Alum Updates

Virtual Career Day, actual career experts

Career Day is always an exciting event at Mayfield, and this year’s was even more so. For our first Virtual Alum Career Day, we welcomed almost 60 alum professionals—more than double last year’s number!—to talk about their work in the arts, business, engineering, entertainment, media, journalism, law, marketing, communications, health, medicine and psychology.

“This was my first time attending a Career Day,” says ASB President Mariana Trujillo ’21. “So I really did not know what to expect.” But she found the event enthralling. “It’s truly crazy to think about how the alumni were once in my shoes. They were once stressing about an AP Government test or maybe running down the hill after school for a volleyball game. And now seeing how they are in the workforce exploring who they want to be and making a change in the world was truly inspiring.”

Our students had a chance to connect with everyone from a brand manager at Coca Cola to a pediatric cardiologist, from a reporter at the L.A. Times to a senior software systems engineer at JPL, from a communications director at the U.S. House of Representatives to a federal prosecutor at the Justice Department. Students got answers to their burning questions and learned about the expansive job opportunities available for Mayfield grads.

“It is always so refreshing hearing about personal experiences from our alums regarding their different fields of expertise,” says Courtney Gangi ’21. “Rather than reciting basic facts about each of their career paths, I have noticed that every Career Day, the alums are very honest with us about their work, and are always enthusiastic about answering students’ questions—no matter how vague or specific!”

And the alums who participated were just as enthusiastic as the students. “It was an amazing Career Day and so great to connect with fellow alums from around the world,” says Gerianne Sarte ’90, VP Finance at Johnson & Johnson, who served as the moderator on the business panel. “I was so proud of the accomplishments of the alums on the panels and their passion for developing the next generation of Mayfield leaders. A Mayfield education is clearly an amazing foundation for women of all walks of life to succeed.”

And Alexandra Badie ’14, Magazine Editor for Nellie Gail Ranch, who served as the moderator on the marketing and communications panel, was deeply impressed both by the conversation between alums and students on her panel and on other panels she attended as well. “The soft skills and personal development Mayfield taught [alums] have allowed them to build impressive careers and become strong leaders,” she says. “It was incredible to see this consistent pattern of strong female leaders who aren’t afraid to be who they are.”

All in all, our Virtual Career Day on Zoom was an unmitigated success that will forever change the way we approach this important alum mentoring opportunity. “With this event being virtual, it has completely changed the way we’ll hold this event in the future,” says Director of Alum Engagement Nicole Cosand Burcham. “When we’re back in person, Career Day will be hybrid so we’ll be able to include alums from coast to coast and beyond!”

Save the date for next year’s Career Day on Feb. 4, 2022! For more information, or to sign up as a panelist or moderator, contact Nicole Cosand Burcham, Director of Alum Engagement, at nicole.burcham@mayfieldsenior.org or (626) 204-1012.

Alums Zoom in to campus

Our newfound (and universal!) familiarity with online meetings inspired us to welcome a record number of Mayfield alums to campus virtually this year. We are so grateful to all of you who logged into Zoom and shared your experience and expertise with our students!

Musical life after high school: This virtual meeting was a chance for recent grads to answer questions from student musicians about their post-Mayfield musical journeys. Thank you to alum musicians Anna Arboles ’13, Kaetlyn Liddy ’17, Melissa Macedo ’06, Michelle Macedo ’06 and Melody Soong ’18 for sharing your experiences and insights with our Vocal and Instrumental Conservatory students.

Bellefontaine and beyond: college prep talk. It was truly uplifting to hear our young alums talk about how well Mayfield prepared them for the rigors of college life at this year’s virtual admissions Open House. Special thanks to: Kemi Ashing-Giwa ’18 (Harvard), Maddie Biscaichipy ’19 (West Point), Claire Engstrom ’17 (Duke), Trinity Gomez ’18 (USC), Elisa Gonzales ’19 (Harvard), Mary Rose Hawkins ’17 (Stanford), Shannon Larsuel ’17 (Yale), Kaitlyn Maddigan ’17 (LMU), Sofie Raptis ’17 (USC) and Sasha Torres ’19 (USC).

Maryland Meetup.

Pictured (L-R) Director of Alum Engagement Nicole Cosand Burcham, Marcela Escobar-Alava ’86, Marylou Lacuesta Holly ’94, Peggy Bland Cloherty ’69, Head of School Kate Morin, Annie Williams ’70 and Gretchen Midgley ’11. Stay tuned for more regional alum gatherings throughout the year!

Mayfield’s Alum Engagement Office hosted a relaxed Sunday afternoon gettogether at the riverfront home of Head of School Kate Morin and her husband, Skip, in Arnold, Md., in July. It was a wonderful summer afternoon full of food, fun and Mayfield memories!

Keeping the LAMP connection alight.

With in-person volunteering curtailed by COVID-19 restrictions, our Alum Council members went above and beyond this year to help the families at South Central LAMP, our sister Holy Child Ministry in South Los Angeles, with donations to its annual fundraising auction. Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed auction items to benefit the mothers and children at LAMP, and a special shout-out to (L-R) Marylou Lacuesta Holly ’94, Maritess Lacuesta Kinderman ’93 and Carolyn Cota ’06 for stopping by campus to put together the goodie-packed gift baskets.

Alum Council: All are welcome

Our mission is simple: to rally our fellow alums to get together, give from the heart, and serve others with “Actions Not Words.” (Plus, we host pretty great mixers and meet-ups!) We’re planning to continue our virtual meetings throughout the 2021-22 school year, so please join us—on campus or on Zoom—on Sept. 9, Nov. 17, Jan. 11, March 16 and May 17. For more information, please contact Nicole Cosand Burcham, Director of Alum Engagement, at nicole.burcham@mayfieldsenior.org or (626) 204-1012 or Alum Council President Carolyn Cota ’06 at carolyn.cota@mayfieldsenior.org.