VOL. 3 NO. 2
UPrep SUMMER 2019
MAGAZINE
Intensives Break the Mold
PG. 8
MY YEARS AT UPREP PG. 4
TRIBUTE TO MATT LEVINSON’S LEADERSHIP PG. 6-7
HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE HUMANITIES INTENSIVE PG. 11
IN THIS ISSUE 3
Message from Cheryl Scott
32 - 35
Athletic News
17 - 23
36
24 - 31
37
News Bites UPrep Happenings
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU: Alums, please share your updates with us via email: classnotes@universityprep.org
Alumni News Class Notes
COVER PHOTO: Student Nick L., 10th Grade, during the Engineering I intensive Photo by Lisa Bontje
OUR MISSION
University Prep is committed to developing each student’s potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world.
FEATURES 4
My Years at UPrep By Matt Levinson
5
A Letter to the Community By Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau
6-7
Tribute to Matt Levinson’s Leadership
8 -9
UPrep’s Intensives Break the Mold By Richard Kassissieh
10
12 -13
8th Grade Capstone Intensive By Meg Shortell
14 - 15
Learning Is Never Static
Connecting: The True Essence of Global Link
By Kelly Herrington
By Brian Gonzales
11
16
By Mary Beth Lambert
By Lisa Kennedy
Highlights from the Humanities Intensive
Tracey Sconyers Expands UPrep’s Computer Science Program
UPREP MAGAZINE
1
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Ric Anderson
Rita Egrari
Timothy Richey
Alma Andrade
Jason Froggatt
Cheryl Scott, PRESIDENT
Andrea Barry-Smith
Terry Froggatt
Barbara Sniezek,
Adrian Biesecker
Michelle Goldberg
PARENT COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENT
Mark Britton, TREASURER
Mark Horn
Ken Jaffe, ASST. HEAD OF SCHOOL AND
Helen Bowen Blair
Jeanette James
DIRECTOR OF UPPER SCHOOL
Geoff Buscher
Van Katzman
Richard Kassissieh, ASST. HEAD OF SCHOOL
Devindra Chainani
Patricia Landy
FOR ACADEMICS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
Charisse Cowan-Pitre,
Suzanne McGill
SECRETARY
Yazmin Mehdi
Laura Domoto, VICE PRESIDENT
Tori Ragen
Lila Lohr, INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL
Susan Lansverk, ASST. HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
Susie Wu, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
PARENT COUNCIL
Catherine Blundell, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
Co-Presidents – Barbara Sniezek and Jennifer Zell
Mary Beth Lambert, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING
Middle School Vice President – Michele Conrad
AND COMMUNICATIONS
Mandira Virmani Kobi Yamada Jennifer Zell, PARENT COUNCIL CO-PRESIDENT
Lila Lohr,
INTERIM HEAD OF SCHOOL, ex officio
Upper School Vice President – Cheryl Hoffman Herzog Treasurer – Ursula Phelan
E-chieh Lin, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND
Secretary – Liffy Franklin
COMMUNITY AND DIRECTOR OF HIRING
Past Executive – Tracy Pozil
Shavette McGhee, DIRECTOR OF
Diversity & Community – Yaneth Vrentas, Hamsa Abdulle
ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Andrea Thoreson
Advancement – Lisa Bontje Governance Committee – Liz Huehnergarth
UPrep
M AGAZINE
EDITOR Lisa Kennedy
CONTRIBUTORS Catherine Blundell, Toby Cattolico, Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, Brian Gonzales, Kelly Herrington, Richard Kassissieh, Lisa Kennedy, Mary Beth Lambert, Jill Leahy, Matt Levinson, E-chieh Lin, Rebecca Moe, Carrie Niebanck, Cheryl Scott, Meg Shortell, Emily Schorr Lesnick
Global Programs Liaison – Brigid Britton and Jane Griffin Parent Ambassador Liaison – Shelly Sage, Stephanie Standifer Parent Education – Kendall Burwell, Scottie Nash, Julie Kang Parents for the Arts – Gretta Dutton, Nina Stuyt, Laura McCarty Sports Boosters – Jenny Freshwater, Patti Sindelar, Alexa Crawford, Lauren Woodman, Juliet Pruzan, Linda Zuckerman 12th Grade Reps – Kelly Arron, Marc Colando, Sheryl Hudson 11th Grade Reps – Matt Frank, Anju Rao, Heather Smith 10th Grade Reps – Aija Christopher, Kim Eisman, Susan Ferguson 9th Grade Reps – Quyen Hamilton, Teresa Predmore, Jennifer Sill, Kathryn Wickham 8th Grade Reps – Paige Hansen-Shankar, Michele Miyoshi, Katrina Strand 7th Grade Reps – Anna Leslie, Kathy Park, Myndee Ronning 6th Grade Reps – Krysia Johnson, Hillary McLaughlin, Jenna Sylvester
PHOTOGRAPHERS Catherine Blundell, Lisa Bontje, Scott Collins, Paul Dudley, Lisa Kennedy, Mary Beth Lambert, Don Mason, Mithun, Pat Sanford, Kristen Shriver, UPrep Student Publications DESIGNER Anne Bryant Creative © 2019 University Prep 8000 25th Avenue NE | Seattle, WA 98115 206.525.2714 www.universityprep.org UPrep Magazine is published twice yearly by the Communications Office at University Prep. Comments may be sent to the address above, or emailed to: editor@universityprep.org 2
UPREP MAGAZINE
Sixth graders engaged in the Deep Space intensive
“He helped us discover our potential (as all good teachers do) and steered our community toward an exciting future anchored in our strategic plan. His good humor, intellect, and everyday common sense were fundamental in his interactions with everyone. For his humanity and vision, we will be forever grateful.” -CHERYL SCOTT
Dear UPrep Families,
Both a local and national leader, and a strong advocate of student
It is often said that beginnings start with endings, and at UPrep we
success in all facets of their lives, Ronnie will be an extraordinary
definitely found ourselves living that reality over the last six months. At the end of November 2018, Matt Levinson let us know that he was leaving UPrep at the end of the school year for a once in a lifetime opportunity to lead The Pingry School in New Jersey. It was an opportunity made even more compelling given that his family
leader for our school. Her warm nature and laser-like focus on the kids will connect with faculty and parents. Stay tuned for future opportunities to meet Ronnie personally as she formally joins our community on July 1, 2020.
Both a local and national leader, and a strong advocate of student success in all facets of their lives, Ronnie will be an extraordinary leader for our school.
lives mostly on the east coast.
Next year, Ronnie will be staying at her current school as she
Matt’s contributions to our
supports its own leadership transition. Therefore, it will also be our
school over the last five years
pleasure to introduce you to Lila Lohr, who will be our interim head
were enormous, as you will read
of school from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Lila comes to us
in this issue of the magazine. He helped us discover our potential
with an amazing set of experiences, having been a very successful
(as all good teachers do) and steered our community toward an
head of school before starting another chapter in her life as an
exciting future anchored in our strategic plan. His good humor,
interim head. We are enormously fortunate to have her join us,
intellect, and everyday common sense were fundamental in his
and we all welcome her leadership and experience.
interactions with everyone. For his humanity and vision, we will
Throughout this process, we had an outstanding search committee
be forever grateful.
who logged untold hours in interviews, phone calls, meetings,
As our community faced this challenge, we were driven by a belief
and Starbucks runs. Led by Laura Domoto and Tori Ragen, the
that this ending need not be what defined us, but rather that
members of the committee (Charisse Cowan-Pitre, Kelly Herrington,
our values and mission moved us forward with purpose. By early
Meg Shortell, Kobi Yamada, and Tim Richey) were always focused
January, the Board of Trustees had formed a search committee,
on finding the kind of leader who would resonate with our
hired search consultants, and started a multifaceted engagement
outstanding faculty and lead our school with integrity and vision.
process with all of our constituencies. By the first week of February,
They have our deep and lasting respect and thanks.
the committee had developed a pool of six outstanding candidates
An ending that felt so hard six months ago has now transitioned to
who were invited to Seattle for more in-depth interviews and
a future with purpose and potential. That doesn’t mean that there
reference checking. On March 28, 2019, the committee presented
won’t be some bumps in the road along the way, but it does mean
a final candidate to the board for their approval. The next day,
that, together, we are at the beginning of an exciting next chapter.
we were delighted to announce that Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau would be the fifth head of school at University Prep.
Sincerely,
Cheryl Scott PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES
UPREP MAGAZINE
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“For students to be successful today and in the future, we realized that they need to be able to bring their full selves to both school and community.” -MATT LEVINSON
My Years at UPrep BY MATT LEVINSON
I
am grateful to have had the opportunity to lead University Prep
For students to be successful today and in the future, we realized
for the last five years. As I reflect on my time at the school,
that they need to be able to bring their full selves to both
I am indebted to all of you for how much I have learned from
school and community. Students must feel safe and healthy as
each of you. One of the great joys of being a head of school is
individuals, be self and socially aware, and understand their
learning in new and interesting ways every day at school and in
own identity and the identities of everyone in our community.
the community. In fact, one of my core beliefs as an educator is to
A strong social and emotional learning (SEL) program, coupled
be open to new experiences and to approach each situation with a
with deeper understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI),
learning orientation. At UPrep, I have been able to grow as a person
are essential to 21st century global citizenship. To build on the
and as an educator thanks to the many talents, perspectives, and
superb foundational academic program at University Prep, we
backgrounds that you bring to our community.
introduced programming that would strengthen student skills
Our Board of Trustees served as true partners with me as we
in both SEL and DEI.
formulated and built Strategic Plan 2020, with the input of
Our program continues to evolve with students at its center.
so many voices, from students to teachers, staff, and families.
They now have the opportunity to learn in a traditional academic
The student experience resided as the focal point of our endeavors
setting with longer class periods of 70 minutes, enabling deeper
and we have attempted to remain true to it as our north star.
inquiry. Our students now engage in immersion, experiential, and
The implementation of Strategic Plan 2020 has taken place in the
place-based learning in the form of intensives. Our students have
hands of a remarkable group of educators. In keeping with the
a choice of over 45 online classes with Global Online Academy,
beliefs of our Founders, we wanted the plan to be led by teachers,
rounding out an approach to learning that will ready them for
and at each stage we positioned them to lead the initiatives.
college and beyond. And finally, our students will be prepared
Early on, we recognized that to deliver on a transformational
to enter and live in community with strong social and emotional
student experience, we needed to support our teachers with the opportunity to collaborate, innovate, and develop professionally.
learning skills combined with a critical foundation in diversity, equity, and inclusion, positioning them to be leaders in their
We reduced teaching loads by one section per semester so that they
next communities.
would have the time needed to embrace next generation learning
Thank you for learning along with me and with us as we continued
and design. Just this year, we successfully launched intensives and
to transform the student experience and develop each student’s
witnessed the transformation that can happen when students
potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially
engage in experiential learning out in the community and wrestle
responsible citizen of the world.
with real world problems. It has been nothing short of inspiring to see the ingenuity and potential of our students and teachers as they entered into new types of learning. 4
UPREP MAGAZINE
A Letter to the Community from UPrep’s Next Head of School Dear UPrep Families,
I have always worked in vibrant school communities. University Prep
I often describe myself as a British
is no exception to this rule. From my first tour of the school in 2012
army brat. Recently, I reflected that this description does not really describe who I am or how I got here. I didn’t always want to be a teacher but teaching and the value of a good education is in my blood. I spent my early years in England, a middle child being raised by parents who immigrated to England to further their education. My father, a retired math teacher, British army captain, and business owner originally from Barbados, joined the army to earn his college degree. My mother, a classical pianist and music
with Erica Hamlin to walking in as the head elect, I felt the vibrancy of the UPrep community. The halls are filled with excited students, engaging teachers interacting with students, and warm greetings of welcome to new faces. This is a school community with great dreams envisioned by the strategic plan and the new building.
I hope you can already tell how excited I am to dream with you, push the school forward, and grow with you. What a great adventure we will share together!
teacher originally from Guyana, moved to England to study at
Finally, I am thrilled that Lila Lohr will be joining UPrep as the interim
the London College of Music. My parents eventually moved their
head of school for the 2019-2020 school year. Lila is a head I have
three children back to Barbados to immerse us in a culture where
long admired and I am sure that UPrep will be in excellent hands
people who looked like us held positions of power. They taught
under her leadership. I will spend next year training my successor
us that the world was ours for the taking and the path to success
at The Evergreen School, getting to know many of you better,
was through education.
and popping into UPrep sporting and art events.
Our immigration journey to America was not a smooth one.
I hope you can already tell how excited I am to dream with you,
My mother chose to move us to Boston because through research
push the school forward, and grow with you. What a great
she learned that it was home to one of the best free high schools
adventure we will share together!
in the country. Boston Latin High School sent graduates to excellent colleges and that was her dream for her three children. We landed
With great appreciation and anticipation,
at Logan International Airport a month before the test for that high school. She handed my sister and me three sharpened pencils and that was how my journey began. I thought back on all of this as I sat in a dean’s office debating my future in my senior year of college. I recalled the college courses
Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau
I enjoyed the most. I reflected on the fact that it wasn’t a single course I enjoyed but the experience of volunteering in a local high school. I left the dean’s office, filled out applications for teaching internships in every Boston area independent school, and thus my path to independent school leadership was launched.
UPREP MAGAZINE
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Tribute to Matt Levinson’s Leadership of UPrep as Head of School 2014 -2019 Increased opportunities for faculty and staff collaboration, professional learning, and growth “One of the things I have always respected about University Prep is how well it empowers the faculty. During Matt’s tenure, he supported teachers by giving them more time to collaborate, meet with students, pursue opportunities to advance administratively, and take more responsibility for how they want to teach.” - DAVE HIGLEY, PARENT “I’ve especially appreciated Matt’s support for teacher collaboration, innovation, and professional development. In the interdisciplinary Humanities course, we took high-quality field trips and hosted impressive guest speakers, thanks to the flexible daily schedule offered by intensives. As a faculty member, it’s been such a powerful learning experience to get to team teach and plan Matt Levinson with Founders Chris McGarry, Pat Landy, and Terry Froggatt
the course with five colleagues.”
Alma Andrade clearly remembers Matt Levinson’s arrival to UPrep.
- DAVE MARSHALL, HISTORY TEACHER
“He visited my Spanish 1 class and he participated in Spanish,” recalls Alma. “We were talking about soccer and he jumped right in and joined the conversation. After class, he wrote me a thank you email—in Spanish! I remember that it wasn’t perfect, but he took a risk and put himself out there. I had never had that kind of interaction with a school leader; it meant a lot to me as a teacher.” Matt arrived in the summer of 2014, and began his tenure by meeting with every single faculty and staff member at University Prep. After listening deeply, he set out on an ambitious course, spearheading many exciting and innovative initiatives over the next five years, always with the goal of enhancing the educational experience at UPrep and preparing students for a changing world.
Throughout his time, Matt modeled the essential qualities that we hope to instill in all of our Pumas: intellectual courage, social responsibility, and kindness. “Matt is known for sending emails to faculty and staff about professional development opportunities or even next steps in their careers. A colleague said to me one day, “Matt sent me some information on an assistant head of school position. Am I ready for something like that? And is Matt telling me to look for another job?” I laughed and told the colleague that that is what Matt does.
Matt elevated the national profile of UPrep through our Strategic
Matt also created opportunities, such as the grade level dean
Plan 2020, which was featured at the National Association of
positions, to empower UPrep faculty to lead outside of the
Independent Schools national conference, and our Diversity
classroom. This mindset to grow other independent school
Strategic Plan, which outlines concrete steps toward greater
leaders is something I have vowed to carry forward in my career,
diversity, equity, and inclusion and was featured in the national
thanks to Matt’s belief in me.”
Independent School magazine.
-SHAVETTE MCGHEE, DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Our strategic plan, adopted by the Board of Trustees in 2015, laid out three main goals: Promoting teacher excellence; optimizing our facility; and evolving next generation learning. Under Matt’s leadership, each component of our strategic plan was developed and implemented a year ahead of 2020, the target date for completion.
“I met Matt in 2015 when he approached me with an idea to create what would become the INDEX Middle/Upper Schools, a group of distinguished independent schools that believe in the importance of sharing data and best practices to improve institutional performance. Matt worked tirelessly to launch the group and set it on its successful path forward. In doing so, he
Throughout his time, Matt modeled the essential qualities that
enabled not only University Prep, but schools across the country
we hope to instill in all of our Pumas: intellectual courage, social
to more thoroughly, systematically, and analytically evaluate
responsibility, and kindness. Thank you, Matt, and best wishes!
and improve their institutions.” - LISA PULLMAN, INDEX
6
UPREP MAGAZINE
Laura Domoto presenting a memory book to Matt Levinson
Cheryl Scott with Matt Levinson and his parting gift
Expanding next generation learning that fosters
“Two of the most impactful strategic plan initiatives implemented
student mastery, creativity, and innovation
under Matt’s leadership were the schedule changes and the
“In five short years, Matt led UPrep’s refocusing from a curriculum,
creation of intensives. These changes allowed for a more
campus, and culture rooted in the wisdom of the past, to ones aimed at the future. He undertook this masterfully: beginning with listening and learning from parents, students, faculty, and staff. Through a thoughtful strategic planning process, in partnership with the staff and board, he let loose the creativity and knowledge of the community to identify the way forward. We’ve been lucky to have these five years with Matt, and his legacy will live on long into the future.” -YAZMIN MEHDI, PARENT AND TRUSTEE “Matt is a fearless leader who pushed the UPrep community to take bold steps that will prepare our students to be successful in our increasingly global and connected world. He led a thoughtful implementation process that provided the opportunity for all community members, including students, to provide input.” - MANDIRA VIRMANI, PARENT AND TRUSTEE “Mr. Levinson was very receptive to student voices and he celebrated and supported student advocacy. He was an important resource as I conducted research for my senior LaunchPad on how I could change an existing school policy. Mr. Levinson provided me with access to information and helped me navigate the process so that I could take on the project and run with it.” -ANTON SHENK, CLASS OF 2018 “I want to thank Matt for establishing UPrep as the second member school of Global Online Academy (GOA) in Washington State. It’s been exciting to work with students as they manage their time and learning, choose from extensive electives, and participate in global collaborations. Our GOA teachers have taken their skills
manageable pace, greater depth of learning, and more student choice and autonomy. They are examples of the enduring changes that Matt, with the support of the rest of the talented and dedicated faculty and staff, have implemented for the future of UPrep.” - LAURA DOMOTO, VICE PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES Transforming our campus to showcase and support next generation learning “Thanks to Matt’s leadership, UPrep’s future is very bright! Matt simply did it right. Historically, the guiding principle for decision making at UPrep was always based on the question, “What’s best for our students?” And that’s how Matt proceeded. He was eager to know us and to listen to what we had to say. Under his leadership, an academically challenging educational program was developed, with founding principles respected, the mission honored, and a working model of 21st century best educational practices in place. All of which will blossom in new and transformed facilities, designed to support the stellar educational program which most definitely serves our students best.” - PAT LANDY, FOUNDER “Under Matt’s leadership I’ve watched UPrep Advancement flourish and become a vibrant, collaborative team engaging the UPrep community. As a result, during our most recent 2018-2019 annual Puma Fund campaign, we experienced a record 89% family participation rate and raised funds that are critical to achieving UPrep’s amazing mission.” - LISA BONTJE, PARENT COUNCIL ADVANCEMENT LIAISON
and passions online, and brought back ideas and strategies for our classrooms. It’s also offered us the opportunity for professional and ITIP development, and teachers are using GOA more each year. -ANNE BINGHAM, LIBRARIAN AND GOA SITE DIRECTOR UPREP MAGAZINE
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“With intensives, we modeled creative responsiveness to a changing world, the richness of launching new programs, and the value of community experiences.” -RICHARD KASSISSIEH
UPrep’s Intensives Break the Mold BY RICHARD KASSISSIEH, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES
B
old and inventive, UPrep’s intensives have questioned
Intensive courses are academic. They are offered in all
long-held orthodoxies about the school day. Why study
subject areas, carry equal credit as semester classes, include
subjects one at a time? Why is each class period about
40% more class time, and feature core academic skills such as
an hour long? Why does school mostly take place on
research and analysis, reading and writing, presentations and
campus? The answers go back to the late 1800s, and
projects. Students take required classes such as Washington
since then, the world has changed along with students’ educational
State History and first-year languages, elective classes that meet
needs. In 2016, the UPrep faculty and staff asked: what schedule
graduation requirements such as Radio Lab and Lifetime Activities,
would allow students to focus more deeply, break down barriers to
and pure electives such as Project Science and Mobile Apps for
interdisciplinary learning, and connect students with the amazing
Social Change.
resources of Seattle? This year, students took their first, three-week intensive course in January and their second in May after each semester. Some studied familiar courses such as Geometry, Biology, and English, whereas others took newly created courses such as Turning Pages, Math in Art, Technology, and History, and Capturing Landscapes. While other schools offer field trips and special weeks, UPrep’s intensives are distinctive in several ways.
Intensives enable interdisciplinary study. Our teachers have long wished to offer courses across academic departments, and intensives have given them the time and space to develop a host of new courses that enable students to see the world through a multidisciplinary lens. They include: Deep Space Six, Humanities, The Duwamish through Art and Science, Graphic Novel, and Environmental Ethics and Advocacy, among others. Students approached intensives in creative ways. Some students
Intensives transform the school curriculum. We moved
took their hardest course in the intensive, so they could really
one class period from each semester into each intensive, effectively
focus on it and make their semester easier. Others took a less
transforming one-seventh of the school curriculum into this deeper
stressful course, so they could take a break from a tough semester.
learning model. Faculty members created two-thirds of the 35
Intensives provided students more control in the design of their
intensives classes by recreating existing semester classes,
academic programs.
and the other third was new. 8
UPREP MAGAZINE
Immersion is for more than languages. When I walked into
Biology course. Students designed prototype desks in Engineering
intensives such as Statistics, Geometry, Painting, and Songwriting,
class, inspired by their visits to the Microsoft Inclusivity Studio and
I was struck by the deep level of focus attained when students were
Boeing’s 777 factory. Global Link American South presented the
not forced to stop an activity and change gears. The mental state of
civil rights movement on location. For these students, the concepts
being completely immersed in an activity, sometimes called “flow,”
they learned were not just gained from the teacher, books,
was frequently evident.
or websites. Firsthand learning was more specific, memorable,
The mental state of being completely immersed in an activity, sometimes called “flow,” was frequently evident. Learning through experience happens better in intensives. Human Rights in Colombia, Capstone, Filmmaking in Seattle, Painting, LaunchPad, Lifetime Activities—awkward to teach in a semester format, these courses were seemingly made
and exciting. Did everything go perfectly this year? Of course not. We made the biggest change to the school’s curriculum in its 43-year history. The faculty did heroic work to design and deliver 35 new courses. Teachers taught for the full day, without a free period, and some felt like beginners in this new format. Not every student loved every minute of every course, but 65 percent said they were satisfied or very satisfied with the experience, compared with only 12 percent who preferred their semester classes.
for intensives. Teachers and students took full advantage of the
As a learning organization, we collected feedback through meetings
freedom of time and space afforded by all-day classes.
and surveys, made some changes this spring, and will make further adjustments next year. With intensives, we modeled creative
Off-campus experiences make learning real. I spoke with
responsiveness to a changing world, the richness of launching
a student who produced a research project about polio, inspired
new programs, and the value of community experiences. We look
by a visit to the Gates Foundation. Another student invented a
forward to refining this work next year and beyond, and sharing our
mythical Arctic Sea otter, informed by fieldwork in the Marine
work as a leader both regionally and nationally. UPREP MAGAZINE
9
At UPrep, Learning Is Never Static BY KELLY HERRINGTON, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES
A
t UPrep, we have never subscribed to the “teacher as sage on the stage” model of education. Furthermore, our students have never been automatons mindlessly plugging in formulas and completing work sheets. This style of education
would be anathema to our Founders. They wanted a school that took the best from all types of curriculum and pedagogical models and then generated its own approach to education. Staying true to this approach brought our program to a new level of excellence this year with the launching of intensives.
weeks; there was an engineering class where students created
This past January, I watched in awe as our students presented what they had learned from their intensives classes during the Intensives Showcase. This past January, I watched in awe as our students presented what they had learned from their intensive classes during the Intensives Showcase. There was a musical theater class where students wrote, composed, and performed a musical comedy in just three short
COURSES
35
INSTRUCTIONAL HOURS
78
per intensive
(55 is a typical semester)
2018 - 2019 Intensives by the Numbers WORKS OF ART CREATED
305
HANDMADE BOOKS CREATED
231
10
UPREP MAGAZINE
Rube Goldberg machines so complex that one had over eighty parts; and there was a ceramics class where students made holiday gift pieces! In short, active learning was on full display. With 60 percent of this generation of students predicted to land in careers that do not exist today, our educational approach is critical to our students’ future success. UPrep students can answer tough questions but also generate new ones, are self-aware and “other” oriented, and feel comfortable and energized by complexity. From what I’ve seen, intensives are making them even more prepared to create new ways of thinking that will change our world.
CLASS TRIPS
135
ELECTROPHORESIS GELS IN BIOLOGY
41
DAILY WRITTEN REFLECTIONS IN STATISTICS
360
P O U N D S O F C L AY
500
TOOLS USED IN ENGINEERING
20
MILES TRAVELED IN WA STATE HISTORY
1,608
Highlights from the Humanities Intensive– Global Health and Wealth BY MARY BETH LAMBERT, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
T
his spring, UPrep’s 10th grade students participated in a Humanities intensive, designed and led by a team of UPrep English and history faculty. The goal of the intensive was to explore a modern global issue through partnerships with local organizations and experts,
in-depth research, and personal experiences. Students chose from three tracks: health and wealth, immigrants and refugees, and technology and ethics. For their final project, each student produced a six- to eight-page literary journalism article. Below are highlights from the Global Health and Wealth track, which explored the intersection between a nation’s economy and the health of its people. Students were asked to consider: • Why are these measures so unequal, both within and across
nations, and how optimistic should we be about the future? • What are specific health crises that can be prevented with access
to basic healthcare and resources, and how can organizations best address them, both in Seattle and beyond?
Students on a site visit to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation during the May Humanities intensive
issue, others were eager to return to a topic that they had studied earlier in their school career. Here are a few of the standout research questions. What is causing water scarcity in sub-Sahara Africa?
Site visits and learning from experts in the field
How is this issue impacting women, girls, and children?
To begin their research, students participated in a number of
What are possible solutions?
learning opportunities on and off campus, including a site visit
“My research question stems from a book that I read in 4th grade,
to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), where
A Long Walk to Water, by Linda Sue Parker, which describes the
they were divided into country groups and invited to dive into the
plight of Nya, a girl in South Sudan, who is responsible for walking
electronic data sets. Students examined life expectancy, causes of
across the desert daily to fetch water for her family. Because Nya
death, leading causes of disability, and other issues by year, gender,
must walk hours each day, she isn’t able to attend school.”
and age. “You can’t save lives if you don’t know what people
-GRACE CAPOSSELA ’21
are dying from. And you can’t make people healthier if you don’t know what makes them sick,” explained Sofia Redford, IHME Engagement Manager. During their three-week intensive, students also heard from a number of global health experts, including an early morning Skype interview with Dr. Agnes Binagwaho, Vice Chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity in Rwanda, who shared with students her passion “to try and save the maximum number of lives.” Students also participated in a panel conversation with Linda Zuckerman, President and CEO of ID Genomics, and Megan Parker, Senior Nutrition Research Officer at PATH. Both experts spoke about the importance of data in their work as a means to demonstrate impact and change policy. Student research questions Under the guidance of teachers Dave Marshall and Emily Feder, 27 sophomores researched a range of daunting global health issues to craft the question that would be the focus of their article. While some students seized the opportunity to learn about a new
With polio on the edge of elimination in Pakistan, one of three remaining countries still fighting the disease, why are people suddenly refusing the vaccine? “I was interested in this issue and as I researched it more, I learned that Pakistan is experiencing a similar, yet different, challenge than the U.S. In Pakistan, there is a distrust of health workers who provide the vaccine. This stems back to a fake vaccination campaign staged by the U.S. as part of the strategy to capture Osama Bin Laden.” -LIAM REESE ’21
How does menstruation impact parts of a woman’s health and life in Bangladesh? How has the stigma changed through time and what effort is being made to change it? “Only 13 percent of high school juniors and seniors in Bangladesh are girls because the majority drop out of school after their period starts. Ninety-five percent of women don’t have access to clean sanitary pads, which leads to some of the highest rates of infection and cervical cancer in the world.” -GEORGIA PATERSON ’21 UPREP MAGAZINE
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The 8th Grade Capstone Intensive Goes to the Next Level BY MEG SHORTELL, CAPSTONE TEAM LEADER
O
n May 30, the 8th grade class gathered in the Pumadome to set up their tables with interactive displays, product designs, and portfolios to share with our UPrep community at the Capstone Summit Showcase later that day. Students stood tall and
proud as they shared the work from three weeks of research and design work. The showcase was the culminating event for their spring intensive and also marked the final academic milestone of Middle School. The 8th grade Capstone challenges students to think about the interconnectedness of people and systems, the issues our human community faces locally and globally, and how to leverage small solutions to maximize impact. Having evolved from an interdisciplinary project that was taught in chunks in the 8th grade
Students presenting at the Capstone Showcase
core classes, the intensive now offers students the opportunity to work with a non-governmental organization (NGO) in person and think more deeply about their work. The backbone of the intensive is the UPrep mission to prepare
The 8th grade Capstone challenges
students to be “global citizens.” Students explore the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and learn how communities around the world, and here in Seattle, face similar
students to think about the
developmental issues. Students are asked to be solutions-oriented
interconnectedness of people and
challenges such as homelessness, extreme poverty, access to land
systems, the issues our human
To give students a first-hand look at solutions-oriented work,
community faces locally and
directly connects to the SDGs after meeting all 14 of our
globally, and how to leverage small
After teaming up and being assigned a coach, students visited
solutions to maximize impact.
Experiences ranged from visiting a lab and testing assistive
and design products to serve the needs of communities facing rights, and infectious diseases. they partner with a local non-profit organization whose work non-profit partners at our annual NGO Fair at the Seattle Center. their NGOs and had a chance to see their work and ask questions. technology at PROVAIL, to lunch and Q&A with a chef from FareStart, to a lab tour and panel discussion at PATH. Two weeks of research followed, with students learning as much as they could about their NGO and the communities they serve in order to design their product. To support their work, students attended workshops on grant writing, interactive display, the design process, and the “business of charity,” among others.
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Another hallmark of the Capstone intensive is the Build-A-City challenge in which students explore the concept of “infrastructure” as they attempt to build the ideal city from the ground up. Students serve as city designers, neighborhood planners, and field experts for green spaces, electricity/emergency services, sanitation and water, food supply, transportation, and business/industry. After a week of planning in their expert groups, they met in the Pumadome to build a model of their city and then defended their work as they shared their concepts and how their systems connected the neighborhoods to each other.
The Capstone experience, now ideally offered in the framework of intensives, provides our students with the space to be intellectually courageous as they imagine solutions to global development challenges.
Photos, clockwise from top left: Build-A-City in the Pumadome; students presenting at the showcase; students on a site visit; the NGO Fair at Seattle Center; and the poncho designed for Real Change.
The Capstone experience, now ideally offered in the framework of intensives, provides our students with the space to be intellectually courageous as they imagine solutions to global development challenges. Among many inspiring products at the showcase, students presented their designs for stretchers for Engineers without Borders, ponchos with waterproof newspaper pouches for Real Change, an educational documentary about how to be an ally to people with disabilities for PROVAIL, and an online resource reference guide for Wellspring.
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“The biggest concern I had about coming to UPrep was wondering if my host family would like me and accept me for who I am. I am so lucky to have the Fosses. They made me feel like part of their family and I cannot wait to show them my home in Barranquilla.” -NATALIA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO
Connecting: The True Essence of Global Link BY BRIAN GONZALES, DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL PROGRAMS
I
t’s a chilly morning in early April when junior Adeeb Chowdury
am,” says Natalia. “I am so lucky to have the Fosses. They made
and sophomore Natalia Rodriguez-Soto stroll into the library.
me feel like part of their family and I cannot wait to show them
With Puma bags in tow they find a small group of friends, plop
my home in Barranquilla.”
down, and start another day at University Prep. Adeeb—on
Since 2015, 83 UPrep families have hosted over 100 students and
a year-long exchange program from Bangladesh—is chatting
with his mock trial buddies and making sure he has his stuff for soccer practice this afternoon. Natalia—an exchange student from Colombia—is recapping yesterday’s Ultimate game and looking over her French notes.
teachers from around the world. More than a handful of families have hosted multiple times. In fact, rising senior Julian Madrid and his mother, Marleen Arenivar, have hosted an international student every year since 6th grade! This year, Julian got a chance to experience the other side of global hospitality when he travelled
At just about the same time only 10,000 miles away, junior Nicholas
to Samoa and lived with a family in Faleseela for two weeks.
Arron is exploring the campus of Maru-a-Pula in Gaborone,
Ask Global Link students what makes the programs in Japan,
Botswana, with his Global Link team. A bit bleary-eyed from the 30-plus hours of travel, Nicholas is taking in his new surroundings and scanning the crowd of high school students for a couple of familiar faces. He’s been looking forward to this moment since 6th grade. Nicholas hosted Gobopa from Botswana in 6th grade and they bonded over sports and video games. He had such a memorable experience that he hosted a student from India,
Colombia, Lithuania, India, and Samoa so momentous, and most of them would say it’s their host families. It’s the daily experience of seeing a new culture behind the scenes and beyond the tourist side of wherever they may be. As Global Link evolves and expands, we remain committed to this core element of our global program experiences: authentic cultural immersion.
Shravan, in 9th grade and another Maru-a-Pula student, Nkwebi,
Into the curriculum and beyond
his sophomore year. When Nicholas signed up for Global Link
After 15 years, it felt right to push the envelope and challenge
his junior year, going to Botswana meant more than visiting this
ourselves to take Global Link to the next level—integrating our
beautiful country and exploring everything from downtown
cultural immersion model into UPrep’s academic program. Thus,
Gaborone to Chobe National Park. It was about reconnecting with
2019 was a year of pilots: a new Spanish course focused on social
Gobopa and Nkwebi and letting them show off their school and
justice in Colombia, a new English course that looked at the culture
their community. That’s what Global Link is all about.
of storytelling in Samoa, and a new 8th/9th grade elective on
Every year, UPrep welcomes and hosts over 20 international students and teachers. Some come for a two-week Global Link visit while others, like Adeeb and Natalia, come to study full-time for a semester or an entire year. And as great as our classes and clubs and sports teams are, the most impactful experience is always living with a UPrep family during their time in Seattle. Our guests love the Space Needle and U Village, but it’s the families that open their homes and lives to them that make their time in Seattle truly memorable. “The biggest concern I had about coming to UPrep was wondering if my host family would like me and accept me for who I 14
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comparative social justice in the American South. From a powerful weekend in Alabama at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice to an eye-opening visit to San Basilio de Palenque in Colombia, these new programs, along with our existing Global Link programs in Lithuania, Japan, Botswana, and Nepal, gave us new insights and raised all sorts of new questions about how to mesh experiential education with more traditional academic courses. We have a lot of work to do, but we are beyond excited about what the future holds for UPrep’s Global Programs.
NEW GLOBAL LINK(ED) COURSES: 2019-2020 Engineering and Innovation: Nepal Storytelling: India Jazz, Race, American History: New Orleans Photography: Taiwan Marimba: Botswana
THANK YOU TO OUR UNIVERSITY PREP HOST FAMILIES (2015-2019) AJ Rossbach & Family Alana and Elijah Berger & Family Alex and Wilson Smith & Family Alex Johnson & Family Alex Lewis & Family Alice and Charlie Kauffman & Family Alma and Yoela Zimberoff & Family Amelia Jones & Family Ana Bogdanovich & Family Anika Shashidhar & Family Anton and Maxim Shenk & Family Asa Danenhower & Family Avalon Hester & Family Azita Shirinzadeh & Family Beck, Elise and Colton Anderson & Family Brock, Latham and Walker Britton & Family Cameron and Maddie Swope & Family Cameron and Quinn Mason & Family Carris Clarkson & Family Charlie Cobb & Family Daran Anand & Family
Deborah and Andrew Bruce & Family Declan Lavery & Family Dekker and Kedzie Moe & Family Dylan Hart & Family Elli Eisman & Family Ema and Wally Bargeron & Family Ethan Bailes & Family Franny Walls & Family Grace and Emma Kellogg & Family Gwen Hardwick & Family Hanna Kolyvek & Family Harry Bloom & Family Henry and Helen Buscher & Family Idalia Kaplan & Family Isaac and Rachel Selby & Family Jackson, McKenna and Carly Ragen & Family Jason Funes & Family Jon Ramsay & Family Josh Swanson & Family Julian and Claire Renschler & Family Julian Madrid & Family Keenan Van Deusen & Family Kendall and Lucas Fosse & Family
Kipras Mazeika & Family Lauren Owens & Family Layli Egrari & Family Leo and Lucy Carlin & Family Levi Homman & Family LIam and Cora Reese & Family Lila Greene & Family Lillian Ellis & Family Michael Lu & Family Michael Wass & Family Morgan DeLancey & Family Naz Dezzie & Family Nikhil Raman & Family Paul Kiefer & Family Rohan Raman & Family Sara and Evan Colando & Family Shraeya and Rishab Iyer & Family Sofia Beaufrand & Family Sophia Banel & Family Stella Biehl & Family Talia Levine & Family Thomas and Evan Butler & Family Zander Rasmussen & Family UPREP MAGAZINE
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“I want to increase student confidence— it’s really just another skill set to learn.” -TRACEY SCONYERS
Teacher Tracey Sconyers Expands UPrep’s Computer Science Program BY LISA KENNEDY
U
nderstanding technology and computational thinking
students to join, because any student can code,” says Sconyers.
is a fundamental skill that every student needs before
“I want to increase student confidence—it’s really just another
entering college,” says Tracey Sconyers, UPrep’s
skill set to learn.”
computer science teacher. A former software engineer in Silicon Valley for 15 years prior to discovering a
passion for teaching, Sconyers came to UPrep two years ago from Lakeside School. Since then, she has done an extraordinary job of building the Computer Science (CS) program on the foundation laid prior to her arrival. A content specialist and facilitator for Code.org, a nonprofit organization, Sconyers develops curriculum and trains teachers all over the U.S. during the summer. As a result, she is able to bring the latest practices in K-12 computer science to UPrep, and help the school meet its goal of deepening next generation learning. As the vice president of the Puget Sound chapter of Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA), Sconyers meets other CS teachers from around the state, exchanging ideas and building UPrep’s connections.
“I’m very excited about increasing the diversity in our CS classes so that they represent the student body as a whole.” During the January intensive term, Sconyers taught a highly subscribed Mobile App class that she had wanted to teach for years. Aimed at Middle School students without any background, the class had students learning to code by making games in the morning and then creating apps for five teacher “clients” who had a service commitment that could benefit from some help. Students interviewed the teachers to learn their wants, put together proposals, and then went through an engineering design process— making prototypes, doing alpha and beta testing, and applying their coding skills. “Students loved it, and I loved it,” says Sconyers.
Sconyers is teaching seven courses that she developed on a rotating
“Their enthusiasm was off the charts.”
basis, three in the Middle School and four in the Upper School.
Plans for the future include expanding the offerings so they appeal
Student interest is growing and enrollment is up in all of the CS classes, with a huge increase in the number of girls. This spring, Computer Science I had two sections and six students took the Computer Science AP test. “I’m very excited about increasing the diversity in our CS classes so that they represent the student body as a whole. I want those students who don’t self-identify as STEM 16
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to an even wider variety of students, as well as integrating much of the material into the math curriculum. Some of the lessons extend beyond the world of computer science. “There’s a lot of resilience training in CS classes because things don’t go right the first time,” says Sconyers. “We talk about how to deal with the feelings you have at that point and how to celebrate successes.”
News Bites
10th Grade Reps Made Their Grade Gel This past year’s 10th grade reps—Grace Paterson, Jiwoo Hyun, Joseph Yeung, and Nicholas Lee—took some time this spring to
An Artist in Our Midst Although Ziah Daily ‘20 is not one to call attention to her many talents, this rising senior is an accomplished artist as well as a budding curator. A member of the Youth Advisory Board of the Museum of History and Industry (MOHAI), she has already had photographs featured in two museums and several galleries
reflect on their role in ASB, and on what they’ve accomplished. The reps’ main role involves community building, primarily through social activities. Working with a budget, they plan all of the year’s grade events and are tasked with making sure that their classmates are satisfied with the nature and range of the activities. Many details are involved, and the job requires lots of organization and coordination. “I didn’t realize how much went into socials,” says Jiwoo. “It’s a lot harder than you think,” agrees Joseph. And sometimes, such as with assemblies that call for student contestants from all of the grades, the reps have to use their powers of persuasion to get their classmates to participate.
in Seattle, and acquired curatorial experience. Having grown up around art—her mother is an artist and photographer—and taken classes since she was seven years old, first at Pratt and then at Coyote Central, Ziah began exploring photography in Middle School. As a rising junior, she applied for a youth curatorship in photography at the Northwest African American Museum (NAAM). Subsequently, she was chosen by the city of Seattle to be part of a group of high school students who vetted thousands of entries to select public art works to be exhibited around the city. Ziah’s own photographs have been on view at NAAM and
Joseph Yeung, Nicholas Lee, Jiwoo Hyun, and Grace Paterson
MOHAI as part of a show of young artists’ work entitled
At the beginning of the school year, the class socials were drawing a
“Things in Seattle that Are Important to Me.” Focusing on the
relatively small number of students, and those who came generally
Black Panther movement, she photographed a former leader
hung out with their own friend groups. Nine months later, students
of the movement, Elmer Dixon, as well as a UPrep alumna,
were mingling a lot more, and the grade has come together as a
Elisheba Johnson ’00, who works with youth and art.
class. So how did the foursome make all this happen? The reps
The junior’s artistic path has also been inspired by her Jamaican heritage. It all started last year in Abigail Hundley’s history class, when Ziah wrote her sophomore thesis on Bob Marley and reggae music’s role in the Jamaican independence movement. After joining the Black Student Union at UPrep, she began to explore her roots in more depth. “I embraced my Jamaican side,” says Ziah, “and created a piece modeled on the Mexican art form ‘papel picado’ (cut paper) but using Jamaican imagery instead.” This piece was exhibited at the Columbia City Gallery last winter. Having finished a second curatorship at NAAM this spring, Ziah continues to volunteer for Coyote Central’s annual auctions, and is a member of their Youth Advisory Board and Ethics and Inclusion Committee. She plans to continue both making and curating art, and sharing her knowledge with younger generations. “Art can be part of something bigger,” she says with assurance.
“have been so thoughtful about planning events that everyone would enjoy,” says class dean Mikayla Patella-Buckley, “and none of them is afraid of getting their hands dirty.” “One of the main things we did was put out a lot of Google surveys to get everyone’s opinion,” says Grace. “We aren’t anchored to any one friend group,” says Jiwoo, “and we asked everyone for honest feedback.” Nicholas attributes the success of their events to lessons learned— and food. “Forcing people to bond is never a good idea,” he says, reflecting back on a team-building challenge that didn’t work out the way they wanted it to. “Food speaks to people, and naturally draws them together.” Joseph concurs: “Whenever we do anything that has to do with food, it’s instantly engaging!” What keeps these reps doing what they do, representing their peers and working for the good of the whole class? “Seeing the final product and the satisfaction of the students is very rewarding,” says Jiwoo, who has been a rep every year. “And,” she adds, “figuring out how to work with adults instead of under them is a great experience!” Grace, for her part, says that she became a rep “to UPREP MAGAZINE
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NEWS BITES bring a bit of school spirit and pride to UPrep. I like getting people
Students then chose one of 16 different tracks that focused
excited!” She appreciates the unique perspective from behind the
on different identities and the many pathways to leadership.
scenes, and enjoys “the great feeling when people say something
The afternoon was dedicated to affinity groups, with students
you did was a success!”
selecting one of 14 groups looking at personal identity development. This very special day closed with Sharon Chang, a local author and activist, speaking about allyship and using resources and skills for good.
Puma Development: Empathy Runs on DEISEL BY JILL LEAHY, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY, AND EMILY SCHORR LESNICK, SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL LEARNING COORDINATOR
Next year, as we move towards the culmination of the 2020 Strategic Plan and Diversity Strategic Plan, UPrep will deepen the collaboration between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) that we piloted this year with the goal of increasing empathy. “DEISEL is a natural partnership between two strategic initiatives,” says counselor Lindsay Metcalfe. “These are complementary and overlapping skill sets that will
Diversity and Community Update
help build a more inclusive and resilient community.” And as Kelly
BY E-CHIEH LIN, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY
Herrington, Director of College Counseling and Student Services,
Highlights from this year’s Diversity and Community Office are
posits: “It is so important to ensure that our students are able
many, with much progress made on the three pillars of our
to find a home in both themselves and our diverse world as they
Diversity Strategic Plan (DSP).
launch into the next stage of their lives.”
Program and Curriculum: We put on three DEI professional
Too often, schools separate DEI and SEL, thus losing out on the rich
development sessions on campus and created avenues for our racial affinity groups and the Gender-Sexuality Alliance to meet in multischool events. This spring, we started a partnership with our SEL Coordinator, Emily Schorr Lesnick, creating a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plus Social-Emotional Learning (DEISEL) program. In 2019-2020, as the scaffolded DEISEL curriculum continues to be implemented, we will also look at and develop our community service program, and pilot a service learning component. Recruitment and Retention: We finished and implemented our new hiring protocols. We also ran three implicit bias trainings with our Administrative Team, Instructional Leadership Team, and a group of faculty and staff members. Academic Performance: We administered the second MAP testing in April. We will analyze the data from testing in October and April, and compare it to our faculty’s assessment of student achievement and growth.
opportunity for connections. Dr. Howard Stevenson at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania speaks about the DEI and SEL skills as literacies. By being able to understand their own stress, students are also able to begin to understand others and continue to build empathy. We hope that in building stress management skills, students will be able to manage academic stress, social stress, and identity-based stress. Through collaboration with grade-level deans and counselors, we are working to be more proactive, rather than reacting to arising needs of students. In the Middle School, the goal is to maximize our Puma Development sessions, which met monthly during community time this past year, and explore topics such as boundaries, intent and impact, and communication and healthy relationships. These lessons and activities, facilitated sometimes by the dean, sometimes by one of us or by advisors, offer space for students to build connections and apply DEI competencies and SEL skills. This spring, for example, 7th grade students participated in an activity in which
In addition, this year’s 7th annual Social Justice Day (SJD) activated
they practiced how to communicate in groups, something they were
the community to reflect and engage through justice-driven
also doing in science projects. Building their self-awareness, social
leadership. We looked to our own community’s knowledge and
awareness, and accountability to a group, while celebrating a wide
resources as we work to transform ourselves and the world. The day
range of student strengths, supports the goals of a DEISEL program
started out with filmmaker, historian, and writer Shaun Scott, who is
where students manage stress, develop resilience and empathy,
running for the Seattle City Council in District 4, speaking about his
clarify their personal values, and make responsible decisions.
privileged identity as a man and the four aspects of being an ally. 18
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Ray Yang, 6th grade dean, says: “I believe that DEISEL work is
The Varsity Team then went to state on March 22-24 at the
absolutely essential for our Middle School students because
Thurston County Courthouse in Olympia, where it competed with
these skills are vital as they navigate the challenging landscape of
24 teams and took 12th place. Five of the eight witnesses were
adolescence. As a dean, I’m wholly committed to incorporating this
nominated for Best Witness: Sara Colando, Nikki Falicov, Camille
work into the everyday learning of our students. When they better
Neutz, Rohan Raman, and Josh Spagnola. And for the first time,
understand and also live the principles of diversity and equity,
all six UPrep attorneys were nominated for Best Attorney: Daran
it truly benefits the entire school.”
Anand, Adeeb Chowdhury, Lillian Ellis, Aaron Igra, Emily Pan,
Looking ahead, we hope to solidify a 6-12th grade DEISEL
and McKenna Ragen. Many thanks to Coach Dawn Todd and
curriculum in which students consistently practice and build skills to be socially responsible citizens of the world. In the upcoming 2019-2020 school year, our program will focus on the Middle School and 9th grade, taking on a new grade each year. We look
the excellent volunteer coaches: attorney and parent Tori Ragen, and alumni Cory Potts and Will Locke, who were both part of the National Championship 2005 UPrep team. Congratulations to all on a great season!
forward to partnering with educators, families, and students to deepen our work because empathy runs on DEISEL.
Kudos American Math Competition: Congratulations to all of the Pumas who took top places in the American Math Competition (AMC), a fun and grueling test of challenging math problems. In 8th grade, Amelia Jones and Adam Fisher took 1st Place, Haley Hoffman took 2nd, and Devan Harrison and Max Rubenstein shared 3rd place. For 9th and 10th grades, Andrew Ye was the top placer. In 11th and 12th grades, the top three placers were Sam Lewis, Aaron Igra, and Jake Zikan. Aaron and Jake’s scores then qualified them to take the American Invitational Math Exam, a huge honor.
Ethics Bowl: Only in its second year, the club entered the state competition at UW, which required preparing to argue the ethics of 10 different cases. Competing against 18 schools, the club ended up taking home the 2nd place trophy! Congratulations to Beatrice Cappio, Anna Ingraham, Emerson Sonoda, Navya Mangipudi, Lillian Ellis, Zoe Rasmussen, Adeeb Chowdhury, Mary Donner, and Emily Lyons-Hammond. Model UN: Members of this Upper School club attended two weekend conferences this spring, WAMUN and KINGMUN. They participated in Model UN councils and committees, honed their research, debate, and speaking skills, as well as increased their understanding of the complexities of international organizations and negotiations. Congratulations to Jack and Thomas Nielsen, Brandon Rosenberg, John Higley, Nate Bontje, Wally Bargeron,
Mock Trial: This year, UPrep’s Mock Trial teams were invited to
Nathan Burke, and Henry Buscher.
participate in the Kitsap County District Court competition, where
Global Online Academy: Four UPrep students participated
both JV and varsity teams distinguished themselves. Varsity took 3rd
in the Catalyst Conference sponsored by the Global Online
place, with Daran Anand given the award for Best Attorney. JV’s
Academy each spring. The interactive conference showcases
Latham Britton took the Best Witness award. Receiving nominations
student proposals that respond to what they have learned to
for Best Attorney were Henry Buscher, Adeeb Chowdhury, Lillian
spark change in their community. Hanan Sherka, Kenna Luebbers,
Ellis, Eleanor Mobley, Emily Pan, McKenna Ragen, Lucas Sherman,
Camille Neutz, and Georgia Paterson all wrote excellent proposals.
and Alexandra Sniezek. Nominees for Best Witness included Aidan
Hanan and Georgia both received GOA Citation Awards, and
McHugh, Navya Mangipudi, Camille Neutz, Rohan Raman, Emerson
Hanan received a Catalyst for Change Prize for her presentation
Sonada, and Josh Spagnola.
that “demonstrated exceptional thoughtfulness, planning, and potential for enduring change.”
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NEWS BITES Two Sophomores Propose New Course Sophomores Wally Bargeron and Brandon Rosenberg brought a course proposal entitled Photography in Taiwan to Academic Council, where it was approved for next year. Wally and Brandon worked with Director of Global Programs Brian Gonzales and the Chinese and Fine Art teachers for a year to develop this course. It is designed as a Fine Arts course with a focus on Chinese Language and Culture, and will travel to Taiwan during the January intensive. The course will alternate each year between one with an advanced
And finally, at the Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Oregon,
Chinese Language requirement and one that is open to any student.
Joseph Yeung received an Outstanding Soloist award.
High Notes
In early May, 44 Middle School students in Orchestra and Band 2
In March, UPrep’s Chamber Orchestra competed at the 46th annual Northwest Orchestra Festival at Mt. Hood Community College south of Portland, where they received a 3rd place award. One of our small ensembles, a quintet composed of Doran Cao, Sophia Lee, Eunsoo Hyun, Cynthia Xiao, and Alcen Chiu also performed, earning a 1st place trophy.
received 3rd and 1st place awards for Winds and Strings, respectively, at Festival’s Edge, which took place in Portland. Regional adjudicators also bestowed an overall award to UPrep for best score across middle school string orchestras both under and over 750 students!
Chamber Orchestra performs with Indie Band Xolie Morra and the Strange Kind This spring, UPrep’s Chamber Orchestra engaged in an unusual and highly exciting project: it created string and wind parts for the tracks of the indie rock band Xolie Morra and the Strange Kind’s album, The Great Social Experiment. The band—which just happens to have as a member UPrep math teacher Dan Chestnut—welcomed the opportunity to fill out its sound with the addition of two flutes, two oboes, one clarinet, a bassoon, and a full string section. After writing out all of the music, the students then performed live with the band as their final performance project. The concert took place
Also in March, the 14 Advanced Jazz Ensemble students brought back a 2nd place trophy from the annual instrumental Jazz Festival
May 1 in the Chapel at the Good Sheperd Center to an enthusiastic crowd of parents and fellow students.
at Clackamas Community College, in which high school students from all over the Northwest perform and compete. In addition, sophomore Joseph Yeung and junior Ursula Sargent both received Outstanding Soloist awards. Continuing its streak, Advanced Jazz then took 3rd place at the Commencement Bay Jazz Festival at Fife High School the following weekend. Joseph Yeung and Ursula Sargent again received Outstanding Musician awards. Jazz 1 took 4th place, and Emerson Sonando and Isabelle Sherensky won Outstanding Musician awards.
6th Graders Get Creative! Elena Pozzo and Bella Stephens both love art and decided to collaborate on their visual arts project during their Fine Arts rotation. “We decided to do our project together because when two people come together with their ideas, it’s always way better,” opined Bella while the pair put the finishing touches on their creation. The assignment was to produce a site-specific work, so the duo picked an outline of a Puma, the UPrep mascot, as their subject. 20
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They located it in the main hall, where the most people, including
“What an honor of exceptional distinction for UPrep, the French
visitors, would see it. Next was figuring out how to make the puma
program, and its outstanding and dedicated team of French
a northwest puma. Elena had the idea of a foggy morning, and
language teachers! Beyond the creation of an innovative program,
then, says Bella, “We decided to fill in the rest with trees since our
grounded in best educational practices, designed to meet student
region is known for them.”
needs and ignite intellectual discovery, is the apparent collective
Senior Receives Leaders and Achievers Scholarship
team energy, enthusiasm, and devotion these language educators have for teaching French. A grand success on so many levels!” French professors from around the country, including the former
UPrep 2019 graduate Nazrawit Dessie received a $2,500 college
President of the AATF and current chair of this committee, Sister
Leaders and Achievers scholarship from the Comcast NBCUniversal
Mary Helen Kashuba, noted, “We were impressed with your
Foundation. The scholarships are awarded to students who strive to
numbers and your commitment to French. It was good to see that
achieve their full potential, are catalysts for positive change in their
your program includes a global, social justice lens that adheres to
communities, and serve as models for their fellow students.
your school’s mission. Certainly your many activities help to
Theo Mahlum Serves as Page Junior Theo Mahlum served as a page in the Washington State House of Representatives this spring, sponsored by State Rep. Gael Tarleton (D-Ballard). During his week in Olympia, Theo assumed a wide variety of responsibilities, from presenting the flags to distributing amendments on the House floor. Along with the other pages, he also received daily civics instruction, drafted his own bills, and participated in mock committee hearings.
UPrep French Program Wins Award The American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), a national organization, has awarded UPrep’s French program an “Exemplary with Honors” designation for 2019-2021, with the chance of renewal. Teachers Peinda Diop, Charlotte Horsey, Isabelle Rio, and
enhance your program.” To receive this award, the program demonstrated its commitment to the highest standards in French language teaching pedagogy across ten different categories, including, “providing a strong, standardsbased curriculum” and “engaging in innovative and age-appropriate practices based on current methodology.” UPrep’s French program will be recognized at the AATF National Conference in Philadelphia this July and featured on the AATF’s website.
Jake Zikan Named Presidential Scholar Semifinalist Jake was invited to apply to the Presidential Scholar program based on his standardized test scores. One of the highest honors for high school students, the program was established in 1964 to recognize the country’s most distinguished graduating seniors.
Holly Woodson are proud to see the program join only a handful of programs across the country to have received this distinction. UPrep’s first French teacher and founder, Pat Landy, commented:
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NEWS BITES
At the 2019 Seattle Regional TYE Competition in Seattle in April, Volunticity was awarded the top prize by a team of judges, thus advancing to TYE Globals in Boston (June 20-22) to compete with teams from all over the world. This project has taught Siona how to take a problem and find a way to solve it by being creative. “I think this work applies to high school because you are asked to do more on your own. We came up with the idea, learned how to compromise for the sake of teamwork, and developed our own project,” says Siona.
Librarian Leah Griffin Attends Bill Signing in Olympia
Civics Classes Visit Judge Lasnik’s Courtroom This spring, all three Civics classes went downtown to visit the courtroom of Federal District Court Judge Robert Lasnik and
Leah Griffin has been a relentless advocate for victims of sexual
attend a sentencing case. The event was the capstone experience
assault on both the state and national level for the past five years.
of the Crime and Punishment unit. The class had been studying
Her efforts again came to fruition this spring when the Washington
types of sentencing, including mandatory sentencing, and debating
Legislature passed HB1166 to eliminate the backlog of untested rape
the pros and cons.
kits, provide survivors’ rights, and reduce kit testing time from 14 months to 6 weeks. Griffin helped write the bill as a member of the Washington State Sexual Assault Forensic Examination Best Practices Task Force, and advocated for the bill by testifying in the legislature, in the media, and in collaboration with community partners.
Judge Lasnik has longstanding ties to the school as two of his children graduated from UPrep—Alex in 2005 and Andy in 2008— and Civics classes have visited his courtroom a number of times over the years. The judge is always extremely welcoming and generous with his time. This year, he spent 30 minutes prior to the case chatting with UPrep students about important questions, such as when to take into account mitigating circumstances. “It was such an amazing case for the students to hear,” said history teacher Karen Sherwood, “because it humanized the justice system for them and gave a lot of depth to the discussions we had been having in class.” After the defendant received his sentence, the judge spent more time with the students, and brought along with him both the prosecuting and the defending attorneys. They talked about balancing compassion and the needs of society as a whole. “It was really cool to hear this case as there were lots of unusual variables. The judge was very kind, and it was interesting hearing
Spotlight on Siona Wadhawan, Entrepreneur Last fall, freshman Siona Wadhawan applied and was accepted into the TIE Youth Entrepreneur (TYE) program. In October, her cohort group of 20 students began meeting to learn the basics of entrepreneurship. In January, they divided into teams of four girls who set out to develop an entrepreneurial idea based on an identified need in the community. Siona’s team, Volunticity, settled on creating an organization whose purpose is to help high school students find appealing volunteer opportunities and
from the lawyers on both sides. It wasn’t just, let’s go watch this, it was a much more involved learning process,” commented Ailey Birkeland ’19.
Rainier Scholars Eight Rainier Scholars graduated from UPrep this spring: Neamin Amare, Eunices Avila, Isayas Bikila, Nazrawit Dessie, Mya Johnson, Ximena Perez Rivero, Hanan Sherka, and Erick Trujillo. The scholars will be attending colleges and universities across the United States.
easily track their required community service hours. The website
University Prep has had a close association with Rainier Scholars
they developed—www.volunticity.org—features more than 100
(www.rainierscholars.org) since its founding in 2001. The
organizations at present. Students can search it according to
organization offers a 12-year program of intensive academic
categories, read each organization’s requirements, and sign up
preparation, leadership development, and personalized support,
directly on their websites for volunteer opportunities. In addition, if
increasing access and opportunity for hard-working students of
students fill out a survey of interests, they will receive a list of several
color. The number of scholars at UPrep has gradually increased.
organizations suited to their purpose. More than 200 students have
Next fall, we will welcome 11 new scholars in 6th, 8th, and 9th
taken the survey to date.
grades, and have a record 45 attending Middle and Upper School.
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Enrollment Update For 2019-2020, UPrep will enroll 110 new students. Here are some facts about them:
NEW COURSES IN 2019-2020
• 57 girls, 53 boys
A host of exciting new classes went through
• Coming from 61 schools
(57 percent public and 43 percent private)
the approval process this school year and are
• 43 percent students of color
being offered next year during the semester
• 30 siblings
and intensive terms. You can check out the
• 17 percent receiving financial aid • 6 percent enrolled in Learning Pathways program
details on the website under Academics. ENGLISH
Board of Trustees Update We welcome the following new members of the board and bid goodbye to David Beitel, Kate Marks, Abhi Sheth, and Paula Simon. Ric Anderson is Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Washington Holdings, a real estate investment firm. An active supporter of numerous charities, Ric currently serves as a board
Canon, Cultural Capital, Critical Thought Epic: A Hero’s Journey Global Link India: Storytelling (Intensive) FINE ARTS Alternative Photography
member of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and of the
Global Link Botswana: Marimba
Pacific Real Estate Institute. He is a former trustee of the Seattle
Global Link Taiwan: Photography (Intensive)
Emergency Housing Group, and is on University Prep’s Building
Global Link New Orleans: Jazz (Intensive)
Committee. Ric and his wife, Kaylene, have three UPrep Pumas, Audrey ’19, Ava ’21, and William, who is entering 6th grade in
Winter Stock: One Play, Three Weeks (Intensive)
the fall.
GENERAL STUDIES
Andrea Thoreson has been on the board of the Seattle chapter
Global Link Colombia: Culture and Identity (Intensive)
of the ARCS Foundation for ten years. She also serves on the ARCS National Board as the VP of Philanthropy. Andrea is a trustee at the Epiphany School and currently sits on the Finance Committee.
Global Link Nepal: Engineering (Intensive)
She has been Co-Chair of the Puma Fund at University Prep for
Entrepreneurship (Intensive)
two years and serves on the Advancement Committee. Andrea
Outdoor Leadership (Intensive)
has two children at UPrep, Griffin ’21 and Paige ’23.
Social Justice Seminar (Intensive)
Jennifer Zell is the incoming Co-President of Parent Council. Having served for many years on the Meridian School Board, she has been on UPrep’s Parent Council for three years, two as a Sports Booster and one as Treasurer. She is a Parent Ambassador and also volunteered for two years as a Class Agent for the Puma Fund. Jennifer has been on the Finance Committee for three
HISTORY Topics in United State History: Native American Lives and Voices Topics in United States History: United States and the World (Intensive)
years. She and her husband, Mike, have three children at UPrep, Courtney ’19, Mitchell ’21, and Trevor ‘23.
Farewell We bid a fond farewell to the following members of the faculty and staff who are moving on to new adventures. We thank you for being part of our community and we wish you the best:
P.E. Swimming and Water Safety (Intensive) SCIENCE Forensics
Dana Bettinger; Debra Boyd; Theresa Burton; Lisa Kennedy;
Human Genetics
and Elizabeth Schiffler ’10.
Teaching Science (Intensive)
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HAPPENINGS
Spring Arts The Spring Arts season was rich in fabulous performances. Musical events included the Spring Concert, the Chamber Orchestra’s performance with the band Xolie Morra and the Strange Kind in the Good Sheperd Center Chapel, and the M3 jazz combo leading a student jam session at Egan’s Ballard Jam House in June. Theatre performances included the Upper School’s Evening of Short Plays, the Middle School musical, Disney’s Alice in Wonderland, Jr., and the phenomenal Melancholy Play, by Sarah Rule, which was a student-produced work during the May intensives.
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“UPrep students’ creativity and hard work was on full display in Founders Hall this spring. The drama productions, art exhibits, and instrumental and vocal music performances were of extremely high quality, expertly guided by our Fine Arts faculty, and a joy to witness.” -KEN JAFFE, DIRECTOR OF UPPER SCHOOL
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HAPPENINGS
Congratulations, Class of 2019 BY KELLY HERRINGTON, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES
T
he Class of 2019 has been defined by many things:
UPrep’s core college counseling tenets, which are based on ethics,
articulately written papers, artistic and athletic
perspective, and fostering a collaborative—not competitive—
accomplishments, vast community service projects,
college-going community, helped ground our students throughout
but most of all by its human qualities. This class has
the college process. These values reminded our seniors to focus
brought humor and joy to our campus and will bring
on what they have control over. The skills and passion they bring
these attributes to 44 different colleges and universities this fall!
to every environment they enter are the key ingredients in a happy
This year’s graduates have contributed to winning athletic seasons,
and successful life. I can say with assurance that our new graduates
represented UPrep with pride on Global Link programs around the world, led Science Olympiad and Model United Nations teams, and relished the opportunity to do a “deep dive” academically through
understand their strengths, actualize their passions, and realize the power they have to create opportunities for themselves. They are, indeed, ready to both embrace challenge and thrive
intensives. Goal by goal, course by course, and service project by
in an ever-changing world.
service project, this year’s seniors have proven to be a dynamic,
We all look forward to following their journeys!
reflective, inspired, funny, bright, creative, compassionate, and powerful group of young people.
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CLASS OF 2019 STATS AT A GLANCE: Students: 71 AVERAGE SAT SCORE: English: 680 Math: 670 Composite: 1350
Eunsoo Hyun and her family
AVERAGE ACT SCORE:
COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FAST FACTS:
English: 31 Reading: 31 Math: 28 Science: 28 Composite: 30 Mean Grade Point Average: 3.55 National Merit Commended Scholars: 4 National Merit Finalists: 3 Washington State Honors Award: 51 (72% of the class) Total Applications Submitted: 639 Applications Per Student: 9.0
The Class of 2019 will attend 44 different institutions in 16 states and 2 foreign countries. 66% of the Class of 2019 will attend private colleges and universities with 33% choosing public options. 64% of the Class of 2019 will attend college 1,000 miles or more from home. 72% of the senior class recognized as Washington State Scholars Award Recipients, an honor bestowed on students who are in the top 10% of all graduating seniors in Washington State. 10% of the senior class was recognized by National Merit. The class submitted 639 applications to 175 different colleges. 187 college representatives visited UPrep to meet with our juniors and seniors last fall.
Erik Trujillo, Owen Morgan, Kalil Alobaidi, and Isayas Bikila
4 students are taking gap years.
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HAPPENINGS
Emily Pan, Audrey Anderson, McKenna Ragen, and Patience Probst
Thomas Nielsen, John Higley, Jake Zikan, and David Abramowitz Hanan Sherka
CLASS OF 2019 MATRICULATION LIST Boston College
Tufts University
Boston University
University of British Columbia (3)
Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
University of California, Berkeley
Chapman University (3)
University of California, Los Angeles
Colorado College
University of Chicago
Dartmouth College
University of Colorado, Boulder (2)
George Washington University
University of Oregon
Georgetown University
University of Pennsylvania
Hofstra University
University of Rochester
Lafayette College
University of Southern California
Lehigh University (2)
University of St Andrews (2)
Loyola Marymount University (2)
University of Washington (7)
Macalester College
University of Washington, Bothell
Middlebury College
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Northeastern University
Villanova University
Northwestern University (2)
Wake Forest University
Oregon State University
Washington University, St. Louis (2)
Parsons School of Design
Wesleyan University
Pitzer College (3)
Western Washington University (3)
Santa Clara University (6)
Whitman College (2)
Seattle University
Williams College
Swarthmore College
Yale University (2)
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Student Awards DAVID BASS MEMORIAL AWARD Each year this award is given to recognize notable academic improvement, which embodies the spirit of growth recognized by University Prep. • Shay Cornelius-Sears • Alma Zimberoff FACULTY RECOGNITION AWARD This award is given to the senior who consistently cares for others, has a positive spirit, embodies inspirational qualities, and by whose very presence life at University Prep is enhanced. • Eunsoo Hyun GARRY & ELLEN JONES MEMORIAL AWARD Each year the Garry and Ellen Jones Memorial Award is given to outstanding students on campus. This award goes beyond academic achievement; and gives recognition to individuals who have exhibited special qualities in relationships with others. The recipients are a positive force on campus, have a special sense of commitment and compassion, and maintain their own individual self without diminishing others’ dignity. • Dylan Hart • Mimi Zekaryas JULIA CALHOUN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD This award is given to graduating seniors who throughout their time at University Prep have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to serving those in need. The recipients may designate a non-profit organization to receive a donation from University Prep in their name. • Hannah Leahy • Nazrawit Dessie PUMA PRIDE AWARD This award is given to those students whose quiet contributions have made a significant difference in the life of the school. • 9th grade – Parisa Harvey and Gabi Pitre • 10th grade – Nicholas Lee and Wally Bargeron • 11th grade – Ursula Sargent and Hibak Hassan SILVER TALON AWARD This award is given to senior class students whose standards of personal excellence and willingness to risk acceptance deserve recognition. The students are selected on the basis of commitment, scholarship, pride in University Prep, leadership, integrity, inspiration, sportsmanship, and citizenship. • David Abramowitz • Nazrawit Dessie • Thomas Nielsen • Hanan Sherka SUSTAINABILITY AWARD This award is given to a student who has demonstrated an ongoing interest in creating a greener community. Through education, volunteer work, and devotion to a more sustainable way of life, the recipient of this award has shown their commitment to an environmentally responsible lifestyle. • Sara Colando
JEANETTE C. WILLIAMS WRITING AWARDS Jeanette Williams, for whom this award is named, held a special place in her heart for all those students who, in her words, “[weren’t] done cooking yet.” This award is open to all 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students, is given to recognize exceptional skill in the craft of writing, and to reward those students with a desire to risk originality. • Adeep Chowdhury – Best Portfolio • Olivia Poolos – Honorable Mention • Eunsoo Hyun – Honorable Mention THEATRE ARTS AWARDS These recognitions go to students who have shown their dedication to the theatre arts at University Prep by having been enrolled in the equivalent of at least four Play Production or Theatre Performance classes and given artistic effort beyond required class time in the craft of acting, directing, and theatre production. • Michael Lu • Cynthia Xiao Technical theatre achievement is recognized with the Golden Hammer. The first Golden Hammers were presented in 1987 and are awarded to graduating technical theatre students who are truly deserving, and not on a yearly basis. • Nate Bontje • Brock Britton • John Higley THE NATIONAL ORCHESTRA AWARD This award goes to a student who demonstrates high levels of musicianship, leadership, and dedication to Chamber Orchestra. • Eunsoo Hyun DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR ORCHESTRA This award recognizes students who demonstrate outstanding leadership and dedication in orchestra. • Samuel Litton WOODY HERMAN AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE This award goes to members of Jazz Ensemble I and recognizes emerging leadership ability and potential. • Makari Jackson • Oliver Litton LOUIS ARMSTRONG AWARDS FOR OUTSTANDING MUSICAL EXCELLENCE This award recognizes members of Jazz Ensemble II who demonstrate strong leadership and strong commitment to improving the quality of our program. • Isayas Bikila • Thomas Nielsen ERICA HAMLIN LEADERSHIP IN MUSIC AWARD This award recognizes members of Jazz Ensemble II and Chamber Orchestra who demonstrate outstanding leadership. • Michaela Klesse • Joseph Yeung
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HAPPENINGS
Summer Construction Transforms our Campus CAMPUS TRANSFORMATION PHASE ONE The Commons will soon have a fresh look and feel, with new possibilities for our students. The Commons will provide more flexible space designed to foster collaboration, improve dining, and expand small and large group gatherings. We are thrilled at the potential this newly imagined space will bring. The Commons transformation will immediately enhance the overall student experience by adding: • An expanse of windows looking out over the P-patch
and flooding the space with daylight • 6,500 square feet of open, multi-use space • An adjacent multipurpose room accommodating 32 people at tables • An efficient food service layout that eases circulation and increases
the number of students served • Modern furnishings, including comfortable new gathering spaces • Nine new, all-gender restrooms • Healthy, low VOC-materials, and sustainable, high-efficiency
kitchen, lighting, and mechanical equipment Another exciting project is underway in the Classroom Building, which will create even more spaces for next generation learning. With the removal of two walls, we will connect two pairs of classrooms in an economical way, allowing us to pilot the use of two new double classroom-sized spaces. These flexible classrooms will provide many options to gather in large or small groups, benefitting our students and teachers alike.
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We are thrilled to report that an unprecedented 89 percent of families donated to the Puma Fund! Photos below, left to right: Mahvash Khajavi-Harvey, Dave Harvey, Maryam Baghai, Reza Baghai; Mette Naness, Laura Biesecker, Adrian Biesecker
A Banner Year for UPrep Advancement BY CATHERINE BLUNDELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
T
he advancement team at UPrep has had a sensational
After the rousing success of our fall Puma Fund campaign,
year of successful fundraising and increased community
we hosted UPrep Together, our annual spring fundraiser and
engagement. Exciting events helped to welcome new
community celebration. Parents were excited about our new venue,
families to the UPrep community, connected parents in
Block 41 in Belltown, and having all of the class pre-parties there
fresh ways, and yielded some amazing results. None of
to get the party started early! More than 250 people came to enjoy
this would be possible without the tireless efforts and commitment
the evening and almost 30 student volunteers helped to make the
of our incredible volunteers.
event special. Student performances entertained us all while our
Once again, thanks to our generous UPrep community and the
community supported the Endowed Financial Aid Fund by raising
fabulous leadership of Puma Fund Co-Chairs Andrea Thoreson, Val Voss, and John Houlihan and their team of 21 class agents,
more than $500,000. Big thanks to all those who attended and to the 14 volunteer members of the UPrep Together committee
we surpassed our Puma Fund goal by raising over $790,000.
who worked for months to make this evening so successful.
We are thrilled to report that an unprecedented 89 percent of
To round out the year, we celebrated the work done by so many of
families donated to the Puma Fund!
our donors as we held our 2nd annual Donor Appreciation Party in
In January, we hosted State of the School, which provided
April. Mette and David Naness opened their lovely home to give us
important updates to the community regarding the head search,
the chance to remind our donors that we succeed because of them.
our Commons transformation, and the capital campaign. In addition to these high level updates, we heard about the success of the first round of intensives and about the exciting happenings in UPrep athletics. UPREP MAGAZINE
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Athletic News The Year In Review
Track and Field
BY REBECCA MOE, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS
In the league track and field championship, the boys won several
The weather dominated the tale in the athletic school year narrative!
individual events. League champions included: Arie Smidt for the
It was a smoky August, a snowy February, a dry spring, and a sunny
1600m, 800m, and 4 x 400m relay; Max Lagunoff for the 4 x 400m
Saturday afternoon in late May in Yakima—and through it all, our
relay; Connor McConville for the 4 x 400m relay; Remy Talbot for
teams prevailed! Once again our Puma buses traveled miles to
the 4 x 400m relay; Ian Ferguson for javelin and the high jump;
compete in Pasco, Trout Lake, Blaine, Coupeville, Anacortes,
and Joanna Oster for discus.
Cheney, and Yakima. UPrep Varsity teams consistently competed
Three Pumas had a strong showing at the 1A state meet on the
successfully in league play and district and state tournaments.
campus of Eastern Washington. On the first day, Arie started us
Several teams and individuals were still competing on May 25,
off in the mile, placing 15th. He rallied on Friday, Day 2,
the last official day of spring sports.
to finish at the top of his 800m prelim to qualify for the finals.
UPrep Baseball Earns 1st State Championship
Sara Colando also qualified in her 800m Friday heat to advance to the finals. On Saturday, in the Boys 800m, Arie finished a close
The biggest news of the year was our Baseball State Championship!
second with a time of 1:57.62 (the winning time was 1:56.71).
UPrep was crowned the 1A State Champion after winning eight
He finished his career as one of the top runners in UPrep school
of the last nine games, and defeating Seattle Christian in the
history, and he will continue running at the University of Wisconsin.
state finals 8-7 at Yakima County Stadium on May 25. The Pumas
Sara Colando finished 7th in the 800m and Ian Ferguson 10th in
defeated Lynden Christian, Mount Baker, King’s, and Overlake
the high jump. Both of these Pumas will look to compete again
in district playoffs; Warden and Colombia White Salmon in state
next year in Cheney!
regionals; and #1 ranked Chelan 5-0 in the state semifinals. With a roster of 15 players, the Pumas had a starting line with
Boys Soccer
three seniors, two juniors, two sophomores, and three freshmen.
Congratulations to our Varsity Boys Soccer team who finished 2nd in
Prior to this year, the Pumas had earned trips to state in 2005
league this season! The Pumas advanced to the district tournament
(when they placed 4th) and 2018. A former coach reached out to
and won their first-round game vs Seattle Academy (3-0) and
say, “I am so proud of those boys for winning state! It is invaluable
found themselves playing another familiar opponent, Bush, for a
what that will do for their self-esteem and in terms of life lessons.”
winner-to-state game. After scoreless first and second halves, the
An alum parent of two baseball players sent this kind note:
game went to two overtimes. In the end, Bush found the back of
“We were thrilled to hear of UPrep’s Baseball State Championship!
the net and scored the lone goal ending the Pumas’ season.
Sending along our congratulations and excitement for you, the
As Coach Alec Duxbury wrote to the team and families in an
coaches, and the team on a wonderful season.” The team was
end-of-season email: “It is important to remember that this game
honored by the Mariners with all spring champions at T-Mobile
will become part of the story of the boys’ high school sporting
Park on June 5— a great way to end a remarkable season!
careers, and this story will be one that will be, in time, fondly retold.
Tennis
When I spoke to the boys after the game, I told them that there was nowhere I would have rather been than at that field and watching
The season ended with our Varsity Girls Tennis team finishing 12-0
them play the game they love.” Our school community is proud of
and earning their first outright league title since 1997. They were
how our boys competed and displayed integrity and sportsmanship
co-champions in 2010, 2012, and 2013. The varsity squad joins
through challenging moments.
our Varsity Boys Cross Country team as the only two league team champions for the 2018-2019 school year.
Girls Ultimate
UPrep sent several qualifiers to state and the boys earned enough
Our Varsity Girls Ultimate team finished the regular season in
points to finish in 3rd place in team scoring. Nicholas Arron and
4th place and earned a trip to the league playoff. The Pumas’
Michael Yang finished 2nd in Boys Doubles; Tyler Wurzer finished
post-season aspirations were thwarted by Northwest and
3rd in Boys Singles; and Lindsey Walters and Audrey Anderson
Seattle Academy. Going forward, the junior varsity team will
finished in 4th place in Girls Doubles. Tyler was also awarded
be instrumental in developing the talent to compete in the
the sportsmanship medal for the boys tournament!
Emerald City League.
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ALL LEAGUE
BOYS SOCCER
The following Pumas were named/earned Emerald City All League Recognition this spring.
Erik Pablo-Trujillo – First Team Zach Harvey – First Team
GIRLS TENNIS
Claiborne Probst – Second Team
Audrey Anderson – First Team Lindsey Walters – First Team McKenna Ragen – First Team Mina Baghai – First Team Team – League Champions Coach of the Year – University Prep, Mark Ball and Linda Walker
Michael Gary – Second Team
TRACK AND FIELD Arie Smidt – 800m (ECL Champion), 1600m (ECL Champion), and 4 x 4 Relay (ECL Champion) Max Lagunoff – 4 x 4 Relay (ECL Champion), 1600m, 3200m Connor McConville – 4 x 4 Relay (ECL Champion) Remy Talbot – 4 x 4 Relay (ECL Champion)
BASEBALL
Ian Ferguson – Javelin (ECL Champion) and High Jump (ECL
Gus Coluccio – First Team
Champion)
Jacob Fried – First Team
Joanna Oster – Discus (ECL Champion)
GIRLS ULTIMATE Maggie Scroggs – First Team
Ailey Birkeland – 1600m, 3200m Sara Colando – 400m, 800m
Shylynn Rodrigues – Honorable Mention Coach of the Year – University Prep, Moses Rifkin and Lily Moline UPREP MAGAZINE
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AT H L E T I C S
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End of the Year Athletic Achievement
Athletic Highlights by the Numbers
At the Senior Family Reception on May 19, Owen Morgan and
During the 2018-2019 school year, the athletic department
Maggie Scroggs were recognized as the recipients of the Mark
coordinated 53 teams, managed 75 coaches, and provided
Cullen Commitment to Athletics Award. Owen and Maggie were
an educational-based athletic opportunity for 437 students
honored for their loyalty, spirit, sportsmanship, multiple sport
(out of 586) —serving a total of 75 percent of our student body!
participation, and leadership in University Prep’s athletic program.
2 Emerald City League Tennis Championships –
At closing ceremonies on May 31, Sara Colando, Michael Gary, and Courtney Zell were recognized as the 2018-2019 Scholar Athletes. Arie Smidt and McKenna Ragen were named Athletes of the Year for the Pumas.
Owen and Maggie were honored for their loyalty, spirit, sportsmanship, multiple sport participation, and leadership in University Prep’s athletic program. Our Middle School program continues to shine under the direction of first year Assistant Director of Athletics Da’Mon Perry. His leadership with our coaches provided the balance of development and competition. We had 160 athletes participate in the Middle School spring sports season. Participation rates
Boys Cross Country and Girls Tennis 1 State Team Championship – Baseball 7 State Medalists – Track and Tennis 10 Individual League Champions – Cross Country and Track 38 Emerald City All League Selections 3 Emerald City League Coach of the Year Selections 1 Emerald City League MVP 7th grade participation – 93%, highest in Middle School 10th grade participation – 77%, highest in Upper School Middle School – 87% Participation Upper School – 65% Participation Total Participations – 781
held steady at 87 percent, with 7th grade having the most participants—78 out of 84, totaling 93 percent of the class! UPREP MAGAZINE
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Alumni News
Thank You, Breahna Wilson Breahna Wilson ’08 was our featured alumni speaker at
Alumni Board
UPrep Together, our annual
The Alumni Board members continue to provide leadership for
community celebration and
our alumni community and strengthen our collective alumni
fundraiser. Breahna spoke
network. They focus on the continued growth of the Alumni
about how she was a UPrep
Association and help create opportunities for alumni engagement.
“lifer” and truly felt the positive
To that end, Alumni Board members and other interested alumni
influence from people like
guests met recently over dinner to share strategies for increasing
Kelly Herrington and Evan
attendance at events and inspiring financial participation. The board
Hundley. She recalled fondly
is encouraged to see alumni become involved with the school in greater numbers, coaching our many sports teams and mock trial, working as substitute teachers, and serving as Launchpad mentors for our seniors. Alumni events continue to draw large numbers of guests and help our alums build their networks near and far. Similarly, alumni financial support grew again this year, with alumni contributing an impressive $79,696 to our Puma Fund.
how Mr. Hundley went around the whole room at the end of senior year, giving everyone a fist bump and saying, “You are ready for college.”
She recalled fondly how Mr. Hundley went around the whole room at the end of senior year, giving everyone a fist bump and saying, “You are ready for college.” Along with her father and brother, Breahna has created a non-profit called the Education Effect. They have already partnered with a few schools in King County where they assisted kids in creating a personal commitment contract between themselves and their future selves. Thank you, Breahna, for joining us, and we look forward to everything the future holds for you!
We Would Love to Hear from You! Do you have an idea for the Alumni Association? Are you interested in the Alumni Board? Haven’t been back to campus and would like a tour? Let us know at alumni@universityprep.org. We hope to see L-R Back Row: John Nelson ‘97, Joe Irwin ‘04, Alumni Board President Blake Titcomb ‘09; L-R Front Row: Toby Cattolico ‘04, Alumni Board Vice President Alise Lied ‘12, Rachel Pesando ‘96, Maddie Pennington ‘01, Brandon Kanemori ‘00
Welcome, New Alums from the Class of 2019! The Alumni Association would like to welcome each of the 71 members of the Class of 2019! The new graduates were officially greeted as alumni at the senior party on May 19, and received a UPrep water bottle as a gift from the Alumni Association.
you soon!
SUMMER EVENTS FOR ALUMNI – JULY 26 AND 27 The annual Alumni Weekend provides a wonderful opportunity for alumni to return to campus, and connect with their peers and the school. This year we are thrilled
Of Note
to host our first-ever 40th reunion for the Class of 1979!
Former faculty member Tony Chursky recently co-authored a
The weekend kicks off with the Mariners Game on
book with former Seattle Sounders teammate Adrian Webster
Friday, and is followed by a party on campus on Saturday.
entitled Sounders Together, Friends Forever. Mr. Chursky shares how his time as a professional soccer player influenced his career
Keep an eye out for a calendar of fall alumni events,
as a teacher. You’ll also find a few quotes from UPrep alumni
including the annual Winter Party, coming soon. Be sure
you might know!
to follow our alumni group on facebook and Instagram for more details. We sure hope you’ll join us!
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UPREP MAGAZINE
Class Notes
Bryce Andrews ’01 lives in Montana where he is a rancher,
John Borland ’89 was recently appointed VP/Commercial
and Carnivores whose mission is to restore natural carnivore
Relationship Manager at Washington Trust Bank. He has been in the banking industry for nearly 20 years. He continues to be active
conservationist, and author. He is also the Field Director of People populations to the Northern Rockies. His passions lie with sustainable ranching and coexisting with our
in the Seattle area, currently serving as treasurer of the Seattle
natural habitat.
Chapter of the Finlandia Foundation and as a council member
In early spring, Bryce published a new book
at the Finnish Lutheran Church.
entitled Down from the Mountain. In it, he
Scott Fava ’97 writes: “I’m going on 15+ years in the NYC
chronicles the persistent battle between
residential real estate market, and continue to close deals all over
ranchers and the local, natural carnivores while
Manhattan and Brooklyn. I recently moved firms to join the Serhant
following the life of a local Grizzly Bear sow.
Team at Nest Seekers International, one of the top producing
Amelia Gallaher ’06 just graduated from the UW School of
teams in the nation (and of Million Dollar Listing New York and
Medicine. Her dad, former UPrep mathematics teacher Jerry
Sell It Like Serhant), so you may catch me on one of these Bravo
Gallaher, sent us a photo from her graduation party. Pictured are
shows from time to time. A good deal of my business comes from
a number of UPrep alums, including fellow med school graduate
investors looking to diversify their real estate portfolio and pick up
Nika Sulakvelidze ’10. Amelia will soon be a family medicine
rental properties—in fact, last year I closed a deal with one of my
resident at Swedish while Nika heads to Boston for an internal
former UPrep classmates! The New York sales market has shifted
medicine residency.
to a buyer’s market with tremendous deals all over the city for opportunistic investors. On a personal note, I am recently remarried and just welcomed the birth of my second child, a daughter named Emma Lucia Fava. I am in Seattle twice a year, usually once in the summer and once around Thanksgiving or New Year’s.” Elisheba Johnson ’00 has been an integral partner in the recent founding of the Wa Na Wari black arts space in Seattle’s Central District. The building, a classic Seattle Craftsman home, has a rich history and now provides a space for artists. The name “Wa Na Wari” means “Our Home” in the Kalabari language of Southern Nigeria. “Art is the convener,” says Elisheba. The organization recently held a discussion led by Inye Wokoma, a 4th generation Seattleite, around the best ways to preserve black property and culture in the Central District. If you would like to learn more about the organization, check out www.wanawari.org. Melissa Browne ’00 has recently been appointed by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio as the Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Special Projects and Community Events. “I look forward to continuing to find ways to advance the Mayor and First Lady’s
L-R Ian Gallaher ‘01, Jerry Gallaher, Anneli Johnson ‘06, Kate Macfarlane ‘06, Amelia Gallaher ‘06, Natalie Wilhelm ‘06, Nika Sulakvelidze ’10
Sahil Piyarali ’15 recently graduated from Washington University in St. Louis and is looking forward to starting his new job at Mastercard. Karina Zikan ’16 has had her work written up in St. Olaf’s news this past year. She and two other students have been studying snow with the intent of gaining a new perspective and elevating our understanding of climate change.
mission to make the city’s events and projects inclusive and open to all New Yorkers,” she said. Melissa has been integral in bridging the public and private sectors, and has worked at the international level with organizations such as the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change. UPREP MAGAZINE
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Key 2019-2020 Dates to Remember: 8/26 9/4 9/30 10/9 10/11 10/28 11/11 11/27 - 29 12/23 - 1/3 1/6 - 1/23 1/20 1/24 1/27 2/17 - 2/21 3/23 4/6 - 4/10 5/25 5/26 5/27 - 6/12 6/12 6/14
Upper School Fall Sports begin First Day of Classes No classes – Professional development No classes – Faculty collaboration No classes – Professional development No classes – Report writing No classes – Veterans Day No classes – Thanksgiving Break No classes – Winter Break Winter Intensives Campus closed – MLK Day No classes – Midsemester Break No classes – Midsemester Break No classes – Midwinter Break No classes – Report writing No classes – Spring Break Campus closed – Memorial Day No classes – Report writing/intensives prep Spring Intensives Last day of classes Commencement