Voyager Spring 2021

VOYAGER I S L A N D S C H O O L E ST . 1 9 7 7 s p r i n g e d i t i o n 2 0 2 0 - 2 1

E MĀLIE A HOLO I MUA Keep Calm and Voyage On

Our Mission

“Educating the mind, inspiring the heart.

Preparing Kaua‘i’s youth to lead lives of significance.”

Administration

Contents

Kate Conway, Head of School Sean Magoun, Director of Institutional Advancement Brian Pearson, Business Manager Katie Magoun, Executive Assistant & Registrar Nathaniel Evslin, Dean of Students Dr. Jeff Kozak, Dean of Academics Janet Powell, Middle School Department Head Cristy Peeren, Elementary School Department Head Jerry Jona, Athletic Director

Message from Kate....4

Voyaging Through COVID-19....8

Development

Alumni: Where Are They Now....26

Bianca Mendoza & Jamie Prem

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Ways You Can Give....5

Voyagers Join The Navy....10 The Class of 2021....14

Island School Board of Directors

Members

Colby Ayonon Debra Blachowiak Tanya Gamby James Guerber Cynthia Hannah-White Alan King Wade Lord Janet Mayfield Teri Peers Laura Ryan Will Summerhays Marc Ventura

Katherine G. Richardson, President David W. Pratt, Vice President Laura Cushnie, Vice President Samuel W. Pratt, Treasurer Charles G. King, Assistant Treasurer Sonia Topenio, Secretary Christine Ing, Assistant Secretary

Directors Emeritus Lindsay Kamm David W. Proudfoot

Ex-Officio

Kate Conway, Head of School

Island School Parent Association Council Members

Matt Hall, President Darlene Brosamer, Vice President Corey Dobashi, Treasurer Catherine Harrison, Secretary Lisa Macko, Hospitality

Parent Representative Communication Network

Nathaniel Evslin, Admin/Staff Rep. Marjorie DeSouza, High School Emiko Meyers, Middle School Jamie Prem, Elementary School 3

Letter from Kate Aloha Island School ‘Ohana and Friends, This has been a year of flexibility, adaptability, and resilience. We could not have made it through this year safely and successfully without our Island School students following the new rules, our families who were committed to staying educated about the restrictions related to travel, quarantine, and masks, our Kaua‘i community that remained loyal and supportive of Island School and our mission, and all of our dedicated faculty and staff. We saw endless examples of Ho‘ohanohano, the value of dignity and respect of others as well as Kuleana, the value of personal responsibility and accountability.

The whole community worked together to abide by our Community Pledge and took measures to keep one another safe. We all mourned certain events, activities, and even just being able to hug, but we also shared our gratitude for being able to learn in person and found new ways to carry out the spirit of old traditions. We called on the Hawaiian value of Ho‘omau, persevering and persisting.

While the school year was drastically different, Island School remained committed to provide our students with as many traditional opportunities as possible. We were able to seek additional funding resources to provide our students with the necessary technology that would allow them to attend classes safely, perform plays, and have the option to participate in our Distance Learning Option. We held our Learning Voyages on campus and virtually with enthusiastic feedback from our students, parents, faculty, and staff. We shared Senior Capstone presentations virtually while high school students were able to watch in person. We took advantage of our beautiful campus and community to create a special May Day video. We held field days for elementary and middle school, and modified events like prom to make them successful and COVID-compliant. We will host our 2021 graduation ceremony on campus at the Wilcox gym, albeit on the lanai and under a tent in the grass area.

Through all of these modifications, we continued to learn and exemplify the value of ‘Ike Loa, of seeking knowledge and wisdom. Not only did our students engage in their academics at a high level and achieve academic success, but we learned about ourselves and one another. We learned the importance of connection and community. We learned that we can find silver linings and keep moving forward, even in challenging times.

Above all, we learned about how to support one another in our resilience. We will keep making progress on our voyage, navigating the peaks and troughs with grace and momentum due to Lokahi, the value of teamwork and unity.

Mahalo,

Kate Conway Head of School 4 Voyager Spring 2021

Voyager Fund

Island School received extremely generous donations this year for our Voyager Fund - without which, would have made this past year much more difficult. A warm aloha and mahalo to everyone who made a gift to the Voyager Fund so far this year. We saw contributions from alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and our friends from the Kaua‘i community. There is still time to donate before the fund closes on June 30th. We are all in this together and Island School appreciates each and every one of our supporters who continuously stands by us even during a pandemic.

Your gifts to the Voyager Fund reaches every single Island School student and ensures that they continue to have a safe and positive Island School education experience. They receive hands-on, project based learning, interactive and innovative programs, enriching curricular materials, and a secure and beautiful campus.

We are all important to our mission.

Many of us on Kaua‘i and around the world love Island School; from its humble beginnings at Kealia beach in 1977 with 15 students to our current location in Puhi with 426 student Voyagers. We continue to offer our island community an educational alternative by fulfilling our mission for Kaua‘i’s youth. There is power in numbers and every single type of support to Island School makes a difference in the lives of our students.

To make a gift, go online at www.ischool.org/giving.

Mahalo to everyone that has already made a gift, please accept our gratitude and deep appreciation.

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Your Support Makes a Difference in the Lives of Every Student at Island School

How You Can Give

There are many ways to give to Island School. Gifts fall into two main categories: Outright Giving and Planned Giving.

Outright Gifts

The majority of gifts made to Island School are made in cash, or cash equivalents, as outright gifts to meet the school’s immediate financial needs. The following gifts can be donated outright or incorporated into an estate plan.

Cash or cash equivalents: Donations can be made to Island School through cash, check, or credit card donations with the option to cover the incurred credit card fee. Each donation receives a direct tax benefit and is allocated according to the preference of the donor. Gifts are easily received either online at www.ischool.org/giving, over the phone with our Office of Institutional Advancement at (808)246-0233, and in-person at our main office. Donations can also be made through Amazon Smile which will make a donation to the charity of your choice at: smile.amazon.com.

Securities: Gifts of appreciated securities or bonds allow you to make donations to the school with tax benefits that include market value tax deductions and avoidance of capital gains’ liabilities. For transfer instructions, please call our Business Office at: (808)246-0233.

Matching Gifts: There are many companies that show their employees their support through a matching donation to the charities and nonprofit of their choice. If this is an option at your establishment, please consider making a donation to Island School.

Tribute Gifts: These gifts can be made in honor of or in memory of a family member, alumni, classmate, teacher, or loved one.

Providing the school with contact information will ensure that the person or family to whom you’ve chosen to pay tribute to will allow Island School to send an advisory note of your gift.

Life Insurance Policies Paid-up whole life insurance policies that you may no longer need can offer an immediate tax deduction for you while providing significant benefit to the school. Your gift credit would be the cash surrender value of the policy upon transfer.

Gift In-Kind These gifts include: property, other than cash or securities, company services, ranging from real estate to classroom supplies. Donors are required to determine the fair market value of their donation for tax purposes.

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Planned Gifts

Planned giving offers you the opportunity to leave a legacy at the school while protecting your financial future.Planned giving can offer sizable tax benefits and can also provide income relief to help you now or help your heirs in the future.

Planned gifts often allow you to make larger gifts to the school than would otherwise be possible, adding to Island School’s long-term financial strength and meeting your philanthropic goal. Gifts could be made during your lifetime or through estate planning and can range from a simple bequest to a deferred or gift annuity. Your donation can also be designated through a charitable remainder trust or lead trust naming the school as a beneficiary. Please contact your legal and tax advisors to begin your planning. Once you have decided to include Island School in your estate plans, please call the Institutional Advancement Office at (808)246-0233 to advise of your gift intentions.

Where You Can Give Voyager Fund

The Island School Voyager Fund is an unrestricted fund that is Island School’s greatest need because it goes directly towards our operating budget which allows our teachers professional development opportunities, curriculum enhancement, course material, and facility maintenance to ensure the safety of our students.

Financial Aid

The Financial Aid fund is to ensure that every student has the opportunity to attend Island School. This year, due to COVID-19, we saw a significant increase in tuition aid applications and 61% of our students received financial assistance during the 2020-2021 school year. We were able to award a higher number of students tuition aid because of the COVID relief funding our Board of Directors approved. This allowed more students to attend Island School while the other schools on the island transitioned to distance learning. As our tuition increases yearly and the future remains uncertain, please consider donating to our Financial Aid program so that 100% of our Voyagers can remain enrolled and we can welcome new students to our Voyager ‘Ohana!

Endowment

Endowment gifts remain intact in perpetuity and are invested to grow and secure the financial future of the school.

Endowment earnings create steady streams of income for the school. Named, commemorative endowments can be established for gifts of $10,000 or greater to honor individuals and veate legacies for them at Island School.

Restricted Endowments are established to benefit financial assistance or specific program or facility needs that are of interest to you. Earnings are only spent for designated purposes.

Unrestricted Endowments provide income into the future for Island School to be used in areas of greatest need as determined by the Board of Directors.

Special Projects Funds

Gifts to Special Project Funds are for designated purposes and needs. These include but are not limited to class costs, clubs, travel, capital improvements, special utilities, etc. These are restricted gifts that are expended on the designated purpose the donor(s) specify until the funds are fully exhausted.

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Voyaging Through COVID-19 Summer 2020: Preparing for Students Return to Campus

August 10, 2020: First Day Back to In-Person Learning

8 Voyager Spring 2021

January 5, 2021: Second Semester Begins

February 16-19, 2021: Learning Voyages

May Day! 9

Henry Scherer

Voyagers Join The U.S. Navy

How has your experience at the U.S. Naval Academy been thus far?

The experience has been an interesting one for sure. Unfortunately due to the COVID pandemic we have not been able to keep some of the traditions that we have had in the past. Arriving at the academy on induction day was a stressful and exciting experience, while I was incredibly nervous, I was also excited to start this new chapter in my life and see what the academy had to offer. Overall my experience has been good thus far. There have definitely been stressful moments that have caused me to question my decision to come here, but in the end I am happy that I am here and I am very excited for my sister to join me.

Have any of your plans changed due to the pandemic?

Yes, plans have changed drastically due to the pandemic. We were sent home for spring break at the beginning of March last year.

Near the end of break we were told to stay home and we did not end up going back to the academy until August. All of the trainings that we were scheduled to do over the summer were cancelled and we missed out on many of the traditions that take place at the end of our plebe year such as Sea Trials and the Herndon Climb. Instead we took online classes at home. As of March 20th of this year, we have been in a Restriction of Movement (ROM) status for an entire year. This means that we are not allowed to leave our rooms and we are taking all of our classes online. This has affected mine and many peoples’ plans for this semester. However, they have started vaccinating people so there is hope that we can pull through this.

How do you feel Island School prepared you for your post high school journey?

I feel that Island School has prepared me well for my time here at the Naval Academy.

Comparatively, I have a very close friend who attended public school on Kauai and currently attends West Point. He has had to figure out how to keep up with the academic workload that comes with being at an academy. I have never felt like I needed to learn how to study or keep up with the workload while I am here and I have been able to maintain a relatively decent GPA.

Who have been the most inspirational people in your life and in what ways have they impacted you?

My family has definitely been the most inspirational people in my life. My mom is able to be a full time doctor while still competing in ultra-marathons, ironman triathlons, and other various endurance races. My dad has always been someone who supports us and will do whatever he can to make sure that his family is happy and healthy. My older brother manages to keep a good job and run his own business at the same time. Finally, my little sister continues to impress me by working super hard day in and day out to try to get into a good college and still manages to spend quality time with her friends.

What advice would you give to our 2021 graduates?

Never let anybody tell you that you can’t do something - several people doubted me on my ability to be accepted here, and people continue to doubt that I will be a good officer. This is an exciting time in your life. You are heading into the next stage of your life and it can be very easy to feel like you can relax and take it easy, Whatever you do, do not get complacent with your situation in life. Don’t let your grades slide at the end of senior year. Don’t think that just because you may not be living with your parents you can do whatever you want.

Throughout your lives you will be challenged, tested, and evaluated. Prepare yourselves physically and mentally for these challenges, stay humble, and never quit.

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Olivia Lutkevich What are your plans for after graduation?

After graduation, I will be attending the United States Naval Academy for a rigorous college/military training experience. Following graduation in May, I will spend a month on island, hanging out with my friends and family and then on July 1st, I will report to the United States Naval Academy for my first summer of training before the academic year begins.

What were some of the reasons you decided to join the United States Military?

When I was a sophomore in high school, my brother, Henry Scherer, was in a program called the Civil Air Patrol Cadet Program. He joined it because he always knew that he wanted to join the military so he figured this program would help him develop his leadership skills. I was always unsure as to what I wanted to do for my career but eventually, Henry convinced me to join this program and I instantly fell in love with the leadership aspects of the program. As I watched Henry find his military family, I decided that I wanted to find mine as well. The military really is one big team and family. It is something that is bigger than the individual and I can’t wait to be part of something that is so much bigger than myself.

What are some of your goals that you want to accomplish in college?

The Naval Academy has several teams and clubs so I want to try to participate in as many of those as I can. My freshman year, I am going to try to walk on to their cross country team so that I can improve my running ability. Ultimately, I hope to be successful at the academy academically and physically while simultaneously developing my leadership skills so that I can be of service to our country.

How do you feel Island School has prepared you for your next step?

I feel that Island School’s rigorous curriculum has prepared me for my endeavors into the college realm. Island School is a college preparatory school so I believe that when I go to USNA, I will know how to study and best prepare myself for these harsh college courses. I will have all of the skills needed to succeed because I have spent most of my high school years preparing for college.

Who have been the most inspirational people in your life and in what ways have they impacted you?

My family has been the most influential people in my life. My parents have always been very supportive of my goals and desires and they are the reason I have gotten to where I am at today. My oldest brother, Kieren Smith, has always been there for me and always motivates me to be the best version of myself. Lastly, Henry is the one who inspired me to join the Navy and go to USNA. He showed me a world that I would have never explored if he wasn’t in my life. I look up to him everyday and cannot wait to be at the same college as him.

What advice would you give to our incoming seniors?

Incoming seniors, this year will throw challenges at you that you have never experienced before. You’re becoming an adult so it is so important to enjoy your last year of high school but also take responsibility for your actions and become the adult you want to be. Never lose sight of who you are and what you stand for. Set goals, accomplish your dreams, and don’t live in a world of regrets.

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Class of Twenty-Twenty One Ethan Alderete, California Institute of Technology Amber Asuncion, Pepperdine University John Bancroft, University of California, Santa Barbara Ella Beck, Gonzaga University David Carlsson, San Diego State University Asa Chelius, University of Colorado, Boulder Justin Darnbrough, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs Jaden DeSouza, St. Mary’s College of California Paulina Do, University of California, Irvine Maile Fernandez, Metropolitan State University, Denver Trevor Goodman, California State University, Los Angeles Connor Hall, University of California, Davis Cameron Hubler, University of Texas, San Antonio Ethan Inanod, Kaua‘i Community College Sydney Jona, University of California, Irvine Titus Kanehe, University of Hawai‘i, Manoa Braydon King, Lewis and Clark College Alexa Lauryn, University of California, Los Angeles Bonnie Lee, University of Hawai‘i, Hilo Bryce Leonard, Northern Arizona University Olivia Lutkevich, US Naval Academy Wailana Marvin, University of Colorado, Boulder Foster McLychok, Santa Barbara City College Kainoa Merano, Colorado State University Taylor Mielke-Suizu, Hawai‘i Pacific University

Kaimana Moraes, Columbia University Tiago Morgado, University of Utah Anais Offley, University of San Francisco Katherine Polzin, Willamette University Wanbli Primeaux, University of California, Irvine Sophia Riley, Lewis and Clark College Heidi Roach, Hawai‘i Pacific University Andrew Sclafani, University of Hawai‘i, Manoa Justice Snyder, Kaua‘i Community College Callista Yavinsky, Colorado State University

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CLASS PROFILE

Our Graduates

• This year our seniors received 175 acceptances to 71 colleges and universities in

19 different states.

• 32 of our graduates are headed to 4 year colleges or universities next fall and three will be attending community colleges.

• 35% will attend private institutions; 65% will attend public institutions.

• The geographic distribution is far-reaching, with students headed to California, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Utah, Maryland, and New York.

• Students are interested in a variety of majors, ranging from physics, engineering, and electronics technology to environmental horticulture, international relations, pre-med, and cognitive science.

• Even during the year of COVID-19, the class of 2021 found time to perform over 2,000 hours of community service over their four years of high school.

• This class was the 16th class at Island School to complete senior capstone projects. Presentation topics ranged from Building an Aquaponics System, Health Diplomacy, Traditional Polynesian Navigation, and Ultramarathon Running to the History of Military aircraft, Improving Native American Reservations, and Designing/Building a Surfboard.

• In total, this senior class was offered over $1,400,000 in merit- and need-based scholarship money per year from all of their schools of acceptance, including 5 full ride offers or awards.

• Average SAT score: 1210 • Average GPA: 3.5

Island School Graduation Awards Board of Directors Award ­ Sydney Jona & Anais Offley

Head of School Award

Founders’ Spirit Award

Ethan Alderete & Olivia Lutkevich

John Bancroft Jaden DeSouza Braydon King Wanbli Primeaux & Sophia Riley

Voyager Artist Award ­­ Amber Asuncion & Heidi Roach

Scholar Athlete Award ­­ Ella Beck & Kaimana Moraes

Blue & Gold Award David Carlsson Jaden DeSouza Ethan Inanod Olivia Lutkevich

Sons and Daughters Award ­­ Amber Asuncion, David Carlsson, Jaden DeSouza, Paulina Do, Ethan Inanod, Sydney Jona, Titus Kanehe, Alexa Lauryn, Bonnie Lee, Kainoa Merano, Taylor Mielke-Suiza,Tiago Morgado, Abigail Polzin, Callista Yavinsky 13

Ethan Alderete

Ethan Alderete is the son of Dr. John P. Alderete and Christina Alderete of Kapa‘a. He has attended Island School for four years, arriving on Kaua‘i his freshman year from Palo Alto, California. Ethan was a member of the cross country team for two years and the track & field team for one. He also participated in the Model U.N. Club for one year, Science Olympiad Club for three years, and National Honor Society for two years. In the Science Olympiad, Ethan won four silver and four gold medals in regional competitions. In his spare time, he practices the violin and looks to perform with groups during college. Ethan will be continuing his education by majoring in either physics or mathematics with the eventual goal of earning a PhD in physics.

Amber Asuncion

Born and raised on Kauai as the daughter of Ross and Alicia Asuncion and the sister of three brothers, Amber has had her fair share of wild adventures. She is happiest when exploring the island with those who make her smile most. The windows would be cranked down, the music would be blasting, and laughter would fill the car. As for the next step in her life, she hopes to build the same type of relationships in college that she has been so blessed with here on this little island. In the near future, she wants to travel, get a tattoo, go to concerts, and see what this world has to offer; however, this does seem like more of a dream than a goal at the moment. She aspires to become a Physician’s Assistant with a focus in dermatology, and she would love to build a life in California.

John Bancroft After high school, John plans to study psychology in college to become a clinical psychologist and help people with mental illness. Along with that, he plans to start managing his father’s company to carry on his legacy. Athletics has played a significant role in his life and he looks forward to developing that role in the future.

His friendships he gained during his high school years inspire him to continue to help his fellow classmates when they need it.

Ella Beck Ella Beck is the daughter of Marau Beck and Hobey Beck, an Island School alumnus.

She resides in Hanalei with her cousin Manoa, who also attends Island School, and one of her older brothers. She has attended Island School for four years and participated in cross country, soccer, paddling, and track & field. As captain of the cross country, track & field, and paddling teams, Ella has received multiple athletic awards for her state-qualifying performances. Ella has also been on the head of school list and honor roll all four years. She served as Senior Class President and was a founding member of the Creative Writing/Poetry Club.

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David Carlsson David Carlsson is the son of Michael Carlsson and Naomi Escano. He has attended Island School for 13 years. David ran track his sophomore year, ran cross country junior year, and played basketball junior year. He also ran track junior year however, the season was canceled due to the Coronavirus pandemic. David plans on attending San Diego State University to study computer engineering.

Asa Chelius Asa Chelius is the son of Graham and Marisa Chelius. Starting in eighth grade, he has attended Island School for five years. Asa has participated in numerous sports such as paddling, track & field, and volleyball. In addition to athletics, Asa is also a proud Eagle Scout, pilot, and mechanic.

Justin Darnbrough After highschool Justin wants to attend a college in Colorado. While there, he wants to join a ski team and continue competing in the sport. Justin wishes to major in business and possibly in aviation. Once settled in Colorado Justin wants to visit Whistler and Kaua‘i often. When Justin becomes more successful and wealthy he wants to travel to Japan for skiing as well as South Africa to visit a friend.

Jaden De Souza Jaden De Souza is the daughter of Marjorie and Renato De Souza and sister of Lili De Souza of Lihue. She has gone to Island School since kindergarten but was around the campus long before that. Jaden has run cross country, competed in track & field, played on the volleyball team, and participated in Model UN during her high school career. She found a love of running while attending school, placing 2nd in the state for cross country, 3rd in the 400, and 6th in the 800 meter dash her sophomore year and broke the long standing Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation record. Jaden plans on continuing her academic and athletic careers at the Division 1school, Saint Mary’s College of California, on an academic and athletic scholarship in hopes of earning her nursing degree. She loves Kaua‘i and plans on returning to work on island after finishing school and hopefully traveling the world.

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Paulina Do Paulina Do is the daughter of Keith and Tiffany Do of Līhuʻe. She has attended Island School since kindergarten, having originally moved to Kaua‘i from Houston, Texas.

Paulina has participated on the tennis, air riflery, and paddling teams throughout her high school years. She has also been a member of the Model United Nations Club for three years as well as the Mock Trial team for a singular season. In school, her favorite subjects focus on both mathematics and literature analysis.

Additionally, Paulina enjoys spending her time outside of school with family and friends while choosing to express herself through creative outlets such as sketching and photography. Paulina plans to continue her education through majoring in either architecture or civil engineering with hopes to study near family.

Maile Fernandez Maile Fernandez is the daughter of Thomas Fernandez and Roberta Smith Fernandez and the youngest of seven siblings, three sisters and three brothers. She has attended Island School since seventh grade, often spending her time drawing and laughing with friends. Maile has participated in Kaua‘i Keiki High School Rodeo, Garden Isle Barrel Racing, Kaua‘i All Girls Rodeo and the annual Waimea Town Celebration and Koloa Plantation Days rodeos. She plans on moving to Colorado and attending Metropolitan State University Denver, majoring in criminology and criminal justice.

Trevor Goodman Trevor Goodman’s high school experience has been a journey. Starting his high school career out in California, he never expected to succeed like he did these last couple of years. He has completely transformed as a student in the class and as a person outside of the class. He says that Island School has really put him in the right direction for the future and he can’t wait to start the next chapter of his life.

Connor Hall Connor Hall is the son of Matt Hall and Mary Hall of Moloa‘a. He has attended Island School for seven years. Connor has participated in cross country, paddling, and tennis for two years and air riflery and track & field for one year. He plans to continue his education with studies in the environmental sciences.

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Cameron Hubler

Cameron Hubler is the son of Cheri Hubler and Mason Cawley. He has attended Island School since the seventh grade and participated in basketball on both the junior varsity and varsity teams. He has achieved the Head of School list for the past three years and plans to attend the University of Texas San Antonio to pursue a degree in business management.

Ethan Inanod

Ethan has attended Island School since pre-k and has fond memories of his elementary adventures including camping at Koke‘e and Camp Naue, as well as exploring O‘ahu and Hawai‘i island. He was an active participant in the elementary robotics team and traveled to O‘ahu twice to compete at the state level.

Ethan has played basketball since middle school and joined the Voyager High School Basketball Team as a freshman, earning the 2019-2020 Most Valuable Player award.

He has also participated in cross country, track & field, and air riflery. Outside of Island School, Ethan is an avid diver and ocean lover. The sea is his second home.

Ethan will be attending Kaua‘i Community College to pursue a degree in electrician installation and maintenance technology.

Sydney Jona

Sydney plans to major in either environmental science or environmental engineering in college, and hopes to study abroad in as many countries as her schedule and college will permit. She looks forward to going to the mainland where she’ll eat ramen everyday and drink all the brown sugar bubble tea she wants. She hopes to learn how to snowboard, attend a Meg Thee Stallion concert, dye her hair, and go thrift shopping. Also, she hopes to learn some new languages while maintaining her current Spanish skills. She’s excited for the coming years!

Titus Kanehe Titus Kanehe is the son of Sandra Nishek of Wailua Homesteads and Titus Kanehe, Sr. of Colorado. Titus has been an Island School student for 12 years. In ninth grade, he was selected to compete at the State National History Day on O‘ahu.

Titus participated in volleyball for one year and played junior varsity and varsity basketball throughout high school. Through the years, Titus enjoyed traveling off island with his basketball team to play other schools and clubs. Titus will be attending the University of Hawai‘i for the fall and is considering studying business.

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Braydon King

Braydon King is the son of Kori and Peter King of Wailua. He has been at Island School since second grade and participated in the Island School Chorus since fourth grade. He loves art, music, photography, and math. He competed in Island School cross country his freshman year, and tennis and air riflery his sophomore and junior year. He is interested in exploring art, design and architecture for his college career.

Alexa Lauryn

Alexa Lauryn is the daughter of Steve Lauryn and Ming Lauryn of Po‘ipu. She has attended Island School since kindergarten and was born and raised on the Island of Kaua‘i, though her summers are typically spent visiting family in China. Alexa was an avid participant of various extracurricular activities. During her time in high school she participated in swimming for two years, tennis for three years, Mock Trial for one year, theatre for two years, and Model UN for all four years, all of which garnered an assortment of accomplishments and recognition in addition to new opportunities.

Her time outside of school is often spent in the company of family and close friends exploring the island, though she can also be found indulging in and experimenting with an array of mediums for creative expression. Alexa plans to continue her studies in a STEM field to pursue her interest in the health sciences.

Bonnie Lee

Bonnie Lee is the daughter of Timothy and Leticia Lee of Po‘ipu. She has attended Island School for 13 years. Bonnie was on the air riflery team all four years of high school and achieved the girl’s “top shooter” award her sophomore and junior year. She was also on the tennis team for three years of high school and earned the “conspicuous bravery in action” award her freshman year. She plans to attend the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo to pursue a degree to become a professional pilot.

Bryce Leonard

Bryce Leonard is the son of Will Leonard. He went to Island School for all four years of high school. He played basketball for all four years of high school and played volleyball for the first three years of high school. Bryce plans to attend Northern Arizona University with plans to earn a contractor’s license.

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Olivia Luktevich

Olivia Lutkevich has attended Island School since seventh grade. At the very impressive height of 5’4”, she is an avid runner, swimmer, and dancer. She has loved every high school sport she has had the pleasure of participating in, including cross country, swimming, soccer, track & field, and golf. She hopes to continue her athletic discoveries in college as she trains to be a member of the United States Military. She also hopes to major in environmental sciences and one day become a veterinarian.

Wailana Marvin

Wailana has attended Island School since ninth grade, commuting from the north shore where she lives with her parents, Joe and Ruth. Wailana has played many years of club volleyball, joining the team as a freshman, and celebrated second place in the island conference in the 2019 season. Wailana also played soccer and enjoyed participating in Coach Jona’s gym workouts over the years. She has been a member of the National Honor Society and Kuleana Club and has tutored some of the younger students during lunch hour. Her favorite high school memories include freshman retreat at the Y-Camp in H‘aena, traveling to tournaments and going to concerts with her volleyball teammates, and the late night stargazing and early morning swim adventures with her friends at Waikoko. Wailana is also grateful for the valuable connections she has made with some of her teachers: feeling supported, understood, and encouraged. Wailana is looking forward to pursuing her next chapter in college studying pre-med.

Foster McLychok

Foster Alexander McLychok was born on in Santa Barbara, CA and moved to the north shore of Kaua‘i when he was one year old and has lived on the island ever since.

He has participated in a variety of sports at Island School, including outrigger paddling, cross country, and tennis. In college, he’s interested in pursuing architectural design or in a similar field of study. On a rainy day, he passes the time with video games and strumming a guitar or ukulele, but on nice days, he can be found at the beach or at the tennis courts. He is grateful for all of the great and supportive teachers at Island School, for the effort and strong devotion to teaching all of the students and he’s also grateful to the community for its friendly and inspiring atmosphere.

Kainoa Merano

Born and raised on Kaua‘i, Kainoa Merano is the son of Marlo Merano and Tamara Jeffries of Hanamaulu. He has attended Island School for 13 years starting in kindergarten. Kainoa played junior varsity and varsity volleyball for three years along with air rifelry and paddling for one year. During his freetime, surfing and being an all around waterman has become his passion. Kainoa will be moving to Ft. Collins, Colorado to attend Colorado State University where he will be studying environmental horticulture and landscape design.

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Taylor Mielke-Suizu

Taylor Mielke-Suizu is the daughter of Deyana Mielke and Brad Suizu and has attended Island School since kindergarten. The legacy Taylor has left on Island School is the fence near the reservoir because she fell in the body of water which resulted in the school having to build a fence for fear of reccurence of that event.

Taylor loves animals, and takes care of her dogs Mr. Big, Prince, and Elvis, cat Charlie, chickens Broccoli and Katsu, and Honey the horse.

Kaimana Moraes

Kaimana Moraes is the son of Deena Moraes and David Moraes. Kaimana attended Island School for four years and played soccer, volleyball, and cross country.

Kaimana started as goalkeeper for soccer all four years, eventually leading as team captain and gaining recognition as a KIF All-Star. Kaimana is the Student Government Executive President, having previously served as Junior Class Vice President. Kaimana also participated in the National Honor Society for his junior and senior year. Kaimana plans to major in pre-med with an ultimate goal to become a dermatologist.

Tiago Morgado

Tiago Morgado is the son of Keliʻi Morgado and Shannon Ladd. He lives with his two younger brothers, Mateo and Apollo in Līhuʻe. He has attended Island School since kindergarten. He has done air riflery all four years of high school and was the top shooter for a match and was also the boy’s team captain. Tiago also participated in paddling for two years as a steersman and golf for one year as well as volleyball both junior and senior year. He has also performed in three plays during his high school career: A Christmas Carol, 12 Angry Jurors, and Clue. He received leading roles in the last two, playing Juror 8 and Wadsworth respectively. Tiago is planning on attending the University of Utah in Salt Lake City to pursue a degree in computer science.

Anais Offley

Throughout high school, Anais played volleyball and soccer, did gymnastics, participated in Mock Trial, Creative Writing Club, the GSA, and led the Model UN Club going on trips to Oʻahu, New York, and Vancouver. She was also a member of student government as a senior. After graduation, she plans on attending college on the mainland to study international relations or cognitive science and would like to spend some time traveling, studying abroad, and hopefully becoming fluent in Spanish and French.

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Abigail Polzin

Abigail Polzin is the daughter of Kylie Wilson and Jason Polzin. Abigail has been at Island School since first grade. She participated in the high school play all four years of high school, and was in chorus her sophomore and junior year. She was in track & field her freshman year and paddling her junior year. Abigail went to Spain in early 2020 as a part of the Learning Voyage addition to the high school curriculum. She will be leaving Hawai‘i to study psychology and criminal justice in hopes of pursuing a career in criminal psychology.

Wanbli Primeaux

Wanbli is the son of Vanessa Hein and Francis Primeaux, Jr. of Kilauea and the Rosebud Reservation, respectively. He attended Island School since his sophomore year. Wanbli has participated in several sports such as cross country, tennis, and basketball as a team captain. Wanbli will be attending the University of California, Irvine where he is interested in studying architecture, civil engineering, and business.

Sophia Riley

Sophia Riley has attended Island School for a total of five years. She has participated in Model United Nations, serving as the Secretary of Delegational Affairs junior year and Co-President senior year; poetry club with; GSA club; and different school sports including cross country, paddling, and golf. Outside of school she’s an advanced belly dancer, a kickboxer, and an avid beach goer. She loves reading, listening to podcasts, and the movie Big Fish. Her favorite memories include going to New York and Vancouver with Anais, Jackson, and Jaden for Model UN; screaming at backpacks with Ella; and late night rap seshes with Wailana. Oh, and heely-ing around school with A-dawg and J-wizzle.

Heidi Roach

Heidi Roach is the daughter of Rania Roach and Fran Roach of Princeville and Līhuʻe. She has attended Island School for five years. Heidi played girls’ volleyball and participated in golf for most of her time at Island School. Heidi also achieved many prestigious art awards in the scholastic arts and at the state level. Heidi volunteered for Police for Pastors during the pandemic. Heidi plans on attending Hawaiʻi Pacific University in the fall to pursue biochemistry to become a dermatologist.

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Andrew Sclafani

Andrew Sclafani is the son of April Bala and James Sclafani. He is the youngest of three siblings who also attended Island School. Andrew has gone to Island school since seventh grade. He did air riflery for three years, paddling for two years, volleyball for one year, and tennis for three years. He would do tennis and paddling his senior year, but the season got canceled. He performed in one play, 12 Angry Jurors.

He is planning on attending UH Manoa on O‘ahu to pursue a degree in business finance.

Justice Snyder

Justice Snyder enrolled into Island School in eighth grade and has been attending Island School for five years now. He was a member of the air riflery team since his freshman year. He also played golf for all four years of high school on the Island School team. In his spare time, he enjoys playing soccer with his family, painting with his father’s business, and shooting hoops.

Callie Yavinsky

Callie Yavinsky is the daughter of Carolyn and Merrill Yavinsky. She looks forward to still blasting music, staying up until dawn, and spending more money on stationary.

While hopefully majoring in psychology, she wants to also have time to go to concerts and continue to be absorbed in her computer. Spending all of her childhood at Island School, she will greatly miss her volleyball team.

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Congratulations

Class of 2021

We Are So Proud Of You! Voyage Onward.

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Island Scho Where Are

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ool Alumni: They Now?

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Toby Neal, ‘83 I was in 11th grade in 1982, attending the Kealia campus, when Island School discontinued their high school program. I was devastated! I loved to tell an ongoing fantasy story to the whole school during “meditation time” when everyone lay on their backs in a circle to start the school day. I ended up moving to California to live with my grandmother and attended Santa Barbara High School for my senior year, a journey I document in my memoir, Freckled: a Memoir of Growing up Wild in Hawai‘i, a book that mentions Island School and the role it played as a haven for me growing up on Kaua’i in the 1970s.

I loved every day at funky little Island School back then! We were a close knit group. The teachers at Island School all took a personal interest in me and believed in my potential for achievement, in spite of my sketchy home circumstances. They didn’t know we were often homeless; living in our car, or in a shack with no plumbing. My grandparents paid my sister Bonny and my tuition so we could attend. I studied by lamplight or flashlight; but I was highly motivated. I knew education was my way to a better life. Through it all, the encouragement and emotional support I got at Island School helped me believe in myself, to go on and achieve all my goals, and ultimately, help many other kids in my kind of situation.

I went to college on my own academic merit and paid my own way, achieving three degrees: an AA in psychology, a BA in human services (minor in creative writing), and a Masters in social work from UH Manoa. My husband and our family settled on Maui when we graduated college, and I began a career in the public schools as a Behavioral Specialist Therapist working with children and families. When my own two children were in high school, I began writing mystery novels set in Hawai‘i, and they were very successful! Eventually, I switched careers from being a therapist to being a full-time author. I have 30+ books out in mystery, thriller, romance and memoir, and you can find them on any book retailer online, and at Talk Story Bookstore on Kaua‘i (among other places.) See my work at home: https://tobyneal.net/. Island School and its wonderful staff will always have a place in my heart and life. The dedication of the staff who held the vision for the school made a huge impact that rippled out to the world.

Tyler Kim, ‘90

I left Island School after the 7th grade in 1985 to attend Mid-Pacific Institute on O‘ahu (back then Island School only went to 8th grade). However, Island School had a greater influence on who I have become than any school / university I’ve attended. I think the most important thing I learned there was that you should just be yourself. Everyone is unique, and we were truly respected for those differences without having to fit into any mold. When you don’t worry about needing to conform, it is easier to become a driver of change. Back on Kauaʻi in the early 1980s, my parents encouraged me to learn to program computers for fun. They bought me a TRS-80 Model 3, and showed me how to use it around the same time they taught Peggy Ellenburg. Computer skills enabled me to add value in the finance field, and paved the way for me to obtain an internship at a brokerage firm while attending Stanford. After graduating, I spent 10 years in management consulting with Ernst & Young where I got to work with financial services clients across North America. Consulting prepared me for executive roles in industry at a mutual fund company (Invesco) and then a hedge fund manager (Northwater Capital). I joined the Maples Group 12 years ago to help to build its fund services business, establish technology as a source of competitive advantage, and open its Montreal office. Today, I’m the global head of that business, and we administer over $100 billion in assets for hedge funds, private equity funds and institutional investors around the world. We have been recognized for several years as one of the top firms for financial services technology innovation and accomplishment, and were also named one of Montreal’s top employers in 2021. I used to travel about 20 times per year for work but Covid-19 has actually afforded me some much appreciated time at home with my family! In the next five to ten years I’d love to retire to Kaua‘i, where my kids could go to Island School!

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Krystal Peak pictured on left.

Krystal Peak, ‘03 After graduating from Island School in 2003, I attended UH Manoa, Santa Monica Community College and finally completed my degree in journalism from San Francisco State University. Since I work in the Bay Area, we have been quarantining and working from home since March 13, 2020. My wife and I discovered we were pregnant the week quarantine started and that meant starting this new chapter in relative isolation. Preparing for a pandemic-era baby meant that we had seven virtual baby showers, zoom prenatal classes, and lots of video visits with grandparents. While I wish that we could have shared more time with our closest friends and family, it also allowed for my wife and I to really embrace this final time as a duo and nest.

My baby has just turned five months old and so I am currently spending a lot of time basking in the newness of parenthood. I will be spending at least the first year of our child’s life at home with them. Otherwise, I provide freelance public relations and communication support for businesses primarily in the tech sector as well as some work for local non-profits interested in growing their community. I have also started a social media account to raise awareness around induced lactation and co-nursing because, as the non-gestating parent of our baby, I had to do a lot of research and work to chestfeed our child. I am hoping my account @twomomsfourboobs helps other parents take part in nursing their kids (whether they are a second mom, a non-binary or trans parent, an adoptive parent, or other caregiver.) We hope to introduce our little one to travel as much as possible once it is safe to do so.

In the coming year or two, I hope to have my own consulting business to help small businesses and nonprofits build their brands online and in real-world communities. I also hope to be able to more deeply invest time into the various advocacy groups in the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC communities.

Alana Kaholokula, ‘05

After graduating from Island School in 2004, I moved to Eastern Washington, where I spent 4 years earning a BA in English with 2 minors in history and education from Whitman College. Immediately after graduation, I moved to Providence, Rhode Island for an MA in Teaching at Brown University.

My alma mater had an opening for a position in the admissions office. In 2009, I ended up moving back to Walla Walla, WA for 2 years to do recruitment and college counseling work for Whitman before moving to Portland, OR where I took a job at Oregon Episcopal School, a pre-k-12 school not super dissimilar from Island School, but with a bigger population.

I worked at OES for six years teaching high school English, history, and humanities.

During my time there, I led several domestic and international experiential learning trips with students. In 2017, I made the move from Portland to Seattle, WA to be closer to friends and family, and to take a job at University Preparatory Academy, a 6-12 college prep school. I currently teach high school English and humanities, and am learning the brave new world of online teaching. Our school moved to synchronous zoom classes on March 10th of 2020, and we’ve been operating that way ever since. Only in the past couple of weeks are we moviing to an in-person hybrid model, which means that I’ve been teaching full days of online classes for nearly a year. This switch has drastically changed the way I view my work, and also how I conduct my classes. While COVID-19 has certainly narrowed the scope of my world, this work change has probably been the biggest challenge for me.

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Moana (Mendoza) Britt, ‘05 Something about me that often surprises people is that I don’t have a college degree. Instead I have a lot of motivation and drive along with experience. When I’m not at work, I’m usually with my kids or gardening, but I work a lot. When I was young, I wanted to be a doctor; I didn’t really know what kind of doctor, just that I wanted to help people. I graduated from Island School in 2005. One of the best things I learned at Island School was how to use new and available resources to further my knowledge on certain topics and that it wasn’t only okay but an advantage to think outside of the box. I felt like Island School embraced different ways of learning based on a student’s abilities and personal goals, and I liked that.

My academic journey changed when I decided to get married and start a family. I took jobs at a local real estate and vacation rental company doing search engine optimized copywriting and refinement. After a few years of being immersed in my work, I decided that I could use the internet, people around me, and resources available to me to achieve the professional career I was after, which ended up being copywriting and marketing; skills I knew would be useful in many different businesses. I liked the fact that I was getting experience while achieving results in the professional world and not simply in the scholastic world. It was an advantage for me to experience how the professional world worked right out of high school while avoiding student loans and debt.

Since a large part of my skill set involves internet marketing, COVID has not majorly affected my professional career as it did others. My husband and I had an exceptional year in 2020, which was the year after we launched 808 Genetics, and the year I published my book Cannabis: The Art Of Growing Organically; we ended up substantially growing both companies despite the challenging times. COVID allowed us to see that we needed to invest our professional time and resources into companies that could thrive from global support. We plan to continue to put time into each other and our family as well as growing our companies into household names. I can without a doubt say that I am where I am and I am who I am thanks to my time at Island School. And I’m grateful for that.

Sarah Shaw, ‘05 I graduated from Island School in 2005 and think fondly back on memories from Fall Roundup, whale watches, Peace Choir performances, May Day, and Beach days and appreciate all of the hard work that the staff members at Island School put in to help me grow and prepare for college.

I attended the University of Redlands and graduated in 2009 with a B.A. in Sociology and anthropology. After graduation I worked in the environmental education and conservation field in Washington and Hawaiʻi and then returned to school to complete the Occupational Therapy Assistant Program at Kapiʻolani Community College.

After graduation, I provided occupational therapy services to geriatic patients at a skilled nursing facility for 3 years and then switched to working for the Department of Education, in Windward District of O’ahu, as a School Based Occupational Therapy Assistant in 2019. Currently, I provide occupational therapy services to students with special needs who in grades pre-kindergarten through high school via in-person services at school, through distance learning, and within student’s homes if they are medically fragile due to COVID restrictions.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with family and friends, surfing, hiking, zumba, group ocean swims, farmer’s markets, reading, and listening to music and podcasts. COVID-19 has affected almost every aspect of my life which has been challenging but it has also been a great catalyst for self growth and new experiences. I feel incredibly grateful for the health of myself and others, for close relationships, being able to access nature, and to live in Hawai’i during this tough time.

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Christina (Chuckas) Uemura, ‘07 I graduated from Island School in 2007. My journey then led me to attend Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon. I graduated from there in 2011 with my Bachelors of Science degree in psychology and I had also completed the pre-med requirements. I then moved back home and decided to apply to med school to become an OBGYN. Not long after moving home to Kaua‘i, I moved to O‘ahu to take another class at UH while studying for my GRE exam. I didn’t get into med school right away so I worked for a couple of years at HMSA. Working with providers at that company inspired me to go for my doctorate degree in clinical psychology instead. I attended Hawai‘i School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University in Honolulu. Five years later, I graduated with my Masters in clinical psychology and Doctorate in clinical psychology. I’m now a Clinical Psychologist for the Department of Education on Kaua‘i. I also do some consultant work as a psychologist. I always thought I wanted to be a teacher when I was growing up however, in the next 5-10 years I plan to continue working in this field, whether it be in the schools, hospitals, and/or in private practice.

I’m open to all opportunities.

This last year was good to me and my family, I recently had a baby girl (our first child) in July 2020 so thankfully, COVID-19 has not really affected my life.

Kimberly (Mayfield) Bitterwolf, ‘08

After graduating from Island School in 2008, I went on to complete my BS in global environmental science at the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa in 2013, followed by my Ph.D in ocean sciences at UC Santa Cruz in 2020. I honestly believe that the way Joan Shaw structured our English class in middle school by having it be a dedicated writing time of self-selected topics, which played a pivotal role in my success in higher education.

Currently, I work for a biofuels company on Kaua‘i, Global Algae Innovations, as a scientist. I have been very fortunate to be employed through the pandemic and have continued to go in to work in the lab every day, due to our classification as an “essential business” for agricultural responsibilities on the island. That said, I have taken advantage of COVID-19’s impact on local tourism by hiking and visiting beaches that are typically dominated by visitors. It’s been a special treat to experience the island so quiet over this past year and being able to do the things I love when I’m not working - hiking, freediving, and surfing. However, I have been making exciting progress at my job, extracting valuable components of algae as commercially-relevant products.

Additionally, I recently published my first chapter of my Ph.D work in Nature Communications at: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-20248-3. I hope to continue applying my chemistry skills to combat climate change in the next ten years, while keeping my life balanced with ample outdoors time hiking, diving, and traveling.

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James Papa, ‘15 I graduated from Island School in 2015 and looking back, the person who really spearheaded me to prepare for the curriculum in college was Joan Shaw. I knew I wanted to eventually be a teacher and come back to Island School, specifically in Hawaiian Studies. However, I decided to attend Kaua’i Community College for a couple of years to figure out what I really wanted to do academically and career wise in the meantime.

I finished at KCC in 2017 and transferred all of my credits to UH Hilo to study anthropology after switching my major from Olelo Hawaiʻi. By mid-2019 I was managing the UH Hilo Archive Department as well as being a curator assistant at Lymon Museum in Hilo. In November 2019 my father passed away so it was difficult to balance my responsibilities at work while also having family stuff going on. When the pandemic hit the departments I worked for were discontinued due to budget cuts, my backup plan was to go fishing in Alaska. I went to Alaska in June 2020 and finished in September. It was the hardest job I’ve ever had with 17 hour days, 7 days a week.

I had made my dad three specific promises: to help my sister with her business in Washington; join the military; and then join the Coast Guard damage control department or civilian fire department. From November 2020 to January 2021 I went to Washington to help my sister with her business. I came back to Kauaʻi afterward and followed through with my other promise to my dad: I joined the Coast Guard. On June 8, 2021 I will deploy for bootcamp in New Jersey for eight weeks.

After I graduate, I’m going to try to get stationed back home or on a cutter in the Pacific. I will complete a total of four years of active duty and four years in the reserve.

Sterling Bird, ‘16

I remember being asked what I wanted to be when I grew up when I was in second grade and I wrote “I want to be a stable person”. Hilarious, I know, but it’s still true. The photo was of a horse in a stable, cause I wanted to work in a stable. But if I’m being honest, the quote applies to me more now than the picture I drew then. One of my favorite memories, not a conventional one, was when all of us eighth grade girls decided to revolt against dress code. About twenty of us girls were all wearing pencil skirts, and yes, all twenty of us girls got dress coded all in one swoop. I look back at this and laugh, it was pretty heavy back then though. It reminds me to not take life and the trials in my life so seriously.

After graduating from Island School in 2016, my academic journey has been out of the college prep norm. Career wise, I’ve been through a lot of different types of work. I have an aesthetic license and traveled while working many different types of trades. I’ve worked with kids on the beaches of Kaua‘i, been a cook for training yogis in Greece, taught some English to an Italian kid on a sailboat, been an apprentice potter in Israel, made some more food in Costa Rica, and some other things. I don’t like to stay in one place and I certainly don’t want to work my whole life doing one thing in particular. Island School taught me my people skills. I’ve learned that there are going to be people you don’t like sometimes. I’m also a very head strong person, and I know I was very difficult for a lot of teachers. Sometimes when I’m really aware, I understand that it can be used as a tool. A tool to empower others, speak truth, and be the one to mention that elephant in the room that everyone is conscious of. I’m currently a teacher for second and third graders at Homeschool Now, every Wednesday and Thursday I am with the kids on beaches on the north shore of Kaua‘i. Learning about our island and being with the kids outside is the best thing. However, I plan on traveling more, connecting with my community and other communities. Something I realize I really like to do is talking with strangers, whether I’m here, home on Kaua‘i, or out in the world - I really love hearing what people have to say.

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Gianna DeTrolio, ‘20 Graduating from Island School in 2020 was definitely a unique experience.

Attending a large university with over 35,000 students in a large city is a huge change from having gone to a small school on Kaua‘i. Island school really prepared me for college and always encouraged doing your best and working as hard as you can and that has helped me with time management, dealing with a heavy workload, and public speaking. Starting college during the pandemic has caused many students across the country to have to start their life out of high school at home and/or online. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend school on campus. I go to the University of Utah and my first year has not been the easiest due to Covid-19. I have only had two classes in person this year while the rest were all done through zoom. I have unfortunately been limited to what I can really do on campus. We cannot attend sporting events, we cannot go and hang out in friend’s dorms, we cannot eat in the dining halls, and have to get tested for Covid-19 every single week. The school has been really good about maintaining the Covid-19 situation on campus and I am truly grateful that we were able to be on campus all year, even with limitations. I have met so many incredible people here and have been really finding out what I want to do with my life and explore different ideas.When I am not busy doing school work or attending my classes, I am always out with my friends exploring Utah. We go on hikes, go to lakes, go camping, go skiing, go shopping, and so much more. There is always something to do in Salt Lake and it is really nice to be able to go explore with my friends in our free time. While I do love having free time, I truly have grown to really love school. I get to take the classes I want to take and I really enjoy being able to learn about topics that will help me get to where I want to go in the future and in which I have interest in. Ever since I was little I wanted to become a doctor. I am currently a biology major and taking all of these science classes has really secured the idea of going to medical school. After I graduate from undergrad, I am hoping to attend the University of Utah Medical School.

James Pratt, ‘20 I graduated from Island School in 2020. Some of my favorite memories are graduating in-person during a global pandemic, studying for honors biology with Conor Hunt and Bryce Yoshida, and running cross country and track with class of 2020 graduates Mathew Vickers and Josh Graves throughout middle school and high school. I had my senior prom and many other notable senior events canceled due to COVID-19. I was lucky enough to have in-person graduation. I am so grateful for that opportunity since Island School was one of the few schools in the nation to have one.

COVID-19 has forced me to become more thankful for all that I have on Kauaʻi, including my family!

Additionally, COVID-19 has presented me with many challenging questions: Should I take a gap year? Should I travel to Santa Clara even if my classes are online? I have decided to stay home and do all of my courses from Kauaʻi. Since starting college, I have realized how lucky I am to have received a private school education. I find that many of my friends who didn’t have one struggle to get accustomed to the college lifestyle and the college workload, but it seemed like a step back from all of the work I had at Island School. I also found that the environment and community at Island School pushed me to get the best grades and take the most challenging classes for which I am eternally grateful. I chose business at Santa Clara for their reputation with neighboring tech companies in the bay area. For now, I’m not sure which field of business I am planning to focus on. Currently, I am attending Santa Clara virtually from home. I am finishing up some core requirements in school, so when I attend in-person, I can take the classes that focus on studies I am passionate about. Beyond school, I am also running and surfing with Island School Alumnus Ben Griep in my free time as well as messing around trying to learn new computer programming languages and concepts. I have also started to search for jobs and internships for this summer, so let me know if anyone needs a college student! In the next five to ten years, I plan on graduating at Santa Clara, then attending the 4+1 program at Santa Clara for an MBA. After that, I hope to find a good job, hopefully in Hawaiʻi or the bay area. I dream to one day retire, buy acres of land on Kauai and start a farm. I would also like to teach and coach high school sports.

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3-1875 Kaumuali‘i Hwy. Lihue, HI 96766 Phone: (808)246-0233 Fax: (808)245-6053 www.ischool.org We Want To Hear From Our Alumni! alumni@ischool.org

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Important Dates For The Giving Calendar July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022...........Annual Fund Campaign November 30, 2021......................Giving Tuesday Spring 2022.................................Annual Auction Gala

Jia-Nichole Orozco, class of 2027

@IslandSchoolVoyagersKauai @islandschoolhi @IslandSchoolHI

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