Delphian Magazine - Issue 126

DELPHIAN

PARENTS WEEKEND CLASS OF 2022 SUCCESS STORIES

BREAKING GROUND ALUMNA’S LEGACY LIVES ON IN NEW EARLY LEARNING CENTER

A RECORD— SETTING SEASON

DELPHIAN ATHLETES SET THE BAR HIGHER

FOLLOW @DELPHIANSCHOOL

GET IN TOUCH

We love feedback and news from our readers! magazine@delphian.org

DELPHIAN SCHOOL 20950 SW Rock Creek Rd. Sheridan, OR 97378 800-626-6610 | 503-843-3521 | www.delphian.org

DELPHIAN MAGAZINE ONLINE

Experience the magazine on any mobile device! www.delphian.org/delphianmagazine-126

HEAD OF SCHOOL Trevor Ott

EDITOR Rebecca Orthmann

GRAPHIC DESIGN Rebecca Orthmann

PHOTOGRAPHY Brandon Lidgard, Skyler Feilmeier, Cristofer Maximilian & Alan Rothe

© 2022 Delphi Schools, Inc.™ All Rights Reserved. Delphi Schools, Inc. admits students of any race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical or mental disability or age or any other classification protected under applicable law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. Delphi Schools, Inc. is licensed to use Applied Scholastics™ educational services. Applied Scholastics and the Applied Scholastics open book design are trademarks and service marks owned by Association for Better Living and Education International and are used with its permission. Grateful acknowledgement is made to L. Ron Hubbard

Library for permission to reproduce selections from the copyrighted works of L. Ron Hubbard.

ON THE COVER: Portia Binford winning her heat at the state track meet

Left: Sanjana Garlapati running at our home track meet Above: Coco RoseCoates and family at Parents Weekend Right: Lower School students receiving awards

FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL

I’d like to draw your attention to what might be referred to as “Delphi magic.”

Included on the next page are a few examples of it being mentioned by over a third of this year’s graduates in their Form 8 speeches and success stories.

Students often use “Delphi magic” to describe various things about the community or their Delphian experience—it is often used to describe the sentiment that the sum of their experiences is greater than the individual parts.

When adding up the steps taken doesn’t fully explain how one reached the final destination… magic. In the last month, I found myself looking at two aspects of Delphi magic that I thought were worth commenting on.

The first example of Delphi magic is the sense of community that this group enjoys.

Delphian alumni Taylor Kugler and Eduardo Olmos recently got married in a lovely ceremony in Mexico. There were over fifty other Delphian alumni in attendance, from graduating classes spanning over four decades.

That struck me as unusual and spoke to a remarkable sense of community. Along the same line,

in any given year, despite an average graduating class of around twenty-five, close to 200 alumni return to the school on Alumni Weekend.

Of course, they return to see each other, the school, its staff, and faculty, but really they return to check on each other, the school, its staff, and faculty.

No matter how long they have been away, they uniformly describe the experience as being similar to “coming home.”

After his graduation in 1992, Chris Uno attended Alumni Weekend for twenty-eight consecutive years. The one year he missed was because his attendance was required at his nephew’s wedding.

The school created a cardboard cutout of him that was carried around to each event so that staff and returning alumni could take their photos with him as if he were there.

Life-long friendships are made here, and life-long purposes are discovered too.

While we still have a handful of founding staff who have been here for over forty years, today almost half of the faculty and staff are alumni.

This community is strong. Maybe “magically” so

I believe that a strong community is created primarily by the individuals that make it up, and the

The following is an excerpt from the 2022 Parents Weekend address from the Head of School Trevor Ott:

Trevor Ott and Martha Cervantes Corral

second aspect of Delphi magic I want to comment on is the magic of the individual.

Many of you will be familiar with Delphian’s tagline, Start Here, Go Anywhere.

Today, Delphian graduates can be found working successfully in a wide range of fields. Out there among our alumni are doctors, lawyers, artists, musicians, authors, entrepreneurs, botanists, farmers, business executives, company founders, ministers, biologists, chemists, humanitarians, dentists, chiropractors, actors, directors, producers, and even, as mentioned earlier, quite a few educators—and I suspect the list could go on and on.

The founding staff set out to revolutionize the field of education.Though the work is yet incomplete, it is clear that something here is different.

It’s clear in the life-long bonds and sense of community created when students share in this unique educational approach.

It’s clear in the rich diversity of individuality evident in each graduate.

Whether one calls it Delphi magic or not, something is working.

As the science fiction writer, Arthur C. Clarke, once said:

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

There is certainly advanced technology involved, including the Study Technology and educational philosophy of Mr. Hubbard, which provide the foundation of the Delphi program.

There is a quote on the wall as you enter the fourth floor that is part of a longer piece from a book titled Education: Fostering Reason and SelfDeterminism in Students, which is based on the works of L. Ron Hubbard and published by Heron Books in collaboration with Applied Scholastics.This section talks about lost contributions to mankind.

The true ‘magic’ of Delphi is not only the sense of home and family here, but also the ability it gives every person to cause what they want to become real, to be the creator of their own lives.”

—Gemma Bell

“

At first, I couldn’t understand why people were calling Delphian ‘a magical place.’ As I went through the Delphi program, I realized what ‘magic’ they were talking about.”

— Suejin Park

How could someone have just one favorite memory from this magical hill?”

—Martha Cervantes Corral

He says:

“The story of the growth of knowledge is the story of individuals, not the story of societies. Individuals make societies, societies only modify and moderate or warp individuals. All education is the education of individuals, not the education of the masses.

“Pertinent to this last, in the days since Jefferson the theory has grown largely held that philosophers and conquerors came into being as products of an age and a society, and if one had not occupied their boots another would have done so. An examination of history disproves utterly such a tenet. Humankind goes on from the milestone of one individual to the milestone of the next. Human history is the track along which men and women, here and there, have been strong

or brilliant and have changed the complexion of the road.

“This tenet has colored all modern education, which then found an excuse to assembly-line individuals, making them conform like so many dolls.

“Actually this piece of error, raising up a false standard of groupism, has through the policies of education spoiled perhaps thousands of individuals who would have been of considerable worth to the society. The paintings, plays, compositions of music, cathedrals, and states which might have been, had not bad education stepped in the way, are a real and not imaginary loss to humankind...

“An educational system which slaughters

Opposite Suejin Park delivering her Form 8 speech in the Upper School Above Tiger Shang and Gemma Bell receiving awards at Parents Weekend

genuine capability has a wide effect. Social leveling to the arithmetic mean and to the mediocre sets up the sheep society as the model, and sheep can be stampeded because they are easily frightened and are not particularly rational. Only highly rational individuals who are the product of excellent individual educations can stay a stampede.

“An educational program which begins with the child’s parents, progresses through kindergarten and grade school, through high school and into college and preserves at every step the individuality, the native ambitions, intelligence, abilities, and dynamics of the individual, is the best bastion against not only mediocrity but any and all enemies of humankind.”

This last paragraph is the one on the wall as you enter the Upper School. From this paragraph alone, one can begin to envision an educational ideal.

As an exercise rather than as a statement, consider this excerpt as one of Delphian’s purposes:

“[To provide] an educational program which…preserves at every step the individuality, the native ambitions, intelligence, abilities, and dynamics of the individual, [as] the best bastion against not only mediocrity but any and all enemies of humankind.”

We are working hard to do this and have been for many decades. Part of the beauty of this excerpt is that it provides us with an almost never-ending challenge—we will always be looking for ways to do this better than we are.

For that purpose, I would like you to take a moment to envision, from your own point of view, an educational ideal for your child.

What facilities, curriculum, opportunities, and educators would exist in an environment capable of preserving those things at every step?

Now, compare what you envisioned to what you have observed here at Delphian, to what you have observed in other schools and to what you experienced yourselves as students.

When comparing what any school is to what it should be, one will find things to be happy with, things to improve, things to strengthen, things to add, and things to discard entirely.

When I compare this school to what it should be, there are things I’m happy with in virtually every

direction. We have a wonderful school. But there is still so much to do in pursuit of a true ideal.

As educators, we can always get better at inspiring passion and interest in the student body across a wide range of fields, fields as wide and as varied as “the native ambitions, intelligence, abilities, and dynamics” of our students.

As a facility for the pursuit of their interests, an educational ideal would include the addition of some things we don’t have and the improvement of many things we do.

• performing arts facilities?

• STEM facilities?

• computer science?

• shop, trades, and apprenticeships?

• horticulture?

• agriculture?

• on and on…

Let your imaginations run wild for a minute. Contemplate how far we have come and how far we have yet to go.

Trevor Ott leading the class of 2022 to the commencement pavilion

To build the best school possible, these same steps could and should be repeated with virtually every paragraph in this book: Education: Fostering Reason and Self-Determinism in Students. That is what the founding staff did while creating this place, and that is what today’s staff continue to do.

The purpose of the course that goes along with this book reads as follows:

To improve the ability to conceive of and create an educational ideal.

Simple enough, but we can’t create an educational ideal alone here on the hill. As has always been the case, we need your help along with your understanding of exactly what it is that we are trying to create.

A character from my childhood used to say, “Knowing is half the battle.” Along that line, beginning next year, all newly enrolling families will receive a copy of this book.

Though I intentionally avoided discussing the

current state of education more broadly, I trust you know without a doubt that change is necessary to get our society out of its tailspin.

Among Delphian’s broader goals is to:

Create and maintain a premier international boarding and day school where educators and other professionals can observe a new educational model.

Stated differently: to revolutionize the field of education by demonstrating an educational ideal. That said, Delphian’s primary goal is to provide the best possible education for your child. The better we become at that, the more successful we will be with our broader purpose.

None of what is happening here would be possible without you. And I would like to extend our sincere thanks for your support.

COMMENCEMENT

This year’s Commencement speaker has often been arrested for truancy and vandalism, yet she maintains a spotless criminal record. She has also repeated the fourth grade dozens of times despite earning her college degree.

All kidding aside, we are pleased to welcome Nancy Cartwright as our very special Commencement speaker. Nancy has been in the entertainment industry for 42 years. Most notably the Emmy-award-winning voice of Bart Simpson, she has also been the Honorary Mayor of the North San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles for nearly 17 years, received an Honorary Doctorate Degree from Ohio University in the field of communication, founded two non-profit organizations whose emphasis is on children, she is a producer, writer and humanitarian, and is the hippest grandmother with the personality of a 10-year-old boy. Below is an excerpt from Nancy’s commencement address to the class of 2022.

Six Salient Steps for Success

Before I get started, I just want to say, (as Bart): “I think it is awesome that you are having a 10-year-old boy giving the Commencement speech to the graduating class of 2022! Go Dragons!”

All kidding aside, I am truly honored to be here; oh, and by the way, Bart would NEVER be accepted at the Delphian School…and if he were, we wouldn’t have a show anymore because you would get his ethics in. It just wouldn’t work.

When Steve Anderson, Delphian’s board chair, asked me to speak, I had never visited this school. But my kids went to Delphi Academy in Los Angeles so I’m kind of familiar with the curriculum here. They are both happily married and they are both very much on purpose with their lives. In fact, my son and his wife have two lovely children. Yes, Bart is a grandma! I tell you this because I already know that the mission statement of the Delphian Schools is: “To empower young adults to bring positive change in the world through reason, creativity, and integrity.” So, I got to thinking, “What sage advice can I give you, that you don’t already know?”

I came up with “Six Salient Steps for Success”—that’s four less than 10 so you can become successful faster. In retrospect, these are what worked for me in pursuing my own goals and dreams.

I was about your age when all this started coming

together. Unlike Bart Simpson, most of my life I have not been much of a “bad boy.” I was number four in a family of six kids. I grew up in Kettering, Ohio, just south of Dayton—home of the Wright Brothers. In high school, I was on the gymnastics team and my nickname was “Cartwheel”. I also played the trumpet, and I was in our all-brass marching band. In my senior year, we used to chant, “Eat my shorts!” No kidding.

But it was the speech team that inspired my creativity. On the speech team, I found my niche in telling children’s stories, like James Thurber’s Many Moons and The 13 Clocks. I got a critique once that said, “You have an interesting, unusual voice. You should do cartoons for a living.” Bam! And then I was off and running! This was my training—it was performing at competitions and developing characters that would serve me well into the future. I just got out there and did what I loved. And with that, I give you:

Lesson #1: DO WHAT YOU LOVE!

If you are doing it for money, good luck... and luck is a slippery fish. When I first started, I just did what I loved. Speech competitions. Gymnastics. Trumpet. I was mediocre in the last two, but I scored on the speech team, so I pursued more of that. If you can get paid to do what you love, that’s gravy. If you aren’t making a living by doing what you love, at least do what you like and still do what you love. In other words, don’t just quit because you can’t make a living doing it because the creativity will take you places you never dreamed of.

I’ve been in this business for 42 years, and before The

Simpsons, I had years of classes, studying tapes, working on and developing new characters, and enduring hundreds and hundreds of auditions… and rejections. Being successful is a bit subjective but when it comes right down to it, it is your belief in yourself and your willingness to invest the time it takes, effort, and practice to become a professional that will move you and your dreams into reality. This brings up:

Lesson #2: BE A PROFESSIONAL

Really observe what is needed and wanted so that you can fill the boots of perhaps someone who is slacking off or not as motivated as yourself. I have found that it is your intention that will carry you forward, much further than your ability or talent. People just like to be around those who “help with passion.”

That is what I did. Right after I graduated from high school, I got this amazing part-time job at WING, the local radio station. I was hired to fill in for staff who went on vacation. I really didn’t want to work in accounting… It was really horrible, but I just did what was needed and wanted without complaining. And by the middle of the summer, I had created a character that became this kind of promotional gimmick. It became a little gimmick for the station. Little did I know that that little character was an ancestor to Bart Simpson! Continued online using the following link:

www.delphian.org/commencement2022

“ With every new endeavor, I approach it with the intention that I want to be a professional at that subject.”

Ananya Tare

Clearwater, Florida

When I first arrived at Delphian, I was uncertain about my own capabilities and who I was. I had goals and dreams, but I had no idea how I could go about achieving them.

Delphian completely changed that. Right off the bat, I was thrown into practical projects that pushed me to act and test my limits. I had to learn to juggle academics, extracurricular activities, and other projects at the same time. I didn’t have time to sit and think about how I was going to do it–I just did it.

Before I knew it, I had discovered that I was a leader, a thinker, and someone who could get things done. Not only could I achieve whatever I set my mind to, but I could also help others do the same. I’ve always had a specific picture in mind of what I would look and act like as a high school graduate. Delphian has given me something even better–the ability to know myself and what I am capable of. With this knowledge, I am ready to take on any challenge, reach any goal, and create my life the way I want it to be.

Cynthia Zhang

Beijing, China

My Delphian journey started five years ago when I ran away from an unfair decision made by my headteacher in middle school. I hoped everything would be well, but living in an unfamiliar environment made me more introverted.

Oregon’s summer is hot, but I found myself hidden in a black jacket all the time even with sweat all over my back, just to make me feel safe.

Gradually, I started to open my heart and communicate with others. I participated in sports, activities, and community service. I found myself surrounded by friendly students and caring staff. I learned to speak up when I had concerns, to ask when I had questions, and communicate when I had new ideas. Through communication and hard work, I was even given responsible positions on student council.

As I reflect on how far I’ve gone in my journey, I learned that my definition of happiness changed from the feeling of safety I had, hiding in my little “perfect” world, to feeling happy through my positive contributions and involvement in my community. I have grown to become a better version of myself, taking charge of my own life where I can create change around me because even small actions can mean a lot.

I have taken off my black jacket, both literally and figuratively. I cherish all the valuable experiences and amazing people that I’ve met at Delphian, and I am grateful for everything Delphian has given me.

Driving up this hill on September 14th, 2016 was the day my change began. I arrived with curiosity and fear.

I was not confident, so I hid and refused to talk. I just wanted to be the smallest and the most invisible one. But having that mindset tripped me many times.

I was constantly doubting myself, and I never believed that I could do great things.

As I moved through the program I changed. I started to search for more possibilities and discover what I really wanted.

It was not until recently that I realized it’s not a certain point or certain thing that changed me, it was everything I did throughout the program. It was all the little things I learned from each project, seminar, course, book, a short conversation with others or the mistakes I made.

These accumulated and brought me to where I am right now. This was a gradual change that started the day I arrived. It didn’t happen suddenly, and it took me six years to realize and validate the change. But standing from this point looking back, I think it all happened for a reason, and I’m grateful for everything I did and learned.

A girl who was scared of speaking up and looking people in the eye has now gained the abilities and skills to own her own life at this magical school, and she is ready to start the next chapters of her life. Thank you, Delphian!

Delphian is a truly amazing place. It is a place where theory meets practical and a place where you can pursue your own goals. Out of all things, I would like to emphasize the literature program. It is hard to describe the richness of it. In Form 6 Entry and Form 6, the programs set out a firm foundation of the English language. In Form 7, I read famous but harder novels. Finally, on Form 8 I embraced political and spiritual concepts, opening my thoughts not only to the diversity of the world but seeing things beyond their appearance.

Looking back, my mind has expanded more than tenfold. Not only did these books answer the countless naive questions I once had, they have created certain qualities in me.

Delphian taught me more than what is in the books. From the whole experience, I learned that I am the one to push myself forward. I am the one who determines whether tomorrow will be enjoyable or not. I am the one who is in charge of my own education.

I had never dreamed that I could become such a determined individual. I am proud of myself and thankful to the school.

Angela Bai

Beijing, China

Beijing, China

Daniel Cox Coca

As they say, all good things must come to an end, and for me this moment is a bittersweet one for just that reason. I say this because even though I am overjoyed that I have made it, I am also deeply saddened that I must leave so soon.

When I was sixteen, I was at my wits’ end with public school; nothing ever inspired me to go above and beyond. It felt like I was stuck in a viciously monotonous cycle of waking up, going to school, and going back to sleep.

I came for the summer of 2019, and instantly I knew that I had to come here for the school year. I had to work very hard in order to graduate but I was prepared as I had seen how great this school was, and I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity my parents gave me.

From my time here I learned discipline, gained knowledge, and refined my ability to lead.

For this and more I can’t thank Delphian enough!

Oscar Bai

Beijing, China

Wow, I made it!

This program is something truly spectacular. There is some unnamed magic that goes on with every course, every project and every book. When I first came to Delphian, I did not see the magic. But it was still there, seemingly transforming me and every student, in fact, into something much greater than before.

But it was not really transforming anything. It is merely uncovering more of who each student really is. Everyone is powerful, but we sometimes pretend not to be. Delphian helped me realize that I was pretending to be something much less than I truly was, and now I realize more about my true potential than ever before. And yet, I bet there is still more to come!

I started Delphian as a thirteen-year-old kid without a clear orientation or a determined path. The only thing I had was an intention toward becoming a better person, yet I didn’t know how to.

I was a seed buried under the ground, longing for the sunlight, but wasn’t strong enough, or perhaps wasn’t brave enough, to break through the soil. In trickles, the seed began germinating.

Throughout my high school years, no one told me who or what I should become. It was merely guidance and never an order. I was given tools to build my character and myself, so I became who I desired to be. I am now confident that I can do anything and go anywhere that my intention lies.

Madrid, Spain

Felix Forslund

Sheridan, Oregon

Crystal Li

Shanghai, China

Delphian has given me so much help with different aspects of life by encouraging me to change and try new things. By balancing the practical program and academics, I have gained responsibility and leadership skills.

The practical program gave me many new opportunities to try new things. At first, I thought the projects would be hard and I didn’t confront them.

My first project was planning the Easter Egg Hunt with three other students. We prepared the

chocolates and the eggs for all the younger students. When the activity was over, some students came up to me and told me how much they liked the activity.

This project ended up being my favorite one and it changed my mind about the practical program.

Through student council, I helped run activities and even helped people in the community. I believe that these unique experiences will help me a lot in my future.

The class of 2022 Back Row L-R: Carson Wagner, Louis Luo, Danshi Li, Oakley Binford, Brody Workman, Oscar Bai, Minghan Cui, Daniel Cox Coca Middle Row L-R: Cynthia Zhang, Gemma Bell, Sarah Kasprzyk, Tiger Shang, Felix Forslund, Hannah Weinstein, Crystal Li, Ananya Tare Front Row L-R Evie Xia, Martha Cervantes Corral, Angela Bai, Laura Elliott, Chloe Latch, Suejin Park, Anya Magazova, Sanjana Garlapati

Sarah Kasprzyk Denver, Colorado

When I was younger I was content to be the quiet one and not have a specific niche and not really have a spot. I went along like this for quite some time and never really thought about it until I came to Delphian. I remember coming for the first time for volleyball preseason and pretty much nodding and agreeing with what people told me to do and trying to scope out what the place was like. I was still a quiet and shy teenager at the time.

As I went through the program, became a part of more groups, and made more friends, I started to come out of this selfimposed shell. I realized that it was okay to be assertive and to hold my own place in the world. Looking back, it’s hard to believe I used to be so different, and that I’m now able to accomplish so much. I am extremely thankful to Delphian for helping me overcome these barriers.

Oakley Binford

Arriving at Delphian, we are a bit like a blank piece of paper. Most of us show up nervous, anxious, or scared, with questions like, “How am I going to fit in? Who am I going to hang out with? Do I really have to do bathroom crew?”

Then, through courses like Study Handbook and Integrity and the Code of Honor, joining groups like choir, and soccer, and making many friends, we grow and begin to shape our papers. Creases. Each one is a pillar to the foundation you are building.

I wanted to graduate, but I was intimidated by the amount of work it would take. As time went on, I began to realize what it meant to be a leader. I joined Student Council and became the Middle School boys dorm captain. I ran large projects such as becoming the assistant coach of the track and field team.

As my time here at Delphian now comes to an end, I would like to impart to you a valuable lesson. What matters is not so much how long your runway is, but that you get off the ground. Sure, sometimes crashing is inevitable, but the important thing is using the wings you grew here. I now have the ability to direct my path wherever I choose.

Thank you, Delphian, for teaching me how to fly.

Laguna Beach, California

Martha Cervantes Corral

Mexico City, Mexico

The Delphian program is very unique in the way that it teaches you to own your education and makes you the creator of your future. It teaches you that your education depends on you and on how much effort you put into it. The reading program and seminars let you have your own realizations in life.

When I look back, I started the program as a girl who needed to read easy books because I didn’t know English well enough, and now I am ending the program as a girl who can read books with high vocabulary and big concepts. I am also ending the program feeling confident that I can accomplish any goals I set my mind to.

The best part of the program is that I never felt like I couldn’t do something. Delphian takes you through the program in such a gradient that you

don’t realize how much you have accomplished until you take a step back and think about it.

The time I put into my studies was not to make my parents happy or to please my supervisor. I did it for myself. I did it to accomplish my own goals and targets.

Delphian has helped me to realize that learning is fun and that I am the creator of my future.

Danshi Li

When I first got here I felt for the first time that my education was in my own hands. Instead of having teachers pushing me forward, I was able to walk on my own and take as much time as I wanted.

I mistakenly thought Delphian was easy. I thought I didn’t have to work hard and could still graduate. Delphian said, “Ha, you thought,” and challenged me with the Forms 6, 7, and 8 programs. The amount of work in these programs overwhelmed me at first, so I looked for shortcuts. The shortcuts made my path slippery.

With the assistance of the Ethics Advisor, I got back on the right, no longer slippery, track. I worked my way through the programs step by step. I did math that I could never have imagined doing, read amazing books, and explored ideas that I never thought of before.

Most importantly, I found myself an interest, a goal. I am no longer a child who blushes and say, “I don’t know yet,” when people ask me about my interest. I am a young adult who can look them in the eyes and say, “I want to be a food scientist.”

Beijing, China

Louis Luo Xiamen, China

I am grateful for everything Delphian has taught me. It has helped me to become a better leader and a more responsible person.

I was a person who knew no English and was scared to associate myself with anybody who spoke English because I didn’t want to embarrass myself. I would play video games at night and never study. My life was hopeless during that time.

Starting my junior year, everything changed. The senior students and the faculty at Delphian set a good example for me. They were my motivation for working hard because I wanted to be like them.

The Delphian program and the faculty helped me change my life. They taught me how to be responsible for things in my life. They helped me to become a better version of myself.

I will continue using the tools I learned at Delphian to achieve my future goals. My future is bright because the Delphian School helped me to enlighten my future.

In the course Professional Basics for an Artist, L. Ron Hubbard states, “A culture is only as great as its dreams, and its dreams are dreamed by artists.”

While I did this course on Form 7, it was really in Art Seminar during my senior year that I got the full meaning of this quote.

During the seminar, we went over why we want to be artists and how we want to shape the world. I realized how much I appreciate and love the artists at Delphian. I realized how much I love all artists.

I have always known that I want to be an artist, but I never realized before this year how much that meant, not only to me but to the society I live in. Artists are not just painters, sculptors, or dancers. They are athletes, parents, and teachers; they are anyone who is fully communicating with and shaping the world around them.

By realizing this, I found that anyone can be an artist, and life itself can be art. And this is why I think that Delphian, above all, creates artists. It creates people who can understand and communicate with the world around them. And it creates people who are actively changing realities and making the world a better and more sane place.

Chloe Latch

San Francisco, California

Class of

of 2022

Back Row L-R: Carson Wagner, Louis Luo, Danshi Li, Oakley Binford, Brody Workman, Oscar Bai, Minghan Cui, Daniel Cox Coca Middle Row L-R: Cynthia Zhang, Gemma Bell, Sarah Kasprzyk, Tiger Shang, Trevor Ott, Nancy Cartwright, Felix Forslund, Hannah Weinstein, Crystal Li, Ananya Tare Front Row L-R: Evie Xia, Martha Cervantes Corral, Angela Bai, Laura Elliott, Chloe Latch, Suejin Park, Anya Magazova, Sanjana Garlapati

Gemma Bell

Since I stepped foot on the Delphian campus, I knew deep down that Delphian was not just a school, it was a gift. There is no other place where you can learn, grow, fail, and all the while being safe and supported. Delphian is a home, a family, and there is an innate sense of magic here.

As I carried on through the program, I kept seeing more of that magic of Delphian. Whether I was sledding down to the baseball field after the first snow, screaming after winning a cheer competition, laughing in early morning jazz choir, seeing the students enjoy an activity or show that I planned, or running down the hill on one of Delphian’s beautiful trails, I felt that magic.

That magic was especially strong in the art seminar. In this seminar, I realized that my abilities were not created by the program; the program merely helped me realize that they were there.

I realized that the true “magic” of Delphian is

not only the sense of home and family, but the ability it gives every person to cause what they want to become real–to be the creator of their own lives.

Delphian did not change me one bit. Delphian brought out the person that was always there. I am forever grateful to this school, this home, that has opened my eyes to the power of every individual. Thank you, Delphian for giving me the pen with which I will write my story.

Evie Xia

I came here because my dad sent me here. I had no idea who I would be and why I came here. After four years have passed, I am so grateful for my dad’s decision. Besides normal academic lessons, I learned more about myself as an individual. I learned that I am capable of achieving my goals and leading a group. I learned why one’s purpose matters through experience. I learned how to sort myself out of confusion and how to study on my own. I learned how important Study Technology is and how much it has impacted my life of learning.

In the practical program, I was able to apply the skills that I learned from courses to solve problems. I am comfortable with my communication skills and now have a key mindset to get things done.

I couldn’t have gained these skills and knowledge if I didn’t come to this school. Thank you to all the wonderful staff members in this magical place. I really appreciate you being yourselves. Thank you, Delphian!

Zhejiang, China

Calabasas, California

Hannah Weinstein

Seattle, Washington

It has been a long road.

When I drove up this hill for the first time, I was lost. I couldn’t really do anything, I couldn’t think, and I had no idea what I needed to do in order to even have a future.

Delphian was a challenge at first. Looking up to the seniors and students with high responsibility and purpose, I felt out of place. Eventually, I started to become more and more active in my life, and being like the people I respected became more and more real to me.

I found a purpose, pursued that purpose, and started to take responsibility for creating my life and my future. Looking back on my eleven-year-old self and comparing that girl with who I am today, I can’t help but be so proud.

I have become a leader, I can study anything, I know what I want from life, and I know what kind of a person I want to be.

Delphian gave me this, and I will eternally be grateful. I’m excited to go start life with all I have gained from this magical place.

Suejin Park

Seoul, South Korea

When I first came to Delphian, I couldn’t understand why people were calling Delphian a “magical place” because magic seemed like something that would only happen in movies or books. As I went through the Delphi program, I realized what “magic” they were talking about.

One time I was calling my mother, and I looked at the view from the front of the building. It made me feel relaxed and happy. I told my mother, “I think I found my true happiness at Delphian.”

With my friends and the staff’s encouragement, I was able to challenge myself and grow from my experiences. Delphian taught me what education is.

Leaving this wonderful place makes me sad, but I am ready and excited to face the challenges that are waiting for me in the future.

Brody Workman

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Delphian has been a journey to remember. This school is a place that provides a basic human necessity: hope. When I came here, I didn’t know it, but I was out of hope. I had almost no friends, never studied anything outside of class, and was just trying to coast through life. I had put on the facade of a happy, upbeat person that just rolled with the punches. On the inside, I was feeling dispirited.

Then I came to Delphian. Stepping on campus, I decided that this was a fresh start. I felt something new and couldn’t place it. Looking back on it, it was the feeling of hope. Meeting new people that take you under their wing no matter what and actually having friends that cared about me were feelings of hope that I had not experienced in a long, long time. To truly give you a good idea of the hope that Delphian provides, it can be summed up with an Emily Dickenson poem:

“Hope” is the thing with feathersThat perches in the soulAnd sings the tune without the wordsAnd never stops - at allDelphian gives you hope. No matter the struggle you are facing, no matter the feelings of stress, Delphian will always be at the ready with a good person to pick you up, dust you off, and help you on your way. The aura of this place is magical and I am truly blessed to have experienced it.

Tiger Shang

Beijing, China

My high school journey at Delphian was a lifechanging experience. This unique program has truly taught me what education is. Before I came to Delphian, my life was purposeless. I did not look forward to going to school. It was miserable and unpleasant for me to study. Each day, the only thing I expected was the ring of the bell that signified the end of school.

Everything changed when I decided to go to Delphian. The dormitory life made me independent. I am no longer the kid who has to be helped in many ways of his life by his parents. With the independent method of study, I became more self-disciplined. I reestablished my interest in my studies because I found a new purpose.

Delphian focuses on applying the knowledge you learned instead of memorization. I began to see more about the world and became more mature. Each year, I was learning something new from the program. From International Entry to Form 8, I’ve grown from a playful kid to a responsible young adult. I kept challenging myself and gaining benefits from my education. The practical and academic areas improved me as a person and gave me more understanding of the real-life world. I especially enjoyed the internship during the summer working at Delphian. It was tough but beneficial.

Delphian has provided me with valuable knowledge. It has shaped me and guided me. Whenever I needed help, belief, and support—the Delphian family was always there for me.

And I know that no matter where I go, this school, and all it represents, will always be there for me.

Anya Magazova

I came to Delphian as a little blonde girl from Kazakhstan who didn’t know any English, who was scared, and who couldn’t confront her studies or the people around her. I was extremely shy and had a low level of confront. When I was presented with a large task, I would run away from my responsibilities and find refuge in drawing, video games, and cartoons. Going up the hill, the size of the school was already hard to confront. Gradually, I started learning English and communicating with others, but I still couldn’t focus on my studies and some other aspects of my life. In my first few years, I

wouldn’t take opportunities that were presented to me because I thought I wasn’t capable enough. Gradually Delphian changed this for me. In the later part of Form 7, looking at my program, I still had many things to finish and it was already January of my senior year. I realized if I didn’t change things now I wouldn’t be able to graduate. For this, I needed to start confronting and putting all of my attention on my academics. For the first time, I felt that I was making significant progress because of my hard work, and it felt good. Late nights and early mornings made me realize how much I can get done if I push myself and do my work with confront.

This taught me that I can run away from others but I can’t run away from myself. With the ability to confront, my confidence rose and I was able to participate in sports teams, be in charge of big projects, and make public speeches. The ability to confront was only one part of what I gained at Delphian. There would be an infinite list if I was to tell all of them.

Carson Wagner

Before Delphian, I didn’t know where I was headed and I wanted to drop out of school. Then somehow I found myself at a school on a hill in rural Oregon, starting afresh.

It didn’t take much time for me to adjust and get used to the environment, but I was still lost. I didn’t know where I was headed in life.

Eventually I realized that finding my path wouldn’t happen without my active participation. I started seeing the power and potential I held. I found myself wanting to use the program to acquire attributes such as integrity, determination, honesty and trustworthiness.

Delphian to me was like climbing a mountain. If you don’t stop and look at the view every so often, then you never truly know how far you have come. I still haven’t fully looked at this view, but I know that life will show it to me soon.

Los Angeles, California

Sanjana Garlapati

Fremont, California

Leading up to Delphian, I was in the public education system for nine and a half years. Life was this monotonous repetition of not being able to apply anything I learned at school and going home upset. I was desperate to do something about my education.

The shy, introverted 13-year-old Sanjana from 2018 wouldn’t believe her ears if she found out how many miracles the Delphian education would do for her.

I can now remember and apply what I learned after taking exams. I read over sixty books on the literature program and I taught myself calculus. I have learned to question problems and push myself to find better solutions as with that there is no limit to what I can achieve.

It saddens me to leave the place that did so much for me. Thank you, Delphian for giving me a valuable, life-long gift—the gift of a rich education that I have the privilege of owning.

Laura Elliott

Sydney, Australia

Each moment spent at Delphian has left a lasting image in my mind. Standing here now and reflecting on my time here, I see that it was not only the pure beauty of the academic program that impacted me and helped shape me as an individual but a summation of it with all the little experiences that have happened alongside it.

In the book Siddhartha, it talks about the different kinds of people: “Most people are like a falling leaf which is blown and is turning around through the air, and wavers, and tumbles to the ground. But others, a few, are like stars they go on a fixed course, no wind reaches them, in themselves they have their law and their course.”

The person who started in Form 6 Entry and the person finishing Form 8 are different people. Delphian has helped me grow as an individual in many ways that I never thought possible. I was never a competent and self-determined person. I never liked to share my opinion for fear of being judged. I never led groups. I avoided talking in public at all costs. Going through the Delphian program, I was able to overcome the many barriers I created for myself. Delphian has helped me form a clear path to the future and provided me with the tools to help create what I want for myself.

Thanks to Delphian, I am causatively and confidently ready to go into the world and do great things.

BREAKING GROUND

Serafina Early Learning Center

Alumna’s Legacy Lives on in New Early Learning Center

The youngest students at Delphian will soon have a school building of their own.

Delphian broke ground in April on the new Serafina Early Learning Center. The vision for the project has been at least five years in the making but was made possible by a donation from a generous Delphian family.

Located just west of the main playground in the west staff housing loop, the 1400-square-foot building will provide our youngest students with a warm and supportive environment, and learning spaces young minds need to explore, create, grow, learn and thrive. It will have the capacity to accommodate up to twenty-five children, focusing on ages two through four. This will provide a unique opportunity for young students to start developing their abilities, creativity and knowledge.

To embody a shared love for Delphian and to honor Melissa McPhail Holyfield, who passed in February

“Delphian staff create and maintain a safe environment, where students can learn without punishment, humiliation, favoritism, or bias.”

-Shon Holyfield

2022, Shon Holyfield provided a generous gift to complete the project’s funding.

“Serafina” is the childhood home of one of Melissa’s heroes in her epic fantasy series, A Pattern of Shadow & Light. The Holyfields and the school unanimously agreed on the name for the center.

“Melissa was a beloved graduate, staff member and dedicated volunteer. Her presence, her viewpoint and her actions had a significant positive impact on me personally, and on the Delphian group as a whole. This learning center, in a beautiful way, carries that same positive impact to future generations. Yes, “Serafina” is a region in the world she created, but it is also an apt description for the woman it was chosen to honor,” said Head of School, Trevor Ott.

At the groundbreaking ceremony, Shon had the following to say: “Thanks to Melissa McPhail Holyfield, I learned of Delphian years ago. Thank you Melissa! Thanks to my amazing daughters – Sarah and Juliet – I saw first-hand how great Delphian staff are and learned about their non-stop journey towards making things better.

“Delphian is simply the best school available anywhere. It’s not the school or the curriculum or the facilities that make Delphian the best––it’s the people that work there and what they do. Delphian staff create and maintain a safe environment, where students can learn without punishment, humiliation, favoritism, or bias. Another way to say it––Delphian is simply the best group of people anywhere.”

Shon went on to say that almost every person he knows has had their life meaningfully improved because of Delphian. “Delphian staff devote their lives to improving other people’s lives. They don’t do it for high pay or awards or acknowledgment. They do it because they genuinely care about others and want people to do well in life. Few groups exhibit this level of care. Donating to Delphian is important to me because it acknowledges the rightness of what Delphian staff do every day. It says, ‘Thank you for all you do. Thank you for being you. Thank you for the beautiful effects you create. Thank you for every moment of every day you spend empowering others. Thank you.’”

Now, it’s our turn to say “Thank you!” to Shon and the Holyfield family for making this project possible. The doors to Serafina are expected to open in 2023.

ATHLETICS

Back Row L-R: Rei Yamazaki, London Whitworth, Lucas Curry, Sage Daniells, Brandon Lidgard, Portia Binford, Imani Muhammad, Ava Raphael, Dakota Mincey, Neal Chinodakufa Front L-R: Zahar Rutman, Memo Cervantes, Emiliano Chaparro, Sanjana Garlapati, Coco Rose-Coates Below L: Sanjana Garlapati Below R: Neal Chinodakufa

A Record— Setting Season

Delphian athletes set the bar higher

Layered in determination (and sweaters)

Delphian’s track and field team began their season with a bang! The drizzly spring cold was no match for these athletes who set out to find their strengths and push their capabilities to new heights. As the weather heated up, so did the competition. Each athlete found their stride and set their sights on getting just a little better, higher, and faster than the time before.

Head coach Brandon Lidgard was both pleased and surprised with the progress, accomplishments, and new talent from his team this season. Though there were many veterans on the roster whom Brandon could rely on, there was some new talent that leapt up this season.

More than one athlete found their stride. Lucas Curry came out of nowhere cutting his 400-meter time down from over a minute to 54.00. Noteworthy competitor London Whitworth expanded his range from just the 3000-meter to including the shorter 1500 and 800-meter sprints where he also did quite well.

After not being able to compete in the state competition last year, Rei Yamazaki had some unfinished business to

New Records

Girls 100-meter hurdles

Portia Binford with a time of 16.95

Girls 300-meter hurdles

Portia Binford with a time of 48.84

Girls Triple Jump

Sarah Kasprzyk measuring 32’ 1”

Girls 4x100-meter relay

Sanjana Garlapati, Ava Raphael, Coco Rose-Coates and Taeyah

Saechao with a time of 4:30.61

Boys 3000-meter

Rei Yamazaki with a time of 9:54:98

Opposite page top: Portia Binford bottom L-R: Rei Yamazaki, Brandon Lidgard and Portia Binford with athlete and coach of the year awards

This page top: Dakota Mincey right: Rowan Bennett below L-R: Rei Yamazaki and London Whitworth

attend to. Rei now holds Delphian’s 3000-meter record, beating out alumnus Yamo Morales Nacif who has held it since 2018. Rei was also named boys Track Athlete of the Year for the district.

Moving up from seventh place last season and gaining the reputation from spectators of being “the one to look out for,” Portia Binford found herself at the front of the pack in the 300-meter hurdle race as well as the 100-meter dash where she now holds the Delphian record in each event. To top it all off, Portia was also named the girls Track Athlete of the Year for the district.

Another notable, well-deserved award received at districts was Coach of the Year for Brandon Lidgard as was selected by our OSAA district. When this award was presented to Brandon at the district track meet awards ceremony, he was rushed by his cheering team on the field.

To top it all off, Delphian sent fourteen athletes to the state championship meet, which was held at the University of Oregon’s stadium, Hayward Field in Eugene. At the state track meet, Portia Binford took home 1st place in the girls 100-meter dash. Lucas Curry and Portia both came in second respectively in the boys and girls 300-meter hurdle races. Lucas also took 4th place in the 400-meter race and was a part of the boys 4x400-meter relay team alongside Memo Cervantes, Sage Daniells and Emiliano Chaparro, that took 4th place.

Brandon ended his team’s season by turning to his team after their team photo on Hayward Field and saying, “I want you to look around. I want you to look over at what’s happening over there [gesturing to where the team trophies were being handed out in another part of the stadium], and I want you all to decide that’s where we’re going to be next year.

“That’s our goal next year: to not only get enough athletes there, but also then get more placements at state to get a team trophy.”

above L: Lucas Curry above R: Sarah Kasprzyk below L-R: Zahar Rutman, Memo Cervantes, Brandon Lidgard, Neal Chinodakufa and Minghan Cui

FORM COMPLETIONS

Listed in order of completion date since the last Delphian Magazine

Form 6 Entry

Beginner 1

Melodie Dambrin

Beginner 2

Skye Marlatt-Calderon

Olivia Orthmann

Annie McFarland

Form 1 Entry

Florence Anderson

Form 3 Entry

Jensen Barnes

Clementine Lindman

Form 3

Colin Lundeen

Juniper Pope

Form 4 Entry

Luke Robinson

Form 4

Annika Hamilton Hansen

Evangeline Bowling

Lily Olivares

Form 5 Entry

Ansel Sessions

Liana Vannier

Form 5

Avery Ott

JJ Noll

Cyprus Anderson

Jack Bowling

Amelie Rappoport

Lachlan Wydro

Chloe Aden

Liv Curry

Upper School International Entry Program

Jim Cao

Carol Ramirez Valdes

Cato Matsuoka

Masha Ershova

Jose Francisco Moran

Thales Gao

Hannah Siddall

Emma Raphael

Edward Su

Vova Bunchuk

Jade Magee

Mika Kozhakhan

Jack Kennedy

Dakota Mincey

Cole Saphire

Molly May

Jonas Zhou

Carlo Gaya

Tristan Mathews

Form 6

Robin Stoner

Cayden Chen

Imogen Dayton

Eli Ward

Mia Solomon

Alek Simonov

Adison Ackley

Kinsey Lutton

Angelica Wagman

Mujahed Abulohoum

Mark Rutman

Suha Jung

Lia Peens

Joseph Gentile

William Collins

Hailey Ackley

Pennelope Arezzini

Sly Gottlieb

Rachel Pollack

Sammy Bunch

Zahar Rutman

Elizabeth Swan

Form 7

Suejin Park

Louis Luo

Angela Bai

Cynthia Zhang

Oscar Bai

Laura Elliott

Anya Magazova

Crystal Li

Bow Chansuk

Career update from alumna Molly Hollyman: She is currently working as an Interior Architect and Designer in corporate architecture for the Seattle-based design firm Mithun.

Congratulations to Allison Wallace (2018) on her graduation from Reed College with a Bachelor of Arts in English with a Creative Emphasis.

Congratulations to alumnus Alejandro Olmos (2017) on his graduation with honors, Magna Cum Laude, from Northeastern University in Boston with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a minor in Biology AND congratulations to Maxine Anderson (2017) on her graduation from Babson College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration.

Congratulations to Isabelle Sichler (2016) on her graduation from New York School of Interior Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design with High Honors

Do

We