Parker Perspectives Alumni Magazine 2025

Parker

ANNUAL MAGAZINE!"0"5

Perspectives

Parker Magazine

FALL!"0"5

Francis Parker School

Head of School Kevin Yaley,!Ph & D&

Editor-in-Chief & Design

Allison Kaufman

Associate Editor

Kate Richards

Editors

Zach Cameron

Roxanne Holmes

Annemarie Kaya

Jill McIntyre Kelly

Arleen Rasing

Melissa Russell

Contributing Writers

Kate Richards

Melissa Russell

Marc Thiebach

Mary Walshok

Photography

Bauman Photography

Dale Edwards

Rob Hansen ’'7

Elizabeth O'Guin

Kate Richards

ZP Productions

Parker Community Contributors

Print

Neyenesch Printers ,!San Diego

Parker Perspectives Magazine is published annually by the Communications and Marketing Office as a Francis Parker School community magazine

Errata correspondence to : communications @ francisparker org

Non-Discrimination

Statement

Francis Parker School is an inclusive community where diversity is welcomed and celebrated We seek talented students ,!families ,!faculty,!and staff from different backgrounds The School does not discriminate on the basis of race ,! ethnicity,!sex ,!gender identity,!sexual orientation ,!physical ability,!creed or national origin in the administration of its admissions ,!tuition assistance ,! employment determination ,!or other procedures or programs

On the Cover: Join us for a Game of I Spy

"0"4 "0"5 student leaders from each division's student council -Associated Student Body in the Upper School.!helped the Communications and Marketing Department bring a Lance hosted celebration at the new Douglas Aquatic Center to life in the spring Can you find all the items in the list below? If so,!send a picture of your circled cover to communications@francispaker org for a chance to win a novelty Parker swag item

Circle all the items you can find:

! 2 of Lance’s Parker P shields

! 15 flamingo beaks

! 4 beach balls

! 1 water cooler

! 1 group of students playing cornhole

! Assistant Head of School for Academics and Head of Grades / 1" Dan Lang

! BONUS & What word is on the sign being rolled out by students?

Thank You, Friends!

Your time,!talent ,!and generosity power Parker and keep its mission alive and thriving Because of you ,!teachers continue to grow as lifelong learners ,! students flourish in a community as vibrant as it is diverse,!and our spaces inspire curiosity and connection &!Together,!we carry forward the values that have defined Parker for 113 years and will continue to shape its story for generations to come&

Cover Photo Taken by:!Kate Richards

Welcome to Class of 2025 Alumni

Celebrate the Class of "0"5 and their newly minted Alumni status by reflecting on advice and photos from Commencement week and the "0"" "0"5 College list &

Lessons that Endure as Parker Evolves Past Chair of the Board ,!past parent ,!and current grandparent Mary Walshok shares a reflective essay after over 40 years of connection with the School

From Renderings to Reality

Learn all about the new Silberman Student Life Center,! Vassiliadis Athletic Center,!and Douglas Aquatic Center,! and how current Lancers are sharing ,!competing ,!and celebrating more than ever before as One Parker

Elevating Parker’s Mission

Named in honor of a Parker living legend ,!get to know the new Paul Esch Office for Excellence in Teaching and Learning from inception to impact

with Purpose

Our Alumni section this year includes stories from Lancers making a difference around the globe Each story is built on a ‘why’ rooted in purpose and extending to create meaningful lives for themselves and others &

Our Mission

The mission of Francis Parker School is to create and inspire a diverse community of independent thinkers whose academic excellence,!global perspective,!and strength of character prepare them to make a meaningful difference in the world

Exterior of Blade Study art gallery founded by Brooke Nicholas ’09 and Ian Glover ’08

Head of School Message

This past May,!I had the profound privilege of watching our Class of "0"5 cross the commencement stage a moment that feels novel each year,!no matter how many times I’ve experienced it &! Looking out at 14" graduates and their families beaming with pride,!I couldn’t help but reflect on the journey that brought them to that pivotal moment Like runners nearing the finish line,! they had trained ,!persevered ,!and supported one another through challenges and victories alike

Now,!as many of these remarkable young people return home for the first time since settling into college life across the country and beyond ,!I find myself reflecting on what it truly means to be a Parker graduate&!They carry with them not just academic knowledge,!but the curiosity,! character,!and courage that have defined our community for 113 years They are prepared not just for their first year at college,!but for a lifetime of learning ,!leading ,!and making a difference

This preparation doesn’t happen by accident It’s the result of an entire

community comprised of faculty who inspire,!staff who support ,!families who believe,!and alumni who pave the way&!Many of these alumni even return to campus to share their stories ,! motivating the next generation and reminding us of Parker’s enduring reach Whether they’re pioneering new technologies ,!serving their communities ,!creating art that moves us ,!or leading organizations with integrity and vision ,!they embody what we hope for every Parker student :! lives of purpose and impact

We’re writing a new chapter in Parker’s story with the completion of the Silberman Student Life Center last fall This incredible facility years in the making is more than concrete and steel &!It stands as a testament to our shared belief in the transformative power of education and our collective commitment to giving every student opportunities to explore their passions ,!establish meaningful relationships ,!and grow as thinkers and leaders &!It’s a space where we can bring all Parker students together under one roof physically and symbolically strengthening the heart of our community

Walking through the completed center,!I see spaces where generations of Parker students will gather,! compete,!create,!and grow&!I imagine the conversations that will happen in those gathering spaces ,!the games that will test resilience,!the friendships that will begin ,!and the memories that will endure&!This is what our community does best we invest in each other and in the future

That same spirit shines through our Day of Giving for teachers and Gala for students ,!two annual celebrations of philanthropy that directly sustain the people and programs at the heart of Parker Together,!these moments remind us that investment of time,! talent ,!and treasure continues to shape every Parker story&

As you read this issue of “Parker Perspectives”,!you’ll see that spirit of investment everywhere:!in our graduates beginning new adventures ,! in alumni achievements that continue to make us proud ,!in the teachers whose influence spawns careers ,! and in the new spaces that will foster connection and growth for years to come Parker isn’t just a place where students come for a set number of years;!it’s a lifelong community that shapes who we are and how we contribute to the world &!

Thank you for being part of this incredible journey Whether you’re a recent graduate,!a longtime alumnus ,! a current parent ,!or a member of our extended Parker family,!your support and engagement make all of this possible Join us in celebrating these stories as One Parker,!together

All my best ,

Kevin Yaley,!Ph&D& Head of School

Photo from Commencement for the Class of 2025 taken Saturday, May 3' , 2025

Welcome Class of 2025 Alumni!

The Class of!"0"5!included!14"!students from!41!ZIP codes In addition to being exceptional Parker students with a class average GPA of!4&0/—and new alumni,! they have distinguished themselves in many other ways&!They work,!travel ,! volunteer,!engage in extracurricular activities,!and much more

The Class of!"0"5!has chosen to attend!'4!different colleges in!"9!states,! Washington,!D&C&,!and four international destinations!-Canada,!England ,!Scotland ,! and Spain.&!"37!different colleges made offers of admission to the seniors from the Class of!"0"5&!We saw!'7%!of the class apply through an early round ,!and 53%!of the class are attending an “early” school Our College Counseling staff looked over!",011!filed applications!-a record high by a large margin.&

In alignment with trends from recent years,!37%!of the class chose to attend colleges and universities in California&!

In addition to their outside of school interests,!the Class of!"0"5!includes:

• 28 CUM LAUDE SOCIETY MEMBERS

• 2 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

• 4 NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP FINALISTS

• 4 NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALISTS

• 15 STUDENT ATHLETES COMPETING IN COLLEGIATE PROGRAMS -NCAA DI,!II,!III AND NAIA.

• 38 PARKER LIFERS

• 3 GOLD PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENTS

• 1 SILVER PRESIDENT’S VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD RECIPIENT

We are excited to watch the meaningful difference the Class of!"0"5!will continue to make in the world at their respective colleges,!universities,!and gap year destinations

COLLEGE ACCEPTANCES

Agnes Scott College

American Univ. (3)

Arizona State Univ. (2)

Auburn Univ. (1)

Bard College

Barnard College (2)

Bates College (2)

Baylor Univ (1)

Belmont Univ. (1)

Bentley Univ. (1)

Boise State Univ

Boston College (4)

Boston Univ. (4)

Bowdoin College (4)

Brandeis Univ (1)

Brown Univ (6)

Bryn Mawr College (1)

Bucknell Univ. (2)

Butler Univ

California Baptist Univ

California College of the Arts

California Institute of the Arts

California Lutheran Univ. (1)

Cal Poly Humboldt

Cal Poly Maritime Academy (1)

Cal Poly Pomona (2)

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo (21)

CSU,!Bakersfield

CSU,!Channel Islands

CSU, Chico (2)

CSU,!Dominguez Hills

CSU,!Fresno

CSU, Fullerton (1)

CSU, Long Beach (2)

CSU,!Los Angeles

CSU, Monterey Bay (1)

CSU, Northridge (1)

CSU,!Sacramento

CSU, San Marcos (4)

Carleton College

Carnegie Mellon Univ. (2)

Case Western Reserve Univ (1)

Catholic Univ of America

Chapman Univ. (5)

Claremont

McKenna College (4)

Clark Univ

Clemson Univ

Colby College

Colgate Univ

College of Charleston

College of the Holy Cross (1)

Colorado College (3)

Colorado School of Mines (2)

Colorado State, Fort Collins (1)

Columbia College, Chicago (1)

Columbia Univ. (1)

Connecticut College (1)

Cornell Univ. (4)

Cornish College of the Arts (1)

Creighton Univ. (2)

Dartmouth College (1)

Davidson College (1)

Denison Univ (1)

DePaul Univ (1)

Dickinson College (1)

Dominican Univ of California

Drexel Univ. (3)

Duke Univ. (2)

Duquesne Univ. (1)

Durham Univ

Elon Univ (2)

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Univ (1)

Emerson College

Emory Univ. (1)

Fairfield Univ

Florida State Univ

Fordham Univ. (2)

Franklin & Marshall College

Furman Univ

George Fox Univ

George Mason Univ&

George Washington Univ. (5)

Georgetown Univ. (3)

Georgia Institute of Technology

Gettysburg College

Gonzaga Univ

Grossmont College (1)

Hamilton College

Harvard Univ. (2)

Harvey Mudd College

Haverford College (1)

Hawai‘i Pacific Univ. (1)

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Hofstra Univ (1)

Howard Univ. (1)

Indiana Univ., Bloomington (5)

Ithaca College

James Madison Univ

Johns Hopkins Univ (4)

Kenyon College

King’s College London

Lafayette College (2)

Lehigh Univ. (1)

Lewis & Clark College (1)

Louisiana State Univ

Loyola Marymount Univ (10)

Loyola Univ Chicago (4)

Loyola Univ Maryland (1)

Macalester College

Marist Univ. (1)

Marquette Univ. (1)

Marymount

Manhattan College

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (4)

McGill Univ

Miami Univ&!-Oxford.

Michigan State Univ

Michigan

Technological Univ. (1)

Middlebury College (1)

Montana State Univ. (1)

Mount Holyoke College (2)

Mount Saint Mary’s Univ

New York Univ. (11)

Newcastle Univ (1)

North Carolina

State Univ (1)

Northeastern Univ. (11)

Northern Arizona Univ

Northwestern Univ. (2)

Oberlin College (1)

Occidental College (4)

Oklahoma State Univ

Olin College of Engineering

Oregon Institute of Technology

Oregon State Univ. (1)

Otis College of Art and Design

Oxford College of Emory (2)

Pace Univ (1)

Pacific Univ

Parsons School of Design

Penn State Univ. (3)

Pepperdine Univ. (3)

Pitzer College (2)

Point Loma

Nazarene Univ. (1)

Pomona College (1)

Portland State Univ

Pratt Institute (1)

Princeton Univ. (2)

Purdue Univ. (10)

Queen’s Univ Belfast

Quinnipiac Univ

Reed College (1)

Rensselaer

Polytechnic Institute (2)

Rhode Island School of Design (2)

Rice Univ. (2)

Rochester Institute of Technology (1)

Roger Williams Univ

Rollins College

Rose Hulman Institute of Technology

Rutgers Univ

Saint Louis Univ., Madrid (1)

Saint Mary’s College of California (1)

Salve Regina Univ (1)

San Diego State Univ (20)

San Francisco State Univ

San Jose State Univ. (1)

Santa Clara Univ. (5)

Sarah Lawrence College (2)

Savannah College of Art and Design

School of the Art

Institute of Chicago

School of Visual Arts

Scripps College (7)

Seattle Univ

Seton Hall Univ

Bold text indicates matriculation. Numerals indicate the number of students matriculated.

Sewanee& Univ. of the South (1)

Skidmore College

Smith College

SOAS Univ of London

Sonoma State Univ

Southern Methodist Univ (4)

Southern Utah Univ. (1)

Spelman College (1)

St. John’s Univ. (1)

Stanford Univ. (4)

Stevens Institute of Technology

Suffolk Univ

SUNY Univ at Buffalo

Swarthmore College (1)

Syracuse Univ. (1)

Temple Univ

Texas A&M Univ

Texas Christian Univ. (4)

The American Univ of Paris (1)

The Courtauld Institute of Art (1)

The New School

The Ohio State Univ

The Univ. of Alabama (2)

The Univ of Edinburgh

The Univ of Montana

The Univ of Tennessee (2)

The Univ of Texas at Austin

Trinity College (1)

Trinity Univ

Tu s Univ. (2)

Tulane Univ. of Louisiana (4)

Union College

US Air Force Academy (2)

US Coast Guard Academy (1)

US Merchant Marine Academy (1)

US Military Academy at West Point (1)

US Naval Academy (1)

Univ College London

Univ of Arizona (1)

Univ of British Columbia (1)

UC, Berkeley (24)

UC, Davis (4)

UC, Irvine (4)

UC, Los Angeles (12)

UC, Merced (1)

UC, Riverside (2)

UC, San Diego (8)

UC, Santa Barbara (10)

UC, Santa Cruz (11)

Univ. of Chicago (2)

Univ. of Cincinnati (1)

Univ. of Colorado Boulder (11)

Univ of Colorado Denver

Univ of Connecticut (1)

Univ&!of Delaware

Univ. of Denver (2)

Univ of Florida

Univ. of Georgia (1)

Univ of Hawaii at Manoa

Univ. of Illinois, Urbana (1)

Univ. of Iowa (1)

Univ of Kansas

Univ. of La Verne (1)

Univ of Maine

Univ of Maryland

Univ of Massachusetts,! Amherst

Univ. of Miami (3)

Univ. of Michigan (18)

Univ. of Minnesota (2)

Univ of Missouri

Univ of New Hampshire (2)

Univ of New Mexico

UNC, Chapel Hill (1)

Univ of Notre Dame

Univ. of Oklahoma (1)

Univ. of Oregon (8)

Univ. of Pennsylvania (3)

Univ of Pittsburgh (1)

Univ of Portland

Univ of Puget Sound (2)

Univ. of Redlands (2)

Univ of Rhode Island

Univ of Richmond

Univ. of Rochester (2)

Univ. of San Diego (9)

Univ. of San Francisco (1)

Univ of South Carolina

Univ of South Florida

Univ of Southern California (12)

Univ. of St Andrews (4)

Univ of the Pacific

Univ. of Toronto (1)

Univ. of Utah (3)

Univ of Vermont

Univ of Virginia (1)

Univ of Washington (11)

Univ. of Wisconsin (11)

Vanderbilt Univ. (1)

Vanguard Univ. (1)

Vassar College (1)

Villanova Univ. (4)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute (1)

Wake Forest Univ (2)

Washington State Univ

Washington Univ. in St. Louis (4)

Wellesley College (2)

Wesleyan Univ. (2)

Westcliff Univ (1)

Western Washington Univ

Westmont College

Wheaton College,!IL

Whitman College

Whittier College

Willamette Univ

William & Mary

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Xavier Univ

Yale Univ (4)

COMMENCEMENT ADVICE

Honor Moments with Meaning

“Every day can have its moments of happiness if you take the time to embrace them. And I promise you, these moments are what will make life enjoyable. So go out there, achieve great things, and make your dreams happen. But also make some time to just sit out on the lake, enjoy the people around you, and not worry too much about the fish.”

Nicholas Soule ’25

Valedictorian

Remember the Good

“I’m sure all my classmates can think of at least one downright horrible fail from high school, but I don’t remember any of theirs. What I remember is all of their beautiful achievements.”

Remain Resolute in your purpose

Maggie Krongard

’25

Student speaker

“Whatever path you choose, let it lead you to something significant—something that gives you purpose and fulfillment. Know that you have the potential to make a difference in this world. The future is yours to shape. Congratulations, Class of 2025—the world is waiting for you to leave your mark!”

Joaquim Cruz Past Parent, Guest Speaker

OLYMPIC GOLD AND SILVER MEDALIST

SENIOR COACH, USA PARALYMPICS TRACK & FIELD MOTIVATIONAL SPEAKER

DeeDee Andrews, Amon Andrews ’"5, Jake Danzo ’"5, and Nancy Anderson-Bruno.

Zach Musicant ’"5 and Lea Mendiola ’"5

Adam Fox ’"5,! Gabriella Becerra ’"5,! Victoria Li ’"5,! Lauren Holst ’"5,! Matthew Sedano ’"5,! and Owen Mazzola ’"5

COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Be in the moment together

“None of us can predict what our futures hold, but what is for certain is that as our lives unfold, we will always have our Parker friends, and our Parker friends will always have us. There are few guarantees in life. In truth, there are only really two—the guarantee of today and what we do with it. Enjoy your friends, especially today. They are yours and you are theirs, and nothing can ever change that. No matter where life may take you, one thing life can never take away from you are the friends you are here with today.”

Kevin Yaley, Ph.D., Head of School

1. Head of School Kevin Yaley,!Ph D shakes hands with Sophia Speziale ’"5!while awarding her diploma&

2. Miles Campos ’"5,!Emory Eves ’"5,!Keira Dunn ’"5,!Evan Sliter ’"5,!Andrew Harlin ’"5,!Darby Byrnes ’"5,!and Zach Musicant ’"5

3. Maliya Patel ’"5

4. Zane Reed ’"5

5. Supporters of the Class of!"0"5!stand to cheer for graduates with confetti launchers as their diplomas are awarded

6. Families and friends of the Class of!"0"5!gather to take photos in the Middle School quad following the ceremony

7. Members of the Class of!"0"5!perform the ceremonial cap toss at the close of their commencement ceremony Identifiable members of the class include Callum Bonar ’"5,! Miles Campos ’"5,!Jonah Chuang ’"5,!Tyler Del Gaizo ’"5,! and Joe DeVito ’"5&

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

ALUMNI SPEAKER ADVICE

Pay it forward

“When the challenges felt overwhelming, you had something deeper pushing you: ganas. That fire. That drive. That stubborn, beautiful refusal to give up— no matter what. Ganas is what got us to Parker in the first place...it’s not just a word—it’s a way of life. And it doesn’t fade—it grows. It’s something we turn into legacy. You represent families, culturas, and neighborhoods that don’t always get a seat at the table—but you brought your own chairs...remember: you are the opportunity. For your family. For your community. For everyone who sees you and believes they can make it too. Let us take this education and use it—not just to build careers, but to build bridges.”

Juan Neria ’93, S.P.E.A.K. Speaker ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL , OTAY RANCH HIGH SCHOOL

PICTURED S P E A K graduates from the Class of 2025!Uriel Sauceda '!Daniela Hernandez'!and Brianna Quiroga join affinity group leaders Julio Mata '!Jazmin Taylor'!Joanne Sith '!and Rafael Rodriguez-Hidalgo

Embrace Joy, Yourself, & One Another

“Embedded into the very fabric of Pan-African identity is a motivation toward empowerment and self-worth through the embodiment of a mindful, bold, and unrelentingly loving relationship to self and the shared cultural history and achievements of the Afro-diaspora...Every ‘congratulations’ and every celebration of you and your accomplishments adds to the rich history that allowed Pan-Africanism to lift people up in even the most trying of circumstances. I guarantee that your journey of self-discovery and cultural connectivity is only just beginning; that’s not only OK but right. So, enjoy the ride, love yourself, push yourself, and stay connected to yourself because that is what the world needs from you and what future generations will learn from you. ”

Terrell Sledge ’04, Pan-African speaker EMPOWERMENT COACH | CREATOR | PERFORMER | EXPLORER

PICTURED A P I D A graduates from the Class of 2025!Amon Andrews Fenja Bahrenburg'!Evan Bohne'!Keira

Doshi '!Avondre Kelley'!Ella

Kim '!Krishna Kuruvadi '!Samee

Kwak '!Ella Lee-Guest '!Victoria Li '!Hanson Lo'!Kelan Ly'!Anika

Parikh '!Elysse McCauley'!

Khyber McFarland '!Maliya

Patel Tori Tran Nadia Yang and Steve Zhang join affinity group leaders Mary Ong-Dean '!

Sam Song Joanne Sith and Karishma Sinnott

PICTURED Pan-African graduates from the Class of 2025!Minerva Aldous'!Ayden Alexander'!Tyler Alexander'! Amon Andrews'!Avondre Kelley'!Wambui Kennedy'!Zane Tamatoa Reed '!Spring Simpson Adams'!Sophia Speziale'!Ryder White and Jack Wilson

Let your identity evolve

“I encourage you to keep searching for your identity. Be proud of where you come from. Celebrate your heritage. Lean into the communities that remind you of who you are—and never underestimate the power of belonging. You are stepping into a world that needs your voice, your perspective, and your heart. Whether you know exactly who you are right now, or you're still figuring it out— that’s okay. Let your identity evolve. Let your community grow. Let it remind you of where you come from. Let it ground you. But also be brave. Be curious. Go out and discover new communities—ones that reflect you, challenge you, grow with you. You may find pieces of yourself in places you never expected.”

Allana

Platt

’ 14,

A.P.I.D.A. Speaker DEPUTY DISTICT ATTORNEY SAN DIEGO

Lessons that Endure as Parker Evolves

A personal essay contributed by former Chair of the Board of Trustees and current Parker grandparent '!Mary Walshok

Over the!50!years I have lived and worked in San Diego,! the realities of daily life have been transformed in unimaginable ways Dramatic developments in science and technology the internet ,! cell phones ,!molecular biology,! AI have changed the tools we use to create wealth and well being as well as the way we work ,!play,! communicate,!and learn &!Additionally,! the unprecedented global migration of people,!the shifting geographic centers of opportunity and prosperity,! and the increasingly complex global interdependencies throughout our economy continue to transform the world that our children will encounter With all of this ,!the reality of what our children will need to understand ,!be able to do,!and “know” as they navigate the future has drastically shifted &

For!40!of the years I’ve been in this city,!the Walshok family has been a part of the Parker family,!including the especially memorable time in the mid,1990s when I served as the Chair of Parker’s Board of Trustees The 90s were pivotal years in the School’s history that initiated multiple decades of growth and transformation for the School

During this time,!campus leadership,! trustees ,!faculty,!staff,!and volunteers made major commitments to growing scholarship funds to expand access to a Parker education ,!offering competitive salaries for faculty to support superb teaching ,!and completing a multi decade major building campaign to create a richer experience for students &!These construction projects have led to state of the art classrooms and labs and enhanced performing arts and

ABOVE In!2025' the Walshok Family continues a legacy of Parker involvement dating back!40!years

Pictured with Mary (right)!are son Colin ’95!and spouse Janice'! grandson Marco ’30'! and granddaughter Siena ’32.

RIGHT Students lend a hand during the ground-breaking ceremony for new spaces on the Mission Hills Campus in the late!1990s

athletics spaces ,!all of which bolster Parker’s broad progressive offerings Today,!the learning ,!social interaction ,! and cultural experiences that take place on Parker’s two campuses truly make students ready for the uncertain and changing world in which they will live and work after graduation &!

Over five years ago,!I was invited by San Diego Magazine to opine on the future of education To illustrate my point ,!I shared an imaginary version of the potential educational journey of my then seven year old grandson ,! who is now a Grade!'!student at Parker My scenario was based on the outstanding access to educational,! cultural,!and problem solving experiences provided by his Parker education

By graduation ,! I imagined he would have mastered a foreign language,! become familiar with

might experience a life of multiple,! rewarding pursuits built on a foundation of diverse social,!cultural,! and intellectual competencies he acquired at Parker

Preparing our children and grandchildren for the ever changing world they will encounter is the most important thing we can do We must ensure they will be ready for unknown opportunities and unexpected crises ,!as well as the rich array of existing professional and lifestyle opportunities in their futures The socially enriching and intellectually challenging environment of Parker prepares them well &!It stimulates curiosity and creativity and requires intellectual fluency across many disciplines ,!allowing our students to

When students graduate from Parker,! they should be comfortable and confident with the unknown and excited about exploring new ideas and fields of study,!as well as adept at spending time with people who come from different parts of the world and different walks of life&!It is this combination of knowledge,!skills ,!and sympathies that will ready them to be problem solvers and creators of the future rather than victims of the unknown and the unexpected &!And I think we develop that at Parker

"Preparing our children and grandchildren for the ever-changing world they will encounter is the most important thing we can do."

world music and great works of art ,! learned about history and human dynamics ,!and maybe even used his well developed math and computer skills to design a house or sports arena complete with maquette&!Many of these skills would come from his formal classroom education ,!but some would be augmented by unique school assignments requiring individual creativity and initiative

I speculated that after graduation ,! his varied knowledge,!skills ,!and experiences from Parker could set him up to start as a structural engineer,! later becoming an architect before moving on to project management after securing an MBA Thanks to his linguistic and cultural competencies ,! he might then join an international company involved in worldwide development before returning to the United States as the CEO of a foundation focused on neighborhood development In other words ,!he

navigate inevitable encounters with not only uncertainty,!complexity,! and disappointment ,!but also with success ,!with which life will surely present them This environment was the collective vision of the Parker family in the!1990s ,!which triggered the strategic direction of successive decades of school leadership and investments

From my vantage point at!'"!years of age,!I worry that we sometimes are overly preoccupied with high grades ,! standardized test scores ,!and dazzling lists of extracurricular activities &! Meanwhile,!grandparents know that the knowledge students may need in the future,!the skills they will be called upon to use,!and the sensitivities they will need in socially diverse situations are often yet to be known Thus ,!the ability to navigate the new and unknown may be as important to a successful and prosperous life as formal learning and credentials

Of course,!we wish all students exceptional academic performance and dazzling resumes But ,!we need to remember that learning isn’t just about mastering as much as you can about what we as a civilization already know,! but also about being ready for what remains unknown &!This means being intellectually and personally able to learn new things and to adapt and create when confronted with the unexpected Parker is developing young people equal to that task

The School is deeply grateful for Mary's thoughtful contribution to this issue of “Parker Perspectives Magazine”, which reflects the spirit of community and wisdom that has made our School such a special place for generations .

If you are interested in sharing your insights and inspiring our diverse community of independent thinkers with your own personal essay in a future magazine,!please contact communications@francisparker org

STUDENT VOICE

From the Archives

An excerpt from the 192' Francis Parker School Brown and Gold Publication

with our dedication ceremony

has long been committed to progressive education that centers student experience and development .! What endures is an emphasis on curriculum that develops the whole child through methods of group work '!collaborative problem-solving '!character development programming '! and social emotional learning .!Students today provide feedback on both a trimester and annual basis through surveys and focus groups that help the School to refine practices and maintain an empathic environment for growth .!In the!1920s '!student Ethel Porter penned the following when asked to articulate the Parker Experience:

One point...is not concrete but decidedly abstract...only one of many...illusive thoughts of students who realize the presence of some uplifting atmosphere in the School, but who are unable to define it.

Call it environment, divide it into student body activities, faculty interest, or school policy, and still you fail to name it. For the lack of something better I have chosen to call it attitude. The attitude of the school is to help you get to the place that you want to reach, with as much pleasure, with as much guidance and with the maximum of constructive experience, as possible. You are not placed in an institution, as in some schools, to learn without a chance to apply yourself and your teachings. Every opportunity is offered you, and your success and what you get out of

high school, is in direct ratio to what you put into your work.

“Perhaps you can never reach your goal, but you can never cease to struggle for it.” Parker transforms this struggle into a powerful progressive drive, and backs it with the best that education, experience, friendship and all of its allied benefits and pleasures has to offer.

Education is always invaluable in later life, but is often valueless during the time of learning because the student has not been shown the pleasures of knowledge and has no interest in progress. Parker allows individual development in any line the student wishes to pursue and makes the stage of learning a treasured memory in later life.”

Penned by student Ethel Porter, 1913

Beginning

on November!22'!1913'!Parker

Content on this page is an excerpt from a School article published in January of!19/0! announcing alumna and author Ethel Mintzer Lichtman's “The Francis Parker School Heritage”'!a unique and robust commentary on the early years of the

School The volume documents student impressions from 1912!through the early!1940s and is filled with a wealth of photographs Ethel created the publication as a gift from those who remember it to those who want to know about it

Photos shown here showcase moments from Parker history between!1912!and 1940.!We see lunch '! Pet Day'!play'!and other key aspects still present in the daily life of a Lancer

“Less concretely [I remember]: a suffused and general glow of freedom and friendliness...an unending flow of high spirits and creativity...an almost continuous feeling of well-being. I think it was the first (and perhaps the last) place I knew that took children seriously...”

Betty Slater,!Parker student from 1934–193/

Feeling nostalgic yet? We're reasonably sure that this image is from the era when boy bands and Lisa Frank ruled pop culture, but we're relying on you for the specifics. Help us pinpoint this Parker MYSTERY Moment and identify this line of Lancers at the Mission Hills Campus.

Email us at communications@francisparker.org to help solve the mystery!

When Students Become Historians

ALUMNI REFLECTIONS AFTER A HALF-CENTURY OF PARKER NATIONAL HISTORY DAY SUCCESS

A time-honored tradition at Parker for several decades '!National History Day provides Lancers with an opportunity to hone their research and communication skills while diving into a topic that interests them .!Since 1974'!the National History Day competition has engaged more than half a million students each year and includes local '!state'!and national divisions '!including dozens of Parker students across the Lower'!Middle'!and Upper Schools .!Five Lancer Alumni shared their favorite projects from their time in the History Day program .

Kristi Greenbohl ’09

2009 was the year the stars aligned, because my sister Emily ’12 and I were both in high school at Parker, so we could compete in the senior division together. We created a Senior Group Exhibit entitled “From Sweden to the Secretariat: The Legacy of Dag Hammarskjold.” Winning the Senior Group Exhibit division is a very happy memory. The exhilarating moment of hearing our names and the shock and elation on the faces of Emily, Mrs. Redelings, and me will be seared into my memory forever.

Mary Tobin ’16

My favorite project was my exhibit on Sally Ride for the Leadership and Legacy theme. I was particularly excited about the project because I was able to combine my love for history, science, and engineering. During the research phase, I visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum archives, where I read primary sources firsthand. When building my exhibit, I was able to use my robotics skills to design and lay out my exhibit, including using a laser cutter to manufacture parts. I also created a small video for my exhibit, leveraging my learnings from the documentary category in which I had previously competed. I made it to the state finals!

Jessie Shen ’24

My favorite History Day project was a documentary I created in my sophomore year titled “Flourished, Now Impoverished: How False Promises Displaced the Sioux.” I became the 2022 California State Champion for the Senior Individual Documentary category and was extra surprised because it was my first year making it to the state-level competition. This documentary is my favorite because it pushed me to develop as a researcher and a storyteller, critically examining various perspectives to fine-tune a narrative. It was the first time I realized that I could use storytelling as a way to advocate and amplify underrepresented voices in the past and present.

TOP Shea McGrath ’ 23!earned national recognition for his environmental documentary about the Glen Canyon Dam Shea was one of six winners of the Next Generation Angels Award in partnership with National History Day!2023.

BOTTOM Krishna Kuruvadi ’ 25'!Mark Blair'!Class of!2020'!and Eric Lillie '!Class of!2020'!placed 2nd overall in the National History Day!2025! competition for their group website project entitled “From Sovereignty to Exile :!the Foregone Rights of the Cherokee and the Abandoned Responsibilities of the U S Government ”

Liana ching ’06

I wrote a historical paper about the 1969 Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines, which affirmed students’ First Amendment rights in schools. I read all the court cases and actually interviewed the plaintiff, John Tinker, via email, which was a cool primary source! It was my fourth History Day project, and I made it to the National competition. At the time, it was the longest paper I had ever written, which definitely helped prepare me for big papers in college. For me, it was an opportunity to do deep learning and become an expert about something that interested me.

LEFT Upper School History teacher Joey Kurz posed with Parker students at the!2025!History Day State Competition in Sacramento '!California RIGHT Class of!2032!students Londyn Jackson and Chloe Palmer attended National History Day in San Diego as representatives of the Lower School when they were Grade!5!students in!2025.

Elsa Baumgartner ’21

My senior year History Day Project was “Operating on the Front Lines: The Hello Girls of World War I” with Addy (Adelyn) Phillips ’21. We created a historical performance about the “Hello Girls,” American women who were deployed abroad as telephone operators and translators during World War I. We advanced to Nationals and placed third overall! I love how we were able to focus on two relatively unknown historical figures and connect them to much larger events and themes. Evelyn Tilleard Cooper, the figure I played during the performance, was from San Diego and worked at Parker as a French teacher before she was deployed to France. This provided an awesome personal connection that we could build upon while researching.

From the PARKER SOCIALS

Grade!/!Lancers completed the annual Ikidarod race,!a 3&/,mile race down Mission Beach Parker's Great Race has been a rite of passage for Grade!/!students since Mary Brown,! a now retired teacher,!started it over two decades ago

Upper School student magazine Scribe' led by English teacher Nancy Anderson Bruno,!was recognized by the American Scholastic Press Association as the Most Outstanding General High School Magazine!-in the nation.!for!"0"4&!Scribe also received First Place in the Top Scoring Magazines and Advisors category,!earning a praiseworthy!9"0/1000!points to solidify the honor

Congratulations to Parker alums and former Scribe editors in chief Isabel Khoury ’"4!and Sydney Kroonen ’"4,!Louisa Rosenberg Chiriboga ’"5!and Olivia Teates ’"5,!for their stellar leadership of the magazine and the!3',person Scribe staff

Upper School Student Athletes visited the Lower School during Flag Raising to promote Homecoming festivities and spread Parker spirit We loved being able to celebrate as One Parker!

Middle School Chorus,!Strings,!Band ,!and Guitar students headed to the Forum Music Festival at Fullerton College in April ,!performing for adjudicators and visiting Knott's Berry Farm Lancers walked away with some great results

Grade!7!and!'!Strings won Silver,!Grade!7!and!'!Band won Bronze,!Grade!'!Guitar won Gold ,!and Middle School Chorus won Silver Congratulations to our students and their teachers for their hard work!

The!"0"4,"0"5!Mock Trial season was a tremendous success for the Parker team! Students earned!"nd place out of!4"! teams in San Diego County at County Finals Over five months,! students poured their energy into the case crafting legal arguments,!writing and refining direct and cross examinations,! and perfecting their speeches and witness performances

Our Grade!4!students held a successful Maker's Fair in March For this annual tradition,!Grade!4!students focused on collaboration,!construction,!and community as they created products or experiences for their fellow Lower Schoolers

Everyone walked away with a deeper understanding of economics and plenty of great memories!

As part of the annual Discovery Week,! Grade!'!Lancers traveled to Taiwan to grow their global perspective! Destinations for their classmates included Costa Rica and France Students immersed in experiences like local home stays and tours of historic regions&

In March,!Vivi Yun,! Class of!"0"/,!had her work displayed at the renowned "0"5!NCECA -National Council for Education in the Ceramic Arts.! Conference Vivi had two pieces selected to be displayed in the K,1"!Ceramics Show one of the country’s most prestigious student ceramics shows&!At the event,!Parker received the Paragon Award ,! a national honor given in recognition of the strongest ceramic arts programs in the United States

Also,!for the first time,!Parker ceramics instructor Jess LaRotonda attended the conference,!where they gained ideas for effective evaluation of student creative development,!process based learning from national leaders about fostering diverse perspectives in the ceramics classroom&

The Drama Club put on an outstanding performance of “Our Town” in February&! Pictured is character George Gibbs,! played by Class of!"0"7!student Isaac Von Behren Let’s give a round of applause to all student actors for their performance!

The Lower School celebrated Mona White Pet Day on the Mission Hills Campus in the spring Students and their families brought dogs,!bunnies,!turtles,!miniature horses,!and more&!The long standing Parker tradition is a School favorite!

Parker faculty and staff love learning as much as our students&!In April ,!Parker held the fourth annual Parker Collaborative -TPC.!event with the theme “Prisms of Practice:!Reflecting,!Expanding,!Inspiring&”

This event aims to engage the Parker community in collaboration,!innovation,!and connection to foster student learning and belonging&!The community draws upon the passion and wisdom of our faculty and staff by showcasing their expertise and talents

The day long event included faculty and staff led workshops,!self led lab kits,! interactive art installations and moments,! and a community watch of a documentary!

The!"0"4,"0"5!Speech and Debate team of!44!students competed in!1'!events during the season Congratulations to all members who won the San Diego Imperial Valley Speech League!"B sweepstakes title for the first time in Parker's history In addition to their team success,!eight students qualified for the state competition Go Lancers!

1912 DINNER

OCTOBER 29, 202&

Hosted by Head of School Kevin Yaley, Ph .D.

An intimate dinner and talk held at the Head of School House to honor leadership donors giving!$10,000!and above to annual giving and endowment initiatives

Head of School Kevin Yaley introduces event speaker Dr. Margaret Leinen, Vice Chancellor for UC San Diego Marine Sciences, Dean of the School of Marine Sciences, and Director of Scripps Institution of Oceanography

Diana Casey

Ted Kim Lauren and David Dressler and Bob Howard

Chuck Morris, Sophia Morris, Michelle Look, and Tor Gronborg

MAY

22, 202&

Tim Walsh, Brandon Summerville, and St. Elmo Crawford

Sean Joseph, Mahau Ma, Host Tam Vadakan, and Hillary Theakston

Hosted by Tam Vadakan and Chris Fuglesang

Host Chris Fuglesang addressing the crowd

Joshua Kaufman and Marjan Rashedi Kevin and Jenny Woo

Joanna Adamczak, Saurav Gorai, and Rob Marasco

Improving Student Spaces

Safety'!security'!and generous donors inspire regular updates to both the Linda Vista and Mission Hills Campuses a handful of changes were recently completed .

Solar Panels

After the completion of the Parker Forward project on the Linda Vista Campus,!the next largest campus improvement project this year was the installation of solar panels&!In!"01/,! the School installed solar panels on the roof of the Amelita Galli Curci Performing Arts Center,!vowing to expand the initiative in the future “Not only is this something we want to do because we want to be more environmentally sustainable,! but also because it’s very economically and financially attractive,” explained Mike Rinehart,!Assistant Head of School for Finance and Operations&!

Now,!the project has come to fruition with installation completed in September!"0"5&!“The new solar installation offsets almost!100%!of our daytime electrical consumption on the Linda Vista Campus,” Mike elaborated &!

HyperSpike Speaker

At Parker,!the personal safety of students,!faculty,!staff,!and our community is a top priority&!In early!"0"4,!we installed a new campus security speaker on top of J Crivello Hall in the heart of the Linda Vista Campus This allows us to provide clear instructions to the entire Campus in case of an incident requiring mass dissemination of information This HyperSpike speaker is one of many security and safety updates to Campus&

New Athletic Training Room

The new athletic training room was completed in the fall of!"0"5,!featuring a sauna,!cold plunge,!three custom treatment tables,!two taping tables,!and a full array of rehab tools and treatment modalities The new room is!9"0!square feet,!offering more space for full time Athletic Trainers Niki Dehner and Kevin Ng to care for students athletes Treatment modalities include infrared and red light laser therapy,!Game Ready cold compression units,!and cupping&! Rehabs tools include blood flow restriction devices,!VOLTRA cable machines,!and standard rehab devices

This hyperspike speaker is over 6 feet tall atop J. Crivello Hall!

J. Crivello Blue Playground

The J&!Crivello Field on the Mission Hills Campus is home to the newly remodeled Blue Playground! Featuring slides,!monkey bars,!and other interactive features,! the playground encourages our youngest students to use their imagination while moving their bodies in healthy ways Lancers at the Lower School have the opportunity to play on the new structure daily during morning drop off,!recess,! and afternoon pick up hours

Parker Moment

Upper School students make use of the newly improved South Lawn and Class of 2025 South Lawn Gateway. In the spring of 2025, responding to the Upper School students’ desire for more outdoor learning and play space, Parker committed to transforming the Upper School Quad, a shady (but depleted) plot behind Nicholas Commons. The new design converted this large patch of dirt into a central hub for Upper School student life. There are now designated areas for discussion groups, rest, and play, with a mix of environmentally-conscious turf and bench seating for students.

The Class of 2025 Senior Class Family Gift supported this project. Utilizing principles of Japanese design and with sustainability in mind, Parker teacher and experienced landscape designer Rob Hansen ’87 developed a softscape design inspired by the surrounding canyons to complement the South Lawn remodel.

FROM RENDERINGS TO REALITY

The Site

Nestled between the legacy field house and the Amelita Galli-Curci Performing Arts Center on the Linda Vista Campus above the parking garage.

Building Partners

• Gensler

• Level 10 Construction

• O'Connor Construction Management, Inc.

Douglas Aquatic Center Features

• 26.5-meter by 25-yard, 7-feet deep pool

• 10 swim lanes

Silberman Student Life Center Features

• 46,000 square feet

• Indoor and outdoor community gathering spaces

• Professional offices for faculty and coaches

• Locker, team, and changing rooms for students, faculty, staff, coaches, and visitors

Vassiliadis Athletic Center Features

• Center court with seating for 1,100 spectators

• Two stories of activity space

• Roll-up doors connecting the viewing balcony to the outside balcony, overlooking the Douglas Aquatic Center

• Hype tunnel with specialty lighting

Vassiliadis Athletic

• Student seating

• Touchpros Interactive screen celebrating Parker history

Under

ONE PARKER ONE ROOF

An Opening to Remember

On September 30,!"0"4,!students in Junior Kindergarten through Grade 5 boarded Parker buses in Mission Hills some for the first time and traveled to the Linda Vista Campus for an unprecedented All School Celebration The event was designed to mark the grand opening of the updated Silberman Family Student Life Center,!the Douglas Aquatic Center,!Vassiliadis Commons ,!and the Vassiliadis Athletic Center When Lower School Lancers arrived ,!they joined Middle and Upper School peers inside the newest and largest assembly space available to the community for a joyous program with music ,!speakers ,!and a suprise competition for divisional leaders &!

“Five years ago,!we set out to complete the final phase of the Linda Vista Campus , ” said an impassioned Head of School Kevin Yaley,!Ph D to the community during the event &!“And today we celebrate this transformative event… that will certainly enhance your experience at Parker ”

Lancers waved tiny foam fingers in spirited celebration ,! while repping Parker in their finest gold and brown spirit wear&!Lance,!the Mascot ,!threaded through the crowd ,! drumming up Lancer pride and pumping up the energy The feeling of community was palpable

The celebratory event included a dedicated moment to pause and reflect on how grateful students ,!faculty,!and staff are for these new campus spaces Known as the Parker Forward project ,!these new spaces are an extension of Parker’s commitment to student health and wellness and support several programs ,!including athletics ,!physical education ,!student well being ,!and more

A program featuring speakers Head of School Kevin Yaley,!Ph D and the "0"4 "0"5 Associated Student Body President Amon Andrews ’"5 sparked joy with the crowd &! They then welcomed alumni donors Andrew ’01 and Melissa Vassiliadis ’04 for a special dedication of the John Herman Court &!

“What I am most struck by is that this is just the beginning , ” said Coach John Herman “The magic really starts over the next 30 years Lessons will be learned ,!lives will be changed ,! memories will be fostered ,!and legacies will be formed in these facilities ” The beloved Parker coach ended his speech with sage advice:!“Let’s all be too nice,!too kind ,!too caring ,! and never take what we have been given for granted ” continued

To close the celebration with a competition in the spirit of the hour,! Dr&!Robert Gillingham Head of Lower School Heather Gray,!Head of Middle School Dan Lang ,!and Head of Upper School Ben Temple made a splash in the new pool with an inner tube race&!Heather won the event as Lower School students chanted her name so loudly it could be heard throughout Campus What followed was a year of practices ,!games ,!playoffs ,!assemblies ,! and even Middle School Promotion &

But before the high gloss photos and water in the pool,!before the gym floor could support a single step,!there was a quiet collaboration full of motivating messages and student passion that set the stage for the powerful pride that would fill the space with brown and gold for decades to come&

The magic really starts over the next thirty years .! Lessons will be learned '! lives will be changed '! memories will be fostered '! and legacies will be formed in these facilities . ”

John

Herman Associate Director of

Athletics

Amplified Student Voices Spark a Legacy of Spirit

For over a year and a half,! visitors to the Linda Vista Campus witnessed the evolution of the Parker Forward project from demolition to completion The project began with the School’s commitment to Healthy Minds ,!Healthy Bodies and a strong vision for a campus hub that supported that initiative &!Members of the Parker community worked together to ensure the spaces foster the physical ,!mental ,!and emotional well being of students throughout the construction of the updated Silberman Family Student Life Center,! Douglas Aquatic Center,!Vassiliadis Commons ,!and Vassiliadis Athletic Center

Parker’s Director of Athletics Mahina Hannemann Gago ,!Ph & D&! wanted the project to stay true to the Parker value of Students First emphasizing the need for a strong student voice to be visible throughout the new spaces &!

To accomplish this ,!Mahina supported the Student Athletic Advisory Council!-SAAC.,!a representative body of interscholastic athletic and club programs ,!as they worked with Parker’s External Relations team to create wall graphics ,!artwork ,!and branded designs for the new spaces

External Relations team members attended SAAC meetings and held focus groups to bring student visions to life “I am so happy to see that our student voices were so readily heard by Coach Mahina and the rest of the admin who made our ideas possible , ” said Evan Bohne ’"5

During these sessions ,!over 30 students worked together to identify keywords they felt represented the Parker Community A few of the most mentioned words included pride ,! spirit ,!dedication ,!and commitment The group’s overall energy was aligned with the unofficial Athletics mantra ,!“Our Family vs Their Team ”

Over the course of their monthly meetings ,!SAAC helped design and create the Legacy of Champions wall in the hallways outside the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms ,!along with

the slogan “Champions Play as One Parker ” They approved the student photo canvases hanging in the halls leading to the Athletics Office Suite,! which will be cycled out regularly to include new photos of current Parker student athletes with equity in mind They assisted in the specialty lighting design of the hype tunnel and also came up with the idea for a spirited Lancer medallion near its entrance SAAC plans to start the tradition of student athletes touching the medallion for good luck before big games ,!thus encouraging Lancer spirit and in game commitment

“It took us several meetings to decide on three large items:!to implement gradient lighting in the hype tunnel,!a wall of our achievements that we could walk by every day,!and something we could touch before games , ” said Evan ,! “But still,!within the next meeting ,!we got to see the first versions of our ideas After a few more meetings ,!we settled on the designs we have now,! which can be seen all around our new facility&”

The time,!effort ,!and creativity that SAAC students committed to designing these spaces led to a

demonstrable growth in student pride and a deeper sense of community and belonging “It was amazing to be able to see our ideas come alive in the new space, ” said Sophie Hart ,!Class of "0"/ “I love how the new building reflects the students’ vision of Parker Athletics ,!creating a space that feels like home&”

The building is customized for current student sentiment and activities ,! leading Parker’s students to use the spaces intentionally,!as a sense of school spirit permeates throughout Olivia Teates ’"5 said ,!“Walking through the hype tunnel and into our new locker rooms for the first time,!I felt really grateful and honored that our voices were heard There are so many small touches throughout the facility that are really exciting and unique,!and it’s amazing that we student athletes got to play a part in the process ”

That increase in Lancer pride was felt during events held throughout the year in the Silberman Student Life Center,!such as the All School Opening ,!pep rallies ,!senior nights ,! and Homecoming activities

At the October "0"4 Spirit Week Pep Rally,!Middle and Upper School students came together in the Vassiliadis Athletic Center Monte Duval,!Class of "0"7,!an Associated Student Body!-ASB.!member and Upper School Spirit Director hosted the pep rally and hyped up students

was to finally be able to use the new gym I think it was awesome and a great example of Lancer spirit when everyone was cheering for their grade during the competitions , ” Olivia said “Not only did it showcase the good sportsmanship that Parker students have,!but it also made me excited and hopeful for our student sections at future home games in the new gym and pool & ”

team ,!another decision made by SAAC that ensures student voices and preferences are heard in Parker traditions &!Including leis in the Senior Night experience was an initiative students sparked that was inspired by the Native Hawaiian tradition of celebration The lei is an expression of love,!respect ,!and honor aligning with keywords SAAC members identified in early focus groups and perpetuating the Lancer legacy of teamwork

"During the pep rally,!I felt a bit nervous ,!curious ,!but mostly excited…I was joined by the entire Parker community:!friends ,!classmates ,!and teachers ,!all standing ,!participating ,! and genuinely showing their school spirit , ” Monte explained ,!“This building is the fantastic finale to the Parker Forward project ,!and I’m confident that this new space will support our school,!our values ,!and the community we strive to be a connected ,!spirited ,! and above all,!unified community as far as the mind can see ”

Olivia Brennan ,!Class of "0"/,!echoed Monte’s sentiments ,!“You could really feel how excited everyone

At Girls Volleyball Senior Night ,!senior student athletes celebrated as they ran through the hype tunnel while “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC blasted over the loudspeakers ,!and their teammates and families cheered from the stands

“Running through the tunnel on Senior Night was such a fun experience,” said Avery Meiselman ’"5,!“I was so grateful that my fellow seniors and I got to be the first ones to run through because we experienced the construction process first hand throughout our high school careers and running through the tunnel marked its culmination ”

Afterward ,!they were gifted leis to commemorate their time on the

Parker looks forward to future events in the updated Silberman Family Student Life Center,!Douglas Aquatic Center,!Vassiliadis Commons ,!and Vassiliadis Athletic Center&!The completion of the Parker Forward project provides the community with facilities ,!programs ,!and faculty that support meaningful and developmentally appropriate activities for healthy minds and healthy bodies Its shared spaces and student influenced design nurture Parker’s inclusive community and allow students ,!faculty,!and staff to come together more frequently as One Parker

over the loudspeaker on the floor of John Herman Court &!

“Every team he coached felt like a family...Coach Herman is the reason I went into coaching, the reason I wanted to work with kids, and the reason I came back to Parker.”

1/

“You have to remember the things that are consistent and true . And one thing that has never changed in my time here is the consistency and the legend of the heartbeat of the gym…John Herman , he's the man behind the legend of Parker volleyball”

COMMEMORATING A PARKER LIVING LEGEND

John Herman Court Dedication

September 28, 202& | Vassiliadis Athletic Center

“ [John Herman Court ] honors the legacy of a man who didn’t just coach sports — he inspired a lifelong love of teamwork , dedication , and physical activity in generations of students . ”

’99

“I'M THE LUCKIEST GUY IN THE WORLD TO WORK AT PARKER . ”

John Herman Associate Director of Athletics

Quintin Chambers ’

Melissa Vassiliadis ’04

Stefani Saragosa Wessell

PARKER EVENTS @ THE SILBERMAN STUDENT LIFE CENTER

LEFT PAGE CENTER Stefani Saragosa Wessel ’99!and Quintin Chambers ’ 15! shared remarks about what playing for Coach Herm has meant to them and others at the John Herman Court Dedication ceremony before kickoff at the!"0"4!Homecoming game

1. Silberman Student Life Center Topping Off Ceremony: Winston Huber ’"5,!Lucy Huber,!Class of!"0"9,!Willa Huber,!Class of!"031,!and Michelle Huber stood by their signatures on the final beam slated for the Silberman Student Life Center

2. Silberman Student Life Center Ribbon Cutting Ceremony: Parker students were some of the first to touch the water in the new pool in the Douglas Aquatic Center during a private Ribbon Cutting event for Parker Forward donors

3. Homecoming Pep Rally!2024: Cheerleaders taught Middle School a new cheer during a fall pep rally during Spirit Week so the student section at Homecoming was prepared to cheer along with them during the games

4. Fall Competition!2024: Ava Poinsett ’"5!stepped up to serve a ball at the!"0"4!Homecoming Girls Varsity Volleyball game

5. Winter Holiday Concert!2024:!Middle School Strings musicians performed at the Winter Holiday Concert in the Vassiliadis Athletic Center under the direction of faculty member Sarah Gongaware while their peers supported from the stands

6. Winter Competition!2025:!The Boys Varsity Basketball team celebrated as a team during Senior Night at John Herman Court

7. Middle School Grade!/!Promotion :!The Class of!"0"9!prepared for the first Grade '!Promotion Ceremony in the Vassiliadis Athletic Center with a class photo staged in the Vassiliadis Commons on June!1",!"0"5&!

Parker Moment

Upper School students showcased and sold their handmade ceramics during the 2025 Homecoming Celebration, with proceeds supporting Parker Clubs and the Bayside Community Center, with which the School has a longstanding relationship.

The choice to support a single organization was a result of the Homecoming fundraising success of 2024. Proceeds from Homecoming 2024 directly supported Parker Clubs in creating community impact through funding academic competitions and cultural events, as well as donating hundreds of hygiene kits and making charitable contributions across San Diego.

DONOR IMPACT

A Remarkable Gift Powers Educational Excellence

In a gesture that speaks to an unwavering commitment to educational excellence,!the Vassiliadis Family Foundation has pledged $1!million to establish the Paul Esch Office for Excellence in Teaching and Learning

With this generous pledge,!Melissa Vassiliadis ’04,!Andrew Vassiliadis ’01,! and their mother Carol Vassiliadis have chosen to honor Paul Esch,!a tenured and beloved faculty member,!who has deep roots in the Parker community and holds a special place in the Vassiliadis family's hearts&!

The impact of Paul’s innovative teaching methods resonates deeply with former students&!Melissa fondly remembers how,!whenever students would finish their tests early,!rather than having them sit idle or start chatting with other students,!Paul would hand out small jars of Play Doh so they could quietly occupy themselves while their classmates completed their work&!It was just one of many creative tactics that made his classroom an environment where students genuinely wanted to show up and learn

For Upper School students,!who were often ready to be done with school and move on to adulthood ,!Melissa recalls that Paul had an exceptional ability to make her classmates want to be present and engaged &!For the Class of "004!and others under his tuteledge,! he understood that learning must be fun on some level and kept a sense of humor about everything At the end of the day,!he embraced the notion that students were kids and he was their teacher&!His approach reminded everyone that education could be both meaningful and enjoyable

Melissa and her family look forward to seeing how this gift impacts Parker teachers and students&!“My hope is that it serves as a bar to be met&!Mr&! Esch really is one of the most impactful teachers I had at Parker,!and they were all amazing,!so the fact that he manages to stand out in people’s experiences just shows exactly why my family chose to make this gift in his honor," Melissa shared

This naming recognition elevates a simple donation to a deeply meaningful tribute,!ensuring that Paul’s dedication to educational excellence will be celebrated for generations of Parker students to come

This extraordinary gift arrives at an opportune moment,!partnering with an E E Ford Foundation grant and a challenge match opportunity to amplify its impact

Through the generosity of the Vassiliadis family,!every Parker student will benefit from enhanced teaching excellence,!ensuring that the School's mission of helping students achieve their full potential remains a reality supported by dedicated resources and a commitment to educational innovation

BOTTOM

TOP

Melissa Vassiliadis ’04! shared gratitude for Parker at the Vassiliadis Athletic Center opening ceremony in the fall of!2024.

Faculty member and Grade-Level Dean Paul Esch escorted students in the Class of!2019!to their Commencement celebration For his!10! years in the role'!Paul led senior students across campus during their final walk to the stage on Lancer Lawn

TOP AND MIDDLE LEFT

Parker Robotics past parent and current mentor Tom Wetherald regularly donates time and talent to the program Pictured above'!he regularly works in the lab on the Linda Vista Campus and helps students to get ready to compete

ABOVE The!2024-2025!Parker Robotics Team!(Overclocked '!FRC Team!24/5'!@frcteam24/5)!had a fantastic time at the FRC Championship event in Houston The team received the Imagery Award '!which celebrates attractiveness in engineering and outstanding visual aesthetic integration of machine and team Overclocked ended last season ranked in the top!17%!of teams worldwide

Securing the Future of Parker Robotics

Meet Former Parker Parent and Parker Robotics Mentor Tom Wetherald

“These kids blow me away each and every day They actually give me hope for the future,” said Tom Wetherald about his volunteer work with the Parker Robotics program A former Parker parent,!Tom has been a Robotics mentor for an impressive 17!years&

“I thought it was completely insane,” he said about his first impression of Robotics,!back when his son Ian ’ 11! joined the program “Then I went to the competition…and I was just completely blown away& ” Seeing what actually went on during Robotics the skill ,!hard work,! and ingenuity required made him realize that there was a lot “more going on than a bunch of!17,year olds with screwdrivers ”

Now,!Tom spends most afternoons and evenings helping run the Robotics programs at Parker guiding students from Lower School through Upper School in everything from using computer numerical controlled mills to honing leadership skills to staying safe in the lab “I think he’s one of,!if not the best,!examples of what a mentor should be like,” expressed one Robotics student

“It’s been really cool to watch so many students mature,” Tom explained about working with the same kids year after year In line with Parker’s mission,!Tom’s ultimate goal is to “inspire one or more of these kids to become one of those true outside the box thinkers,” in the hopes that it’ll help them make a meaningful difference in the world one day

After many years of volunteering with Parker Robotics,!Tom and his wife Sydney chose to include the program in their estate planning,!setting up a fund to support students now and in the future

LOWER LEFT

Congratulations to Robotics lead mentor'!

Ryan Griggs'!for being awarded Volunteer of the Year at the Western Edge LEGO League Open in Long Beach this past spring!

From there,!Tom asked program manager and beloved Parker faculty member Ryan Griggs if he wanted help,!and he’s been heavily involved ever since “In his junior and senior years,!my son was the co captain of the team And then he graduated ,!and I failed to do so, ” he recalled with a laugh&!

“He was the first adult to offer me a hand in developing our Robotics program…which has been a true blessing for our program, ” said Ryan “He routinely demonstrates to us all what the program is all about and is always willing to offer support,!guidance,! mentorship,!and encouragement ”

“As far as I’m concerned ,!Robotics is the most important thing going on at the Middle School and Upper School level in science and technology instruction,” he emphasized ,!adding that including Parker Robotics in their estate planning is about “giving back and contributing to a program I really believe in ”

As Tom starts his!1'th year as a team mentor,!he’s excited to continue executing the five year plan created by the mentorship team in conjunction with the students With his dedication in the classroom and his family’s generosity for the future,!Tom is ensuring that the next generation of innovators will always have the tools and the inspiration they need to succeed &

NEW IN 2025-2026

THE PAUL ESCH OFFICE FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING

Elevating Parker’s Mission

At Francis Parker School ,!excellence in teaching and learning has always been central to the School’s vision of creating engaging learning environments that nurture curiosity and prepare students with the skills and knowledge they need to embrace purposeful opportunities and live joyful lives

Thanks to a transformational gift from the Vassiliadis Family Foundation with support from the E&E&!Ford Foundation,! Parker is now able to formalize and expand this commitment with the creation of the Paul Esch Office for Excellence in Teaching and Learning -The Office.&!This new office at the School provides the structure and resources needed to align teaching practices,!foster professional growth,! and ensure that every student benefits from a unified vision of learning

The Office empowers Parker’s faculty through year round coaching,! collaborative learning,!and targeted training,!building lasting teaching capability to meet every student’s needs and ensuring educators continually refine their craft and elevate the learning experience&

ORIGIN STORY

The inspiration for The Office began with a simple question:!Are we doing everything possible to help outstanding educators become outstanding Parker educators?

“One of the things at a school like Parker is we have a collection of outstanding practitioners and they come to us outstanding,” said Assistant Head of School for Academics and Head of Grades!/–1"!Dan Lang&!Dan and the rest of the leadership team wanted to make sure the School was doing the groundwork to align these

top notch professionals with the strategic and effective instructional practices already abundant at Parker

The goal of The Office is to ensure a cohesive community of educators who share a common vocabulary and a collective vision for what they hope students will achieve This keeps everyone at the School working as a unified whole rather than in isolation

Over the past decade,!Parker has made incremental changes in service of this vision including new roles,!updated policies,!and refined practices “We’ve gotten to a critical point where it’s time for everything to pull together and be stewarded by The Office,” Dan said &!“Teaching and learning are our core business They should be central ,!they should be prominent,!and they should be stewarded by somebody like Erika Assadi,!who’s going to do a great job with it&”

STRUCTURE OF THE OFFICE

For Head of Teaching and Learning Erika Assadi,!the work is rooted in Parker’s unique ability as an independent school to be intentional and deeply responsive to student needs&!In short,!it’s about removing barriers Erika and the team are managing the infrastructure so that each individual educator can focus on

“Teachers can now focus solely on supporting the students and leading them to truly make a meaningful difference in the world.”

Head of Teaching and Learning

Erika Assadi

applying their creative instincts in the classroom,!instead of getting caught up in the smaller details

“We can be more nimble,!we can provide more resources,!and we can be more intentional in the way that we are creating our environment,” explained Erika about the work of The Office

The Office’s structure reflects this mission and is comprised of curriculum directors,!Director of Instructional Coaching for Belonging,!literacy and math coaches,!department chairs,!and EdTech coordinators While these are the official members,!Erika emphasized the collaborative nature of the work:!“It is a collective group of expertise&!We are leaning on everybody’s knowledge and skillset to make the work of The Office happen ”

THE WORK OF THE OFFICE

Investing in our teachers is essential to giving students the best possible education&!Through year round partnerships,!coaching,!collaborative learning,!and targeted training days provided by The Office,!the School is building teachers’ long term skills so they can meet the diverse needs of every student&!This comprehensive approach ensures our faculty continually refine their craft and

grow as leaders,!creating a more dynamic and effective learning experience for all

BEYOND THE BASICS

Beyond these supports,!The Office is launching the Paul Esch Office for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Fellowship Program a four year,!internal “master’s program” for Parker educators Each cohort will explore mind brain education,!develop research based instructional theories,!and present their findings to the community&

“We want our teachers to become practitioners of how the brain actually works,” Erika explained &!“The stronger we are in mind brain education,!the deeper understanding we’ll have about why things work or don’t work with day to day instructional practices ” As each fellowship ends,!Fellows will emerge as instructional leaders,!joining The Office as champions and coaches&

DATA-DRIVEN EDUCATION

Erika shared that the most important data is what’s really happening in the classroom day to day,!including how a student feels and how a student is seen and known in the community “We want students to be emotionally connected to the learning that's what should be driving what we do in the classroom and why we do it ”

This responsiveness has already led to changes,!from adding movement and music to Junior Kindergarten literacy lessons to incorporating more nonfiction texts in Grade!"!to match student interests

The Office uses a range of data,! including standardized test scores,! community surveys,!and crucial classroom observations to inform its work Some of the most recent data used by The Office was from the!:Yellow Car]!survey results,! which allowed Parker to assess and understand the perspective of our own community members,!including students,!faculty,!and parents

PURSUING INNOVATION

While few independent schools have such an office,!Parker drew

inspiration from standout examples like St Andrew’s Episcopal School ,!The Westminster Schools,!and Wildwood School As Dan put it,!Parker is “pulling some of the best of the ideas that we see and creating the Parker version&”

“We have the history of these schools to know that it works successfully,! and we will customize it to make it successful here at Parker,” Erika said &!

One goal of The Office is to keep Parker at the forefront of education To this end ,!The Office's forward thinking strategy includes the formation of an AI Steering Committee and AI Advisory Council &!The AI Steering Committee comprised of Office members,!EdTech coordinators,! librarians,!and the Director of Technology researches trends,! tests tools,!and reviews policies&! The advisory council ,!which includes

students and faculty,!offers real world insights and feedback

Dan acknowledged concerns around AI,!but is confident in Parker’s approach&!“I think we’re looking at it square in the eye We’re being intentional and deliberate,” he emphasized “The fundamentals of a Parker education are not wavering Critical thinking,!good communication,! good humans that will always be what we strive for&”

A PARKER MILESTONE

The creation of The Office marks a milestone for Parker and strengthens its ability to nurture not just great teachers,!but great Parker teachers rooted in the educational philosophy,! vision for learning,!and values that are foundational to the Parker Experience

THE OFFICE FOR EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AND LEARNING SUPPORTS FACULTY IN FOUR WAYS&

1. Faculty Professional Development

Parker supports teachers through a year round system of coaching,! collaborative learning,!and targeted training days that align with the School’s learning goals&!The aim is to build lasting teaching capacity,!ensuring educators can meet the diverse needs of students

2. Instructional Coaching

Instructional Coaches serve as non evaluative partners who help teachers set goals,!gather evidence of progress,!and connect professional growth with the evaluation process For the!"0"5–"0"/!school year,!the program will focus on faculty in their second to fourth years at Parker,!with plans to eventually include all teachers&

3. Collegial Coaching

Collegial Coaching pairs teachers with peers to work toward personalized growth goals fostering trust,!collaboration,!and stronger teaching practices Research shows this peer based model significantly increases the likelihood that teachers successfully implement new strategies in the classroom

4. Professional Learning Communities (PLCs)

PLCs are teams of educators who work in recurring cycles to improve teaching and student outcomes through data analysis,!shared strategies,! and collective accountability This collaborative model reduces professional isolation,!boosts teacher effectiveness,!and keeps student success at the center of school improvement efforts

To Our Alumni

As members of the Parker family,!you know our school is more than a place of learning &!It’s a community built on tradition ,!relationships ,!and shared pride&!As alumni,!you carry forward the foundation Parker offered you:! opportunity,!encouragement ,! and excellence

For all these reasons ,!we are so grateful for your continued support over the years &!Your stories ,! achievements ,!and memories remind us of the lasting impact of a Parker education &!And a special thank you to those who generously shared their time,!talent ,!and reflections to help bring this annual magazine to life

To our newest alumni,!the Class of "0"5,!we hope your recent adventures have been filled with discovery,! growth ,!and joy While we miss your energy on campus ,!we know you carry the best of Parker with you and we can’t wait to see where it takes you

As you turn these pages filled with stories ,!profiles ,!and photographs we hope you feel the familiar sense of

belonging that defines our community Parker continues to evolve,!but our purpose remains unchanged:!to nurture students who will make a meaningful difference in the world

When that spark of nostalgia strikes ,! we invite you to stay connected and help ensure that future generations experience the same warmth ,! challenge,!and inspiration that shaped your time here&!You can learn more about supporting Parker People the heart of the Parker experience through our Day of Giving for Teachers!-Dec ".!and Annual Gala for Students!-May 10.!campaigns at francisparker org/giving

Thank you for being a part of our history and our future&!Please consider reaching out to me directly with your post Parker news

With appreciation ,

Marc Thiebach Director of Alumni Relations mthiebach@francisparker org

1. Recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to Parker and beyond at this year’s Alumni Awards Celebration were Capt &! Leonardo Giovannelli ’9/,! Austin Martin ’ 13,! Laura Crabtree ’00,! John Cook ’ 75,! and Dr Devan Diwanji ’ 11! - not pictured .&

2. Laura Crabtree ’00! received flowers from her son upon completing her remarks after being honored with an Outstanding Alumni Award for her work in helping put the USA back into human space flight

3. John Cook ’ 75! received the Distinguished Alumni Award from former recipient and classmate Jeff Silberman ’ 75! to recognize and honor his work as one of the most successful volleyball coaches in NCAA history,! retiring this year from the University of Nebraska after winning four national championships over !"4! seasons

4. Austin Martin ’ 13! received his medal for being recognized as a Rising Star from last year’s recipient ,! Julie !-Jester.! Newman ’ 10,! at this year’s Alumni Awards &! Austin is the founder of Rhymes with Reason ,! which helps children develop literary skills through music &

5. Capt &! Leonardo Giovannelli ’9/! was congratulated by long time former teacher Barry Cheskaty after receiving an Outstanding Alumni Award for his stellar military career in the US Navy

Marc Thiebach , center, joined 20'7 soccer team athletes Aly Arrington ’ '7, Elina Pepper ’ '8, Lia Redfern ’ '8, and Kaelie Thomas ’ '7 at Bayside Kitchen + Bar for the 2024 Alumni Holiday Hang during the Thanksgiving Break .

ARTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION 2025

Parker's Hall of Fame recognizes exceptional talent and honors community members who excel in arts or athletics while embodying values instilled by a Parker education The "0"5 Arts Hall of Fame inductees were honored on Monday,!May 19,!"0"5,!in conjunction with the JK– Grade 1" Spring Arts Night on the Linda Vista Campus Future ceremonies will take place on a four year cycle&!The next Hall of Fame ceremony is for the Athletics Hall of Fame in the fall of "0"7

ALUMNI AWARDS CEREMONY

The "0"5 recipients of Parker's Outstanding Alumni ,! Rising Star,! and Distinguished Alumni Awards were recognized in a ceremony at the Head of School's home on May 30,! "0"5

1. Jonathan Broide ’0/!and Jen Zubyk ’0/! attended the Arts Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony to celebrate former classmate Pablo Urbina ’0/,!who was inducted this year for his work as a maestro conducting orchestras in England and Portugal

2. Katie Chadwick ’01!performed “Bring Alive” while serving as emcee for this year’s Arts Hall of Fame induction ceremony

3. Playwright Chiara Atik ’04!and conductor Pablo Urbina ’0/!posed with retired faculty members Phil Fickling and Jim Witt after being inducted by them into Parker’s Arts Hall of Fame at Spring Arts Night&!Both past Parker faculty members were teachers for these inductees during their time at the School 1. 2. 2. 3. 2. 3. 5. 4.

Improving the Food System for Communities in Need

Sara Linssen ’ 11!applies a Parker global perspective at Hatch Africa

With a career built through community engagement and gaining familiarity with local issues halfway around the globe,! alumna Sara Linssen ’ 11! is an embodiment of Parker’s Global Perspective value Having spent the last five years in Uganda and Ethiopia ,! Sara now serves as the Director of Digital Strategy at Hatch Africa ,! a revolutionary company that is pioneering a new business model across sub Saharan Africa to bring eggs and chickens to every household &

A PATHWAY ABROAD

Sara began her international career at Uzima Chicken ,! a subsidiary of Hatch Africa in Uganda ,! as a Strategic Project Manager Early on ,! her day to day focus was on operational responsibilities ,! “My focus was on how to scale a business from !10! employees to 350+&! I was looking at everything except sales , ” she explained “A normal day could range from reviewing our monthly accounting reports ,! to meeting government stakeholders to push them to approve our imports ,! to strategizing how to reduce the logistics cost of delivering chicks to very rural farmers "

After four years ,! she and her husband moved to Addis Ababa ,! Ethiopia ,! where she joined the larger Hatch Africa team in her current role as the Director of Digital Strategy&! Now,! Sara spends her time examining end to end business processes across departments to identify potential technical improvements and leads development projects that will help Hatch expand its reach five fold before !"030&! These projects include implementing a new accounting system and building a mobile application that allows rural farmers to order day old chicks from Hatch &! At the root of each new challenge,! Sara taps into critical thinking skills reinforced in her education at Parker by asking questions like,! “Is this a tech problem? A people problem? A process problem?” before determining the best course of action

SCALING HATCH AFRICA

Hatch Africa is focused on serving millions of smallholder farmers in rural communities across six countries Ethiopia ,! Uganda ,! Rwanda ,! Kenya ,! Ghana ,! and the Ivory Coast “When I started with Hatch ,! Uganda was our third country…We’re now six countries in ,! and we needed a more standard way of working , ” Sara said about her crucial task of streamlining business processes &!

The company provides a full package of chicks ,! feed ,! vaccines ,! and training

to its agents ,! who then brood over 300! chickens until they are ready to sell to farmers in their local communities These smallholder farmers then raise !5,"0! chickens at home for their consumption ,! selling the surplus eggs and chickens “It’s not like you can just buy your chicken in the grocery store, ” explained Sara when discussing the issues around accessing fresh and nutritious food &! “We’re building an entire value chain from nothing , ” she elaborated

PUTTING PEOPLE FIRST

One of the most rewarding aspects of Sara’s position has been witnessing the company's growth and expansion of its impact and reach ,! while also building up local economies &!

According to its website,! “Hatch Africa aims to distribute one chicken per person per year in each of its markets ,! helping ensure every family has enough affordable protein at home, ” and emphasizes that just “one egg per child a day has been shown to reduce the rate of stunting among children by !47%& ”

Sara has seen this expanded distribution in action ,! having spotted Hatch chickens being sold on her own busy street in Addis Ababa and her photojournalist husband having come across them during his own work in the country “That’s a really cool feeling when you get to see that because it’s just so tangible& ”

GROWTH & FUTURE PLANS

One of her recent projects included helping Hatch Africa develop in country production of the chicks in Uganda &! “Before that ,! we were relying on our sister companies in other countries to ship us chicks , ” she said She spearheaded the project ,! buying land ,! leading the construction ,! and getting the proper machinery installed to support the hatchery&! “That’s one of the things I really love about the work we do It’s very,! very tactile, ” she said “I'm excited to see how some of the tech that we are building this year will help us work better, ” Sara explained “We’re at an exciting moment where Ethiopia has been this bigger country of operation for us ,! and all the other countries are starting to catch up& ” She’s interested to see the impact across all of Hatch Africa’s markets as each country goes from start up size to larger companies

EMPOWERED BY PARKER

Sara attributes many of the steps of her post Parker journey to the varied and adaptable skill set she cultivated during her time at the School

“I was probably too involved , ” Sara joked Alongside serving as ASB president her senior year,! working on the Scribe student magazine,! and being heavily involved in community engagement ,! Sara also completed an internship at the Institute of Peace and Justice at the University of San Diego during her Upper School years at Parker “The extracurriculars at Parker instill in you a confidence about your capabilities , ” she explained ,! emphasizing how each of her activities allowed her to test and grow a variety of academic ,! social emotional ,! and life skills

“You were expected to bring an opinion ,! be thoughtful ,! and be a critical thinker, ” she recalled about the way Parker teachers led effective discussions during class &

One influential aspect of Sara’s Parker experience was the time she

spent traveling with classmates to Vietnam through the Global Studies program &! “Getting travel experience that young is so impactful , ” she said “It gives you the confidence… to be independent and do things on your own ” Sara had developed such concrete confidence by the time she graduated that she took a gap year after graduation spending the year in Spain and India exploring her interests and further growing her ability to navigate life abroad in environments vastly different from San Diego&!

Parker’s focus on global perspective emphasized through course curriculum ,! internship opportunities ,! and global travel exposed Sara to a wide array of career choices ,! which eventually led her to her current position at Hatch Africa “Parker’s focus on community service and social impact ,! combined with the global perspective,! very much opened me up to the different possibilities , ” she said

A LEGACY OF EXCELLENCE

Parker has a longstanding history of instilling a strong global perspective in its students &! “Our goal is to help students connect their learning to

TOP LEFT

Sara and colleagues visit the original breeder farm for Hatch Africa

BOTTOM

Members of the Hatch Africa team gather in Western Uganda in !"0"4&

TOP RIGHT

Sara and her photojournalist husband tour the Danakil Depression in Ethiopia

the world around them such that they will come to understand their role and their responsibility in this ever changing world , ” said Head of School Kevin Yaley,! Ph D

Lancers have myriad opportunities to strengthen and grow their perspective about the local community and others throughout the world Global trips ,! community engagement ,! core and elective curriculum ,! and other extracurricular options create well rounded students with a strong understanding of the world around them

Rooted in Parker’s values and guided by hands on problem solving ,! Sara continues to help build a more resilient and equitable food system across Africa Her work at Hatch Africa blends strategy with impact ,! showing how thoughtful innovation can meet real community needs &

10

We caught up with these notable Parker alumni over the course of the past year to hear how they leveraged skills, values, and attitudes honed on Campus for their lives beyond the classroom . What impressed us? Each story is built on a ‘why’ rooted in purpose and extending to create meaningful lives for themselves and others.

Cameron

When Cameron Dunbar ’21 has a soccer ball at his feet, the joy and excitement he feels are indescribable. To this day, he can remember sitting in his Grade 2 class at Parker’s Lower School and deciding he wanted to play professional soccer. Cameron started playing soccer at six years old for Albion San Diego in Ocean Beach. “That was where my love of the game started, and where I learned the fundamentals of the game. I quickly progressed through the different age groups and started drawing the eyes of scouts and agents,” he explained.

When Cameron was 14, the Los Angeles Galaxy Academy offered him the opportunity to play for their organization and develop his skills in a professional environment. An impossible

United. “This was my first time living away from home, and it was quite cold as you might guess, but it was another valuable experience,” Cameron shared.

Cameron is currently back in California, playing for Orange County Soccer Club, and he still loves the game just as much as he did when he attended Parker and first started playing.

His dream for the future is to play abroad, whether it be in Europe or South America. Cameron’s goal is to push himself to be better every day, so he can compete with the best.

For student-athletes who want to take steps to play at the next level, Cameron’s biggest advice is to believe in yourself and your abilities. “That inner belief and drive is what pushes so many of us to keep going when it gets difficult,” Cameron said.

opportunity to turn down, he decided to leave Parker in 2017 and move to Los Angeles to live with his grandmother and join the Academy.

Cameron spent three years playing and developing his skills in the youth setup in Los Angeles, and on his 17th birthday, he was fortunate enough to sign his first professional contract for LA Galaxy.

“The most memorable moment of my career was making my debut for the first team at the Galaxy,” he said. “I won’t ever forget that day, because it was the day I accomplished one of my dreams. There were years of hard work and tears from myself and my family that led to that moment.”

Cameron played for the first team at LA Galaxy for three years and had the opportunity to play with some of his idols.

In 2023, Cameron continued his professional career in Minnesota, playing for the MLS team Minnesota

Cameron recognized two teachers at Parker who significantly impacted his life—former Parker Soccer Coach Amani Walker and Grade 6-12 Drama teacher Elise Marinkovich.

Amani was Cameron’s Middle School soccer coach, and when he found out that Amani had played soccer professionally, he had to learn more about him. “He was someone who inspired me to continue chasing after my dream of becoming a professional, even if that meant leaving my comfort zone of San Diego,” Cameron said.

Cameron always loved drama classes with Elise because the lessons challenged him to be comfortable being uncomfortable. It was never easy acting in front of his peers or a large crowd, but the class gave Cameron the foundation to perform at his best on the soccer field when so many eyes are watching.

Cameron will always be grateful to Amani and Elise, and so many other teachers at Parker. From his early days at Parker to playing for MLS teams, Cameron’s unwavering commitment to his goals has shaped his successful career.

Dunbar ’21 Professional Athlete

Carrie Jacobs Palmer ’87 jokes that when most people hear that she is a pediatric occupational therapist, they wonder if she’s helping kids find jobs. While it’s not quite the expected career trajectory for a conference planner with seven years of experience, a family connection introduced her to the world of occupational therapy (OT), and the moment disrupted her path with a true calling, one that included animals.

Occupational therapy helps children develop the motor skills, sensory processing, and other skills they need for daily living and independence.

Carrie provides a range of OT services, but offering hippotherapy was a choice that often prompts questions about how combining hippopotamuses and children can possibly be a good idea. Despite the name, "hippo" is the Greek word for horse. Therapist-led skilled manipulation of a horse’s movement ignites and strengthens certain muscle groups and patterns in patients and can be an important part of their therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment.

After earning her master's degree at the University of Southern Maine and working under a seasoned mentor, Carrie branched out on her own, founding OT OuTdoors. The unique indoor/outdoor treatment environment in El Cajon makes use of a natural setting, a therapy dog, horses, a full sensory gym/ classroom, and a newly added swimming pool to help kids learn skills they can easily transfer to their own home, school, or playground.

No two clients are the same, and Carrie relishes the opportunity to serve as detective to unlock which combination of therapies to use. “We get into the really nitty-gritty details of tasks, break them down into smaller steps, and then adapt them and make them more useful to the client,” Carrie explained.

“That’s how the OT brain works,” she emphasized. If there’s a postural component to the client’s deficit, Carrie and her team will bring in Kerah, Mintzie, or

Blue—OT OuTdoors’ therapy horses. “The horse’s gait is very similar to how humans walk, moving their pelvises in the exact same way. So for those who can’t access movement, the horse can actually entrain and power the client through all those planes,” she said. With over a hundred hoof falls a minute, horses help clients get more repeated proprioceptive, sensory-motor, and neuro-motor input than any other therapy.

Carrie counts her clients’ “aha” moments as the most rewarding part of her job. “That particular moment when they get it, and they know they’ve gotten it…that’s my proudest moment,” she said. “Especially if they’ve practiced a lot and they’ve tried it different ways…and then all of a sudden it comes together.”

When asked about her time at Parker, Carrie said, “The thing that rings the loudest is the dedication of all the amazing teachers I had.” The amount of time and support her teachers were willing and able to give was an incredible gift for her and her

Säm Bagheri ’13

FinTech Entrepreneur

Säm Bagheri ’13 was only 17 when he first caught the entrepreneurial bug, an interest born from the desire to identify complex problems and design effective solutions. Today, as the co-founder of NOJU—a financial technology company committed to democratizing access to the digital economy—this desire continues to drive him.

NOJU was founded at the intersection of innovation and impact. “Throughout the years, I’ve observed a growing fundamental gap in the financial system, where millions of individuals are excluded from basic economic participation, and an opportunity to leverage technology to bridge that divide,” Säm explained.

NOJU offers solutions that empower unbanked individuals in emerging markets to make purchases and participate in the common economy through Direct Carrier Billing

classmates. The other thing that stood out to her was the sheer number of leadership opportunities at the School. From junior varsity and varsity sports, to Girls League, and to the Excalibur ambassador program, to running stats at athletic games, Carrie built her leadership skills early. “That leadership and confidence laid the foundation for me to bust out and have my own business,” she stated.

Looking toward the future, Carrie hopes to add a speech therapist to the OT OuTdoors team soon. Having already added aquatherapy this year, speech is another way to change clients’ lives. “That’s the next part of the dream. First, the clinic, then the horses, then the pool, and now incorporating speech so we can serve our clients better,” she said.

With unwavering passion, a spirit of innovation, and a deep commitment to helping each child thrive, Carrie continues to turn her dream into a transformative reality—one thoughtful step, hoof fall, and “aha” moment at a time.

Learn more about OT OuTdoors at otoutdoors com

(DCB). DCB is a payment method that allows people to make purchases and charge them directly to their mobile phone bill, instead of using a credit card or traditional payment method. It is a solution to a problem that millions face in regions where traditional financial infrastructure is limited.

“At our core, NOJU is about expanding access and ensuring that more people can transact, build, and thrive in a system that was never designed for them,” Säm shared.

Like anyone founding a startup, Säm faced challenges early on. Coming from the traditional consulting and finance industries, the shift to entrepreneurship felt like “stepping into a world of complete unknowns.” At the time, Säm didn’t yet grasp the full scope of the journey ahead.

He described his experience as an emotional rollercoaster, where one day he feels on top of the world, and the next day he’s grappling with setbacks.

“This volatility brings out parts of yourself you didn’t know were there—self-doubt, fear of failure,

loneliness in the sacrifice, and the pressure to become profitable. But in that stress, there’s solitude. And in that solitude, there’s growth,” Säm said. “You find your resilience, your capacity to endure, and the person you want to become. For me, entrepreneurship is about more than success—it’s about becoming more focused, compassionate, and self-aware.”

While navigating the unpredictable early days of NOJU, Säm demonstrated the perseverance and integrity that reflect his strength of character, a core value at Parker. Rather than shying away from discomfort or uncertainty, he embraced them as opportunities to grow.

One prominent challenge his team regularly faces is education. “The work we’re doing at NOJU isn’t just about building a product. It’s about changing perceptions, breaking down long-held beliefs, and educating both individuals and institutions about the transformative power of financial inclusion,” Säm explained. “Convincing people of the importance of democratizing purchasing power when they’ve never had to confront the barriers that millions face is a daunting task. It’s a challenge that requires constant advocacy, persistence, and patience.”

Despite the challenges and steep climb to success, Säm finds great reward in building a team of individuals who excel in their fields and share a passion for solving challenging problems. “We've cultivated a genuine sense of camaraderie, mutual respect, and shared purpose that makes this journey far more meaningful than just the tasks at hand,” Säm said.

He advises aspiring entrepreneurs to start by identifying a problem that genuinely sparks curiosity and passion instead of just chasing a trend or what seems “hot.” Säm recommends finding something you genuinely care about that aligns with your values.

“If your heart isn't in it and your motivation isn’t aligned with the work it takes to solve the problem, you'll quickly realize that the road ahead is much harder than anticipated. It’s easy to get swept up in the excitement of the idea, but it’s the deep-rooted curiosity about the problem you’re solving that will carry you through the tough moments. If you don’t have that, it can feel like an uphill battle, and the motivation won’t last,” Säm said.

Säm is also a big believer in community and encourages anyone who is curious to reach out to him. The Parker community has been incredibly helpful to him throughout his career, and he sees it as his responsibility to pay it forward.

As Säm continues to build NOJU, he remains committed to expanding access for others and to building a future where more people around the world can thrive.

Please contact the Parker Alumni Office at alumni@ francisparker org if you are interested in Säm's contact information

Learn more about NOJU at noju io

Jessica Zucker ’08

Online Safety Advocate

When Jessica Zucker ’08 was living in South Korea on a Fulbright Scholarship, a cyberattack on the South Korean banks and broadcasting systems opened her eyes to a possible new career. “I started to think about tech in the context of what I saw as a more traditional career in foreign policy or national security,” she explained.

Inspired by her time abroad, Jessica completed a master’s degree at Harvard, focusing on the intersections of tech, cybersecurity, national security, and East Asian studies. Following receipt of her degree, Jessica’s diligence and specialized knowledge aligned with the State Department Cyber Policy Office’s urgent need to hire a graduate student with her expertise following the North Korean cyberattacks on Sony Pictures. Relocating to Europe for the position presented Jessica the opportunity to deepen her technical skills and leadership before accepting roles on the cybersecurity policy team at Microsoft and the misinformation policy team at Meta.

Currently residing in London, Jessica now serves as the Director of Online Safety Policy at Ofcom, the United Kingdom’s communications regulator. “Our job is to implement new online safety laws and our mission is to make the UK a safer place online,” she said. “Over 100,000 companies spanning social media, messaging, search services, gaming, porn, and dating platforms now have to adhere to new rules that require them to protect their users against illegal content, like child sexual abuse and fraud, and protect children from content that might be harmful to them, like content that promotes eating disorders or gives instructions on how to self-injure.”

Jessica’s day-to-day activities vary as she co-leads a 120-person policy team implementing the new rules. From testifying in front of Parliament to deciding what data should be included in published transparency reports, she has many opportunities to put her skills and experience to use. One of the parts of her portfolio she is most passionate about is engaging with people with lived experiences of online harms to inform the policy and enforcement work her team does, including bereaved parents, female members of Parliament, teens, and footballers.

“We’re right now in the heart of really beginning to implement these laws and enforce them…And in the coming months, I think we’ll see very tangible changes to ways that platforms will have to keep kids safer online,” she emphasized. For example, in July of 2025, certain platforms had a deadline to put in place robust age checks to ensure kids and teens have age-appropriate experiences online.

Reflecting on her career so far, Jessica recalled two particularly noteworthy highlights. In her early days at Ofcom, she had the opportunity to brief Susan Rice, President Biden’s domestic policy advisor at the time, in the Roosevelt Room at the White House. “You walk through the West Wing, past the Oval Office, to get to it,” she recalled. “And it’s just me, my boss, Susan Rice, and a few staffers. And it was really cool to have that opportunity.”

Second, Jessica counts one of her projects at Meta as a proud moment in her career. “I’m really proud of leading Meta’s misinformation policy team and creating the foundational policies and systems for tackling health and COVID misinformation during the pandemic,” she explained. “I believe that the work we did at the time made a real difference in people’s lives.”

As she looks to the future, Jessica is most interested in learning more about how artificial intelligence will impact her work and what new challenges and opportunities it will create moving forward. As online safety becomes an increasingly important part of global communications, Jessica continues to navigate its complexities with curiosity and dedication.

Marc Sherman ’88

Marriage and Family Therapist

Marc Sherman’s ’88 shift from the corporate world to becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist followed a moment of spiritual intervention. One night, a crystal clear dream inspired him to change everything.

“My transition to become a therapist was a divine intervention as God spoke to me vividly while I was sleeping and told me to become a therapist,” Marc said. “All my life, I have been the person that my friends, family, and random people would talk to and share with…so it was kind of a natural progression.”

For 20 years, Marc worked in corporate America honing his skills in human resources before moving into business development and eventually operations. In his spare time throughout those years, he pursued opportunities in the entertainment industry, trying his hand at modeling and acting, but nothing quite fit. Despite Marc’s success, something felt incomplete.

At first, he resisted such a major career change, uncertain about the financial prospects and the need to return to school to see the dream into fruition. However, over time, through prayer, encouragement from his wife, Meisha (his biggest supporter), and conversations with colleagues and mentors, Marc took the leap and dedicated himself to the field of therapy.

Now a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Marc finds fulfillment in helping his clients navigate their challenges and realize their potential. Marc enjoys the Family and Relationship side of his career, guiding couples toward recognizing negative cycles and making adjustments that lead to healthier communication, and helping individuals recognize that therapy isn’t just about hardship, it’s also about improving their lives overall.

As a lifelong athlete, he is also passionate about working with athletes to help them understand how life off the field directly impacts performance. Marc was a 2006 Inductee into the Parker Athletics Hall of Fame for football and baseball—both sports he continued to play throughout college—and finds that his athletic experiences allow him to relate to clients on a deeper level.

Currently, he competes at a high level in the Men’s Open/Pro Division in Over-the-Line, a bat-andball, San Diego-founded sport. “In 2015, I was the first African American to ever win the World Championships tournament at Fiesta Island,” Marc shared.

Some of Marc’s favorite Parker memories come from the field, including throwing a gamewinning touchdown in the CIF Football Final, pitching and winning in the CIF Baseball title game as a sophomore, and competing at Jack Murphy Stadium for two playoff games as a freshman and junior.

But Marc’s time at Parker wasn’t without its challenges. As one of the few Black students at the School during his years, he often found himself in an environment where he didn’t see many faces that looked like his own. Marc found belonging in sports and always came up with new games with his friends to pass the time. Beyond Parker, he found community through his church and competitive sports outside of school, which gave him a strong sense of identity and belonging.

Over the years, Marc has given back to the Parker community in various ways, including mentoring Parker students, working with young athletes, and even occasionally serving as the Master of Ceremonies at the School’s annual end-of-year

to draw the reader and writer closer together, both leaving slightly transformed by the encounter.”

“When I started Upper School at Parker, my Grade 9 English teacher Ms. Virginia Robinson had recently published a book of poems, which helped me see poetry as a real thing that living people write,” she explained. Similarly, she found Mr. Jared D’Onofrio an uplifting and supportive teacher. “Sometime during Mr. D’Onofrio’s Creative Writing elective, I made a vow to myself…to pursue writing.”

Post-Parker, Kassy attended Columbia University, where she studied Comparative Literature & Society before moving to the University of Michigan for her Master’s of Fine Arts in Poetry. She received fellowships from several institutions, including the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico, the Vermont Studio Center, and the Vashon Artist Residency for her writing. Her poems have appeared in many publications, including The Massachusetts Review, African American Review, and the Columbia Review.

When asked about her creativity, Kassy said, “The annoying but true answer is that I find inspiration everywhere: nature, history, science, art, philosophy, faith.” The piece she’s most proud of is a poem titled “THESAURUS dot COM,” which was visualized by the director Michelle Cheripka for the Visual Poetry Project. “It was awesome to collaborate,” she explained. “Poetry is usually a solitary affair.” The powerful project features a video with a narration of Kassy’s poem. “It is an ongoing inquiry of my work to question the relationship between art and politics, and I feel like this poem wades in that water."

One of the biggest highlights of Kassy’s career happened during her four years in China. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith traveled to Beijing during that time to translate the work of poet Yi Lei, and Kassy had the opportunity to read poetry with Tracy during the trip.

As she worked on poetry, Kassy also began instructing and mentoring students. From teaching social studies and being a college counselor in Guatemala, to working as an arts educator mentor in Beijing, China, to her current position as lecturer at UC San Diego, Kassy has inspired many young minds. She loves feeling like she is learning alongside her students and “building relationships with [them], seeing their growth, guiding them to believe in themselves and their strengths, discussing great literature, and questioning our worldviews.”

Kassy Lee ’08 Poet and Writing Instructor

“I always loved to read and write in my journal like Amelia in the ‘Amelia’s Notebook’ series,” said Kassy Lee ’08 about the roots of her writing journey. Now an accomplished poet and writing instructor, Kassy transitioned her early interests into a successful career. “I love poetry,” she explained. “Its ability

Whether in the classroom or on the page, Kassy approaches language as both a craft and a conversation that invites connection and reflection.

She is currently working on her debut poetry collection.

Learn more by visiting kassylee com

He spent the next 30 years of his career as a Special Agent working for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) before finally turning his knowledge and experience into a program to guide young people to make smart decisions when it comes to drug use. Younger Parker alumni and current students may have seen Rocky in action—he’s visited the Linda Vista Campus on several occasions to share his “I Choose My Future” program with Middle and Upper School Lancers.

message. “I've had teachers, administrators tell me they've been in education for 30 years and they've never seen students listen to an assembly like this,” he said. “Student engagement is really where I separate from the herd on the drug education message.”

And because students actually listen to him, his presentations have helped countless students make better decisions. “Over the last several years, I've had at least a thousand children come up to me,” he shared. These students tune into Rocky’s empathetic, open presence and feel comfortable seeking solace in his kind words and expert advice.

“The drug threat respects no boundaries,” explained

racial

geographic, it doesn't matter. The drug threat is there.”

After graduating from Pomona College with a degree in political science and government, Rocky chose a path often considered non-traditional among Parker graduates: law enforcement. “As a high school kid, I decided I wanted to go into service,” he said. “I realized a lot of kids don’t get to benefit from a school like Parker, and I thought, ‘I’m going to give back.’”

This inspiring program, which empowers young people to respect their potential in life and make smart choices when it comes to substance abuse, grew from a single presentation Rocky made when his daughter was in fifth grade. “I discovered that her school wasn't teaching anything about drug prevention,” he said. With his tenured career with the DEA, he offered to teach her class the basics.

Over the years, that one classroom visit has turned into 1,400 presentations across the globe, reaching over 270,000 students about the dangers of drug use. “Everything I've done now…all started from that first one with my daughter and word of mouth. Even today, I don't advertise,” he emphasized.

With his engaging demeanor, Rocky draws students in and really gets them to listen to his important

From acting to copywriting to marketing, Kelsey Formost ’05 has always found a way to weave her skills and passions across industries and career paths. “What I would love for students in particular to know and understand is that you can have passions that manifest in different careers through the rest of your life.”

Kelsey discovered her first love—acting—almost by accident. “When I was in fourth grade at Parker…I was experiencing really extreme shyness socially, and my parents tried a bunch of different things… Nothing really took, but then they brought me to a community theater company,” she explained. When she took on the role of the Munchkin Mayor in “The Wizard of Oz,” she found herself in a safe place to joyfully meet and interact with other kids.

Post-Parker, Kelsey received a scholarship to study theatre at Davidson College and spent time studying at the Royal Shakespeare Company in the United Kingdom. From there, her career blossomed as she took roles on prominent television shows like “New Girl,” “Days of Our Lives,” and “Modern Family.”

When asked what she considers the highlight of her acting career, Kelsey said, “The project that I was most proud of was actually also the project that helped me understand it was time to let acting go.”

On multiple occasions, these same students have approached Rocky to tell them that his message convinced them to stop using drugs. “If my life's work…has gotten 20 kids to back away from using drugs and alcohol, I'll take the win because I know the pain that one person can cause if they go down that road,” he explained.

Rocky has one piece of advice for parents: find a way to initiate a conversation about drug use at home. Making your home a safe place for kids to talk about it can make a meaningful difference in kids’ decisions. Working with the San Diego County Office of Education, Rocky helped create a series of educational videos that can serve as a great starting point for parents and students.

Learn more at rockyherron com

The role in question: playing a cystic fibrosis patient on the Hulu/Netflix show “Zach and Mia.” A dear friend of Kelsey’s from Parker has a daughter with the same diagnosis, and Kelsey considered it a very personal and rewarding experience to honor her close friend’s child.

From there, Kelsey dove into figuring out how she could apply the skills she learned through her acting career to another position or industry. Becoming a copywriter—particularly for female solopreneurs— shaped up to be an intriguing and logical next step. “Instead of making up a character, I’m simply helping someone who already exists say how they want to show up in the world,” she explained.

A year later, Kelsey found herself with a full calendar of copywriting clients and a vision for helping even more solopreneurs tell their stories. Her hard work paid off in 2020, and her course, “Copy Class,” went viral, supporting over 8,000 students to date.

Kelsey’s copywriting skills caught the attention of a tech company in LA, and while reluctant at first, she accepted a corporate position. Kelsey applied what she learned from acting and copywriting to guide the company creatively. Asking the right questions—like how do you want people to feel when they interact with your company—was a different and surprising approach from the norm in the industry.

Now the head of marketing for an AI construction company, Kelsey is still fired up about using her passions in new and creative ways. What she most wants the Parker community to take away from her career path is that it’s okay to change or evolve. “A lot of overachieving kids, myself included, get hung up on the idea that if they don’t stick with something forever…then they’ve failed. But that’s not the case,” she emphasized. As she’s seen in her own career, “It’s all about building blocks and what’s the next right thing for you.”

Rocky Herron ’85. “Economic level,

level, education level,

Rocky Herron ’85

Kelsey Formost ’05 Head of Marketing, AI

Chase Brewster ’11 PROJECT SCIENTIST, UCSB

Strengthened by childhood camping trips and backpacking adventures, Chase Brewster’s ’11 undeniable connection to nature inspired his career in environmental science.

Chase followed his passion at Northwestern University, where he majored in environmental science and minored in physical anthropology. During summer breaks, Chase immersed himself in conservation work, joining the U.S. Forest Service in Utah and working in Wyoming with a small conservation advocacy nonprofit.

After earning his undergraduate degree, Chase moved to San Francisco to work at Planet Labs, an aerospace startup specializing in nanosatellite Earth imaging, where he spent three years. During his time there, he implemented an emissions reduction program to further the company’s journey toward carbon neutrality.

Eager to grow his expertise, Chase pursued a master’s degree at UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science and Management. He

Annika Meurer ’15 has long been passionate about sports. “I've always grown up around football. I was the girl who watched SportsCenter at five years old. Our dog was named Romo after Tony Romo.”

As the new Senior Coordinator of Event Operations at the Los Angeles Sports and Entertainment Commission (LASEC), Annika oversees logistics for major events, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2027 Super Bowl, and the 2028 Olympics. She and LASEC aim to showcase LA as a world-class hub for sports and entertainment.

specialized in coastal and marine resource science and completed an additional degree with a focus on environmental data science and science communications.

During his graduate studies, Chase spent a summer in American Samoa. He lived in a traditional village of just 60 people on a one-mile-long island in the South Pacific Ocean. While there, he conducted coral reef surveys, collecting vital data on coral health, disease, and algae outbreaks. He got to know the small island community deeply and helped restore an environment that is so precious and impactful for them.

“You get to see the tangible benefits right away. There are so many different opportunities in environmental science and so many different scales to work on, so I think it is really special to see the sort of localized community impacts,” Chase explained.

Chase is now a Project Scientist at UCSB’s Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory. His largest project is the Clean Currents Coalition, which has taken him to Kingston, Jamaica and Nairobi, Kenya. This global coalition of local nonprofits and community leaders uses river technology to capture plastic before it reaches the ocean and shares collected data to support local policy change.

“Being able to impact my hometown community of Southern California was something that is really important to me. So when this chance presented itself, it truly was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Annika shared.

Annika initially discovered an interest in athletic operations when she was given the chance to work for Parker’s football team as a student. After graduating from Parker, she studied at the University of Virginia, where former Parker Athletics Director Phil Hunt connected her with Virginia’s Athletics Department.

Annika met Virginia’s former Director of Football Operations, Gerry Capone, and started volunteering as an equipment manager. She soon fell in love with the role, working full-time for three and a half seasons and serving as head manager for her final two years.

Annika grew more confident that she wanted to pursue a career in sports after college. During summers and breaks, Annika interned with the San Diego Padres and USA Football. After graduating, USA Football hired her full-time as an Events Coordinator.

Annika then set her sights on working with a specific team, leading her to SDSU’s specialized MBA in Sports Management, during which she interned for a year with the Arizona Cardinals in community relations and youth football, coinciding with the state's hosting of Super Bowl LVIII.

“Working the Super Bowl in Arizona…that's one of those pinch-me moments,“ Annika reminisced.

Now, Chase is publishing novel, peer-reviewed scientific research on plastic pollution using the Coalition's data as the lead author in the Journal of Environmental Management article titled “Assessing macroplastic debris collected from eight diverse river systems across four continents: Insights from synchronous three-year communityled research efforts.”

Additionally, Chase has aided UN negotiations by developing models that help policymakers identify the most effective global strategies to combat plastic pollution. Locally, Chase is helping implement California’s new plastic reduction law, SB 54, and collaborating with engineers to develop an AI system that autonomously tracks river plastic pollution.

Beyond plastic pollution, Chase’s work has partnered with the Colombian government to help preserve and restore mangrove and seagrass ecosystems—vital habitats that sequester carbon while providing many other essential environmental benefits.

Chase remains hopeful and motivated by the progress being made in environmental science, and he continues to work hard in his career to protect the natural world that inspired him as a child.

Read Chase’s published paper here : https ://doi org/

jenvman .2025.120354

After her time with the Cardinals, Annika completed a one-year football rotational program with the Miami Dolphins, one of the first two women to ever be accepted into the program.

Though Annika’s career has been exciting, she does not want to sugarcoat the daily challenges of the sports industry. Many factors are beyond one’s control, so she approaches each day with a positive attitude, striving to make a small, meaningful difference even in tough or tense moments.

"You can always control how hard you work and how you represent yourself," she shared. Annika believes that even the smallest efforts can leave a lasting impact.

Once her time with the Dolphins wrapped up, Annika spent a year with the Minnesota Vikings as a football operations and player personnel associate.

“My boss and I always said we were the glue between the business side and the team side of the organization,” she said.

With so many experiences, Annika is hard-pressed to pick a favorite moment. However, she counts a Christmas Eve game between the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys as a stand-out memory. The highlight wasn’t the game coming down to the wire or the Dolphins clinching the playoff spot, but her whole family flying out to support her. Everyone, including her father—a diehard Cowboys fan— showed up in Dolphins gear.

Annika Meurer ’15

Event Operations, Global Sports

Class Notes

Career/Education

Parker alumni and first cousins , RYAN SANBORN ’ 19 and PETER BOWDEN ’ 19,!signed NFL free agent contracts with the Atlanta Falcons and Green Bay Packers ,!respectively&!They are pictured on the first day of football practice at Parker during their freshman year in "015 Ryan -left.!attended the University of Texas at Austin as a Punter,!and Peter!-right.!attended the University of Wisconsin ,!Madison as a Long Snapper

PATRICK HARRIGAN ’05 was elected to the U S House of Representatives for North Carolina’s 10 th District He serves on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Committee on Science,!Space,!and Technology,! where he focuses on advancing space exploration ,!achieving energy independence,! and driving technological innovation to bolster America’s security and global leadership

SAVANNAH GORDON ’ 20,!the salutatorian of her class at Parker,! graduated from MIT’s School of Mechanical Engineering in May "0"4&!She will continue her academic journey at MIT,!pursuing a master’s degree

THOMAS MARSHALL ’ 14 is proud to announce the upcoming release of “WALKOUT”,!a documentary that features him and credits him as a contributor The film debuted on October "5,!"0"4 ,!on major video on demand platforms including Amazon ,! Google Play,!Apple/iTunes ,!and VUDU&! Directed by award winning filmmaker Rob Smat ,!“WALKOUT” explores the Walmart employee protests that followed the tragic El Paso mass shooting This event became one of the deadliest in modern U S history and helped catalyze the most significant gun reforms in a generation

GRACE BARRETT ’ 16 graduated from USC Gould School of Law in May "0"4 and took

the Uniform Bar Exam in Nashville,!TN ,!in July In September,!Grace moved to London to work as a legal associate at the law firm Withersworldwide She is so grateful to God ,! her family,!and the many years of caring ,! teaching ,!and personal development from her teachers at Parker and later attended schools &

SAM DEDDEH ’ 14 attended the European Forum Alpbach this summer as a scholarship holder,!where she performed her spoken word piece “The Last Word” about her Assyrian heritage as part of the annual Speakers’ Night competition It was the first time a speech won both the audience’s and judges’ votes Sam shared that her beloved Parker teachers ,!Jared D’Onofrio and Chuck Wineholt ,!were in her mind as she wrote the piece,!as they helped in honing her writing and finding her voice

DAVEN HORNE ’ 15 is excited to share that he has reached a significant milestone 1, 500 flight hours and will soon transition from his role as an Airport Operations Supervisor to join SkyWest Airlines as a First Officer&!He credits his family,!friends ,!and coworkers for their unwavering support along the way and is grateful for all who have been part of his journey

TIM HARRISON ’ 16 was recently honored with the prestigious Builders Award from Rice University,!a distinguished award given annually to just one or two alumni who have made significant contributions to the university and the greater Houston community within ten years of graduating Tim’s impact includes guest lecturing in English classes;! helping students author their future vision ;! performing spoken word poetry at the Moody Center for the Arts;!publishing research on identity and belonging ;!mentoring students ,! athletes ,!and alumni ;!and partnering with researchers to support Houston’s education community

DR JACQUELINE

DENYSIAK , MD, ’09,!is serving as President of Patrons of the Prado,!a nonprofit dedicated to supporting arts ,!science,! and cultural institutions

in Balboa Park ,!as well as educational access for K–1" students across San Diego County This past fall ,!Jacqueline and the Patrons hosted the inaugural Fashion 4 Futures show at the San Diego History Center,!with 100 %!of proceeds benefiting the Bucks 4 Buses program ,!which funds museum field trips for local students Mark your calendar for their next major event Masterpiece :!Elegance of the Elements ,!August 9,!"0"5,!at the Natural History Museum

HERSHEY SURI ’ 17 and JACK MORRILL ’ 19 are celebrating the Off Broadway debut of their theatre company,!Pop Up! Productions Co founded with college friends ,!the company owners all lead "double lives" pursuing careers in business ,! law,!medicine,!and private equity while putting on professional theatre and “popping up” in different cities to put on incredibly pertinent plays/musicals Hershey and Jack won a!$10,000 Jeff Award for their theatre company this past March &!For more information about Pop Up! Productions ,c visit pop up productions com or!@ officialpopupproductions on Instagram

HOWARD EDDY ’ 74 is currently serving as the Rotary International District Governor for "0"4–"0"5,!representing District /''0 in Zone 30,!USA

In December "0"" ,!NINA COHEN ’ 79 received her Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Antioch University&!A month later,!she opened her private therapy practice,!Journey Steps Counseling In May "0"5,!after nearly two and a half years under clinical supervision ,!Nina received her Licensed Professional Counselor credential in the state of Colorado She turned /4 in August "0"5 proof that it's never too late to follow your dreams and start something new!

Athletics

PETER JOSLIN ’ 22 ,!SHEA MCGRATH ’ 23,! and JOEY RICHARDSON ’ 24 competed at the Hewitt Trophy,!hosted by Bowdoin College Peter,!who sails for Boston College,!dominated the B Division fleet ,!leading his team to a decisive win ;!Joey!-Coast Guard Academy.!and Shea!-Bowdoin.!finished in the top five of 15 teams

Other recent Parker graduates competing at the college level are AVA GUSTAFSON ’ 24 ,!who sails at Cornell University;!ANNIKA BAUMGARTNER ’ 24 at UC Berkeley;!and GARRETT HENDERSON ’ 23 and SAMANTHA KATZ ’ 24 at Cal Poly SLO

MAX HABERMAN ’ 23 was a member of the Connecticut College men’s soccer team that won the "0"4 NESCAC championship and reached the NCAA DIII finals ,!where they fell in penalty kicks to Amherst College after a scoreless draw He was named second team all conference,!and he also scored his penalty kick in the shootout! A great accomplishment for Max and his fellow Camels

SARA OSIAS ’06 and her husband ,!Andrew Hanes ,!welcomed their second child ,!Talia Ruth Hanes ,!on August ',! "0"4 She joins her big brother Lev

DANIELLE VALVERDE ’ 17 and her husband David Benson welcomed Josephine Ann into the family weighing 7lb,!13 oz &!

and Kelly is after her mother,!who has spent countless weekends helping raise their first daughter,!Ina ,!and continues to support the couple with two under two! Dainis joined In ā ra Laima Poulsen!-now "" months.!to complete their family of four Arija Inveiss ’09 is Ina’s favorite person and truly the best aunt

AMY EHMAN

GAULTNEY ’06 and her family welcomed their fourth child ,!a girl named Amelia ,!in August "0"4

A CalTech – Claremont McKenna College game saw two Parker Boys Water Polo founding team members compete COVID has created this extra season for some of the kids ,!affording ANDRÉS HEREDIA ’ 19,!who is pursuing a Ph D in chemistry at Caltech ,!and ASHWIN RHODES ’ 20,!who is taking some extra classes at CMC and Harvey Mudd ,!the opportunity to face off in a DIII water polo game

Family Updates

PHILIP BRODY ’07 and Maggie Parkhurst welcomed son Benjamin Coy Brody on October 4 ,!"0"3

JULIE JESTER NEWMAN ’ 10 welcomed daughter Diana Rose Newman in April "0"4 Her big brothers were thrilled to meet her

LARRY CHRISTIA JR ’02 married Kat Christia on April ',!"0"4 ,!the day of the solar eclipse Their son ,!Quincy Christia ,!entered the world on November "" ,!"0"3 Larry wishes nothing but the best for all current ,!former,!and future graduates of Parker

SAM HUBACHEK ’ 11 married Nolan Adlesh on September "',!"0"4 ,!in Santa Barbara In attendance were Parker alumni Justin Allen ’07,!Sara Linssen ’ 11,!Emily Horne ’ 11,!Chase Brewster ’ 11,!and Michael Schreiner ’ 11&

KARA KOEHRN ’02 and her husband ,!David ,! welcomed their first baby in June "0"4 Kara and David moved back to San Diego from Washington ,!D C &,!in "0"" and are looking forward to showing their daughter,!Nora ,!many San Diego activities ,!including snorkeling at La Jolla Shores ,!hiking at Mission Trails ,!and Parker Girls Soccer games

ANDREW VASSILIADIS ’01 and his wife,! Elizabeth ,!welcomed daughter Cora into the world in April "0"4 ,!joining brother Arlo

NICK

VALVERDE ’ 15 and his wife,!Riley,!welcomed Francesca Rose Valverde into the world at "" inches ,!' lbs ' oz She is doing well

PETER VALVERDE ’ 20 and OLIVIA SHAW ’ 20, welcomed daughter Georgia Anne into their lives at ' lb / oz ,!"0 5 inches

BLAKE BRESLAU ’09 and his wife Kelsey welcomed their second son ,!Nolan Elliott Breslau ,!on September 11,!"0"4

Retired Faculty

Retired Spanish teacher and World Language Department Chair BILL STEEL ,!Science teacher and Department Chair SUSAN MOERDER ,!and Lab Assistant AMY EVERSOLE recently gathered for lunch at Peabody’s ,!just down the hill from the Linda Vista Campus They shared a photo to show how much fun retirement can be and how great it is to stay connected

BARRY CHESKATY is happily celebrating his retirement with a new adventure At his wife Cathy’s encouragement ,!he sold his well worn 4" year old bass boat and replaced it with

ALDA INVEISS ’06 and husband Jason Poulsen welcomed baby Dainis Kelly Poulsen into the world on Christmas Day! Dainis is a Latvian name!-honoring Alda’s father’s side.,!

a brand new one Barry and his son Andy recently took the new boat out for its maiden voyage on Otay Lake,!enjoying a memorable father son bonding experience on the water

Happenstances

ADAM LINSSEN ’ 16 and BEN SACHRISON ’ 16 returned to National History Day in San Diego to serve as judges on March 1,!"0"5&!Adam judged for the documentary category and Ben for websites ,! the same categories they once competed in as Middle and Upper School students at Parker

JEFF SILBERMAN ’ 75 and his wife,!Karen ,! were honored by Jewish Family Services in spring "0"5 for transforming the lives of countless individuals across San Diego Together,!they are inspiring others and shaping a brighter,!more compassionate future for all Jeff,!pictured with daughter Alena Silberman ’ 13 and Karen ,!received Parker’s Distinguished Alumni Award in "019 for his exemplary commitment to bettering the world for all

The ADELIZZI FAMILY celebrates the four generations of their family at Parker! EDITH TUTTLE WEBSTER!:inset]!started teaching Music at Parker in the 19"0s and returned to teach Music during WWII Her daughter,! MARY EDITH TUTTLE LANE ’ 29,!went on to graduate from college in 1933 at the age of 19 with straight As THOMASINA “TOMMI” ADELIZZI ’ 51 attended Parker in the 1940s ,! and JAMES “JIM” ADELIZZI ’ 90,!served as Senior Class President and earned straight As during his time at the School ,!just like his great grandmother,!Tommi

In Memorium

Parker is saddened by the loss of two former faculty members in "0"4

ROB WOHL ’ 19 met up with / 1" Social Studies Teacher PHIL TROTTER ,!his wife Rosalind ,!and their sons BENJAMIN ’ 29 and HENRY ’31 during the family’s travels in England ,!where Rob gave them a personal tour of Oxford

Former Parker faculty member MARGARET “MEG” PECKHAM passed away on May 15,! "0"4 Born in Scotland ,!Meg was a beloved educator whose passion for language and literature touched lives across schools in Scotland and San Diego,!including at Francis Parker School and the University of San Diego A devoted wife,!mother,!grandmother,!and friend ,!Meg’s warmth ,!wisdom ,!and enduring commitment to lifelong learning left a lasting impact on all who knew her She joins her beloved husband ,!Gene,!who passed a year prior Her memory will continue to inspire compassion and curiosity in those she leaves behind

Former Headmaster JERRAL MILES passed away on October 1" ,!"0"4 ,!at the age of '9&! Dr Miles is remembered by family and friends for his warmth ,!intellect ,!and signature sense of humor,!which remained with him through his final days in hospice care Dr Miles had been living in a memory care unit ,!with his wife Margaret close by in their apartment and at his side each day He passed peacefully,!following a day filled with visits from loved ones and moments of joy He leaves behind a legacy of leadership,!education ,!and kindness that continues to inspire those who knew him

JAMES SINCLAIR POPE ’ 95 passed away unexpectedly on November /,!"0"4 ,!at the age of 47 A proud Parker alumnus ,!James went on to earn a degree in mathematics with a minor in chemistry from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill &!He worked as a staff

Parker alumni are invited to share their news in Class Notes We welcome family and career updates '! personal news '!photos with fellow Parker people '!and obituaries Please send your note and/or photo to alumni@francisparker.org .

engineer at NASSCO!-General Dynamics.!for nearly two decades Known for his big heart ,! deep love for family,!and unwavering loyalty to the Tar Heels ,!James also enjoyed playing Over The Line and was a fierce competitor in his prime He is survived by his wife Amanda and a large extended family who will miss him dearly

Claire Bailey shared that her father,!CHARLES ALAN HUDSON ’ 56, passed away peacefully on June 17,!"0"4 ,!at the age of '5 Chuck spoke fondly of his time at Parker

SCOTT “SCOTTY MO” MORRISON ’09 passed away suddenly in January "0"5 Remembered by classmates for his energy,!kindness ,!and team spirit ,!Scott was a proud Lancer,!athlete,! and devoted friend The son of former Parker football coach John and former Parker Director of Communications Cathy,!Scott shared deep ties to the school with siblings Matt ’05 and Molly ’ 13 He was living in Minneapolis and had recently married his wife,!Meagan In his honor,!alumni and family established the Scott Morrison ’09 Memorial Scholarship to support future students and carry forward his legacy of generosity and joy This need based scholarship will provide financial assistance to an incoming Upper School student who embodies the qualities of kindness ,!sportsmanship,!and positive spirit that Scott exemplified If you would like to contribute to this or any other endowed fund ,! please feel free to make a gift online or contact advancement@ francisparker org

PICTURED ON THIS PAGE

“Speak Ill”'!on view at Blade Study from October!31!to November 24'!2024'!featured a variety of artists'! including Emmett Palaima '!to explore gossip as both a spell and a social force through sculpture'! sound '!and installation

A listening area at the exhibition’s center featured a series of recorded programs that expand on examples of hearsay utilizing artist-editioned

“Morning Star” speakers by Emmett Palaima

Alumni Working Together:

Brooke Nicholas ’09 and Ian Glover ’08

Blade Study is a contemporary art gallery established in!"0"",! located on the Lower East Side of Manhattan ,!and was born from a shared vision between Parker alums Brooke Nicholas ’09!and Ian Glover ’0'&!Both Brooke and Ian desired to create a home for conceptually rigorous artists ,! artworks ,!and exhibitions

The gallery quickly emerged as a significant voice in New York’s contemporary art scene,!earning accolades like The Armory Show’s Gramercy International Prize in!"0"4,! “for the gallery’s support of a new generation of artists with an audience for conceptually rigorous work",!and the New Art Dealers Alliance!-NADA.! Curatorial Spotlight Award

“We are interested in creating a record of the ‘now,’” shared Brooke&!“The archive of our projects will be a trace of what it was like to be alive in!"0""! to…whenever we’ve had enough ”

But the story of Blade Study begins much earlier,!in the art rooms of Francis Parker School &!Brooke and Ian met in AP Visual Arts during Brooke’s junior year at Parker “Ian was adept at using computers,!and he helped me learn how to use Photoshop,” Brooke recalls&!That classroom partnership

sparked an eighteen year friendship grounded in mutual respect,!curiosity,! and creativity “It’s funny how it only occurred to us that we could work directly together after fifteen years, ” she added &

At Parker,!both artists found inspiration and community “The variety of art classes offered at Parker was really important in shaping my broader approach as a designer and gallerist,” said Ian,!who felt that Parker’s openness to creativity fostered an even stronger community amongst students “When my classmates formed a math rock band called Witt -named after the band teacher,!Mr&! Witt.,!I was able to apply the lessons I had learned in my visual arts classes to create videos for their stage performances and design t shirts and posters for their tours It was all very fun and inspiring,” Ian shared &!

Brooke attributes the range of visual arts classes available throughout her time at Parker to her pursuit of and interest in art history and curatorial studies&!She especially loved ceramics with Mr&!Cook&!“He was the first teacher I learned from who was able to braid history and philosophy into the practice of making art,” she remembers “He treated everyone as though they had the potential to be a great artist,” Brooke said &!She also directly attributes her experience in Mrs Redelings' AP Art History class to

her pursuing an art history degree at Boston University

That sense of openness and possibility is reflected in Blade Study’s exhibitions&!“We look for conceptually rigorous,!high production value,!and inventive forms of making art,” Ian explained The exhibitions often push boundaries,!embracing work that is experimental &

In addition to exhibitions,!the gallery has begun producing artist editions “Editions are artworks that can be produced in multiple copies Typically,! this is in the form of prints,!but we are experimenting with applying this same approach to sculpture,” Ian explained They want to create artist editions that are functional in domestic spaces,! such as a pair of passive hi fi speakers,! titled “Morning Star” by sculptor and performance artist Emmett Palaima They are also developing a series of lamps and chandeliers by one of the gallery’s artists,!Brian Oakes

“We hope to continue to expand ,! experiment,!and innovate Expand ,!not just in footprint or visibility,!but by a continued commitment to the artists that we support,” Brooke said &!Ian agreed with the sentiment,!imagining a future that includes a bookstore,!a movie theater,!or a shop dedicated to artist editions “If we’re lucky,!maybe we’ll become the first artist produced laser tag arena, ” he joked

Despite the success of Blade Study and their dreams for the future,! Brooke and Ian remain connected to their Parker roots and still draw from the community that shaped them&! Fellow Parker alum Kate Biel ’ 11!had a solo exhibit of her photography at Blade Study in!"0""!titled “Barbella” Parker’s extraordinary teachers truly still impact Brooke and Ian to this day&! Brook thanks “any teacher who helped me hone my ability to write,!with specific thanks to Mr Fickling Really,! Mrs Cavallo,!my first grade teacher,! showed me what it was to be an artist;! she shaped my heart ”

Ian shared that Dr Kyle,!Mr Maunu,! and Mr Cook “all taught me things I still think about and use today ”

“SEED” is Brooklynbased sculptor Brian Oakes’s first solo exhibition with Blade Study'!exploring organic processes'! industrialization and the generative systems that predict '!produce'!and refine the world built around us

In “Barbella” Parker alum Kate Biel ’11 explores female bodybuilding as an act of acceptance and defiance'!portraying muscular women flexing'! gardening'!and reveling in their bodies through alluring'!nostalgic images that challenge ideas of beauty and strength in her first solo exhibit

“Speak Ill” on view at Blade Study from October!31!to November 24'!2024'!featured a variety of artists'! including Emmett Palaima '!to explore gossip as both a spell and a social force through sculpture'! sound '!and installation

From AP Art class to award winning gallery co founders,!Brooke and Ian exemplify the kind of thoughtful ,! imaginative collaboration that Parker so often inspires living proof that with a shared vision and a bit of humor,!you really can build the future you want to see As Brooke put it,!“Working with Ian makes anything feel possible,!even starting a small business in a big city&”

Learn more about Blade Study by visiting bladestudy.net

PARKER ALUMNI REUNIONS 202&-2025

Alumni who graduated from Parker more than!50!years ago attended a Platinum

Members from Parker’s Class of!19'4! celebrated their!40th reunion at the

Members from the Classes of!1974!and!1975!celebrated their!50th Milestone Reunion over lunch at The Lodge at

The Class

Christine ’99!and Rob ’01!Landis opened their home to the Class of!1999!for their!"5th reunion over the!"0"4! Homecoming weekend

of the

at the

their

Members of the Class of!"009!gathered downtown and even survived a power outage to celebrate their!15th reunion,!even rewatching their impressive victory in both powderpuff football and guys cheer as part of the celebration

Members of the Class of!"014!took a tour of the new campus facilities before heading out to Spring Valley to celebrate their!10,year reunion over the winter break&!

Torrey Pines

Reunion luncheon at the Head of School's residence

Catamaran Hotel during fall!"0"4&

of!1994!celebrated

30th reunion under sunny skies along Mission Bay at the Catamaran Hotel

The Class of!19'9!celebrated late into the night at the home of current Parker parent Kristi Douglas ’'9,! coming from as far away as the Philippines to attend &!

Members

Class of!"004!celebrated

Bahia Resort Hotel with their spouses and children,!making s'mores over fire pits and playing in the sand &

In the last decade, your gi s have invested more than $6 million in the people who make Parker extraordinary.

Your Gift to day of giving Powers:

; Grants for professional certifications and graduate study

; Additional paid planning time for collaboration and curriculum innovations

; In-house professional coaching

; Highly competitive salaries (Faculty salaries were raised!20%!in!2024!)

; '00% employer-paid healthcare coverage— and more

You Power teachers. You Power students.

Last academic year, Parker awarded more than $8.25 million in need-based financial assistance.

Join us this May at the 44th Annual Gala to reaffirm our core value of Inclusive Community by supporting student financial assistance.

Your Gift to the Annual Gala Powers:

; Financial assistance for ' in 4 Parker students

; Global travel and leadership programs that broaden students’ perspectives

; A diverse, inclusive community where every student finds belonging

; A legacy of Parker pride carried forward by every graduate

Your generosity transforms teaching into opportunity ensuring Parker attracts'!rewards'!and retains the very best educators

Make a gift today to support excellence in teaching

Scan the QR code or go to: francisparker.org/dayofgiving

SATURDAY, MAY -, 2026

CO - CHAIRED BY ERIK KESKINEN AND KALPANA SINGH RHODES ’ -0

Your generosity opens doors and fuels futures ensuring that any student can experience the full promise of a Parker education .

Save the date and get involved with this year’s Annual Gala

Scan the QR code or go to: francisparker.org/gala

650' LINDA VISTA ROAD