EVE BELDING ‘25 REFLECTS ON HER 15-YEAR JOURNEY AS A LAUREL LIFER

By Sarah Hibshman Miller ‘98

When Eve Belding ‘25 walked into Ms. Hacala’s Preschool classroom in 2009, she had no idea just how much her years as a Laurel student would shape her. From participating in every Upper School play Laurel staged to mastering the high-ropes course as an Adventure Girl at the Butler Campus, and dominating in STEM through robotics and science fairs—Eve fully took advantage of all that Laurel has to offer.

Through it all, Eve’s time at Laurel nearly mimicked Head of School Ann V. Klotz, who joined Laurel in 2004 as the school’s 10th Head of School and retired after 21 years, the same year Eve received her diploma. It is no coincidence that Ms. Klotz played a pivotal role in Eve’s Laurel experience.

Finding Her Voice in Theater

Though Eve did not initially see herself as a performer, she does recall with appreciation working with Ms. Klotz during her early years. “I have fond memories of playing an alien two years in a row in our Primary plays,” said Eve. “Ms. Klotz wrote the scripts herself and I really enjoyed working with her. In Fourth Grade, I didn’t get a big part—I remember being so disappointed. But I also knew that she saw each of us, whether our part had one line or ten.”

A favorite memory from those early years includes Ms. Klotz and her penchant for taming flyaways. “I remember being in the small gym, and she always came around and fixed people’s hair. I always made my mom fix my hair just so in order to meet Ms. Klotz’s flyaway expectations.”

Upper School changed everything. She went on to participate in every Upper School play and musical, including The Crucible and Into the Woods in her Senior year—often playing older, narrator-type roles that showcased her voice and presence. One moment that especially stands out: co-directing a scene with Middle Schoolers alongside a close friend. “It turned out so well,” Eve recalled. “That was the first time I realized I really love directing. It made me want to keep doing theater beyond high school—maybe as a student director in college.”

On the topic of direction, Eve recalled a special moment with Ms. Klotz—who introduced her Senior Speech with Eve’s sister Jane ‘27. “She was also my Ninth Grade English teacher. I felt really connected to her,” she says. “Especially when I wrote a very strong essay about how Jane Eyre was anti-feminist. Ms. Klotz loved that—it led to some great debates.”

Exploring STEM to the Fullest

While the stage grew her confidence and gave Eve community, it was in the science lab and robotics room where she discovered a passion for STEM.

She joined the Science Sisters Middle School robotics team in its inaugural year and went on to become captain of the Upper School robotics team in Tenth Grade, helping to grow the program in size and impact. “We presented to the 50th Reunion class at Alumnae Weekend in 2024 and ended up securing gifts that really elevated what we could do—new kits, a dedicated classroom—it made a huge difference.”

Her interest in physics began with a Ninth-Grade course and grew through Laurel’s science fair program, where she explored machine learning with the mentorship of a Laurel parent working at Apple. “That research project was something I carried through my Junior and Senior years,” said Eve. “It taught me how to navigate real-world science.”

In 2024 Eve was named a finalist in the National STEM Challenge competition. This science competition involved crafting a STEM project that tackles a real-world challenge. She entered the Space and Exploration category with her work exploring Exoplanet Habitability with Machine Learning.

Also that year, Eve participated in the Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair (NEOSEF) where she presented her finite element analysis (FEA) research on knot strength and knot load-carrying capacities. Her hard work earned her the Heroux Devtek Special Award for the “best project using the scientific method and problem-solving in a mechanical or aerospace engineering application.”

In 2025 she again participated in NEOSEF presenting on the same topic and earned 2nd place in the Math and Computer Science category for Grades 11-12.

Eve also has tackled AP Computer Science through One Schoolhouse and worked with a classmate to support her Capstone project CodeHers, a program focused on bringing coding to younger students.

Finding Adventure Through Laurel

Eve has long been a supporter of Laurel’s Butler Campus and in particular, the Adventure Girls program.

When her family briefly moved to Utah when Eve was in Second Grade, she was nervous about returning to Laurel. But the Butler Campus helped her find her footing again. “My parents signed me up for Adventure Girls to help me reconnect. Mr. Allen taught me how to belay in fourth grade, and I stayed involved all the way through middle school,” Eve recalled. “I loved being hands-on and helping other students to feel confident. Butler became a big part of my Laurel experience, especially during Summer at Laurel, where I was both a camper and later a counselor.”

Another adventure of a different kind included a Passport trip Eve helped organize to New York City. It was there that the Laurel network—anchored by Ms. Klotz—came to life.

“We saw The Outsiders before it opened to the public and met with artists and leaders. Watching Ms. Klotz’s connections at work was inspiring. She opened doors— literally and figuratively,” said Eve.

Whether acting, directing, pursuing STEM, traveling or exploring out at Butler, Eve has certainly thrived as a Laurel girl! “I found my voice at Laurel—onstage and off. And I found the freedom to explore all of my interests, even the ones I didn’t expect I would pursue. That is what made my Laurel experience so meaningful,” said Eve.

NEXT STOP FOR EVE: Dartmouth College, where she plans to continue in both theater and STEM, building on the strong foundation from her 15 years at Laurel.