HW - Spotlight on the Transformational Impact of Financial Aid 2022

ON THE TRANSFORMATIONAL IMPACT OF FINANCIAL AID

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Message from

RICK COMMONS

O

n April 24, Harvard-Westlake held its first in-person Spotlight Dinner in three years. While this year’s format was slightly different than before (dinner was held outdoors on a spectacular spring evening), its focus was unchanged. Central were the stories of ten remarkable seniors who share two significant traits: 1) their impact on the school and fellow students was immeasurable, and 2) their experience could not have been possible without need-based financial aid.

While last year this communication was sent in lieu of the Spotlight Dinner, this year we send it as an addendum— hoping to reinforce the power of financial aid to those who attended and broaden the message’s reach to those who could not. In addition to sharing remarks about the ten students honored, we have also highlighted Susan Yun Lee ’98 and Erik Swoope ’10, who shared their own stories at this year’s event of how financial aid transformed their lives.

Thanks to the support of donors like you, Harvard-Westlake proudly offers financial aid to 22% of our students. We aim to grow that percentage year by year, perhaps one day achieving the ideal of becoming need-blind in our admissions process. Our commitment to financial aid is not simply an investment in the recipients; it strengthens the entire Harvard-Westlake community, providing greater access, diversity, and excellence—three noble objectives demonstrated vividly in the pages to come.

I hope you enjoy reading these triumphant stories, all of which are enabled by the generosity of friends like you. Thank you for your support and belief in Harvard-Westlake.

RICHARD B. COMMONS The Charles B. Thornton President & Head of School

01

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

CIONNIE PINEDA ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

At an admission event for independent schools, Cionnie Pineda stood by herself, fielding questions. So eloquent and passionate was she in describing HW, that she had drawn quite a crowd of prospective students and parents. Our Directors of Admission and Financial Aid, standing nearby, realized they could have left the entire operation to Cionnie. She involves herself in such a range of activities that her peers and mentors alike observe in wonder. She is co-chair of the Latino Hispanic Student Organization, co-chair of Harvard-Westlake Student Ambassadors, and one of the leaders of SLIDE, the student coalition promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion among all student groups. As if all that wouldn’t keep her busy enough,

02

I hope to leave HarvardWestlake more inclusive of low-income, first-generation students, and students of color. I want our school to be conscious of these students in every decision made on curriculum, incoming faculty, and the culture of HW.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN INCOMING STUDENT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR HW EXPERIENCE?

Find the people that will support you and be your safety net while you navigate Harvard-Westlake.

Create relationships with faculty, staff, and other students because they will last a lifetime. Embrace uncomfortableness because it will prepare you for the world that waits after you graduate high school.

WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

In ten years I see myself having graduated from Barnard College and Columbia University through the 4+1 Engineering program. I will approach my work as an engineer with a social justice lens and tackle environmental racism and gentrification.

Above all, I will be working towards my goal to create more equitable opportunities for other students who are overlooked because of their identities.

SPOTLIGH T ON THE TRANSFORM ATIONAL IM PAC T OF FINANC IAL AID

Cionnie was a member of Harvard-Westlake’s CIFchampionship-winning soccer team . A KIPP graduate herself, Cionnie was recognized at a young age as a Jack Kent Cooke Scholar and a Jaime Escalante Math Scholar. She comes to HW every day all the way from South Gate – currently the only Harvard-Westlake student from that community. It has not always been easy, but Cionnie has endured the long commute each day, making a wonderful contribution to our community while furthering her own remarkable educational journey. Her next step is the 4+1 program in engineering at Barnard and Columbia, which will enable her to earn a Master’s Degree in five years.

“This photo of myself and other HW students was taken at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference. Independent schools from all over the country send students passionate about social justice to SDLC to connect through affinity groups, speakers, panels, and workshops. I was able to find my voice and the courage to advocate for DEI at Harvard-Westlake after attending SDLC twice.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

EGHOSASERE ASEMOTA ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Throughout his time at HW, Eghosasere Asemota has pushed purposefully against the outside edges of any envelope that might limit him. As a sophomore photography student, when the class was learning the modern digital medium, he insisted on perfecting the old-fashioned, much-morecomplicated darkroom techniques. As a junior, Eghosasere was one of four juniors in the AP Geography/Urban Studies class and more than held his own among the 27 seniors in the room while doing groundbreaking work on the special challenges Black girls face in Los Angeles. Now, as a senior,

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WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT HW?

I hope that I was able to help HarvardWestlake inch closer to our goal of being a diverse and inclusive community, where everyone feels like they belong.

SPOTLIGH T ON THE TRANSFORM ATIONAL IM PAC T OF FINANC IAL AID

Something that I am very proud of is my role as a BLACC leader. I loved the ability to interact with all black students and be a source of support. This position helped me grow as a leader and gain some great mentors.

Eghosasere is taking a directed study course called Public Education in America, where he continues to lead discussions, engage his peers, and stand for principle. Associate Head of School Laura Ross, who teaches the course, lauds his ability to engage guest speakers and represent both the class and the school with his mature and thoughtful questions.

Eghosasere is a leader of the Black Leadership and Culture Club, a co-chair of the Admission Office Student Ambassadors, and a student presenter for the Pollyanna Conference, an event designed to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion at LA independent schools. The Posse Foundation, which recruits and supports talented student leaders, has awarded Eghosasere a full college scholarship, which will take him to Tulane University, where he intends to study public policy and concentrate on environmental studies.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

SHOSHANA BERNSTEIN ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

As we have spent months going to school online and then returning to in-person classes wearing masks, HW teachers will tell you that what kept them going is students like Shoshana Bernstein. In last year’s comments, every one of Shoshie’s teachers noted her energy on Zoom, grateful for how she “drove the class forward,” “delighted us all,” and “stood out among stars.” Of course, in person, Shoshie’s star shines even brighter. One teacher, searching for words to capture Shoshie’s energy, described her as “bright, shining… illuminated.” While she excels in all her studies, earning recognition as a National Merit Finalist, Shoshie’s bent is toward the Humanities, where teachers like Dror

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WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT HW?

Something about my Harvard-Westlake journey that I am proud of is that I truly took classes tailored to my interests rather than devoting my entire schedule to what I thought would look best to colleges. From Gender Studies to Multivariable Calculus to several acting classes to Middle East Studies, I have had the opportunity to take so many classes that expand the way I am able to understand the world. That is just so cool to me.

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WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN INCOMING STUDENT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR HW EXPERIENCE?

At Harvard-Westlake, there are so many ways to go out of your comfort zone, and I would recommend to everyone that they take advantage of that, because in my own journey at HW, trying new things led to some awesome passions.

Yaron comment on her exceptional clarity of thought and force of argument. She puts that conviction to further use as captain of the softball team, performer in school musicals, member of the improv troupe, copresident of the gender equity club, and volunteer for organizations providing enrichment for underserved students who needed help, especially during the pandemic. She hopes to continue work in gender studies and political science at Dartmouth and for the moment envisions a career in the law or politics.

“Empower, Harvard-Westlake’s feminism and gender equality club, has been a very important part of my Harvard-Westlake experience since 10th grade. In our meetings, we host speakers, plan fundraisers, discuss political issues related to gender, and sometimes just hang out.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

LOUIS HESS ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Someone once said that life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans. In a school culture where we can sometimes neglect the present while planning for the future, Louis Hess represents a refreshing reminder that high school does not need to be a pressure cooker. He has shown enormous talent and promise in the sciences, but his varied interests also include such meditative pursuits as yoga and long-distance running. During his time in high school, Louis has run the LA Marathon, backpacked for two weeks in New Mexico, participated in debate and robotics, and earned the noteworthy distinction of becoming an Eagle Scout. One of his teachers writes: “Louis’s path through Harvard-Westlake has been driven not by ambition but curiosity and interest.” He likes

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WHAT MARK DO YOU HOPE YOU HAVE LEFT ON HW?

Before joining Harvard-Westlake, I had very little idea of what I wanted to do with my academic future. Learning more about myself and my particular interests was a very special and personal journey, and I hope that the open attitude I tried my best to carry proved a good example for my peers and the community as a whole.

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WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

I have an interest in pursuing a doctorate in the sciences after college. I do not know exactly where I’ll live but I hope that it’s a new and exciting place for me to experience as much of the world as I can. I want at least three cats.

pushing himself in unusual directions, trying new things, and taking intellectual risks. He is known by peers and teachers alike for his energy and elan, elements that made all the difference in our collective efforts to maintain motivation and positive relationships through the pandemic. Louis’s next educational step will take him to the University of Michigan, where he plans to study physics, chemistry, or Engineering and take in all that Ann Arbor and its environs have to offer.

“I’ve always loved this picture of me and my friends after Ring Ceremony.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

THERESE ENRIQUEZ ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Therese Enriquez has been an honor roll student since 7th grade, excelling especially in math and language, where she is currently taking AP Calculus C and post-AP Spanish seminar and is a member of the National Spanish Honor Society. We have mentioned the learning challenges brought about by the pandemic, but facemasks cannot keep Therese from full engagement with her teachers and classmates. Therese’s AP English teacher particularly highlights her focus in class: “One really impressive quality that Therese brings to the A.P. Language classroom is her level of engagement. Whenever I’m in the middle of leading a discussion or reviewing a reading, Therese has her eyes up, focused on the questions at

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WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

To be quite honest, I have no clue where I will be 10 years from now—I don’t even know what I want to eat for dinner. But in 10 years, when I turn 27 years old, I will hopefully have a career that allows me to work with and help other people, especially those in marginalized sectors like women, children, or people of color.

SPOTLIGH T WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN INCOMING STUDENT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR HW EXPERIENCE?

ON THE TRANSFORM ATIONAL IM PAC T OF FINANC IAL AID

This school might be different from what you are used to and will be harder, but it will push you to be the best version of yourself.

hand, and is always ready to respond. She nods along with points that she likes and raises questions when something is confusing.”

Therese complements this engagement in the classroom with leadership and excellence in the pool. She is the varsity girls’ swimming captain and a representative on the school’s studentathlete leadership council. She is part of two relay teams that hold school records, and she recently placed 8th in the 100-yard freestyle at the National Indoor Championships. Therese will attend the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University in the fall, where she was recruited to swim for the varsity women’s team.

“Something that is extremely important to me isn’t a tangible item—it is a group of people. Pictured above is the varsity girl’s swim team after the Justin Carr “Friday Night Lights” Classic, our second competition of the season, where we ended up coming in first. High school swim season is always my favorite part of the school year, and having the privilege of swimming with these girls and being their captain has allowed me to create so many memories—ranging from successes in the pool to activities outside the pool—and has taught me many valuable lessons that I will carry with me.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

KEVIN KWAK ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

In his freshman year, Kevin Kwak arrived at HarvardWestlake with an already extraordinary facility for programming and early dreams of studying computer science at the highest levels. Since then, his HW course of study has included classes you might expect, such as Multivariable Calculus, Linear Algebra, and Design and Data Structures.

But Kevin’s journey has also included unexpected paths that have led to new and exciting places. Kevin has participated in fencing, singing, photography, and advanced Chinese, and he has given countless volunteer hours to Voice of Calling, an organization

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WHAT MARK HAVE YOU LEFT ON HW AND WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

I hope to leave a mark at HW as someone that underclassmen can look up to, and in the future, I hope to be able to give back significantly to the community. I feel like my greatest accomplishment at HW has been receiving the Senior Award for Chinese Language, as I felt like my hard work throughout the years in Chinese, like meeting my teacher weekly in 10th grade, had been rewarded.

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By far the most important thing related to my HW experience was my friends. They have always looked out for me and helped me out in times of need, and I’m truly going to miss them. This is a picture of us at an exhibit.

that provides free computer science education for students young and old. His teacher for Design and Data Structures says this about Kevin: “After hearing of the legendary Kevin Kwak for years, I am thrilled to finally have him as a student.

Truthfully, I’m not sure how much of what we’re covering this year is new for him, but I am immensely grateful for his humility in class, where he lets other students take the spotlight, even when he could run circles around all of them.” Fulfilling his academic promise and turning his early dreams into reality, Kevin will head to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall to continue his work in computer science.

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

ZEN-MARA DURUISSEAU ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

A passionate believer in the transformational power of financial aid, Zen-Mara Duruisseau presented and discussed her desire to establish a special scholarship at HW for low-income, first-generation-to-college students of color. She has been an agent of change and progress since she arrived at Harvard-Westlake from John Burroughs Middle School with unusual presence, charm, and determination. On several occasions, she has made her case with the entire faculty where she has presented the real-life experiences of students in the context of the school’s efforts to achieve greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. After her most recent presentation

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WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO AN INCOMING STUDENT ABOUT HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR HW EXPERIENCE?

Be authentically you. Do not change for anyone and use this time to grow to discover more things about yourself. Also do not hesitate to ask for help when you need it. Always stay positive and proud of the progress you make.

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WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

In 10 years it will be 2032. I will be in residency to become a pediatric neurosurgeon. I will be working on finishing my residency so I can later open my free help clinic called Duruisseau Medical Center.

to the faculty, one of her admirers said, “Wow. Just wow.” Zen has wowed us in a variety of ways during her HW career. She loves to participate in passionate discussions and pursue real-world projects in courses such as Genetics and Biotechnology, and Human Conflict: From Intolerance to Genocide. Outside of the classroom, she is an elite ballet dancer and a multigenre choreographer who has served as a TA in HW dance classes and a volunteer at a local dance studio.

Somehow, she manages also to run track. Zen is on her way to USC, where she plans to study computational neuroscience. It won’t surprise you to hear that she already has specific plans beyond college as well: she hopes one day to open a free health clinic in her home community of Baldwin Hills-Crenshaw.

“The picture is me at Mission League prelims for varsity track and field.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

JAYDON FAAL ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Jaydon Faal has feasted at the legendary HW smorgasbord as a scholar, a builder, an athlete, an entrepreneur, and a civic leader. Where to start? How about in 9th grade, when Jaydon decided to take Introduction to Programming in his first semester at HW. That led to a second semester, and then to a curriculum that has included AP Computer Science, Design and Data Structures, and Honors Topics in Computer Science. At the same time, Jaydon joined the robotics team, contributing along the way to the remarkable achievement of a world championship. Jaydon has also excelled in Harvard-Westlake’s entrepreneurship program, where Rob Levin calls him a star in the making. In that milieu, he serves

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WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT HW?

My biggest accomplishments were winning the VEX Robotics World Championship, and helping the boys’ soccer team beat Loyola and get past the first round of playoffs in over a decade.

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I would recommend getting involved in every activity that interests you. Even if you think you won’t have enough time, you’ll pick up valuable time management skills and make a way. HarvardWestlake has so much to offer and it is important to take advantage of every opportunity you can.

as the vice-president of the Economic and Fiscal Policy Club. With all of those academic and extracurricular commitments, it’s hard to imagine that he would have time for anything else. Yet, in an age of athletic specialization, Jaydon is the rare athlete who plays two varsity team sports—soccer and lacrosse. Jaydon will take all that energy and talent to Case Western Reserve, where he plans to study computer science and mechanical engineering.

“Being on the soccer team this past season was a significant part of my experience.

During quarantine, I lost my passion for the game that had captured my heart so many years ago. The brotherhood we formed helped me rediscover my love of soccer and gave me something worth fighting for when I was on the field.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

ALEXA SEN ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

Many of us play Wordle or Sudoku for brief mental diversions.

Alexa Sen enjoys those too, but she especially likes an online game called Foldit where players must go to the “Protein Design Sandbox” and solve complex organic molecule puzzles with hundreds of parts. Science and math are much more than a game for Alexa, as she has earned straight A’s in her STEM classes throughout her career at Harvard-Westlake, compiling a weighted GPA of 4.4 and earning recognition as a National Merit Finalist. While her college plans are still unfolding, she knows biochemistry is in her future. She spent the last two

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WHAT DO YOU FEEL HAS BEEN YOUR GREATEST ACCOMPLISHMENT AT HW?

My greatest accomplishment at Harvard-Westlake is knowing my limits and not overloading myself with classes and extracurriculars. An extension of this is resisting the temptation to join activities just for the sake of college applications. I hope that more people can follow in being more true to themselves.

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WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

In ten years I see myself just finishing many long years of medical training and entering into medical practice.

I do not know what specialty I will be in, but I will be helping people nonetheless, which is enough for me.

summers as an intern at a surgeon’s office, observing complicated, life-saving surgeries up close. Alexa has also distinguished herself in ceramics, specializing in glass sculpture, and she has starred on the golf team, earning All-Mission League honors.

Outside of school, she has crocheted hats for an organization called Knots of Love, and, during the pandemic, she has been one of the heroes volunteering time at hospitals in need of extra hands.

“This picture was taken after the Senior Ceremony in which the new seniors are honored and given their senior rings. This picture is meaningful to me because it represents the lifelong friends I have made at HW. There are still plenty more friends missing from this picture. I know we will always be family.”

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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT

LAURYN MILBURN ‘22

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

High school years pass by quickly, and legendary HW film teacher Ted Walch is known for urging his students to “live in the here and now.” Lauryn Milburn, or “Lolo” as Ted calls her, does just that, making the most of every opportunity to pursue her passions. Lauryn’s voice and perspective add much to the lively discussions in Ted’s Cinema Studies class, and she is as talented behind the camera as she is in analyzing what happens on screen. Her most recent work, entitled “Cancelled/Not Cancelled,” asks probing questions about cultural norms and what constitutes social acceptance. Her Video Art teacher says this of Lauryn: “As a leader, she is dependable, easygoing, and

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WHAT MARK HAVE YOU LEFT ON HW AND WHAT DO YOU FEEL IS YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT?

I hope people remember the impact I made on the school and the care that I had for the activities I participated in. I feel like one of my biggest accomplishments is the fact that I am a well-rounded student who cares deeply about important issues on campus.

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WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF 10 YEARS FROM NOW?

10 years from now I hope I am successful and living comfortably as a film director who is a black woman and making an impact on the entertainment industry. I can definitely say that HarvardWestlake gave me the experiences, resources, and platform to make that dream a reality.

open, and as an artist, she is visionary, kind-hearted, and courageous.” Lauryn is another one of our SLIDE leaders, she is a Peer Support leader, and she volunteers at Hope for LA, an organization serving the needy with food and shelter. To top it all off, Lauryn is one of the most accomplished sprinters in school history. She has been an integral part of three Mission League titles and one CIF team title, she has won three individual league championships, and she was part of last year’s CIF champion 4 X 100 relay team. Next year will take her to the University of Richmond where she plans to study business administration and marketing.

“This is a picture of me holding our CIF plaque after our girl’s track team was named 2021 Division 3 CIF Champions.”

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2021- 2022

FINANCIAL AID Financial Aid at Harvard-Westlake exists to attract and enroll the most talented students in Los Angeles, regardless of their family’s capacity to pay full tuition.

Every grant is need-based and customized to each family’s circumstances and financial profile.

AVERAGE AVERAGE TUITION TUITIONGRANT GRANT $

31,000

73% of

TUITION

31,000

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

$

22

1995-96

1.6

$ MILLION TOTAL DOLLARS AWARDED

STUDENTS ON FINANCIAL AID

All Students on Aid Receive:

$1,300

DRAW ACCOUNT FOR SCHOOL STORE AND CAFETERIA

ALL BOOKS AND COURSE MATERIALS

22%

of the student body receives financial aid

356

COMPUTER STIPEND

STUDENTS

2012-13

7.9

$ MILLION TOTAL DOLLARS AWARDED

2021-22

14

$ MILLION TOTAL DOLLARS AWARDED

REQUIRED ATHLETIC UNIFORMS AND EQUIPMENT

Expanded Supplemental Aid CAN INCLUDE:

Travel Study Grants

Leadership Programs

Family Emergencies

SAT/ACT Prep

Summer School

Academic Tutoring

CLASS OF 2022 MATRICULATION for Financial Aid Recipients Amherst College Barnard College of Columbia University Boston College Boston University (2) Bowdoin College (2) Brown University Bucknell University California State University Northridge (2) Carnegie Mellon University (2) Case Western Reserve University Chapman University Claremont McKenna College (2) Colby College Columbia University Connecticut College Cornell University (2) The George Washington University Georgetown University Harvard University (2) Harvey Mudd College Kenyon College Louisiana State University Massachusetts Institute of Technology New York University (3) Occidental College

Parsons School of Design Salisbury University Santa Clara University Santa Monica College Sarah Lawrence College (2) Southern Methodist University Stanford University (2) Syracuse University Tufts University (3) Tulane University University of California, Berkeley University of California, Los Angeles University of California, San Diego (2) University of Chicago University of Edinburgh University of Michigan (3) University of Missouri University of Pennsylvania (2) University of San Francisco University of Southern California (3) University of St. Andrews University of the Arts London Virginia Tech Washington University of St. Louis (3) Wesleyan University

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is Financial Aid a priority at Harvard-Westlake?

THERE ARE THREE MAIN REASONS:

1

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

#

24

2

#

3

#

EXCELLENCE

ACCESS

DIVERSITY

Harvard-Westlake by tradition and by mission is a place of excellence.

All aspects of the school benefit from financial aid, as the student recipients make us more excellent in every conceivable way.

Financial aid dollars enable a greater number of the most talented applicants in Los Angeles, regardless of family resources, to access Harvard-Westlake. HW owes it to the greater population of Los Angeles, and the future leaders of our city, country, and world to provide access to an institution with a purpose beyond itself.

A Harvard-Westlake education is unquestionably enhanced when we bring together a socioeconomically, racially, geographically, and ideologically diverse student body to experience this magical place together.

Meet Director of Financial Aid

GREG GONZALEZ

T

hank you for your support of finacial aid at Harvard-Westlake. Schools are just brick and mortar, but students breathe life into the buildings.

Financial aid enables us to draw from a larger applicant pool than we otherwise could, and that wider net yields amazing results.

Students in our need-based financial aid program perform at or above every measurable standard at our school, including GPA, national merit scholarships, and admission to selective colleges and universities.

Moreover, our students on aid have outstanding representation and performance in drama, athletics, clubs, affinity groups, and campus leadership.

These pages are a testament to the gifts our students share. As we grow our program, we salute not only the achievements of our outstanding students but also the supporters of our growing program.

Receiving scholarships and financial aid through high school and college changed my life and left a big impression on me. It has driven some of my professional choices and why I am committed to volunteering and giving.

When I was in high school, I vowed I would make a scholarship in my mother’s name because she was such a force in my education and who I am. I was a financial aid student and have come full circle as a donor.”

- SUSAN YUN LEE ’98

Financial Aid Recipient 2022 Spotlight Dinner Alumni Speaker

Yours very sincerely GREG GONZALEZ P’12 ’15 Director of Financial Aid Interim Director of Admission

Financial aid has been a catalyst for Greg Gonzalez’s entire life. A native of Boyle Heights here in Los Angeles, Greg attended both Columbia University and Columbia Journalism School with the assistance of need-based financial aid. Following a career in journalism, Greg found his way to education and Harvard-Westlake in 1994. He has served as a Middle School English teacher, Middle School dean, varsity football coach, Upper School history teacher, and History Department Chair, and now as the Director of Financial Aid and Interim Director of Admission. Greg has long had a deep connection to financial aid, even before he began administering our current $14 million program to 356 students, as both his daughters, Bella ’12 and Sophia ’15, received financial aid throughout their time here. “My goal is to bring financial aid out of the shadows,” Greg explains. “I am grateful for events like the Spotlight Dinner and publications like these that help to communicate the inspiring Harvard-Westlake stories that I am fortunate to witness every day.”

It’s very rare to find people who truly have your back but everything I have done in my life since 2010 has had some tie to HW and the unique folks who surround and support this school. I am so fond of this place and it brings me so much happiness.”

- ERIK SWOOPE ’10

Financial Aid Recipient 2022 Spotlight Dinner Alumni Speaker

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HARVARD-WESTLAKE

AMANDA HALL ’11

After graduating from Bucknell University in 2015 with a BA in Education and Spanish, I returned to Los Angeles to pursue teaching full-time. I worked as a Lead Kinder Readiness teacher at Bel Air Preschool for five years and loved every moment of supporting the development of young children. In 2021, I graduated from the Harvard Graduate School of Education with an Ed.M. in Learning and Teaching. I am now living in Boston and work as the Assistant Director and School Education Manager at Everbrook Academy in Brookline, MA.

HENRY WOODY ’13

In 2018, I started a software development company in Seattle called Hex Insights. We build custom software systems and data analytics tools for businesses. I recently moved back to Los Angeles to expand operations in the area. Growing the team and delivering valuable results to our clients has been and continues to be an amazing experience.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

HERE ARE UPDATES AND

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ACHIEVEMENTS RECEIVED FROM SELECT ALUMNI WHO WERE FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS.

HALSEY ROBERTSON ’13

After graduating from Yale University in 2017, I worked as a corporate paralegal in NYC before pivoting to working in eCommerce and retail at Walmart. Currently, I am working as the Executive Assistant to the CEO of Momofuku, a restaurant group based out of NYC. I’ve finally found my way to the food industry, which is one of my biggest passions!

NATALIE FLORESCU ’13

MAZELLE ETESSAMI ’14

I played college basketball for two years before transferring to Boston University where I received my BA in Biology with a specialization in Cell and Molecular Biology and Genetics in 2017. I worked as a 911 medic for four years in Boston, during which time I also received my Master’s in Public Health from The George Washington University and did a FEMA deployment in New York City at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. I now live in Philadelphia where I attend the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and plan to pursue a career in surgery.

After graduating from UC Berkeley in 2018, I worked as a Farsi translator for asylum seekers and co-founded Fenix Humanitarian Legal Aid, an NGO in Lesvos, Greece, and managed the Human Rights Investigations Clinic at the University of Hong Kong. This spring, I will be graduating from Harvard Law School, where I have focused on international conflict and human rights law.

COLE JACOBSON ’15

I attended the University of Pennsylvania, where I was a math major and a threeyear letterman as a defensive lineman for the sprint football team. Since graduating from Penn in 2019, I have moved back home to Los Angeles, where I currently work for the NFL as a Next Gen Stats Researcher. My long-term goal is to work for a pro or college football team, and I expect to use the lessons I learned both in the classroom and on the field at HarvardWestlake to get there.

NETANYA PERLUSS ’15

I currently live in Boston and work as the Project Coordinator for the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice, a national nonprofit organization that advances economic equity for survivors of domestic and sexual violence. I graduated magna cum laude from Wellesley College in 2019, where I studied Political Anthropology, Women and Gender Studies, and Middle Eastern Studies. Based on these experiences, I hope to continue in a career that brings together grassroots organizing, Black feminist theory, gender-focused research, and public health approaches to systems of violence.

DEVON BRETON-PAKOZDI ’12

I graduated from Yale College in 2016 with a BA in Ethics, Politics, and Economics with distinction, and am currently a Senior Associate at Bain Capital, where I help lead cybersecurity and infrastructure software investments out of our technology-focused growth capital fund. I am also an avid cellist–a passion that I first developed as a 7th grader in Ms. Reola’s Beginning Strings class at Harvard-Westlake middle school.

LIANE CAPIRAL ’15

I graduated from New York University with a degree in Psychology and minors in Public Health and Molecular Biology. I worked as a lab coordinator and research assistant at NYU Langone’s SEED Program and am eager to continue exploring public health in my career, particularly food access and equity. In the past year, I helped build WeSci.org, a crowdfunding platform for scientific research, and got the first campaign on childhood leukemia off the ground. I currently live in Los Angeles and work as a senior research associate in executive search focusing on financial services.

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GABRIEL PETER ’18 CHASIA JEFFRIES ’17

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

In May 2021, I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Southern California with a BA in Law, History, & Culture and a minor in Gender & Social Justice. I’m currently a firstyear Ph.D. student in the Culture & Theory Program at UC Irvine. My research uses Black feminist theory, poetic theory, and affect theory to examine ideas of credibility, irrationality, resistance, community, and embodiment in the knowledge production and experiences of Black women, especially as they appear in legal and medical settings.

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I just graduated Northeastern University with a degree in Computer Science and a concentration in Artificial Intelligence. Following my graduation, I will be working at Flexport, a technologically advanced freight-forwarding service that is disrupting the stale business model of competitors in the global supply chain. My position will be a Full-Stack Software Engineer in their Chicago office – can’t wait to start!

ALLANA RIVERA ’13

Shortly after graduating from The Master’s University in 2018, I began working at a growing boutique law firm in Los Angeles as a paralegal. Last year, I stepped out of the legal field in order to take an opportunity to work for my church, managing and editing design and editorial projects for our communications team.

In all these endeavors, I am so grateful for how Harvard-Westlake has equipped me personally and professionally to pursue excellence.

HAUNANI BAUTISTA ’17

I am currently a junior working on my BS in Human Biology at UC San Diego. I am pursuing the BS/ MS program with plans for medical school or Ph.D. programs after graduation. As my academic career continues, I understand more fully the “purpose beyond ourselves” and the “joyful pursuit of educational excellence” that Harvard-Westlake instilled in me just over five years ago, and am forever grateful for these invaluable lessons.

CORREY KING ’13

WHERE ARE THEY

After graduating from Saint Anselm College in 2017, I returned to LA and coached middle school football at Harvard-Westlake before beginning my career. I currently have two jobs in the sports industry so I guess my time as a Head Fanatic senior year at HW paid off! The first, as a broadcast research analyst for Sportradar, providing stats to live broadcasts during games and throughout the week for sports talk shows. The second is as an analyst for Pro Football Focus, a company that provides analytics for every NFL team and many college football programs.

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ERICK GREDONIA ’17

SARAH SEO ’12

I graduated from Bates College in May 2021 as a Dance Major with a double minor in Rhetoric, Film and Screen Studies, and Educational Studies. Currently, I am an Assistant Dean of Admission at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. Finishing up my first admissions cycle, I have been able to provide support in diversity recruitment and social media/communications initiatives. It has been an absolute joy to increase access to students from all over the country and all over the world from a variety of diverse backgrounds.

JUSTINE GOODE ’12

I graduated from Oberlin College in 2016 with high honors in English Literature and Art History. I worked in the art and photo department at Vanity Fair for several years and was a contributing writer for VanityFair. com. I currently live in Brooklyn and recently joined NBC News/ MSNBC Digital as an art director.

I am currently a second-year law student at Fordham University School of Law, where I just received recognition as the 2L Public Interest Student of the Year. Before coming to law school, I lived in New Orleans for four years teaching kindergarten in a charter school on the West Bank.

Before that, I majored in Psychology and Education Studies at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. This summer, I will be working in the policy department at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

JORDAN ELLISON ’15

I am currently a 2nd year Master’s student in Wildlife and Conservation Ecology at New Mexico State University. My thesis work is evaluating the effects of the surrounding landscape on Burrowing Owl nest success and productivity.

This summer I will be working for the US Forest Service, leading a field crew in doing surveys for Spotted Owls and Goshawks in Southern New Mexico.

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ANYA ANDREWS ’17

I am currently finishing an accelerated dual-degree program in which I earned my BA in Sociology in May 2021, and will be graduating with my MA in Liberal Studies this Spring. I have taken an interdisciplinary approach to my education, weaving together social studies and the history of learning with art as a mode of healing and resistance. I now work full-time as an Assistant Teacher at Manhattan Country School in New York City, and collaborate with an exceptional team to develop imaginative, cross-curricular lessons that encourage children to be inquisitive, creative, and independent thinkers.

SIRUS WHEATON ’19

I’m a junior at Amherst College majoring in Black Studies and English. I am the Student Body President, the senior chair of the Black Student Union, the captain of Club Soccer, and a musical director for our student radio group. Something that I have accomplished at Amherst that I am very proud of is installing reusable, plastic-andwater-free detergent sheet refill station stations in every first-year laundry room on campus in order to alleviate hygiene insecurity as well as lessen Amherst’s carbon footprint. This summer, and with continued hard work, I will be working in Boston at McKinsey & Company.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

REBECCA MAGIER ’12

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For the first five years out of college, I worked as a software engineer at Syapse, a company utilizing precision medicine to deliver the best care to cancer patients internationally. For the last year, I have been working at Canvas Medical as an Engineering Technical Lead helping to build a collaborative EMR for the future of healthcare. While trying to keep soccer as a big part of my life, my spare time is spent as an Assistant Coach for my alma mater at Swarthmore College.

SPOTLIGHT DINNER // APRIL 24, 2022

THE STUDENTS WE HONOR tonight are

at Harvard-Westlake for three primary reasons:

1) their remarkable abilities and determination, 2) the deep commitment and support of their families, and 3) the philanthropic investment in their futures made by many people in this room.

We make that investment because we believe that young people with exceptional talent and character should face no financial barrier to the best opportunity to magnify their gifts. We believe that their being at Harvard-Westlake makes our school more excellent. And we believe that, as they go forth from Harvard-Westlake, the return on investment will be the outsized difference they make in the communities they inhabit and the world they will inherit.

- RICK COMMONS The Charles B. Thornton President & Head of School

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Student Assistance Funds Harvard-Westlake is extremely grateful to the donors who have established Student Assistance Funds to provide additional funds beyond tuition for students receiving financial aid.

HARVARD-WESTLAKE

These funds cover student expenses aside from tuition, such as books, required materials, school trips, musical instruments, and athletic equipment— ensuring that every student can benefit from the full Harvard-Westlake experience regardless of financial need.

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Javier Fernando Arango Student Assistance Travel Fund Arnall Family Student Assistance Fund Attanasio Family Student Assistance Fund Marsha & Karl Austen Student Assistance Fund Bailey Family Student Assistance Fund Baril Student Assistance Fund Barnum Family Student Assistance Fund Bilger Family Student Assistance Fund Jim Brink Memorial Student Assistance Fund Reverend Canon José D. Carlo Student Assistance Fund Choi Family Student Assistance Fund Clancy Family Student Assistance Fund Cohen Family Student Assistance Fund Sergio D. Coury Student Assistance Fund Dean Family Student Assistance Fund Demoff Family Student Assistance Fund ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Dern Family Student Assistance Fund Doyle Family Student Assistance Fund Ebrahemi Family Student Assistance Fund Fisher Family Student Assistance Fund Beth & Josh Friedman Family Student Assistance Fund Marianne Hall Student Assistance Fund Harvard-Westlake African-American Alumni Network Student Assistance Fund Harvard-Westlake Parents Student Assistance Fund Joslin-Kaleel Family Student Assistance Fund Kanoff Family Student Assistance Fund Karmarkar Family Student Assistance Fund Karney-Goldstein Family Student Assistance Fund Allison and Jonathan Kasirer ’05 Family Student Assistance Fund Khalil Family Student Assistance Fund Steve Kim & Gerianne Sarte Family Student Assistance Fund Klein/Marcus Family Student Assistance Fund Jaime Lee ’03 Family Student Assistance Fund

Stafford Lee ’91 Family Student Assistance Fund Li Family Student Assistance Fund Jenny & Luis Li Family Student Assistance Fund Lu-Orenstein Family Student Assistance Fund James V. Maloney Jr. Student Assistance Fund Mayer Family Student Assistance Fund Doris B. Meyer Student Assistance Fund Milakin Family Student Assistance Fund Min Family Student Assistance Fund Myerson Family Student Assistance Fund Carol & William Ouchi Student Assistance Fund George C. Page Student Assistance Fund Nancy & Stephen Paul Student Assistance Fund Reese Family Student Assistance Fund Reese-Chu Family Student Assistance Fund Ressler Family Student Assistance Fund Rosson-Frandzel Family Student Assistance Fund Roth Family Student Assistance Fund Chan U. Ryu Student Assistance Fund Sachs Family Student Assistance Fund Seo Family Student Assistance Fund Shapiro Family Student Assistance Fund Shell Family Student Assistance Fund Song Family Student Assistance Fund Norman F. Sprague III ’65 Student Assistance Fund Lori & David Sunkin ’85 and Kathleen & Ted Buchalter Student Assistance Fund Theodore R. Sunshine Memorial Student Assistance Fund Tananbaum Family Student Assistance Fund Thibiant Family Student Assistance Fund Walske Family Student Assistance Fund Wen Family Student Assistance Fund Wixen Family Student Assistance Fund Xie Family Student Assistance Fund Yuan Family Student Assistance Fund

Scholar Endowments Harvard-Westlake is extremely grateful to the donors who have established Scholar Endowments, which provide needbased financial aid and tuition assistance to Harvard-Westlake families. Scholar Endowments enable the school to draw and retain the most talented applicants in Los Angeles, regardless of family resources.

Ahrens Scholar Endowment The Alumni Scholar Endowment John Amato Scholar Endowment Anderson Family Scholar Endowment Attanasio Family Scholar Endowment Gabriella Axelrad ’04 Scholar Endowment Bagnard Family Scholar Endowment Milo W. Bekins ’44 Scholar Endowment Philip H. Berk Memorial Scholar Endowment Brittenham Family Scholar Endowment Burnap Foundation Scholar Endowment John A. Butler Memorial Scholar Endowment J. Chen Family Scholar Endowment Children of Faculty and Staff Scholar Endowment Cisneros-Ferreira Family Scholar Endowment Jarron ’97 & Jason ’97 Collins Scholar Endowment Richard B. Commons Scholar Endowment Davis Family Scholar Endowment Dees Family Scholar Endowment du Manoir-Camacho Family Scholar Endowment J. Howard Edgerton 1924 Scholar Endowment Jane B. Eisner Scholar Endowment Everard Family Scholar Endowment

Fischer Family Scholar Endowment Fischmann Family Scholar Endowment Flesh Family Scholar Endowment Garen Family Scholar Endowment General Scholar Endowment Father John S. Gill Scholar Endowment Goldsmith Maltz Family Scholar Endowment Hartford Family Scholar Endowment Harvard Class of ’85 Scholar Endowment Harvard-Westlake Parents Scholar Endowment Thomas C. Hudnut Scholar Endowment Reese Hummer ’88 Memorial Scholar Endowment Independence Foundation Scholar Endowment Les Josephson ’79 Memorial Scholar Endowment Kaplan Family Scholar Endowment The William M. Keck, Jr. Scholar Endowment The William M. Keck, II Scholar Endowment Larkin Family Scholar Endowment Latino Parents Association Scholar Endowment Christopher Lizzio ’82 Memorial Scholar Endowment Lu Family Scholar Endowment Lucas Family Scholar Endowment Walter & Carol Matthau Scholar Endowment

Stanley Meyer Scholar Endowment George E. Moss ’48 Scholar Endowment Owens Scholar Endowment The Promise Fund Resnik Family Scholar Endowment Richards Family Scholar Endowment Max Joseph Ritvo ’09 Scholar Endowment The Right Reverend Robert Rusack Memorial Endowment Frank R. Seaver Family Scholar Endowment The Segal Family Scholar Endowment Steven Shafran ’77 Scholar Endowment Kiran Sidhu ’82 Scholar Endowment Henry E. Singleton Scholar Endowment Harold V. Spencler 1917 Scholar Endowment Peter Stark ’62 Memorial Scholar Endowment The Stellar Family Scholar Endowment Wallis Foundation Scholar Endowment Barbara Welsh Scholar Endowment Robert W. Wienpahl ’35 Scholar Endowment Ina Coleman & Alan Wilson Scholar Endowment Woods Scholar Endowment Whitney Woods ’00 Memorial Scholar Endowment