite a bit to do with it,” he says, because the school gave him “a sort of self discipline and appreciation for the world around you.”
As Wilderson looks to the future, he hopes to land a serious regular part on an hourlong comedy or drama. For students interested in pursuing a career in entertainment, Wilderson offers the very Breck advice to “always be learning and keep curious.”
“Breck makes free thinking individual adults who are conscientious of the world and can be patient with life because of the education that we got,” he says. “Breck was a really big part of my life.” B
Wilderson's resume includes:
1980 Bye Bye Birdie Breck School
1981
Once Upon a Mattress Breck School (pictured top left)
1984
Godspell Breck School (pictured middle left) 1991
Death of a Salesman Guthrie Theater 1991
A Christmas Carol Guthrie Theater
1993 Frasier
2000 The West Wing 1997–1998 Seinfeld
2001–2009
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2002 Malcolm in the Middle
2005 Grey's Anatomy
2006 The Office
2007–2013
Two and a Half Men
2008
Hannah Montana
2009 ER Pushing Daisies
2011
Bones
2015
The Big Bang Theory How to Get Away with Murder
2016 The Middle
2016–2019 Veep
2019 Young Sheldon
2020 Will & Grace (pictured middle left)
2025
Abbott Elementary (pictured bottom left)
Class Notes
1. This spring, alums from various jobs and industries came back for the second annual Career Exploration Fair for juniors and seniors. We were so incredibly proud to see alumni share their expertise and job advice with current students.
80s
2. SPENCER REECE ’81 won the John Updike Award for his contributions to American literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. He also published a poem in the April 21, 2025 weekly edition of the New Yorker Magazine.
KEITH BARTZ ’83 and FRED GOLDBERG ’83 joined the Alumni Council in the second half of the 2024–25 school year.
SANDRA STONE ’85 joined the Distinguished Alumni Award Committee this year.
90s
3. NICK EUGSTER ’94 finished in first place overall at the 100K race in the Zion Ultras and Trail Half Marathon with an impressive 10:45:25 time, over 17 minutes ahead of his nearest competitor.
4. TONY JEWETT ’94 and JIMMY BELTZ ’94 returned to Breck as the Grand Marshals of Tour de Breck 2025! The pair awarded team Skemp, Trujillo, Emerson, and Rustad the Breck Fund Trophy and team Croom, Tufaa, Trofka, and Lee the Race Trophy.
SIMONE HARDEMAN-JONES ’98 was named one of the Top 50 Women in Business by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal this spring, and she was this year’s Cum Laude Society speaker.
ANDREW MULLIN ’98 was elected the 25th Mayor of Wayzata, Minnesota.
00s
5. CHARLES MEECH ’00 and TEDDY STOFER ’99 live next door to each other in Los Angeles, and their kids are best friends. They are pictured celebrating Charles’ 43rd birthday this year!
The Breck boys 2000 MN STATE HOCKEY CLASS A CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM got together in early March to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their state championship.
MEADE (MCCARTHY) ARSENIADIS ’00, KRISTAL GRIGSBY ’02 , KEITH YLINEN ’86 , and Robin Fondow joined the Athletic Hall of Fame Committee this year.
MEGAN (CROSS) ROGERS ’01 was named to Twin Cities Business Magazine’s Notable Women in Law list in April.
WYNNE REECE ’04 and ADDIE GORLIN-HAN ’07 spoke to seniors for the Life After Breck Speaker Series.
6. Breck international exchange student alum JUAN LUIS RODRÍGUEZ ’05 is featured in the May 2025 edition of Copa Airlines Panorama of the Americas magazine.
The story, “From the Hangar to the Cockpit,” highlights Rodríguez’s journey from working as a Copa Airlines mechanic to becoming a first officer in their fleet, flying a Boeing 737NG.
KATIA DRAGOTIS ’07 recently launched Dragotis Media, a boutique content company rooted in story, strategy, and soul.
Breck students watched KEVIN SCHRECK’S ’07 film Antarctic Voyage and then had a forum with him during Breck’s Environmental Day.
10s
DAN GEOFFRION ’10 is now the Chief Operating Officer of Foss Swim School.
7. KRISTINA (TESTER) CHIEN ’10 and ERIC CHIEN ’10 and their son Theo (future class of 2037) welcomed Kai Alexander Chien on April 4. Everyone is healthy and totally smitten with the newest addition to their family!
JOSH LUGER ’12 and his wife Lauren welcomed baby Maya Ruth Luger on March 28. Big brother Jonah is smitten as are mom and dad.
ANALYAH SCHLAEGER DOS SANTOS ’13 spoke to students at Breck’s Environmental Day about her work around global climate justice.
8. LESLIE HAYES ’14 was this year’s Alumni speaker at Commencement on June 3.
RAMSEY SORRELLS ’14 participated in More Life: Growing the Neighborhood of the Future, an evening of storytelling and community focused on exploring the history of real estate in North Minneapolis, the innovative DUNN Different approach to neighborhood development, and actionable pathways to homeownership. Ramsey joined fellow leaders in a powerful discussion aimed at building a future rooted in cultural fluency, collective prosperity, and transformative growth.
9. PETER KIESEL ’15 ran the Boston Marathon and will start at Harvard Business School in the MBA Program this fall.
Alumni Engagement
Reunion planners
1970
Jim Rollwagen '70
1975
Bill Lydon '75
Gran Harlow '75
Fawn Wilderson-Legros '75
Joel Stone '75
1985
Sarah Flotten '85
Dana (Heilicher) Mirviss '85
Eric Christ '85
1990
Dave Walter '90
Jena Bjorgen '90
Rusty Gaillard '90
Liza (Swanson) Bordenave '90
1995
Heather (Behnke) Grant '95
Suzanne Varecka '95
Summer Hill Johnson '95
2000
Airina Rodrigues '00
2005
Marlene Goldenberg '05
Rosemary Lelich '05
Tyler McLinn '05
2010
Eric Chien '10
Nathan Yueh '10
Cole Harstad '10
2015
Madi Lommen '15
Peter Keisel '15
Jenn Fabian '15
Jaila Tolbert '15
2020
Eve Javinsky '20
Elizabeth Berman '20
Looking for more?
If you want more Breck alumni news between Today at Breck issues, check out the alumni e-newsletter at breckschool.org/alumni
Learn about upcoming events, read interviews, and more.
MADI LOMMEN ’15 spoke on a panel at the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Youth Forum on April 16, discussing ways to reduce barriers for young people to access equitable work. The event titled “Youth at the Forefront: Leveraging Science and Social Inclusion for Sustainable Development” was sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Czech Republic.
10. This spring, JAILA TOLBERT ’15 delivered powerful remarks at the Breck Blue & Gold Bash, showcasing how her time at Breck prepared her to be the first Breck volleyball player to go DI, a VT Hokies captain, and a NCAA and ACC Student Athletic Advisory Council Representative. Now, she’s shaping the future of NFL VR games at StatusPRO.
20s
WALSH KERN ’21 was selected for a Fulbright Research Fellowship. He will be going to India in September to research renewable energy policies.
ELIN WELLMANN ’24 will work this summer at Medtronic as a WISE (Women in Science and Engineering) intern, joining a team specializing in chemical characterization and biocompatibility testing for medical devices.
11. The Breck Association welcomes MAYA TRUJILLO ’25 and WYATT NICHOLSON ’25 as the newest Breck Class Reps.
In Memoriam
It is with a heavy heart that we share the passing of members of our alumni community. Please keep the following Mustangs and their families in your thoughts and prayers:
Jeremiah Young ’54
Philip Hesli Jr. ’64
Christina (Ranz) Cavin '72
James Anderson ’74
Mary (Fick) Vandegrift ’74
Kevin Hanson ’77
Justine (J.J.) Oesterle ’10
Caroline Carlson, Breck faculty member from 1983–2006
Samuel A. Salas, Breck Headmaster from 1987–2007
We recognize there may be others in our community who have passed away but are not listed here. Please reach out to alumni@breckschool.org if there is someone who should be listed in the next issue.
Welcome to the Breck Alumni Association, Class of 2025!
The class of 2025 will matriculate to the following colleges and universities:
Amherst College
ArtCenter College of Design
Barnard College
Beloit College
Boston College (3)
Boston University
Brigham Young University
Carleton College (3)
Case Western Reserve University
Chapman University (2)
Claremont McKenna College (2)
Colby College
Colgate University
College of Saint Benedict
Colorado College (2)
Columbus State University
Cornell University
Dartmouth College
Davidson College
Denison University
Duke University
Durham University
Emory University (2)
Fordham University
Georgetown University
Grinnell College (2)
Hamilton College
Hamline University
Lake Forest College
Lehigh University
Loyola Marymount University
Manhattan College
Marquette University
Miami University (2)
Montana State University
Northeastern University
Northwestern University
Occidental College
Penn State University
Pitzer College (2)
Rice University
Santa Clara University (4)
Scripps College (2)
St. Olaf College
SUNY at Purchase College
Texas Christian University
The University of Tampa
Tulane University
University of California, Davis (2)
University of California, Santa Barbara (2)
University of Chicago (2)
University of Cincinnati
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Denver (2)
University of Maryland, College Park (2)
University of Miami
University of Michigan (3)
University of Minnesota
Twin Cities (2)
University of Notre Dame (2)
University of Puget Sound
University of Richmond
University of Rhode Island
University of St. Thomas
University of Washington (3)
University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–River Falls
Vanderbilt University
Vassar College (2)
Villanova University
Wake Forest University (3)
Washington University in St. Louis (3)
Whitman College
Whittier College
Williams College
Yale University
A fond farewell
Breck honors six retiring faculty and staff members who have collectively given 128 years of service to our community.
Mary
Healy
“There’s something really powerful that happens when the mission that is you aligns with the mission of an organization. The responding drive creates an amazing will to be your very best self and to do your very best work in order to propel the organization even further. And when you bring together a community of people who care about one thing, and in this case, it’s people — whether it be students or other employees — something happens, and it’s pretty special.”
—Mary Healy, Human Resources Director from 2000–2025
Mary Gentry
“I don’t think of myself as having a legacy. But if students tell stories about how they learned math, or that math was enjoyable, then that’d be great. Over the years, I have been surrounded by some of the most caring people in the profession, and all the new math teachers today are just amazing. I hope they will continue to always learn and think about the next way we can help kids learn math. If that’s my legacy, then that would be great.”
—Mary Gentry, Upper School Math Teacher from 1998–2025
Marie Murphy
“I'm passionate about what I do. I love the kids. My second grade students just want to learn. They love to sit down and do work. They’re just so eager, and they’re hilarious. They make me laugh every single day. When I retire, I will miss the kids the most — and the laughing every day and hearing their take on the world from their perspective. They’re just so excited to put things together on their own. It’s so fun.”
—Marie Murphy, Lower School Teacher from 2007–2025
Walter Walker
“It was a call of God on my life to be here to do this work. What we do is something that should be invisible. We prepare a room so that the teachers can teach and the kids can learn. And if we are successful in making it look like nothing happened the day before — it’s clean, it’s ready, it’s like the first day of school again — then that’s a noble and honorable thing to invest yourself into.”
—Walter Walker, Custodial Services Manager from 1991–2024
At Breck 2010–2025
As a bus driver on the same Country Club Drive route year after year, Bob had the opportunity to pick up students in Lower School and see them through until Upper School. Being able to see students’ happiness, smiles, joy, and just watching them grow up is what kept Bob at Breck for so many years.
At Breck 2014–2025
A genuine community builder, George is a fun-loving person who has sincerely, honestly, and authentically invested in and cared for our students. His fellow drivers will miss George’s legendary Domino tournaments, and his Interlochen Drive students will miss the warm and safe environment he created on his bus.
Bob McClure
George Mills
IN THEIR OWN WORDS
Within these walls
Sohana M. ’25 reflects on where she found community at Breck.
There is a saying I have been reflecting on as it gets closer to graduation and the end of my Breck career. Popularized by the Girl Scouts, it reads: “Leave a place better than you found it.” When I think about legacy, I often think of this quote.
A student at Breck for 10 years, I’ve been able to be actively present in the community and have seen immense changes for the better. At Breck, we value not just our greater school community, but smaller communities within these walls. Each community I am involved in at Breck — the Class of 2025, the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) affinity group, the dance program, and our Student Diversity and Inclusion Council (SDIC) — holds a special place in my Breck experience.
The Class of 2025 is one of the communities I will never truly leave, even when I leave Breck’s walls. I have known many of my classmates since I started at Breck, and I find
it strange that I won’t see them every day in the halls, walking through the senior lounge, or supporting each other at sporting events or concerts. However, as our alma mater says, “Friendships formed within these walls will live within each heart.” I know we all will have a place forever within our small graduating community and our greater Breck community.
The AAPI community is one of the places in which I feel the most safe at Breck. I love having the chance biweekly to hang out in the Melrose Center with other Asian students connected by our shared identities. One of my favorite traditions is our map, drawn by Sarah Feng ’23, which focuses on the Asian countries of the world and includes tiny stars on each country with students’ names next to them, signifying where they are from in Asia. Each year, the map fills up more and more with students past and present, leaving their mark on the Asian community at Breck.
As a leader of the Upper School AAPI affinity group, I have implemented Community Night, which brings together all AAPI students and their families to play games, learn about each other’s different cultures, and offer opportunities for parents to connect and share their experiences. What I lacked in my Lower and Middle School experiences was having older AAPI students to give advice, hang out, and form a strong community within Breck, so I know this event has and will continue to bring value to the AAPI community.
The dance studio is one of my favorite places at Breck. Before entering the dance program in fifth grade at Breck, I had never danced. However, the warm and welcoming atmosphere made me fall in love with the art, leading me to pursue dance outside of school.
With the departure of our teacher this year, the other captains and I had to rally to put on our final show, becoming choreographers, costume designers, lighting designers, and people to lean on for our younger students. There have been days where I have felt like nothing has gone our way, but I have had incredible support from our Upper School deans, Ms. Mazion, Ms. Wheeler, and our classmates. The support from the greater community reminds me of how much Breck cares about each and every person who comes through our doors.
Finally, SDIC is where I have felt I had the most impact on improving our community. Whether it is our SDIC
community agreements, which are posted in every classroom in the Upper School, or attending the MN Student Diversity Leadership Conference and learning from other schools how they are making a positive impact in their community, SDIC has taught me so much about valuing a community and how to make said community a better place for all.
This year, we hosted our second SDIC Community Night, which was open to all community members. We partnered with Upper School Community Partnership Voterama to inform the community about how SDIC and Voterama handled the election and how we foster a safe space for students to share their opinions respectfully. We also shared a Demystifying DEI presentation with the Upper School and received terrific feedback from community members saying that the topic was something we needed to help students and faculty understand. I know current and future members will continue to impact the Breck community positively and carry their impact to other communities beyond Breck’s walls.
In each of these communities, I have made connections and bonds that will last longer than a lifetime, and I believe I have accomplished the Girl Scout saying of leaving a place better than you found it. I know each of these spaces, together with the greater Breck community, will continue to grow and develop into even better places for students, families, and faculty to thrive. From what I have seen, the Breck that I love is in the best hands for the future. B
Sohana is pictured top left in grade 2, bottom left in grade 6, and below at her senior spring dance concert.
Furii T. ’25 and members of the Class of 2025 admire the beloved Chapel of the Holy Spirit one last time before their Commencement procession on June 3.
123 Ottawa Avenue North Golden Valley, MN 55422
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Alumni spotlight
“In the two years I attended Breck, I learned more than probably anytime in my academic journey. I don’t think I would have ever made it to law school, much less through law school, had I not had the experience I did at Breck, which made me want to get reconnected as an alum.
[Being part of the alumni council] has been a really interesting and fun journey, especially getting to know a lot of alumni. It’s also been nice to be able to explain [to alums] all the great things that Breck is doing. It’s such a welcoming and positive community that I’m glad to have as a part of my life.”
—Jon Septer '01, 2023–25 Alumni Council President, 2025–26 Past President, and attorney at Minneapolis-based Maslon LLC.
Alums, are you looking for a career change or job advice? Scan here to engage with Breck's Career and Connections Committee, created under Septer's Alumni Council tenure!
