22 minute read
Alumni Updates
ANNE-MARIE LONSDALE
CLASS OF 1995
What did you enjoy most about your time at EB and why? Our amazing teachers! I will always remember Mary Havemann, Judith, Jean-Yves, Mr. Nikoloff, Libby, Coach, and all my wonderful, caring teachers from my time at EB. Please describe your current work. I work in the performing arts in multiple capacities, as a producer, consultant, facilitator, and administrator first in San Francisco and Chicago, and now in New York. I own my own business, Partake Arts, which offers strategic and capacity building services to artistled organizations, and I am also the Managing Director of The Story Collider, a science communications and storytelling nonprofit. How do you feel EB has influenced you or led you towards your choice of profession? We read so widely all the great French poetry and literature, as well as English-language classics, and this allowed me to be deeply grounded in the texts that create my foundation as a theater artist and creator. I first fell in love with theater and dance while a student at EB, and I even had the chance to direct a Molière play, The Misanthrope, when I was in college. What would you say to parents just starting out at EB? Don’t be afraid that your kids are gossiping about you in French behind your back, because they are! Please know that giving your children the gift of a bilingual education will change their lives for the better forever, and that you are offering them the world, literally. Enjoy watching their minds explode as they learn, speak, and read in two languages, and don’t feel left out. Describe your favorite EB memory. The France trip to Lyon in 5th Grade! What a wonderful experience, to get to truly live in another country, to make such wonderful connections with my host family, and to enjoy France. We went to Paris and Mont Blanc. It was the experience of a lifetime. Do you feel that EB adequately prepared you for life after EB? Do you feel you are a citizen of the world? Being bilingual from the age of four has given me so many gifts. I have been able to study and learn in French, Spanish, Italian, and Greek. I’m now learning Portuguese so that I can communicate with my sisterin-law’s family in Portugal. I travel widely and without fear, and often find myself translating for people at the pharmacy or in a café, if I can. The gift of language also made me much more adept at mathematics, which has allowed me to excel in the finance aspects of my work. I also know that being raised in multiple cultures with fellow students who speak multiple languages and come from many different cultures has made me more open, more engaged, and more committed to equity and justice in our world. Would you consider sending your children to EB? Why? Being raised in both a bilingual and multi-cultural community, I know that I am more deeply aware of the diversity of lived experiences and histories that make up the world. I feel that I am more sensitized to the world around me, and more able to identify problematic political and historical narratives because I am constantly comparing and contrasting the stories we are offered in our culture. Learning French and American narratives naturally offers us the opportunity to understand the complex world that we have inherited postcolonialism, and teaches us about our privilege and responsibility to the larger global community. This comes directly from a bilingual and bicultural education that prioritizes critical thinking, like the one offered at EB.
SORMEH YAZDI
CLASS OF 2008
What did you enjoy most about your time at EB and why? Informatique avec Madame Pluche et cours de musique avec Sandra. I also have fond memories of every class and all the friends I made while at EB.
Please describe your current studies. I’m a student at Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy.
How do you feel EB has influenced you or led you towards your choice of profession? My grade schooling at EB has shaped my entire life. I studied abroad in France and had a really wonderful time, largely because I already had a good grasp of the language and could make connections easily because of it. I did research in a physics lab in France because I was one of the few physics students who spoke French and could communicate easily with an international lab.
What would you say to parents just starting out at EB? The methods EB used to teach its students French surpass any other language classes at other schools. EB fully immerses its students into French language and culture. Having half of their classes in French and the other half in English really gives fluency to students. Describe your favorite EB memory. In eighth grade the entire class went to France together as part of an exchange program with another French school. One day Mme Métayer gave us an exercise to help us explore the Parisian métro system where we were split up into groups and basically raced from point A to point B. Each group had an adult chaperone who was meant to only help us from getting extremely lost, otherwise we were left to decide the best route ourselves. It was a great team building exercise and just extremely fun. We got a sense of freedom and responsibility while still being very safe. Do you feel that EB adequately prepared you for life after EB? Do you feel you are a citizen of the world? Yes, I do.
Would you consider sending your children to EB? Why? If I end up back in the Bay Area, I would certainly consider sending my children to EB. I really benefited from the small class sizes and value the ability to speak French with ease.
Anything else you’d like to add? Artichauts sauvages !
(Sormeh Note: reference to the houses they had—a chant that her house came up with.)
DEMIR WORTHINGTHON
CLASS OF 2010
What did you enjoy most about your time at EB and why? I went to EB from Pre-K to the end of Middle School, so I experienced the whole gamut. I think the best time at EB was actually getting to reflect on what I learned at the end of Middle School. I was lucky enough to create long-lasting friendships, and I’m still very close to some of my EB best friends, whom I see regularly. While education was important, I enjoyed all the classes I took, especially the interactions with the faculty. Just getting exposed to a broader global community was what I liked the most about EB.
Please describe your current work. I am an engineer and geologist working for the California Environmental Protection Agency doing water quality and protection. One of the main things I do is work on spill response. So whenever there is a diesel, chemical or illegal spill into a wetland or waterway, I’m the point of contact. Usually what we’re doing is trying to assess the situation, give input to the responsible agency or party, and try to help them to direct cleanup activities. Sometimes I’ll coordinate with the legal team and write up orders if there are any penalties. I also work with parties who are having issues complying with water quality regulations and help them achieve compliance. I do a lot of things but it is guided by the principle to protect water quality in the Bay Area, whatever situation presents itself. I’m lucky to get to do something that I’m passionate about and makes a difference. I get to flex that scientific muscle, as well. How do you feel EB has influenced you or led you towards your choice of profession? Going to EB gave me the perspective that whatever I do as an adult, I want to positively impact the community that I’m from or that I participate in. With that in mind, I went to school with the dream of doing some environmental work, but I wasn’t sure yet what that was. When I got the opportunity to work for the State of California, I realized that it was a job that I would be making a direct positive impact on the people and places that I know and love. EB gave me a strong sense of community and a strong sense of responsibility for protecting my community.
What would you say to parents just starting out at EB? For parents just starting out at EB at Preschool, it’s going to be tough at the start. The transition is hard, but if you start learning French with your kids, the language is with you forever. Sometimes, it’s hard to support your kids if you don’t come from a Francophone background, but things do get better very quickly. For parents, generally, the quality of education is great at EB. You would be doing yourself a disservice if you don’t get involved in the extracurricular activities, school events, and community. That’s what EB provides better than any other school in the area. Don’t just send your kid to school to EB, but actually be part of the events and interact with your fellow families. This is such a special community. Describe your favorite EB memory. When I went to France in the 8th grade, it totally blew my mind to fly halfway across the world with some of my best friends as a teenager. To just wander around the city, explore on our own and take in the rich French culture that Paris had to offer, was a pretty amazing learning experience. It was a big part of growing up and learning how to navigate the world on my own and it was a lot of fun. Do you feel that EB adequately prepared you for life after EB? Do you feel you are a citizen of the world? I absolutely feel like I’m a citizen of the world. After graduating from EB, and moving on, and meeting new people from new backgrounds, you realize that not everyone is exposed as you are when you’ve gone through EB. I felt lucky when travelling to France and other places where I didn’t know the language. Being in Germany, I knew French and how transportation worked, and how other cultures can be organized, but knowing the difference between France and the U.S. helped me get my bearings in the world. This has given me a lot of comfort, emotionally and professionally. EB has given me a lot of tools and confidence to go out, and face the world.
ELISE KRUEGER
CLASS OF 2013
What did you enjoy most about your time at EB and why? I loved the opportunity we were given to learn and discover different history and ways of life through our dual curriculum and all the amazing trips we took. Being able to travel and learn outside of the classroom was an amazing opportunity. From the small day trips to having correspondents in France, kept me interested in class as it tied what we learned to real life and experiences.
Please describe your current work. I am a realtor and personal trainer here in the Bay Area and love that I have the opportunity to do both! Going into college I was not sure what I wanted to do with my life. I was playing D1 soccer and I was happy with that. I was majoring in business because I knew it was a broad major which could help me with almost any job I wanted. At the end of my freshman year, I saw the seniors graduate and realized that would be me in a few years, I realized I needed to enjoy my time in college while working hard and setting myself up for a good future after graduation. I got a job, while still playing soccer, got my real estate license, and graduated a semester early, finishing school online during the pandemic. A year later I am working full time as a realtor at Compass and as a personal trainer. I joined my mother, who has been a realtor for over 22 years, and we formed The Vives Krueger Team. I love having someone to work with and utilizing each of our strengths. How do you feel EB has influenced you or led you towards your choice of profession? My choice of profession was not something I thought I would be doing. I have always loved looking at houses, remodels, etc. However I did not know I would get into real estate. EB provided me with knowledge, skills, and a work ethic to be able to work for myself. I am able to work for myself and do two jobs which I absolutely love.
What would you say to parents just starting out at EB? EB is a great opportunity for your child to not only become bilingual in both speaking and writing but it encourages learning in and outside of the classroom.
Describe your favorite EB memory. I have several favorite memories from EB so it is hard to pick one. The most memorable moment was the “polar swim” on our trip to Catalina. We woke up early, it’s cold outside, and we jumped into the freezing water. My other favorite memory is Grandparents’ Day. My grandparents would come every year and it is something we still talk about to this day. Do you feel that EB adequately prepared you for life after EB? Do you feel you are a citizen of the world? Academically, EB did a great job at preparing me for the next steps of life and continuing my education. EB did a great job at allowing us to discover and visit places we might have never had the opportunity to see.
Would you consider sending your children to EB? Why? I would absolutely consider sending my children to EB, mainly for the bilingual aspect. My mother is French, moved to the US in her mid 20s, so for me to be able to get a French education and do the same for my future children is amazing.
ZEINA SAAD
CLASS OF 1994
What did you enjoy most about your time at EB and why? The sense of community and building that community was amazing. I’m still friends with some of my EB peers, and French is still a big part of my life, as well as my children’s life. EB also helped me build my confidence, and I was able to thrive academically and socially after EB. EB helped me create a solid foundation for the rest of my academic and professional life, especially being able to navigate two languages.
Please describe your current work. I’m a consultant. I work with clients in implementing software and software solutions. I work primarily with nonprofits to make software more efficient. This is something that I’ve been doing for quite a while, which I love!
How do you feel EB has influenced you or led you towards your choice of profession? The math curriculum was particularly strong at EB, and set me up for success in my high school and college education, as well as my profession. When kids ask you, “why do you need to know math?” Well, it’s not just math, you probably won’t use calculus in your life, but it’s the foundation of problem solving and critical thinking. That’s something with the basis in math that helped me out a lot later on. Having a mixed education, and that separates other folks around you, and being able to confidently travel, also positively influenced my choice of profession. What would you say to parents just starting out at EB? I was lucky enough to have French-speaking parents at home. My parents could help me with my homework. Even if you don’t speak French at home, there is so much capacity for language acquisition at home. If you create connections with other EB families, those connections last for years. My neighbor’s child, who is now 26, they still have best friends at EB, and it’s wonderful to still have that sense of close knit community.
Describe your favorite EB memory. I have great memories of the teachers. I have such a strong association with certain people. I had some powerhouse teachers, who were pretty fantastic, and I have them in such high regard. They played such a big role in my life, and being able to share that with my brothers. I even saw one of my former teachers at an event through work last year, and it was such a wonderful experience to see her again!
Do you feel that EB adequately prepared you for life after EB? Do you feel you are a citizen of the world? First of all, EB 100% prepared me. I went directly from EB to the Oakland Unified School District, and the experiences were night and day. EB offered small, tight-knit classes in a tiny building, and we were one of the first graduating classes to have Middle School classes at the Grayson campus. Going to a huge school was totally different. I was coming into a school that included 9th grade in Middle School and coming in at the very last year, but even that big transition was important in learning how to adapt. After leaving EB, everything was easy, education-wise, if I’m honest. I even left EB with a Spanish education, and continued with it later on. In terms of being a citizen of the world, I’ve lived in a dozen countries and traveled in over 50. I’m Lebanese, and born in Lebanon, but EB has continued to instill this love of travel. We have the privilege and the love to do it.
Would you consider sending your children to EB? Why? I would definitely send my kids to EB, and I would love for them to be a part of the community.
ALUMNI NOTES
Vincent Bustararret (1986) founder of CityScoot, the first service to offer full access to electric mopeds throughout Paris, Milan, Barcelona and Nice, has been taking western Europe by storm! It successfully raised $25.6 million in 2020. They are even allowed to circulate in rue de Rivoli in Paris, which is now closed to cars.
Nick Chaset (1996), CEO of East Bay Community Energy, which seeks to lead the transition to clean power in our area, co-launched a new green initiative in July 2021. The ultimate goal is to reduce the cost of power purchases for, and retain the “green attributes” of the renewable energy contract for local public power agencies.
Gabriel Chytry (1995), a Broadway theater actor and former basketball player, was chosen to replicate Lincoln in the six-part CNN series, “Lincoln: Divided We Stand.”
Camilo Eifler (2012) was drafted by the NFL Jets Training Camp as a linebacker in the summer of 2021.
Justine Gilcrease (1982) is co-owner of Justine’s, a fabulous late-night French brasserie in Austin, considered one of the top fifty restaurants in the city. Justin Huffman, former sous-chef who left for California for the last couple of years, has returned as the executive chef, and is planning to focus on more Southern French Provençal cuisine. If you’re in the Austin area, make sure to check out the fare!
Mei-Lin Ha Byers (1999), EB’s Director of Development and Communications, welcomed a beautiful son in May 2021.
Bienvenue Quinlan ! We are so excited to have him join EB when he’s old enough! (photo right) Martin Jonikas (1996) assistant professor of molecular biology of Princeton, was one of three recipients to receive the 2020 Vilcek Foundation Prize, which recognizes the career achievements of foreign-born innovators in the sciences. A citation from the Vilcek Foundation states: “Jonikas has used molecular biology to advance the single-celled green algae Chlamydomonas as a widely used model for photosynthesi s—biochemical process at the heart of global food production.”
Nicholas Tripcevich (1981), works at the Archaeological Research Facility at UC Berkeley. He has been conducting archaeological research in central Andes since 1999, focusing on obsidian quarrying and geochemistry, the Andean caravanning tradition, geophysics, and geospatial analysis methods in archaeology. More recently, his work on llama caravan routes has been featured in the Smithsonian Magazine and Discover.
Julian Walter (1999), commercial and travel photographer, rode the legendary Trans-Siberian Railroad, and captured his unique experience for Condé Nast Traveler last year.
ALUMNI STAY IN TOUCH
EB ALUMNI RECONNECT
TEDxYouth Kate Solomon-Tilley, class of 2001, came back to EB to participate in our sixth Annual TEDxYouth Conference, and EB’s first virtual conference. Kate has been working on Broadway for many years with kids in productions such as Lion King, Aladdin, and What the Constitution Means to Me. She was invited to share her experience fostering three toddlers and how everyday citizens can take action when confronted with injustice and human rights violations. Meaghan McGrath, class of 2002, spoke about the future of farming. Passionate about sustainable food production, she focused on the innovative impact of indoor vertical farming, and how this new technology can save space and resources while utilizing a system that mitigates the effects of climate change. Meaghan studied Biology and Environmental Studies at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Following three years with Blue Earth Consultants in Oakland, she then completed her Master of Environmental Management at the Yale School of Forestry, while also pursuing an MBA from the Yale School of Management. She currently works for Plenty, an innovative vertical farming company based in South San Francisco that is focused on growing snackably delicious produce near consumers. Graduation Alumni Spotlight Award 2021 Recipient, Rose Carmen Goldberg (‘98), was invited to speak at the G8 Graduation, recounting her EB experience and how it impacted her life and career in working as a lawyer for public rights.
Summer at EB We were busy this summer, after finally being able to open our summer camp for EB students! We saw some friendly faces who joined our camp as counselors, including recent EB alums, Anna Dixon and Clara Chaillou (‘21), and a rising junior Aleksander Ramirez (‘18)! Samin Yzadi (‘12) interned at EB virtually for several months, helping us prepare for our first virtual gala, EB en Fête, as well as helping to launch our Alumni Giving Day, to help strengthen the EB Endowment for future generations. Samin has been accepted into Penn State for Law. Félicitations !
A Time to Remember and Come Together— Virtually For the first time, EB hosted a holiday-themed virtual alumni reunion, where many of our alumni peers came together from all over the country and the world, from as far as France, Scotland, and even Ohio!
ALUMNI COMMITTEE
Alumni Committee Members
Becky Andersen Brigitte Bastrenta Anne Brandon Pat Burns Christine Chapon Tina Chen-
Chardonnet Awatif Chirar Steve Cook Tamara Daney Thierry Durandard Luz de la Riva Fabiola Etienne Gaëlle Feliz Joan Finnie Hilary Goldman Amy Gordon-Risz Hülya Gürtuna Mei-Lin Ha Byers Ann Hasse Brooke Hauch Joyce Hemmer Elizabeth Herzberg Virginia Hoyt Devyani Jain Véronique Jordan Florence Kragen Kathleen Letellier Steve Levine Vivian Lopez Nasi Maghsoudnia
White Michelle Maguire Johnelle Mancha Tina Meyer Michael Morris Susan Nehme Brenda Ogburn Gloria Polanski Natalie Powell Ritu Rai Rick Richetta Karoline Robbins,
Co-Chair Karma Roberts Cottie Rood Roberte Rountree Marie-José Sat Vicki Schumb,
Co-Chair Joan Steele Nathalie Stringfellow Nathalie Valette Jacqueline Van Lang Susan Vinluan-
Morrison Priscilla Wanerus Demir Worthington Azadeh Yazdi Milan Zydow After their children have graduated, sometimes many years later, our alumni parents continue to show up to support and celebrate EB. This year, with many of our events canceled or moved to the virtual space, we had fewer opportunities to gather, yet our Alumni Committee remained no less committed.
Our annual Alumni Reunion was held online, with support from long-time Middle School teacher Corinne Pluche. It was wonderful to see alums from all over the states and as far away as France and the UK come to check in, share updates, reminisce and get competitive with a little online trivia.
We are grateful to our EB Cinéma Chair, Demir Worthington, for organizing two virtual movie viewings and discussions. Les glaneurs et la glaneuse (The Gleaners & I), directed by Agnès Varda, followed a series of French gleaners and the tradition of reusing food and material in urban landscapes as well as in the countryside. Une semaine de vacances (A Week of Vacation), was the story of a young school teacher from Lyon who takes a week’s leave to reflect on the essential aspects of her career and her personal life. Watching and discussing these two films together made for engaging evenings with fellow EB cinephiles!
Though our traditions have paused or been adapted, our Alumni Committee continues to show up to create an ongoing legacy for generations of EB families and students. We are grateful to the 2020–2021 Co-Chairs, Vicki Schumb and Karoline Robbins, who led this year’s committee with grace and flexibility. We feel fortunate to have such dedicated members to maintain our wonderful Alumni Committee!
Would you like to be a part of the Alumni Committee? Please reach out to our Director of Development, Mei-Lin Ha Byers, at mha@eb.org. Do you have a new email address? New school or job? New exciting project? Visit the Alumni tab at eb.org and let us know via our “Stay in Touch” page. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, @eb_alumni, and LinkedIn!
