CA Senior Journal - Class of 2015

2015 senior journal

Photography by Trevor Brown www.trevorbrown.com

The Class of 2015

Congratulations to the Colorado Academy Class of 2015!

This class of 96 students includes AP scholars, recruited college athletes, members of the All-State Choir, portfolio artists, aspiring journalists, recording artists, musicians, engineering enthusiasts, filmmakers, a rapper, a nationally-ranked birder, accomplished photographers, and more.

Each of these students is devoted to causes and communities beyond CA, whether helping a school in the Philippines, children in Nepal, or Denver’s local Latvian community, or honoring United States veterans.

These students will depart for colleges located everywhere from Washington State to northern Maine, and some will begin their college studies abroad at schools in Dublin, Edinburgh, London, and Switzerland.

Says one CA student, “You’ll be a part of lots of things and places throughout your life, but only a few places will always be a part of you.”

Congratulations to the Class of 2015.

Chris Bittman

John Burstein ’89

Laurence Chang

Mike Colpack

Peter Culshaw

Mike Davis, ex-officio

Ivette Drawe

Mike Fries

Gail Fritzinger

Dickson Griswold

Leslie Howard

David Jones ‘95

Jim Kidder ‘80

Liz Little, ex-officio

Gary Lutz

Sharon Maffei

Brooke Bansbach Maloy ’90

Heather Kemper Miller

Eliza Prall

Bryan Ritz

Brian Robinson ’02, ex-officio

Doug Robinson

Robert Sadler

Celia Sheneman

Min Sohn

Rick Stone

Chris Wright

Class of 2015 Commencement Dinner

Wednesday, June 3, 2015 | Stamper Commons

6:15 p.m. - Reception | 7:15 p.m. - Dinner | 8:30 p.m. - Remarks

MENU

ASSORTED BREADS

French, Whole Wheat, Multi Grain, Garlic Parmesan & Kalamata (Served with Butter)

APPETIZER

Hot House Tomato Salad with Baby Arugula, Feta Cheese, Lemon Basil Vinaigrette & Balsamic Reduction

ENTRÉE

Herb Marinated Roasted Chicken Breast Served with Garlic Parmesan Peruvian Purple Potatoes, Honey Scented Green Beans & Red Wine Demi Glace

VEGETARIAN ENTRÉE

Grilled Vegetable & Tofu Polenta Stack: Grilled Summer Squash, Late Spring Asparagus, Seared Organic Tofu, Sautéed Organic Spinach, Sundried Tomato & Roasted Shallot Polenta Cake & Roasted Red Pepper Coulis

DESSERT

Flourless Chocolate Torte Served with Fresh Macerated Organic Berries, Raspberry Coulis & Non-Dairy Whipped Topping

CHILDREN’S MENU

ASSORTED BREADS

French, Whole Wheat, Multi-Grain, Garlic Parmesan & Kalamata (Served with Butter)

ENTRÉE

(Served with Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, Hickory BBQ Sauce & Ketchup)

Gluten-Free Chicken Tenders Macaroni & Cheese Carrots & Celery Sticks Or Gluten-Free Penne Pasta

Served with Olive Oil & Freshly Shredded Parmesan Carrot & Celery Sticks

DESSERT

Flourless Chocolate Torte Served with Fresh Macerated Organic Berries, Raspberry Coulis & Non-Dairy Whipped Topping

BEVERAGES

Apple Juice, Chocolate Milk & 2% Milk available upon request

Catering Services Presented by:

With Special Thanks to Chefs Paul Worley and Alex Porter and their wonderful staff

Service of alcoholic beverages is restricted to those 21 years of age and older Senior Memory Boards on display in Raether Library during dinner Restrooms: Raether Library, Schotters Music Center, Upper School, Lower School & temporary restrooms

Class of 2015 Commencement

Thursday, June 4, 2015 | 9:30 a.m. Welborn House Lawn

Prelude Music

The Boulder Brass Processional (Audience Stands)

“Pomp and Circumstance” Sir Edward Elgar The Boulder Brass Welcome

Peter Culshaw, Board of Trustees Chair Opening Remarks

Michael G. Davis, Ph.D., Head of School Musical Performance

“The Ground” - Ola Gjeilo Men’s Chorus, Women’s Chorus, Chamber Choir, Senior Instrumental Ensemble Cindy Jordan, Director

Class of 2015 Elected Student Speaker Nicholas Mark Bigger Musical Performance

“In My Life” - John Lennon & Paul McCartney Chamber Choir

Presentation of Diplomas

Michael G. Davis, Ph.D. Recessional (Audience Stands)

The Boulder Brass

Brunch: served in the Campus Center Immediately following Commencement Exercises Restrooms: SW corner of the Carolyn Smith Center

Senior Memory Boards: on display in the Campus Center (please take with you following Brunch)

Class of 2015

Christina Ray Bargelt ...................................................6

Pryce Salvant Batey-Jarmon .....................................6

Nicholas Mark Bigger ..................................................7

Thomas Doyle Brazier .................................................7

Meredyth Woodward Busam ...................................8

Liam Conlin Bush ..........................................................8

Kersten Marie Butler ....................................................9 Ari Schneider Caplan ...................................................9

Harrison William Chang........................................... 10

Jillian Claire Christensen ......................................... 10

Alexander Otto Clinkscales .................................... 11

Brandon Hattersley Connell .................................. 11

Justin Daniel Connerly ............................................. 12

McClelland Patrick Connolly ................................. 12

Skylar Alexandria Deahl .......................................... 13

Lucas John DeSantis ................................................. 13

Hailey Nicole Detrick ................................................ 14

Jackson Corbett Edelmann.................................... 14

April Evonne Edwards .............................................. 15

Lauren Jingxin Edwards .......................................... 15

Katherine Julia Fink ................................................... 16

Carolyn Burton Fritzinger ....................................... 16

Michael Spaulding Fuller ........................................ 17

Daniel Casey Gallagher............................................ 17

Kaitlin Doherty Gelber ............................................. 18 Margaret Doherty Gelber ....................................... 18

Halle Kallen Gerash ................................................... 19

Jessica Sara Gilliam .................................................... 19

Tatiana Sachi Goderstad ......................................... 20

Hannah Lee Gohl ....................................................... 20

Taylor Morgan Gohl .................................................. 21

Henley So Ling Hall ................................................... 21

Chandler Youmeus Harvey .................................... 22

Noah Raleigh Henry.................................................. 22

Noah Benjamin Herbst ............................................ 23

Peter James Hillary .................................................... 23

Theresa Quynh Anh Ho ........................................... 24

William Alexander Hopping .................................. 24

Zile Humeyumptewa ............................................... 25

Matthew Thomas Johnson .................................... 25

Justine Sierra Jones ................................................... 26

Noah Juwon Porter Jones ...................................... 26

Samantha Marie Kelley ............................................ 27

Tyler Lee Kelly .............................................................. 27

George Fletcher Kerr ................................................ 28

Jourdan Marie Kidd ................................................... 28

Jon Preston Kneen..................................................... 29

Lilah Rose Koudelka .................................................. 29

Christopher Parker Kuelling .................................. 30

Samuel Franklin Kumagai....................................... 30 Elizabeth Sophie Lipshutz ...................................... 31 Calla Aileen Marie Lopez......................................... 31 Nicholas Quinton Louie........................................... 32 Andrew Donald MacPhail ...................................... 32 Gregory Ben Maffei, Jr. ............................................. 33 Molly Claire Magid ..................................................... 33 Audrey Nicole Marjerison ....................................... 34 Aide Marquez Loya.................................................... 34

Jessica Ann Masinter ................................................ 35 Marin Nicole McCoy.................................................. 35 William Teel McDermid............................................ 36 Alexander Lee Miller ................................................. 36

Ethan Louis Miller....................................................... 37

Samuel John Minton ................................................ 37 Joseph E. Monahan ................................................... 38

Trace Parker Montgomery ..................................... 38

Claudia June Morse................................................... 39 Emily Ann Mott ........................................................... 39 Jared Ruston Munn ................................................... 40

Julia Isabelle Murphy ................................................ 40

Lindsey Tatum Mygatt ............................................. 41

Alexander Urban Naes ............................................. 41

Charles Carson Naus ................................................. 42

Joseph Patrick Neumeyer....................................... 42 Janae Marie Nieto ...................................................... 43

Grace Elizabeth Parham .......................................... 43 Ethan Louis Pollock ................................................... 44 Evan Michael Alexander Rabb.............................. 44 Caroline Elizabeth Reisch ....................................... 45

Juliana Rose Rodriguez ........................................... 45

Kathryn Lim Rydberg ............................................... 46

Alexander Nicholas Sachar .................................... 46 Eliza Grace Samuelson ............................................. 47

Grant William Sapkin ................................................ 47

Slater Everest Shoptaugh ....................................... 48

Samuel Dale Stevens ................................................ 48

Marigny Carman Strauss ......................................... 49

Mackenzie Elizabeth Timbel.................................. 49

Ellecia Breanna Tovar ................................................ 50

Linde Sterre Van Ede ................................................. 50

Omar Erik Varela-Alvarez......................................... 51

Alexander Edward Walsh ........................................ 51

Rachel Francisca Weeks ........................................... 52

Margaret Elizabeth Wright ..................................... 52

Schuyler Gayla Wright.............................................. 53

Railey Graham Zantop-Zimlinghaus ................. 53

Christina Ray Bargelt

AT CA SINCE: Seventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I made and sold greeting cards, the proceeds of which benefitted the Kenyan Children’s Foundation.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Being part of Colorado Academy’s Choir program has been my most powerful experience. No matter what was happening in my life, I could depend on the music and the choir students to cheer me up and help me relax.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember the personal growth that CA teachers and students helped facilitate in me.

READ A BOOK: My favorite book from high school was The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah, to study Ballet Performance.

Pryce Salvant Batey

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: We volunteered on a landscaping project at The Right Step, an organization that helps people with mental disabilities ride horses.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is CA’s Giant Relay Day.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience in the Upper School has been the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy program.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona.

Nicholas (Nick) Mark Bigger

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: My band, The After Hours, performed a benefit concert, and donated all proceeds directly to Love. Hope. Recovery.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful experiences is to watch students stand up during “open mic” at Town Hall and share some very personal and powerful struggles. The level of openness and trust that requires is incredible; I don’t think you will find this at any other school.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Being selected as the commencement speaker. I cannot think of a higher honor. Thank you.

READ A BOOK: I’d recommend Philadelphia Fire by John Edgar Wideman

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York, to study Entrepreneurship.

Thomas Doyle Brazier

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Two friends and I organized a “Senior Prom” at the local senior citizen home. It was loads of fun seeing the seniors dance to the music of their youth.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day. Throughout my time at CA, Giant Relay Day has never failed to be a great day!

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful Upper School experiences for me has been an internship position that I held during the summer of 2014 working at a London-based creative production studio called Mainframe, specializing in motion graphics and animation for ads, promos, and branded creative content.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: London Metropolitan University in London, England.

Meredyth Woodward Busam

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I organized a fashion show to raise money for Mission Wear. Mission Wear is a non-profit sewing business that produces and sells “upcycled” products by hiring and helping women who are in recovery from addiction, prostitution, incarceration, or homelessness.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is when the CA choir groups go caroling at the Denver Zoo; it is a fun part of the season.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was traveling with CA students to Germany and the Czech Republic over the summer to study the Cold War. It inspired me to study the German language and culture when I returned.

READ A BOOK: I really enjoyed reading Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, to study Music and Voice.

Liam Conlin Bush

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked with the Search and Rescue Team for Arapahoe and Elbert counties.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA tradition is Interim. It’s nice to have a week outside of class where you still have goals to accomplish, but you can spend more time getting to know friends.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was the first time we did an “open mic” assembly with students only.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember that reading is recreational and not just for schoolwork.

READ A BOOK: I liked Rooftops of Tehran by Mahbod Seraji a lot.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, to study Engineering.

Kersten Butler

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I took part in a family-tofamily class and did a presentation for NAMI, the National Association for Mental Illnesses.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day. It is a day to just relax and be with friends. My dad usually runs on the Parent or Faculty team, and I get to cheer him on.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My senior speech was probably the scariest thing I have done and also the most thrilling. Since fifth grade, I had been keeping my bipolar disorder a secret. The standing ovation I received from the entire high school made it the most powerful experience I had.

REMEMBER ME: People will probably remember my red Nike hat, because I wore it 24/7 since my sophomore year; it made me easy to find in a crowd.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado, to study English and Creative Writing.

Ari Schneider Caplan

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked with Habitat For Humanity to create a 3D model of an upcoming project in order to help them better understand how their project fits within the community.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim, because we get to go to so many interesting places with lots of different people.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful experiences was making it back to the Soccer State Championship this year, even though we had lost ten seniors from the year before. No one really expected us to make it that far (including us), but the fact that we made it was really exciting.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, New York.

Harrison William Chang

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I helped as a photographer for Racquet for the Cure.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember the unity and power of my Senior Class whenever we believed that we had been short-changed.

READ A BOOK: Not a book, per se, but T. S. Eliot’s “The Waste Land.” It’s definitely a poem that everybody should read.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Reed College, Portland, Oregon.

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I volunteered with the Horizons Program at Colorado Academy’s Super Saturday events. Once a month, I spent a Saturday with the students, helping them in any way that I could.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program. This is a great opportunity to connect with younger students at CA, and spending time with the Kindergarteners was always something to look forward to.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was winning the Field Hockey State Championship three years in a row and being on a team that was undefeated in three years.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee.

Jillian Claire Christensen

Alexander (Alex) Otto Clinkscales

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Classmates and I created a scrapbook and presentation for The Right Step to show how the organization supports people through therapeutic horse riding.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: All-Senior Interim was my favorite tradition, the last week of your senior year being spent on a great trip with a handful of your senior friends.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experiences at CA were the high school Soccer State Championship games. Hundreds of students and even dozens of teachers came out to support us; looking over at the stands and seeing so many people there for you and your team, there is no better sight.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember how wonderful the old high school building was. Being the last class that spent time in it, I will always remember walking through the packed hallways and seeing every single student between each class.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Elon University, Elon, North Carolina.

Brandon Hattersley Connell

AT CA SINCE: Eleventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Two other students and I helped to organize a basketball program for students in Horizons. Horizons at Colorado Academy is a summer enrichment program for at-risk Denver Public School children.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is when the seniors welcome the incoming freshmen on the first day of school.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The friendships I’ve made with my lacrosse brothers.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember the day the CA Lacrosse Team beat Torrey Pines in 2014. We were pumped!

READ A BOOK: Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell and Patrick Robinson.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, to study Hospitality Management.

Justin Daniel Connerly

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we made a fundraiser from the school’s annual student-run talent show, Coffee Haus. We raised nearly $800 for Saint Judes Children’s Research Hospital.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day. As a Lower School student at CA, I spent the whole year looking forward to the Giant Relay Day activities.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was an Interim trip to mountains outside of Boulder. The trip taught me how to take a step back from situations and digest them…. I got closer to my friends and I had a blast exploring the mountains; it is a time I hope not to forget.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember the friends that I have made and grown up with.

READ A BOOK: The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), San Luis Obispo, CA, to study Aerospace Engineering.

McClelland (Mac) Patrick Connolly

AT CA SINCE: Eleventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service project I founded a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that aims to help eliminate homelessness by aiding in job networking services through partnering with local businesses to hold jobs for homeless individuals.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: The Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program has been a great experience for me. Seeing my buddy progress and grow over the last year has been a fulfilling experience, and it’s always a joy to get to play with him outside or read quietly with him in the library. He has given me great perspective on how far my own journey has taken me since participating in a similar program in Kindergarten, and it’s a very rewarding experience.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The Advisory program has certainly been my favorite Upper School experience. My relationship with my advisor has been invaluable, and his expertise as a mentor and coach has been really important.

READ A BOOK: Dante’s Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Bentley University, Waltham, Massachusetts, to study Finance.

Skylar Alexandria Deahl

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service-learning project, my group set up a table in the high school so that students could help write “thank you” cards to the veterans at the VA Hospital.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: Interim has always been my favorite CA Tradition, because it has allowed me to become friends with new people and to get out of my comfort zone.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was “open mic” at Town Hall.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember the first day of my senior year when all the seniors were dressed up and welcoming the freshmen.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Miami, Miami, Florida, to study Public Heath and Photography.

Lucas John DeSantis

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Two other students and I volunteered at the Right Step, an organization that helps disabled kids ride horses.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is that athletes are supposed to dress up on game days.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experiences throughout my time in the Upper School were experiencing new things each year during the week of Interim.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember becoming extremely close with all of my friends.

READ A BOOK: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, to study Economics and Business.

Hailey Nicole Detrick

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I helped organize a gala for Chinese Children Adoption International to help raise money to help institutionalized children in need.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the faculty holiday skit before winter break.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was the first “open mic” session during assembly where one of my peers got up and talked about her personal struggles.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: What I’ll remember are the incredible friendships I’ve made throughout the years, and oh, being one-third the height of Brett James.

READ A BOOK: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Gap year to work as a citizen scientist at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and to intern as a geneticist at National Jewish Hospital. I will go on to study Bio-Technical Engineering.

AT CA SINCE: Eleventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For our service-learning project, we planned a senior prom at a senior citizens’ home. We tried to create a different vibe for those in the home.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was when I played Varsity Lacrosse my junior year. After we lost to Kent Denver in the playoffs, we went to the locker room. It was so powerful because of the close bonds with my lacrosse “brothers” that we had formed last year. Everyone was sad, not because of the loss, but because we were done playing together.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to study Economics.

Jackson (Jack) Corbett Edelmann

April Yvonne Edwards

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my senior service learning project I worked with Students Taking Action and Making Progress (STAMP) to help organize and run a diversity conference for Denver middle schoolers.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: Senior and faculty speeches at Town Hall are my favorite CA tradition. It’s nice to have a space to hear the perspectives of our community.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Leading and being part of Colorado Academy’s first PlatFORUM was my most powerful Upper School experience. Planning that day took a lot of work and it was great to see it come together.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Goucher College, Baltimore, Maryland.

Lauren Jingxin Edwards

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service-learning project, I taught an art class for students in CA’s Horizons Program.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is how the seniors greet the freshmen outside the Upper School on the first day of classes. It is so great that at a place like CA, students of all grades can interact and form relationships.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful experiences I’ve had was participating in Mr. Terrazas’ history classes. He inspires his students to reach their full potential.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember the strong sense of community CA has. The close relationships with friends, faculty, and coaches are something that I will cherish.

READ A BOOK: The Nine by Jeffrey Tobin.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana to study Psychology, Education, and Political Science.

Katherine (Katie) Julia Fink

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with another student, I designed a math fundamentals program for students in the Horizons program.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the presentation of the Paper Plate awards for the students in the Musical, where the seniors create fun, personalized awards for the rest of the cast.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences was the first time I read a passage from A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Mr. James’ Shakespeare class, and I completely understood it. Before that class, I appreciated Shakespeare, but being able to comprehend Shakespeare blew my mind.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember the close relationships I formed with teachers who truly inspired me.

READ A BOOK: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway. IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to study Political Science.

Carolyn (Carrie) Burton Fritzinger

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: We held a book drive for Students H.O.P.E. and collected more than 600 books, allowing children who came to the event the chance to take home their own book.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Art Portfolio Program. I like showing my artwork alongside friends in the Bonfils-Stanton Gallery.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences was my trip to Haiti during my senior year. I was able to interact with students in different grades and also learn the importance of education.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Ten years from now, I will remember the confidence that my teachers gave me –whether it was with my ideas in the classroom or with my curiosity on Interim or outdoor trips.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse. The book teaches students about finding their own path.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Colgate University, Hamilton, New York.

Michael Spaulding Fuller

AT CA SINCE: Second Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked with the Grant St. Soup Kitchen in downtown Denver.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA tradition was making cinnamon bread in the Lower School.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences was hearing Ms. McBroom speak about her deployment to Afghanistan during a Town Hall meeting. It was remarkable to hear about such a personal experience from a teacher I respect so much.

REMEMBER IN 2025: I will never forget the long mid-winter days of going to school before the sun rose and leaving after it set. Ordering burritos and making European History study guides late at night was a fun bonding experience with classmates.

READ A BOOK: El Principito (The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, translated by Bonifacio del Carril) I would recommend it because every age group reads it differently and finds a unique piece of wisdom.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Daniel (Danny) Casey Gallagher

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other CA students, we did a landscaping project for an organization called The Right Step, which is a therapeutic riding center.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA tradition was going to assembly every Thursday because the performances were always so interesting.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful experiences I had was going on the summer trip to Iceland to study photography.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, to study Engineering.

Kaitlin (Katie) Doherty Gelber

AT CA SINCE: Eleventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: My project involved helping out at Promise Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center, a center that uses horseback riding for physical therapy.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program because it is so much fun to spend time with the Kindergarten students.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: When I first came to CA, I was struck by how kind and welcoming everyone was. While it was hard to be new, those first couple weeks were made so much better by everyone’s kindness.

READ A BOOK: Grendel by John Gardner.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

Margaret (Maggie) Doherty Gelber

AT CA SINCE: Eleventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I volunteered with Promise Ranch Therapeutic Riding Center. I spent time with one student with disabilities and watched as he improved both mentally and physically.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim. I think it is so cool that we get to go on trips for a week and experience things we wouldn’t normally do.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: I remember my first day of school in my junior year. I was very intimidated to be starting at a new school, but everyone was so friendly, and I felt welcomed instantly.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: My junior year, I took pottery and though it was my first time, I loved it. I took it again this year, and I’m so glad to have had the experience.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Harvey Mudd College, Claremont, California.

Halle Kallen Gerash

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service-learning project, I made blankets with the Kindergarteners and donated the blankets to a local animal shelter.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim. I love that we are able to have a chance at the end of the year to go off for a week and just have fun.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: I think the most powerful experience I’ve had was when I received the Most Inspirational award for Swimming this last season. It was really nice to know that I was able to make an impact.

READ A BOOK: The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois.

Jessica Sara Gilliam

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: A classmate and I participated in the Komen Foundation Race for the Cure event. We presented at an assembly the importance of breast cancer awareness and also had a bake sale to raise money and make a contribution to the Komen organization.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program because it reminded me so much of when I was a small child.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My favorite experience was when I first met my Kindergarten buddy. She was so excited that she was jumping up and down.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Ten years from now I will probably still remember that first day of high school when the seniors welcome the freshmen at the front door of the Upper School.

READ A BOOK: Read Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau to learn about the world in which we live.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, to study Chemical Engineering.

Tatiana Sachi Goderstad

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: A classmate and I volunteered with The Right Step, an organization that provides therapy to disabled people by helping them ride horses.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is when the seniors burn their college rejection letters.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: AP Literature was the time of my life, every minute of it.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember the teachers, specifically, the English Department. They have made CA an incredible experience. I am grateful to every teacher that has loaned me a book, suggested something to read, or taken time out of their day to have a conversation.

READ A BOOK: The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I had never read a book before that was just so much about life and these big human ideas.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Hannah Lee Gohl

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: The purpose of my service project was to “humanize” homeless people who are often looked at as less-than-human by society. Working with other students, we designed a three-part curriculum intended to help people in shelters document their stories through writing, photographs and original artwork.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the holiday concert, because it brought a great sense of community to the whole school.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful academic experience was when I fell in love with physics and math, the two courses that were the most difficult for me in the beginning.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember the charm of the old high school and spending many hours walking around Woody’s Pond.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend the Norton Anthology of American Literature. It is my bible.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Colorado at Boulder to study Art, Pre-Med, or Biology.

Taylor Morgan Gohl

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I coordinated my servicelearning project with the South Platte Valley Animal Shelter and hand made blankets and donated them to the shelter for the animals.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior recognition in the opening assembly for the start of the school year. It really helps kick off the school year, and it shows the school who the seniors are in a fun way.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful experiences was a white water rafting trip for Interim. I learned how my actions really influence my connections with others in my life.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I am so grateful to have had so many teachers whom I have looked up to over the years.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, California.

Henley So Ling Hall

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I combined my Studio Art Portfolio and Senior Service project. I selected fifteen dogs of the Colorado Academy community as candidates for painted portraiture. Dog owners each made a contribution to the Rocky Mountain Puppy Rescue to help with the cost of food, medicine, veterinary fees and basic supplies.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition was baking cinnamon bread in first and second grades, because it made the whole Lower School smell delicious.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences was playing Field Hockey and winning three State Championships. We became such a strong program, and my relationships with all my teammates became stronger on and off the field.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember Mock Trial, Students H.O.P.E., Interim experiences, first day of school traditions, lacrosse, advisory, senior portfolio shows, Kindergarten buddies, and Field Day.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, to study Law and Political Science.

Chandler Youmeus Harvey

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, CA’s Jazz/Rock Combo band organized and played a benefit concert for the organization, Love.Hope.Recovery., which promotes mental health awareness.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior-Freshman buddy pairings because it builds so many bridges between the two Upper School grades that otherwise would never exist.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was when my advisory spent several days with the students at the Mile High Montessori School, cleaning up their playground and planting vegetables with the children. This experience put into perspective, for all of us, how fortunate we are.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Colorado at Boulder to study Biochemistry.

Noah Raleigh Henry

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we traveled around to local retirement homes and put on music concerts for them.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experiences have been all of the interim trips I have participated in.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: The teachers and the relationships I built with them.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Colorado at Boulder.

Noah Benjamin Herbst

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked with the nonprofit organization Lighthouse Writers Workshop to raise awareness about its programs for young writers.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember planning the Upper School’s new PlatFORUM event this year. It was a great experience and helped to build a foundation for the years to come.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Peter James Hillary

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked as a researcher at the University of Colorado Depression Center and helped to develop a plan to improve post-deployment medical care for the Colorado National Guard.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences was being part of the CA Mock Trial Team.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.

Theresa Quynh Anh Ho

AT CA SINCE: Second Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we ran a teddy bear drive in order to donate the stuffed animals to the Denver Family Crisis Center, a Denver service agency that provides a range of services and settings that offer hope and opportunity for children and their families.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: Giant Relay Day is my favorite CA Tradition because every year, there’s something new to celebrate. It’s a nice day where everyone can mark the end of the year together.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was freshman year when I got my first bad grade. Before then, I thought I had a pretty good handle on schoolwork and was a little too full of pride. My first bad grade in math was a humbling and also humiliating experience. I’m grateful for it though, because it pushed me to work harder and to change the way I thought about school and myself.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas.

William Alexander (Alec) Hopping

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I wrote a 38-species field guide to the birds of Geneva Glen Camp. The book was designed to educate the public about birds, their habitat, and environmental factors that affect their ability to thrive in Colorado.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition was Interim, because it allowed people to interact with a variety of students in a variety of environments.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful experiences was the college counseling experience at CA.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, to study Environmental Science and Sustainability.

Zile Humeyumptewa

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: My service project was the renovation of the library in the Latvian Culture Center of Colorado. My goal was to create a space where members of the Latvian community could go to find a variety of books and resources to further engage themselves in their heritage and culture.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day, because it’s a time when the whole school can come together and celebrate at the end of the year.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Powerful experiences I’ve had at CA include all of the connections I’ve made with my peers and teachers that have helped me grow as a person.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I know I will remember all of the great friendships I have made during my time here, the caring teachers, and the great educational foundation I’ve received.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Colorado School of Mines, Golden, Colorado, to study Engineering.

Matthew Thomas Johnson

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I ran an art activity with the theme of kindness for students in the Horizons Program at CA and then created a display of their work.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition was eating dinner in Cindy Jordan’s office before late night choir rehearsals; it was great for bonding as a choir.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: On the last night of hosting our Argentinian exchange students, we all roasted marshmallows outdoors around a fire pit. That night felt exactly like what an exchange program should be. Even though it was the last time we would all be together, I thought it was incredible that we had become such close friends with people who live thousands of miles away.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts, to study International Relations.

Justine Sierra Jones

AT CA SINCE: Seventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Performing with a band we started in freshman year, my classmates and I put on a benefit concert and donated the proceeds to Love. Hope. Recovery., an organization promoting mental health awareness for young people.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: The first day of the year in the Upper School when the seniors welcome the freshmen and everyone is served Jamba Juice.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Before the new Upper School was built, we were allowed to write on a wall in the building that was about to be demolished, so we had a designated wall to express love for everyone and you could just take a marker and write on the wall.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, to study Psychology and Art.

Noah Juwon Porter Jones

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I helped put on a conference called S.T.A.M.P. (Students Taking Action and Making Progress). We spent three months planning workshops for the conference and at the end, I had the opportunity to be a facilitator.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA tradition is the third trimester choir concert because it is a big farewell to all the seniors; it tends to be one of the best performances you’ll ever see anywhere.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The most powerful Upper School experience for me was freshmen year in Men’s Chorus during the first choir concert when we were performing “Nothing Like a Dame” from South Pacific. It was the first time I performed on a stage and didn’t feel absolutely terrified.

REMEMBER IN 2025: The biggest thing I’ll remember about my CA experience is choir teacher Cindy Jordan.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Regis University in Denver, Colorado, to study Journalism.

Samantha (Sammy) Marie Kelley

AT CA SINCE: Second Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I served as president of an Upper School club called Love.Hope.Recovery. The club worked to create a positive environment around mental health issues. We made a five-minute video featuring student interviews to spread mental health awareness and end the stigma associated with it.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA tradition is the “welcome” event on the first day of school.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: During my junior year, I participated in an Interim where we went to Jamestown, Colorado, a small Colorado town hit by devastating floods. Seeing the damage from the flood was one of the most horrific and empowering experiences of my life.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, to study Editorial Design: Journalism, Graphic Design, Photography, Communications and Public Relations.

Tyler Lee Kelly

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service-learning project, I volunteered as a ski instructor for fifth grade students in the Horizons Program at Colorado Academy, helping them to get out, try something new, and push their limits.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the All-School Pep Rally at Homecoming. It has been my favorite day of the year since I was in Kindergarten. I love having the entire student body in one gymnasium, clad in red and black, teeming with school spirit. CA has a one-of-a-kind community.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: I am so grateful to have played for the Colorado Academy Lacrosse Team. Through playing, I have learned perseverance and class, but most importantly, I have forged lifelong friendships that I value dearly.

READ A BOOK: The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac. IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

George Fletcher (Fletcher ) Kerr

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we completed a landscaping project for The Right Step, a therapeutic riding center.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program. This has been a great way for me to develop a relationship with a younger student that I otherwise never would have had the chance to interact with.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful Upper School experience was winning the high school state Tennis Tournament in No. 2 Singles during my senior year. This was a great experience because much of my hard work and time commitment throughout my time at CA led up to this satisfying accomplishment.

REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember the relationships with the students, faculty, and staff at CA and how well everyone treated me.

READ A BOOK: Outer Dark by Cormac McCarthy

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.

Jourdan Marie Kidd

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I organized a bake sale to raise money to buy school supplies for underprivileged children at an elementary school in the Philippines called Central Methodist Educational Center.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Advisory; we went on “strike” together, burnt the Pop-Tarts, and developed lifelong friendships with each other and our advisor.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: When I was a freshman, my classmates and I painted a mural in remembrance of the Holocaust. The painting was of a hand breaking through barbed wire, and it was made up of smaller handprints to represent the individuals who lost their lives to this tragic event.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember when I fell on my face in Pre-K while running to the lunchroom. I still have the scar on my nose.

READ A BOOK: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This book challenged my philosophical beliefs and taught me what it means to be human.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, to study Biology.

Jon Preston (J.P.) Kneen

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service-learning project, I worked with Project C.U.R.E. to help send medical supplies to people in need.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Traditions are the random days we have off of school.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was the first time I didn’t turn in my homework; it taught me that I, and I alone, have control of where I go and what decisions I make.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember how at CA, I learned to deduce and understand problems utterly and completely, but I need to go to college to know how to solve them.

READ A BOOK: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Edinburgh College of Art, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.

Lilah Rose Koudelka

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, I have been volunteering at a therapeutic riding ranch, and each of us has spent time getting to know one rider to see the impact of our visits.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy program, because I have loved forming a bond with someone younger at CA. I hope my buddy will be as excited as I was to have a Kindergarten buddy.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The service learning days have been the most powerful experiences, because I have gotten to know the other people in my advisory in a setting outside of school. I have also loved witnessing the impact that a small group of students can have in different people’s lives, such as nursing home patients or children.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember Interim because it gave us a chance to form new friendships with people we might not have known.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland, to study Computer Science.

Christopher (Chris) Parker Kuelling

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with two other students, we made a presentation to the Faces of Diversity group about people with mental and physical challenges. This created a framework so that a CA club could work with and advocate for students with disabilities at Bear Creek High School.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program. It was really interesting to talk and relate to such a young person who doesn’t know you. We noticed the gradual connection build with our Kindergarten buddy, and by the end of the year, we were really close.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was the connection among players on the boys basketball team as we made two runs to the State Championship game.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember the accepting community that CA provides.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend The Mahabharata by Vyasa. This book gave me a completely new outlook on life.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Sewanee: The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee.

Samuel (Sam) Franklin Kumagai

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Using GPS units and my phone, I created a comprehensive trail map of a summer camp near Denver.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim. It allows you to get outside of the classroom and school environment with friends and do neat things. I have been lucky enough to go on some awesome trips.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: I really enjoyed being a part of and seeing others’ work as a part of the Art Portfolio Program. The amount of work required for a show is enormous, and the art is always amazing.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember the amazing teachers I had the opportunity to learn from and the great friends that I made here.

READ A BOOK: Not a book, but reading Shakespeare with Mr. James was an opportunity to have fun, learn, and be amazed.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, to study Astrophysics.

Elizabeth Sophie Lipshutz

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other classmates, we are creating promotional materials for the Right Step, an organization that uses horses to help people with special needs.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition was Color Wars. It is a great way to end the year with a celebration.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was the first day of freshman year meeting with my senior buddy, and all my classmates were dressed in Harry Potter attire. Another powerful experience was seeing the new high school for the first time.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: UCLA, Los Angeles, California.

Calla Aileen Marie Lopez

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service project I founded a book club for teenage girls at Warren Village, an apartment building for low-income, single-parent families.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition was baking cinnamon bread every Friday in first and second grades. I will always remember the smell of the fresh-baked bread in the Lower School.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was at the United States International Piano Duo Competition. Pushing through my intense stage fright made my family and teacher proud, and me too.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember the sense of community and belonging I felt at CA.

READ A BOOK: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Its continued relevance makes the novel forever memorable to me, and hopefully, to many more students to come.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Elon University, Elon, North Carolina.

Nicholas (Nick) Quinton Louie

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked with another student to create a slide show for Racquet for the Cure.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Traditions lie in the theatre department, where the actors and actresses, along with the tech crew, give gifts to the underclassmen. I feel it’s always a high note on which to end the productions.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was during the junior year retreat. I had climbed up a large wooden pole and managed to jump for a metal bar. That moment was probably the most intense and nerve-wracking activity I had done in a long time.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember the welcoming environment and the day everyone clapped for me during “open mic.”

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington.

Andrew Donald MacPhail

AT CA SINCE: Seventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Three friends and I traveled around Denver and performed musical concerts at local retirement communities. We played some old favorites and some new hits.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is that, before every specialty choir rehearsal, my friends and I always go out to dinner. I like having that time just to laugh, eat, and enjoy each other’s company.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful experiences I had at CA was when, in mid-April, I gave a Senior Recital in CA’s Schotters Music Building. It was great to perform in front all the family, teachers, and friends who have supported me throughout high school.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio.

Gregory Ben (Ben) Maffei, Jr.

AT CA SINCE: Fourth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with two other classmates, we built a fence at the Right Step organization. This non-profit provides horseback riding lessons for children with disabilities.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: I am proud of the accomplishments of the Boys Soccer Team, and I am incredibly appreciative of my teammates and coaches.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember the great relationships I had with teachers and all the ways they helped me.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire.

Molly Claire Magid

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I took pictures and created a photo album for an organization called The Right Step, a riding program where people of all ages who have physical, emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities ride horses as a form of therapy.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the first day of school when all the seniors welcome their freshman buddies to school and dress them up in costumes. This day starts off the freshman-senior buddy relationship.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful experiences was being a part of the Community Leadership Team retreat. It was a time where I got to know some of my classmates on a deeper level, and I got to share my own personal experiences with them.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky, because the perspective that you have about the main character at the end of the book completely changes from the beginning.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.

Audrey Nicole Marjerison

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we set up a table in the Upper School where students could make “thank you” cards for U.S. war veterans. We then delivered the cards to the Veterans Hospital.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was the “Open Mic” session in Town Hall.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Ten years from now, I think I will remember my interim experiences the most.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Colorado at Boulder, to study Psychology.

Aide Marquez Loya

AT CA SINCE: Third Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Along with the help of our peers, we wrote thank you cards and letters to patients at the Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Community Leadership Team through which seniors help and coach freshmen; it is the perfect way to make the freshmen feel welcome and comfortable in the Upper School.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful Upper School experiences I had was losing at regionals for volleyball my senior year. When the game ended, I was sad because it meant that my work on the team for the past four years had come to an end, however, it allowed me to reflect and appreciate all of the great memories, lessons, and friendships I received.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, Texas, to study Business.

Jessica (Jess) Ann Masinter

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Through talent shows for student performers, we collected money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: Giant Relay Day is my favorite CA Tradition. It provides one last opportunity for everyone to be together before the summer.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful Upper School experience was being in my AP Biology class taught by Suzie Jekel. She taught me how to believe in my own ability to design experiments and learn independently.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember my sophomore English class. It was the first time my writing was challenged, and from there, I learned how to craft a strong analytical essay. This is a skill I will use for the rest of my life, and I will always be grateful that I learned how to write well at CA.

READ A BOOK: Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe. IMMEDIATE PLANS: Middlebury College, Middlebury, Vermont, to study Pre-Med and Biology with a minor or double major in English or Theatre.

Marin Nicole McCoy

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with another student, I designed a series of math games for students in the Horizons Program at CA.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim. It is amazing to get out of the classroom with your friends and embrace the outdoors and learn to appreciate the stars and the overlooked blessing of a running faucet.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Playing on sports teams at CA has given me an opportunity to get to know people outside of my grade on a much deeper level.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember Giant Relay Day, Mr. T’s Supreme Court class, Interim, team sleepovers, and most of all, the relationships and approaches to learning taught by my teachers.

READ A BOOK: The Nine by Jeffrey Toobin. IMMEDIATE PLANS: Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

William (Will) Teel McDermid

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we analyzed data and then created a spreadsheet to track racing data for Team Summit Colorado. The organization focuses on promoting character development and athletic achievement through winter sports and provides scholarship dollars for athletes.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite Tradition at CA is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy program because it gives us the opportunity to be good role models.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The most powerful experience in high school for me was being a part of the tennis team.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: What I’ll remember is CA’s focus on academics.

READ A BOOK: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I would recommend it to others because it is a true classic.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Texas.

Alexander (Alex) L. Miller

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we volunteered for the Horizons Program at Colorado Academy and helped the students learn about playing basketball, as well as teamwork, and sportsmanship.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Traditions are CA Basketball games and going on Interim.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experiences were learning in class and receiving lots of help from certain teachers, and hanging out with my friends.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Friends, Upper School teacher Barry Simmons, going to sports games.

READ A BOOK: World War Z by Max Brooks.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, Florida, to study Marine Biology.

Ethan Louis Miller

AT CA SINCE: Third Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service project, three friends and I formed a band and traveled to area nursing homes and daycares around Denver to perform.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program. It’s a nice combination of the responsibility to take care of a child and the fun of acting like a kid during their play time.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Interim has definitely been the most powerful experience I’ve had in high school. From mountain biking in Fruita to canyoneering in Robbers Roost, I have connected with my classmates and nature in ways I never could have without CA.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember my teachers — they cared about my success; I worked hard for myself, but they helped motivate me to be even better.

READ A BOOK: The Bhagavad Gita by Vyasa is undoubtedly one of my favorite books. I act with greater compassion and gratitude each day because of the text in this poem.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.

Samuel John Minton

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we organized a “prom” for senior citizens at a local seniors’ home.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is snow days.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Eckerd College, Saint Petersburg, Florida.

Joseph (Joe) Engel Monahan

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Some of my classmates and I helped to run a fashion show for women recovering from alcohol and substance abuse.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day. It’s one of the last things students do during the school year, and it’s great to kick back with your friends and just relax.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences was when I was at the State Golf Tournament. On the green of the first hole, a group of CA Lower School students had come out to watch with huge signs they had made. Lower School grades were paired with Upper School teams as a community-building project. It was an amazing moment.

READ A BOOK: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. It’s an absolute American classic, and it captures the romance in the fascinating roaring 20’s era.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: John Carroll University, University Heights, Ohio, to study Business Marketing.

Trace Parker Montgomery

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service project, I led a photography workshop with students in the Horizons Program at CA.

MOST POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The summer after my sophomore year at CA, I lived abroad and studied Philosophy and Photography at Oxford University through the Oxbridge Academic Program. This was one of the best experiences of my life. At CA, one of my favorite classes was an English class on Beat Generation writers. It really taught me to question the nature of reality and my own perception of it.

FAVORITE TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is “open mic” at Town Hall, because it creates a safe platform for students to say what’s on their mind .

REMEMBER IN 2025: Getting an invitation to be a guest comedian for Mile High Sci-Fi, a live comedy show in Denver, and attending Poetry Slam every Sunday at the Mercury Cafe. Read a Book: Watchmen by Alan Moore.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Evergreen State College, Olympia, Washington.

Claudia June Morse

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my senior service project, I worked in a homeless shelter to better understand the lives and life stories of the homeless beyond their circumstance.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite Tradition at CA is the weekend outdoor hut trips. I think the best way to make new friends is to trek five miles up a mountain to a hut without running water (or cell service).

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The most powerful experience I had at CA was my trip to Senegal with classmates and faculty before my junior year. I met incredibly beautiful people, and most importantly, I learned how little I need in order to be happy.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Ten years from now, I will remember the amazing relationships I’ve built with my classmates and faculty over the last four years.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut. I love Vonnegut’s writing, and it really put our own individual lives into perspective

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, to study Biology, Biochemistry or Genetics.

Emily Ann Mott

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with other students, we organized a a fashion show with Mission Wear, a nonprofit organization that gives sewing and designing jobs to women who would not otherwise be able to re-enter the work force. The fashion show was an incredible experience.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is going to Red Robin with the cast after opening night of the Plays and the Musicals. It’s a time for the cast and crew to bond and celebrate all of the hard work they put into a show. Bottomless French Fries and shakes are a perfect post-show meal!

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful experiences for me has been the “open mic” sessions at the Upper School Town Halls. It’s a time for students and teachers to speak their minds in a safe and accepting place. I aspire to have the bravery to share like many students did this year and last. To those who did, thank you for sharing your stories!

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Belmont University, Nashville, Tennessee, to study songwriting and theatre.

Jared Ruston Munn

AT CA SINCE: Sixth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I volunteered at Project C.U.R.E. to send medical supplies to Africa.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Senior Kidnap Day.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was studying Indian Literature.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember my art teacher, Katy Hills.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, California, to study Painting.

Julia Isabelle Murphy

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked with two classmates to create a scrapbook and presentation for The Right Step, a therapeutic riding program for people with physical, emotional or cognitive disabilities.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Giant Relay Day — going from station to station in Lower School, grade-level competitions in Middle School, and Color Wars in Upper School.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experiences were winning three consecutive State Championships in Field Hockey with some of my best friends, as well as winning a Soccer State Championship with another group of amazing girls. It’s amazing to be on a team and have the opportunity to share the experience with so many other girls.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember the teams I played on and the great friendships I made.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, to study International Business and Economics.

Lindsey Tatum Mygatt

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with another student, we helped prepare the Girls Athletic Leadership High School in Denver for opening day by setting up classrooms and sorting books.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: Interim is my favorite CA Tradition. These trips give you a unique opportunity to meet students in other grades.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: I most enjoyed being a member of the Community Leadership Team (CLT) and the Children’s Hospital Club.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Ten years from now, I will remember the incredible sense of community I felt at CA.

READ A BOOK: I recommend The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. It is a beautifully written piece, is culturally rich, and the story is powerful. Hosseini addresses themes we can all relate to: friendship, guilt, and redemption.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Elon University, Elon, North Carolina, to study Business.

Alexander (Zander ) Urban Naes

AT CA SINCE: Seventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I designed and tested an athletic performance evaluation for a ski team that focuses on character development and athletic achievement through winter sports.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition was the friendships formed with my “brothers” on the CA Lacrosse team.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Playing on the CA boys Lacrosse team.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Salisbury School, Salisbury, Connecticut, for a post-graduate year.

Charles (Charlie) Carson Naus

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I volunteered with the Horizons Program at Colorado Academy to help teach fifth grade students how to ski.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was going canyoneering on the Robbers Roost Interim my junior year. Leaving reality for five days and being in one of the most remote places in the country was extraordinarily refreshing.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember playing on the Lacrosse team for four years and traveling with the team on Spring Break.

READ A BOOK: Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. I recommend this book to others because it describes an unconventional way to find the “self” and what one’s life is really about.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.

Joseph Patrick Neumeyer

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked for a non-profit outdoor experience organization that takes young adults with cancer on kayaking and rock-climbing trips.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the holiday skit put on by Upper School faculty right before winter break.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was that one summer during high school, I completed a NOLs 28-day, 250-mile kayaking trip in southeastern Alaska.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember my friends.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Skidmore College, London, England and Saratoga Springs, New York.

Janae Marie Nieto

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with two other students, we created a presentation about people with mental and physical disabilities for the Faces of Diversity Group at CA, and we created a framework for other students to volunteer with disabled people.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Diversity Day or PlatFORUM.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Senior night for Girls Basketball with my older sister, Alyssa, was the most powerful Upper School experience I had.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend King Lear by William Shakespeare, The Bhagavad Gita by Vyasa, Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac, and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Union College, Schenectady, New York, to study Physical Therapy.

Grace Elizabeth Parham

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I worked with three other students to put on a Mission Wear fashion show to raise money and showcase clothing made by recovering women. Mission Wear is a non-profit organization that hires women in recovery to sew clothing and other products out of recyclable materials.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim because it has always been a fun and relaxing way to end the year.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience has been being part of choir throughout my high school career.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember the wonderful support from my friends and teachers throughout my twelve years at CA.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, to study International Relations and Vocal Music.

Ethan Louis Pollock

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Along with two other students, I volunteered with Denver Kids, an organization that helps inner-city youth graduate from high school. We helped organize events for these students.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition was making cinnamon bread every Friday in first and second grades.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience has been Interim. It’s great to spend time with old friends, make new friends, and try new things that I normally never would have, like mountain biking in Fruita, backcountry skiing on Cameron Pass, and canyoneering in the Utah desert.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, to study Mechanical Engineering.

Evan Michael Alexander Rabb

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Three other seniors and I went to senior citizen homes around Denver to perform music for the residents.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: I love the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program tradition because I have experienced being both the Kindergarten student and the senior, and it is awesome to think that my Kindergarten buddy may get to do the same.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful Upper School experience was being one of the two youngest members of Chanteurs. Getting to have the closer relationship with upperclassmen gave me the chance to mature and gain more confidence as a singer and as a person.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will definitely remember all the great teachers I had, my classmates, my Kindergarten buddy, and choir.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, to study Business.

Caroline Elizabeth Reisch

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service learning project, I worked with the other co-president of Students H.O.P.E. to create a book drive in which Upper School students competed to see which group could bring in the most books. These books then became part of the new Reading Corner at H.O.P.E. in which kids could read a few books with a volunteer or parent and then take one home for themselves.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the senior Art Portfolio shows. It’s been amazing to see how creative my peers are.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful high school experience was participating in Student H.O.P.E. throughout high school and acting as Co-President this year. It is amazing to see how our entire campus works together to give low-income families one incredible day filled with holiday spirit.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember all of the fun I had in Advisory.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: The University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.

Juliana Rose Rodriguez

AT CA SINCE: Tenth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Having been awarded the Jennifer Wu Fellowship at CA, I worked with CityWILD and Building Bridges for Peace to lead a dialogue workshop for students.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Junior/Senior English Seminar program at the end of the school year. Both years allowed me to self-reflect and connect with a broader range of students and topics.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful CA experiences was attending the Shoshoni Yoga Ashram Interim with my best friends for a week of relaxing and reconnecting. I will also never forget movie nights in AP European History class in Junior Year.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember the serendipitous deep conversations in the senior lounge after school, finding myself surrounded by peers who constantly challenge and engage in different ideas.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, to study American Politics.

Kathryn (Kate) Lim Rydberg

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my senior service-learning project, I helped lead a mission trip for middle school students to a Navajo Reservation. On the reservation, we ran a children’s camp and hosted a cookout in the community.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program. I still remember being excited to see my senior buddies as a Kindergartner, and now as a senior, I look forward to hanging out with my Kindergarten buddy.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Coming into high school, I hated math until I took BC Calculus. In that class, I learned to love math, and now, I want to minor in math in college.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Stanford University, Palo Alto, California to study Chemical Engineering and Mathematics.

Alexander (Alex) Nicholas Sachar

AT CA SINCE: Second Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Working with two other students, we volunteered on a landscaping project to construct a fence at a therapeutic riding center called The Right Step.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Kindergarten Buddy program. This year, Tyler Kelly and I had a great little buddy that we formed a great relationship with.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences was participating in the Mock Trial program. Mock Trial was a great experience that taught me how to be a better student, teammate, leader, and person.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Ten years from now, I will remember all of the good times I’ve had with my friends and the great relationships I’ve forged over my long career at CA.

READ A BOOK: One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey. I recommend this book because it delves into the idiosyncrasies of the human mind.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: The George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Eliza Grace Samuelson

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my senior service project, I collaborated with alumnus Robert Wright, CA Class of 2014. Rob traveled to Nepal to teach English and soccer at a village school. Sixty percent of the children are malnourished. For my project, I organized a vitamin drive for the children.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the first day of school. I have looked forward to the first day of senior year since I was a freshman, and it was a blast!

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My sophomore year service trip with Brett James and Meg Hill to Senegal, Africa, was powerful and rewarding. Eleven other students and I went to a village for ten days to finish building a library that had been started by other CA students.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember my teachers. I would not be the person I am today without them.

READ A BOOK: Read “The Waste Land,” a poem by T.S. Eliot.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Puget Sound, Tacoma, Washington, to study Psychology.

Grant William Sapkin

AT CA SINCE: Seventh Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my service-learning project, I volunteered with the Horizons Program at Colorado Academy supervising the students at the Stock Show and planning a basketball program for them.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim, because you get to interact with other people outside of school on a week-long trip.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful experience was this year’s State Championship Basketball Game.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember playing Basketball and Tennis, and the long-lasting friendships I made at CA.

READ A BOOK: The Autobiography of Malcom X. This book was very powerful and life-changing.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, to study Business at the Kelley School of Business.

Slater Everest Shoptaugh

AT CA SINCE: Tenth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: This year, two friends and I organized the first annual Coffee Shack along with the Coffee Haus tradition, which are student-run talent shows for charity. With these shows, we raised more than $750 to benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program, because it’s fun to see both ends of the school and to spend time with my buddy.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The most amazing experience I’ve had at CA is the family that I’ve built through Sports and the Theatre.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I hope to remember everything, because I don’t want to forget a thing about my experience here.

READ A BOOK: High Fidelity by Nick Hornby. I liked this book because it was not the average book you would read for a high school course. It was for a class called “Literature of Place and Self.”

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, to study Petroleum Engineering.

Samuel (Sam) Dale Stevens

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Two classmates and I volunteered with Denver Kids, an organization that helps inner-city youth graduate from high school. We helped organize events for the youth in the program.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the holiday faculty skit right before winter break. They always put on such a great and original show.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Interim was a great way to get out of my comfort zone. It gave me the opportunity to get to know people I wouldn’t have otherwise met.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Utah State University, Logan, Utah.

Marigny Carman Strauss

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I volunteered at the Denver Dumb Friends League, helping to find good homes for homeless animals.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the rose ceremony for the seniors at their final Choir concert. It involves the whole choral community in saying goodbye to the graduating seniors, which is always bittersweet.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: Being a part of the Community Leadership Team has impacted me more than any other experience in high school at CA. It has been amazing talking and helping the freshmen, but it was more beneficial to me than I ever thought it would be. I have gotten to know myself and my peers in ways that I wouldn’t have otherwise.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I think I will most distinctly remember our senior year. The seniors really came together and got to know each other.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Mackenzie Elizabeth Timbel

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Two other students and I worked with the Horizons Program at Colorado Academy to help students in the program learn to ski.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the faculty holiday skit in the Upper School the day before winter break when all of the teachers put on skits and performances for the whole high school. It is always really funny!

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful Upper School experience was the photo trip to Iceland. The incredible scenery inspired all of us, and it was a trip that I will remember forever.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington.

Ellecia Breanna Tovar

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my senior service-learning project, another student and I developed a teddy bear drive for foster kids. We delivered the bears to the children as Gus, the CA mascot.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful Upper School experience was giving my senior speech “Smudges.” My speech was the final step I needed in order to fully recover from my senior setback and polish the newer, more improved version of myself.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will always remember the support I received from the CA community when I was at the lowest point in my life, and I needed a helping hand getting back up.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, to study Neuroscience and Creative Writing.

Linde Sterre Van Ede

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: A classmate and I helped the Girls Athletic Leadership School, an all-girls charter school in Denver, prepare to add a ninth grade class to their middle school.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Homecoming Assembly where everyone gets ready for the sports events the following day.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful Upper School experiences I had was going on a service-learning trip to Senegal. It was life-changing because of the impact we had on the village of Dindefeloo in Senegal.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Some of my best memories were winning three State Championships in a row in Field Hockey. Being part of that and having an impact on winning those titles was a great accomplishment.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend The Bhagavad Gita by Vyasa. This book is so different from our western culture; it forces people to look beyond the way they live.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of California, Berkeley, California.

Omar Erik Varela-Alvarez

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Two other students and I led a discussion for the Faces of Diversity Club about disabilities. We tried to organize younger students to create a club that will focus on this issue next year.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the first day of school. The seniors always make sure that the year starts with a bang.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful Upper School experiences that I have had is leading a workshop with two other students during PlatFORUM that explored the issue of socioeconomic status.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: The amazing people and the support that I received during my time at CA.

READ A BOOK: Ramayana by Valmiki. I think that it is the best epic ever to be written in human history.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: American University, Washington, DC.

Alexander (Alex) Edward Walsh

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Along with two other students, I helped organize events for Denver Kids, an organization that helps inner-city kids graduate from high school.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is Interim. I always have an awesome experience and meet new people.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The most powerful experience I had was when I put together my Portfolio Art Show. I was so honored that so many people came to see the art I had put so much work into.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I won’t forget reading Lego books to my Kindergarten buddy in the library.

READ A BOOK: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Whitman College, Walla Walla, Washington.

Rachel Francisca Weeks

AT CA SINCE: First Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: For my senior service project, I worked with three other students to create a photography and writing workshop that would allow homeless women in Denver to share their personal stories. The goal of the workshop was to help give a voice to homeless people and to raise awareness of the obstacles they face.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: The senior traditions and games have contributed to a fun atmosphere in the high school; they bring all of the seniors together before we leave.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of my most powerful Upper School experiences has been the Field Hockey program. Being a part of a team that not only made it to the playoffs, but we won three consecutive State Championships, has been an amazing experience. Getting to play in the championship games is a privilege that I will never forget.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, to study Engineering.

Margaret (Maggie) Elizabeth Wright

AT CA SINCE: Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: I am helping Wildlife Protection Solutions collect information on animals to put into an app that shows facts about endangered species.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: I love the CA Tradition of everyone dressing up in red and black, making pancakes in the parking lot before sports games, and chanting for our friends on the field.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: The small moments like talking with teachers or laughing with my friends all combine to create a really powerful experience.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I will remember the teachers because they are what made CA my home for thirteen years.

READ A BOOK: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. I would recommend this book because it gives a different perspective on human nature and the darkness that resides everywhere.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.

Schuyler Gayla Wright

AT CA SINCE: Ninth Grade.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: To raise awareness about breast cancer, I volunteered at the Komen Foundation’s Race for the Cure, held a bake sale to raise money, created a presentation, and hung posters around the school.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the Senior/Kindergarten Buddy Program. I love interacting with the Kindergartners.

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: My most powerful Upper School experience has been the Community Leadership Team. It has been amazing this year to mentor freshmen and help them through the start of high school.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: I’ll remember the studentteacher relationships at CA, which are extraordinary.

READ A BOOK: I would recommend The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. I loved it. I really liked reading a classic, and I would recommend it to everyone.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Elon University, Elon, North Carolina, to study International Business, French, and Spanish.

Railey Zantop-Zimlinghaus

AT CA SINCE: Pre-Kindergarten.

SENIOR SERVICE PROJECT: Our project involved working with and volunteering at a local homeless shelter in Denver. We set out to create a program through which homeless women would have a way to give voice to their experiences.

FAVORITE CA TRADITION: My favorite CA Tradition is the holiday faculty skit and assembly before winter break. It’s a fun way to kick off the break!

POWERFUL EXPERIENCE: One of the most powerful Upper School experiences I have been a part of is the “open mic” time at town hall. The amount of support that the audience gives the brave individuals who get up and speak blows me away.

WHAT I’LL REMEMBER IN 2025: Ten years from now, I will remember the bonds I made with peers and teachers.

IMMEDIATE PLANS: Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine.

Faculty Reading Recommendations for the Class of 2015

Joel Allen

The Lakota Way: Stories and Lessons for Living by Deckle Edge

Billy Bair

Shop Class as Soulcraft: An Inquiry Into the Value of Work by Matthew Crawford

Gabe Bernstein

100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Lisa Boes

How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming by Mike Brown

Gwylym Cano Metamorphoses by Ovid

Elliot Chase Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hahn

Sheila Chennell Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner

Heidi Chesley

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

Betsey Coleman

All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren

David Colodny

Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War by Karl Marlantes

Forbes Cone

In the Heart of the Sea by Nathaniel Philbrick

Liz Cryan

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

Mike Davis

A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam by Neil Sheehan

Brigitte Debord

Le Sabotage Amoureux by Amélie Nothomb

Andrea Eckler

The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood

Nora Golden

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov

Adrian Green Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

Bill Hall

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Steve Hammer

Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah by Richard Bach

Meg Hill

The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World by The Dalai Lama

Katy Hills Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

Peter Horsch

Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Brett James

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving

Kim Jans

Blown to Bits: Your Life, Liberty, and Happiness After the Digital Explosion by Hal Abelson

Suzie Jekel Lamb by Christopher Moore Cindy Jordan Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Jane Kelly The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Jared Katzman Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer

Dana Kilcoyne

The Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets by Barbara Walker

Paul Kim

So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love by Cal Newport

Chip Lee Out of Sight by Elmore Leonard

Daniel Lopez El Amor en Los Tiempos de Colera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Ginny Magid

Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi

Chris Marchetti

Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

Holley McBroom

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

Dani Meyers

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Stuart Mills

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Mark Moody

The Thinking Student’s Guide to College by Robert Andrews

Jesse Myers

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

Amy Myles

The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver

Cathy Nabbefeld Missoula by Jon Krakauer

Miten Patel

Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America by Barbara Ehrenreich

Meghan Peregord

The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery by Don Miguel Ruiz

Faculty Reading Recommendations for the Class of 2015

Continued

Emily Perez

Romney’s Order by Atsuro Riley

Sara Purviance

The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri

Jen Reading

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Chris Roads

The Tao of Pooh by Benjamin Hoff

Stephen Scherer Respect for Acting by Uta Hagan

Barry Simmons

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig

Charity Smith How to Cut a Cake: And Other Mathematical Conundrums by Ian Stewart

Martha Smith

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Maeve Siu

Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol

Liza Skipwith

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran

Anne Strobridge

The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan

Jennifer Suarez

Patas Arriba. la Escuela Del Mundo Al Reves by Eduardo Galeano

Luis Terrazas

The Road to Character by David Brooks

Aaron Thomas

The Culture of Narcissism by Christopher Lasch

Tom Thorpe

You Shall Know Our Velocity by Dave Eggers

Lisa Todd Como Agua para Chocolate by Laura Esquivel Cyd Tully Where’d You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple

Angel Vigil

The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee

Jon Vogels

The Tuner of Silences by Mia Couto

Julie Wei

The Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu’s Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age by John Heider

Elissa Wolf-Tinsman

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Compiled by Paul Kim

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COLORADO

ACADEMY

3800 South Pierce Street • Denver, CO 80235

Phone: (303) 986-1501 • Fax: (303) 914-2583 info@coloradoacademy.org • coloradoacademy.org