SUMMER 20222NO.6VOL. UPrep MAGAZINE The Art Innovationof Inside the ULab: A Closer Look at UPrep’s Future Page Creative6 Thinkers: Four Innovative Alumni Page 16
In this issue: Message3 from LookInside6ofHarnessing5Codrington-CazeauRonnieaCultureInnovationtheULab:ACloseratUPrep’sFuture Show10 Your Work: Building Deeper Connections to Water and Wellness Show12 Your Work: Students Build Academic Skills with Book of the Dead Student14 Studies Science of Cooking IndependentduringStudy Creative16 Thinkers: Four Innovative Alumni New20 Staff Members Bring Their Expertise to UPrep Mock22 Trial Team Enjoys Stellar Season On24 the Bookshelf
In25the Arts Celebrating28 50 Years of Title IX Athletics29 in Review ClassCongratulations,32of2022! Student35 Awards News36 from Our Colleagues UPrep40 Together— A Record-Breaking Success! Class42 Notes Alumni44 News Upcoming45 Events Above: Students from the Marimba inten sive play at UPrep Together, our annual community celebration and fundraiser. Front cover: Taha Ebrahimi ’97 poses at Cal Anderson Park with pages from the book she is writing and illustrating that maps Seattle’s widest and oldest street trees. OUR MISSION University Prep is committed to developing each student’s potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world. SUMMER 2022 1
12th Grade Reps: Andrea Basinski, Amy Colando, Jean-Francois Luu
Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, HEAD OF SCHOOL Ed Billingslea, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR SusanACADEMICSLansverk, ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR FINANCE AND OPERATIONS
Mary Beth Lambert, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND DebbieCOMMUNICATIONSPlayter,EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT AND BOARD ASSISTANT
NancyEDITORSchatz
7th Grade Reps: Kelly Campbell, Linda Chou, Tember Fasulo
Michelle Goldberg Quyen Hamilton Van RussellPatriciaKatzmanLandyNormann ‘86 Sujal AndrewDaniTimothyPatelRicheyRuthfieldSelby Andrea Thoreson Blake Titcomb ‘09 Mandira Virmani Jeremy Wacksman Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, EX UrsulaOFFICIOPhelan, PARENT GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT, EX-OFFICIO Christina Zembruski, FACULTY REPRESENTATIVE, EX-OFFICIO
Diversity and Community: Julie Kang Global Programs Liaisons: Laura Constable, Tracy Zheng
Treasurer: Alexa Crawford Secretary: Jenna Sylvester Past Executive: Tracy Pozil Governance: Krysia Johnson Development Liaison: Denise Angelone Admissions Liaison: Quyen Hamilton Community Service Event Liaisons: Mary Balmaceda, Nicole Mirchandani
Taylor Kanemori ’09, DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING
6th Grade Reps: Jen Falck, Alicia Litton, Alison Scott, Lucy Wacksman
11th Grade Reps: Kimberly Briar, Kauser Dar, Sandhya Subramanian
Joel Sohn, DIRECTOR OF UPPER SCHOOL
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10th Grade Reps: Julia Guthrie, Lauren Woodman
UPrep MAGAZINE
8000©AnneDESIGNERMiriamEDITORBulmerBryantCreative2022UniversityPrep25thAvenueNE, Seattle, WA 98115 206.525.2714 Magazine is published twice yearly by the Marketing and Communications Office at University Prep.
Parents for the Arts: Melissa Donsbach, Paige Hansen-Shankar Sports Boosters: Cynthia Dold, Kati Pagulayan, Michelle Perham, Robynn Takamiya
Susie Wu, DIRECTOR OF MIDDLE SCHOOL
NancyCONTRIBUTORSAltonSchatzAlton, Anne Bingham, Ronnie Codrington-Cazeau, Claire Fallat, Brian Gonzales, Leah Griffin, Mary Beth Lambert, Catherine McNutt, Rebecca Moe
www.universityprep.org UPrep
Parent Guardian Education: Rupali Chauhan, Missy Gleason, Melissa Heaton, Robin Waterman
The class of 2022 graduated at McCaw Hall on June 13.
8th Grade Reps: Kate Madrid, Wendy Guy, Kristie Shields, Tim Stoddard
President: Ursula Phelan Upper School Vice President: Myndee Ronning Middle School Vice President: Michele Miyoshi
Franklin Terry Nelson Froggatt
Kelly Herrington, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES
BOARD OF TRUSTEES Jennifer Zell, PRESIDENT Scotland Nash, VICE PRESIDENT Jarrad Harford, TREASURER Ninevah Lowery, SECRETARY Ric ElizabethJuliSteveAndersondeBeerCook(Liffy)
PARENT GUARDIAN ASSOCIATION
LisaPHOTOGRAPHERSBontje,Kellen Davis, Claire Fallat, Abby Formella, Libby Lewis, Kedzie Moe, Rebecca Moe, Grace Silverman, Esme Tilghman, Andrew Storey COPY
9th Grade Reps: Caitlin Angeloff, Aija Christopher, Gail Ticeson
Brian Gonzales, DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION Ryan Hannon, DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGEMENT
Dear UPrep Families and Alumni, “The new creative learning spaces in the ULab will enable us to expand upon what we already do so well, so our students will have a lasting impact on the community beyond UPrep.”
HEADRonnieappreciation,Codrington-CazeauOFSCHOOL
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It was a thrill to complete an entire school year on campus and in person after a year and a half of virtual and hybrid learning. A full sports season swung back into action, and we ended the year with our baseball team and soccer team playing for state titles. Athletes from our track-and-field and tennis teams also competed for state titles. What a year to be a Puma! Work has begun on the site of the ULab building, which is across the street from our main campus. It is exhilarating to see trucks moving on and off the property, to hear construction sounds through my office window, and to imagine the structure that will rise from the rubble that now covers the lot. In this magazine, you will learn much more about the spaces in this new building. The ULab will reflect the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of UPrep. This school has always been a place where we have asked our students to stretch their thinking beyond what they already know to what they need to learn. Then, they can use this knowledge to become intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizens of the world. The new creative learning spaces in the ULab will enable us to expand upon what we already do so well, so our students will have a lasting impact on the community beyond UPrep. We are proud to showcase two of our teachers and the courses they teach through the Show Your Work series. These articles highlight why our students are so excited to come to school each day and why our teachers are indeed our greatest asset at UPrep. You will not find the courses they teach in most school curriculum offerings, but you will find them at UPrep. Finally, we interviewed four alumni who graduated from UPrep and embarked upon impactful and innovative careers. These alumni were inspired by their UPrep teachers to imagine, create, and realize their dreams. Students dream big while at UPrep, and it is rewarding to see who they become once they leave us for journeys into uncharted waters. Wherever you are this summer, I hope you find a place to relax and dig into this magazine to see all that is happening at UPrep! With
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BRIAN GONZALES, DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION AND EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION
From the Swimming and Water Safety intensive (on page 10) to the Book of the Dead project highlighted on page 12, our faculty’s capacity for creativity and innovation after two years of COVID-enforced perseverance is inspirational. Beyond the classroom, our students learn from alumni who return to campus to coach sports and lead clubs, like the two students on the Mock Trial Team, profiled on page 23, who were coached by Patrick Trompeter ’94. Beyond that, four alumni share how UPrep prepared them to take risks and innovate in the fields of data visualization, technology, data science, fashion, and content creation (page 16). And there’s our new Senior Leadership Team members, introduced on page 20, who bring their expertise to our community.
“At UPrep, we offer students many opportunities to engage in new learning adventures. They pick up new instruments, build robots from scratch, go on Semester Away programs, get on stage for the first time, and lead showcasetheirshops.educationconsentwork-Theyexplorecuriosityandcourage.”
Harnessing a Culture of Innovation
The theme of this edition of the magazine is “The Art of Innovation.” Like collaborating in a jazz ensemble or pitching a start-up, innovation is not a linear process. To me, innovation requires the gumption to try something novel and to embrace the inevitable trials and tribulations along the way. At UPrep, we offer students many opportunities to engage in new learning adventures. They pick up new instruments, build robots from scratch, go on Semester Away programs, get on stage for the first time, and lead consent education workshops. They explore their curiosity and showcase courage. They apply critical thinking skills, become more resourceful, and expand their ability to ask for help. These are the foundations of innovation, and I see it in every nook and cranny at UPrep.
The ULab will be a game-changer, offering each student a place to connect to the amazing learning experiences UPrep offers and develop their potential to be creative and innovative Pumas out in the world.
Under the leadership of the Board of Trustees, the ULab Capital Campaign is transforming our campus with the construction of the 39,000-square-foot, three-story ULab. It will be the hub of the Upper School—focused on amplifying the signature learning experiences and collaborations that are essential to thriving in an ever-changing global community. On the first level of the building, students will collaborate in the Beitel Commons, meet with our renowned college guidance counselors, and explore experiential learning opportunities in the Office of Innovation and Adventure. On the second floor, project classrooms and the new Makerspace will foster opportunities for invention, from coding drones to fabricating 3D prototypes. On the third floor, inspiration comes to life in the ULab Faculty Office and seminar-style classrooms where students will be challenged to learn beyond disciplines, to dig deeper and take intellectual risks, and to explore who they are and how they can make an impact in our community. I cannot wait to see students brainstorming on the rooftop deck, taking a community yoga class in the Wellness Studio, and tinkering in the Makerspace.
“In the PE department, our mantra is movement brings inspiration. We think of physical fitness as supporting students’ physical, mental, and emotional health, and providing them with the skills and building blocks to learn and improve their confidence and competence to move in a variety of ways and situations.”
Inside the ULab:
–KAYLA ROBERTSON, CHAIR, PE DEPARTMENT
Currently under construction across the street from UPrep’s existing campus, the ULab will create a second academic hub, dedicated to igniting student passion for collaboration, creativity, and leadership through interdisciplinary and project-based learning. Here’s a sneak peek at one innovative space on each floor of the building, with insights from leaders in our UPrep community.
WELLNESSSTUDIO N WELLNESS STUDIO
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BY MARY BETH LAMBERT, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
A Closer Look at UPrep’s Future
This half-gym will provide additional space for Pumas to move and explore different types of activities that embody wellness, such as yoga, dance, and fitness classes. The space outside the gym will offer opportunities for students to use a TRX System (Total Resistance Exercises), a workout that uses specialized suspension equipment, body weight, and gravity to build strength, balance, flexibility, and core strength. There will also be dedicated space for bike storage for students who ride their bikes to and from school.
OFFICE FOR INNOVATION AND ADVENTURE
INCLUDE
“At UPrep, global and outdoor education are place-based, community-based, experiential learning opportunities. With global education, we foster opportunities focused on interacting with people in a new destination. With outdoor education, we foster opportunities focused on interacting as a community in a new outdoor environment.”
–KATE WILLIAMS, GLOBAL AND OUTDOOR EDUCATION PROGRAM MANAGER
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This office will serve as a hub for students and faculty participating in UPrep’s signature Global Link courses and Semester Away programs, preparing outdoor adventure experiences, and hosting international students. For example, the Office for Innovation and Adventure staff will help students plan an ECHO (Enriching Community Health in the Outdoors) experience, guiding students to determine how their adventure will build community with others. Teachers will also collaborate with each other here to plan intensives that have a travel component. This office also partners with teachers to custom-design experiential learning based on their curriculum, their goals, and their students.
Filled with the newest technology tools—laser cutters, virtual reality (VR) headsets, soldering tools, 3D scanners and printers, and high-end computers dedicated to 3D design use—the 1,123-square-foot facility will make so much more possible for our community. Students will gain experience in design, engineering, and digital arts. Fine arts students, wearing VR headsets, will have the space to spread out and collaborate in a virtual world on a sculpture, painting, or other creations. Students in biology class may build a robotic arm to mimic the operation of a human arm. Computer science students can use a 3D scanner to design models of real-world items that they place into the video games they create.
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“The Makerspace will be also available before and after school and during Community Time and office hours. They can bring in projects from home, build a project with faculty or coaches, or join one of many clubs, where beginners and experienced students can build and learn new skills with their peers.”
–JONATHAN DELGADO, ACADEMIC TECHNOLOGY COORDINATOR
MAKERSPACE
INVENT
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When we think of subjects that students study in school— English, history, math, science, PE, art, and languages—those are understood to be discrete disciplines. The reality is that in order for a student to fully understand what they’re trying to accomplish in a physics classroom, they need to have a working knowledge of all those subjects, so they can pull from them and transfer that knowledge to the problem that they’re trying to solve. Interdisciplinary learning helps UPrep students make deeper, more meaningful, and lasting connections with their learning.
FACULTYULABOFFICE N SUMMER 2022 9 INSPIRE
ULab Campaign Gains Momentum
ULAB FACULTY OFFICE
“Interdisciplinary learning prepares students for life beyond UPrep. When our alums report back to us about the work that they are doing in research labs, nonprofits, medicine, and start-ups, it all has interdisciplinary components to it. There are no more discrete subjects that they have to master, but instead a blending of knowledge that they need to be able to command and pull from at any given time.”
–JOEL SOHN, UPPER SCHOOL DIRECTOR
To bring the ULab vision from a concept to reality, UPrep embarked on a $25 million fundraising campaign— the largest in the history of the school. Thanks to early support from our Trustees and major-gift-level donors, at the time of publication we have raised more than $17.4 million. The ULab Campaign Committee will continue to meet with families over the course of the next school year. To reach our philanthropic goal, we will need everyone’s financial participation. We look forward to inviting the support of our entire community ahead of our ribbon-cutting celebration in the fall of 2023. If you feel you are ready to make a stretch gift today, please contact the Development Office at development@universityprep.org.
BY NANCY SCHATZ ALTON, WRITER/EDITOR SHOW YOUR
Students learn how to improve their own fitness and understand the science behind swimming, while also learning first aid, CPR, and other safety skills to practice around water. Students explore topics through experiences in the pool and the open water, from taking a community water aerobics class to working with a swim rescue firefighter. They develop their cardiorespiratory endurance by learning and practicing fundamental swimming strokes and fitness games and activities like modified water polo and water aerobics, to name a few. Students also dive into documentaries and projects and read the book Why We Swim by Bonnie Tsui.
Building WaterConnectionsDeepertoandWellness
The Outcomes During this intensive, students connect to the water in so many ways. “We talk about this sense of ‘blue mind.’ Science shows that being near, on, or in water can make you feel happier. When we are close to, on, or in the water, we can disconnect from the busyness of the world, and be calm and relaxed,” said Kayla.
WORK
The Task: Deepen Connection to Water and an Understanding of Wellness Physical Education Teacher and Department Chair Kayla Robertson created this intensive around five themes based on the book Why We Swim: well-being, community, survival, flow, and competition. Her main aim, though, is for students to diversify their idea of what a swimmer is and for each student to find their own connection to water. She wants each student to explore how they enjoy the water, whether that means sitting by the water, having fun on the water—say, paddleboarding or playing a game in the water—or swimming competitively. “The book reminds us that everybody is not a swimmer, but everyone has a story to tell about their relationship to water,” says Kayla. By the end of the three-week intensive, she hopes the students have a clear idea of how water and swimming activities can help them achieve an overall sense of well-being.
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The Class: Swimming and Water Safety Intensive
“This was thrilling, exciting, and nerve-wracking. It’s salt water and there’s jellyfish and crabs. But it was a choose-your-own-adventure challenge, so some just dipped their toes in, and some sprinted to the water and dove in,” said Kayla. “Afterward, we warmed up in hot soaking tubs together. When I asked a student who isn’t a strong swimmer yet how they felt, they said, ‘Calm and relaxed.’
As a high school student, being involved in sports and school was a way for Kayla to find a positive community. Her first job, at age 16, was teaching swimming lessons to children. She didn’t swim competitively until 10th grade, but at one point held seven school records and was the first female at her school to compete at state as an individual swimmer. She also met her husband on the high school swim team. Kayla became a PE teacher because her teachers and coaches were influential mentors in her life. She relishes the joyful moments of triumph in the classroom, such as when students are brave and jump into the deep end. “I love helping students believe in themselves—when they do something beyond their own expectations and spark creativity and joy through movement. Teachers help students discover their potential, and sometimes we first find that confidence through our bodies in physical endeavors. Then that confidence carries over into their life,” said Kayla. She also loves designing curriculum and innovating with her colleagues, and that’s part of why she likes being the chair of the PE department.
Student Sophie Angiulo, 11th grade, said the class helped her refine her definition of wellness. She thinks mental health is a big part of wellness, and that physical exercise is a big part of being mentally happy. “Being able to go to the pool every day and having all these water experiences helped my well-being. I feel like I am one with nature when I am in the water. I feel at peace and well,” she said.
Student Loobna Shego, 11th grade, shared that swimming is great for both her physical and mental health. “When I’m swimming, it’s just me and the water; my other problems disappear,” she said.
The students are introduced to many water opportunities that connect them with the themes, especially for those who don’t see themselves as swimmers. When the class went on an overnight adventure to Orcas Island on a beautiful sunny day, they did a cold-water immersion in the icy water in a calm bay inlet.
Oftentimes, that rhythm is why you feel a sense of mindfulness: when you can let your thoughts go and be present,” said Kayla. “As a student becomes more confident swimming, that sense of flow leads to their sense of well-being.”
The students learn to inhale quickly above water and then exhale slowly underwater. They also learn that this type of breathing activates their parasympathetic nervous system, which relaxes the body. “There’s also a rhythm and repetition to swimming.
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“AfroSwimmer is a community that bonds over struggle and success. Being a young Black swimmer, seeing this community was so inspiring and motivates me to become a better swimmer.” ■ GET TO KNOW TEACHER KAYLA ROBERTSON
We talked about the shared sense of community that comes from doing the cold-water and hot-water immersions together, especially when you’re able to relax with a gorgeous view of nature.”
During the intensive, Loobna learned about AfroSwimmer, a community that uplifts and supports Black swimmers. “I was so interested in seeing how swimming and blackness intersect and how swimming brought together this group of people,” she said.
“I learned that many people find their well-being from water. But I also learned that this looks extremely different for everyone. The water has a lot to offer: pretty views, beautiful sounds, and more.”
Kayla believes an overarching sense of well-being comes from doing things that benefit all aspects of health, including physical health, mental health, social health, and environmental health. “Swimming is inherently multidimensional. When you are in the water outside, you’re connecting with so many different elements of yourself and nature. You might be working on your physical health, using swim ming as exercise. But it could also be meditative, even if you just consider the way we breathe when we swim,” she said.
The Class: Religions and Philosophical Traditions of the Ancient World
The Book of the Dead refers to scrolls produced during ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom (c. 1550–700 BCE) that contained a series of spells and instructions meant to ease the passage of the deceased through tests that must be overcome to reach the Field of Reeds (paradise in the afterlife). Students use their knowledge of ancient Egyptian traditions to create a modern Book of the Dead that reflects their own culture and daily life in the Pacific Northwest. The finished group project needs to demonstrate an understanding of the scroll’s purpose by showing the deceased being guided through tasks by a deity or deities before facing a final judgment. Students also must demonstrate their understanding of artistic conventions used in ancient Egypt.
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Students slowly build their academic skills during this yearlong 8th grade class, and this rigorous and joyful group project is well placed, said History Teacher Raj Bhat. “As someone who also teaches 9th grade history, I have a clear sense of what lies ahead,” he said.
Students AcademicBuildSkills with Book of the Dead
This course focuses on the religious and ethical traditions of ancient and preindustrial cultures around the world. The goals are to understand the key concepts and values that underlie these traditions and to consider the importance of religious and ethical thinking to the human experience. Students examine the continued influence of these traditions on the modern world. They consider Mesopotamia and Egypt, Classical Antiquity, and the Abrahamic traditions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), as well as West African, Mesoamerican, and East and South Asian traditions.
The Outcomes
BY NANCY SCHATZ ALTON, WRITER/EDITOR SHOW YOUR WORK
Note taking is one example. The goal is to teach students to create a note-taking habit and to take notes in a systematic way that is efficient and helps them retain information. “I learned a new style of note taking where you don’t directly copy [what the teachers says or writes] but paraphrase in your own words,” said student Zoe Mann.
The Task: Create a Pacific Northwest Book of the Dead
I’ve gotten everything from the Fremont Troll to orca-eagle hybrid beasts, all from making a creative leap that is based on connecting new knowledge with something familiar,” he said. “The risk is in the fact that this is one of the few projects they’ll do at this age where they can’t look up the right answer. That’s often a scary leap for them to make.”
Jin said this project taught him about effective time management and the responsibility of holding up your part of the project.
“It was a lesson on the balance of putting in a lot of effort into it and meeting the time constraints at the same time because we had so much to do,” he said.
Delphine said it has been interesting to see what different cultures and religious groups think the parameters are for living a good life. “It’s made me apply this knowledge to my daily life and think about my own parameters for living a good life,” she said. ■
While Raj aims to teach students how to record, organize, manage, and make connections between all the bits of information delivered in the course, he also hopes the information is meaningful to the students, too. “Specifically, with this project, I hope they synthesize the information in a way that is useful, creative, and valuable to them in some way,” he said.
Raj said the Book of the Dead project is the perfect marriage of knowledge and creativity. “It’s the most fun students have all year, and it’s often one of the best demonstrations of what they’ve learned, not just about ancient Egypt, but what they’ve learned about how to learn,” he said, noting that History Teacher Gus Feliu created the project when he started teaching at UPrep in 2012, and that this is the first time in three years that students have done the project due to the pandemic.
GET TO KNOW TEACHER RAJ BHAT
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“It’s the most fun students have all year and it’s often one of the best demonstrations of what they’ve learned, not just about ancient Egypt, but what they’ve learned about how to learn.”
Student Delphine Laramee said it was fun to play with stereotypes of the Pacific Northwest. Her group, which included Zoe, Jin Hyun, and Sam Berntsen, created the character Primeit, an Amazon box with legs, to be the representative of Amit, the soul-devouring monster. The character Insert Name Here or INH was a Starbucks employee who hoped to pass tests to get into the afterlife. Their salmon-headed character Posidon represented Anubis, the god who guides the dead. A $10 Amazon gift card was weighed against the feather of order on the last final judgment panel.
The more time Raj spent teaching while earning a master’s in art history at the University of Washington (UW), the more he liked it.
“I get the biggest kick out of noticing flashes of inspiration, when a seed is planted with the potential to grow even bigger. Hopefully, when students experience that spark, they go and explore a new path,” said Raj, who also earned a BFA at the Parsons School of Design and a master’s in teaching at the UW. He was one of the founding consulting teachers for the World History Project, a free online course for high school students that will be used in thousands of U.S. classrooms within a few years. Before becoming a teacher, Raj wore many hats: he owned a coffee cart called Orbit Espresso in the 1990s and spent time as a freelance graphic designer, too.
Raj said the project is about taking creative risks, not about creative ability. Students take something they have learned about from the distant past and graft it onto a milieu that they are more familiar with. “For example, if Amit is a soul-devouring monster from ancient Egyptian mythology who is part hippo, part croc, and part lion, what would the Pacific Northwest version of that be?
To keep the students on task, Raj repeated the instructions often and reminded them to look over the rubric to remind themselves of his expectations as they started each workday. “One of my key goals is to move them, little by little, toward the much more complex projects they will be asked to tackle in high school,” he said. “I want them to practice meeting many expectations, but in a way that is fun, lower-stakes, and less stress-inducing. In many ways, I think of this project as training wheels for next year.”
–History Teacher Raj Bhat
“Innovation isn’t just about creating something new; it can be about connecting ideas that already exist and combining them in new ways so that you are creating something new,” she said.
2. Re-creating the Cake
Haydn divided her course into two topics: the physics and chemistry of cooking and environmentally conscious cooking. She chose two books to guide her learning:
Haydn met weekly with Mikayla, who helped answer specific science questions. Mikayla also helped guide the course design, making it doable within the time frame. “She helped me under stand I had to prioritize what I wanted to learn. She also helped me understand the importance of reflecting on what I learned and why it mattered to my larger project goals,” Haydn said. Haydn’s course also gave her a new outlook on discovery.
Reflecting on her IS, Haydn encourages other students to consider designing their own course. She used to think that there was a limit to what she could do as a student, choosing from UPrep’s offerings.
“Now I know if there is something I am interested in, I can take charge of what I want to learn about, and UPrep will help me go beyond what they offer,” said Haydn. “I also learned I can apply this idea to my life and learn about whatever interests me. I have all of the tools and resources I need to learn.”
• Science and Cooking: Physics Meets Food, from Homemade to Haute Cuisine, by Harvard professors Michael Brenner, Pia Sörensen, and David Weitz, helped Haydn understand the physics and chem istry underlying the recipes she would make, explained why recipes work, and answered commonly asked cooking questions with science. Topics she studied included phase transformations, heating proteins, viscosity, elasticity, volume fraction, and foams.
Haydn continued her study of the science of cooking this summer.
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The goal for Haydn’s course was to prove that food is a lot more than what most of us know it to be. “I believe that food and cooking can teach us so much about ourselves and the world we live in,” she said. “I designed my IS to start small, quite literally, on the molecular level, and to expand so I could gain as complete a picture as I could in one semester.” To document her learning, Haydn designed three projects: 1. Weekly Meals Haydn planned and cooked a meal based on what she learned that week. She created a slide deck to track the meals, which included a short write-up about what she saw and learned, remaining questions, and photos of each meal.
An IS is open to Upper School students who wish to pursue a topic of interest beyond the course offerings at UPrep. Students are required to submit a proposal for their course of study, have met the graduation requirements in the department of interest, and work with a sponsoring faculty member who oversees the student’s work.
Student Studies Science of Cooking during Independent Study
The Science of Cooking: A Deep Dive into Culinary Physics, Creativity, and Sustainability. “I have loved cooking and baking for years, and I am ready to take this passion and apply it to my education,” Haydn explained in her IS proposal.
The book also includes sustainable actions for individual consumers and cooks. Topics Haydn studied included veganism, GMOs (genetically modified organisms), and food production.
3. How Do You Cook the Perfect Steak?
Her plans included attending a program at Brown University, launching a neighborhood cookie baking business based on her IS learning, and possibly beginning to write a book about the concept of the most scientifically perfect food. “I am a lot more curious than I used to be. I ask myself more questions and I’m excited to find the answers,” said Haydn. “And if the answers aren’t out there, it is exciting to think that I could be the one to find them.”
This project tried to re-create the chocolate white chocolate cake available from Seattle’s Simply Desserts. After interviewing Deborah Sigler, a pastry chef and owner of Simply Desserts, Haydn used her own research and applied her science-related skills of experimenta tion and experimental design. She made four versions of the cake, altering ingredients each time, collecting and recording data for each version.
• Can Fixing Dinner Fix the Planet?, by Jessica Fanzo, looks at the intersection of the world’s agricultural, environmental, and nutritional needs, and climate change and the environment.
14 UPREP MAGAZINE Sophomore Haydn Gleason enjoyed the challenges she experienced in her UPrep science classes. So much so that she wanted even more challenge. With support from chemistry teacher Mikayla Patella-Buckley, this spring Haydn pursued an independent study (IS) and designed a course for herself entitled
MARY BETH LAMBERT, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
This was Haydn’s guiding question at the intersection of everything she was learning. The more she learned, the better she could answer the question. “I wanted to make the most scientifically perfect food based on reactions, but also what was sustainably best for the world,” she said. “My questions included: How do proteins cook when you apply heat? How does heat affect the fat and caramelization process? Is meat the perfect steak or is there a meatless option that is more ethical and sustainable?”
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–Haydn Gleason
“Innovation isn’t just about creating something new; it can be about connecting ideas that already exist and combining them in new ways so that you are creating something new.”
How did investigating your own interests lead to the book you are currently writing?
Taha Ebrahimi ’97 is the director of Tableau Public, Tableau Software’s free data visualization platform to explore, create, and publicly share data stories online. Her curiosity has led her through several career innovations, including being a journalist, obtaining an MFA in nonfiction writing, and working in marketing for finance companies in New York City. She moved back to Seattle in 2018 and, in addition to her job, is currently working with Sasquatch Books to write and illustrate a book mapping Seattle’s widest and oldest street trees (out in spring 2024).
During the early days of the pandemic, I started taking epic walks and decided to learn how to identify trees. Out of necessity, I began drawing these crude analog neighborhood maps that I could carry on my walks that included descriptions of how to identify certain trees. Then I found a street-tree data set the City of Seattle has published since 1950 and I started playing around with it in Tableau Public. One thing led to another, and these drawings became the inspiration for my book.
Creative Thinkers: Four Innovative Alumni
I’m a writer and storyteller at heart, so my interests have always centered on communication. During my last job at a financial company, I often had 15 minutes of anyone’s attention to help them understand a complex topic so they could make an informed decision. That’s when I recognized how powerful it is when you combine data with visual storytelling. I found out about Tableau Public and started using it to distill a lengthy report the company published. When I heard Tableau Software was looking for a new director for the platform (an old friend from UPrep alerted me about the job posting), I decided to apply.
How did UPrep help build your innovation skill set?
What does it mean to have an innovative mindset? We spoke with four alumni about their ability to evolve and take risks in their work lives. They also share how UPrep prepared them for their journeys.
Left to right: Taha; pages from a book that Taha is writing and illustrating, which will be published in spring 2024.
BY NANCY SCHATZ ALTON, WRITER/EDITOR
UPrep was a great place for learning how to be curious and how to think. One of the key parts of innovation is being open to pos sibilities. If you lock yourself into one goal, you miss the exciting possibilities on the periphery. The ability to think creatively is also what led me to get interested in using data to communicate effectively—which led me to my current work at Tableau. The teachers at UPrep sparked my curiosity and gave me permission to be creative. The small class size mattered a lot because that’s how I learned how to express myself and not be afraid to talk out loud. We were also treated like what we had to say mattered. I started a petition to ask the school to drop a class requirement called Life
What do you love about working at Tableau Public?
I’m a big believer in following your curiosity, so I love working on a product that empowers anyone to use data to explore their interests. I also love the data visualization community that has formed around this passion for good data storytelling. They’re analysts, students, teachers, artists, governments, and journalists from around the world.
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Tell me about your pivot from working in finance to becoming the director of Tableau Public.
What’s your definition of innovation?
At Snorkel AI, we build software that helps experts and engineers work together to create data sets in AI systems more quickly and less expensively, and to make those systems more understandable.
Left to right: Snorkel AI staff; Henry.
Henry Ehrenberg ’11 is a co-founder of Snorkel AI, a technology startup that builds software to help data scientists and developers quickly create high-quality datasets and AI models. He earned a B.S. from Yale and a master of science from Stanford, and has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for six years. Please explain the work of Snorkel AI in lay terms.
Working on The Puma Press newspaper, including a year as the photo editor and a year as the co-editor. I learned how to tell a clear story and get a point across in words and images. I went on to be the photo editor at the Yale Daily News during college, where we put out the newspaper five days a week. Working on both papers was a formative experience, because it connected me with the com munity and I learned how to effectively tell a story. Being able to effectively communicate with people is a big part of what I do, and I began learning how to do that while working on The Puma Press
My co-founders and I started Snorkel as a research project during graduate school at Stanford, and later turned it into a company.
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How did UPrep help build your innovation skill set? Whether it was a teacher or friends, someone was always actively encouraging me to try something new and to explore ideas. The curriculum was also thoughtfully designed with a unique focus on how what you’re learning touches the real world. For example, linear regression (you know, y = mx + b) was something I learned in 7th grade but has weirdly played a very important role in my life. If I had just memorized it and hadn’t built an intuitive understanding, I wouldn’t have been interested enough to take a senior elective on how you can apply that to predicting who’s going to win a baseball game, and then follow that to college and grad school. What experience at UPrep influenced you?
When we tried to apply exciting new AI tech to real-world problems at places like Stanford Hospital, we found ourselves constantly bug ging experts to manually label data for us. Snorkel AI was born out
Skills and I was encouraged to present our case to the curriculum advisory committee. While I remember that experience in detail, I strangely don’t remember if we won or not, which is indicative of the unintended, lasting impact. That kind of real-life learning experience wasn’t out of the ordinary at UPrep—and that’s how I started practicing being actively curious and recognizing unscripted opportunities.
of this frustrating and inefficient experience and wanting to speed up the process of building high-quality data sets for creating AI systems. I’m not a serial entrepreneur always on the hunt for a new business to start, but I was convinced that this work needed to be done so people can solve real-world problems with AI technology.
What’s Snorkel AI’s origin story?
AI [artificial intelligence] makes our lives better in many ways, from self-driving cars to using Google Translate, but there are a lot of challenges when it comes to building AI systems. That’s where Snorkel AI comes in. To create a new AI system, you need to provide it with an enormous data set for it to learn from. Usually, this involves experts manually labeling thousands or millions of individual data points with the right answer. For example, if I am building an AI system that can read X-ray images and find ones that likely have a broken bone in them to help prioritize radiologists’ time, radiologists first need to provide thousands or millions of X-ray images with broken bones manually marked. This is extremely timeconsuming and not a great use of a radiologist’s valuable time.
To me, the definition of “innovation” is super simple: doing something new. Something that’s more interesting to me is how you make innovation impactful. Every year, I reread “You and Your Research,” a talk by mathematician and engineer Richard Hamming about what it means to find and solve an important problem. To me, to make innovation impactful, you need to be empathetic— really understanding challenges people are facing to solve the right problems in the right ways.
The small classroom dynamic and discussion-based classes were critical in exposing me to different ways of thinking and multiple perspectives. Through class discussions, it was clear that there isn’t just one way to approach the world, and issues don’t have only one solution. I remember a 9th grade English project where we took a strong stance on an issue and presented our argument to the class. None of us knew that two weeks later you had to do the exact same thing again—but for the opposite side of the argument. By being explicitly taught to see problems as multidimensional, I learned to pay close attention to how everything can shift and evolve.
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What experiences at UPrep have shaped your career?
groundbreaking links between the vaginal microbiome and critical female health outcomes, such as infertility, STIs (Sexually Transmit ted Infections), preterm birth, gynecologic cancers, and more. Yet, many women and people with vaginas had never had access to that information about their own bodies. Since Evvy launched in July 2021, we have created one of the world’s largest data sets on the vaginal microbiome. We are working on a variety of research projects and clinical studies so we can leverage our platform to improve the understanding of this biomarker.
Left to right: Priyanka; the Evvy Vaginal Health Test. “In journalism and Mock Trial Club, I began developing my communication skills—one of the most important skills for my job as a CEO.”
How did UPrep help you build the skills necessary for innovation?
Priyanka Jain ’12 is the co-founder and CEO of Evvy. The company’s mission is to close the gender health gap by discovering and leveraging overlooked biomarkers in the female body—starting with the vaginal microbiome. She received her B.S. from Stanford University and has lived in New York City for the past six years. Why did you decide to start a company focused on understanding female health? Before Evvy, I was the head of product at pymetrics, which builds algorithms to make the hiring process fairer and more efficient. There, I became aware of the challenges and opportunities of bringing algorithms into highly regulated industries, and the importance of intentionally designing ethical algorithms— especially when you have biased training data. This gap is especially pronounced in health care. Amid dealing with my own mysterious health care issues, I found out that women weren’t required to be in clinical research in the U.S. until 1993, and we’re diagnosed on average four years later than men across over 700 diseases. Our lack of understanding of the female body is a symptom of a massive data gap: almost all the data that we’ve used to define health and disease to date has been based on middle-aged, midsized, white men. In fact, the female body is constantly giving off a myriad of unique signals that could help us understand when we’re healthy and sick, but we’ve never paid attention to these signals since we didn’t study women. Tell me more about Evvy. Our first product—the Evvy Vaginal Health Test—is the first-ever at-home vaginal microbiome test to use metagenomic sequencing (a mix of DNA from multiple organisms and entities) to tell you what’s up down there, why it matters, and what you can do about it. Evvy is closing the gender health gap by discovering how female biomarkers can be better leveraged to diagnose, treat, and predict risk for complex health conditions in the female body. More than 30 percent of people with vaginas suffer from imbalances in the vaginal microbiome every year. The latest research has uncovered
In journalism and Mock Trial Club, I began developing my communi cation skills—one of the most important skills for my job as a CEO. Through journalism, I learned how to communicate concisely, always being told to make articles 100 words shorter, and then another 100 words shorter. Through Mock Trial, I learned the importance of making crisp arguments and thinking on my feet.
tell people I’d much rather laugh than be angry. It’s important to feel all emotions, but for my creative purposes, I’d rather laugh, and I try to integrate that philosophy into every aspect of my life.
How do you deal with the inherent failure that comes with creativity? It’s the worst feeling when you put hours of work into something, and then it doesn’t fit the model. I try to see it as a learning experi ence and reconstruct it or create something new from the mistake.
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I also recall being in a pumpkin pie eating contest as a junior during an assembly. When the other contestants shoved their faces into the pie, I pulled a fork and knife out of my pocket and slowly began eating. At that moment, I realized that I love making people laugh and it’s good not to take things too seriously. ■
How did UPrep help prepare you for your life and career?
I was co-leader of the GSA (Gender Sexuality Alliance) during my senior year; it was so cool to be a part of! We put on a big LGBTQ+ event and invited GSAs from other schools to attend. It was my first time organizing an event, and I loved it. I remember we invited queer individuals from a range of professions to speak to students. It was very rewarding and led to me coordinating orientation at Pratt.
Left to right: Idalia; Idalia working for the wardrobe department of a TV show.
The adults created a supportive, encouraging environment. I became comfortable being an individual at UPrep and straddling many worlds. I loved being in the art room; I played soccer, basketball, and softball; and I danced or sang at every Music Day. This sounds cliché, but I could have a conversation with a teammate, then talk with someone in theatre, and then hang out with people in the art room. I learned you can have totally different experiences from someone, but you can always find something in common and you can always have a good conversation. Making friends in different spaces is always beneficial, and a necessary skill for making connections in the creative field. What’s your favorite UPrep memory?
“I learned you can have totally different experiences someone, but you can always find something in common and you can always have a good conversation.”
Idalia Kaplan ’16 is a fashion designer, stylist, artist, and sketch writer. She’s a 2020 graduate of the Fashion Design program at the Pratt Institute—where she played on the basketball team— in New York City. Before she moved to Los Angeles this August, she worked as a production assistant for the costume and wardrobe departments for TV shows. You graduated from Pratt as the pandemic began. How did the timing of the pandemic require you to innovate? It was sad and disappointing. The design show we waited for all four years did not happen. I designed and made over 20 pieces by hand and had no platform to share my work. The creative industry in NYC shut down, too. Since I’d been cutting friends’ hair since high school, I went to barber school and worked at a barbershop. When I told a woman while cutting her hair that I wanted to work in costume or wardrobe on a TV show, she said, “Oh, I know someone; let me connect you.” That’s how I began working on shows and became a driving pro duction assistant for The Blacklist, which meant I drove shoppers to stores in Manhattan. Let’s say the shopper buys 15 red sweatshirts: I drive the tops back to the show and tag them into the catalog; the actor tries them on; and then I return the 14 unchosen sweatshirts to the store. If I continue working in wardrobe/costume for film and TV, Los Angeles will offer me the same opportunities. I moved here with a friend, and we want to start creating our own content, including writing and performing comedy sketches. My brother, Zachary ’13, and his friends have a production company here, and I want to work on creative projects with him, too.
I’ve thought a lot about choosing how to react. You can be down on yourself, or you can do something that wasn’t your original intention and grow, potentially creating something better. I always
BY MARY BETH LAMBERT, DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS
ASSISTANT HEAD OF SCHOOL FOR ACADEMICS
How do your leadership experiences prepare you to carry out UPrep’s mission?
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At GDS, he also was the dean of student life and upper school director and helped launch its partnership with Global Online Academy. Ed has served in counseling, coaching, and administrative roles at Montgomery Academy in Montgomery, Alabama, and The Lovett School in Atlanta, Georgia.
Why are you excited to join the UPrep community?
Working closely with faculty, counselors, and learning support coordinators helped me create an environment where students feel comfortable taking academic risks and embracing their responsibilities to give back to their local and global communities. I also have experience collaborating with various school constituencies while always keeping students at the center of those conversations.
Tell us about the entrepreneurship curriculum that you helped launch at GDS?
I’m excited about the dedicated faculty, the welcoming student body, the Senior Leadership Team, and UPrep’s position as one of the best independent schools in the Pacific Northwest—with the opportunity to become one of the best schools in the country. I am also excited to have my daughters (Kori ’25 and Kayla ’28) experience the excellent teaching and learning available at UPrep.
Ed Billingslea
Ed formerly served as the assistant head of school for student services at Greensboro Day School (GDS) in North Carolina.
I designed the curriculum and taught both entrepreneurship courses. These courses—Entrepreneurial Problem Solving and Social Entrepreneurship— provided students problem-solving, collaboration, and presentation skills, and strengthened our ties with businesses and community leaders.
This fall, we welcome three new members to UPrep’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT). The SLT is the group of administrators who work closely with Head of School Ronnie CodringtonCazeau and are responsible for the daily operations of the school. Combined, these leaders have worked in and attended a dozen independent schools spanning the globe. They bring diverse backgrounds, skill sets, and expertise. They are eager to join the UPrep community and embrace our mission to develop each student’s potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world. There will be many opportunities this fall for our community to welcome and learn more about these leaders. We are delighted to welcome Ed Billingslea and Ryan Hannon to the Puma family and welcome back Taylor Kanemori ’09.
New Staff Members Bring Their Expertise to UPrep
I am most proud of the connections I have made with students and families all over the world. I have been able to keep in touch and visit with past parents and guardians whenever I am back in places like New York or Panama! It has been incredible to have former students connect with me on LinkedIn and see their positive impact on the world.
As a Puma, I learned that if I was thoughtful, asked questions, and contributed to the community, I could leave something better than I found it. I believe in making change within an organization to contribute to a greater cause. I work in independent schools because I believe they can be more accessible, equitable, and inclusive, and become models for how the education system can truly address the needs of all students.
I believe deeply in the inquiry model of learning. UPrep is a leader in engaging students to develop critical thinking skills in order to make meaningful contributions in the world. It was amazing to see this work in action when I visited campus.
Ryan Hannon
Why are you excited to join the UPrep community?
What led you to work in admissions? I was a college tour guide, and I never left! I fell in love with working with students and families to explore a place I love. Every day is different, and I meet incredible people.
What is a career achievement that you are especially proud of?
—TAYLOR KANEMORI
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Ryan served as the director of enrollment, marketing, and communications at the Bosque School in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was the founding director of admissions for GEMS World Academy in Chicago; the director of admissions at Leman Manhattan Preparatory School in New York City; the director of admissions and marketing for the Metropolitan School of Panama; and the assistant director of admissions at the Francis W. Parker School in Chicago.
Why did you decide to work in independent schools?
Why are you excited to return to the UPrep community? My oldest brother started attending UPrep when I was two, and I could not wait to be a Puma. I wanted to participate in everything he told me about: Shake Hands with Shakespeare, Ski Bus, Ultimate Frisbee. I did all that and I belonged to the Creative Arts Society, served with Key Club, and traveled to Samoa. I know many of those opportunities and more are offered to current students. I cannot wait to be at UPrep again!
“Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work can be difficult, and it can and should also be fulfilling and joyful work.”
Taylor served as the director of equity and inclusion at the Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences; she previously served as a 9th grade advisor. Taylor also worked at Seattle Country Day School as an admissions assistant, PE teacher, and teacher’s aide.
DIRECTOR OF ENROLLMENT MANAGMENT
DIRECTOR OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING
How do you hope the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging will support UPrep students?
I hope our office can continue to be a resource for community members who are seeking to better understand the world. I want our office to support students in the ways they need and value support. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work can be difficult, and it can and should also be fulfilling and joyful work. I hope our office hosts and facilitates challeng ing conversations and experiences and joyful ones, too, as they are equally important and not mutually exclusive experiences. ■
She is currently the Board Chair of the Equity and Inclusion Committee at The Meridian School.
Taylor Kanemori ’09
Mock Trial Team Enjoys Stellar Season BY NANCY SCHATZ ALTON, WRITER/EDITOR
22 UPREP MAGAZINE Every October, the Upper School Mock Trial Team receives the fictitious case they will try at the YMCA Youth & Government Mock Trial district tournament
This year, the students worked on a civil case where a plaintiff sued an extreme sports corporation after he fell in a hole while biking at one of the corporation’s resorts. The 22 students, who were put on either the more experienced Blue Team or the less experienced Green Team, begin learning the case during their three-hour Sunday practices and one weeknight practice. The students took on the roles of attorneys and witnesses and a bailiff who keeps time during the trials. As the district competition approached, more practices were added, and Sunday practices often lasted four hours.
Although the competition trials were online this year, Shraeya has fond memories of competing in a Kitsap courtroom in person in the past. Reflecting on her Mock Trial experiences, she recognizes her growth as a public speaker. “I became more composed and surer of myself. I just felt so much more confident that I had the ability to say things on the fly,” Shraeya said. “My confidence in interacting with different people also improved, whether I know them well or if they are completely new to me.”
At one point during the season, Cade felt he knew more about Nicky than he knew about himself. “While in character, I believed I actually had fallen off my bike and into a hole,” he said. This year, Cade won Best Witness at the district competition. While he adores acting, Cade will study filmmaking in college and hopes to write, direct, and produce movies.
Shraeya: Future Attorney with Passion for Law Senior Shraeya Iyer participated in Mock Trial throughout Upper School. “I’ve known that I want to be a lawyer for a long time, and I wanted to see if my passion for law was based in reality,” she said.
• Komathi Anand and Pascale Carlson, 10th grade; Haley Hoffman, 11th grade; and Alexandra Sniezek and Shraeya Iyer, 12th grade, were nominated for Best Attorney
In college, Shraeya wants to study finance as an undergraduate, and then plans to attend law school. ■ “I became more composed and surer of myself. I just felt so much more confident that I had the ability to say things on the fly,” Shraeya said.
Cade played Nicky, a person who fell off his bike into a hole at an extreme sports resort who was suing the resort, and Brohm, a witness on the defendant’s side who was a professor of mountain biking ethics. “During the competition, you respond to questions while in character. That’s really fun because you feel like you are someone else,” he said.
This year, Shraeya won Best Attorney at the district competition. “I’m prouder of my actual performance than winning awards. I felt calmer and more collected during the trials this season,” she said.
• Maddie Takamiya and René Quiroga, 10th grade; Ben Reichert, 11th grade; Cade Evered, Shraeya Iyer, and Alexandra Sniezek, 12th grade, were nominated for Best Witness Mock Trial participants learn trial skills, critical thinking, persuasive argument, public speaking, acting, and writing skills. “We all learn a lot about how to work cooperatively, how to listen to each other—listening is a critical trial skill—how to argue persuasively, and how to compromise,” said Coach Dawn W Todd, a former lawyer who has coached the UPrep team for almost two decades. “Students learn what evidence is and what it isn’t, and they become confident.”
Coach Patrick Trompeter ’97 loves observing how students become more creative and curious about what the facts mean—rather than what the words say—as their confidence grows. “The ability to critically evaluate what one reads and hears, to place it in a larger context of information and evaluate whether it is reliable, and then to allow it to change one’s beliefs may be one of the most important life skills we can teach to young people,” said Patrick, a lawyer who was on the Mock Trial Team when he was a UPrep Upper School student.
The Blue Team finished first and the Green Team finished second at the competition, which meant they qualified for the state competition. At the state competition in April, the Blue Team finished 11th and the Green Team finished 13th in a field that included 24 teams. The following students were nominated for awards at the state competition:
Cade: Actor and Budding Filmmaker Senior Cade Evered joined Mock Trial this year because he likes acting. He played two witness roles. “I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the three-hour practices on Sunday nights where we would go over the trial,” he said. “As I learned the witness statements, I started developing the characters. I treated it much like a play.”
Cade loves that the work you put in pays off during the competitions. “How much you know about the details of the case influences the outcome of the case,” he said. “I memorized my witness statement, but my coaches told me if I remembered the other witness statements, I could add a second layer of details to my testimony.”
Shraeya usually played the part of a lawyer during Mock Trial competitions. She loved learning about case theory and evidentiary rules and how to structure questions and examina tions. “It was also so interesting to analyze different cases and see how it could support my case,” she said.
SUMMER 2022 23 At the district competition, each team competes in four rounds. In each round, one side of the team, either plaintiff or defense, competes against the opposing side of an opposing school.
In the UPrep Library, innovation, challenge, and an opportunity to try something new can be found in each book you open. In the list for this issue, we offer insight into the art of a talented UPrep alumna, a tasty tome about innovative cooking, a guide to local beaches, and a deep dive into nature’s best architect, the beaver!
By Ben Goldfarb
The Wok By J. Kenji Lopez-Alt When we heard this issue’s theme was “The Art of Innovation,” we immediately thought about local author J. Kenji Lopez-Alt’s cookbook The Food Lab, which uses science to explain the art of cooking. We were thrilled to learn his new cookbook, The Wok, came out in March! This new cook book is full of color and techniques to use as you explore the culinary arts in the kitchen. It breaks down the science behind 200 of his favorite wok-utilizing recipes and pairs cooking techniques with raw food options. This is a great option for students who loved the Student Chef intensive.
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Northwest Know-How: Beaches
The Loves of Our Lives By Karsyn Wallace ’18 UPrep students are encouraged to embrace their artistic talents. We enjoy seeing their work in the hallways and on the stage. As librarians, it is extra special when we get to see a student’s work published in print. In 2021, UPrep alumna Karsyn Wallace published The Loves of Our Lives, a multigenerational account of a family’s history seen through the eyes of Black women who live in the United States. Three protagonists navigate complex emotions and scenarios across time in a novel that is fast-paced and well researched. We are so proud of Karsyn’s innovative art and hope you enjoy it, too.
By Rena Priest August has arrived, which means it’s time to get outside and play in the sand and surf. Washington’s poet laureate penned Northwest Know-How: Beaches. This darling book is filled with local knowl edge about Washington and Oregon beaches, and it includes artistic renderings by Jake Stoumbos, maps, and poetry. Although fall is almost here, the beaches described within these pages would make lovely destinations during any season.
Sometimes nature is the best innovator. In Eager, author Ben Goldfarb lays out the case for beavers as important and innovative architects of our waterways. Not only do readers learn about this influential species, but they also discover how North America was colonized by beavers and how beaver integration into environments all over the world can help us combat drought, flooding, wildfire, extinction, and the effects of climate change. ■
ON THE BOOKSHELF
Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter
BY ANNE BINGHAM AND LEAH GRIFFIN, UPREP LIBRARIANS
Upper School Play
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In early April, the Upper School Play Production and Stagecraft classes presented The Bully Plays. This collection of eight one-act plays was performed by a cast of actors new to the craft of acting. They performed roles ranging from mime to tragic to comic in plays that are intended to create a dialogue centered on the bullying confronted by today’s young people. The Stagecraft students undertook scenic design, set construction, and running crews for performances of each play with great creativity, efficiency, and excellent enthusiasm.
On May 6, students from Visual Art I, Visual Art II, Visual Art III/IV, Art of Craft, Graphic Design, and Photography I and II shared work from a wide variety of projects and artistic media that they had created during the spring semester. With more than 70 students displaying their favorite pieces, the showcase was our first opportunity to have an end-of-year show since 2019. The Vocal Ensemble opened the concert with a beautiful candlelit processional singing “Long Time Traveller” in three-part harmony. They also performed “Rumor Has It/Someone Like You” by Adele and Ryan Tedder, “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys, and “Safe and Sound” by Taylor Swift. The Chamber Orchestra performed Haydn’s “Farewell” Symphony, “Masquerade Waltz” by A. Khachaturian, theme from Howl’s Moving Castle by Joe Hisaishi, Vivaldi’s Bassoon Concerto in D minor, and “Sicilienne” by Carl Maria von Weber, arr. Dushkin. Solo performances were given by Quinlan Drabek, 11th grade; Griffon Ou, 9th grade; and Tuesday Sohn, 11th grade. The Varsity Jazz Ensemble played compositions by Sonny Rollins, Ray Charles, Ray Bryant, Joe Zawinul, Youngblood Brass Band, and Roy Hargrove, with solos by all.
In the Arts
Upper School Visual Arts Showcase and Musical Performance
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During spring semester, 30 Middle School students and three faculty memorized, sang, danced, acted, designed, built, and learned complex technical systems to create our production of Matilda, the Musical, JR. Costumes were designed, magical disappearing cakes and self-writing chalk were figured out, harmonies were refined, quick costume changes were mastered, and choreography for dances and scene changes was perfected. On May 12, the application of this talent and hard work brought two exciting and entertaining performances to UPrep audiences. Vivid characterizations, beautiful singing, and seamless technical support made for hilarious and invigorating performances for actors, stagehands, and our audience.
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On May 18, Middle School students from World Art, the 6th grade Fine Arts rotation, and Photography selected their favorite works from their spring semester portfolio for exhibition. The Visual Arts Show case presented an eclectic array of student artwork illustrating the talent of our students. The concert was a creative display of the students’ recent musical efforts with performances by the Traditional Jazz Combo, Jazz 1, Orchestra Band B1, Orchestra Band Chamber Ensemble, Orchestra Band II, the Middle School Orchestra, and the Intermediate Jazz Ensemble.
Middle School Musical
Middle School Visual Arts Showcase and Musical Performance
Access to female role models early in my life was a significant factor in my decision to become a director of athletics. I attended high school from 1987 to 1991 and participated in three varsity sports. My athletic director (and softball coach) was Edna Fraser. In her career within the Milford Public School system, Ms. Fraser worked to elevate opportunities for females in sports and education. I experienced challenges and inequities as a high school female athlete and, more notably, as a college athlete. But never once did it cross my mind that women could not be athletic directors.
Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX
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I see my role at UPrep as leading, encouraging, and promoting all aspects of sports leadership. I lean in to challenge the status quo and the systems that prevent growth, development, and leadership for all who aspire to be on the playing field—as an athlete, leader, ally, or educator. While we have a lot to celebrate as Title IX turns 50, I’m looking forward to seeing what the next 50 years bring as we continue to work toward creating an equal playing field in athletics.
THE LATEST SPORTS NEWS
GET Follow uprep_athletics on Instagram or @UPrep_Athletics on Twitter to see the day-to-day Puma perspective, with coverage of our UPrep teams, coaches, and alumni athletes who play in college. Both feeds give an insider’s view of our program.
Title IX, the federal civil rights law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school that receives funding from the federal government, went into effect on June 23, 1972. Still, female high school athletic directors remain a significantly underrepresented group in the state of Washington and across the country. As I look back, I realize that female leadership, role models, and mentors made both an unconscious and conscious impact on my journey. Representation matters. While working at UPrep for 23 years—as director of athletics since 2006—I have worked with other female athletic directors and our ever-important male allies to do my best to set an example for the future generations that will continue the work. I only wish that I could thank Ms. Fraser in person. I know she would be proud to hear that I am an athletic director and a leader in my state association Washington Secondary Schools Athletic Administrator’s Association (WSSAAA) and within the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA). Knowing that I am part of her legacy and that I actively work to advance women in athletic leadership would make her smile.
BY REBECCA MOE, DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Rebecca Moe playing D1 softball for Fordham University in 1995.
In fact, I think the other two high school athletic departments in Milford, Connecticut, were also led by female athletic directors during my time in high school. The leadership and visibility of these women paved the way for my own career.
Our varsity basketball teams advanced in their conference playoff structure. The boys won playoff games against Sultan and Summit Sierra and lost to King’s and Bear Creek to end their season at 13-7. Our girls team finished up a tough division schedule and then played four playoff games—beating Eastside Prep and Forest Ridge and losing to Bush and Sultan. The Pumas finished 5-12 for the season. Thank you to all the Pumas, coaches, and families for your constant support of our co-curricular athletic program that began August 23 and concluded May 28. In total, 72 percent of our students participated on one of our 53 teams.JAMES
COACH OF THE YEAR, COHO DIVISION
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Basketball Season Finished on a High Note
The winter and spring athletics seasons were a combination of starts, stops, pivots, and adjustments. Many Middle School and Upper School students joined our education-based athletics program, and we enjoyed the return of traditional spring sports for all Pumas. Our student athletes learned lessons of teamwork, sportsmanship, leadership, accountability, and Puma pride during sports practices, team-building exercises, and competitions. Wearing the UPrep uniform is a privilege, and the Pumas continued to lead and demon strate our values throughout our community, region, and state.
Congratulations to Coach Johnson, who has been leading our varsity basketball program for four years. He has guided our program through the long COVID-19 stretch and through a league/conference realignment. His commitment to teaching his players basket ball and how to be responsible community members is at the forefront of his coaching. Coach Johnson is the real deal— a triple threat. He is an outstanding teacher, the 9th grade dean, and a valued coach. Thank you, Coach Johnson, for all you do for our students, your colleagues, and our community.
Athletics in Review
JOHNSON NAMED
Ultimate The Varsity Ultimate Team made a long-awaited return to the Ultimate State Tournament. The Pumas (seeded No. 3 in the Emerald Sound Conference) played Roosevelt (the Seattle Public Schools No. 1 seed) on a Tuesday evening at Robert Eagle Staff, losing 5-12 to end their season.
Our varsity Upper School teams found success at the conference, district, and state level. On May 28, the Pumas capped off a historic feat: all three team sports were state qualifiers, and tennis and track and field, our individual-sport teams, had state qualifiers, too.
Tennis Freshman Galia Harmelin finished second in the conference and second at the District Tennis Tournament, and played a lot of tennis at the two-day State Tennis Tournament, finishing as the third-place medalist! She will be a force in 1A Girls Tennis in the years to come.
The Varsity Baseball Team entered the postseason as the No 2. seed from the Emerald Sound Conference and won two early district games on May 7 vs. Blaine (6-0) and South Whidbey (7-1). These wins secured another trip to State. The District Championship game vs. Cedar Park ended in a loss for UPrep. At the Spokane/Ferris Regional Tournament as the No. 12 seed, the Pumas bested the No. 5 seed, Colville, 11-3, and No. 4 seed, Deer Park, 1-0, to earn the trip to the IA semifinals at Yakima County Stadium. In this matchup, the Pumas again played conference rival Cedar Park. The team rallied from 0-5 to 6-5, but lost 7-6 to the No. 1 team. The Pumas played in the early consolation final. Chelan scored three runs in the top of the first. In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Pumas scored four runs, with senior Sean Fried getting a walk-off hit to score two runs and earn the win. This team never gave up and ended their season with a third-place trophy, out of 51 1A teams in our state. Soccer
30 UPREP MAGAZINE Spring Sports Review
Track and Field
Baseball
The Varsity Soccer Team finished third in conference play and then began a remarkable postseason run. The Pumas beat Overlake 1-0 and Seattle Academy 2-1—earning a ticket to State and the Conference Championship game versus Bush, which ended in a loss for UPrep. At the State Soccer Tournament, the Pumas, seeded No. 12, played the No. 5 seed, Seton Catholic, in the first round in Wenatchee, winning 2-0. In the quarterfinals, the Pumas played the No. 4 seed and host, Cascade, and won in an overtime penalty kick shootout. At the State semifinals, the Pumas played the Highland Scotties, winning 4-2. At the State Championship, the Pumas played crosstown rival The Bush School on a very rainy Saturday afternoon, which was the first time a UPrep boys soccer team played in the State Championship since 2014. The Pumas were unable to counter the Bush goals and lost, finishing second (as we did in 2014). The Pumas were ranked 12th out of the 20 teams entering the tournament and went on to earn the second-place trophy, out of 73 1A teams in the state of Washington. I am proud of how the team played, carrying themselves with class and integrity as the time ticked away and winning the game became out of reach. I want to thank Coach Alec Duxbury for a remarkable season, taking these Pumas as far as they could go as he concluded an amazing career as the leader and coach of our teams. After 29 seasons, coaching both the boys and girls soccer teams, Alec will be stepping down as the head coach at University Prep. ■
The Pumas had many personal records and fantastic finishes at the Emerald Sound Conference Championship Meet. The following students advanced to the District Meet at Granite Falls: Makari Jack son, Jimari Marks, Asher Todd-Taraday, Nick Rosenthal, Max Seitz, Mohamed Hassan, Mattias Keaunui, Sohvi Borland, Claire Miyoshi, Allie Sniezek, Maddie Takamiya, Kate Glenn, Jackie Takamiya, Emma Serralles, and Adriana Hernandez. At the District Meet, two Pumas punched their ticket to state with a top four finish! At the State Championship Meet in Spokane, Max finished ninth in the 110-meter hurdles. Maddie finished seventh in the triple jump, earning a medal and a place on the podium. She also broke the school record in the triple jump, which was set in 1991.
Our spring sports teams battled a cold, wet spring. There was a robust turnout: 146 Middle School Pumas and 145 Upper Schools Pumas fielded 18 teams. Because of the pandemic, this was the first typical spring sport experience for our Middle School Pumas, and it was great to see many new faces playing Ultimate, baseball, and track and field. The success of our varsity teams begins with a fun, well-organized Middle School program. The goal this year for all our Middle School students was to learn what it means to be a Puma athlete. This work will continue next year, and we are excited to welcome our rising 8th graders and new community members to our Upper School sports community.
SUMMER 2022 31 GIRLS BASKETBALL First Team All Conference: Paris Buren Second Team All Conference: Jane Scroggs Team Sportsmanship Award BOYS BASKETBALL Most Valuable Player: Henry Wright Honorable Mention All Conference: Alex Bontje Honorable Mention All Conference: Zack Lagunoff Team Sportsmanship Award SOCCER First Team All Conference: Alex Bontje Second Team All Conference: Kellen Davis Second Team All Conference: Owen Howland Second Team All Conference: Quin Drabek Honorable Mention All Conference: Will Rothman Honorable Mention All Conference: Josh Yi BASEBALL First Team All Conference: Yoshi Malady First Team All Conference: Zack Hampson Honorable Mention All Conference: Nathan Crawford Honorable Mention All Conference: Sean Fried Honorable Mention All Conference: Harry Rothman ULTIMATE Co-Most Valuable Player: Jane Scroggs First Team All Conference: Eliza Barton Coach of the Year: Linnea Soo ’14 TENNIS First Team All Conference: Galia Harmelin TRACK & FIELD First Team All Conference, triple jump: Maddie Takamiya First Team All Conference, 110-meter hurdles and 300-meter: Max Seitz First Team All Conference, high jump: Mohamed Hassan ALL CONFERENCE AWARDS
Western
Boston
Gonzaga University
University
Colorado College
University
Santa
Tulane
Harvard University Harvey Mudd College Johns
University Loyola University New Orleans McGill
MATRICULATION College College (2) Boston University (2) Western Reserve (2) (3) (2) (3) Hopkins Marymount NortheasternUniversityUniversity (3) College (2) College (2) Institute of Technology Clara University (3) University (4) UniversityUniversityCollege (Ireland) of California, Davis University of California, Los Angeles University of Colorado Boulder (2) of Michigan of Rochester University of San Diego (2) of Southern California University of Toronto of Vermont of Virginia University of Washington (10) University (2) Forest University University in St. Louis (2) Washington
University
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Cornell GeorgeEmoryEmersonEvergreenDartmouthUniversityCollegeStateCollegeCollegeUniversityWashingtonUniversity
(2) Northwestern University Occidental College
Pitzer
Vanderbilt
Syracuse University Tufts
It’s time to celebrate the class of 2022. Their resilience and grace were on full display as they diligently navigated the college process during an unusual time. Next year, they will navigate their way across the globe as they matriculate to 47 different institutions in 19 states, Washington, D.C, two Canadian provinces, and Ireland.
University Loyola
Washington
BY KELLY HERRINGTON, DIRECTOR OF
University
Bowdoin College Case
University Whitman WorcesterWillametteCollegeUniversityPolytechnic Institute ClassCongratulations,of2022!
University Chapman University
LIST Barnard
Dublin
Rochester
University
University
Forever Pumas, they will become Jumbos at Tufts University and Bears at Washington University in St. Louis. They will wear maroon and gold at Boston College and blue and buff at George Washington University. Wherever they matriculate, they will carry with them the attributes they gained through their UPrep experience: a desire to connect across cultures, intellectual curiosity, and a passion for social justice. Our new graduates understand their strengths, know how to actualize their dreams, and realize the power they have to create a better community for themselves and others. We look forward to seeing how the class of 2022 embraces challenge and thrives in an ever-changing world.
Pomona
Wake
COLLEGE COUNSELING AND STUDENT SERVICES
SUMMER 2022 33 Matriculation by distance from home 14% 15% 31% 22% 18% Submitted 752 applications to 168 differentcolleges 52% admit rate for applicationssubmittedall 22% of recognizedclass by National Merit Will attend 47 different institutions in 19 states + D.C., as well as two Canadian provinces and Ireland The classes of ‘18–’22 attend 131 institutions in 31 states and five countries 150 college (3/4representativesadmissionsvisitedUPrepofthesevisitswereinperson) Matriculation by college student body size 26% 35% 39%
34 UPREP MAGAZINE COLLEGES WITH THREE OR 2018–2022MATRICULATIONSMORE University of Washington (29) Santa Clara University (22) Whitman College (10) Colorado College (9) Chapman University (8) George Washington University (8) Gonzaga University (8) Occidental College (8) Western Washington University (8) New York University (7) Pitzer College (7) Tufts University (7) University of Oregon (7) Washington University, St. Louis (7) Northwestern University (6) Scripps College (6) University of California, Los Angeles (6) University of Colorado, Boulder (6) University of Southern California (6) Loyola Marymount University (5) Seattle University (5) University of Michigan (5) Boston College (4) Brown University (4) Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (4) Carleton College (4) Northeastern University (4) Tulane University (4) University of Chicago (4) University of Denver (4) University of St Andrews, Scotland (4) University of Wisconsin, Madison (4) Boston University (3) Dartmouth College (3) Elon University (3) Emory University (3) Grinnell College (3) Middlebury College (3) Pomona College (3) University of British Columbia (3) University of Puget Sound (3) University of San Diego (3) University of Washington, Bothell (3) Vanderbilt University (3) Wake Forest University (3) Yale University (3)
Student Awards
This award is given to graduating seniors who throughout their time at UPrep have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service. As part of the award, each student will designate a nonprofit organization to receive a donation from UPrep in their name.
• Cade Evered JULIA CALHOUN COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
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• 9th – Siddharth Ramanathan, Kathryn Ye
LOUIS ARMSTRONG AWARD FOR MUSICAL EXCELLENCE •
This recognition goes to a student who has been involved in the equivalent of at least four Play Production or Stagecraft classes and has devoted artistic effort beyond required class time in the craft of acting, play directing, or theatre stagecraft. Mira Brown HERMAN AWARD Travis Ticeson Kelton Sonoda HAMLIN AWARD Jennifer Bou Max Gitenstein Peter McCormick Quin Drabek Tuesday Sohn Ellie Assadi Roxanne Smith Eleanor Karis-Sconyers Litton
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• 11th – Julia Cappio, Ethan Matsubayashi SILVER PUMA AWARD
This award is given to students who have demonstrated an ongoing interest in creating a greener community. Through education, volunteer work, and devotion to a more sustainable way of life, the recipients of this award have shown that they are committed to an environmentally responsible lifestyle.
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This year the award is open to all 12th grade students and is given to recognize exceptional skill in the craft of writing and to reward those students with a desire to risk originality and risk the interpretation of their work.
This award is given to senior class students whose standards of personal excellence and force of character deserve recognition. The students are selected based on commitment, scholarship, pride in UPrep, leadership, integrity, inspiration, and citizenship.
DAVID BASS MEMORIAL AWARD
• Andrew Bell PUMA PRIDE AWARD
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NATIONAL ORCHESTRA AWARD •
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THEATRE RECOGNITION AWARD
WOODY
• Hermona Hadush GARRY AND ELLEN JONES MEMORIAL AWARD
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ERICA
This award is given to those students whose selfless contributions have made a significant difference in the life of the school.
DIRECTOR’S AWARD FOR ORCHESTRA •
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FOR LEADERSHIP IN MUSIC •
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 UPrep.
Jeanette C. Williams held a special place in her heart for all those students who, in her words, “[weren’t] done cooking yet.”
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 UPrep.
• Middle School: Guetty Moita • Upper School: Gabrielle Pitre
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SCHOLAR
MARK CULLEN COMMITMENT TO ATHLETICS AWARDS Harry Jackson Jane Scroggs ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Abby Headstrom Andrew Ye ATHLETE OF THE YEAR Alex Bontje Yoshi Malady Jane Scroggs MIDDLE SCHOOL ATHLETIC ACHIEVEMENT AWARD Jaiveer Chauhan Ben Frischer Marin Gant Larissa Rosenthal Max Vukelic
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.
JEANETTE C. WILLIAMS WRITING AWARDS
FOR MUSICAL IMPROVEMENT •
• Parisa Harvey • Adriana Hernandez Jimenez • Chris McCarty • Gabrielle Pitre
• 10th – René Quiroga, Aida Richey
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• Parisa Harvey – Best Portfolio Sarah Bunker – First Runner-Up
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• Julia Cappio
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SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
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• Oliver
• Muna Hassan
• Kellen Davis • Theo Barton
FACULTY RECOGNITION AWARD
Scott Collins, Journalism Teacher, was elected treasurer of the Washington Journalism Education Association for the 2022–2024 term. He served as the organization’s vice president for the past two years.
Shannon Salverda, Learning Specialist, concluded her Leadership and Design Fellowship year at the spring convening in Denver, Colorado. She presented her yearlong project, which was on how to de-silo learning support, counseling, Social Emotional Learning, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice services in independent schools.
Julie Smith, Learning and Testing Specialist, recently completed a master of education in educational foundations degree, specializing in global perspectives on educational policy and practice, at University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.
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Priscilla Lindberg, History Teacher, participated in a program set in Mongolia with the American Center for Mongolian Studies this sum mer. She was awarded a fellowship to participate in a three-week research study examining the impact of mining on the natural and human geography. She has a long involvement with Mongolia and Mongolian culture: she worked there for two years and is married to a man she met in Mongolia in 2005.
Leah Griffin, Librarian, and Senator Patty Murray passed the Survi vors’ Access to Supportive Care Act in March 2022. The legislation, which Griffin inspired and led advocacy efforts on, sets national standards of care for sexual assault exams, identifies services for survivors, and appropriates $150 million to train and pay sexual assault nurse examiners.
Veronica Salas, Visual Arts Teacher, was selected out of 450 appli cants for an artist-in-residence opportunity in Puebla, Mexico, at the Arquetopia Foundation. She spent three weeks this summer working on a project based on her great-grandfather’s career as a musician.
Susie Wu, Director of Middle School, co-chaired a committee for the Educational Records Bureau (ERB), which resulted in the organization’s first Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice statement in April 2022. The statement in its final version will be published on the ERB website. Our Colleagues
News from
Leah Griffin and Senator Patty Murray Shannon Salverda at the Leadership and Design Fellowship
Mikayla Patella-Buckley, Science Teacher, is a recipient of a Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Research Program to carry out educational research in Finland. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government. Participants are chosen based on their academic merit and leadership potential. It gives recipients the opportunity to study, teach, conduct research, exchange ideas, and help find solutions to shared international concerns. The pool is very selective, with no more than 20 percent of Fulbright applicants receiving an award. Mikayla, with her family, will travel to Finland for four months (January through April 2023) to study how Finnish teachers support female students and students of color in their science classes. She will visit schools from early elementary all the way through graduate/teacher training.
Chris loved to travel and visited family and friends along the East Coast and elsewhere. She is remem bered for her positive outlook, kindheartedness, fun-loving personality, and endearing New Jersey accent. Chris was active in the Seattle Urban League, University-Ballard Lions Club, Trinity United Methodist Church in Ballard, United Methodist Women, and the Delta Kappa Gamma Society, which promotes the growth of women educators.
ALWAYSPUMA,AAPUMA
After serving 29 years at UPrep, English Teacher and Head Coach Alec “Dux” Duxbury ’87 retired this June. He learned one of his teaching maxims from a mentor during his first year of teaching: learn your students, teach yourself. “University Prep has been a good place for me to practice what has been my life’s work so far: I became a much better teacher, a much better coach, a much better outdoor leader, and a much better human during my time here. I thank the institution and my colleagues for allowing me to grow as a professional in all my areas of interest,” said Dux.
Chris was born in Jamaica, New York. Her family moved to New Jersey when she was young, and Chris proudly considered herself a New Jerseyite all her life. She moved to Seattle in 1969; she loved her newly adopted Northwest home. Chris received her B.A. in Education from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) and received her M.A. from Lesley University in Massachusetts. She taught at Pascack Valley High School and Carteret High School in New Jersey; Roosevelt High School in Seattle; and Raymond High School in Raymond, Washington. In 1976, Chris and six other teachers founded University Preparatory Academy. She contributed tirelessly to the advancement of our school. While here, she held many positions: UPrep Board of Trustees member, admissions director, librarian, Parent Council liaison, and English and language skills teacher. She cherished her relationships with the students she taught, keeping in touch with them long after they had graduated. After a 40-year career as a dedicated and beloved educator, Chris retired in 2001.
In Memory of Beloved UPrep Founder Chris McGarry
Senior student and soccer player Jane Scoggs said Dux is one of the most intelligent, compassionate, reliable people she has ever met. “He cares deeply about each of his students, players, peers, and fellow members of this community. Whether we are in the classroom or on the pitch, Dux achieves the perfect balance of humor and drive,” she said.
A celebration of her life was held at UPrep in March. “I met Chris as ‘Ms. Petersen’ when I came to UPrep as a sophomore in the fall of 1976. She was my advisor,” said former UPrep Trustee Sara Gerhart Snell ’79 at this service. “Chris was warm, caring, and curious about who I was and what I wanted in life. These are ordinary things we expect from friends, yet, in the context of student-teacher relation ships, it was unusual. Thank you, Chris, for your generosity, humor, compassion, and steadfastness.”
PE teacher Nate Whitney said he appreciates Dux’s positivity. “Dux consistently and clearly voices his expectations with players. I think the greatest compliment I can give Dux is that I would not hesitate to have one of my children play for him,” he said. Next year, Dux will coach for the Seattle United soccer club, and will continue to play rock shows with his band, Rocket Bleach.
SUMMER 2022 37 Farewell We bid a fond farewell to the following members of the faculty and staff who are moving on to new adventures. We thank you for being part of our community and wish you the best: Damaris Altomerianos, Virginia Caynak, Kayleigh Concepcion, Dani Kim-Davis, Anabelle Ferguson, Lindy Hayden, Patrick King, Rocío Medina-Ovando, Alyssa Reyes, Caleb Strehlo, Jacob Taylor-Mosquera, Nhu-Quynh Tu, Anne Van Loen, and Robyn Veraa ONCE
Longtime Teacher and Coach Retires
AUGUST 06, 1939–JANUARY 6, 2022 Chris, far left, at the Commons Grand Opening in 2019. Chris, third from right, at the 1989 kickoff for the capital campaign that raised money for building UPrep’s permanent campus.
Shavette is now the assistant head of school for student experience at Seattle Academy. She will still be with us as a UPrep parent to her daughter, Kayla ’24.
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Steve de Beer has been head of school at Westside School, a preschool–8th grade independent school in West Seattle, since 2018. During that time, the school has expanded its campus and grown enrollment by more than 30 percent. He also served as the head of school at Friends School in Boulder, Colorado, where he led the initiatives to purchase and redevelop a second campus, launch a successful middle school, and grow a renowned teacher training program. He spent 21 years in teaching and administrative roles at Stanley British Primary School in Denver. For six years, Steve chaired the Annual Conference of the Association of Colorado Independent Schools. He currently serves on committees for the Northwest Association of Independent Schools. He was selected as a practitioner expert by the Making Caring Common Project
Paying Tribute to Four Leaders
In 2012, Shavette McGhee became the director of diversity and community. In this role, she grew Social Justice Day and affinity group programming. In 2018, Shavette became the director of enroll ment management and filled our school with students who were excited about the UPrep experience.
Quyen Hamilton served as a grade-level representative and admissions liaison in the UPrep Parent and Guardian Association.
of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education and is a frequent presenter for the National Association of Independent Schools. He has an M.Ed. in teacher education from the University of Massachusetts and a B.A. in linguistics from the University of York in England. Originally from Sussex in the south of England, he lives in Seattle with his wife, Steph Bruno, and has two 20-something daughters: Emma, who works in independent school admissions, and Leah, who lives in Tampa, Florida.
She is now the director of inclusion and well-being at the Taipei American School in Taiwan.
Born and raised in Seattle, Quyen attended The Evergreen School and Shorecrest High School, and graduated with a B.A. in comparative religion from the University of Washington. Quyen is co-chair of the
We have a saying at UPrep: “Once a Puma, always a Puma.” The four Senior Leadership Team members who moved on in June to new opportunities embody that saying well. We thank them for their leadership and hard work on behalf of the UPrep community and look forward to hearing about their future accomplishments. As the director of advancement, Catherine Blundell demonstrated her Puma pride by supporting UPrep’s fundraising for more than 15 years. Under her leadership, UPrep’s annual giving increased each year and the school created meaningful engagement opportunities for our community. On the personal side, Catherine is the proud parent of two Puma alums, Drew ’10 and Natalie ’12. Catherine is now the director of development for the St. Thomas School in Medina.
E-chieh Lin came to UPrep to be a fine arts teacher in 2015. E-chieh quickly became a leader and reduced her teaching load to work part time in the Diversity and Community Office. She became the director of diversity and community in 2017. Her coaching of faculty, staff, and students has moved UPrep forward along its journey to becoming a more diverse, equitable, inclusive, and just community.
Ten years ago, Richard Kassissieh became UPrep’s academic dean. He was soon promoted to assistant head of school for academics and strategic initiatives. Richard led the implementation of intensives; created Inside UPrep, the school’s internal program for tracking student progress; enhanced professional development through his management of Individualized Teaching Improvement Plans for faculty development; launched a new course request program for student course sign-ups; and created a new and improved scheduling module for the school. We wish him well in his new position as head of school at Stratford Hall School in Vancouver, B.C.
Board of Trustees Update
We welcome the following new members of the board and bid goodbye to Lisa Bontje, Mark Britton, Geoff Buscher, Charisse Cowan-Pitre, Jason Froggatt ’87, Tracy Pozil, Tori Ragen, and Cheryl Scott
SUMMER 2022 39
Assisteens of Seattle, a student-led service organization supporting underserved youths in our community, and master instructor at The Bar Method, a local and national fitness chain. She and her husband, Adam, have three children: Sam ’23, Thomas ’25, and Eloise.
Russell Normann ’86 owns and operates a private commercial real estate company with a unique and growing portfolio in the Puget Sound region. He oversees all aspects of the business and takes great pride in serving its diverse family of tenants. Prior to working in real estate, Russ had a successful career in the technology industry for more than a decade. Russ graduated with degrees in philosophy and mathemat ics from the University of Washington. He has participated on the UPrep Alumni Board, serving on the Finance Committee for several years. He enjoys sailing, skiing, traveling, and spending time with family and friends, many of whom stretch back to his days at UPrep. Russ and his wife, Heather, are the parents of Ben ’21.
Ursula Phelan is the president of the UPrep Parent Guardian Association, where she previously served five years as past exec, treasurer, and grade-level parent representa tive. She also worked with Development on several events, co-chaired the Puma Fund for two years, and has served as co-chair for UPrep’s Open House. Ursula is from Ireland and received her B.S. in computer science and psychology from University College Dublin. Her professional career started in Ireland, where she was project manager at IBM. With her move to Seattle, Ursula consulted with both public and private companies with full responsibility for sales and delivery. She managed software development consulting teams for Microsoft, Boeing, and other Pacific Northwest companies. She retired after the birth of her first child. She and her husband, Fergal, are the parents of Ciaran ’22 and Fiachra ’24.
Jarrad Harford is the Paul Pigott-PACCAR professor of finance and chair of the Finance and Business Economics Department at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. He grew up in Pennsylvania and earned his B.S. from Penn State. He earned his Ph.D. in finance with a minor in organiza tions and markets at the University of Roch ester. His teaching focuses on core finance, corporate governance, and acquisition analysis. Jarrad currently serves as a managing editor of the Journal of Financial and Quantitative Analysis. He and his co-authors are working on the sixth edition of their textbook, Fundamentals of Corporate Finance. Jarrad was a long-serving member of the University Child Development Center (UCDS) Finance Committee and a member of the UCDS Board of Trustees for six years. He and his wife, Katrina Strand, are the parents of Evan ’24 and Cole ’25.
Danielle Ruthfield is a strategic financial advisor to individuals, families, and com panies in transition. Previously, she was a marriage and family therapist and the head of Northwest Family Therapy, a group ther apy practice in Seattle. She has also served in leadership and development roles at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle and as a program manager at Amazon. Danielle was previously the chair of the Board of Trustees of The Evergreen School, and as the chair of the Development Committee, she helped deliver a successful $20 million capital campaign. She is a fellow in the Wexner Heritage Program, a worldwide Jewish leadership initiative. She has a B.A. from the University of Puget Sound and master’s degrees from Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University. Danielle her husband, Scott, and two daughters, Mica and Nava ’25, live in Shoreline. Blake Titcomb ’09 graduated from the University of Puget Sound in 2013 with a B.S. in geology and a minor in economics. Blake is passionate about giving back to his community and has served on a number of philanthropic boards. He served as president of the UPrep Alumni Board for four years and currently sits on a Family Foundation for Sustainable Forests and Communities Initiative Committee and Financial Committee. Blake is a senior account manager at PitchBook, a financial software company. While he and his wife, Brittany, do not have any little Pumas, they are very fond of their German shepherd, Maya.
Jeremy Wacksman is the chief operating officer at Zillow Group. He previously served as president and chief marketing officer at Zillow Group. He has also led marketing and product management efforts at Microsoft and Trilogy Software. He advises startup and growth companies, including serving as a board director for Rover.com and Room 77 and as an advisor to Dollar Shave Club and GoFundMe. Jeremy earned a B.S. in computer engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. He and his wife, Lucy, are the parents of Eli ’25 and Miles ’29. ■
John and Shelly Sage, parents of Matthew ’22, Nicholas ’16, and Jackson ’14, expressed their gratitude for the unique and exceptional educational experience that each of their three Pumas received at UPrep. Thanks to our community, we raised $754,590 for the Endowed Financial Aid Fund. This fund helps us create an economically diverse student body and welcome those who would not be able to attend UPrep due to financial constraints. Through the support of our entire community—parents, guardians, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, and friends—we live our mission every day. We are grateful for our donors at every level who help make a UPrep education possible for future Pumas. Thank you for your continued dedication to and support of UPrep! ■ TOGETHER FACTS Total raised: $754,590 41 families were first-time donors to UPrep Together 21 families new to our school gave to UPrep Together
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UPrep Together— A Record-Breaking Success!
FAST
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BY CATHERINE MCNUTT, ANNUAL GIVING MANAGER n April 1, nearly 200 UPrep parents and friends gathered at Fremont Studios for a festive evening of celebrating our community and raising funds for our Endowed Financial Fund at UPrep Together. It was the first time in three years we gathered in person and the first time we offered a hybrid format, with an additional 143 families joining via livestream. Our Jazz Band, marimba players from the January intensive, and students from the Middle School Dance class lit up the stage, while student and alumni speakers shared what a UPrep education means to them.
UPREP
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SUMMER 2022 41
NotesClass
This year I earned a promotion to lead policy analyst at the Bank of England. For those who might not know, the Bank of England is the UK’s equivalent of a combination of the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission. It sets interest rates to control inflation and regulates banks and insurance companies to make sure the financial system keeps functioning, so we all can go about our daily lives. In my new role, I help make rules for finan cial firms to help stop major financial crises (like what happened in 2008) from happening. In the attached picture, I had a chance to join a parade in London (known as the Lord Mayor’s Show), representing the bank. I wore what they call “the Pinks,” which is the traditional uniform of Bank of England stewards. I didn’t always appreciate it at the time, but, in hindsight, I’m so grateful to UPrep for providing the foundation that led me to the job I love, which is also one of public service. I never could have guessed I would end up here!
Ara Greer and I are back on campus! We’re thrilled that our daughter, Alea, will be the next generation of Pumas in our family, starting 6th grade this fall. Congrats, Alea, we can’t wait to see how you make your own UPrep experience!
Earlier this year, my husband Mark, our three-year-old son, Danny, and I moved to Boulder County, Colorado. After a rocky start that included an emergency evacuation due to wildfires, we are settling into our new home. I recently joined the Dawson School as their new director of development and have enjoyed getting to know my new community. We’re enjoying exploring a new state and taking weekend trips.
Katie Schade ’09
Greg Carlson ’90 and Ray Larson ’90
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Katharine (Durkee) Cappo ’04
Nicole (Gyulay) Edmondson ’97
Nicole (Gyulay) Edmondson ’97 Brent Beecher ’93 and Ara Greer ’97 Katie Schade ’09
Brent Beecher ’93 and Ara Greer ’97
Greg Carlson ’90 After seventeen-plus years of living in Northeast Seattle (close to UPrep), my wife and I headed south to Chehalis, Washington, where we both work remotely. In January 2022, I started working for Cal lan Advertising, a Burbank-based agency that works with Amazon Studios and Sony Pictures, among many other theatrical/streaming companies. I’m still in contact with fellow class of ’90 members: Ray Larson, Matt Roach, Andrew Blackwell, and Ryan Rogers. When we meet up, it’s not uncommon for us to randomly sing a tune from one of the many spring musicals we were involved in.
After moving to Sydney, Australia, five years ago, I’ve done exactly what my mom always feared: met a boy and decided to stay for good! My fiancé, Erick, and I are getting married in December 2022, and I’m grateful that Alyssa Vaughan ’09 will make the trip to be a bridesmaid. In the meantime, we are busy settling into domestic life and I am making the transition from a consulting career to in-house strategy for a new challenger bank here in Sydney. If you’re ever in Australia, please reach out to catch up or get some great recommendations!
I am thrilled to start full time with the symphony in September, and I hope to reconnect with many of my former classmates and teachers upon my return to Seattle.
Nikai
Kipras Mazeika ’18 I just graduated from Rice University in the spring of 2022 with a bachelor of music in bassoon performance, and I was fortunate enough to win the audition for bassoon and contrabassoon with the Seattle Symphony! I agreed to audition in January 2022, thanks to the encouragement and generosity of my high school teacher, Francine Peterson, to whom I was first introduced by Thane Lewis.
Kipras Mazeika ’18 Henry Buscher ’21
In June, 30 students returned to campus for a Student Leadership Summit. Our Pumas participated in work shops on project management, how to run a meeting, long-term vision planning, collaborating with others, communications as a leader, and more. They ended the day with an alumni panel discussion featuring Taha Ebrahimi ’97, Kelabe Tewolde ’13, Alli Bunker ’18, and Michael Gary ’20.
In early February, I accepted an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, having spent one year at Dickinson College. I thoroughly enjoyed my year at Dickinson, but I’m super excited to be starting my four years at West Point. This summer, I will begin Cadet Basic Training, or Beast, as it is known. Additionally, a week after receiving my appointment, I self-published my first novel, Kings & Generals, which is now available on Amazon. While attending West Point may limit my ability to write for a while, I fully intend to continue the hobby and publish more books. Overall, these past few months have been eventful, and I look forward to what the future holds. Johnson ’14
Henry Buscher ’21
SUMMER 2022 43
Nikai Johnson ’14 I just published my book, Spirits of Sarana. It’s a young adult fantasy novel dealing with toxic masculinity and communication. I’ve been working on it for the past three years and I’m very excited to now share it. The e-book, paperback, and audiobook are now available at most major retailers. More info on the book can be found at my website: wordsofafeatherpress.com. Please check it out if you have a chance. Thanks!
Jackson Ragen ’17 In February 2022, I joined the Seattle Sounders FC for the 2022 season, with team options for 2023 and 2024. In my time at UPrep, I played for the Pumas in 2014, 2015, and 2016—earning league MVP in both my sophomore and junior seasons. In my senior year, I played for the Sounders Academy. I also attended the University of Michigan, where I was awarded Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year during my senior season. After graduating from college, I was drafted by the Chicago Fire FC in 2021 and moved to Seattle through the College Protected Period Priority.
STUDENT LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Katharine (Durkee) Cappo ’04 Jackson Ragen ’17
Alumni News
44 UPREP MAGAZINE
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH UPREP!
As we embark on a new school year, our Alumni Board membership is growing! Alumni Board members advise the school about alumni events and communications, and they lead the Alumni Association. For the past four years, Blake Titcomb ’09 has served as our president. His leadership and positive spirit have been wonderful assets for the board, and we are thrilled that he is joining the UPrep Board of Trustees. We look forward to seeing Blake at UPrep alumni events in the future. Rachel Pesando ’96 will be taking on the role of president this fall. She is a parent of two current Pumas, and she has served on the board since the early 2000s. We’re also thrilled to announce that we have three new members joining the board this year: Toby Cattolico ’04, Caracol Haley ’14, and Chris McCarty ’22; Chris will be joining as our young alumni representative. This school year, our Alumni Board members will represent the classes of 1982, 1994, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2014, and 2022.
Alumni Board Update
Alumni Summer Events Return
We are so excited to share that in-person alumni events returned this summer! On Saturday, July 23, 40 alumni, teachers, and families joined us at the Sounders game against the Colorado Rapids to cheer on alum Jackson Ragen ’17 on the pitch. Our group gathered at Flatstick Pub in Pioneer Square before kickoff to play putt-putt golf and grab some bites. On Saturday, August 6, we welcomed alumni back to campus for games, food, and campus tours. It was a fun evening of reconnecting and celebrating our UPrep community. The classes of 1982, 1992, 2002, 2012, 2016, and 2017 also celebrated their reunions at our events throughout the summer. Upper and lower left: Alumni from the classes of 1987–2022 met at Flatstick Pub in Pioneer Square for games and pizza before attending the Seattle Sounders match on July 23. Right: Members of the class of 2016 reconnected at Bale Breaker & Yonder Cider in Ballard to celebrate their belated five-year reunion.
BY CLAIRE FALLAT, DEVELOPMENT ENGAGEMENT AND ALUMNI MANAGER
Have you moved, started a new job, gone back to school, or experienced other exciting life changes in recent months? We’d love to hear what’s new in your world and share your updates with the UPrep community. Send your news and photos to us at alumni@universityprep.org.
Join us for this annual opportunity to meet your student’s teachers and a variety of faculty and staff at UPrep. More information about these events will be shared in All-School Emails.
Join us this fall as the entire UPrep community comes together to support our Puma Fund campaign. This inspiring effort benefits every student and teacher in our school.
EventsUpcoming
Back-to-School Nights
6th Grade Social: Thursday, September 8 11th & 12th Grade Social: Wednesday, September 14 7th & 8th Grade Social: Thursday, September 15 9th & 10th Grade Social: Tuesday, September 20
OUR MISSION University Prep is committed to developing each student’s potential to become an intellectually courageous, socially responsible citizen of the world.
The UPrep Development Office is thrilled to welcome our parents and guardians back to campus this fall! To celebrate the return to school, we are hosting four socials on campus throughout the month of September. Parents and guardians are invited to attend the social(s) that correspond to their child(ren)’s grade levels. More information about these socials will be shared via email.
First Day of School Wednesday, August 31
Welcome back! The ceremonial ringing of the UPrep bell will mark the beginning of the 2022–2023 school year.
SUMMER 2022 45
Middle School: Thursday, September 22, at UPrep Upper School: Thursday, September 29, at UPrep
Please note that dates may change; check the Family Portal for updates.
Puma Fund Kickoff Monday, October 3
New School Year Socials: at UPrep, 5:30 p.m.
NONPROFIT ORG US PERMITSEATTLE,POSTAGEPAIDWANO.1268 8000 25th Ave NE | Seattle, WA 98115 Follow us on www.instagram.com/university_prepInstagram: Subscribe on https://www.youtube.com/c/UniversityPrepYouTube:Like us on Thiswww.Facebook.com/UPrepSeattleFacebook:fall,thestudentsfrom the senior class will attend 47 different institutions in 19 states, Washington, D.C., two Canadian provinces, and Ireland. They will wear Harvard crimson and Dartmouth green and white. They will become Big Red Bears at Cornell University, Huskies at the University of Washington, and Blue Jays at Johns Hopkins University. And they will be forever Pumas! Class of 2022, we can’t wait to hear your news of the world beyond UPrep! Congratulations, Class of 2022!
