OUR VALUES
We are committed to:
INDIVIDUALITY & COMMUNITY
We celebrate the uniqueness of every individual, and expect that they are working towards the betterment of our community.
KINDNESS
We demonstrate kindness and respect for each other and ourselves.
INCLUSION
We welcome all individuals in our community while celebrating differences and seeking understanding and belonging.
SERVICE
We commit ourselves to act in the service and support of others.
INNOVATION
We focus on the future and how we can improve and make positive changes in our community and beyond.
PLAY
We embrace intellectual, physical, and conceptual play as fundamental parts of learning.
OUR PURPOSE
To inspire and challenge students to better themselves and the world around them.
• Personal Attention
• Focus on Mastery
• Joyful Experience
WELCOME FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
Dear Pilgrim Community,
The 2023/2024 year was more than a series of lessons and activities— it was a tapestry of experiences that embodied the very essence of what makes Pilgrim special: our commitment to Joyful Experience, Personal Attention, and a Focus on Mastery.
With our strategic plan as our compass, we journeyed into meaningful initiatives that promoted Sustainability, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). The buzz of creativity echoed through our enhanced Arts, Engineering, and STEM programs, igniting a spark of innovation in our students. We launched the IMPACT program, which marked a significant milestone for our community. Over the past year, students engaged deeply with pressing community and global issues, approached service with a sense of ethical responsibility, reflected on their unique identities, and nurtured their budding leadership skills.
The heart of Pilgrim shines brightly, and this was especially evident during our electrifying gala. The overwhelming generosity of our donors and partners ensured the continuation of vital resources for our tuition assistance program, a testament to the commitment to making education accessible for all. Our alumni, flourishing in various paths, serve as living proof of the exceptional education and life lessons they received here at Pilgrim.
As we gaze into the future, our eyes are set on inspiring our students to grasp their potential and wield their skills to affect positive change in the world. The next academic year carries the promise of new adventures, and together, we will embrace it with enthusiasm and ambition.
From the depths of my heart, I extend my warmest regards to each of you. Let us continue to create a nurturing environment where dreams take flight, and our community thrives.
Best wishes,
PATRICIA KONG Head of School
WELCOME FROM THE CHAIR OF THE GOVERNING BOARD
Dear Pilgrim School Community,
On behalf of Pilgrim School’s Governing Board, I want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude for your unwavering support. Your generosity and commitment to our community’s shared vision have played a pivotal role in enhancing our programs and enriching the sense of community that defines Pilgrim School.
Our students enjoy extraordinary opportunities in all areas of school life that are made possible because of your gifts. Every contribution, no matter the size, has a direct impact on the lives of our students, empowering them to explore, grow and achieve in ways that inspire both excellence and compassion.
Your dedication to Pilgrim School not only helps us maintain the high standard of education we are known for but also ensures that our students are equipped to face the future with confidence and creativity. For this, we are deeply grateful.
Thank you for your partnership, your belief in Pilgrim’s mission, and your continued generosity. Together, we are making Pilgrim School a place where students thrive and reach their full potential.
With deepest appreciation,
NORA MALONE
2023/2024 Co-chair Pilgrim School Governing Board
PILGRIM SCHOOL GOVERNING BOARD MEMBERS
2023/2024
Hal Bastian
Myra Chan
Chandler Chang
Henry Chun
Naomi Despres, Board Co-Chair
Dan Gellert
David Kang
Lauren Lexton
Nora Malone, Board Co-Chair
Monica Kim
Mark Nicholson
Jyoti Sarda
Kevin Suber
Alexander Stettinski
SPOTLIGHT ON BAND & FILM PROGRAMS
Middle School and High School Band
The middle school and high school band program grew significantly in the 2023–24 school year. Students learned how to read music from notation, lead sheets, tab, and charts, as well as music improvisation. For the high school band, the students expanded their knowledge and learned about music theory and musical arrangement. Each band member learned how to read each other’s parts as written music notation and scrolling videos recorded and edited by Mr. Tyler Stein, Film and AP Music Teacher. Throughout the year, each band from the secondary division chose and learned ten songs in the 70’s rock to contemporary rock styles. The songs were custom arranged by Mr. Stein to fit the students’ skill levels. The students showcased their musical accomplishments at pep rallies, Winterfest, and Café Barnum, providing delightful entertainment and impressing everyone. Their hard work and talent was celebrated at the year-end concert at the historic Whiskey a Go Go with over 120 people in attendance!
Film
The Film Program at Pilgrim continues to grow with support from the Film Committee and generous donations from our community. Students in Introduction to Film learned practical fundamentals of filmmaking including camera tests, film analysis, scriptwriting, editing, and music placement. They collaborated on three projects starting with a winter-themed short film that included the use of green screen and chroma key technology through editing in Final Cut Pro X. During the writing process, students met with professional script writers who advised them on their stories. In the second project, they analyzed Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman and created a 30-minute documentary exploring composition, production design, use of color, music, and other aspects of film.
For their final project, students worked on a one-location film production centered around framing and composition.
In Advanced Film, students worked all year to produce three 15-minute short films in collaboration with the Acting for Film class. Students wrote original scripts, storyboards, and production plans before filming their project from January to April. Every student had the opportunity to play different roles from one film to the next, rotating between director, assistant director, cinematographer, continuity, gaffer, grip, sound recordist/mixer, boom operator, camera operator and more. Both classes worked together to shoot headshots, conduct auditions and shoot over three months to produce amazing short films. One of the films Incognito was a finalist at the 2023 All-American High School Film Festival in October.
The culminating projects of the Introduction to Film and Advanced Film classes were screened at the TCL Chinese Theatre for Pilgrim’s annual Spring Film Festival!
Claws Out
Claws Out, formerly Ships In, is a monthly segment shown during Friday Assembly. Each month, the Claws Out crew filmed and produced segments for the entire school to enjoy. A few highlights from the year included October’s Halloween themed tour through the Pilgrim Haunted House, produced by Community Monday, Panther Productions, and other haunted houses in the neighboring area. In December, the crew filmed a segment that transitioned from a pre-recorded Santa Claus chase around campus to Santa “crashing” the live screening! Santa was chased around Stuart Hall by the camera crew while handing out candy canes to the thrilled audience. At the end of the year, students interviewed and filmed Pilgrim parents in the film industry for a special Claws Out segment, which was shown at Pilgrim’s annual film festival.
Claws Out hosts, Twain Stevens ’25 and Gamma Posselt ’24.
Looking to the Future
Being in the heart of Koreatown, Pilgrim students are surrounded by great opportunities to get involved with the entertainment industry. The longterm goal is to build the Film Program into an occupational training program for students to graduate into professional film internships. To achieve this we have developed a Film Committee consisting of Pilgrim parents, faculty, and staff. The committee provides networking and development opportunities through meet-and-greets, troubleshooting issues with students and faculty, and also fundraising for larger projects. A project
we have set our sights on is to develop a fully insulated soundstage, equipped with lights, multiple cameras and rigs, to help streamline the Film program’s productions and produce even greater works! Members of First Congregational Church of Los Angeles (FCCLA) and the Pilgrim community are interested in collaborating to make this happen. It is a fantastic opportunity to pull our resources together to continue growing this exciting program.
Tyler R. Stein, HS Film and AP Music Theory teacher and Arts Community Outreach Coordinator
High School Band performs for over 120 people at the Whisky a Go Go.
PILGRIM SCHOOL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
2023–2024
THEMATIC GOAL: WASTE & RESOURCE RECOVERY— TOWARD ZERO WASTE
We are excited to celebrate the progress and achievements of Pilgrim School’s sustainability efforts for the 2023-2024 academic year. Last year’s thematic goal was to advance our Waste & Resource
Recovery initiatives by implementing the “6Rs of Sustainability Framework,” with a key focus on reducing and avoiding landfill waste—striving toward zero waste (see chart at left).
Origins of Our Thematic Goal
Our Sustainability Thematic Goal emerged from waste audits & recommendations conducted during the 2022-2023 school year. These audits were carried out by the High School Environmental Sustainability class, the Secondary Community Monday group “Climate Action,” and our Sustainability Coordinator. The findings highlighted opportunities for enhancing resource recovery, waste management, and consumption practices.
Key Initiatives
1. 3-Bin Waste Management System: We have established a 3-Bin Waste Management System to streamline waste sorting and enhance resource recovery. The system includes separate bins for landfill, recycling, and compost waste. This approach aims to minimize the amount of waste that ends up in landfills to maximize the recovery of recyclable and compostable materials. A huge thank you to the Facilities Department!
Source: Jacey Bonavia, Wild Sustainability - Inspired by Bea Johnson, Zero Waste Home (Scribner, 2013)
Lauren Kaszubksi, Pilgrim Sustainability Coordinator, Secondary Faculty
Compost Hub Pilot was created on Nancy White Way.
2. Sustainable Events Checklist: A Sustainable Events Checklist has been developed by the Faculty/ Staff Green Team Committee to guide the planning and delivery of all school events, meetings, and gatherings. This checklist ensures that sustainability considerations are integrated into community events and gatherings management, from considering overall consumption to rethinking materials used in waste management practices.
3. School Compost Hub Pilot: We were excited to launch a pilot program for a school compost hub. This initiative aims to facilitate the collection and processing of organic waste from our school community, turning it into valuable compost that can be used to enrich our campus gardens, creating sustainable circular systems on campus. Thank you Middle School Environmental Science and the Facilities Department for assisting in developing the Pilgrim Compost Hub pilot.
4. Department-Wide Waste & Resource Recovery Snapshots: Departments across the school engaged in “Waste & Resource Recovery Snapshots.” These snapshots provide insights into each department’s waste generation and recovery, helping to identify areas for improvement, celebrate, and track progress over time.
5. Whole-School Education & Professional Development: Education is central to our sustainability efforts at Pilgrim School. We rolled out comprehensive educational programming focused on bin sorting, resource recovery, composting, and consumption designed to inform and empower students, faculty/staff, and community members to make informed, sustainable choices and engage actively in our zero waste strategies. Our commitment to sustainability education is continuously reinforced through specific programming tailored for each educational stage, from Early Education to Secondary. Teachers integrate sustainability into their daily practices, curricula, and project-based learning, incorporating it into communications, fostering a culture of environmental responsibility, and ensuring that sustainability principles are embedded across all learners.
6. Joining the Green Schools National Network (GSNN): As of 2023, we are proud members of the Green Schools National Network (GSNN). This network brings together school communities dedicated to advancing the green schools movement. Through our membership, we access a wealth of resources, best practices, and collaborative opportunities with like-minded schools and organizations nationwide. This connection will enhance our efforts to create a more sustainable campus and inspire
GOAL: WASTE & RESOURCE RECOVERY— TOWARD ZERO WASTE
environmental stewardship throughout our entire school community.
7. Embracing the Green Schools Alliance START Tool: In our quest for sustainability best practices, we implemented the Green Schools Alliance’s Sustainability Tracking, Assessment, and Rating System (START) tool. START is a comprehensive resource that enables us to assess, measure, and improve our sustainability practices across all areas of school operations. From energy efficiency to waste reduction, this tool will provide valuable insights and data to guide our decision-making process, helping us achieve our sustainability goals.
Looking Ahead
Our focus on Waste & Resource Recovery is a significant step toward achieving our sustainability goals and fostering a culture of environmental stewardship within our school community. By working together, we continue to move closer to our goal of zero waste. These milestones represent important steps in our mission to educate and foster sustainable habits within our community. By joining the GSNN and utilizing the START tool, we are reinforcing our dedication to making informed, impactful changes. For the 2024-2025 school year, we will continue to enhance and refine our waste and resource recovery practices. Our Thematic Goal will focus on Biodiversity and School-garden Infrastructure.
We encourage all members of the Pilgrim School community—parents, guardians, faculty, and staff—to support and engage in these initiatives. Your participation and commitment are vital to our success.
Thank you for your continued dedication to making Pilgrim School a sustainable community.
Pilgrim Secondary School students participate in beach cleanup at Dockweiler Beach.
THE PILGRIM PARENT ASSOCIATION (PPA)
The Pilgrim Parent Association (PPA) is more than just a group of dedicated parents; we are the heartbeat of the vibrant and dynamic community at Pilgrim School. We understand that the wellbeing of our school is deeply intertwined with the strength of our parent network, our connections with the student body, and our relationships with the surrounding neighborhood. Through our collective efforts, we strive to foster a nurturing and engaging environment for everyone involved.
Our Mission and Activities
The PPA is committed to building a strong community by organizing a diverse array of events that bring parents, students, faculty, and staff together. Our calendar is filled with enriching activities designed to celebrate and support our school community:
• Teacher Appreciation Luncheons: These special events recognize and honor the hard work and dedication of our teachers. They provide an opportunity for parents to express their gratitude and strengthen the bond between families and the school staff.
• Cultural Heritage Celebrations: We proudly celebrate the rich tapestry of cultures within our school community through events such as Native American, Asian, and Hispanic Heritage celebrations. These events offer educational and cultural enrichment for students and parents alike, fostering greater understanding and appreciation of diverse traditions.
• Black History Month: Our month-long celebration includes various activities and educational experiences that highlight the contributions and history of Black individuals and communities. These events are designed to deepen students’ and families’ understanding of Black history and culture.
• Community Connections Events: We sponsored parent workshops with the school to provide fun art nights with local artists.
Pilgrim parents and students volunteer at Food@First.
In addition to these signature events, the PPA plays a supportive role in numerous other schoolsponsored activities:
• Back-to-School Night: We help make this evening a welcoming and informative experience for new and returning families.
• Admissions Open House: Our volunteers assist in showcasing what makes Pilgrim School unique to prospective families.
• Cafe Barnum, Science Night, and Arts Fest: These events celebrate student achievements in arts and sciences, with PPA helping with event planning and providing on-the-day support.
• Class Social Events: Each class has a representative who organizes social gatherings and activities, fostering camaraderie and a sense of community within each grade.
Community Outreach and Support
Our commitment extends beyond the school walls into the local community:
• The Alexandria House: We host monthly dinners at this transitional home for women and children, providing nourishment and support to those in need.
• Holiday Gift Drive: Our annual drive collects gifts for local shelters and foster children, spreading holiday cheer and making a tangible difference in the lives of families in our area.
• Food@First: This monthly food distribution program supports our unhoused neighbors, ensuring they have access to essential food and resources. Last year we fed over 1,000 neighbors in need.
THE PILGRIM PARENT ASSOCIATION (PPA)
Looking Ahead
As we reflect on the past year, we are filled with gratitude for the collective efforts of our parent community. Your involvement and dedication are crucial to the success of our initiatives and the strength of our school community. We look forward to continuing our work together to build an even stronger and more vibrant culture at Pilgrim School.
Thank you for your unwavering support and commitment.
Your 2023/2024 Board
Danielle Steckler—President
Liz Bangs—VP, Committees
Emily Skinner—VP, Class Reps
Carrie Harr—Secretary
Liesel Reinisch—Treasurer
GIVING CIRCLES
With sincere gratitude, we acknowledge the following individuals, families, foundations, and friends who made leadership gifts in support of Pilgrim School during the 2023/2024 school year. We recognize and celebrate donors who made gifts of at least $1,958 as members in our Giving Circles. Giving Circle affiliation is based on cumulative giving per fiscal year. Thank you for the generous support of Pilgrim School.
Head of School Circle
($25,000 and Above)
The Ahmanson Foundation
Laurence K. Brown
Eunice Choe and Sung Y Do
Scarleth and Juan Dominguez
Edward A. and Ai O. Shay Family Foundation
Ilhan Kang
Lauren Lexton and Kevin MacCarthy
Leadership Circle
($10,000 - $24,999)
Anonymous
Fenton Bailey and William Luther
Randy Barbato
Janice Ying and Bryan Chen
Cassandra MacLeod and Urs Fischer
Therese Nery and Amad Jackson
Lisa and Lenn Rosenfeld
Kari and William Stinehart
Terry and Dave Taylor
Laurence Tighe
Gilberto Valenzuela
Eva and Nicholas Van Brunt
Partners Circle
($5,000 - $9,999)
Susana Alberti and Daniel Berdakin
Naomi Despres and Arty Nelson
Laura Kim and Yousuf Dhamee
Lacy and Tomy Drissi
Faith Crawford and Jacob Duzsik
Bruce Gilbert
Yuanyuan Tong and Min Hu
Junghwa Kim and Kisub Jung
Elle Pirmoradi and Robert Kiminecz
Dohee and Phil Lee
Ivana and Tom Lombardi
Annie and William Macomber
Wendy Priest and Matthew Marmolejo
Mary McCloud and Scott Moore
Netflix
Jiman Park
Pilgrim Parent Association
June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer
Linda Simon
Belinda Waltman and Matt Thomson
Stacen and Paul Zografakis
1958 Circle
($1,958 - $4,999)
Anonymous
Maisha Closson and Chris Barnes
Natasha and Michael Bernstein
Kristen Schaal and Rich Blomquist Boeing
Alyssa and Freddie Braidi
Chandler and Steven Chang
Michelle Wang and Dave Chen
Jiyoun Kim and Kibum Chun
Karen and Barnaby Clay
Vicki Higgins and Nathan Cramton
Michaela McManus and Mike Daniels
Courtney Treut Derderian and John Derderian
Liesel Reinisch and Gary Eckwortzel
Kate and Robert Fox
Sonny Ruscha Granade and Rives Granade
Sandy and Allen Hamilton
Sally Aristei and Jennifer Hartman
Cynthia Hill
Qing Yi and Bin Jiang
Hyunju Son and Raymon Kang
Hyunjin and Thomas Kang
Amber and Christian Kemmerling
Savina and Samuel Mimoun
Karen Liu and Chun Pin Nien
The Park-Cordoba Family
Sook Won and James Park
Cindy and Steves Rodriguez
Tara Peris and Joel Rubin
Aubrey and Adam Siegel
Erica Rothschild and Marcus Spiegel
Julia Meltzer and David Thorne
Monica Kim and John Yu
Li Zhang
PILGRIM FUND
The Pilgrim Fund, our annual fund, supports every aspect of education and life at Pilgrim. Classroom improvements, tuition assistance, programs and activities on and off campus, and robust benefits and professional development for faculty and staff are just a few things that are made possible because of the support we receive from our families and friends. We are so proud of our community’s growing participation and grateful for all the difference that each and every one of our donors help to make at Pilgrim. Thank you for your support and partnership!
Parents
Anonymous (11)
Liz Friedman and Yvette Abatte
Alisa Wiegers and James Adler
Scarlet Garcia and Arturo Alderete
Tien Cheshier and James Allen
Eleanor Comegys and Marcos Alvarez
Alicia Ash
Fenton Bailey and William Luther
Randy Barbato
Maisha Closson and Chris Barnes
Karin and Henrik Bastin
Allison Fell and Zachary Berger
Natasha and Michael Bernstein
Paul Bernstein
Kristen Schaal and Rich Blomquist
Grace Bodie
Isabell and Peter Bogosian
Lily and Bryan Bossin
Alyssa and Freddie Braidi
Zoe and James Breen
Dawn Salyards and Mark Brettschneider
Cheadrianna Johnson and William Brinson
Ronda Doyal and Bryan Brown
Heather Lawless and Jeff Buchanan
Katherine McDaniel and Nicholas Buffini
Colleen O’Brien and Noah J. Butler
Chandler and Steven Chang
Yoori Lim and Young Kuk Chang
Sara and Scott Chapin
Janice Ying and Bryan Chen
Michelle Wang and Dave Chen
Lena and Jimmy Cho
Amy Reitsma-Cho and Ramon Cho
Sopia and Samuel Choi
Carolina Kim and Jeng Woo Choo
Lily Gonzalez Chow and Travis Chow
Jiyoun Kim and Kibum Chun
Karen Church
Karen and Barnaby Clay
Fatama and Michael Cohen
Ames Ingham and Mariano Cordero
Vicki Higgins and Nathan Cramton
Holly and Kenneth Crosby
Bo and Nathan Cross
Catherine and Michael Curley
Caitlin and Daniel Cutler
Sybil and John-Paul Cuzzo
Michaela McManus and Mike Daniels
Sabine and Jeff Demain
Courtney Treut Derderian and John Derderian
Laura Kim and Yousuf Dhamee
Liz Destro and Blake Dirickson
Eunice Choe and Sung Y Do
Annie Dominguez and Jen Marquez
Scarleth and Juan Dominguez
Shah Martirosyan and Chris Driscoll
Lacy and Tomy Drissi
Faith Crawford and Jacob Duzsik
Liesel Reinisch and Gary Eckwortzel
Kirsten Roeters and David Eilenberg
Jamie Haller and Craig Ekedahl
Jessi Klein and Michael Engleman
Samantha Powell and John Falcon
Ashley Chao and Bryant Floreslee
Kate and Robert Fox
Estee Stanley and Bryan Furst
Dawyn Harrison-Gaither and Lee Gaither
Kitty Gallegos
Jessica Johnson-Garrity and Seamus Garrity
Jennie Morris and Mikhail Gershovich
Bruce Gilbert
Mona and Joshua Goldstein
Nina Barry and Chris Gorak
Connie Hwang and Ryan Grady
Tara Leon-Graham and Alastair Graham
Sonny Ruscha Granade and Rives Granade
Kehaulani and DJ Gregory
Wei Wang and Shaochun Guo
Kelsey and Cory Hammer
Tahli Fisher Harkham and Sammy Harkham
Carrie and Benjamin Harr
Janelle Brown and Greg Harrison
Sally Aristei and Jennifer Hartman
Nicole Lambrou and Drake Hawthorne
Natalie and Michael Hekmat
Cynthia Hill
Liyan Wang and Albert Hu
Yuanyuan Tong and Min Hu
Anne Churchland and Alex Huk
Deryn and Robert Hull
Henya Paul and Stephen Hurley
Silvia and Enrique Ibarra
Helene Schwartz and Jason Ickovitz
Alexandra and Nicholas Iurato
Therese Nery and Amad Jackson
Qing Yi and Bin Jiang
Jessica and Robert Johnson
Junghwa Kim and Kisub Jung
David Kang
Ilhan Kang
Hyunju Son and Raymon Kang
Hyunjin and Thomas Kang
Claire and Nicholas Kelly
Amber and Christian Kemmerling
Amanda Hayes-Kibreab and Biniam Kibreab
Eunhee Kim
Hera and Jikun Kim
Rosy Ku and Paul Kim
Elle Pirmoradi and Robert Kiminecz
Krislyn and Dimitri Komarov
Dohee and Phil Lee
Ayoung Kim and Sung Kyu Lee
Alicia Levano
Kari and Brad Listi
Ivana and Tom Lombardi
Sarah Bryan and Michael Longo
Lauren Lexton and Kevin MacCarthy
Staci Sosa and Omar Macedo
Jessica and Hemky Madera
Wendy Priest and Matthew Marmolejo
Sarah Hemphill and John Martel
Kim Hamilton and Jay Matino
Mayanka and Pravin Melville
Wendy Calhoun and David Miller
Savina and Samuel Mimoun
Samantha Weaver and Marc Moeller
Mary McCloud and Scott Moore
Karen Liu and Chun Pin Nien
Keshni Kashyap and Karl Nilsson
Aimee and Matteo Nurizzo
PILGRIM FUND
Parents (cont.)
Elizabeth Bangs and Matthew Oberg
Jennifer Sung and Alfredo Ok
Jennifer Como and Jason Orme
Patricia Kong and Richard Pak
The Park-Cordoba Family
Jeewon Lee and Jae Park
Sook Won and James Park
Jiman Park
Amelia and Jim Patton
Andrew Pearce
Ashley and Brian Pearson
Beatrice Shen and Michael Peraza
Lindsay and Gabriel Perkins
Erin Zimring and Daniel Pipski
Amy Wan and Stephen Platt
Alison Gilbert and Jonathan Polikowski
Julie and Derek Posselt
Cara and Scott Putman
Jennifer Reberger
Bethany Black and Justin Regan
Silvia Barajas and Sonia Rodriguez
Cindy and Steves Rodriguez
Lisa and Lenn Rosenfeld
Tara Peris and Joel Rubin
James Rwoti
Susana Santiago
Lorraine and Joseph Sarles
Carla Gallo and Mark Satterthwaite
Sarah and Edward Scannell
June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer
Brittney and Reeve Schley
Maria and Kevin Scott
Alexandra Tokarewicz and Dan Shattuck
Aubrey and Adam Siegel
Thomas Michna and Rick Simner
Kelly Tyler and Kenneth Simon
Linda Simon
Michelle and Adam Sinclair
Angela Melara and Christopher Singleton
Laurence Goldberg and Jonah Smith
Isabel Bussarakum and Charles Snyder
Gretchen Stoecker and Gregory Sobotka
Megan Wahtera and Peter Soldinger
Lauren Soloff and Adam Sher
Joey Soloway
Myoung Kim and Yo Chan Song
Erica Rothschild and Marcus Spiegel
Georgia Etheridge and Cameron Stephens
Joanna Stevens
Kari and William Stinehart
Julie and Winston Stromberg
Danielle Weeks and Aaron Strongoni
Matilda Zoltowski and Laurent Sungkur
Soyoung and Gene Surh
James Bekier and Jonathan Swaden
Angie and Josh Tepper
Belinda Waltman and Matt Thomson
Julia Meltzer and David Thorne
Laurence Tighe
Chris Heywood and Nick Tomasetti
Caroline Treadwell
Gilberto Valenzuela
Eva and Nicholas Van Brunt
Veasna and Douglas Vanderbilt
Adriana Alberghetti Vinson and Tripp Vinson
Julie Khamphanthong and Chase Whalen
Julia Fauzia-Whatley and Curtis Whatley
Brandace and William Wilson
Whitney Friedlander and Alex Woo
Caitlin Feury and Christopher Zatta
Li Zhang
Stacen and Paul Zografakis
Governing Board
Hal Bastian
Chandler and Steven Chang
Naomi Despres and Arty Nelson
Catherine and Daniel Gellert
David Kang
Monica Kim and John Yu
Nora Malone
Jyoti Sarda and Lawrence Rogow
Alumni, Alumni Parents, Grandparents, and Friends
Anonymous
Susana Alberti and Daniel Berdakin
Laurence K. Brown
Naomi Despres and Arty Nelson
Michael Destro
Catherine and Daniel Gellert
Sandra and Allen Hamilton
Shyreen and Sammy Hancock
Claudio Howard ’76
Caprice Collins and Alvin Jenkins
Pamela R. Keon ’76
Debbie Koller
Katrina Alexy and Benjamin Lein
Barbara Hill Lovitt
John Lucas ’83
Annie and William Macomber
Marie-Jo and Daniel Newlon
Joy Ogbunamiri ’93
Blanca and Jose Reyes
Jyoti Sarda and Lawrence Rogow
Anthony Shaffer
Clare Schneider ’80
Terry and David Taylor
Daphne Walker
Gia and Michael Wise
Monica Kim and John Yu
Faculty and Staff
Anonymous (2)
Amalisa Abels
Karla Anaya
Katie Andrade
Armine Assatryan
Daryl Barry
Tyler Beardsley
Lily and Bryan Bossin
Jeri Brannan
Jacinta Capelli
Maite Cervik
Sarah and Michael Chaskes
Fernando Chaves
Max Cisneros
Sheryl Cohen
Joe Concialdi
Enrique Cortez
Zoe Fox
Maria Garcia
Rafe Goodwell
Connie Hwang and Ryan Grady
Rose Hajian
Kelsey and Cory Hammer
Juan Carlos Hernandez
Henya Paul and Stephen Hurley
Helene Schwartz and Jason Ickovitz
Lauren Kaszubski
Debbie Koller
Patricia Kong and Richard Pak
Nari Kye
Janne Larsen
Alexandra Lascano-Morris
Robin Lau
Alicia Levano
Nerly Lobos
Kathleen Logue
Beth Loheed
Hana Lopez
Christine Mai
Dorian Maynard
Linda Miller
Marvin Monterroza
Vanessa Munos
Kosuke Nishimori
Mina Ortega
Merari Palacios
Rachel Pear
April and Ray Perez
Lindsay and Gabriel Perkins
Samantha Powell and John Falcon
Yila Renner
Blanca Reyes
Blanca and Jose Reyes
Silvia Barajas and Sonia Rodriguez
Susi Santiago
Anna Schlosser
Kathreen Shorkey
Madeleine Simonds
Tyler Stein
Amanda Stewart
Kerri-Ann Thompson
Brian Ulatowski
Miriam Vargas
Candace Wai
Sherry Walker
Liyan Wang and Albert Hu
April Wind and Michelle Koscielniak
THE FILL THE GAP FUND
Fill the Gap Fund Gifts
Kristen Schaal and Rich Blomquist
Ronda Doyal and Bryan Brown
Lorrayne and Jason Burns
Catherine and Michael Curley
Sabine and Jeff Demain
Claire and Nicholas Kelly
Julia Meltzer and David Thorne
Jennifer Como and Jason Orme
Lindsay and Gabriel Perkins
Isabel Bussarakum and Charles Snyder
Caroline Treadwell
Julia Fauzia-Whatley and Curtis Whatley
Misherr Tseng and Benjamin Wong
Caitlin Feury and Christopher Zatta
The Fill the Gap Fund was founded in September 2022 to help families of color “fill the gap,” covering the extra expenses that may be cost prohibitive throughout the school year. The funds were raised through ticket sales, concessions and donations from our Movie Night events, and all the proceeds were matched, dollar for dollar, by an anonymous donor. Pilgrim is looking forward to continuing this biannual event to support our families of color.
The Ahmanson Foundation
Fenton Bailey and William Luther
Maisha Closson and Chris Barnes
California Community Foundation
Edward A. and Ai O. Shay Family Foundation
Tahli Fisher Harkham and Sammy Harkham
David Kang
Hera and Jikun Kim
Wendy Priest and Matthew Marmolejo
Mary McCloud and Scott Moore
Cindy and Steves Rodriguez
FINANCIAL STATISTICS
REVENUE
TUITION & GRADE FEES 77%
AUXILIARY / OTHER 9%
BOARDING REVENUE 1%
DONATIONS / CONTRIBUTIONS 5%
RENTAL INCOME 0%
INTEREST & INVESTMENT GAINS / LOSSES 6%
RESTRICTED FUNDS FOR PROGRAMS 2%
SALARIES & BENEFITS 66%
INSTRUCTIONAL / PROGRAMS 13%
BOARDING PROGRAM 1%
FUNDRAISING & EXTERNAL RELATIONS 1%
UTILITIES / COMMUNICATIONS / TECH 3%
OFFICE & OTHER EXPENSES 5%
BUILDING & GROUNDS 6%
INTEREST / DEBT SERVICE 1%
FACILITIES EP TRANSFER TO CHURCH 4%
EXPENSES
Total Number of Students: 379 Boarding Students included in Total: 9
NINJA NATION
From donating in support to providing snacks and volunteering to help, we were blessed to have our Pilgrim community come together to help make 2024 Ninja Nation on February 2 so successful! We are thrilled to share that the Pilgrim Parent Association raised $43,000 to fund many Athletics needs such as branded tents and scorer’s table, as well as to provide additional funding for the newly created Neighborhood Scholars Program. Thank you to our wonderful community for its amazing support!
NINJA NATION SPONSORS
Lawrence Eilenberg
Carolyn Ekedahl
Michael Curley
Max Cutler
Phyllis Cutler
John Cuzzo
Aasne and Jamie Daniels Pat and Jim Daniels
Juliana De a Torre Mark Dessaix
Michael Destro
Mohammed Dhamee
Laura Kim and Yousuf Dhamee
Eunice Choe and Sung Y Do
Jill Doering
Scarleth
Eilenberg
Jamie Haller and Craig Ekedahl
Jessi Klein and Michael Engleman
The Ernst Family
Samantha Powell and John Falcon
Kate and Roderick Fenske
Melissa and Patrick Fine
Patrick Fisher
Christel Fox
Kate and Robert Fox
The Franz Family
Juliette Freedman
Paul Friedlander
Sue Friedlander
Veronica Gabriel
Ian Gallagher
Michael Gallagher
Herminia Gallegos
Grace Chen and Ling Ge
Bruce Gilbert
Lauren and Michael Gilbert
Benjamin Goldberg
Mona and Joshua Goldstein
Luis Gonzalez
Victor Gonzalez
Nina Barry and Chris Gorak
Diane Gorak
Mary-Margaret Grady
Connie Hwang and Ryan Grady
Matt, Micheal, and Tugboat Grassi
Nathan Green
Kehaulani and DJ Gregory
Jennifer Grondahl
Loretta and Jerry Gross
Kate Grossman
Rebecca Netzel and Mark Grueninger
Zhaohua Zhou and Weidong Guo
Nicolas Gutierrez
Michael Haggerty
Rochelle Hale
Cheryl and Michael Halloran
Sandra and Allen Hamilton
Becky Hanscom
Uri Harkham
Carrie and Benjamin Harr
Janelle Brown and Greg Harrison
Penny, Val, and Kevin Harrison
Mary Harrison
NINJA NATION SPONSORS
Nancy
Bethany
Kira
and Carl Schaal
June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer
Zoltowski and Laurent Sungkur
and
and Reeve Schley
and Curtis Sharp
Shatkin
Tokarewicz and Dan Shattuck
Dan Shaw
Elina and George Siafaris
Kelly Tyler and Kenneth Simon
Angela Melara and Christopher Singleton
Tiffany Siart and Jango Sircus
Emily Skinner
Isabel Bussarakum and Charles Snyder
Gretchen Stoecker and Gregory Sobotka
Joey Soloway
Hyunju Son
Myoung Kim and Yo Chan Song
Donita and Robert Sparks
Jaci Hays and Richard Speight
Gardenia Spiegel
Erica Rothschild and Marcus Spiegel
Stallworth Jan Steckler
Norma and Larry Stewart
Julie and Winston Stromberg
and
Alexander Tokarewicz Angela Tomasetti Chris Heywood and Nick Tomasetti The Treadwell Family Tina Bui and Mark Tung Geoffrey Tunstall
Valenzuela
and Nicholas Van Brunt
and Douglas Vanderbilt Emerald Aukerman and Kulap Vilaysack Jacqueline Villaran Adriana Alberghetti Vinson and Tripp Vinson
Kathy and Bill Wallace
Jennifer Wells
Julia Fauzia-Whatley and Curtis Whatley
Jennifer Whitley
Jen and Matt Whitt Miriam Wiegers
Rianna Williams
Casey Wilson
Jamie Wilson
Brandace and William Wilson
Misherr Tseng and Benjamin Wong
Whitney Friedlander and Alex Woo
Jayme Free and Brian Woo
Carol Woo
Lara Howenstine and Benjamin Wynn Xiaoxia Li and Chengwu Xi
Wenhui Yang
Caitlin Feury and Christopher Zatta
Betsy Koch and Josh Zetumer
Zhang
Stacen Berg and Paul Zografakis
PILGRIM NIGHT OUT
We enjoyed a spectacular night to remember at Candela La Brea on May 4, 2024, celebrating our wonderful school together as a community. The Galactic Gala was an incredible success that showcased our community’s generous, supportive and joyful spirit. The expansive space was artfully decorated by our talented Gala Committee members. We had the incredible privilege of having June Diane Raphael as our MC for the program, who helped us raise $28,000 together! The electrifying performance by Karen O, Nick Zinner and Imaad Wasif had everyone on their feet and made this gala one for the books!
Every year, 100% of our proceeds from the Pilgrim Night Out Gala goes to benefit the school’s tuition assistance program, reinforcing our ongoing commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ticket and sponsorship purchases, auction donations and bids, and text-to-give donations made it possible for us to raise $138,000 and we were once again blown away by our community’s dedication and generosity.
We could not have done this without every single one of you and we are so grateful for your partnership. Thank you for all your contributions and for your generous heart!
PILGRIM NIGHT OUT SPONSORS
Diamond Sponsors ($10,000)
Fenton Bailey and William Luther
Randy Barbato
Pilgrim School Governing Board
Gil Valenzuela
Platinum Sponsors ($5,000)
American Global Facility Services (Evelyn Lee ’04)
Pilgrim Parent Association
Gold Sponsors ($2,500)
Cassandra MacLeod and Urs Fischer
Eunice Choe and Bruce Do
Silver Sponsors ($1,000)
California Bank & Trust
Maisha Closson and Chris Barnes
Yeon Kim and Henry Chun ’98
Naomi Despres and Arty Nelson
Catherine and Daniel Gellert
Grand Spa LA
Cynthia Hill
David Kang
Lauren Lexton and Kevin MacCarthy
Nora Malone
Tiffany Siart and Jango Sircus
Laurence Tighe
Carrie Treadwell
The Van Brunt Family
Signage Sponsor
Drissi Advertising
Bar Sponsor
Cassandra MacLeod and Urs Fischer
DJ Sponsor
Wendy Priest and Matthew Marmolejo
Live Performance Sponsor
Wendy Priest and Matthew Marmolejo
Valet Sponsor
Eunice Choe and Bruce Do
Tarot Reader Sponsor
Eunice Choe and Bruce Do
Photographer Sponsor
Eunice Choe and Bruce Do
Decor Sponsor
Chris Heywood and Nick Tomasetti
Special Sponsor
Daedo Sikdang
Pilgrim Night Out Text-To-Give Donations
Anonymous (3)
Alisa Wiegers and James Adler
Claressinka Anderson
Kerry and Scot Armstrong
Randy Barbato
Maisha Closson and Chris Barnes
Allison Fell and Zachary Berger
Kristen Schaal and Rich Blomquist
Lily and Bryan Bossin
Zoe and James Breen
Heather Lawless and Jeff Buchanan
Chandler and Steven Chang
Tina Oh and Benjamin Chuang
Yeon Kim and Henry Chun ’98
Karen and Barnaby Clay
Enrique Cortez
Jennifer and Breck Costin
Michaela McManus and Mike Daniels
Sabine and Jeff Demain
Liz Destro and Blake Dirickson
Jamie Haller and Craig Ekedahl
Kate and Robert Fox
Laura and Frederick Fregin
Julie Ames and Daniel Gerwin
Elizabeth Reaser and Bruce Gilbert
Nina Barry and Chris Gorak
Connie Hwang and Ryan Grady
Kelly Skipper and Geoffrey Harris
Cynthia Hill
Liyan Wang and Albert Hu
Henya Paul and Stephen Hurley
Alexandra and Nicholas Iurato
Jessica Ji
Dave Kang
Hyunjin and Thomas Kang
Debbie Koller
Nari Kye
Jason Lambert
Janne Larsen
Katrina Alexy and Benjamin Lein
Ivana and Tom Lombardi
Hana Lopez
Lauren Lexton and Kevin MacCarthy
Bill Macomber
Wendy Priest and Matthew Marmolejo
Kim Hamilton and Jay Matino
Mary McCloud and Scott Moore
Ariella Morik and Max Michaels
Bryanna Miller
Linda Miller
Aryana Minai
Lauren and Paul Morel
Elizabeth Bangs and Matthew Oberg
Michelle Ortiz
Patricia Kong and Richard Pak
Erin Zimring and Daniel Pipski
PILGRIM NIGHT OUT SPONSORS
Cara and Scott Putman
Blanca and Jose Reyes
Silvia Barajas and Sonia Rodriguez
Cindy and Steves Rodriguez
Jyoti Sarda and Lawrence Rogow
Joanna Gang and Kent Sanderson
Alexandra Tokarewicz and Dan Shattuck
Aubrey and Adam Siegel
Emily Skinner
Megan Wahtera and Peter Soldinger
Erica Rothschild and Marcus Spiegel
Danielle Steckler
Tyler Stein
Alexander Stettinkski
Amanda Stewart
Julie and Winston Stromberg
Kevin Suber
Matilda Zoltowski and Laurent Sungkur
James Bekier and Jonathan Swaden
Anastassia Radeva and Alex Taylor
Nicole and Michael Ternosky
Kerri-Ann Thompson
Laurence Tighe
Belinda Waltman and Matt Thomson
James Tupper
Brian Ulatowski
The Van Brunt Family
April Wind and Michelle Koscielniak
Misherr Tseng and Benjamin Wong
Pilgrim Night Out In-Kind Donations
Amalisa Abels
And Yet It Moves Pilates
Arado
Ashes & Diamonds Winery
Jessica and David Berdakin
Wendy Funes and Richard Best
Alyssa and Freddie Braidi
Jeri Brannan
Zoe and James Breen
The Broad
Heather Lawless and Jeff Buchanan
Janice Ying and Bryan Chen
Roland Christ
Sheryl Cohen
Ames Ingham and Mariano Cordero
Gregory Crafts
Lacy and Tomy Drissi
Liesel Reinisch and Gary Eckwortzel
Ashley Chao and Bryant Flores
Danielle Steckler and David Frankham
Sonny Ruscha Granade and Rives Granade
Kelsey and Cory Hammer
HomeState A Texas Kitchen
The Huntington
Qing Yi and Bin Jiang
K & K Swimming
David Kang
Kitchen Mouse Cafe
Krislyn and Dimitri Komarov
Kosas Cosmetics
Lake Boutique
Katrina Alexy and Benjamin Lein
Lauren Lexton and Kevin MacCarthy
Marlborough School
Jennifer Marquez
Maury’s Bagels
Jeenifer Monzon
MOTI Physiotherapy
Pamela Nualart
OK the Store
OKHWA
Jennifer Dubin and Cora Olson
Dawn Olsen
Oriental Trading
Michelle Ortiz
Patricia Kong and Richard Pak
Pigeon’s Roller Rink
PRP Wine International
Bethany Black and Justin Regan
Republique
Tony Romo
Brittney and Reeve Schley
Madeleine Simonds
Michelle and Adam Sinclair
Jaci Hays and Richard Speight
Erica Rothschild and Marcus Spiegel
Steve & Kate’s Camp
Betsy Sullenger and Chambers Stevens
Amanda Stewart
Kari and William Stinehart
Julie and Winston Stromberg
SQIRL
SusieCakes
Tailwaggers
Laura Fried and Matthew Thompson
Caroline Treadwell
Miriam Vargas
Vitality Institute Skincare
Gillian and John Wagner
Amy Wan and Stephen Platt
Wilkin & May Candles
Wombi
World of Wonder Productions
Lorraine Getz and Adam Zuckert
PILGRIM NIGHT OUT VOLUNTEERS
Lily Bossin
Alicia Levano
April Perez
Samantha Powell
June Diane Raphael
Yila Renner
Sonia Rodriguez
April Wind
Bethany Black
Bryan Chen
Katie Curley
Lorraine Getz
Claire Kelly
Lisa Rosenfeld
Caroline Treadwell
CONGRATULATIONS TO PILGRIM SCHOOL’S SMALL BUT MIGHTY CLASS OF 2024!
We celebrate not only the achievements of this remarkable class but the unique journeys each student has taken during their time at Pilgrim and now in college. With a class of 13, they have shown that greatness can come in any size, and their diverse pathways reflect the creativity and freedom in learning nurtured here.
The Class of 2024 has pursued various pathways with confidence, whether it is the visual arts as a means of conversation with the world, the complexities of computer science that will simplify processes for all, the innovation of engineering that will solve modern problems, or the strategic thinking in business that will shape society. Some aspire to transform spaces through interior design, while others are ready to shape narratives in communications and public relations. Some will start their own car manufacturing company. These dreams reflect the entrepreneurial spirit that defines this generation. Each has carved out a path, clearly understanding their aspirations and boldly moving toward them, all while receiving the encouragement of their teachers, families, and most importantly, each other.
As they step into this next chapter, we hope they remember that their unique perspectives and talents will continue to make a difference in the world, as they have so deeply at Pilgrim. Embracing challenges ahead, they can rely on the skills and support of their community to help them succeed. Their high school experience has been a launching pad, and we cannot wait to see how each will contribute to the fabric of a better world.
MS. ROBIN LAU Director of Achievement and College Planning
“Pilgrim School has given me a home for 13 amazing years.”
Linus Aagaard ’24
“Pilgrim School has given me a great sense of community and belonging while helping me discover life-long friends and relationships.”
Alexander Cummin ’24
GRADUATES SAY
“Pilgrim School has given me friends and support.”
Ava Komarov ’24
“Pilgrim School has given me strength.” Zicheng (Strange) Guo ’24
“Pilgrim School has given me a great sense of community and a found family.”
Hannah Yatman ’24
NAME: Darius Kim ’24
FIRST CAME TO PILGRIM: Pre-Kindergarten
FAVORITE MEMORY: Some of my most interesting memories took place at the Trips Weeks over the years. One of my favorite memories was doing a zip-line during one of my trips. Another one was taking a boat for the Catalina Island trip.
FAVORITE TEACHER: Mrs. Houston was my 2nd grade teacher and I have many great memories of being in her class. Mrs. Chaskes was one of the first teachers to give me a serious academic challenge, and this made me want to work harder to improve my skills. Overall, I learned great life lessons while in her class.
NAME: Clover Chessé ’24
FIRST CAME TO PILGRIM: First Grade
FAVORITE MEMORY: All years of elementary [school] were amazing. Especially Ms. Koller and the Malibu Creek trip.
FAVORITE TEACHER: Mrs. Shorkey has been by my side since 5th grade. She is always extremely supportive and kind, and I love her so much.
