TIES Magazine 2023

22 Nate Mondou ’13 - Alum of the Year 28 Bleed Green

32 Class Notes

Milestones

INSIDE WRIGHT MINDS

From the Head of School

ear Tarriers, What a joyous and active academic year 20222023 proved to be for our community. Even now, as I write this letter—I am delighted to catch glimpses from my office of our Tarriers playing and learning in our newly expanded Summer Camp program.

This year, for the first time, we have Tarriers of all ages serving as campers and camp counselors, as well as many students from outside of Charles Wright Academy attending and falling in love with our campus and community. The smiles I see and the laughter I hear every day from these halls, in classrooms and courts, and outside on our lush fields and inviting trails—that joy is a large part of what makes us Tarriers.

One such opportunity to express our joy was at the dedication of the new Diane Hunt Outdoor Classroom in March. This incredible outdoor learning space was made possible by the generous contributions of families, alumni, faculty and staff, Trustees, and friends of the school at the 2019 Spirit Auction’s Fund-A-Need, and it was an honor to welcome Diane and fellow former faculty and staff back to campus to honor her legacy and spirit of outdoor exploration at CWA. We were so grateful to welcome back so many Tarriers who contributed to this new space in honor of Diane’s love of the outdoors, and to celebrate her together in community.

As we look for new ways to invest and engage in experiential education, we were so thrilled by the return of a long standing tradition at CWA following the hiatus of the pandemic. May Term—formerly known as Winterim, saw an exciting return with new offerings and expanded opportunities for our Tarriers to not just travel, but to be global citizens. Experiential education is so much more than just travel. It’s learning from active engagement

in experiences and reflecting on them to gain deep understanding and the ability to apply new skills or synthesize ideas. Our Upper School students had opportunities to travel locally, domestically, and internationally this spring to Washington D.C., Florida, Chicago, France, Costa Rica, Turkey, Japan, and for the first time ever—South Korea. New opportunities in the Middle School for experiential education took our eighth graders on a serviceoriented trip to Puerto Rico along with our sixth graders to see the bright lights of New York City. Of course we also continue to engage in all the outdoor overnights and place-based experiences that are enjoyed by even our youngest Tarriers.

We gratefully accepted multiple “Best of the South Sound” recognitions from South Sound magazine for Best Private Preschool, Best Private Middle School, and Best Teacher, longtime favorite, Catherine Grider. We celebrated two-time state tennis champion Sophie Buttorff ’25, first-time state champion Viola soloist Solomon Kim ’26, and honored professional baseball player Nate Mondou ’13 as the 2023 CWA Alum of the Year. We continue to be Tarrier Proud!

I hope to see many of you in the hallways, on the sidelines, out on the trails, or in the community as we embark on another year of active, joyful learning together in community.

With gratitude,

charleswright.org

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CHARLES WRIGHT ACADEMY Established 1957 Tacoma, Washington

Head of School Susan Rice School Division Directors Rixa Evershed, Beginning School Director Robin Wheeler, Lower School Director Rachel Rippl, Middle School Director Betty Benson, Upper School Director Director of Development and Communications Laura Rose Director of Athletics Tyler Francis Director of Counseling and Wellness Jen Reisinger Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Denise Williams Director of Enrollment Management Steve Rudolf Director of Technology Muhammad Ramadan Interim Chief Financial Officer Susan Wayland 2023-2024 Board of Trustees Toby Murray III ’71, Chair Adam Blakney ’00, Vice Chair Dr. Tamara Horn, Secretary Scott Limoli, Treasurer Aimee Allen Drew Bamford ’91 Dr. Guillermo Chacón Scott Case ’94 Emily Happy Dr. David Hirschberg ’80 Ben Sclair ’88 Nicole Stice Sarah Weyerhaeuser Trevor Will ’93 Graphic Designer Amy Senftleben

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First to Market A bounty of fresh Tarrier-grown goods were for sale at the Firsties Farmers Market, held this May at the recently-completed Diane Hunt Outdoor Classroom. Turn the page to see more experiential education highlights.

SUMMER 2023

F E AT U R E S

12 Congratulations to the Class of 2023

The first graduating class to experience their entire Upper School careers during COVID celebrated their closeness, resiliency, and exciting futures as Tarrier alumni.

18 8th Grade Celebration

The best is yet to come for the Class of 2027!

CWA welcomed an outstanding group of scholars, athletes, and artists to the Upper School.

20 More to Middle School

Both the fourth and fifth grade classes celebrated the culmination of their Lower School years, ushering in a new era of grades 5-8 together in CWA’s Middle School.

22 2023 Alum of the Year

A CWA lifer, Nate Mondou ’13 pursues greatness on and off the baseball field.

24 Faculty and Staff Awards Meet this year’s recipients of the Inspirational Faculty Award, the Bayne Chair Award, and Christoper Steele Award for Outstanding Service by a Staff Member.

D E PA R T M E N T S CWA NEWS

6 Tarriers Explore the World:

Experiential Education Highlights

7 CWA Voted “Best of the South Sound” Yet Again

8 Welcome New Trustees 9 Spotlight on the Arts 10 Alumni On Campus: Jaleesa Arias ’07

ATHLETICS

28 Bleed Green

Tarrier athletes brought home numerous wins and awards in 2022-23 and are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting fall season.

ALUMNI

32 Class Notes

Catch up on news from classmates and mark your calendars for upcoming alumni events.

33 In Remembrance C WA M I S S I O N S TAT E M E N T To inspire active, joyful learning while nurturing and challenging our students to develop the character, creativity, and skills to successfully navigate the future with confidence.

Check out CWA’s new and improved website!

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CWA NEWS

Tarriers

EXPLORE THE WORLD

7th Grade - Beach Hike

Washington Coast

2022-23 brought a full return to the exciting experiential education opportunities CWA is known for.

From time-honored local traditions

5th Grade - Sailing Trip

like Beach Hike, to brand-new service learning adventures in Puerto Rico, to ecology studies in Wisconsin, Tarriers traveled far and wide—connecting their classroom learnings to the wider world around them.

6th Grade - NYC Paris

Upper School May Term 9th Grade - Wisconsin

Türkiye

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T I E S | Summer 2023

CWA NEWS

8th Grade - Puerto Rico

CWA received three awards from South Sound Magazine Catherine Grider has nurtured curious minds in CWA’s Beginning School for 22 years. She was recognized in May as the Best Teacher in the South Sound, thanks to the many members of our community who voted for her.

3rd Grade - Mt. Rainier

CWA’s New Diane Hunt Outdoor Classroom

Beginning School Director Rixa Evershed accepted CWA’s award for Best Preschool in the South Sound. Last year we doubled enrollment in the Beginning School because of our hardworking team and families who believe in our child centered and play-based approach to learning.

Our Middle School was recognized again as the Best Private Middle School in the South Sound. CWA’s faculty is dedicated to teaching adolescents, and worked hard this year to create a new, robust electives program, giving Middle School students more opportunities to discover their passions.

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CWA NEWS

Three new members join the Board for 2023-24 Charles Wright Academy is proud to welcome three new members to our board of trustees for the 2023-24 school year. Our board exists to make decisions and take action to ensure the viability of Charles Wright’s mission into the future, and we are tremendously grateful for the time and commitment made by our alumni, parent, and community member Trustees. Please join us in welcoming Aimee Allen P’19, Guillermo Chacón P’11 ’34 and Emily Happy P’32 as our newest trustees. We wish to thank Mark Hood and Roger Bass for completing their terms on the Board of Trustees.

Their leadership has left an indelible mark on the future of CWA! Aimee Allen P’19 Aimee Allen M.Ed. has served as the Head of School at Harbor Montessori School in Gig Harbor since 2013, and was also on the faculty since 2006. She has been an instructor for the Montessori Education Institute of the Pacific Northwest since 2011. Aimee serves on the boards of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools and the American Montessori Society. Aimee loves running, writing, and spending time outdoors with her family. She is a mom to a CWA alum (Maddee ’19) and is excited to give back to the Charles Wright community.

Spotlight on the Arts In addition to producing a bevy of CWA concerts, plays, festivals, and senior shows, students and faculty artists received numerous accolades for their creative achievements.

faculty accomplishments Middle and Upper School Theater Director Rich Garrett performed with the Evergreen Playhouse for their production of Tuck Everlasting.

Dr. Guillermo Chacón P’11 ’34 Guillermo Chacón was born and raised in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Dr. Chacón is Board Certified by the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. He is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and the American College of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Dr. Chacón is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at the University of Washington. He is the father to Cristina and Mariana ’11, and his sons Javier ’34 and Rafael (future Tarrier).

Emily Happy P’32 Emily Happy is a Puget Sound native with deep roots in the community.

For 20+ years, she has dedicated her career to service, leading projects to support people in her community. As a nonprofit strategist and fundraising consultant for the past 9 years, Emily helps organizations thrive and build capacity for their world-changing work.

A past South Sound Business 40-Under-40 award winner and Bank of America Emerging Leader, Emily currently serves as past president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals South Sound, vice chair of the Board of Trustees of Central Co-op, and member of the board of Friends of the Children – Tacoma. She is, most importantly, mom to Devan ’32.

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T I E S | Summer 2023

Instrumental Music Director Christy Taylor is a member of the Formation Wind Band, an all-female band that features works by living composers.

Visual Arts Department Chair Christina Bertucchi joined the Collective Visions Gallery in Bremerton, and has new work on display every month.

CWA NEWS

Julian Clemmer ’23 and an outstanding ensemble cast wowed audiences in Little Shop of Horrors.

student accomplishments The Printmaking Class was selected for their collaborative jelly-print collage to be featured on a University Place utility box.

The Stained Glass Class was selected for their glasson-glass View of the Sound mosaic to be featured on a University Place utility box.

Solomon Kim ’26 placed first in the state for his viola solo at the WMEA State Solo and Ensemble Contest.

Additionally, Alex Bray ’24 and Allison Callies ’25 took third place for their Soprano/Alto/Mezzo Vocal Small Ensemble. Olivia Noh ’25 placed third in state for her violin solo.

And Grace Kim ’24 and Olivia Noh ’25 placed second for their strings duet.

CWA’s Upper School Printmaking Class was one of only three regional schools invited to participate in the annual Wayzgoose Festival.

The class carved a large linoleum block, which was printed with a steamroller.

Mera Foster ’25 was awarded a Silver Key National Scholastic Art Award for her piece, The Voices.

Alex Bray ’24 and Allison Callies ’25 were invited to perform with the AllNorthwest Choir.

Olivia Noh ’25, Grace Kim ’24, and Solomon Kim ’26 were invited to perform with the NAfME All-Northwest Orchestra.

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CWA NEWS

Alumni On Campus: Jaleesa Arias ’07 Celebrating alumni who return to work at CWA, one Tarrier at a time

by Kimberly Banti

nternationally best-selling author Haruki Murakami wrote in his 2007 memoir, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, “The most important thing we learn at school is the fact that the most important things can’t be learned at school.”

This insight isn’t lost on CWA kindergarten teacher Jaleesa (Robinson) Arias, who happened to graduate from the Upper School that same year, having experienced all three divisions since becoming a Tarrier in fifth grade. While citing the culture of learning on campus as being a driving force in her life, Mrs. Arias particularly cherishes memories and lessons from her experiences off campus, in less traditionally academic settings with classmates and teachers—traveling across the world on international trips or exploring our own backyard through outdoor education.

Graduating from California Lutheran University with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia and earning a master’s degree in education from Moreland University with a focus on early childhood education, Mrs. Arias rejoined CWA last year as a kindergarten teacher in the Lower School. Below, she shares her insights on how CWA inspired her to become a lifelong learner and what it means to her to teach—and parent—future generations of Tarriers.

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T I E S | Summer 2023

“I realized I wasn’t ready to be done with CWA. Fast forward a few years, and after going back to school to pursue a degree in education, I ended up back where I fell in love with learning.”

— Jaleesa Arias ’07

What makes teaching at your alma mater so special for you?

I love that CWA has always had a focus on experiential

A few years ago, I hosted an international student at CWA for

education. The moments that stand out to me are those that

two years. Being back on campus with him for events, I always

happened away from campus exploring a new country, hiking

felt so happy, and it just felt right. I realized I wasn’t ready to be

with my classmates and teachers, or whitewater rafting down

done with CWA. Fast forward a few years, and after going back

the Nisqually River. CWA was a safe place to try new things

to school to pursue a degree in education, I ended up back

and a place where learning was a cool thing to do. I have a

where I fell in love with learning. Now that I am an employee

longing desire to continue to grow and learn, and I believe this

here, I feel at home and am proud to be back and part of this

is due to my positive experience with learning here at CWA. I

incredible community.

CWA NEWS

How was your love of learning fostered during your time as a student at CWA?

hope to provide an encouraging experience for all my students, as I believe it to be one of the best gifts I ever received!

What sparked your interest in teaching?

Were any of your CWA teachers an inspiration for you to enter the field?

How is it special for you to see your children experience a CWA education? Do they enjoy knowing that they are attending the same school as their mom?

My children, Judah ’36 and Violet ’38, are so young and just

My interest in teaching started after I had my first child five

starting out on their learning journey. I feel full of anticipation

and a half years ago. I wanted to have a positive impact on

and excitement knowing about all of the adventures and

his generation, and what better way than to teach?

learning ahead! For now, I think my children enjoy being at the

My ninth and eleventh grade English teacher, Candace

same school as their mom.

McClelland-Fieler, is a teacher I will never forget. She had a way of connecting with us students and making sure we all felt seen and heard, which—during that influential time in my life—was powerful. As an adult, I understand now how capable and thoughtful children truly are, and I want to empower them to take charge of their learning here and now and as lifelong learners.

What do you enjoy most about teaching kindergartners?

Kindergartners are excited and passionate about so many topics, and for many of them, this is their first time experiencing so many new things. It’s incredible sharing that

Goldman Sachs is proud to support Charles Wright Academy

excitement with them every day, whether it be forming a hypothesis on water levels in the creek during forest time or hearing Assistant Teacher Mollie Keenan share her Snapple fact each day at lunch. There is a never-ending curiosity, and kindergartners take the lead in their learning! Their creativity is inspiring. For instance, while learning about money in math, we made and flew an airplane to Florida with a captain, a flight crew, and a ticket agent, and they made all the tickets, snacks, and rules. Kindergartners indeed are Tarriers, and they model joyful learning to the fullest!

©2023 Goldman Sachs. All rights reserved.

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2023 Milestones

∆ Cum Laude

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Cameron Afrasiabi

Jieyi (Jessica) Jin

Dana Trummert ∆

Sara Afrasiabi

Jinsoo Lee

Yifan (Emma) Wang ∆

Lucius Alhakeem

Yumi Lee ∆

Nathan Watkins

Tali Barnoon

Enqi (Andy) Li ∆

Zhenchen (Charlotte) Wei

Jake Bernard

Jinliang (Andy) Li

Verita Whitman

Tavian Bowen-Moore

Muhan (Hazel) Li ∆

Carter Williamson

Dylan Brassard

Yuxin (Louisa) Lou

Yucheng (Frank) Wu

Julian Clemmer

Yuyang (Evan) Lou ∆

Zhirun (Reggie) Xu

Karsen Han

Sophia Maynard

Kaixi Zhang ∆

Augusten Hendrie

Christian Nguyen

Mingxin (Eric) Zhang

Aidyn Hosier

Emily Peterson

Shuhan (Sandra) Zhang

Parth Jain

Connor Senftleben

Yan (Albert) Zou ∆

T I E S | Summer 2023

Back: Nathan Watkins.

Center, left to right: Yifan (Emma) Wang, Kaixi Zhang, Yuxin (Louisa) Lou, Yumi Lee, Muhan (Hazel) Li, Shuhan (Sandra) Zhang; Front: Jieyi (Jessica) Jin.

FACULTY SPEAKER David Kangas

Upper School Science Teacher

CLASS SPEAKERS Tali Barnoon Yuyang (Evan) Lou Nathan Watkins

PORTRAIT OF A TARRIER AWARDS RECIPIENTS Bradshaw Explorer Award Dana Trummert

Sanford Innovator Award Parth Jain and Carter Williamson

Yuyang (Evan) Lou

Haertl Communicator Award Tali Barnoon

Havens Collaborator Award Sophia Maynard

Minnerly Steward Award Yumi Li

Camner Thinker Award Kaixi Zhang

SAM & NATHALIE BROWN AWARD RECIPIENT

Noel Blyler and Lucius Alhakeem

Augusten Hendrie Tali Barnoon and Aidyn Hosier

Yuyang (Evan) Lou

WASHINGTON STATE HONORS AWARD RECIPIENTS Tali Barnoon Yumi Lee Muhan (Hazel) Li Yuyang (Evan) Lou Dana Trummert Yifan (Emma) Wang Yan (Albert) Zou

SANDRA OVERMIRE MINNERLY AWARD Yifan (Emma) Wang

SENIOR ENGLISH AWARD Kaixi Zhang

SENIOR BOOK AWARD Parth Jain Shuhan (Sandra) Zhang

RICHARD NEUNHERZ HISTORY AWARD Dana Trummert Nathan Watkins and Dr. Michael Mlekoday

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DOROTHY CREPIN MATH AWARD

In the foreground of the recessional: Emily Peterson, Connor Senftleben, and Jacob Bernard

Yuyang (Evan) Lou Yan (Albert) Zou

LEIGH VANETTEN SCIENCE AWARD Yumi Lee

WORLD LANGUAGE AWARDS Yuxin (Louisa) Lou Sophia Maynard Connor Senftleben

FINE ARTS AWARDS Yuxin (Louisa) Lou Carter Williamson

VINCENT PETERSEN MUSIC AWARDS Lucius Alhakeem Christian Nguyen

PERFORMING ARTS AWARD Sophia Maynard

SENIOR STEWARDSHIP AWARD Yumi Lee

CHUCK WIGHT ATHLETIC AWARDS

Christina Bertucchi and Dylan Brassard

Sophia Maynard

Sara Afrasiabi Nathan Watkins

BOOSTER CLUB ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS Lucius Alhakeem Tavian Bowen-Moore Dylan Brassard Aidyn Hosier Jin Lee Nathan Watkins

BILL WHITE MOST OUTSTANDING ATHLETE AWARDS Tavian Bowen-Moore Yifan (Emma) Wang

WASHINGTON STATE PRINCIPAL’S SCHOLARS AWARDS Yumi Lee Muhan (Hazel) Li

Yan (Albert) Zou

Gus Hendrie and Susan Rice

Before the presentation of diplomas, seniors had a special opportunity to thank friends, family, and faculty in the audience who helped them along their journey to becoming graduates. Below, Jinsoo Lee.

2023 Yazi Scholar Graduate Christian Nguyen The Carol Milgard Endowment for Community Service, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound (BGCSPS), affords the full financial need of newly enrolling eighth-grade students at CWA. This award is known as the “Yazi Scholarship,” and the awardees are our “Yazi Scholars.” Every year, these scholars—chosen for their leadership in academics, the arts, athletics, and their communities—gain access to a CWA education for a brighter future, all because of the generosity of Carol B. Milgard.

The Yazi Scholarship was named in honor of Gary “Yazi” Yazwa, former president and chief executive officer of the BGCSPS, whom Carol B. Milgard admired for his work with youth and the community. Congratulations, Christian!

Tavian Bowen-Moore

Dana Trummert with her mother, Deanne Trummert

Once a Tarrier, Always a Tarrier! charleswright.org

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Members of the Class of 2023 were accepted to the following colleges and universities: Arizona State University

Gonzaga University

Northwestern University

Bard College

Hawai’i Pacific University

Occidental College

Barnard College

Illinois Institute of Technology

Oregon Institute of Technology

Binghamton University

Indiana University (Bloomington)

Oregon State University

Boston University

Kalamazoo College

Oregon State University - Cascades

Central Washington University

Knox College

Pacific Lutheran University

Chapman University

Lake Forest College

Pacific University

City, University of London

Loyola University Chicago

Parsons School of Design at The New School

Clark University

Macalester College

Penn State University (University Park)

Colorado College

Maine Maritime Academy

Pepperdine University

Colorado Mountain College

Miami University (Oxford)

Pratt Institute

Cornell University

Michigan State University

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Drexel University

Montana State University

Rochester Institute of Technology

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U (Prescott)

Moore College of Art and Design

Rutgers University (New Brunswick)

Fordham University

Mount Saint Mary’s University

Saint Martin’s University

George Washington University

New York School of Interior Design

Saint Mary’s College of California

Georgetown University

New York University

San Diego State University

The Kindergarten Class of 2035 shared their best advice­for the Class of 2023 as they get ready to leave home for college.

Santa Clara University

University of California (Davis)

University of Redlands

Sarah Lawrence College

University of California (Irvine)

University of Rochester

Savannah College of Art and Design

University of California (Los Angeles)

University of San Diego

School of the Art Institute of Chicago

University of California (San Diego)

University of San Francisco

School of Visual Arts

University of California (Santa Barbara)

University of Southern California

Seattle University

University of Central Florida

University of the West of England

Smith College

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Washington (Bothell Campus)

Stony Brook University

University of Denver

University of Washington (Seattle Campus)

The Ohio State University

University of Florida

University of Washington (Tacoma Campus)

The University of Manchester

University of Greenwich

University of Wisconsin (Madison)

The University of Tampa

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Trinity College Dublin

University of La Verne

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Trinity University

University of Massachusetts (Amherst)

Tufts University

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Western Washington University

University of Aberdeen

University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh)

Whitman College

University of British Columbia

University of Puget Sound

Willamette University

Washington State University

Bolded names indicate matriculation

See all of the kindergarten advice: charleswright.org/advice

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2023 Milestones

TH GRADE 8

Celebration Congratulations to the Class of 2027 who celebrated the successful completion of their Middle School careers on June 12.

ON TO UPPER SCHOOL!

Middle School Director Rachel Rippl with (from top) Yasmeen Yimam, Claire Foster, Ryan Judge, and Weiyu Li.

George Batuhan Barcus

Brooke Michelle Moorehead

David Yoon Barrett

Kyle Edward Peterson

Noah Nathaniel Bland

Luke Alexander Saalfeld

Andrew Juho Callies

Sonny James Sagle

Claire Hoshie Foster

Merritt Theodore Stemp

Ella Kate Glasper

Colby James Stice

Jameson Lee Hatch

Joshua Ryan Van Gorkom

Riya Joshi

Dirk Veerkamp

Ryan Robert Judge

Michael Eric Werden

Teo Jinhyun Kim

Jason White

Christopher Lee

Cooper J. Will

Kaitlyn Lee

Yasmeen Sameer Yimam

Weiyu Li

Yuchen Zhou

Madelyn Torii McFarland

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FORD - TOYOTA CHEVEROLET - BUICK - GMC - CADILLAC HYUNDAI

THREE GENERATIONS OF TARRIERS James Will '65 Trevor Will '93 Court Will '95 Mackenzie Will '24 Cooper Will '27

tituswillcars.com

2023 Milestones

Middle School More to

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T I E S | Summer 2023

This fall, the fifth grade will join the Middle School, and so in June we celebrated the promotion of the fourth grade too! Families, students, and faculty could not be more excited.

To welcome the fifth grade into the Middle School building, extensive renovation was completed this summer, including a new classroom and new kid pits for fifth and sixth grade.

Class of 2031

Ben Bautista Paige Beatte

Class of 2030

Owen Branstetter Beau Brewer Havana Cousins Lyra Gallier Jackson Higa Avya Kerrick Henry Kim Landon Nelson Lance Pla Drew Rippl Clara Rose Reagan Starke Aria Wilson Braylon Wilson Dutcher Adams Adam Ali Devin Cherrier Decker Cochran Carter Cockrell Aubrey Crow Aiden Einarson Hannah Esber Gabriel Lu

Many of the best independent schools in the country include fifth grade in the Middle School, and the research backs it up. We know our students will be better served in a middle school setting as they approach early adolescence. They will have access to an age-appropriate environment that addresses the academic and social needs of preteens. Students will have a wider range of opportunities to discover their passions through electives, clubs and athletics. They will also benefit from a smoother transition to Middle School with a hybrid homeroom/advisory model.

Kaitlyn O’Neil Elizabeth Perkowitz

Morgan Albright Brynn Anderson Dylan Blair Clara Charlton Braden Charvat Ben Craig Matteo Delgado Ryder Dobbelaere Lauryn Floyd Anisha Goundar Athena Jenkins Christopher Marley Maya Mazur Hannah Moorehead Hector Moreno-Sills Harper Olds Jayant Patel Avary Potter Robyn Reed Levi Shelton Addison Stairs Caroline Stender Barrett Tisserand Katherine Yi

Alejandro Sanchez Edie Sonju Scarlet Winters Hana Yasuda Yuqi Zhou

Watercolor painting of the Middle School by Upper School Art Teacher Christina Bertucchi

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2023 Milestones

Nate ran onto the field for the Oakland Athletics in his Major League Baseball debut last fall.

Photo credit: Oakland Athletics.

Nate Mondou ’13 2023

ALUM OF THE YEAR A CWA lifer, Nate Mondou pursues greatness on and off the baseball field

by Kimberly Banti

22

T I E S | Summer 2023

“

Nate has always been a talented baseball player, but he was not just born with his talent. He had to put in long hours of practice to improve and progress in his skills.

— Athletic Director Tyler Francis Coaches Jim Pelander, Tyler Francis, his parents, and club coach Mike Brooks looked on as Nate signed his letter of intent to play Division 1 baseball at Wake Forest University in 2013.

ate Mondou ’13 has been making headlines over the past 12 months—first after appearing for the Oakland Athletics in his Major League Baseball debut last fall, and then again in February after signing with the Chicago White Sox organization to support their minor league needs at second base. In honor of his achievements both on and off the baseball field, Charles Wright Academy is honored to recognize Nate as the 2023 Alum of the Year.

A CWA lifer, Nate started his Tarrier journey in kindergarten and cited the school’s breadth and depth of academic and extracurricular offerings for helping him discover a wide array of interests and skills early on. “It’s truly a diverse community, one that allows you to pursue your dreams, find out what you’re passionate about, and try things that you otherwise wouldn’t try,” Nate recalled. “I was able to find so many passions here. I spent hours in Laurel Webster’s calculus class and hours in the ceramics room with Miles Struxness—and I was able to go out to the baseball field with Jim Pelander and Tyler Francis, and I enjoyed every single moment of that.”

In 2009 Nate and his teammates on USA Baseball’s under-14 national team won the gold medal at the Pan-American Baseball Confederation (now the World Baseball Softball Confederation Americas) tournament in Ecuador. During his tenure on the CWA varsity baseball team, Nate was named to the Nisqually League first team three times—and, his senior year, he was an all-state honoree.

Athletic Director Tyler Francis coached Nate and noted not only this athletic talent, but also his work ethic. “Nate has always been a talented baseball player, but he was not just born with his talent,” Mr. Francis said. “He had to put in long hours of practice to improve and progress in his skills. There was no off-season for Nate, as he would begin his indoor training sessions to get ready for the next season.”

Fellow coach Jim Pelander, a now-retired Lower School teacher, agreed. “He was and still is a natural leader who leads by example and oftentimes helped his CWA teammates develop and elevate their own skills,” Mr. Pelander said. “Nate sets goals for himself and works extremely hard to achieve those goals. He has all the leadership skills to

help any organization be successful. There are not many Nate Mondous in this world, and I feel very fortunate to have been part of his baseball journey.”

Nate went on to play National Collegiate Athletics Association Division I baseball at Wake Forest University for three years before being drafted in the 13th round of the 2016 MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics. He played for various minor league A’s teams—including Triple-A affiliate Las Vegas Aviators—before being called up to his first major league game on October 4, 2022, against the Los Angeles Angels, where he went 0-for-2 with a walk. In late February, the Chicago White Sox organization signed Nate and added him to the roster of their Triple-A team, the Charlotte Knights, in April. As of late June, he had more than 200 at-bats, 35 runs, 53 hits, eight home runs, and 29 runs batted in, with a .260 average.

“Nate is a great athlete, but more importantly, he’s an even better person,” Mr. Francis said. “He treats teammates, opponents, and officials with respect no matter what the situation might be. And there have been times during his professional baseball career when his team will be playing in Tacoma, and Nate will take time to talk to all his friends and younger players whom he has trained before he gets to have a conversation with his own family—who waits patiently. Nate has been a baseball all-star at every level he has played, but he is a bigger star in life. He always takes time for others, which makes Nate Mondou special.”

Not only did Nate first hone these impressive professional skills while at CWA, but he also met his wife while both were in the Upper School: He and Abby (McDonald) Mondou married in October 2021. “This community introduced me to my now-wife as a sophomore in high school, and it’s a community that holds a very special place in our hearts—one that we’ll be part of for a long time to come,” he said.

“There are so many wonderful students, faculty, alumni, and coaches here that do so many great things for our community. It really is an honor to receive this award.”

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2023 Milestones

2023 Inspirational Faculty Award Presented to

Lisa West Middle School Learning Specialist

by Nicole Stice and Cassandra Will, Family Association

Each year the Family Association Steering Committee requests nominations from students, families, alumni, and faculty for an award to acknowledge the unique qualities of an individual teacher who inspires students to learn, families to cherish their child’s experience, alumni to reflect on their CWA days, and faculty to continue to maintain their high standards both in and out of the classroom.

Ms. West is known as a solver of problems when you don’t know where to begin and as a spring of reassurance that everything will be alright when you have no idea how you’ll get through. “Lisa consistently partners with parents and guardians to help teach them strategies so that they can effectively help their children at home,” says Lower School Learning Specialist Mary Cole. As my children and her students say, ‘She’s the best in the West!’”

The recipient of the 2023 Inspirational Faculty Award is Middle School Learning Specialist Lisa West.

“Growth mindset” is a common term and philosophy implemented across divisions, but it is not always understood. By the time our Middle Schoolers have worked with Ms. West, they know exactly what it means. She teaches Tarriers the big secret that many of us didn’t learn until we were well into adulthood: that we all learn differently, and anyone can learn anything if they lean into their gifts with patience and persistence.

“Lisa provides a safe space for students to ask questions and seek additional support,” said Middle School Director Rachel Rippl.

“During these formative years, Ms. West is an incredible resource, because she helps students understand how they learn best and how to become advocates for themselves. The transformation from the start of Middle School, as students are just figuring out how to navigate multiple classes and teachers, to the end of eighth grade, when students are able to identify and articulate their needs, is remarkable.”

Families and colleagues concur: patient, thoughtful, encouraging, kind. These are just a handful of words nominators used to describe Ms. West. One parent recalled, “She provided the help and, more importantly, the encouragement to my seventh grade son during what was the beginning of a difficult two years of partial online learning— and a lot of pivoting due to the nature of what the world was facing.

Always realistically optimistic, Ms. West had a way of holding our student accountable but in a kind way!”

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“We met Lisa when my youngest son moved from the Lower School to the Middle School,” another parent said. “I was so nervous about the transition and if his learning needs would be met. Wow, was I blown away when Lisa began working with my son. She empowered him to express himself and developed his confidence in speaking for what he needs in the classroom.”

The Charles Wright community thanks Ms. West for everything she has done for our children and for so many Tarriers who have walked across the commencement stage—in large part because of her. For all these reasons and more, the Charles Wright Academy Family Association is thrilled to recognize Ms. West with the 2023 Inspirational Faculty Award.

2023 Stephen F. Bayne Jr. Chair in History and Ethics Presented to

Nikki FastLee Middle School Humanities Teacher and Director of Student Life

by Kimberly Banti

This chairship recognizes a humanities faculty member and is named in honor of a founding Trustee.

When Tarriers reflect on exemplifying the values and mission of Charles Wright Academy, humanities teacher Nikki FastLee often comes to mind. “She embodies the ‘nurture and challenge’ part of the mission by holding students to high standards but also giving them all the tools they need to meet those standards,” said Middle School Librarian Susanne Everill. In honor of Ms. FastLee’s unwavering dedication to students and the school community, she has been recognized as the 2023 Stephen F. Bayne Jr. Chair in History and Ethics.

Since joining CWA in 2016, Ms. FastLee has taught core and elective courses in the Upper and Middle schools; led clubs, service learning opportunities, and outdoor and experiential education programs; and coached volleyball. In addition to her existing leadership roles as the seventh and eighth grade team lead as well as the service learning coordinator, this fall she will also serve as the Middle School Director of Student Life, wherein she will partner with colleagues to intentionally create experiential education programming that ties closely with the division’s curriculum across all four grade levels.

“I look forward to helping make more connections with experiential education throughout the MS curriculum, as well as supporting our students as they navigate their Middle School years,” Ms. FastLee said. “I am honored to be named the 2023 Bayne Chair and excited about how this position can lead to further education to benefit our wonderful students and community at CWA. I am so grateful for being heard and to experiment with creativity in the curriculum. I relish the opportunities I have to explore new ways of thinking and studying history and literature with students.”

Colleagues across divisions highlight Ms. FastLee’s creativity and devotion to her students. “She makes history come alive by using multiple perspectives to examine a historical event,” reflected Middle School Director Rachel Rippl, who added that Ms. FastLee “designs and leads field trips, so students can experience first hand some of our local history and better understand how it impacts our world today.

Through these activities, students come to better understand our past and their potential to shape the future. Her passion is palpable when you hear her talk about her students or an upcoming class project.”

Upper School history teacher Dave Adams agreed. “Her passion for connecting with the kids has always driven her teaching, and her commitment to creative teaching, coaching, and leading experiential learning trips allows her to bond with her students,” he said.

Ultimately, Ms. FastLee’s inherent curiosity and eagerness to embrace lifelong learning is what makes her such a phenomenal educator and colleague. “She has grown into her role as an academic leader on campus,” Dr. Adams said, and “she is never afraid to ask questions, listen to the input of others, or take a stand for what she believes in.”

Ms. FastLee said she “relishes the opportunities I have to explore new ways of thinking and studying history and literature with students. I am so thankful CWA is a place where teachers can be innovative and try new things.”

As Head of School Susan Rice noted in naming Ms. FastLee the 2023 Bayne Chair, her “performance has been a consistent reminder of what it means to be a Tarrier, demonstrating perseverance, respect, integrity, compassion, and excellence. For her meritorious service to Charles Wright Academy, I’m honored to award the title of the Stephen F. Bayne Jr. Chair of History and Ethics to Ms. Nikki Fastlee.”

The Stephen F. Bayne Jr. Chair in History and Ethics was established at Charles Wright Academy in 1992 in memory of the Right Reverend Stephen Fielding Bayne Jr. (1908-1974) to honor faculty members at the school. Reverend Bayne served as the bishop of the Diocese of Olympia between 1947 and 1960 in addition to being an original member of the CWA Board of Trustees, and he was an educational and a spiritual inspiration to Charles Wright Academy founders Sam and Nathalie Brown.

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2023 Milestones

2023 Steele Award Presented to

Randy Scafturon Retiring Maintenance Lead

by Kimberly Banti

Tarriers have long benefited from the hard work, wry humor, and stalwart dedication of this year’s Steele Award recipient, Maintenance Lead Randy Scafturon, who also happens to be retiring from Charles Wright Academy after 18 years of service.

Throughout his tenure in the facilities department, Mr. Scafturon has supported the backbone of life on the CWA campus—from literally keeping the lights on in the hallways to managing upkeep of signage and road surfaces to setting up for myriad events, be they athletic banquets, milestone celebrations like commencement, the Spirit Auction in the Dome, the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony and alumni tent at homecoming, or admissions events like the open house. “Randy’s impact on this place has been immense, and I will always be grateful to him for how hard he works to get the job done, no matter how big or how small,” said Head of School Susan Rice.

In addition to doing the legwork of maintaining school and campus facilities, Mr. Scafturon’s leadership qualities are abundant and have made him an invaluable member of the maintenance crew, often mentoring colleagues and showing them the ropes. “I have worked

with Randy for 16 years, and in that time he’s been a friend and a leader for the facilities department,” said Grounds Coordinator Matt Charlton. “Randy was always patient and calm when under pressure or deadlines. He’s always been a go-to for me when I needed work advice or just to get his opinion on something. He will be greatly missed and hard to replace.”

Mr. Scafturon’s inherent kindness and ready smile have also been highly regarded by his colleagues across departments and divisions— he is known for always saying hello and for cracking a dry joke to make work more friendly and fun. “Randy has been a joy to work with,” said Facilities Administrative Assistant Sue Johnson. “He is kind, considerate, and always encouraging. Our department will feel a tremendous loss with his retirement.”

It is with great appreciation and fond wishes that CWA congratulates Mr. Scafturon on his retirement and thanks him for his service to the school community.

Christopher Steele was a 1982 graduate of Charles Wright. As a student, he threw himself into what Charles Wright had to offer. He played soccer, took an active part in Donn Laughlin’s drama productions, both backstage and onstage, and was a talented art student. He had a particular love for the outdoors, and those who went on trips with Chris recall his passionate enthusiasm for hiking and climbing. After a long fight with cancer, Chris passed away in 2002. In his memory, his family and friends established an award to honor a Charles Wright staff member who has made an outstanding contribution to the school and its students and faculty.

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Toby Murray III '71, Chair Mark Hood, Vice Chair Scott Limoli, Treasurer Adam Blakney '00, Secretary Drew Bamford '91 Roger Bass Scott Case '94 Dr. David Hirschberg '80 Dr. Tamara Horn

Nancy Schauer Ben Sclair '88 Nicole Stice Sarah Weyerhaeuser Trevor Will '93

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ATHLETICS

Alumni

HALL OF

Bleed Green

Inductees

by Tyler Francis, Director of Athletics

am proud to share an annual update on the achievements and milestones of the CWA athletic program. From the exhilarating victories to the enduring team spirit, this year has been nothing short of remarkable for our talented athletes. Let’s take a journey through the highlights of the past year and celebrate the collective achievements that have made our school’s athletic program shine.

Beyond the individual accomplishments of each team, our school’s athletic program as a whole has achieved great heights this year. Our student-athletes have showcased their talents and embodied the values of teamwork, discipline, and perseverance. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the coaches, families, and fans who have supported our athletes throughout this incredible journey.

STATE Champion

2022-23 Athletics Highlights

Sophie Buttorff ’25

Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Inductions • DANIEL HAHM ’12 Tennis • LIZZIE (JEWSON) HENSHAW ’07 Cross Country and Track and Field • PATRICK PHILLEY ’08 Football, Basketball and Baseball • NATALIE WEYERHAEUSER ’11 Soccer and Tennis

State Finalists Girls 1A Tennis

Tavian Bowen-Moore ’23 (right) and Jin Lee ’23 both received scholarships.

• NAWAL AHMED ’24 • SOPHIE BUTTORFF ’25 • NOEMI JURSIC ’24 Track and Field • SKY COCHRAN ’24 (7TH PLACE, DISCUS) • DYLAN MANNING ’24 (8TH PLACE, 800 METERS)

CWA Individual State Champions Girls Tennis • SOPHIE BUTTORFF ’25

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National Football Foundation

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT

CWA District 3 Champions Track and Field • CAMERON AFRASIABI ’23 (100 METERS) • TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 (HIGH JUMP) • DYLAN MANNING ’24 (800 METERS)

ATHLETICS

FAME

Inductees Daniel Hahm ’12, Lizzie (Jewson) Henshaw ’07, Natalie Weyerhaeuser ’11, and Patrick Philley ’08.

Girls Tennis • SOPHIE BUTTORFF ’25 (SINGLES) • NAWAL AHMED ’24 (DOUBLES) • NOEMI JURSIC ’24 (DOUBLES)

CWA Individual Nisqually League Champions Track and Field • CAMERON AFRASIABI ’23 (100 METERS) • ANDREW WERDEN ’25 (HIGH JUMP) • DYLAN MANNING ’24 (800 METERS)

CWA Nisqually League Coach of the Year • HENRY CHENEY ’16 - Baseball • MAGGIE MULDER - Tennis • JON FLIES - Track and Field

LEAGUE & DISTRICT Champion Cameron Afrasiabi ’23

Nisqually League Sportsmanship Award • BOYS TRACK AND FIELD

Nisqually All-League First Team • DYLAN MANNING ’24

X-Country

• NAWAL AHMAD ’24

Tennis

• SOPHIE BUTTORFF ’25

Tennis

• NOEMI JURSIC ’24

Tennis

• CAMERON AFRASIABI ’23

Track & Field

• TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 Track & Field • EMMA WANG ’23

Volleyball

Second Team • BRANDON BENNETT ’25

Baseball

• JEFFREY STICE ’24

Baseball

• TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 Basketball • DAPHNE GLENN ’24

X-Country

• JACK SCLAIR ’24

X-Country

•H OPE FRITCHLEY ’25

Golf

•C ONNER IVERSON ’24

Golf

• SARAH WHITE ’24

Soccer

• RIYA JOSHI ’27

Tennis

• SKY COCHRAN ’24

Track & Field

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ATHLETICS

Nisqually League

SECOND TEAM

Second Team, continued • NATHAN WATKINS ’23

Track & Field

• ANDREW WERDEN ’25

Track & Field

• LEONI RABITSCH ’25

Volleyball

Honorable Mention • BEN BORTEL ’25

Conner Iverson ’24

Soccer

• CONNOR SENFTLEBEN ’23

Soccer

• YUMI LEE ’23

Volleyball

• DANA TRUMMERT ’23

Volleyball

Tacoma Athletic Commission Awards • SOPHIE BUTTORFF ’25 Tom Names Female Inspirational Athlete of the Year and Athlete of the Year for Tennis

Be sure to follow our teams on Instagram and Facebook for updates throughout each season!

National Football Foundation Scholarship (Pierce County Branch)

@Tarrierathletics @TarrierSportsFans

• TAVIAN BOWEN-MOORE ’23 • JIN LEE ’23

Middle School Athletics Highlights • BOYS TRACK AND FIELD TEAM: MIDDLE NISQUALLY CHAMPIONS

Athletics Facility Improvements • Chuck Wight Gymnasium floor refinishing • Branding in the Tarrier Dome and Wight Gym • New locker room roof, including skylights • New track and field sport surfaces • New shot-put pit

Darnell Njunge ’26

Nisqually League

FIRST TEAM Emma Wang ’23

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Tarriers celebrated the newlyrefinished running track during Homecoming festivities.

League Baseball

Paige Brink ’24 and Sara Afrasiabi ’23

COACH OF THE YEAR Henry Cheney ’16

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ALUMNI

Class Notes 67

Members of the class of 1967 gathered in Seattle in September to celebrate their 55th reunion with classmate Tucker Sparkman.

Bill Cohon, John Yoachim, Dave O’Farrell and Don deMille also visited campus for a tour and chat with Head of School Susan Rice.

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Tad Browne ’70 wrote in to share: “Last November we drove to Wenatchee to visit Rich Rimbach, my old wrestling coach, still hale and hearty. Rich taught biology and coached track and wrestling, among wearing many other hats at CW. Tremendous influence on my young life which still today speaks to me.

Remembering a heartfelt lesson he taught me in a 1970 wrestling defeat recently helped me in a critical business decision which changed my whole business landscape and even life trajectory. What an impact a good teacher can have!”

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Members of the class of 1973 gathered in Leavenworth in July to celebrate their 50th class reunion.

Many thanks to Isabel Campbell and George Edman for organizing two days of fun and connection in honor of this major milestone!

98

Congratulations to Jamie Nacht ’98 on being featured in Geekwire for his startup, Havium, which simplifies the process of identifying and managing single-family rental properties.

09

Eric Knowles ’09, wife Rachel and two-year-old daughter Sienna are thrilled to announce the arrival of Future Tarrier Jackson Robert Knowles on April 18, 2023.

Congratulations, Knowles family!

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00 & 01

We are so proud of Laura Malcolm ’00 and Jerry Chiang ’01 on being selected for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list. Laura was selected for her work to build the social support platform Give InKind.

Jerry is the General Counsel for DistroKid, with some of the music industry’s biggest names.

Congrats, Laura and Jerry!

Class Reunion Tucker Sparkman (seated). Left to right: John Yoachim, Mac Browne, Bill Cohon, Chuck Greening, Scott Wyatt, Bob Klein, Dave O’Farrell, Chuck Mathias, Don deMille, Steve Allen.

03

Touchdown, Coach! Congratulations to Corey Matthaei ’03 on winning his second Super Bowl as Assistant Offensive Line Coach with the Kansas City Chiefs!

11

Kramer Canfield ’11 and Naomi (Griggs) Canfield ’12 just celebrated their one year wedding anniversary and the birth of their first child—a daughter named Karla-Jean. Kramer and Naomi didn’t know each other in their time at CWA except Naomi remembered Kramer singing in the Middle School talent show. They found each other in the middle of the 2020 COVID lockdowns and have been together ever since.

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Here’s a shot of Dave Galbraith’s recent 70th birthday party. Left to Right: Joe Martinac, Tad Browne, Dave Galbraith, Dave’s grandson, Toby Murray ’71, Charlie Hyde, friend, Tom Osbourne.

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Class Reunion Tad Brown ’70 with former CWA wrestling coach Rich Rimbach.

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Welcome back to CWA, Coach Henry Cheney ’16! Coach Cheney joined the CWA staff as Assistant Athletic Director for Youth Sports to build a multi-sport, threeseason youth sports program for Kindergarten to Grade 6, as well as sports camps in the summer. He also served as the head baseball coach. On top of all that, the Nisqually League named Henry the Baseball Coach of the Year! Go Green!

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Maya Stoker ‘17 is living in Richland, WA, where she is a metalsmith jewelry teacher at Hanford High School.

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(right) Eric Knowles ’09 with his beautiful family. (below) Laura Malcolm ’00 and Jerry Chiang ’01.

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Kramer Canfield ’11 and Naomi (Griggs) Canfield ’12 on their wedding day.

00 & 01

IN REMEMBRANCE

George Weyerhaeuser Sr. passed away June 11, 2022 at the age of 95. He had a remarkable impact on CWA, serving on the board of trustees from 1966-1974.

Catherine (Kit) Herrod ’71 passed away on December 18, 2022. Kit served her alma mater as a longtime trustee from 2008-2014.

Keith Chambers ’72 passed away on January 5, 2023. Classmate Bob Martin recalled, “We both shared an interest in music so I brought my portable record player into school and we’d listen to the Beatles in an empty classroom over lunch. His infectious passion for music continued throughout his life.”

Howard Weaver ’72 passed away on May 24, 2023 after a 30-year-career teaching middle school and high school.

Paul Vandevert ’76 passed away on March 21, 2023.

William (Willy) Bredberg ’09 passed away on October 23, 2022 and served his country as a Marine.

Former Middle School teacher Joe Lovejoy passed away on May 17, 2023. As stated in his obituary, “His passion for understanding the needs of his students and his empathetic approach to adolescence made him a favorite teacher.” He will be missed by many in this community.

During Sean’s Junior year at CWA he was asked to the Tolo Dance by Sophomore, Annie Walker ’16 and the rest was history! Sean and Annie would be together for nearly 10 years. They spent the last 3 years living in beautiful Point Ruston with their ray of sunshine, 2-year-old golden retriever, Oakley. Sean and Annie got engaged in February of 2022 on their 8-year anniversary and were planning a beautiful wedding in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico for November this year.

Sean had a gift of connecting with people. He made every person he met feel special. This gift translated to having a keen ability for sales, which he discovered during his high school job as an associate at Office Depot where he made lifelong friends and colleagues. Sean’s gift was further fueled when he began working in golf sales for Kelly Walker (Annie’s father) during his Senior year at CWA. Sean continued to assist Kelly with all his companies through his college years at PLU. He especially took an interest in EcoVessel Premium Water Bottles. In 2018, Sean began attending the PGA National Merchandise Show in Orlando, FL assisting Kelly and the team at EcoVessel with their sales efforts. Even after Sean graduated from college and found his full-time professional career, Sean continued to attend the show in Orlando because he loved being involved and looked forward to reconnecting with the people he developed relationships with over the years. In 2019 Sean and Kelly started Aviato Branding Services where they managed all the Engraving art services for EcoVessel’s Golf Division. Sean was very excited to see this business grow and expand. Kelly appreciated Sean’s genuine interest in people, his charismatic personality, his willingness to take on new challenges, and his consistent upbeat attitude.

Sean’s first full-time professional position after graduating from PLU was in Corporate Sales for T-Mobile. During his second year, one of his T-Mobile customers, Envision, quickly identified Sean’s unique abilities, extraordinary genuineness, and kindness. They couldn’t pass

up an opportunity to recruit someone of that nature, which is when Sean started his career in the geriatric home health and hospice services field. At Envision, and then later at Puget Sound Home Health, he truly found his professional calling. His role specifically involved securing nursing, therapy and other related services for those who were confined to their homes due to physical and/or medical reasons. As his service line grew, it expanded to include hospice services, which includes end of life support for those at home. It was a perfect match for his personality and his skill set. He had an uncanny ability to connect with the elderly and he demonstrated integrity and compassion at all times. He always provided reassurance that services would be provided as promised and that the patients/families would be well cared for. Sean always had a smile on his face and greeted everyone with empathy. His energy was infectious and when his referral sources were asked why they referred to Sean, they always replied, “we just love Sean, he always has a smile on his face, and he genuinely cares.” When Sean was asked why he wanted the position, he replied with, “this feels like home to me and I know it’s where I can help others and make a difference.” Helping others and making a difference…. this is the very definition of Sean.

ALUMNI

Sean Patrick Chevrier ’15, son, brother, fiancé, grandson, nephew, cousin, friend, coworker, and colleague, passed away on May 18, 2023 at the age of 26. Sean was born on January 24, 1997, in Tacoma, WA. He attended Pre-K and Kindergarten at Seabury School before enrolling at Charles Wright Academy where he spent 12 years making lifelong friendships in and out of the classroom, playing clarinet in the band, rowing in crew, competing on the soccer field, and traveling to Spain and Turkey in CWA sponsored trips. After Sean graduated from Charles Wright Academy in 2015, he began his studies at Pacific Lutheran University, graduating with his B.A. in Communications in 2019.

Sean was fun loving and lived life to the fullest.

He cherished every vacation he ever went on and always insisted on bringing friends and family along with him. He elevated the experience of any trip and made it his personal goal for everyone involved to have the best time possible.

His determination pushed him to bypass closed highways and drive through blizzards to bring his friends to Bend, Oregon for annual ski trips at Mt. Bachelor. He spent many summer vacations in Hawaii with extended family and friends. He loved to swim, snorkel, boogie board, and paddle board. At Lake Chelan, Sean was always adamant about jet skiing and would even drop his friends off on the dock midsession so that they could make it in time for their Zoom meeting. Sean was determined to make the fun happen, whatever it took.

Sean is survived by his mother, Kristi Chevrier; father, Gerry Chevrier; sisters, Sarah Chevrier and Kara Chevrier ’10; fiancée, Annie Walker ’16; grandparents, Virginia and Pat Sainsbury; uncle, Robert Dailey; uncle and aunt, Jon and Erin Sainsbury; and cousins, Paddy, Rory, and Jamie Sainsbury.

Sean, with his infectious smile, positive energy and loving heart, saw the good in each person he knew, and this extensive community will forever have his imprint on their hearts. Sean made a difference; he made an impact. He loved and was loved in return. charleswright.org

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T I E S | Summer 2023

FROM THE ARCHIVES Diane Hunt on 8th Grade Beach Hike in 2018.

The Hunt for the Great Outdoors

Diane hiking Mt. Rainier in the 90s.

Founded on the property of a former orchard and surrounded by towering evergreens, CWA’s campus evokes the raw beauty of a national park. It’s fitting, then, that outdoor education is such a distinctive part of the CWA experience. Since the 80s, when a formal program started sending students out into the wilderness, the school was lucky to have adventurous faculty like Diane Hunt leading the way. In her 40-year tenure at Charles Wright she led countless trips all around Washington State and far beyond. This year, we celebrated Diane’s legacy with the completion of a new outdoor classroom named in her honor. We hope you’ll stop by to enjoy the view!

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Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID

Tacoma, WA Permit No. 502

Save the Dates!

Homecoming & Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame Friday, October 6

Pub Night Wednesday, November 22

Saturday, March 16