My spring has been filled with alumnae events—so wonderful because I love hearing their stories at Westridge and beyond. Our magical Alumnae Weekend welcomed nearly 200 alumnae back to campus and celebrated our two newest alumnae—of the honorary variety—Dance Teacher Kashmir Blake and Director of Athletics Melanie Horn. They were awarded honorary alumnae status in advance of their retirements in June after three decades at Westridge.
It's fitting that we celebrate these women in this edition of Surgere (see tributes on pages 4 & 8), which features a story on developing student agency. There are numerous skills underpinning student agency, but equally important is creating an environment that allows students the space to develop a solid sense of self and a sense that they can work for change they believe in. Kashmir and Melanie embody the ethos of Westridge that has led to generations of Westridge women who develop strong voices to advocate for themselves and others. We will miss these wonderful educators dearly.
Since Alumnae Weekend and subsequent alum gatherings in the Bay Area and New York City, I’ve been thinking about the inspiring and moving, sometimes funny patterns in the questions alums ask me or the things they want to tell me. How do you teach civil discourse and respectful disagreement in this polarized political climate? How are students of today doing with social media?...with the state of the world?...with the devastation of the recent fires? These are such good and important questions.
One of the interesting and fun things I have noticed (and my husband, Tim, has noticed it too), is that often alums want to tell me about the rules they broke at Westridge. Sometimes they are moving stories of pushing against barriers to make change, but most often they are amusing reminiscences of small adolescent rebellions and normal teenagers-testingboundaries. I’m not sure why they often tell me these stories—maybe it is because they can see that, as a girls’ school graduate myself, I may or may not have had my own fair share of these as a teen? Honestly, I find all of this to be completely endearing and also very on-mission for Westridge girls. Westridge girls have always been forward-thinking, have always wanted to push up against norms (the same way the school itself has from its founding), have always embraced “hidden meanings” à la surgere tentamus, have always been subversive. Westridge has been waiting for the world to catch up since 1913. Rule breaking is all part of that spirit. Agency in the fullest sense of the word.
The ability to take action or choose what action to take is, as Westridge Head of School Andrea Kassar wrote in her blog earlier this year, part of the air we breathe in girls’ schools. It’s especially apt to Westridge, which was founded by Mary Lowther Ranney at the request of local mothers to create a school to prepare girls for higher education and to make a difference in the world at a time when this was not the norm.
This underlies the voice, resilience, curiosity, and thoughtfulness core to decades of Westridge girls. And with agency as a key pillar in the school’s current Strategic Plan as crucial in driving learning and leadership both in and out of the classroom, efforts in fostering these skills and attributes have been even more intentional and clearer for students in recent years.
For example, the Lower School Council class, led by Lower & Middle School Director Dr. Zanita Kelly, is built around developing agency, as students are taught and encouraged to lean on their observations and experiences—to deeply listen and to speak up. “Agency stems from self-awareness,
of which we refer to as habits of the mind,” said Director of Teaching & Learning James Evans. Throughout their time at Westridge, students are engaged in reflective, thoughtful learning that encourages them to know deeply how they themselves make sense of the world and apply this understanding—and their academic knowledge—to new contexts and ways to effect change in the world.”
In the Upper School, agency is an important part of course development for Westridge’s new Advances Courses. These classes are designed not to fulfill requirements to a onesize-fits-all test, but to generate a student-drive vivacity of thought that culminates in meaningful and diverse choices in topics, projects, and levels of challenge.
Indeed, according to a recent report from the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Global Action Research Collaborative (of which Westridge English Teacher Tarra Stevenson is a member!) and Stanford University’s Challenge Success, student agency leads to greater engagement in school.
“We learn when we care deeply,” Evans said. “So having a connection and giving students choice that allows them to find and identify themselves in a field, discipline, or a way of thinking or seeing the world really prepares them for a deeper level of thinking and learning.”
Creating A Personal Connection To Learning
5TH GRADE THINK, CARE, ACT PROJECTS
hen your voice can change people’s behavior… that just gives me chills because that’s what I want our kids to understand about caring about something and highlighting needs they see in the world around them,” said Director of Lower & Middle School Dr. Zanita Kelly.
In the 5th grade Think, Care, Act Projects, students explore their own passions and strengths, and think about how they can use them to make an impact on their communities through volunteerism and activism around an issue close to their heart. Past topics have included pollution, mental health, poverty, and more.
They then build on this understanding in Middle School with the 7th grade Power of One exhibits, where students present the work of someone who makes positive social change—an “upstander”— including local politicians and nonprofit founders as well as some of our very own faculty and staff! “[The project] allows students speak to people who are doing the thing in the world around an issue they feel is important and to realize that, hey, I can do this too,” Kelly said. “You have to see it to be it. And you have to understand that it doesn’t take a lot of money, power, or proximity to power in order to be an agent of change in this world.”
UPPER SCHOOL AEROSPACE ENGINEERING
S Choice & Collaborative Learning
ky’s the limit and students are in charge as they come up with and build incredible projects to address real-world aerospace challenges. Recent projects include a hydroponic farm system to grow strawberries on Mars and a self-healing material!
Students at all levels of Aerospace Engineering meet during the same period and work in teams modeled after real-world engineering project teams. Students in the current highest level—Advanced Aerospace Engineering: Systems Engineering (a Westridge Advanced Course!)—act as project managers, responsible for setting goals, expectations, and giving tasks to their peers, per Upper School Rocketry Teacher Dan Perahya. They also act as mentors to students newer to the program.
“It’s meant to mimic what happens in the real world where you have senior and junior engineers that have to work together,” Perahya explained. “They’re the ones making the decisions—deciding how the project is going to go, what needs to happen, and so forth. When they go to the workforce, that’s the reality.”
Instead of instructing students what to do when there’s an issue, Perahya explained that it’s more of a collaborative thought process. “I’ll ask them questions to help them think through it because ultimately I’m trying to develop them into selfsufficient thinkers,” he said.
They’re the ones making the decisions—deciding how the project is going to go, what needs to happen, and so forth. When they go to the workforce, that’s the reality.
STUDENT ACTION COUNCIL
S Leadership & Agency
tudent Action Council was founded by students who wanted to have a more direct voice in student life issues and thought the administration could benefit from a more formal forum for student input.
Led by Kristin C. ’26 for the last two years, the council meets monthly with Head of School Andrea Kassar to discuss topics such as schedules, mental health, and dress code and to hear from Kassar about the administrative perspective. “There is a direct link between the things that students bring up and changes and tweaks administrators make,” said Kassar.
"Ms. Kassar says [Student Action Council] is building those leadership muscles before you go off into the real world ... This is a great way to practice [that]," said Kristin, adding: "My hope is that students realize this is the time, this is the place—people are going to listen to your voice, you just have to put in the work to make it happen."
As the classic Westridge mantra goes, as Westridge changes girls, so do girls change Westridge—and, per Kassar, “we welcome that—it’s what we want.”
WANT TO CHECK OUT MORE ABOUT AGENCY AT WESTRIDGE?
Scan the QR code to read our head of school’s blog on agency— titled “From Improv’s ‘Yes-And’ to Bartleby’s ‘I Would Prefer Not To’: Empowering Girls Through Agency.
KASHMIR BLAKE TO RETIRE IN JUNE
When she started as a long-term substitute in 1995, Kashmir Blake thought “what a dream come true,” not yet aware of the multidecade impact her creative force would make on the Westridge dance program and community over the next 30 years.
1976-1979
Dances in the original Broadway production of The Wiz
Blake significantly expanded the Westridge dance program, which previously focused primarily on ballet, to include more diverse dance genres and provide an inclusive environment for students with a range of backgrounds, skill levels, and stylistic interests. Today, there are a variety of expressive dances on display in class and at the annual Dance Concert, from tap and lyrical jazz to hip hop and modern dance—a reflection of each student’s passions and identity.
She also played a key role in creating an affirming community for students of color on campus, both in and outside the dance studio. In 1996, she was Westridge’s first full-time Black faculty member—a fact that inspired her to put inclusion at the forefront of her work. “[At] Backto-School Night, I would dress as strongly as I could to represent the Black community,” she told Spyglass student reporters in 2020.
When I came to substitute in December 1995, the girls I taught were exquisite. Kind, attentive, respectful, and eager.
1985 Begins teaching dance
1990 Leads a summer dance program for at-risk youth for the City of Inglewood
1995 Introduced Westridge as substitute dance teacher
1996 Joins Upper School faculty
Dance [with Kashmir] was always the highlight of my day. When we choreographed our extremely dramatic dance to opera/The 5th Element song, wig-pull and all—iconic. Love you, Kashmir!
— JESS PORTER '14
“Kashmir’s authentic presence on campus when she was one of just a few African American faculty members showed students that they, too, could be comfortable bringing their full selves to campus,” said 5th Grade History and Language Arts Teacher Amber Douglas-Rodriguez '01.
“As I reflect on my 30 years of incredible teaching at Westridge, my heart overflows with gratitude and love,” said Blake. “Teaching dance has been more than a profession— it has been my passion, my joy, and a source of endless inspiration.” And thank you, Kashmir, from the Westridge community and countless students you impacted! Your legacy will live on in and out of the dance studio for years to come.
2006-2009
Chairs the physical education department
2005
Dance Studio and Performing Arts Center open
2025
2018
Presents on the influence of African American dance to the Upper School Perspectives in Literature class as part of their study of Beyoncé's Lemonade
2020
Leads online dance classes during COVID-19 pandemic
Students honor Kashmir's 25 years at Westridge with a celebratory assembly
Named honorary Westridge alumna
Where History & Science COLLIDE
THIS YEAR, GLOBAL STUDIES ZOOMS
In an interdisciplinary course running this year, Westridge juniors and seniors are studying disease—the origins, transmission, and evolution of significant diseases—and building an understanding on the relationship between diseases and civilization.
IN ON INFECTIOUS DISEASE
Global Studies is co-taught by Upper School History Teacher
Jennifer Cutler and Science Department Chair Dr. Ryan Skophammer, which allows for the curriculum to transcend disciplinary boundaries as students contextualize a topic highly relevant to their lives today.
“Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, these topics were obviously on both of our minds,” Skophammer, now in his 12th year at Westridge, explained. “We wanted to offer students the opportunity to study biology in a historical context, while also drawing parallels to events that had directly impacted their lives.”
“In terms of structure and topics covered, Ryan and I modeled this on college and graduate level courses,” said Cutler, who has been teaching at Westridge for five years. “We wanted to push students and really challenge them to engage with these materials.” Students read primary and secondary historical sources, such as Thucydides’ account of the plague of Athens. They also study primary scientific literature, academic journals, popular books, and scientific summary articles.
“We’ve incorporated an epidemiology simulator lab to show students what happens to a population when there are vaccinations and to explore the parameters of disease,” Skophammer noted. “We also brought in [Upper School Computer Science Teacher] Autumn Rogers to teach students how to write a program that would model the spread of infections, as well as run experiments on existing models.”
Senior Brooklyn P., who wants to major in anthropology and biochemistry, said being part of the class feels like a taste of what her college classes might be like, and will help her to make connections between the two fields. Charlotte Y. ’26 echoed her thought.
“I am really into public health,” she said. “ … For example, we talked about public health reform and how that impacted mortality rates of babies from World War I and II. I think it’s worthwhile to learn
GLOBAL STUDIES: Infectious Diseases & Plagues Covered
This year, students are focusing on the history of the following plagues/diseases:
• Athenian, Justinian, and Bubonic plagues
• Typhoid
• Smallpox
• Syphilis
• Cholera
• Influenza
• AIDS
• COVID-19
how civilizations have dealt with things in the past and how we’ve grown (or not grown!) from them.”
“It [is] really cool to see how specific moments in history affected the ability for a plague to spread,” Brooklyn added.
For the course’s first semester culminating exercise, students performed scholarly source evaluations. They were challenged to research and evaluate both a history article and a scientific scholarly article about the plague. Cutler pointed out that this exercise has been designed to overlap with other disciplines at Westridge. “Groups of students will use their evaluations to create presentations for Perspectives in Literature [Westridge’s literary conference]. As an example, some students are writing a kids’ book on reptiles contracting salmonella,” Cutler said, highlighting the way students can make connections across various fields and disciplines
“Biology was my least favorite subject in school,” Cutler admitted. “But it’s been amazing to see students engage these materials from a variety of angles and perspectives that bring these things to life. I wish I had the experience these students are getting with this course.”
We wanted to offer students the opportunity to study biology in a historical context, while also drawing parallels to events that had directly impacted their lives.
— DR. RYAN SKOPHAMMER Westridge Science Department Chair
The Heart of a Tiger COACH HORN RETIRES
WESTRIDGE CAREER STATS
22 YEARS
Athletic Director
16 YEARS
Varsity Basketball Coach
MVP 1995-2025
3 YEARS
Academic Dean 1 YEAR
Interim Director of Upper School
4 YEARS
Physical Education Teacher
COLLEGE BASKETBALL CAREER
4 YEARS as center at UCLA
1 OF FIRST 3 WOMEN to receive full-ride basketball scholarship at UCLA
8 YEARS
Collegiate Coaching at...
• USC
• Occidental
• University of Redlands
• Cal State Fullerton
PROGRAM GROWTH UNDER COACH HORN
3 NEW SPORTS INTRODUCED
• Golf (2003)
• Lacrosse (2006)
• Flag Football (2023)
Formalization of strength & conditioning program
Facilities upgrades
• Rokus Athletic Complex (including weight room!)
• Air conditioning added to Hoffman Gymnasium
In June Westridge will say “see you at the Tiger Spirit Game” to Athletic Director Melanie Horn—a.k.a. Coach Horn—as she enters retirement. Coach Horn has given 30 years of her life and her whole heart to Westridge. No one is a bigger cheerleader for our school and our athletes; the enthusiasm she has for Westridge students is unrivaled. She has led the expansion and development of our competitive athletics program while emphasizing the important self-knowledge and values students gain from athletics and teamwork.
, Coach Horn, from the entire
A FEW STANDOUT WESTRIDGE MEMORIES
• Anthropologist Jane Goodall’s All School Assembly
• The Westridge Centennial & establishment of the Athletics Hall of Fame
• Upper School Dance Teacher (and fellow retiree this year!) Kashmir Blake’s choreography for Amazing Grace
• Her dog Ally playing a role in the school’s production of Oliver
SIDE HUSTLES
• Competitive dog agility (go Mav!)
• Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport volunteer for equitable media coverage of women’s sports.
Westridge
Community. You are a Tiger superstar for life, and we can all give two claps to that!
WESTRIDGE ATHLETICS HIGHLIGHTS
(a sampling, according to Coach Horn)
• 2006: 1st CIF* Championship (Volleyball) under Coach Horn’s leadership
• 2016: Water Polo makes CIF Finals
• 2019: An epic year—Soccer, Softball, and Tennis all advance to CIF Finals with Tennis securing the gold!
• 2022: Addition of Flag Football—“The last sport that women were ‘allowed’ to play in formal CIF competition.”
• 2024: 5th consecutive Prep League Championship in Golf
*CIF is the California Interscholastic Federation—Westridge plays in the Southern Section.
“My absolute highlight at Westridge has been watching the development of athletes—their strength and skills—and watching young athletes grow as human beings through sports. That is what has kept me here so long. Athletics help girls understand their strengths and how they fit in. It helps develop discipline and perseverance in girls as they work to improve. And it teaches them to be unapologetically bold, strong, and assertive. [While] it is always great to celebrate top athletes, we also celebrate team members who made a difference by doing the right thing at the right moment.”
FROM THE EYES OF A STUDENT ATHLETE
From initiating Varsity flag football as a program at Westridge to showing up to every swim meet I can remember, Coach Horn was a present, inspiring, and ambitious leader. At the same time, she let student-athletes grow into leaders and competitors, giving them free-reign to take over the court, field, or pool.
—
ELLA B.
'25
Photo Credit: Eric Danielson
Ahead of Discovery Week in March, each group trip received a couple of disposable cameras to capture their experiences and time together. Over a series of local, national, and international trips—to Chile, Japan, and Namibia—students explored the diversity of the Los Angeles ecosystem, participated in workshops focused on the intersection of art and interactive technology, witnessed traditions of the Diné (Navajo) people of the Southwest in Utah, experienced the vast natural beauty of Chile with visits to the Atacama Desert, and took part in a cultural exchange with students from a primary school in Namibia, South Africa.
Presenting: Discovery Week: Through Their Eyes
Here’s a peek at what’s been going on at
For more, please visit westridge.org/news to see the latest on what we’ve been up to!
Congratulations to our incredible Westridge Speech & Debate team on a commendable 20242025 season so far, with strong showings at local Surgere went
This spring, we had an astounding 11 Westridge students qualify for the 2025 National Speech & Debate Tournament and 14 who qualified for the state championship tournament. We had nine individual first place finishes, two top team finishes, and many more solid placings—go Tigers!
U.S. Rocketry Class’s Rocket Travels
1.1 Kilometers!
Not only did Upper School Rocketry successfully launch their first experimental rocket (one built almost entirely from scratch), they also beat the goal of reaching 1-kilometer altitude set nearly four years ago by their teacher Dan Perahya! The class ventured to the Mojave Desert on an overnight camping trip at the Friends of Amateur Rocketry site alongside nine other groups (predominately from colleges) where they assembled, painted, and tested their rocket and made their own rocket fuel! The class launched their rocket at an altitude of 1.1 kilometers—an impressive feat and a high bar for future launches!
Westridge Community Attends Pasadena 100: Vigil of Our Community and Our Planet
Shout out to the Westridge students, faculty, and staff who attended Pasadena 100’s ‘Vigil of Our Community and Our Planet’ in February, commemorating the second anniversary of the passing of Pasadena’s Climate Emergency Resolution 9977 which committed the city to transition to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030. (Pasadena 100 is a coalition of nonprofit organizations and individuals—including our Tigers!—advocating the transition.) Lindsay C. ’25, co-president of the Westridge Green Guerillas Club, spoke at the event.
4th Graders Turn Traffic Controllers for a Day!
After learning about the science and data behind traffic management from Cal Poly Pomona Associate Professor and Westridge 4th grade parent Yongping Zhang, the 4th grade class ventured out to the corner of Orange Grove and Columbia Street to observe and record traffic patterns in front of the school. Some students eagerly counted vehicles in different lanes while others sketched the intersection or kept time. Back in the classroom, Dr. Zhang used a traffic simulator to input the student-collected data to visually show the class how traffic is managed and optimized.
All School Day Lands with a Roar!
For this year's much-anticipated All School Day, the Upper School Associated Student Body (ASB) transformed campus into Jurassic Westridge with animatronic dinosaurs, inflatable games, dino-themed treats, movie screenings, and so much more. They also coordinated with student service representatives to host community service work, which resulted in: 100 lunches made for Union Station, 75 care packages for Eliot Middle School, five rabbit homes for the North American Animal Shelter in Los Angeles, and native seed packages to help replant the Altadena area.
Which Animal Took the Title? 7th Graders Celebrate March Mammal Madness
In a first for Westridge, seventh grade science classes took part in the annual March Mammal Madness, a statistics-based tournament played worldwide that simulates encounters between the wildest range of species. This year, a northern flying squirrel bested a flying frog in the wild card round and a polar bear beat a puma to take the Mammal of the Year title! Students researched each of the combatants to fill out their brackets, and scientists from Arizona State University, who developed the program, provided an explanation for each animal encounter and bracket outcome. Per Middle School Science Teacher Barbra Chabot, the competition is a great way to expose students to a variety of organisms they might otherwise not learn about and a great example of scientists at play.
Senior Named National Merit Scholarship Finalist
Congratulations to LILIAN L. '25 who was named a 2025 National Merit Scholarship finalist, winning a $2,500 scholarship! To be considered, she earned a qualifying score on the PSAT/NMSQT as a junior. Then, as a senior, she completed an extensive application and was recommended and supported during the process by the Westridge College Counseling Team.
This school year, our students have had the opportunity to attend multiple conventions to further their knowledge and skills with peers from around the country. They attended…
The National Association of Independent Schools Student Civic Leadership Summit, a conference held this year in Washington, D.C., where students interested in civic action and community engagement come share knowledge and strategies, reflect on individual and collective responsibilities, and hone leadership skills to make an impact.
The Southern California Regional Amici Madness (SCRAM), an annual Middle & Upper School co-ed, multi-school Latin Convention in Newport Beach, California.
The Journalism Education Association/ National Scholastic Press Association Fall National High School Journalism Convention, an annual conference held this year in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—our students joined 4,000+ student journalists nationwide (shout out to Spyglass editors Rebecca L. ’27 and Kristin C. ’26 who led a session called “Data Journalism: How to Turn Numbers Into Stories.”
Brava on a terrific show.
All School Read 2025: ‘In Every Life’ with Marla Frazee
Westridge students heard from the award-winning children’s book author and illustrator Marla Frazee during this year’s All School Read. Per tradition, the English department selects a text for students in all divisions to read during this event—this year, that selection was Frazee’s “In Every Life,” which focuses on the many wonders of life and the universal truths that we have in common such as love, wonder, and comfort. “The illustrations convey story in such a profound way and remind us that picture books can be deeply impactful and intellectual,” Middle School English Teacher Kara Ramirez said.
CULTURAL CELEBRATIONS ACROSS CAMPUS
Lunar New Year: Westridge Celebrates Year of the Snake
To ring in Lunar New Year 2025, Westridge hosted celebrations including a lunchtime fair with interactive origami-making, face and fan painting, and even a martial arts performance by Chinese II students and the beloved dragon dance put on by the Lower School Student Activities & Leadership Council (SALC). In class, Middle and Upper School Mandarin Teacher Lily Shang’s class partnered with the school’s STEAMWork Lab to create 3D-printed snake decorations and ornate cards, which were on
Black History Month Celebrations, Learning at Westridge
Shout out to our Upper School Black Student Union (BSU) and Director of Equity Ian Tatum for helping organize wonderful events throughout Black History Month including: a Lower School African drums assembly featuring the Rhythms of the Village band, Lower and Middle School read-alouds with Mr. Tatum, “Activism in Artistry: The Legacy of Music During the Civil Rights Movement” assembly hosted by the Upper School Student Voices group and BSU, a lunchtime “My Hair, My Crown” discussion on the complex history and versatility of Black hair, BSU Soul Food Luncheon, and a Lower and Middle School assembly featuring dancers
Scan the QR code to see a photo gallery of the celebrations!
Cultural Exchange, Appreciation at WPA Night Market
Thank you to the Westridge Parent Association (WPA) for hosting its annual Night Market in April. This cherished event included cultural booths, a cultural fashion show and talent show, and so much more. Students also made creative trinkets and goods for the beloved Student Bazaar!
New Wave of Westridge Advanced Courses Launches Fall 2025
With the addition of Calculus I Advanced, Calculus I/ II Advanced, and Advanced Aerospace Engineering— System Design this fall, Westridge will have completed its move beyond the standardized Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum to offering Westridge Advanced Courses as the most challenging course level in the Upper School. Westridge began this shift in 2022 to provide students with opportunities for deeper learning that goes below a surfacelevel understanding, increase the intellectual rigor of our program, and allow additional time to expand in-depth on specialized topics.
"Moving beyond APs and their externally imposed timetable of an exam has allowed time not only for more substantive dives into the content, but also for focusing on the skills that are vital for our students’ education and lives after high school," said Director of Teaching & Learning James Evans. "Across the board I see more student self-reflection and awareness of themselves as learners—both important to deeper learning and as part of our goals for making this change."
This fall's expansion of the Aerospace Engineering curriculum offers students up to four years of aerospace engineering with topics including rockets, satellites, aircrafts, and landing vehicles.
Andrea Kassar to
Westridge Head of School Andrea Kassar has been appointed to a three-year term on the board of directors of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS), the leading advocate for girls’ schools which works to connect and collaborate with individuals, schools, and mission-aligned entities dedicated to educating and empowering girls. Kassar will officially join the board—with approximately 20 heads of schools from the top girls’ schools around the globe—on July 1.
I am honored and thrilled. All my experiences working with ICGS have been invaluable, and it is an organization that I believe in deeply and love being a part of in every way. And it feels to me now—more than it has ever before in my lifetime—that this work carries with it a renewed and palpable sense of urgency.
Westridge Appoints Alice Lee as Athletic Director
Alice Lee will join Westridge on July 1 as athletic director, succeeding Melanie Horn, who will retire after 30 years at the end of this school year. Lee brings 16 years of experience in collegiate athletics and currently serves as the head women’s lacrosse coach at Williams College and on the college's Athletics Organizational Restructuring Committee.
Prior to Williams, Lee coached lacrosse at Amherst and Middlebury colleges. She received her master's in sports management at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and her B.S. in management from Central Connecticut State University. She serves on the board of directors of the Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association, and is a member of WeCoach, an organization dedicated to recruiting, advancing, and retaining women coaches in all sports and levels.
Community Relief Fund UPDATE
Thanks to the generosity of friends across the Westridge community, the Community Relief Fund, established to provide support for community members who lost their homes or suffered other significant financial impact from the Eaton and Palisades fires, has raised nearly $450,000. To date, the fund has supported Westridge families and employees through:
• Tuition assistance for the current school year and the 2025-2026 school year
• Mental health support for students, parents, and faculty and staff
• Employee paid leave and enhanced benefits
• Campus remediation and supplemental cleaning
• Short-term support
• Alumnae memento replacement, including class rings and yearbooks
Thank you to our community for your care and contributions for our friends in need.
Spring 2025 /
Spring 2025 /
Spring Athletic HIGHLIGHTS
What a spring season it has been so far for our Tigers! As of Surgere press time, we are pleased to share:
• TRACK & FIELD: Micaela R. '26 earned new school record in shot put at 33'5" while Bennett T. '28 and Teia L. '26 named Prep League champions for high jump and pole vault, respectively
• FLAG FOOTBALL: Layla R. '27 named to the 2024-2025 All CIF-SS Division 5 Flag Football team
• LACROSSE: Finished second overall in the Prep League; made Westridge history with the first Lacrosse playoff win in CIF-SS play!
• WATER POLO: Advanced to CIF-SS second round; Skye I. '26 named to Southern California All Division Water Polo Team
• MIDDLE SCHOOL GOLF & TENNIS: Won their Middle School Independent League tournament and championship, respectively
Micaela R. '26
Layla R. '27
Middle School Golf
Allison F. '27
Carmen B. '31
Josie S.-J.
Esperanza A. '32
VERA M. ’27
IN THE WAKE OF THE JANUARY FIRES THAT AFFECTED MANY, INCLUDING OUR COMMUNITY, SOME STUDENTS PROCESSED THEIR EMOTIONS AND EXPERIENCES THROUGH ART AND WRITING. HERE ARE THREE STUDENT PIECES.
For a project in Photo II, Vera captured this photo series—titled Where Flames Once Roamed, Silence Now Remains—to document the loss of her home to the Eaton Fire. “Shooting on film made it feel more real, like holding onto something slipping away,” she wrote about the series. “The words help the photos flow together adding another element of loss. Even in the wreckage, there’s beauty in what remains.”
SYDNEY S. ’25
Sydney, who goes by the stage name Sydney Bray in honor of her Altadena street—Braeburn Road (which was impacted by the fire), released two original songs earlier this spring: Incipient Summer and Hometown Views. Stream the songs on Spotify or Apple Music; funds raised through streaming will be donated to various fire relief efforts.
REBECCA U. G. '29
Rebecca wrote a piece for her Spanish III class, narrating her experience as an artist. This piece includes the story of her painting that survived in an Altadena synagogue that burned down in the Eaton Fire.
Here’s an excerpt:
Yo empecé usando colores en Westridge, y haciendo pinturas gigantes, incluyendo una obra que era hecho para mi sinagoga. En mi sinagoga mi arte fue puesto en la parte central de la sinagoga, pero en dos semanas ellos pusieron la obra en la parte detrás. No me gustó esta decisión, pero no me importaba en este momento. Cinco meses pasaron y tenía el Eaton Fire que destruyó me sinagoga, pero tenía un milagro. Mi pintura sobrevivió. En el medio de el incendio, con todo el desastre sobrevivió. Era sucio y tenía marcas de fuego, pero sobrevivió, y la única causa que nosotros sabíamos era por causa de los colores contrastado con todos los escombros.
Rebecca also created the piece pictured here, titled We Strive to Rise (a.k.a. Westridge’s motto, Surgere Tentamus). Lower & Middle School Director Dr. Zanita Kelly encouraged the 8th grader to create the artwork based on a metaphor connecting the strength, compassion, and resilience of the Westridge community to the phoenix as a symbol of rising from the ashes and renewal.
This Middle School art project (pictured top and left) started as a joke among students that blossomed into a large-scale installation and collaboration between the divison's theatre and visual arts students, photographed by Upper School art student Lucia F.-R. '26. The pieces were created from recycled materials, and shaped into an oversized collective garden—which they staged into a photographic tableau.
Carolina A. '28
Pictured: Gabby M.-S. '29; Art: Phoebe M. '29, Rose B. '30, Amelia H. '30, Angela Y. '30, Emily C. '29; Photographer: Lucia F.-R. '26
Pictured: Emily C. '29; Flower art: Rose B. '30, Amelia H. '30, Elena V. '29, and
Abby Y. '27
Tiffany W. '28
Created by the Class of 2032!
Alina S. '27
Katelyn P. '32
Mady K. '27
This year’s Alumnae Weekend was one for the books!
Thank you to all our alumnae who returned to campus for a jam-packed Alumnae Weekend on March 7-9. From the Friday night classes and “Twilight at Westridge” cocktail reception to Saturday’s Affinity Gathering, Spyglass-hosted Q&A, and luncheon, alums had a chance to reconnect and reminisce while also making new memories. And, of course, shout out to those who attended the first-ever Sunday Family Fun Day hosted by the Tiger Cub Club. Flip through the next few pages for photos as well as a highlight of this year’s distinguished alumna award winners.
FRIDAY, MARCH 7 CLASSES
Class of 1975 Meets Class of 2033!
Per tradition, our youngest Tigers welcomed Westridge’s 50th reunion class—the Class of 1975—back to campus on the Friday afternoon. The group shared heartfelt connection and diverse Westridge experiences over cookies (catered by alumna Isabella Thieltges ’18!) and refreshments. This year, the gathering was commemorated via video—in groups, the 4th graders took turns interviewing alumnae Q&A-style.
The throughline of most of the conversations was how deeply rooted the classmate bonds are that form at Westridge. “These women here have been friends my entire life—that is something that will always take care of you for the rest of your life,” alumna Kate Rock ’75 shared with Elliot S. ’33.
Scan the QR code to watch the sweet interviews!
Ethics: An Introduction
Permaculture Garden Exploration
Hands-on Ceramics
FRIDAY, MARCH 7
RECEPTION
SATURDAY, MARCH 8 REUNIONS
Brava!
The following classes were honored with awards during the luncheon for their fundraising efforts during the 2023-2024 school year:
The Elizabeth Edmundson Herrick Bowl (awarded to the class with the highest percentage of participating in giving to the Westridge Annual Fund):
Class of 1953—for the 11th consecutive year!
The Nancy H. Owen Trophy (awarded to the class with the largest dollar contribution to the Westridge Annual Fund):
Class of 1990
SUNDAY, MARCH 9
At this year’s Alumnae Weekend, corsages—handmade by our Upper School art students!—were handed to those who have supported Westridge this year with a gift of any size. Thank you to those who made a gift; your support is valued and appreciated.
2025 MARY LOWTHER RANNEY DISTINGUISHED ALUMNA
The Ranney Award is given annually to an alumna whose life embodies the spirit of the Westridge motto, Surgere Tentamus, and who, by her commitment to her chosen path, her dedication to lifelong growth and learning, and her habits of heart, mind, and action is an example and an inspiration to the Westridge community.
Lena Alfi ’05
Lena Alfi ’05 is CEO of the Malala Fund, an international nonprofit founded by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai that works to ensure all girls have access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education. Deeply passionate about women's and children’s causes, Lena has more than 15 years’ experience in developing strategic visions and building transformative partnerships in the education space. Prior to joining the Malala Fund, she worked to support women’s micro-finance and empowerment programs in India and West Africa, and created strategic partnerships supporting the educational and humanitarian needs of women and children in the Middle East, for organizations including Project Concern International, Mercy Corps, and the Middle East Children’s Institute.
Lena holds a bachelor’s in art history and international relations from USC and a master’s degree in global human development from Georgetown University. She is a mother of two and resides in Los Angeles.
2025 DISTINGUISHED YOUNG ALUMNA
Established in 2020, the Westridge Distinguished Young Alumna Award is awarded annually to a young alumna who exhibits excellence, leadership, and agency during her educational and career paths, and who continues to serve as a role model and inspiration for Westridge students.
Alana Pacheco ’10
Alana is committed to building resilient food systems with an eye toward a more sustainable future. As the executive director of the nonprofit Ecosystem Services Market Consortium, she leads efforts to decarbonize the agricultural supply chain by engaging farmers in conservation practices and creates partnerships that support food and beverage companies in sustainable sourcing. Her prior work focuses on agricultural technology and operations, with experience through the Larta Institute, Q Farms, and Cold Picnic.
Alana, based in Los Angeles, holds a bachelor’s in economics and social history with a minor in political science from Barnard College and a master’s in environmental protection and management from The University of Edinburgh. She is a Westridge lifer and a proud Roman.
From celebrating reunion milestones (shout out to the classes ending in '0' and '5'!) to catching up with alums in cities all around the world, it was nothing but smiles, laughter, and reminiscing with one another. Here’s a look at reunions this year!
New York City Gathering
Class of 2022 in Ireland
Class of 2010 Reunion
Class of 2020 in Chicago
Class of 1970 Reunion
Class of 2000 Reunion
ALUMNA DONOR PROFILE
Lea Shen '00
In 1991, a nine-year-old Lea Yip (now Shen) walked onto the Westridge campus as a quiet and studious fourth grader. She joined a class of girls who each had a unique voice to be discovered, nurtured, and protected during their time as students. For Shen, that meant putting down the books sometimes to explore graffiti art with Ms. Linda Brownridge, learn hip hop with Kashmir Blake, tour Spain with Señor Marty Kaplan, and cook meals at Union Station with Ms. Betty Cole. Most of all, she remembered the many meaningful conversations with fellow schoolmates who had strong opinions while also staying committed to civil discourse and remaining curious about one another. Shen, who was a Westridge lifer, reflected that the school represented “a safe place for young women to develop into independent thinkers, creative problem solvers, and trailblazers.”
The transformative years at Westridge served her well at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. “Westridge prepared me with a solid foundation to succeed in an environment where women were significantly underrepresented at the time.” Shen said. “I felt confident engaging in all the same activities as my male peers.” This was followed by several years of work in public sector consulting, where she implemented emergency preparedness and disaster relief plans for major cities around the United States.
Purse—organizations that provide life-changing medical care for children globally. Of this pivot, Shen said: “Give a Westridge girl a challenge, and she’ll find a way to build something good out of it!”
In 2010, Shen welcomed her first child, Hudson, who was born with a cleft lip and palate, and she chose to leave consulting to care for him full time. Prompted by her son’s experience, Shen and her husband, Hubert, learned that children across the world are often abandoned due to birth defects that can be fully repaired with surgery. Their family became deeply involved with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Show Hope, and Samaritan’s
I benefitted from an amazing whole-child education and treasured friendships because of the generosity of others who came before me.
Shen also has a daughter, Ella, a fifth grader. “Because Westridge has always stayed connected with me and welcomed my family, Ella also felt a sense of home when we attended campus events together,” she said. “We were very excited when she told us she was eager to be a lifer too. Our school is the best launching pad for young women, preparing them with the skills and providing support for every season.”
It is with this belief that Shen currently serves on the Westridge Board of Trustees. She and her husband also regularly contribute to the school’s Annual Fund, which supports continued forward-thinking opportunities for our students.
“Westridge is a lifelong relationship,” said Shen. “I benefitted from an amazing whole-child education and treasured friendships because of the generosity of others who came before me. And now, I have the privilege of investing in the next generation of Westridge.”
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT WAYS YOU CAN BECOME INVOLVED WITH WESTRIDGE, VISIT www.westridge.org/give
THE SCHOOL HAS LEARNED OF THE DEATHS OF THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY
MARY DESURVILLE MCDUFFIE ’41
Mary, who passed away in late 2024, attended Polytechnic School before graduating from Westridge in 1941. She had a daughter, Virginia, with her first husband, Norman “Mac” MacLeod, and later married Malcolm “Bud” McDuffie, with whom she shares two children— Cynthia and Malcolm Duncan. Mary ran a residential interior decorating business and in the 1960s, purchased land in Montecito with Bud, which they built and enjoyed over the next 40 years, naming it Rancho Campo Verde. Mary was an active member of the Pasadena Garden Club, the Valley Hunt Club, the Town Club, the Junior League, and the Pasadena Guild of the Children’s Hospital. Following Bud’s passing in 2009, Mary moved to Casa Dorinda retirement community in Montecito where she resided until her passing. She was predeceased by her sister, Virginia deSurville Muller ’47 and is survived by
her three children, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
EMILIE “LEE” HUBBARD KIMBALL ’44
Lee, 98, passed away on October 30. She was born on April 2, 1926, in Pasadena to Miles W. and Helen Doane Hubbard. In her teenage years at Westridge, Lee met her future husband, Lewis “Lew” E. Kimball, Jr., whom she married upon graduating from UC Berkeley in 1947. In the fall of 1965, they bought an 1830s farmhouse and barn in Chatham, Massachusetts, where they lived with their three boys. In Chatham, Lee and Lew were active members of St. Christopher’s Church where they headed the Aid to Africa program. Lee was predeceased by her husband as well as her brother, Pieter S. Hubbard, and his wife, Marlene. Her mother, Phyillis Doane ’30, and aunt, Helen Doane Hubbard ’21, were also Westridge alumnae. She is survived by her three sons and their families.
HELEN “TIBBY” FORVE O’LEARY ’45
Tibby, 97, passed away on January 25 following health challenges over the last few years. She was born in Pasadena and attended Mayfield and Westridge schools. She attended Vassar College and majored in cultural anthropology. She then moved to San Francisco, where she met her husband, Paul A. O’Leary. The two married in 1952 and moved to Singapore and, later, New York. Eventually, they settled in San Francisco for more than 40 years as they raised seven children before moving to San Rafael. Tibby traveled the world with her husband, and was vocal about causes she was passionate about including civil rights, climate change, poverty, and educational inequity. She was predeceased by her husband, sons Mark and Stephen, and sister. She is survived by five children and eight grandchildren.
JANE KRISTENSEN GRIER ’48
Jane, 92, passed away on June 3, 2023, shortly after the passing of her beloved husband of 70 years, Milton Grier Jr. After attending Westridge, Jane graduated from Scripps College. She dedicated her life to enriching her community serving as president of the Philharmonic Society of Orange County and chair of the Women's Community Committee. She leaves behind a legacy as a devoted philanthropist and passionate advocate for children and music.
EVELYN “EVIE” HERZ RICHMOND ’48
Evie, 93, passed away on October 8. Born in Berlin, she moved to California at the age of eight. She and her family lived in Los Angeles for several years before moving to the city of Flintridge. After graduating from Westridge, Evie attended Scripps College and UC Davis. She soon met her husband Edmund
“Ned” N. Richmond II in a golf class at the Claremont Colleges. They married in 1956 and shared 60 years together. The couple and their two children ultimately moved to a family ranch in San Jose, California. Evie was an active homemaker, a gardener, and enjoyed membership at the Summit League, Town Club, and Eastfield. She is predeceased by her husband and is survived by their son and daughter, grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Her sister, Margaret Herz Lewis ’51, was also a Westridge alum.
SUSAN MARY DAVIS ’52
Susan passed away on March 15, 2024, at the age of 89. She was born in 1935 in Honolulu, Hawaii. At Westridge, Susan served as the assistant editor of the Inlook and Chairman of the Assembly Committee. Staying close to her Hawaiian roots, Susan was known for her relaxed nature and playing the ukelele around campus, per her class yearbook. In 2015, she shared that she was keeping busy with excursions, volunteering, and keeping up with issues both locally and globally. She had called Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, her home for many years.
SUSAN GRANDIN TAYLOR ’53
Susan, 89, passed away on August 14. She was raised in Monrovia and San Marino and after attending Westridge, went on to Stanford University, where she pursued studies in music and Italian history—both lifelong passions. Susan married fellow Stanford alum Bob Taylor, whom she met during her senior year at Westridge. During their 69 years of marriage, Susan and Bob shared a lifetime of romance and adventure traveling the world. She is remembered for her culinary and interior design skills. In addition to her husband; children, Nancy and Clark; and friends, Susan is survived by her grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews in the Grandin and Hutchinson families. She comes from a family of Westridge alumnae, including sister Nancy Lou Grandin Hutchinson ’47 and cousin Jane Carruthers ’38.
LUCIA SOWERS HYDE ’54
Lucia passed away on March 13, 2024. According to her Inlook senior page, Lucia, a Westridge “old timer,” spent her sophomore and junior years of high school in Europe but returned to Westridge to complete her senior year. She was well known for her likes of “Dixieland jazz, weaving, and politics,” and aspired to be a medical doctor, which she did accomplish. In her adult life, Lucia balanced her medical career alongside a real estate business she managed with her husband Charles.
DANA WRIGHT ’61
Dana passed away on December 8 after a long battle with health issues. Dana was a beloved part of Westridge’s Class of 1961, a formidable member of her class’s ‘Zoomers’ group who she met with online frequently from Spain, where she lived most of her adult life. She is remembered by all as an “adventurer extraordinaire, talented writer, photographer, artist,” who made the most of life. In addition to her friends, she is survived by her son Max and daughter Kyra, as well as her grandchild. From her senior page in the 1961 Inlook: “Head of Volleyball; bubbling blond; athletically inclined; often serious, more often not; radiates fun.” Her sister, Holly Wright ’73, is also an alumna.
LOURINDA BRAY ’64
Lourinda, 78, passed away on November 19 in Pasadena where she lived most of her life and where she built her legacy as a restoration artist and historian. Lourinda attended Mayfield School, Chateau MontChoisi in Switzerland, and graduated from Westridge. She attended Tennessee-Wesleyan College and held degrees from Occidental College, including a master’s in drama and stage craft. Lourinda’s profound love of animals, the arts, and carousels—which she developed from a young age—and her talents as a gardener and artist led her to a career in float design for Fiesta Floats and the Rose Parade, and as a designer at Santa’s Village at Lake Arrowhead. In the 1970s, Lourinda began a lifelong devotion to purchasing and restoring carousels. She was the creative owner of Running Horse Studio and had
a world-class collection of carousels and artifacts, which includes more than 400 horses, lions, elephants, giraffes, dragons, and other creatures sourced from America, Mexico, and Europe, spanning from the mid-19th century to the present day. Notably, she curated two exhibitions for the Pasadena Museum of History featuring aspects of her collection. She is survived by her sisters, Georgianna Bray Erskine ’50 and Judith Bray Longyear ’53, brother Bannister R. Bray, and her many nieces and nephews including Westridge alumnae Eugenia Erskine Jesberg ’77 and Martha Erskine ’81.
JUDITH “JAN” WESLEY ’68
Jan passed away on March 2. She grew up on the East Coast and joined Westridge in 10th grade upon moving to the West Coast. After graduating, Jan attended CalArts where she found her passion for video and film editing— which led to a fruitful 25-year career as a film editor and editorial supervisor. She discovered a second passion for writing and poetry after attending workshops at The Midnight Special Bookstore in Santa Monica, which prompted her to get her master’s from Vermont College and teach poetry at the University of Redlands. Jan later spent 15 years teaching writing and leading professional development at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising. She self-published a novel, two poetry books, and a book of short nonfiction narratives, and shared her talents as a volunteer teacher and writing coach. Jan was a valued member of Westridge’s Madeline Society and the Venice Poet Collective.
across the world in Manila, Philippines. Friends from the classes of 1973 and 1974 remember Nene as a radiant, generous, happy soul who “was a joyful light… and had an unmatched zest for life.” She is remembered for her thoughtfulness and genuine care for others. She is survived by her family, nieces, nephews, friends, and colleagues all over the world.
SUSAN “SUE” FOSTER OHANIAN ’76
Sue passed away on February 10. After graduating from Westridge, Sue attended UCLA for her bachelor’s degree and USC for her MBA. She married her husband Steve in 1989, with whom she lived in Virginia and then Texas. Sue had a lifelong passion for the outdoor world—from garden planting and hiking to kayaking and snowshoeing—and loved animals. Sue also enjoyed golfing. She was a key member of the Round Hill Women’s Gold Association where she served as treasurer and captain. She is survived by her husband, her stepson and stepdaughter, and grandchildren. Her nieces Laura Gardiner ’09 and Katherine Gardiner ’11 are also Westridge alumnae.
CYNTHIA “CINDY” LAGES IMADA ’76
Cindy, 66, of Honolulu, Hawaii, recently passed on January 25. After Westridge, Cindy attended the University of Redlands where she met her husband of 43 years, Mark. In her early life, Cindy taught elementary school. She is remembered for her passion for pottery and her selflessness and empathy for others. She is survived by her husband, son and daughter, and her two granddaughters. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Lages Jewett ’78.
ANGELITA “NENE” CRUZ ’74
Nene passed away on January 27 after an illness. She was a beloved part of the Class of 1974, remembered by her loved ones as a devoted Westridge classmate who would always make an effort to stay in touch despite living
MARIJKA GREUTINK KALE ’77
Marijka passed away on June 1, 2024, in Denver. Marijka was a Westridgette and was involved in the Glee Club and American Field Service. She is survived by her sister, Christina Greutink ’79. Their mother, Carol Tarr Greutink ’44, was also a Westridge alum.
STEPHANIE SEITZ ’19
Westridge has learned of Stephanie’s passing in 2024. She attended Westridge from seventh through ninth grade.
ALICE HELEN STEERE COULOMBE Former Trustee
Alice, 92, passed away on September 12 at her home in Pasadena. Alice was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She earned her bachelor’s in humanities and a master’s degree in education from Stanford University. There, she met Joe Coulombe, whom she married in 1952. She spent her early adult years supporting her husband’s vision for a new kind of grocery store, which became the renowned and beloved Trader Joe’s brand. Alice was a founding member and chair of the Pasadena Arts Commission, a member of the City of Pasadena Centennial Committee, a volunteer at the Huntington Library, and a Westridge trustee in 1982. She loved the opera, devoting her life to uplifting the art form locally. She was instrumental in creating the acclaimed LA Opera and the support group LA Opera League with her friends. Until her passing, Alice mentored and empowered musicians. She served as the director of the Colburn School in late adulthood. Alice was preceded in death by her husband who passed away in 2020. She is survived by three children and their spouses, and grandchildren. Her daughter Madeleine ’84 is also an alum.
MARIAN LIPSCHUTZ Former English Teacher
Westridge learned of Marian’s passing in 2024. She retired from Westridge in 2004 after 40 years of teaching English and creative writing. Since her time at Westridge, she wrote, tutored, and conducted seminars. In fact, she hosted a “Twelfth Night” class for alumnae to discuss the Shakespearean comedy in 2016. Per Jane McCarthy ’01, who was Marian’s former student and more recently a neighbor: “I have never encountered anyone with the kind of sheer exuberance Marian had for literature … I left every class with a fresh curiosity about writing, and about life. She inspired thousands of young women. I feel incredibly lucky to have been one of them.”
Westridge thrives because of you. The Westridge Annual Fund supports everything that makes our school exceptional—inspiring teachers, innovative programs, financial aid, and unforgettable experiences for every student.
Tuition alone doesn’t cover the full cost of a Westridge education, which is why we all play a role in ensuring our students have the best opportunities. Every gift, no matter the size, makes an impact.
When we give together, we make Westridge stronger.
