UPrep Magazine - Summer 2021

VOL. 5 NO. 2

UPrep SUMMER 2021

MAGAZINE

Moving Forward

Embracing Change While Honoring Our Past

In this issue: 3

Message from Cheryl Scott

5

Message from Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau

6

Building Self-Directed Learners

By Nancy Schatz Alton

9

On the Bookshelf

By Anne Bingham and Leah Griffin

10

Transforming UPrep’s Service Program

By Mary Beth Lambert and the staff of the Diversity and Community Office

12

18

In the Arts

22

Athletics in Review 2021

By Rebecca Moe

Students of Color Share Their UPrep Experiences

28

By Nicholas Lee ’21 and Hermona Hadush ’22

By Kelly Herrington

14

All in the Family

By Nancy Schatz Alton, Catherine Blundell, and Shavette McGhee

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

31

Student Awards

OUR MISSION University Prep is committed to developing each student’s potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world.

32

Faculty and Staff News

34

A Bold Commitment to the Future

By David Beitel and Mark Britton

36

Record-Breaking Year for the Puma Fund and UPrep Together!

38

Class Notes

40

Alumni News

By Claire Fallat

41

Upcoming Events

Above: On June 14, the class of 2021 received their diplomas at UPrep’s 43rd Commencement, which took place at the Woodland Park Zoo. Front cover: The Salemy family includes Hannah, class of 2027 (far left), and alumna Sarah (Camp) Salemy ’94 (second from right).

By Catherine Blundell

UPREP MAGAZINE

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BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, HEAD OF SCHOOL Richard Kassissieh, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS AND STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

Susan Lansverk, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS

Jennifer Zell, PRESIDENT

Geoff Buscher

Sujal Patel

Van Katzman, VICE PRESIDENT

Juli Cook

Tori Ragen

Mark Britton, TREASURER

Elizabeth (Liffy) Franklin

Timothy Richey

Charisse Cowan-Pitre,

Jason Froggatt ’87

Cheryl Scott

SECRETARY

Terry Froggatt

Andrew Selby

Lisa Bontje, PARENT GUARDIAN

Michelle Goldberg

Andrea Thoreson

Patricia Landy

Mandira Virmani

Ninevah Lowery

Ronnie CodringtonCazeau, EX OFFICIO

ASSOCIATION CO-PRESIDENT

Tracy Pozil, PARENT GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION CO-PRESIDENT

Ric Anderson

Scotland Nash

Joel Sohn, DIRECTOR OF UPPER SCHOOL Susie Wu, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL

PARENT GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION

Catherine Blundell, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Co-Presidents – Lisa Bontje, Tracy Pozil

Kelly Herrington, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE

Upper School Vice President – Jennifer Sill

COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES

Middle School Vice President – Michele Miyoshi

Mary Beth Lambert, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING

Treasurer – Alexa Crawford

AND COMMUNICATIONS

Secretary – Jenna Sylvester

E-chieh Lin, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY AND

Past Executive – Ursula Phelan

COMMUNITY AND DIRECTOR OF HIRING

Shavette McGhee, DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

UPrep

M AGAZINE

Governance Committee – Myndee Ronning Advancement Liaison – Kendall Burwell Admissions Liaison – Quyen Hamilton Community Service Liaisons – Mary Balmaceda, Nicole Mirchandani Diversity & Community – Jeff Birdsall, Julie Kang Global Programs Liaisons – Shawn Lipton, Tracy Zheng Parent Education – Brigid Britton, Mary Fitzgerald, Dana Northcott

EDITOR Nancy Schatz Alton

Parents for the Arts – Dean Carter, Kate Kerschbaum

CONTRIBUTORS Nancy Schatz Alton, Anne Bingham, Catherine Blundell, Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, Claire Fallat, Leah Griffin, Abby Formella, Hermona Hadush ’22, Patrick King, Mary Beth Lambert, Nicholas Lee ’21, E-chieh Lin, Shavette McGee, Rebecca Moe, Cheryl Scott

12th Grade Reps – Heather Davis, Julie Zirkle

PHOTOGRAPHERS Nancy Schatz Alton, Catherine Blundell, Claire Fallat, Abby Formella, Mary Beth Lambert, Kedzie Moe, Rebecca Moe, Andrew Storey

6th Grade Reps – Caitlin Angeloff, Becky Aronchick, Tember Fasulo

Sports Boosters – Aija Christopher, Karen Faulkner, Kati Pagulayan, Gail Ticeson 11th Grade Reps – Andrea Basinski, Ivy Chen, Jean-Francois Luu 10th Grade Reps – Kimberly Briar, Ninevah Lowery, Robynn Takamiya 9th Grade Reps – Jodi Arnold, Julia Guthrie, Nina Stuyt, Dani Ruthfield 8th Grade Reps – Denise Angelone, Sarah Gray, Aki Tameling 7th Grade Reps – Melissa Donsbach, Paige Hansen-Shankar, Andrea Mari-Crawford

COPY EDITOR Miriam Bulmer DESIGNER Anne Bryant Creative © 2021 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

Teacher Bretta Ballou Ringo talks with students in Visual Art I: Sculpture class.

Dear University Prep Community, I am delighted to introduce this edition of the UPrep Magazine to you. As I reflect on the transitions and growth our community experienced during the 2020–2021 school year, the theme “Moving Forward: Embracing Change While Honoring Our Past” feels very appropriate. Together, we welcomed new community members, including our biggest 6th grade class ever; witnessed stalwart, yet flexible and creative, teaching from our faculty; and celebrated the academic accomplishments, athletic and artistic prowess, and social-emotional growth of our students. New Head of School Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau led our school through a global pandemic with grace and tenacity and helped us all imagine how we could safely transition from an entirely online format on the first day of school to the spring return to in-person teaching and learning on campus.

This edition of the magazine introduces you to three proud Puma alumni and their children—a new generation of Pumas enrolled at UPrep. While the school has changed since its founding nearly CHERYL SCOTT

45 years ago, these alums share fond memories of their time on campus and discuss the importance of our mission and a UPrep education. This magazine also explores how UPrep fosters self-directed learning and the many opportunities offered to students, beginning with the 8th grade Capstone Project and continuing through Upper School

While the school has changed since its founding nearly 45 years ago, these alums share fond memories of their time on campus and discuss the importance of our mission and a UPrep education.

learning experiences. The senior year LaunchPad offers a culminating three-week real-world experience where students explore personal passions and/or professional, vocational, or academic curiosities.

As our community continues to explore how we can ensure UPrep is a place where all feel welcome and belong, Head of School Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau shares her reflections on what she has heard and learned during her first year here. As our country reckons with the rise in hate crimes and killings in America and our school looks closely at the racism and discrimination within our own community, JENNIFER ZELL, INCOMING PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

two students share their personal experiences as UPrep students. Readers will also find an article about a program piloted during Social Justice Day that focuses on service learning and community engagement.

For the past three years, it has been my privilege to lead the UPrep Board of Trustees, a group of talented leaders from the business, nonprofit, and education worlds, many of whom are parents or guardians of UPrep students. It is my honor to pass the baton to my board colleague Jennifer Zell, who was the co-president of our Parent Guardian Association (PGA). Under Jennifer’s leadership, the PGA has worked to become a more inclusive and transparent organization that welcomes every parent and guardian in our community. Jennifer and her husband, Mike, have three children: Courtney ’19, Mitchell ’21, and Trevor ’23. With the graduation of my son Will ’21, I will no longer make regular visits to the UPrep campus for baseball games to watch Will play. However, my Puma pride and admiration for this community remains strong. I look forward to staying in touch and continuing to support the work of this amazing community.

With gratitude,

Cheryl Scott PRESIDENT, BOARD OF TRUSTEES

UPREP MAGAZINE

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“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” –F. SCOTT FITZGERALD, THE GREAT GATSBY

Dear UPrep Families and Alumni, Summer brings with it a sense of renewal. It brings a feeling of relief that we have all made it through the dark months of winter and emerged triumphant into the lighter days of summer. Those who know me well know I find every opportunity to be outside when any orange rays of sun glow in the sky.

I often move closer to a window or, if I can, step outside. Between the ages of eight and 12, I lived on the sunny island of Barbados and every warm day reminds me of those days.

This summer, I am spending time reflecting on my first year at UPrep. As I shared in the winter edition of this magazine, I spent my first year in listening and observation mode. And what a year it was to listen and learn about this community. I observed the resilience of our teachers, who operated under seven different schedules. Sometimes they were teaching students

This is a great community. A community who

in class and at home at the same

questioned respectfully, listened attentively,

time. I watched them continue to show up, smile, and engage

asked how they could help, and continued to

their students in meaningful ways,

support the school in so many ways. For that

over and over again. I also saw

I am extremely grateful.

the gratitude that our parents

and guardians heaped onto these teachers. I watched our parents and guardians bring their students to school at the beginning, middle, and end of the day with smiles on their faces. I saw the resilience of our students, as they learned how to return to school while keeping each other and themselves safe.

This is a great community. A community who questioned respectfully, listened attentively, asked how they could help, and continued to support the school in so many ways. For that I am extremely grateful.

Yet, outside our walls, this was a tough year for many of us. My heart goes out to those among us who lost friends or family to COVID-19. My thoughts are with the members of our Black and Asian populations who feared for their safety and the safety of their friends and family, amidst the rising racial attacks on their communities. Political tensions in this country were at an all-time high. I wish the rest of the country could learn to do what we teach here at UPrep: to listen, to have uncomfortable conversations, and to share a little bit of ourselves with each other. I know our graduates will carry what they learned here into their adult lives, and I cannot wait to see how they will change the world!

Now on to the work ahead. Next year, UPrep will launch a new strategic plan, engage in the reflective self-study process to prepare for our next accreditation from the Northwest Association of Independent Schools, and plan to break ground for our new building in the spring of 2022.

I am thrilled to be a part of this community and look forward to the road ahead!

With much appreciation,

Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau HEAD OF SCHOOL UPREP MAGAZINE

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“Throughout Middle School, we prepare students for the world through teaching them skills.

This class is focused on how students can make the world a better place.”

—BRENT SLATTENGREN, SCIENCE TEACHER

Building Self-Directed Learners

BY NANCY SCHATZ ALTON, WRITER / EDITOR

T

he UPrep curriculum is designed to create an intellectually

During this three-week-long intensive, students choose to focus on

challenging and developmentally appropriate program

the work of one nongovernmental organization (NGO). This year,

of study for all students. Along this journey, UPrep

students could learn about one of the following NGOs: America

students become self-directed learners who see

Scores Seattle, Lavender Rights Project, Rwanda Girls Initiative,

challenges as opportunities for growth and embrace

Engineers Without Borders, Real Change, Landsea, Camp Ten Trees,

learning as a process of discovery. Becoming intrinsically motivated,

Lambert House, or Outright Action International. Students inter-

independent learners is essential preparation for our 21st-century

viewed a representative of their NGO to gain a deeper understand-

world. According to the World Economic Forum’s “Future of Jobs

ing of the organization’s objectives, and the culminating project is

Report,” 65 percent of students entering primary school will end

to produce a collaborative video showcasing the NGO’s work.

up working in jobs that don’t exist yet in today’s workforce.

Teachers are called “coaches” to help the students think of them

While the UPrep curriculum equips students with foundational

as mentors as the students work independently and in teams on a

study skills, teachers design projects that allow students to follow

series of projects. “The teachers gave us this general schedule and

their interests as they learn. Below, we’ve highlighted three classes

you move on your own path and the teachers are there to support

that every student takes during their educational journey at UPrep:

you. It’s more like a choose-your-own-adventure way of learning, and

the 8th grade Capstone intensive, the 10th grade Humanities

it helped that a lot of the work was done as a group project, so other

intensive, and the Upper School LaunchPad intensive. Each of

students could support me, too,” said student Afomeya Adinka.

these experiences exemplifies how the UPrep curriculum prepares

Student Yedidia Alebachew learned about Engineers Without Borders

students to be lifelong self-directed learners.

8th Grade Capstone Intensive The Capstone intensive is a culminating 8th grade experience.

“Throughout Middle School, we prepare students for the world through teaching them skills. This class is focused on how students

because he has always been fascinated with constructing stuff and plans to be an engineer. “I liked learning about places in the world where basic needs are not being met and what we can do to help the people in these places,” he said, adding that he was able to use the writing and critical thinking skills he learned this past year to

can make the world a better place,” said Science Teacher Brent

work on the various projects during the intensive.

Slattengren, who was a Capstone intensive coach. “I’m always

For one of the projects, students learn about the United Nations’

excited for the energy of Capstone: students turn toward under-

17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Each student creates an

standing global issues and their part in the larger world.”

“SDG Web” that highlights the SDG goals their NGO is trying to

6 UPREP MAGAZINE

Clockwise from left: Andrew Bell, 11th grade, interned at Kenmore Air for his LaunchPad intensive; Wally Bargeron, 12th grade, (pictured) and Jude Roach, 12th grade, built a brick pizza oven and perfected their pizza recipe for their LaunchPad intensive; Sloane Goldberg, 12th grade, started a bakery for her LaunchPad intensive; and Celestine Ruhmann, 12th grade, created custom quilts for her LaunchPad intensive.

Photo on page 6: 8th grade Capstone intensive students work on their collaborative video that showcases the work of an NGO.

achieve, while also creating a web to show how the goals are con-

10th Grade Humanities Intensive

nected. Student Kaitlyn Harris focused on the 16th goal—creating a

The sophomore-year spring intensive is a culmination of the

peaceful and inclusive world for everyone—for the Lavender Rights

students’ yearlong English and history curriculum. Tenth grade

Project NGO. “I used cupcakes for each SDG and connected them

students choose one of three different tracks: Global Health,

with sprinkles to show the visual web of how the goals are all inter-

Immigrants and Refugees, or Technology and Ethics. Students hear

connected. It gives you the perspective that if we solve one issue,

from various professionals who work in local NGOs as part of the

it’s going to help you solve other issues,” said Kaitlyn. “I also liked

process of writing a research paper. The research and writing

the element of creativity, which helped me focus on our impact on

process aligns with the overarching themes of the world history

the world.”

and literature curricula: promoting human rights and building

During this experience, 8th graders are challenged to navigate

an international community.

“open work time” in order to achieve the goals and tasks they are

When senior Jiwoo Hyun took this intensive in 10th grade, she

given, said English Teacher Carrie Niebanck, who was a Capstone

chose the immigration track. “As an immigrant myself, I wanted to

intensive coach. “They have to direct themselves and their team-

learn about the perspectives of people who had experiences that

mates. While this can cause some anxiety, ultimately it is a terrific

were different from my experience. At UPrep, I felt encouraged

simulation of a real work experience,” said Carrie. “Students choose

to look more deeply into my identity and then to look out toward

whether or not to simply meet the criteria for each task, or to push

other people’s experiences,” she said.

them­selves to find a creative way to exceed those expectations.”

This intensive offered one of many opportunities during Upper

Kaitlyn liked that the rubrics for the projects were simple and

School to dive deeply into a topic that arose from Jiwoo’s own

focused on having students explore and play with how they want

interests. It also helped her develop the skills needed to be a

to learn. “I’m looking forward to more exploration of how I learn

successful self-directed learner. “I used to really struggle with

during Upper School,” she said.

writing. Ms. Hundley [her intensive teacher] was the first teacher UPREP MAGAZINE

7

who understood how I struggled to get my thoughts out on paper,”

LaunchPad Intensive

she said. “She met with me one-on-one and showed me how to

During the LaunchPad intensive, students spend three weeks

create a mind map. Now I use tools like these for writing all the

working on a solo project that speaks to their personal passions

time because I know it works for me and it’s how I visualize and

and/or their professional, vocational, or academic curiosities.

organize my work.”

Students complete a LaunchPad project during their junior or senior

During one of the panel discussions with professionals, Jiwoo

year, completing an independent project with the help of a mentor

remembers hearing human rights lawyer Monika Batra Kashyap,

or within a designated, LaunchPad-eligible course. Junior Andrew

who is a visiting clinical professor at the Seattle University School

Bell shadowed two professionals at Kenmore Air to learn about

of Law. “She talked about the role of settler colonialism and gender

working in the aviation industry. Senior Lucas Sherman researched

violence in immigration. I knew I wanted to hear more about her

how to support COVID-19 vaccine outreach and public health for

perspectives,” she said.

Pacific Islander communities in Washington. Junior Jack Nielsen did a project in the Radio Lab intensive, exploring his interest in the fashion industry and streetwear through interviewing people within this field for his podcast project.

LaunchPad also strengthens students’ capacity for designing and managing their own learning experiences. “Schoolwork is dictated by what is due and by teachers asking what I need from them.

For this project, I had a mentor, not a teacher,” said Jiwoo.

“I learned how to create my own deadlines and tasks for myself and to look past day one to create a plan.”

Andrew said working alongside two professionals at Kenmore Air, a seaplane operations company with 250 employees, gave him insight into working at a small company. “When you work at a small company, you do a little bit of everything along with your designated job, from monitoring the weather and turning planes

8th grade Capstone intensive students work on their collaborative video that showcased the work of Feeding America.

Jiwoo was also able to interview Monika during the intensive, as students are paired with one professional to learn more about this person’s work. A few years later, she reached out to Monika to ask if she would be interested in creating an internship about social change law during the summer of 2020. Monika, who is also a UPrep parent, created a three-week virtual class for six students from UPrep

to cleaning bathrooms,” he said.

“UPrep has pushed me to be OK with being uncomfortable and stepping outside my comfort zone and challenging myself.”

–Jiwoo Hyun ’21

and Lakeside. “We learned about the immigration system. We also

Jack said producing a podcast on the fashion industry and street-

spent a lot of time talking about community lawyering, settler

wear taught him persistence. “I ran into several roadblocks, like

colonialism, and larger social movements,” said Jiwoo.

when one person didn’t want to go on record so I couldn’t use their

At the end of the internship, Monika invited the students to be

interview in the podcast,” he said. “Along with learning about how

research assistants as she wrote and submitted a law review

to write a script that sounds natural, like a conversation, and how

article. The three students from UPrep—Jiwoo; Ananya Randeria,

to edit audio in Audacity, I learned to get up after a setback and try

11th grade; and Siona Wadhawan, 11th grade—all signed on.

new avenues until you have what you need to complete a project.”

The resulting essay, “U.S. Settler Colonialism, White Supremacy,

Senior Jiwoo said her Humanities intensive prepared her for the

and the Racially Disparate Impacts of COVID-19,” was published

writing part of her LaunchPad project, which looked at how immi-

in California Law Review in November 2020.

grants fit into settler colonial systems and indigenous populations in

Jiwoo said that spending the second semester of junior year at

the U.S. “UPrep has pushed me to be OK with being uncomfortable

The School for Ethics and Global Leadership led to her decision to

and stepping outside my comfort zone and challenging myself,”

work on the law review article. “I used to assume everyone had

she said. “UPrep also created a lot of opportunities for me to follow

the same background knowledge from their learning experiences.

my interests. Instead of working on a project to get a good grade,

Being able to step out of my UPrep context and live in Washington,

I’ve been driven to work hard because I’m really excited and

D.C., made me realize the importance of sharing knowledge and

interested in my work.” ■

opinions with other people,” she said.

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ON THE BOOKSHELF

BY ANNE BINGHAM AND LEAH GRIFFIN, UPREP LIBRARIANS

Readers are rejoicing as authors embrace change while honoring the past.

Contemporary writers are examining history, relationships, and reflections through a lens of equity and awareness. Our current social and civil rights movements are reflected in these new books. Enjoy a fresh perspective through reading history, fiction, and memoir.

Modern HERstory: Stories of Women and Nonbinary People Rewriting History

By Blair Imani Activist Blair Imani explores and expands on historic trailblazers, from Lorraine Hansberry to current changemakers who should be household names. This curated gallery primarily focuses on young people creating awareness, organizations, and movements. Did you know Amani al-Khatahtbeh started the Muslim Girl platform while she was in high school, leading to the creation of Muslim Women’s Day? Allison Renville of the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation shows how a powerful call to action against the Dakota Access Pipeline can affect national debate. Readers will be inspired— as Imani’s work brings all histories into the mainstream.

El Iluminado: A Graphic Novel

By Ilan Stavans and Steve Sheinkin This graphic novel reads like a good spy thriller. The page-turning historical fiction highlights Crypto-Judaism in the Southwest. Professor Stavans reveals the practice of adhering to traditional Jewish religious practices in secret while conforming to local religious norms to avoid persecution.

Set in New Mexico, the story brings together historical documents, architectural details, cultural artifacts, family narratives, murder, and mystery as tools of historiography.

The Magical Language of Others: A Memoir

By E.J. Koh E.J. Koh’s parents made the difficult decision to return to Korea for work while leaving 14-year-old E.J. with her older brother in California. A decade of separation and visitations across the Pacific Ocean exacerbated feelings of abandonment, questions of identity, and grasping for cultural continuity. This beautiful memoir is interspersed with reproductions of letters in Korean from E.J.’s mother. The Korean words and characters are a catalyst to explore the mystery of motherdaughter relationships. E.J. is a careful wordsmith, poet, and translator: Japanese, Korean, and English all play a prominent part in her story.

How Much of These Hills Is Gold

By C Pam Zhang This is a western you will want to read! This riveting novel of the post-gold-rush Southwest follows a Chinese family facing misery, hunger, and racism as they try to make their fortune in the California gold and coal mines. Orphaned sisters Sam and Lucy act older and wiser than their years to evade capture, survive, and thrive. Sam passes as a boy as she aspires to be a cowboy, prospector, pardner, and outlaw. The sisters preserve Chinese language, culture, customs, ancestors, and values, and are as tenacious as the tiger that appears in song and symbol throughout the story. ■

UPREP MAGAZINE

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“Instead of seeing service as random acts of kindness, we want to create a culture and set of expectations at UPrep that establish service as intentional behaviors.”

—PATRICK KING , UPREP DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY PROGRAM MANAGER

Transforming UPrep’s Service Program: From Random Acts of Kindness to Reciprocity and Long-standing Partnerships

BY MARY BETH LAMBERT, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS, AND THE STAFF OF THE DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY OFFICE

This year, Social Justice Day for UPrep’s 6th graders served as a pilot experience for how UPrep’s service opportunities could look in future years. Under the leadership of UPrep’s Diversity and Community Office, which oversees the school’s service program, UPrep is moving from a community service model to a service learning and community engagement focused model, which aligns with UPrep’s mission to foster intellectual courage and social responsibility.

Curious about the difference? Community service is volunteer work

the organization,” said Patrick. He added that our evolving service

performed by an individual or group for the benefit and betterment

program was first shared with 6th grade because it is a time of

of a community. Service learning implements community engage-

transition in a student’s academic career, when everyone is new to

ment teaching and learning strategies to integrate meaningful

the UPrep community. The new service learning model will unfold

community service with instruction and reflection, which enriches

across all grades over the next few years.

the learning experience, teaches civic responsibility, and strengthens

During Social Justice Day, Patrick and Director of Social Emotional

communities. Service learning and community engagement bring reciprocity and collaboration between students and community members, help students practice skills that are applicable in the real world, and develop our students’ sense of social responsibility through reflecting on their experiences with the community.

Learning Emily Schorr Lesnick worked with the 6th grade class to connect the diversity and inclusion work being done in the Middle School Puma Development program before Social Justice Day. They discussed Charlene Carruthers’s five-question framework with students. Charlene is the founding director of Black Youth

According to Diversity and Community Program Manager Patrick

Project 100, a platform that highlights the voices and ideas of

King, enriching the school’s service program will deepen the learn-

Black millennials and amplifies the lived experiences of today’s

ing experiences for students and build better connections between

young Black Americans. In her book Unapologetic: A Black, Queer,

UPrep and the greater Seattle community. “Instead of seeing service

and Feminist Mandate for Radical Movements, Charlene poses

as random acts of kindness, we want to create a culture and set of

five questions for people who are interested in working toward

expectations at UPrep that establish service as intentional behaviors.

a better future. Patrick and Emily created conversations around

We want to create long-standing partnerships with organizations,

each of the five questions with the students by asking the students

so the service offered by our students is based on the needs of

follow-up questions:

10 UPREP MAGAZINE

Photos on facing page and above: On May 5, Middle and Upper School students participated in Service Day.

Who am I?

On Social Justice Day, students also heard from a panel of Seattle

How would you answer this question?

Why is it important to know who you are?

activists who talked about how Charlene’s five questions intersect

Who are my people?

at Lifelong, a Seattle nonprofit that works to “remove barriers

Who are you responsible for? Who do you rely on?

to health with relentless compassion so that no one faces illness

What do we want?

and injustice alone,” was impressed by the students’ awareness

What do you want to get rid of?

What do you want to create?

of community issues and their questions for the panelists. Jeremy,

What are we building?

UPrep with introducing students to service at the beginning of their

What specific systems or structures are you building?

What does this mean for tomorrow, for the next year, for 20 years from now, and for 40 years from now?

time at the school. “It’s never too early; there is always a way to get

Are we ready to win?

with their interests and values.”

with their work. Jeremy Orbe, corporate engagement specialist

who started volunteering in his community as an 8th grader, credits

involved,” he said. “I encourage students to research organizations and consider volunteering where the organization’s mission aligns

What would winning feel like? What new work or responsibilities would you have?

Then, students heard the “Starfish Hurling and Community Service” story by Keith Morton, which asks readers to think about being more intentional about community service work,

“It’s never too early; there is always a way to get involved.”

–Jeremy Orbe, LIFELONG

instead of completing individual, random acts of unplanned

Maggie Angel-Cano, community engagement and communications

kindness. Students considered what happens when we do some

specialist at the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition, shared infor-

research, reflection, planning, and organizing before completing

mation with students about the Duwamish River, a Superfund site

acts of service. Could we make a bigger impact than if we acted

located south of Seattle. In 2001, the Environmental Protection

on emotions alone? What is the difference between a random

Agency declared the Duwamish a Superfund site due to the river’s

versus an intentional act? How could we see community service

pollution from stormwater runoff, wastewater, and industrial

as a relationship instead of a one-way exchange?

practices. “I introduced students to the concepts of environmental

Students also reflected on their previous service experiences

justice. I wanted them to understand how individual behaviors

using Charlene’s five questions and the learnings from the story.

can impact their community and its resources,” she said.

Student Isla Riley recalled her first volunteer experience while in

Reflecting on what she heard from the panel of activists, Isla said,

elementary school where she helped at the Rainier Valley Food

“It was cool to hear about the big steps that people are taking to

Bank. She says volunteering made her feel good because she was

help others. I used to think that it was a choice to participate in

making a difference and helping others. After more reflection,

service, but now I believe that it is a responsibility to do all that

Isla wondered how she might be able to have a bigger impact

we can to help others.” ■

through her service work. “How might I involve others?

How might I make it more than a one-day event?” she asked.

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Students of Color Share Their UPrep Experiences As the number of racial attacks and killings in our country continues to rise, the UPrep community has been reckoning with the discrimination and racism that exists in our community. During the spring of 2020, the Diversity and Community Office moderated a schoolwide conversation on Zoom for the Black Student Union members to express their thoughts and feelings about both the killing of unarmed Black people and their experiences as Black students at UPrep. This spring, the Diversity and Community Office moderated another schoolwide conversation on Zoom for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) students to share their thoughts and feelings about the rise in attacks and hate crimes against APIDA people and their experiences as APIDA students at UPrep. To add to this conversation, recent graduate Nicholas Lee ’21 and rising senior Hermona Hadush wrote about their time at UPrep.

From 6th Grade to Senior Year: Disappointment, Frustration, and Growth

By Nicholas Lee, class of 2021 In 6th grade English class, we read a book called American Born Chinese.

One of the Chinese characters literally becomes white in this book, and his cousin’s name was “Chin-kee,” which is based on the racial slur C****. At the time, I had no understanding of what assimilation was, and my English class did not cover this topic.

We also didn’t talk about how one of the character’s names was a racial slur and what the meaning behind it was. Now that I am older, I am very disappointed that we did not talk about assimilation and how many people of color are forced to assimilate to fit into society. My parents and grandparents assimilated, and, because of that, we have lost parts of our culture.

As I reflect back, I joined the Asian Heritage Club in 7th grade because I wanted to rediscover my culture and connect with my peers. At the time, I did not consider my Asian identity

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very much. I used this club as a way to connect with other APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) students and to watch anime during lunch. This experience is what sparked my interest in activism and further exploring my AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) identity. In Upper School, I joined the APISU (Asian Pacific Islander Student Union) my sophomore year. This is where I learned a lot more about being Asian in America, as we were able to dive into deeper and more serious topics than I previously had in Middle School.

I’ve observed more representation of Asians and Pacific Islanders in our faculty over my seven years here. Both our director of Upper School and director of Middle School are Asian. I think this has allowed many APIDA students to feel more comfortable in the classrooms and have people to connect with beyond just students.

This past year, the APIDA community has seen a rise in attacks and hate crimes. At the beginning of COVID-19, I remember how scared my family felt about going out in public because of how we looked. COVID-19 hate crimes became a big topic in APISU as we spent more time on Zoom. Despite the hate that the APIDA community had been facing, there was a lack of allyship or even acknowledgment of these attacks from UPrep community.

After the mass shootings in Atlanta where six APIDA women were killed, APISU hosted an all-school conversation to spotlight students’ experiences of being APIDA at UPrep. The APIDA students shared about the lack of representation in our curriculum. They also mentioned how there are microaggressions in our everyday lives and most go unnoticed in our community.

There is a higher expectation placed on APIDA students, not only in the classroom, but also on the sports field. I think this conversation shocked many people at UPrep, as it showed the discrimination and racism that exists in our community. At first, many of my peers and teachers reached out to me to check in on how I was doing after this conversation, but, eventually, that stopped. Again, my peers and I felt neglected and that the issues we faced were not valued in our community.

This year, we saw an increase in new APISU members in both our affinity and advocacy space. I am extremely excited to see what our younger members will do with their voices to bring awareness to not only the UPrep community, but also to other students in the Seattle area.

Finding Grounding in Affinity Group and Diversity and Community Office

By Hermona Hadush, class of 2022 In my six years at UPrep, I’ve done an incredibly large amount of self-reflection and identity searching, but to say that it was easy would be a lie. As a vulnerable and insecure 7th grader, I didn’t know what to expect from UPrep. Up until that point, I had only known the rich diversity of my previous elementary school. I had never been to a school where my classmates went to a country club in the summer or went boating every weekend. It was all foreign to me. Although I cannot associate socioeconomic status with race, being a low-income Black girl was the only life that I had ever known. And to be completely honest, walking into a school where that identity was rare felt a little intimidating.

The space that kept me grounded was the Diversity and Community Office. In that room, there is an unspoken connection and comforting energy. When I first entered the office in the 7th grade, I felt extremely welcomed by the upper-class students.

The friendliness and authenticity of every person there drew me to this space. As a 9th grade student, I felt protected by my friends who had been at UPrep much longer than I had been.

While there was nothing that UPrep had done, I felt isolated because of my identity. It seemed like no one related to the experiences I had gone through until I met the other students in the Diversity and Community Office. Quickly, this room transformed from a place I had irregularly visited to a place where I spent every moment outside of class.

One thing I have to thank the Diversity and Community Office for is introducing me to the Black Student Union (BSU). In BSU, I’m able to hang out and have discussions with other students with whom I share similar experiences. From playing games in the Diversity and Community Office to planning school events, I’ve bonded with the other Black students. However, over the past year, BSU has changed tremendously. Consecutive acts of police brutality and anti-Black media spread across the U.S., and we needed to start conversations about it. BSU became a place to hold serious discussions around issues that were going on outside of school, but it remained a safe space for the Black students as well. With the endless number of problems around the world, it has been challenging to balance having fun while also addressing these issues.

From simply being a club member to now becoming a co-chair of the Outreach and Advocacy Committee, I hope to continue speaking on global issues and raising awareness in our school community. In addition, I hope to create the same welcoming environment that I was privileged to experience for the incoming students. Although I have been through the extremely low lows and high highs, I wouldn’t have changed my experience at UPrep one bit. The friends and memories that I’ve made in BSU and the Diversity and Community Office are ones that will stay with me—even after I graduate and start writing my path. ■

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All in the Family:

Multiple Generations Cherish Their UPrep Education

BY NANCY SCHATZ ALTON, WRITER / EDITOR; CATHERINE BLUNDELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT; AND SHAVETTE MCGHEE, DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT

The phrase “Once a Puma, always a Puma” takes on new meaning when your child becomes a Puma, too.

When the three alumni interviewed here attended University Prep, they walked through gravel and mud along a cluster of portable classrooms on their way to the classrooms rented from Temple Beth Am. While all three alumni marvel at our current (mostly mud-free) campus, they also speak of the UPrep values that helped shape them and cite this as the primary reason they chose this educational experience for their children. The relationships they formed with their teachers and classmates created a safe space to take risks—whether that meant joining a sports team, building an ice cave, or traveling to Japan. In this article, they share how UPrep will prepare their children for the future by recalling their UPrep past, which included challenging academics, an inclusive community, and building a confident foundation. Their children—both current and future Pumas—also share what they value and are looking forward to during their time at UPrep.

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Jason Froggatt ’87 Why do you want to send Sadie to UPrep’s Upper School?

As a young lawyer, I volunteered to coach UPrep’s Mock Trial Team in the late ‘90s and early 2000s.

My personal experience with the kids that I coached was extraordinary.

These are the kind of students you hope your children will turn out to be as they become young adults. I also currently serve on the UPrep Board of Trustees. The values I learned and the experiences I had as a student have bubbled up in conversations that I’ve had with families currently at UPrep. There was a through line with all of those experiences, especially with respect to the caring and inclusive nature of UPrep.

How has the school changed?

When I was a student, the school was strikingly small. I am sure UPrep feels intimate today, but there were only 24 kids in my graduating class. There was this great opportunity to really know your classmates and work together to form a community. I remain close friends with many of my classmates.

Left to right: Jason during his Upper School years.

Jason with his family, including incoming 9th grader Sadie.

Jason with his basketball teammates.

Sarah with her family, including current Puma Hannah, class of 2027.

How has UPrep remained the same?

The school created an environment where you could take risks and try new, different things. Hopefully you’d succeed, but not always, and that was OK. We were prepared for college, and we were also prepared to know we could do things we didn’t know how to do.

UPrep gave me the mindset that I can approach challenges and be successful. I also realized I was part of a community, and my success wasn’t independent of or at the expense of someone else. It’s good to have people who can push and challenge you, whom you admire and want to emulate. When looking at schools for Sadie, we were very intentional about finding a nurturing community.

How do you hope UPrep will shape Sadie?

I really appreciate how UPrep teachers give students latitude to explore new interests. They encouraged my curiosity and the path I wanted to follow, while making sure I learned the necessary material. I’m sure it wasn’t easy to have kids coming at you from 12 different angles, but they were always supportive of my angle.

I’m looking forward to watching Sadie explore new interests, inside and outside of the classroom.

If you could time travel, what experience would you return to?

My advisor, Mr. [Bill] Moore, packed up the entire advisory group to go to one of my basketball games. We weren’t a team that had a lot of fans. We didn’t even have our own gym to practice and play games in. It was fun for me to have them there supporting us [during the game] and then go out together to celebrate the coming winter break. Building this community through supporting each other was impactful for me.

Sadie Froggatt, incoming 9th grade student, class of 2025 What do you think you’ll like about attending the same school as your dad?

It’s really going to be special because of the connection I have with the school. It feels more personal because of family connections, with my dad going here and knowing that my grandma [Terry Froggatt] is one of the Founders. I’m excited to talk with my family and see what has changed.

What UPrep opportunities are you looking forward to?

I’m really excited to perform in Founders Hall and for the opportunities that come with being in the Musical and Play Production classes. It is really powerful when my dad talks about all the people from UPrep that he is still friends with now. I’m excited to make those connections and to have friends I’ll know throughout my life.

Sarah (Camp) Salemy ’94 Why is it important to you to send your child to UPrep?

While UPrep is definitely a different place than it was, it still has those same opportunities and the same core values that made it a good experience for me. The classes were rigorous—you couldn’t skate by.

It taught you how to study and prepare. And there are also so many other opportunities. You can try to be on student government, and you can be in the play; you can do the newspaper, and you can play all the sports.

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What do you hope Hannah will gain from her UPrep

Hannah Salemy, class of 2027

education?

I hope she prepares for the next part of her education, but also that she feels really confident. At UPrep, students have many opportunities to try new things in a safe environment. It’s like there’s a big net under you: if you fall, there is a lot of help and a lot of support.

When you try new activities, you find out that you can do more than you thought you could do. [When I was a UPrep student,] we had winter opportunities, which were like intensives. I did things during these classes that I never thought I could do, and it gave me a lot of confidence. During a five-day cross-country ski trip, we built ice caves and slept in them, and I was 14!

How does the UPrep mission speak to you?

When the mission says University Prep is committed to developing each student’s potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world, I like how it focuses on helping everyone reach their potential. It doesn’t say, oh we’re going to get you there; it says we’re going to help you, we’re going to lay down the foundation to help you get there. I like how there’s a lot of choice, that students get to decide what to explore, and that they have power.

At UPrep, students have many opportunities to try new things in a safe environment.

It’s like there’s a big net under you: if you fall, there is a lot of help and a lot of support.

How did UPrep shape you?

It certainly prepared me for the next educational step. It also allowed me to see what kind of career possibilities were out there in the world, not just through school, but also through friend groups and seeing what their parents did for a living. My friends were really good students, and we all studied together. To keep up with the level of my friends—like you want to do in high school—I set a higher bar for myself while watching my friends work really hard.

How has the UPrep mission remained constant?

It’s been interesting to think about UPrep within the context of all the discussions about diversity and inclusion happening now. My impression as a student was that diversity was a value then, too.

While the school wasn’t as racially diverse then, there was inclusion in terms of sexual orientation. Twenty-five years ago, that type of inclusion wasn’t as mainstream. I felt like there was acceptance of students who were different in some way and that inclusion was an important teaching of the faculty and staff.

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How is UPrep shaping you?

I’m making more friends. I’m definitely learning more now than I had previously learned. I’m also being pushed outside of my comfort zone in all my classes. I like how diverse the classes are— one moment you have Fine Arts and you’re learning about sitespecific art, and next you are doing math and learning about calculating the angle of a slope. I’ve discovered that there’s always more to learn, that you’re never done learning.

Rachel Pesando ’96 Why is it important to you to send your children to UPrep?

I always raved about my UPrep experience to my husband: I had the best time with the best friends and the best teachers. When Hannah was in 4th grade, my husband took her to a UPrep open house. He was so impressed with the students who were the tour guides, and he said those were the sweetest teenagers he had ever met.

What do you hope they will gain from this educational experience?

I went to a very competitive college, and I was completely academically prepared. I want my children to have that same

Left to right: Sarah’s youngest daughter.

Sarah’s UPrep soccer team.

Sarah (left) with friend Portia (Hard) Clark ‘94.

Rachel during her Upper School years.

Rachel with her family, including Abby, class of 2025, and Hannah, class of 2027.

Rachel during her tenure as Prep Press editor.

preparation and the confidence to try challenging new classes that might end up being their passion. I’m not an athlete, but I found myself on the rowing team when UPrep offered it. None of us had rowed before, and my friends said, “Why not? Let’s try it!” I always knew I was going to be supported by my peers and teachers. I want my daughters to have that same experience of trying new endeavors because they are part of a supportive community.

What UPrep values remain the same?

The inclusivity, the welcoming atmosphere, and the kindness of the students are all still present at UPrep today. I remember the school clicking for me on my visit day when I was in 6th grade. I was a shy kid, so it wasn’t typical for me to participate, but it felt so comfortable that I participated in a geography bee and during a Spanish class. Everyone went above and beyond to welcome the new students into the fold.

I always knew I was going to be supported by my peers and teachers.

If you could time travel, what experience would you go back to?

I would travel to my two-week trip to Japan. This amazing experience was a culmination, as I had studied Japanese since age 9, and I had just turned 17. I realized, “Oh, yeah, I can speak this language to get around and navigate.” I’m excited for my kids to travel with UPrep, and Abby wants to go on the Global Link American South program in 8th grade.

What has changed since you attended UPrep?

The Fine Arts program has grown so much. I recall taking a Mime class with three other students from Paul Fleming. There were music, art, and drama classes, but we didn’t have a theatre.

Now there is Founders Hall, and orchestra and band, photography, film studies, and dance. Looking at classes for 9th grade with my oldest daughter was so exciting. I loved seeing the breadth of classes and the depth of elective choices in all of the departments.

What has stayed the same?

I was on the quiet side, and if my teachers hadn’t steered me toward experiences that made use of my writing skills and talent, I might not have tried them. Pat Grant, who walked me and two more students from a Montlake grocery store to our homes on Capitol Hill during a snowstorm in 1990 (he literally gave me the wool hat off his head to wear), had a huge influence on me.

I was excited to take classes from this kindhearted teacher, and he suggested that I apply to be editor of the student newspaper.

I know I wasn’t the only student being encouraged to try new activities, and the school still does this today. The teachers know the students well enough that they are able to see possible paths to leadership or suggest something a student would excel at that they might not have thought about trying.

Hannah Popchuk, class of 2025, and Abby Popchuk, class of 2027 What do you like about UPrep?

Abby, class of 2027: It’s easy to get the help you need from teachers; they give you many opportunities to ask for help.

My favorite class is Geography. I’ve also really enjoyed the theatre portion of Fine Arts. I’ve just always had an interest in theatre, and Ms. Wyatt is a good teacher. I’m excited to take the Musical class and more intensives.

Hannah, class of 2025: The teachers do a good job of making sure you understand everything, and there’s more time to talk to the teacher than there was in my elementary school. I really like the theatre classes, which I have taken two years in a row. I was in The Tempest last year, and opening night was the happiest night of my life. I also like my Chinese class because the class is small and it’s cool that we can talk to each other in Chinese. ■

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In the Arts:

Middle School Students Craft Original Production Under the direction of Director Meleesa Wyatt and Stagecraft Co-Teacher Bretta Ballou Ringo, the Middle School Play Production and Stagecraft classes created the musical COVID Theatre: Take 3.

To craft this original production, Play Production students researched fairy tales and pitched their stories to their classmates. Four stories were selected: “The Canary Prince,” an Italian fairy tale that draws upon Rapunzel; “The Duppy Story,” a Jamaican ghost story; “The Fountain of Youth,” wherein the wife becomes an infant; and “Heungbu and Nolbu,” a Korean fable about two brothers. Students rewrote these tales to take place in today’s world and picked songs to perform, too. The early plan was to perform each play somewhere around the school, and Stagecraft students designed sets for nontraditional performance spaces. Although the performances moved back into Founders Hall, this inventive design work was used in the filmed version of the musical.

Images: Middle School Play Production students film their original musical, COVID Theatre: Take 3.

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LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!

Upper School Students Perform As She Likes It Under the guidance of Director Paul Fleming, the Upper School Play Production and Stagecraft classes premiered As She Likes It on YouTube on April 30. The recording, which is available at https://www.youtube.com/c/UniversityPrep, includes a presentation of scale model designs and concept statements from the Stagecraft students. In this anthology of plays, the female characters Top row: Students filmed the Middle School musical in Founders Hall.

Middle row: The Upper School play premiered on YouTube.

from Shakespeare’s canon discuss the choices they have made and how they have navigated the power structures that have controlled their lives. The four actors in this show included three seniors, Allie Adams, Helen Bergstrom, and Georgia Paterson, and sophomore Coleman Hunter.

Bottom: The spring play poster.

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Spring Musical Concerts Recorded at UPrep’s Dragonfly Studio Under the direction of Music Teacher Brian Kirk, the Intermediate Jazz Ensemble I and Advanced Jazz Ensemble II recorded their music for Virtually Yours, the spring jazz concert, in UPrep’s Dragonfly Studio.

Utilizing the latest in recording technology, the jazz ensembles delivered synchronous remote-to-local performances under the audio/video engineering supervision of teachers Joshua Munsell and Thane Lewis. Rounding out the program were spring concert recordings featuring Orchestra and Band I, Orchestra and Band II, and Chamber Orchestra (including remote players). Enjoy all performances at https://www.youtube.com/c/UniversityPrep.

Images: Students record their music for the spring music concerts.

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Dance Students Perform for Classmates The students in Middle School Dance class worked in solos, duets, and trios to learn or create choreography in a variety of styles, including modern dance, lyrical dance, hip-hop, and K-pop.

They shared their performances in a Final Choreography Showcase to an audience of classmates on May 20. The showcase included a few group dances in contemporary and Bollywood styles. ■ Images: Students practice and perform during their Middle School Dance class.

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Athletics in Review 2021

BY REBECCA MOE, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS

We were eager to get our Pumas back on the playing field this year to continue building community and finding joy through sports. With the support of our entire community, we were able to make it happen!

With student and coach health and safety as our top priority, we worked together to remove any unnecessary risk and help families make thoughtful decisions about their students’ participation. Following guidance from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, we held all three sports seasons, shortened to six to seven weeks, between February 15 and June 25.

These seasons allowed for a reduced league schedule and culminating tournament events for each sport.

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Fall Review: Season 1 The Pumas were scheduled to start the season on February 15.

After a winter storm blanketed northeast Seattle with several inches of snow, this start was delayed to February 16. With snow shovels in hand and winter gear layered on, we kicked off the first sports season of the 2020–2021 academic year!

Varsity Boys Tennis finished as conference champions and were undefeated! It was a total team effort, with all players contributing to the record season. Our JV team also had a strong and successful season. The future looks bright for UPrep tennis, as we enter 2021–2022 with one of the strongest programs in school history.

Varsity Cross Country finished the shortened season at the conference championship meet at South Whidbey on Saturday, April 3. The boys team finished 3rd, led by the strong performances of Max Lagunoff (3rd place), Andrew Ye (12th place), and Henry Buscher (17th place). The girls team finished 7th, with Haley Hoffman (22nd place) as the team’s top runner.

FALL ALL CONFERENCE AWARDS BOYS TENNIS First Team All Conference: Tyler Wurzer, Jackson Wurzer,

The Varsity Girls Soccer team (4-5-2) capped their season with two

Axel Andrews, Mattias Keaunui

strong playoff performances. They qualified for the lower bracket

Conference Champions

of the Chinook division and finished the season defeating South Whidbey 2-1 and Overlake 2-1, demonstrating remarkable growth during the shortened season. The team said goodbye to five seniors.

Varsity Boys Ultimate finished the season 4th and opened the playoffs with a win versus Overlake (11-6) to advance to conference semifinals, where the Pumas’ comeback against Northwest fell short and they lost 8-13. The Pumas lost 13 players to graduation, many of whom have been playing Ultimate since Middle School— a remarkable legacy.

Varsity Volleyball played in the highly competitive Chinook division of the Emerald Sound Conference and finished the season 5-7.

BOYS CROSS COUNTRY First Team All Conference: Max Lagunoff, Andrew Ye Second Team All Conference: Henry Buscher GIRLS SOCCER First Team All Conference: Ashlyn Kilbourne Second Team All Conference: Abby Headstrom, Quinn McGill VOLLEYBALL Honorable Mention All Conference: Ava Anderson, Jane Morgan

The Pumas lost to The Bush School in the opening round of the

BOYS ULTIMATE

conference tournament.

First Team All Conference: Liam Reese Honorable Mention All Conference: Colton Anderson

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Spring Review: Season 2 Our fun, fast, and safe spring sports season came to an end on Saturday, May 15. This spring was memorable in so many ways, but especially for the Pumas who missed their 2020 season.

On Saturday, May 15, the Varsity Baseball team was crowned Emerald Sound Conference champions after they defeated Cedar Park 7-1. Strong pitching, smart base-running, key defensive stops, and lots of Puma Pride played a role in this big win. The team finished the season 13-1 and ranked number one in 1A in Washington State!

Varsity Girls Tennis finished 3rd in the conference tournament.

During the two days of long, competitive matches, it was fun to see the Pumas compete both physically and mentally. The JV Girls team finished with a victory over Overlake and many players improved their tennis skills and grew confident in match play.

The future looks bright for the Pumas on the courts.

SPRING ALL CONFERENCE AWARDS BASEBALL First Team All Conference: Luke Closson, Yoshi Malady, Harry Rothman Second Team All Conference: Axel Andrews, Zack Lagunoff

Varsity Track and Field ended their season with a two-day champi-

Coach of the Year: Rex Carlin

onship meet at Granite Falls. Senior Max Lagunoff won the 800m

Conference Champions

and 1600m individual titles and Senior Ian Ferguson was crowned javelin champ. On the team side, the boys finished 4th and the girls finished 11th. The season was full of PRs and athletes trying out new events. Track and Field was by far our biggest team, and many will be returning next spring to run, jump, and throw for the Pumas.

Varsity Boys Soccer played in the conference semifinals, falling to Overlake 0-2. This was the only loss of the season for the Pumas (5-1-2). Before every game, Coach Dux would say, “Play hard, play fast, play for each other, play for your school, and play to win,” and our boys did just that. With a strong varsity roster and full JV roster, the team is primed and ready for next season.

Varsity Girls Ultimate was coached by UPrep alums Linnea Soo ’14 and Mikey Sylvester ’13. Having two Puma grads return to help lead the team was extremely rewarding for the players, our program,

BOYS SOCCER First Team All Conference: Claiborne Probst, Sam Douglas Second Team All Conference: Wilson Smith BOYS TRACK AND FIELD First Team All Conference Individual Conference Event Champion in 800m and 1600m: Max Lagunoff Individual Conference Event Champion in Javelin: Ian Ferguson GIRLS ULTIMATE First Team All Conference: Shylynn Rodrigues Second Team All Conference: Eliza Barton Coach of the Year: Linnea Soo ‘14

and me; I’ve known both Linea and Mikey since they were in 6th

GIRLS TENNIS

grade. Our team developed into a league contender and won a

First Team All Conference: Hayley Walters,

playoff game—the first in many years. It was truly a remarkable

Lindsey Walters

season, thanks to our alum coaches, returning veterans, and many new 9th grade players.

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Winter Sports: Season 3 Basketball in June? Yes! Our five Upper School teams began playing games on May 20. The Pumas demonstrated commitment and perseverance, playing in the top division of the Emerald Sound Conference, which is composed of some of the top teams in 1A. While many of our games ended with a loss, the season was a win on many fronts: spectators were welcomed back to the Pumadome in limited numbers to cheer on the Pumas, and the coaches worked hard to teach team strategy and individual skills in what was a very short season.

On June 21, both the Varsity Girls and Varsity Boys teams hosted first-round Emerald Conference playoff games, and the Pumadome and the Pumas were hot on this temperature-record-setting day.

The evening started out with the Varsity Girls hosting Northwest.

The Pumas opened with a lead early in the first quarter and never

WINTER ALL CONFERENCE AWARDS

looked back, winning 53-22. Then the Varsity Boys earned a statement win over The Bush School. An all-around team effort that

GIRLS BASKETBALL

included timely shooting, intense defense, and press breaks was key

Second Team All Conference: Paris Buren

to the Pumas’ 84-56 victory. During the final round of conference

Honorable Mention: Jane Scroggs

playoffs on June 22, both the Varsity Girls and Varsity Boys lost

Team Sportsmanship Award

to Seattle Academy. Thank you, players, coaches, and families, for providing extra energy and support during this unusual season.

We are looking forward to our traditional basketball season next winter! Go Pumas!

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BOYS BASKETBALL Honorable Mention: Henry Wright Team Sportsmanship Award

Farewell to Assistant Athletic Director Da’Mon Perry This June, we said goodbye to Da’Mon Perry, who is headed south to work at Catlin Gabel in Portland, Oregon. During his time at UPrep, Da’Mon led our Middle School co-curricular, education-based athletics program, which traditionally has an approximately 85 percent participation rate. He was a leader in the Crosstown Middle School League, and a colleague held in high regard among his athletic director peers, both locally and nationally. His commitment to listening, learning, and growing was evident and has been key to his professional development.

Over the last three years, our department has been affected by moments of tragedy, perseverance, celebration, uncertainty, joy, and hope. Through it all, Da’Mon has been steadfast in his commitment to our Athletics program and the growth of its many coaches. His attention to detail and logistics is remarkable, a skill set needed for a high-functioning program like ours. I admire his ability to calmly communicate with a wide variety of constituents, both positively and constructively. But most of all, I am thankful for his commitment to all our Pumas, as he helped our students find joy and Puma pride through athletics. Best of luck in your new role, Da’Mon! UPREP MAGAZINE

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Congratulations, Class of 2021!

BY KELLY HERRINGTON, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES

T

his year’s senior class has earned straight A’s in a subject

Although our school is called University Prep, our mission is not

most never intended to take: patience. They waited to

simply for students to gain admission to college and succeed

sit for the SAT and ACT due to test center closures. They

there, but for them to pursue excellence as scholars and community

waited for colleges to release admissions decisions after

members over the course of their lifetimes. Because of their expe-

a year of record-breaking application numbers. And they

riences on our campus, University Prep alumni are accomplished,

waited a very long time for season four of Netflix’s Stranger Things

self-confident, engaged, and invested in their passions, and they

to be released! Now that the strangest college admissions season

aspire to great heights. In a recent article about the power of

many of us who counsel high school students can recall has drawn

education, New York Times opinion columnist Frank Bruni wrote:

to a close, it is time to celebrate the class of 2021. Their resilience,

“A vaccine for the coronavirus will not inoculate anyone against

grace, and hard work were on full display as they navigated the

the ideological arrogance, conspiracy theories and other internet-

college process during a pandemic.

abetted passions and prejudices that drive Americans apart. But the

Next year, they will navigate their way around the country and

perspective, discernment and skepticism that a liberal arts education

across the globe as they matriculate at 58 different institutions in 22 states, as well as in England and Scotland. Forever Pumas, they

can nurture just might.” We provide such an education at UPrep and, as a result, our students graduate with both the charge and

will become Blue Devils at Duke University, Horned Frogs at Texas

the foundation to change our country and our world for the better.

Christian University, Ducks at the University of Oregon, and Lions at

I can say with assurance that our new graduates understand their

both the University of St Andrews (Scotland) and Columbia Univer-

strengths, know how to actualize their passions, and realize the

sity. Of course, many more mascots will be represented at the range

power they have to create a better community for themselves and

of collegiate institutions where the class of 2021 will land in the fall.

others. The skills and passion they bring to every environment

In addition to the computers, musical instruments, and sporting

they enter are the key ingredients for a happy and successful life.

gear many of them will pack for their journeys to college, they will

Indeed, the class of 2021 is ready to both embrace challenge

also carry with them the nonmaterial attributes learned through

and thrive in an ever-changing world.

their UPrep educational experience, including a desire to connect across cultures, intellectual curiosity, and a passion for social justice.

28 UPREP MAGAZINE

CLASS OF 2021 AT A GLANCE: STUDENTS: 84 AVERAGE SAT SCORE English: 670 Math: 660

Composite: 1330

AVERAGE ACT SCORE English: 30 Reading: 30 Math: 28

Science: 28 Composite: 30 Mean Grade Point Average: 3.64 National Merit Commended Scholars: 7 National Merit Finalists: 2 Total Applications Submitted: 760 Applications Per Student: 9

COLLEGE ADMISSIONS LANDSCAPE FAST FACTS

MATRICULATION LIST Barnard College Bates College Bennington College Bowdoin College Brown University Bucknell University (2) California Polytechnic, San Luis Obispo Carleton College Chapman University Claremont McKenna College Colorado College Columbia University Dickinson College Duke University Elon University Georgia Institute of Technology (2) Gonzaga University (2) Harvey Mudd College

St. Olaf College Santa Clara University (7) Scripps College (3) Seattle University (2) Smith College Southern Methodist University Swarthmore College Texas A&M University Texas Christian University Tulane University (2) University of California, Los Angeles University of Chicago (2) University of Colorado, Boulder University of Denver University of Michigan (2) University of Notre Dame University of Oregon (4) University of Puget Sound

Haverford College Kenyon College Lewis & Clark College Merrimack College New York University (3) Pitzer College Portland State University Reed College Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rochester Institute of Technology Royal Holloway, University of London

University of Redlands University of St Andrews, Scotland University of San Francisco University of Washington (5) University of Wisconsin, Madison (2) Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University (2) Western Washington University William & Mary College Whitman College Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Submitted 760 applications to 175 different colleges Will attend 58 different institutions in 22 states + England and Scotland

MATRICULATION BY COLLEGE STUDENT BODY SIZE

11% of class recognized by National Merit 51% admit rate for all submitted applications 150 college admissions representatives visited UPrep virtually

MATRICULATION BY DISTANCE FROM HOME

4 students taking gap years

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COLLEGES WITH THREE OR MORE MATRICULATIONS 2017–2021 American University (3) Brown University (4) California Poly, San Luis Obispo (6) Carleton College (4) Case Western Reserve University (3) Chapman University (9) Colorado College (8) Columbia University (4) Dartmouth College (3) Elon University (3) Emory University (3) George Washington University (6) Georgetown University (3) Georgia Institute of Technology (3) Gonzaga University (6) Grinnell College (3) Lehigh University (3) Loyola Marymount University (6) Middlebury College (3) New York University (7) Northeastern University (6) Northwestern University (5) Occidental College (5) Pitzer College (5) Santa Clara University (23) Scripps College (6) Seattle University (6) Tufts University (3) Tulane University (3) University of British Columbia (3) University of California, Berkeley (3) University of California, Los Angeles (5) University of Chicago (4) University of Colorado, Boulder (5) University of Denver (7) University of Michigan (5) University of Oregon (9) University of Pennsylvania (3) University of Puget Sound (4) University of St Andrews, Scotland (4) University of Southern California (11) University of Washington, Bothell (6) University of Washington, Seattle (27) University of Wisconsin, Madison (4) Wake Forest University (3) Washington University in St. Louis (7) Western Washington University (8) Whitman College (11) Yale University (3)

30 UPREP MAGAZINE

Student Awards

DAVID BASS MEMORIAL AWARD This award is given to one Middle School student and one Upper School student who embody notable academic improvement and the spirit of growth recognized and cherished by University Prep.

• Middle School: Bethania Bahru

• Upper School: Priyanka Narasimhan FACULTY RECOGNITION AWARD This award is given to the senior who consistently cares for others, has a positive spirit, embodies inspirational qualities, and whose very presence enhances life at University Prep.

• Jiwoo Hyun GARRY & ELLEN JONES MEMORIAL AWARD This award recognizes individuals who have exhibited special qualities in relationships with others on campus. The recipients are a positive force on campus, have a special sense of commitment and compassion, and maintain their own individual self without diminishing another’s dignity.

• Coleman Hunter

• Adriana Hernandez Jimenez JULIA CALHOUN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD This award is given to graduating seniors who demonstrate an exceptional commitment to serving those in need. The recipients may designate a nonprofit organization to receive a donation from University Prep in their names.

• Grace Paterson

• Laila Rhenifel PUMA PRIDE AWARD This award is given to those students whose selfless contributions have made a significant difference in the life of the school.

• 9th Grade – Elizabeth Bell and Roxanne Smith

• 10th Grade – Hebaq Farah and Claire Crawford

• 11th Grade – Chris McCarty and Abby Headstrom SILVER TALON AWARD This award is given to senior class students whose standards of personal excellence and force of character deserve recognition.

The students are selected on the basis of commitment, scholarship, pride in University Prep, leadership, integrity, inspiration, and citizenship.

• Henry Buscher

• Grace Capossela

• Nicholas Lee

• Joseph Yeung

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 has shown that they are committed to an environmentally responsible lifestyle.

• Hanna Kolyvek MARK CULLEN COMMITMENT TO ATHLETICS AWARDS This award honors seniors who have demonstrated throughout their Puma careers Mark Cullen’s core values of spirit, leadership, sportsmanship, and loyalty to the University Prep athletics program.

• Axel Andrews

• Mitchell Zell

• Jane Morgan

• Shylynn Rodrigues THEATRE RECOGNITION AWARD This recognition goes to students who have been involved in the equivalent of at least four Play Production or Stagecraft classes and have devoted artistic effort beyond required class time in the craft of acting, directing, or theatre stagecraft.

• Georgia Paterson

• Adissem Moita

• Thalia Frank

• Helen Bergstrom

• Allison Adams GOLDEN HAMMER AWARD Recognition for technical theatre achievement is represented with the Golden Hammer. The coveted Golden Hammer has been awarded to deserving technical theatre students since 1987; it is not awarded on a yearly basis.

• Lucas Sherman

• Aidan McHugh

• Frank Higley

• Latham Britton WOODY HERMAN AWARD FOR MUSICAL IMPROVEMENT This award goes to a member of the jazz program who has shown significant growth and improvement over the year.

• Nathan Crawford LOUIS ARMSTRONG AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE This award recognizes a member of Jazz Ensemble II who demonstrates strong leadership and commitment to improving the quality of our program.

• Anders Pohlmann ERICA HAMLIN AWARD FOR LEADERSHIP IN MUSIC This award recognizes a member of Jazz Ensemble II who demonstrates outstanding leadership.

• Joseph Yeung

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Faculty and Staff News Janet Perles, Learning Pathways Teacher, became accredited as an Gigi Engel, Science Teacher, and her

associate certified coach with the International Coach Federation,

family welcomed Calvin Paul Engel and

with a specialty in ADHD and executive functioning coaching.

Tilda Marie Mitchiner on March 18.

Moses Rifkin, Science Teacher, wrote “Weaving Social Justice into Science Curriculum,” which was published online at Edutopia

Mary Beth Lambert, Director of Marketing and Communications, Nancy Schatz Alton, Writer/Editor, and Abby Formella, Associate Director of Digital and Brand Communications, won two awards this year from the Council of Advancement and Support of Education District VIII. The team won a Silver Award for the

in January.

Shannon Salverda, Director of Integrated Learning, has been chosen as one of the fellows for the Leadership + Design Fellowship for 2021–22. During this fellowship, a diverse cohort of school leaders work in partnership with the organization to serve as co-creators,

Pets of UPrep Instagram campaign in

advisors, evangelists, and capacity builders in their own schools.

2020, and a Bronze Award for the

Joel Sohn, Director of Upper School, was on the national planning

winter and summer issues of the UPrep Magazine (2019–2020).

Emily Schorr Lesnick, Director of Social Emotional Learning, co-presented a workshop called “Resisting the Savior Complex to Become Co-Liberators: Create Authentic Relationships with Students and Families” with Ashley Y. Lipscomb, CEO of the Institute for

team for the April virtual Asian Educators Alliance Conference.

Joel was also a facilitator for the 16th annual Independent Schools Experiential Education Network (ISEEN) Winter Institute in April.

UPrep is now a leadership circle school with ISEEN because of our commitment to experiential education and global programming.

In late June, Joel presented a webinar on data use in schools for

Anti-Racist Education, at Green Dot Public Schools’ Legacy

One Schoolhouse.

Conference in March.

Ty Talbot, Fine Arts Teacher, is a mentor for the new cohort of Thane Lewis, Instrumental Music Teacher,

educators for the Art21 Educators program in New York City.

was awarded the 2021 Outstanding Learning

Jacob Taylor-Mosquera, Spanish Teacher, was appointed by the

Space Designer Award from the International Society for Technology in Education’s Learning Spaces Network. Thane turned the UPrep

King County Executive and King County Council to be on the King County Immigrant and Refugee Commission.

practice and storage rooms into a recording

Jeff Tillinghast, Director of Learning Design and Technology,

studio, called Dragonfly

earned the Certified Educational Technology Leader (CETL)

Studio. In the last 12

designation from the Consortium for School Networking.

months, he demonstrated great creativity and

Only approximately 700 CETL designations have been awarded

resourcefulness in building a recording network

worldwide in the 22+ years of the program.

that would allow students to rehearse and perform music remotely.

Shavette McGhee, Director of Enrollment Management, joined the Steering Committee for Puget Sound Independent Schools,

Susie Wu, Director of Middle School, recently joined the National Board of the Educational Records Bureau, which is the parent company of the ISEE and the CTP standardized tests.

the consortium of local independent schools that works to make

Farewell

the admission process more accessible for prospective families.

We bid a fond farewell to the following members of the faculty

Matthew Palubinskas, Science Teacher and Outdoor Leader, has been awarded Super Volunteer multiple years in a row for instruction at The Mountaineers. Matthew has been an active field member and EMT for Seattle Mountain Rescue for nine years; has been a National Ski Patrol member for many seasons patrolling at Snoqualmie, where he was awarded the Blue Merit Star for performing CPR and attempting to save a patient’s life; and teaches wilderness first aid classes at CPR Seattle.

32 UPREP MAGAZINE

and staff who are moving on to new adventures. We thank you for being part of our community and wish you the best: Karen Natorp Anderson, Alma Andrade, Shannon Barbre, Stephanie Dobler, Jessica Hanson, Abigail Hundley, Alexa Johnson, Kyle Lawhead, Vani Limaye, Dave Marshall, Mia McNeal, Alexis Ortega, Da’Mon Perry, Sarah Peterson, Tracey Sconyers, Sean Stewart, Christina Taylor, and Ray Yang.

Growing Our Own Leaders

community organizations. Ninevah holds a BS from The University

In July, two faculty members stepped into

of Alabama, with a major in Management Information Systems, and

new leadership roles. Tim Blok is the

an MBA from University of Detroit Mercy. She and her husband,

Assistant Director of Middle School and

Bryant, have two children: Bryant II ’24 and Neva-Nataia ’26.

Meg Anderson-Johnston is the

Scotland Nash, EdD, has worked in

Assistant Director of Upper School. Tim

education and education support services

brings his experience as a grade level

for more than 20 years. As the Director of

dean and Fine Arts department head. His

Education for the Anti-Defamation League

first teaching job was at UPrep, and he is

Pacific Northwest region, she works with

entering his 10th year in education. Tim

schools, districts, and their communities to

is a talented teacher, master of ceremo-

learn about identity and diversity, practice

nies, advisor, student advocate, musician,

anti-bias strategies for communication,

and organizer. He has a huge passion for Middle School, bringing energy and enthusiasm to student life. Meg’s exceptional talent is immediately evident in her background as a Spanish teacher, coach, advisor, grade level dean, and facilitator of the UPrep SEED (Seeking Educational

and act as allies for social justice. She earned her undergraduate degree from Bucknell University, her master’s degree from Northwestern University, and her doctorate in Educational Leadership from Seattle University. At UPrep, she currently serves as a Parent Ambassador. Scotland and her husband, Christian Schofield, are parents of Aidan ’24 and Oliver ’28.

Equity and Diversity) Project cohort. She will be entering her ninth

Tracy Pozil served seven years on the

year at UPrep and 13th year in education. She shows care for the

UPrep Parent Council as a Class Rep,

whole child, puts students first, and is committed to diversity,

Middle School VP, and Past Exec prior to

equity, inclusion, and belonging practices.

becoming incoming co-president. She is a Seattle-area native and received a BA in

Board of Trustees Update

Communications from the University

We welcome the following new members of the board and bid

of Washington. Her professional career

goodbye to Alma Andrade, Andrea Barry-Smith, Adrian

focused on public relations and marketing

Biesecker, Laura Domoto, Jeanette James, and Soozi McGill.

in Seattle and New York City, serving

Juli Cook is the Chief Operating Officer at NBBJ, where she oversees NBBJ’s global operations across 12 offices and manages the firm’s administrative, financial, legal, information technology, and human resources functions. Juli holds a BA in Art History and a BFA in Painting from

high-tech companies from startups to Microsoft. Tracy developed a public elementary school art program, founded a children’s summer arts school, serves on the board of the Seattle Art Museum Supporters, and works as an art curation consultant. She and her husband, Eric, have three UPrep Pumas: Sara ’19, Annemarie ’21, and Charlotte ’23.

the University of Michigan, and an MBA

Jennifer Zell earned a BA in Economics

from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. She is currently

from Duke University and an MBA from

a member of the Board of Directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs

the University of Washington Business

of King County. Juli and her husband, Andy, have two children:

School. She worked for Moss Adams

Max ’26 and Zander ’28.

Advisory Services as a financial analyst Ninevah Lowery worked in the computer software industry for 15 years as a technology consultant, sales engineer, and marketing communications leader.

Taking time off to care for her children, she has been a consistent school volunteer.

She has also held numerous executive board seats and served on regional and national committees in member-based

and earned her CFA (Chartered Financial Analyst) designation. She retired after the birth of her first child. Jennifer has served on the Meridian School Board for six years and continues to serve on the Finance Committee. Jennifer held several positions on the Parent Council. She is a Parent Ambassador, volunteered as a Class Agent for the Puma Fund, and has served on the Finance Committee for three years. Jennifer currently serves as president of the Board of Trustees. She and her husband, Mike, have three children: Courtney ’19, Mitchell ’21, and Trevor ’23.

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A Bold Commitment to the Future: ULab Project Will Expand Campus

BY DAVID BEITEL AND MARK BRITTON, ULAB CAMPAIGN CO-CHAIRS

As a leader in the competitive Seattle independent school community, UPrep is the school of choice for many families seeking a place that will foster intellectual courage and social responsibility. As part of our strategic plan, the Board of Trustees and school leadership aspire to offer more families the opportunity to benefit from the outstanding education UPrep offers its students.

S

ome of our families may remember that a year ago we refreshed our Lower Commons and eating area, providing more space to gather and serve our growing student body. We are excited to move forward with the next phase of our campus transformation with construction

of the ULab, a 39,000-square-foot, three-story building across the street from our campus. The ULab will extend our current footprint with inspiring learning spaces that match the quality of the outstanding teaching and learning that occur at our school every day. The school also aims to respond to our growing enrollment demand by increasing our Upper School enrollment from 345 to 480 students—an increase of nearly 40 percent. Growing our Upper School will provide our students with a larger social cohort, diverse perspectives in the classroom, and opportunities for expanded clubs and sports offerings. We plan to begin construction on the ULab in the spring of 2022 and open the building in the fall of 2023.

34 UPREP MAGAZINE

WHAT IS THE QUIET PHASE OF A CAMPAIGN? The quiet phase is not intended to be silent or hidden. We want everyone to join us in our excitement about the ULab and all that it will provide for our students! Fundraising campaigns typically begin by inviting the Board of Trustees, campaign leadership, and lead donors to make significant stretch contributions that help set the pace for success—and we are doing just that, so we are not yet asking everyone to contribute to this effort. As we near our $25 million goal and completion of the project, we will enter the community phase of the campaign and invite support from everyone in our community and gifts of all sizes to reach our ambitious goal. Stay tuned for more information!

“At UPrep, we strive to be inventive, inclusive, and inspirational in all that we do. The ULab will help grow these skills in our students now, so they can become the entrepreneurial, global citizens we know they can be in the future.” –HEAD OF SCHOOL RONNIE CODRINGTON-CAZEAU The ULab will serve as an entrepreneurial learning laboratory,

In addition to supporting the important growth of the Upper

where high school students can hone the skills necessary for

School, these spaces are critical to support the student experiences,

success by taking risks, digging deep into topics, and exploring

collaboration, and personalized project-based learning that is

who they are and how they can make an impact in their

needed to prepare our students for life beyond UPrep.

community and the world. Building highlights will include:

The full cost of this project will be funded by a combination of

• Ten

modular classrooms with moveable walls

school reserves, financing, and philanthropy. Our $25 million

that support interdisciplinary learning and

campaign—which has already funded the Commons renovation

seminar-style teaching

and will also fund construction of our ULab—was paused during

• Wellness

space for PE classes, athletic practices,

and dance and yoga classes •A

large gathering area and meeting spaces

that support student collaboration and foster community building •A

state-of-the-art Makerspace that is more

than double the size of our current space • Expanded

offices for College Counseling,

the current pandemic. However, we relaunched the effort in January with the quiet phase of the campaign and are pleased to report that we are closing in on half our goal and have raised $11,942,000! We are deeply grateful to a small group of generous donors and the full Board of Trustees, who have stepped forward with early stretch contributions to this important effort.

This campaign is a bold and historic initiative for UPrep and will require the support of our full community to reach our goal.

Over the next two years, you will have a number of opportunities

Global and Outdoor Education, and LaunchPad

to learn more about the campaign, the construction process,

(UPrep‘s signature senior project)

and how you can be involved. This is an incredibly exciting time

•A

rooftop deck with seating for student and

community programming

for UPrep, and we know we will have much to celebrate in the days ahead!

UPREP MAGAZINE

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“With your support, we raised more than $716,000, which will directly support our students, now and in the future.”

—CATHERINE BLUNDELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Auctioneer Fred Northup and Director of Advancement Catherine Blundell with the Puma on the UPrep Together stage!

Record-Breaking Year for the Puma Fund and UPrep Together!

BY CATHERINE BLUNDELL, DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

PUMA FUND VOLUNTEERS: Ursula Phelan and Fergal Burke

T

his year, we saw record-breaking support for both our annual Puma Fund and UPrep Together.

These annual efforts continue to provide for students and teachers, enhancing the opportunities offered at University Prep. With the generosity of 672 families and 86 percent of current parents

and guardians, the Puma Fund raised more than $956,000 this year, more than any other year in school

CO-CHAIRS

history. We are so thankful for your support, which allows us to continue to address the needs of our

Denise and David Angelone

UPrep community.

CO-CHAIRS

None of this would have been possible without the hard work of our Puma Fund Co-Chairs Ursula

Lissa Armato, Andrea Basinski,

Phelan and Fergal Burke and Denise and David Angelone and our 21 fabulous Puma Fund Class Agents.

Gloria Bensussen, Margaret

Together, they garnered participation from across our community to make the Puma Fund a success!

Bolger, Kendall Burwell,

Thank you again to all our wonderful Puma Fund volunteers!

Linda Chou, Lara Constable,

During our virtual UPrep Together event on March 4, more than 220 households tuned in to gather

Cathy Faulkner, Jessica Fosse,

as a community to support the Endowed Financial Aid Fund. This important endowment ensures

Meredith Han, Nanette Hayre, Deborah Levy, Kara Mattaini, Sarah Miller, Nicole Mirchandani, Kathy Nielsen, Rachel Pesando, Kate Riley, Carrie Rosenthal,

that every UPrep student can access all of the educational opportunities available, regardless of ability to pay. With your support, we raised more than $716,000, which will directly support our students, now and in the future. Thank you to everyone who joined us and raised a paddle for this community-wide celebration.

As a school, we are so thankful for all our donors. Every gift makes a difference. Your commitment to UPrep and our student body is evident, as we continue to break fundraising records. It is through

Betsy Webb, and Linda

the support of our entire community—parents and guardians, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents,

Zuckerman

and friends—that we can provide for students and live the UPrep mission every day. Thank you for your continued dedication and support of UPrep! ■

36 UPREP MAGAZINE

UPREP TOGETHER FAST FACTS •

Total raised: $716,823

80 families were first-time donors to UPrep Together

•

33 families who are new to our community contributed

•

More than 220 households tuned in for our Zoom Room Main Event

•

We are so grateful for a $250,000 match opportunity and two anonymous Visionary Circle-level gifts that inspired our community during our UPrep Together event!

PUMA FUND FAST FACTS Total raised: $956,632 from 672 families

•

86% participation from our parent community

•

19 families participated at the $10K level and above

•

90% of families who are new to our community donated

•

109 families were first-time donors to the Puma Fund

•

Top: Parent and staff volunteers packaging to-go meals for families to enjoy during our virtual UPrep Together event.

Bottom: Puma swag for sale at our UPrep Together pickup event.

UPREP MAGAZINE

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Class Notes

Rob Johnson ’96 About two years ago, I joined the Seattle Kraken and Climate

Nazila Merati ’82

Pledge Arena as their VP of

In my work life, I help manage one of the

sustainability and transporta-

largest archives of atmospheric, coastal,

tion. My work is focused on

geophysical, and oceanic research in the

how fans will get to and from

world. Since March 2020, I’ve been the Data Stewardship Division’s Colorado Site Lead at NOAA-National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI). When I say I work for NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), I get a lot of “Do you work with whales?” “Is the Arctic changing?” or “Will it rain tomorrow?” I tell people that I help protect our data resources that feed into products and models that inform climate and marine research. I live in Seattle with my partner and dog. I’m a loyal friend, dog mom, garden historian, daughter, and Auntie LaLa to my niece and nephew. I am also an inveterate traveler, avid needlepointer, accomplished baker, and people connector.

all the arena events and implementing the sustainability vision to make Climate Pledge Arena the world’s first certified net-zero-carbon arena. Built in 1962 for the World’s Fair, Climate Pledge Arena has been able to preserve the original 44-million-pound roof, which is a National Historic Landmark, while we build a brand-new arena underneath. Home to both the NHL’s Seattle Kraken and the four-time WNBA champion Seattle Storm, Climate Pledge Arena will also host dozens of great events in the heart of Seattle Center’s campus. I’m so thrilled to work for a company that’s committed to sustainability while helping to preserve an important part of Seattle’s history.

Steve Hooper ’98

Sarah McGregor Horner ’84

I recently joined Ethan Stowell

I have been working in the Oregon wine

Restaurants, one of the premier

industry since 2004. For the last five years,

restaurant groups in Seattle, as

I have been the director of consumer sales

co-owner and president. Ethan

at Montinore Estate Winery. Currently,

Stowell Restaurants includes five-star

I’m most proud of my role as co-chair

favorites, including Goldfinch Tavern,

of ¡Salud!, an organization that provides health care to the migrant farmworkers that the wine industry relies on. Through fundraising, winery contributions, and volunteer efforts, this organization has helped care for vineyard workers for 30 years. This past year, we have provided COVID-19 testing and care and administered vaccines to workers and their families. I live with my winemaker husband, Gary, in the Oregon countryside, and my two adult kids live in the Portland area.

Tavolata, and How to Cook a Wolf.

After UPrep, I attended Colby College and received my MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Upon returning to Seattle, I founded Kigo Kitchen, which ultimately merged with Ethan Stowell Restaurants. I’m an active UPrep alum and served on the UPrep Alumni Board. I now have three small children— Maggie (6), Ellie (4), and Steven III (1) —and live with my wife, Laura, near Green Lake.

Don Blakeney ’94

Rachel Landy ’03

I recently joined the U District

My first book, Beyond the Work

Partnership as their new executive

Product: A Guide to Relationship-

director, after working 10 years in

Driven Transactional Lawyering,

downtown Seattle, most recently

was published in late January by the

for the Downtown Seattle Asso-

American Bar Association. The book

ciation, and, prior to that, for the

(inspired by the several years I spent

Chinatown-ID Business Improvement Area. In my new role, I am excited to lead a team to support the small businesses in the U District, while also guiding planning efforts as the neighborhood welcomes light rail and unprecedented new residential and commercial development. While the University District StreetFair is on hold until 2022, we hope to host a major post-COVID-19 celebration this fall to coincide with Sound Transit’s light-rail opening—please come say hi!

38 UPREP MAGAZINE

in private law practice) is geared toward law students and junior associates and provides a framework for approaching a transactional project in a manner that builds institutional knowledge and rapport with clients (especially smaller/ emerging companies), so they are less tempted to move to more automated or lower-cost solutions. I remain based in New York City, where I am an adjunct law professor at Cardozo Law School and work full-time at YouTube.

Puma Profile: Teresa K. Miller ’00

How did UPrep help you form your identity?

A graduate of Barnard College and the

I developed confidence in my academic abilities through teachers

Mills College MFA program, Teresa K.

who were mentors. My math teacher John Jewitt had a quiet

Miller won the 2020 National Poetry

respectfulness that showed me I could handle rigorous content.

Series with her poetry collection

I never heard him raise his voice. When my father was killed,

Borderline Fortune, which will be

he came to the funeral, and he later attended the release of my

published by Penguin on October 5,

first book. Paul Fleming created an oasis through hosting the

2021. She lives with her partner and

GSA (Gay Straight Alliance) in his classroom. I’m still in touch with

cat just south of Portland, Oregon,

my English teacher Stephen Thomas, who was one of the first

where she tends a mini orchard.

published poets I saw in the flesh! My English teacher Vicki O’Keefe

What led you to pursue and stick with the poetry path?

I think the earliest origin is before conscious memory. When she was pregnant with me, my mom read me Shakespeare. My grandma taught me to read before I was 3. My parents would jump up from the dinner table to get the dictionary, and we would talk about

had an amazing overflowing love of her subject, and her confidence in me was such a gift. UPrep prepared me for university, which was the launch point for my career.

How did UPrep prepare you to be a socially responsible, global citizen?

words. When my dad gave me an illustrated copy of “Stopping

I so appreciate the media literacy I learned in

by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost, I thought,

my history classes. Those skills are becoming

“Oh, poetry is something you can do, and it ends up in a book.”

increasingly essential to maintaining a func-

One of my most formative experiences was attending a weeklong

tional democracy. It was meaningful to do

writers’ conference at Centrum in Port Townsend almost every

community service with my advisory group.

fall and spring, during my Upper School years. My teachers knew

There’s not a lot you control as a teenager,

writing was my calling and trusted me to catch up with schoolwork.

so it mattered that the students got to vote

I’m stubborn and persistent—it never occurred to me to stop

on our service project and then go do it.

being a writer. One of the best pieces of advice from my MFA

This volunteering shaped my work as an

advisor was to send every submission somewhere else the same

adult, which has mostly been in the

day it got rejected. Rejections aren’t personal, and publishing

nonprofit and public sectors.

is a numbers game.

Shane Salk ’04

mative justice (healing over retribution). I live with a friend, partner,

I have opened up a

and two chubby guinea pigs on Capitol Hill. I’m always open to

recording studio in

connection, questions, and collaboration! @cleopatratheartist

North Hollywood and have been producing

Hanna Sanford ’12

a high-fantasy audio

After a lengthy job search, I have landed

series called Carcerem.

my dream job with the Seattle Seahawks.

A mix between The Princess Bride and Game of Thrones, it’s all original and features Jane Lynch, Cameron Crowe, Neil Flynn, and Piper Laurie.

I am excited to join the team as the community engagement manager. In this role, I will execute and provide support for a variety of community programs, events,

Cleopatra Cutler ’07 This year is a whirlwind while I grow my

and game-day experiences. I will work closely with local nonprofit organizations, the Seahawks Charitable

fledgling business as an artist. I’m paint-

Foundation, and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation to support

ing a world where I want to live, in full

our Pacific Northwest communities. I will also partner with the

spectrum. Exploration of artistic voice has

Corporate Partnerships department to plan and execute many

led me to ethical shifts from a binary to

key partner programs and NFL initiatives. I look forward to raising

gradient mindset (as it applies to right and

awareness and supporting many diverse causes using the Seahawks

wrong, gender, identity, politics, etc.);

platform. I am grateful and thrilled to be continuing my career in

“campsite rules” (leaving it better than I found it in all things, most

community outreach in the professional sports industry.

radical of which is the environment); and a deep love for transfor-

UPREP MAGAZINE

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Top row, left to right:

Steve Engle ‘84 New territories of Hong Kong Thomasin Levin ‘98 Whidbey Island, WA Ross Berteig ‘82 Monrovia, CA Fleur Cowan ‘96 Paris, France MIddle row, left to right:

Al Merati ‘82 OR 6, UW Medical Center, Seattle, WA Kevan Hammer ‘00 Las Vegas, NV Natalie Blundell ‘12 San Francisco, CA Bazyl Sledziewski ‘99 Chicago, IL Bottom row, left to right:

Alysse Mastrude ‘11 Tokyo, Japan

Esa Tilija ‘15 – Salt Lake City, UT We were honored to receive a special video from alumna Esa Tilija ’15!

Currently working at Capital One, Esa says her UPrep education taught her to think outside the box, question the status quo, and be unafraid to voice her opinion. Thank you, Esa, for sharing how UPrep continues to inspire you!

Joel Horn ‘79 Phoenix, AZ Kaeley Pilichowski ‘15 Kailua, HI Abhi Sheth ‘96 Seattle, WA

Alumni News

BY CLAIRE FALLAT, ADVANCEMENT ENGAGEMENT AND ALUMNI MANAGER

Farewell, Toby, and Hello, UPrep!

Each year, we feature alumni voices in our UPrep Together event.

Our UPrep community loves to hear where their journeys have taken them since graduation. During this year’s virtual event, we were

After four years of serving our UPrep

able to highlight alumni from around the world (see photos above).

community as our alumni and advance-

Thirteen alumni submitted short videos sharing an update and a

ment associate, Toby Cattolico ’04 moved

shout-out to our current Pumas. We featured alumni spanning five

on to a new role in January. We wish

decades and three continents! We are so grateful to these alumni

Toby well and look forward to staying

for sending their greetings and for all our alumni who tuned in and

connected with him as a UPrep alum.

supported our Endowed Financial Aid Fund. Go Pumas!

I’m Claire Fallat, the new advancement engagement and alumni manager! I previously worked at Seattle Country Day School, where I was the assistant director of advancement for four years. I grew up in Tacoma, and I am the daughter of two teachers. In this newly expanded role at UPrep, I will work closely with our Alumni Board, help lead our Alumni Association, and act as an important liaison for our greater UPrep community. I am looking forward to making more connections with the staff, faculty, students, and alumni, as I learn more about the school. In my free time, I enjoy experimenting in my kitchen, exploring the many hiking trails around Washington state, and spending time with my family and friends. Please reach out to me at alumni@universityprep.org!

40 UPREP MAGAZINE

Alumni Help Bring UPrep Together!

REUNIONS UPDATE We have rescheduled our Class Reunions to be held in conjunction with our Winter Party on December 4. However, we still hosted an outdoor social event for alumni and their families on August 10; they returned to campus to enjoy food, beverages, and lawn games. We are currently seeking reunion chairs from the classes of 2016, 2011, 2001, 1991, and 1981 to help plan the Class Reunions. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact us at alumni@universityprep.org. We look forward to celebrating these classes!

Upcoming Events Please note that dates may change; check event details at www.universityprep.org/calendar.

Upper School Fall Sports Begin Monday, August 23 The Upper School Pumas return to the playing fields today! Find sports highlights from Girls Volleyball, Boys Tennis, Girls Soccer, Boys Ultimate, and Girls and Boys Cross Country at uprep_athletics on Instagram or @UPrep_Athletics on Twitter.

Puma Fund Kickoff, Monday, October 4 Every fall, our entire UPrep community comes together to

First Day of School Wednesday, September 1

support our Puma Fund campaign in an inspiring effort that benefits every student and every teacher in our school.

Welcome back! The 2021– 2022 school year will start with the ceremonial ringing

Alumni Winter Party/ Class Reunions

of the UPrep bell.

Saturday, December 4, at UPrep We are combining our Winter Party and Class Reunions— creating one celebratory evening on the UPrep campus.

We invite all alums, especially alums from the classes of 2016, 2011, 2001, 1991, and 1981, to join us for the festivities! Keep an eye on your email and the University Prep Alumni Facebook page for more details.

Parent Guardian Association Meeting Monday, September 20, 6:30 p.m., at UPrep The Parent Guardian Association is excited to host the first PGA meeting of the school year in person! All parents and guardians are invited, so please plan to attend! Our monthly meetings typically feature a UPrep speaker. Watch the All-School Email for future meeting details.

OUR MISSION University Prep is committed to developing each student’s potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world.

UPREP MAGAZINE

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8000 25th Ave NE | Seattle, WA 98115

INTRODUCING UPREP’S NEW PARENT GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION! The previously named Parent Council is excited to share that it will now officially be known as the Parent Guardian Association, or PGA, for short!

This new name better represents the nature of this organization that exists for the benefit of all parents and guardians at UPrep. PGA meetings and events organized by PGA officers include monthly PGA general meetings, grade-level coffees, potluck socials, and parent education sessions that welcome all parents and guardians, and more. Your newly elected 2021– 2022 PGA officers are already making plans to offer a variety of fun and compelling events next year, so keep an eye out for events that work best for you and come be a part of the PGA!

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