CATE BULLETIN
CATE BULLETIN
EDITOR
Avani Patel Shah
MANAGING EDITOR
Matt McClenathen
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Katie Browne '19
Hudson Caceres
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
Mya Cubero
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Alexandra Lockett ARCHIVIST
Judy Savage
COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE
Avani Patel Shah
Matt McClenathen
ADVANCEMENT OFFICE
Beth Engel
Guille Gil-Reynoso
Alison Hansen
Michael Lee
Andrew MacDonnell
Lindsay Newlove
Sarah Preston
Emily Sosrodjojo '13
MISSION STATEMENT
Through commitment, scholarship, companionship, and service, each member of the Cate community contributes to what our founder called “... the spirit of this place ... all compounded of beauty and virtue, quiet study, vigorous play, and hard work.”
For alumni wishing to update contact information, please email alumni@cate.org.
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The Cate Bulletin is published three times a year by Cate School and is distributed free of charge to alumni, parents, and friends of the School. Send correspondence and address changes to: alumni@cate.org
The Cate Bulletin is printed by V3 on Topkote paper.
Families fill Kirby Quadrangle for the Saturday afternoon Awards Ceremony during Commencement Weekend.
In this Issue
INVOCATION
Lauren Jared
HEAD OF SCHOOL WELCOME
Tiny Love Stories
Alexandra Lockett
STUDENT COMMENCEMENT
ADDRESS
Discover the New Annie Chian '24
FACULTY COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
Cast Your Spell
Brooks Hansen
2023-24 AWARDS
CUM LAUDE ADDRESS
Speaking Freely
Kate Parker '85
BACCALAUREATE ADDRESSES
Karla Camacho '24, Shawn Cordeiro '24, Frank Griffin
Read about the end-of-year faculty awards, departing faculty, and special retirement celebration for four longtime members of the Cate faculty and staff.
CAMP CATE 2024
Alumni, friends, and families from reunion classes ending in 4s and 9s enjoyed Camp Cate June 7-9. Read about a weekend of alumni reconnecting with classmates and participating in various festivities and events.
On the Cover: Yeidy Salmerón '24 beams with pride on stage as Head of School Alex Lockett reads her senior citation during Commencement.
This page: The Class of 2024 shares a moment of laughter during Annie Chian '24’s Commencement Address.
Invocation
By Lauren Jared, History, Humanities, and English Instructor
This is a liminal moment. One of those magical, transcendent, even surreal moments in time and space, one charged with the sense that we occupy two places at once. As a teacher who retires this spring, I stand with our graduates on this threshold where we have one foot still in this community, connected to all that we have achieved and experienced in this place, and the other foot stepping into the wider world, ready to start a new phase of our lives and on toward what we will yet become.
Traditionally, as many will know, the invocation is an occasion not only to bring the community together but to invoke a divine presence. When I first arrived at Cate, we asked various religious leaders to deliver this part of the ceremony, rotating from year to year among the Protestant, Catholic, Unitarian, and Jewish faith traditions.
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May we all share in our wonder and gratitude for the beauty of this community and this place, inspired by our human capacity for inquiry, and awed by the powerful forces of nature’s laws that animate our lives, this earth, and our universe.
Later, in recognition of the increasingly diverse nature of our community, we turned to members of the Cate faculty to offer invocations that were more secular yet still spiritual in nature. I’ve appreciated our ever growing desire to celebrate and give voice to the many distinct and rich experiences among our community members.
As a co-teacher and life-long advocate of comparative religions, I’d like to build on that richness of experience, and provide a threefold invocation for us today, meant to represent just a bit of the range in our beliefs: one for those of us who believe in God, one for those of us who believe in no such entity, and one for those of us who do not care or wish to put such a fine point on the matter.
And so, may we invite You into our midst, Holy father, divine mother, our source of mercy, light, and love, and
we ask for your blessing upon us all –and especially upon our graduates.
May we all share in our wonder and gratitude for the beauty of this community and this place, inspired by our human capacity for inquiry, and awed by the powerful forces of nature’s laws that animate our lives, this earth, and our universe.
May we who have enjoyed the spirit of this place, open our minds and our hearts to the mysteries of our lives, seek always for the best in ourselves and each other, and find meaning in both good and trying times as we continue to learn … and to love … and to grow.
And now, in full awareness of this liminal moment, together with these beloved people in this precise time – let us begin.
Congratulations, Class of 2024.
Tyler Martinez '24 (left) and Julian Lee '24 walk together during the processional of Cate’s 111th Commencement ceremony.
The Class of 2024 stands on stage as History, Humanities, and English Instructor Lauren Jared delivers the Invocation.
Head of School Welcome
Tiny Love Stories
By Alexandra Lockett
It is no exaggeration that I have been anticipating this moment since accepting the job as Cate’s eighth Head of School almost 18 months ago. I’ve played this moment out in my mind endless times, and yet, nothing I imagined was as awe-inspiring as what I see before me today. Seniors, I hope you can join me in looking out at this audience to see the vast display of family and friends, alumni from the Class of 2023 and beyond, trustees, fellow students, and of course, your teachers, coaches, and mentors who have served the sacred role of caring for you here each day. We are all here to celebrate you as you participate in this time honored rite of passage, made meaningful by all those in attendance today.
There is a reason that high school graduations serve as a cultural phenomenon, as it marks a transition from childhood to adulthood. Any attempt to summarize the meaning and magnitude of this moment leads us to tired cliches and cultural tropes. Similarly, it feels impossible to take in the enormity of the love on display here today. Instead, I urge us to take a moment to observe the tiny gesture of how the person next to you might reach out to squeeze your hand, the eye contact you make with your advisor in the moment before you receive your diploma, the fresh red paint below your feet, or even the particular pattern of flight in the birds overhead. These might be the exact moments you remember most and serve as gateways back into your memories of today.
Since the beginning of time, humans have tried to capture the dimensions of love in poetry, music, sculpture, or even cooking. All are imperfect attempts at fully representing this complex emotion, and yet we each try to do so which in itself is an act of love.
In 2018, the New York Times put a call out to their readers to “Tell us a love story from your own life – happy or sad, capturing a moment or a lifetime – in no more than 100 words.” This set off a wildly popular Tiny Love Stories weekly column. There are dozens of great stories I encourage you to read, and I’ll just read one now as an example. The following Tiny Love Story was published last month and captures the enduring love between friends in exactly 100 words:
I was having a tough time. Big, capitalized, one-syllable problems: Work. Life. Stress. A rainy Tuesday night, my buddy texts: “Hey dude, u home?” An hour later he presses a Tupperware box into my hand. Homemade pasta Bolognese. He taught me the secret to a good ragù
is time. Simmer that stuff for three hours if you can. The longer the better. Let the pot bubble away, quietly determined, always there in the background. We’ve been friends for 22 years and would never dream of saying “I love you, man.” We don’t need to. We just keep the pot bubbling.
— Daniel Seifert
Today, as we prepare to say goodbye to you, the Class of 2024, and celebrate your individual and collective achievements, our attempt to fully represent what you mean to us will be just that, an attempt. Each senior has transformed into an even more complex and distinct expression of themselves. Our tradition of reading citations later in this program is a beautiful, if imperfect, attempt at capturing their essence, and serves as our 100-word tiny love stories to each of them.
Before we move into the next part of our program, I would like to share my own tiny love story about the Class of 2024.
It was August, and only seniors were on campus. After dinner, the seniors piled on top of each other on the couches in Booth. It was the first time I met the entire class. After introducing myself, I asked for questions. “What are you most scared about?” Sophie asked. Immediately, my eyes filled with tears. “I’m scared about being a new head with two small kids at home and letting everyone down.” To which a senior replied “we admire you and know your boys will too.” This only made me cry more, but this time, out of love, not fear.
This 100-word tiny love story illustrates how this class has led the school this year, with love. Thank you, Class of 2024, for so fully embodying the values we hold dear. You’ve set a new high water mark.
Student Commencement Address
Discover the New
By Annie Chian '24
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Just as important as the carefully planned milestones are the particular and spontaneous moments: the moments that come organically – because these are what make up four years.
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The Pacific Coast Highway winds down along the coast past Rincon Point, where surfers perch on the waves like birds. At about this time of year, yellow mustard flowers and golden poppies sprout by the side of the road, and as you pick up speed, it feels like you are hovering in a painter’s sketchbook. Pelicans draw arcs in the sky as they dive, and foam patterns the water like lace. There are borderless cliffs and seal sanctuaries and hazy imprints of islands with holy names out at sea. Here we are.
The way we get to Cate looks the same for most of us. I bet a lot of you sitting here have driven this road today. We drive through avocado orchards, past Smokey Bear, and turn left at the Cate School signpost. We wave hello to the guard gate, climb up Heartbreak Hill, and end up at Pizza Lawn.
That’s how my Cate journey started. I’ll always remember the first time I came up to campus because it was the very first time. I sat in the backseat of my dad’s car with a severe pandemic haircut and a trunk full of stuff. My braces had been taken off a week before, and I was just getting used to talking without the swooshy sound a mouth full of metal gives you. My dad was taking the hill fast. Like a day student late for class. We zipped around the bends of the hill until we hit a speedbump, and for a split second, we caught air. The back tires of the car hit the road with a clunk. I remember all of my stuff crashing in the trunk, my entire life shaken. Meanwhile, my 14-year-old brain was coming up with a bucket list across a page in my journal. Here are a few entries from the entire list:
1. Go to Santa Barbara
4. Sleep under the stars
26. Raid the dining hall kitchen
17. Explore the tunnels under Schoolhouse
43. Grow a few inches.
This drive up the Pacific Coast Highway was the beginning of a long string of firsts and checkmarks off my bucket list. I remember it because, of course, I remember my firsts.
Because isn’t that just what being a teenager is – a series of firsts? A recalibration of childhood? It’s falling apart and putting yourself back together, figuring out what matters, and redefining yourself. All very tall orders for kids (who sometimes have the intellect of toddlers) who have been on this earth for about a decade and a half.
But, in some way or another, turning into teenagers happened to all of us and we ended up making memories and check marks across our bucket list items: Here are some firsts for our Class of 2024:
Do you remember the first time you saw Sunset Bench and it felt like you were living in a roll of film?
The first time you fell asleep in your own dorm room, the light from your neighbor’s room spilling between your wall and the ceiling?
Do you remember your first Cate victory? Recovering after loss?
Do you remember your first Cate performance?
Do you remember learning what it means to have a mentor? To work for someone’s respect?
Do you remember meeting your friends for the first time in laggy videos or Zoom calls?
Do you remember running your first campus loop? Or the first time you practiced the piano or the guitar or the drums or the bass in the Chapel at night? Or the first time you jumped into a Harkness discussion?
Do you remember the first time you fell in love with a subject, discovering derivatives or writing about The Great Gatsby or cloning E. coli or interviewing your grandmother on gender roles or reading Márquez?
Do you remember finding harmony while night hiking in the desert at Joshua Tree?
Do you remember the ultraviolet scorpions and the purple glow on the horizon as we looked up at stars that looked like pinholes? That was pretty spectacular.
Do you remember driving to campus alone for the first time, when the morning marine layer looked too fragile to drive through?
Your first Lucky Llama açai bowl, Pacific Health smoothie, or Rori’s ice cream scoop? Visit to Carp State Beach. Your first CHW grill? First loves and first heartbreaks?
We remember these because they are the firsts. Because we will find ourselves sipping cocktails at dinner parties in the future where we can say, “I was in Mamma Mia! in high school,” or “I ran the hurdles in high school.”
But just as important as the carefully planned milestones are the particular and spontaneous moments: the moments that come organically. Because these are what make up four years: Here’s what I mean:
Do you remember the first time you saw an avocado actually on a tree and not in a supermarket?
Do you remember the time you learned that you can’t put cardboard in the microwave? Or tinfoil or dry ramen noodles or raw cookie dough? Not unless you want a 1:00 a.m. fire alarm wake up.
Or butter in the toasters in Booth?
Do you remember being stuck in the ATC because you broke your leg during bus training or because you hit your head on a dryer or because you pulled your hamstring during the Lip Sync? One of those was me.
Do you remember the time you learned that six feet is about two-meter sticks stuck together end to end with duct tape?
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And let me share a first with you all today: I’ve never spoken to this many people in a crowd ever. So I’m gonna take a selfie if you don’t mind.
Do you remember the time when a golf cart got flipped on the way up to Bee Camp or when you woke up next to a rattlesnake over Outings or you ate all of the dried fruit on Kern before anyone else could get to it?
Do you remember when you realized how profound a friendship can be? And learning how long it takes to grow?
Do you remember dressing up for Servons in sparkly dresses or pajamas or in Birkenstocks or in suit jackets?
Do you remember seeing your friends grieve? And learning how to comfort them?
Do you remember packing up your life when the weather started to turn in a collection of cardboard boxes and Polaroids?
Do you remember questioning the things your parents told you?
Do you remember dorm room karaoke nights and laughing so hard in the dining hall that you slammed the table?
Do you remember learning how to say goodbye?
These are the moments we don’t plan for. Sure, some of them won’t change the course of our lives, but they are the moments that will stick with us alongside those bucket list moments. Treating these unassuming moments as firsts makes my day so much more eventful. Anthony Doerr writes in his memoir, Four Seasons in Rome, that “We'd pass out every time we saw –actually saw – a flower. Imagine if we only got to see a cumulonimbus cloud or Cassiopeia or a snowfall once a century: there'd be pandemonium in the streets.” There is so much beauty in the new. Yes, the beauty is easier to find in the bucket list moments, but it is just as present in the everyday moments of cloud watching and stargazing and wishing for snow and Free Days. Thank you to Cate for giving us a backdrop, a stage, and a cast
of characters to experience all the firsts that come with teenagehood. Things will be a little different in about an hour or so when we are all graduated. We might feel a little older. As we transplant ourselves away from this place on the Pacific Coast Highway, I hope we all carry this teenage ability to treat each moment as new on our separate paths. It’s fun and really pretty that way. Just remember to get vitamin D. And please send a text. Write a letter. Just let your friends know that they’re still on your mind. I’m begging because I can’t imagine my life without you all.
And let me share a first with you all today: I’ve never spoken to this many people in a crowd ever. So I’m gonna take a selfie if you don’t mind.
To the Class of 2024, I have so much love:
We have become artists and athletes and adventurers and leaders and scholars and all these fancy labels that don’t really mean much when you really get
to know us. We’ve been teenagers for the past four years, which means that we have been trying to find our way. We’ve navigated big moments and little ones and discovered mirrored fragments of ourselves. Our teachers and faculty have shown us a bit of what it means to be good human beings through their homemade chocolate chip cookies, loaves of bread, and kind words. Each of us belongs in some part to the eucalyptus trees and this slice of the Mesa in Carpinteria, California. Each of us belongs in some part to the smiles of the friends and family we’ve made here. I am in awe of each and every one of you. You’re all so iridescent. I hope you build bucket lists, discover the new, and live deliberately. And remember to tell us all about it when you figure out what the meaning of all these experiences and all this careful thinking is. May we all metaphorically pass out every time we see the flowers: the golden poppies down the Pacific Coast Highway, and the pink roses at this graduation. Thank you. I love you.
Student speaker Annie Chian '24 pauses for a moment to take a selfie during her Commencement Address.
Faculty Commencement Address
Cast Your Spell
By Brooks Hansen, English Instructor
Collectively, you have what makes good readers good. Not just keen minds. But open... You have what makes good writers good. Grit. The determination to work a sentence til you get it right. Nothing derivative. You only borrow to transform. You understand the point here: to be a primary source.
Alex, trustees, guests, colleagues, and you, Class of 2024, it means a great deal to me, being invited to speak to you today, by you, as I hope you’ll see...
But first, if you don’t mind, I want to take us back –all the way back to the cusp of history and pre-history –to consider a certain brand of Elder, Priestess, or Shaman, whose practice was to journey out to the secret caves where all the sacred vessels were stored – the jars, tablets, knotted ropes –and just by looking at them, somehow manage to see into the past.
See the future. Other worlds. Gods and monsters. Hear their voices somehow. Speak to them. And on the basis of these exchanges, descend again to their communities to cultivate, to heal, and to preserve them.
In retrospect, we can surmise the secret power these sorcerers possessed was literacy. Those jars were basically books. The caves were libraries. These were the first readers and writers –defining experience for their followers, casting spells on them the way all good wizards do. With words.
That’s why even today, when we break words down into their component parts, we call it “spelling.”
(Annie, I’m not sure that’s true, but I so much want it to be, I didn’t check.)
Point is, the sages all agree. Words create the world. Words are magic. All schools are Hogwarts…
But it appears we’ve run into a little competition.
My own first encounter with AI language models happened maybe five years ago.
I’d written an Email to an agent: “Hey Matt, just wondering if those people ever got back to you about that project, because if not, then, yada-yada-yada.”
That kind of thing. “Let me know.”
A couple days go by, no answer. Third day, I get two words: “Sounds great!” And I just thought…not really.
This happened a few more times, me sending off these typical faux-casual professional check-ins, him sending back these very brief, very positive non-sequiturs.
I didn’t make that much of it until a few months later
I noticed my own Gmail was starting to suggest replies that I could use:
Will do! Can’t wait! Sounds great! And I thought to myself, ‘Holy Toledo, is my agent auto-responding to my emails?’ I couldn’t believe it.
It explained a lot…But still…
So that’s when I first began to sense something sinister at play.
It wasn’t really until a couple years ago, though, when OpenAI showed up, that the alarm bells started going crazy. For all of us.
These new language models have gotten so good, so fast – at simulating understanding, and stimulating it –it’s terrifying.
And it does begin to feel like we might be supplanted soon as the premier readers and the writers (by which of course I mean wizards) in the sphere; It seems clear we will accept the supporting role: Soon enough, teachers like me will only assign computer-generated prompts to books that we may or may not have read.
You’ll get ChatGPT to write the papers for you.
We’ll get PowerSchool to do all the grading and commenting.
We’ll get them (audience) to pay for this nonsense. With Bitcoin.
And no one’ll be the wiser.
It’ll be the perfect crime.
Ok, that won’t happen. And I don’t mean to sound alarmist. It’s probably a good thing that we’re asking the Big Questions now:
What does it mean to be ‘literate’ anyway? In 2024. And if we are our about to be subsumed by some superior, hollow, intelligence –what exactly are we prepared to give up? And is there anything we’d like to save?
I find myself thinking back to the days before all this –You know, when the phones were attached to the wall, had one function, and if you decided to go for a walk, you might as well have been Odysseus.
No one knew.
It could be a lonely, disconnected place, I do recall. Most of those missions you set out on, you came back from disappointed, frustrated, heartbroken. But it also seemed like every so often some serendipitous something would come along to compensate you.
Some unseen angel would slide up and whisper in your ear, ‘No, psssst, over here,” and gift you with something you hadn’t seen coming. The most obvious example, for me, probably being that time I spent five years writing a novel that came to me in about a block-and-a-half –
On 23rd Street between Second and Third Avenue. All I’d wanted was a bagel.
But that was the point.
That was the abiding lessons here: That when you went out looking for one thing, and managed to find another, that was the best thing that could happen to you. That was the genius maneuver. And if you were smart, you should figure out how to do that more often.
Make yourself available to the thing you didn’t know you were looking for.
And bring a notebook.
But then so this may be my question – or my biggest fear: that in this world here today, where we do almost all of our searching online – where we know for a fact that every choice, every next turn has been set there by some algorithm designed to trap us –how are we supposed to hear those angels? How are we supposed to access any instinct or intuition whatsoever through the din of: people who bought this item also bought… Because that’s the whole game inside that place. Homogenizing choice. AND homogenizing language.
I only recently started texting. My family gave me an Android. (I don’t know what message that sends.)
But I’d been thinking you were all a bunch of geniuses with your thumbs.
I didn’t realize: You’re not really typing.
Mostly you’re accepting the recommendation of the word the phone has figured out you probably want. Based on patterns. Balls in a pachinko machine.
Which is okay, I guess, until you find yourself conceding, thinking ‘fine, not the word I was looking for, but close enough.’
You click. Take the road most traveled.
And die a little in the process: “Sounds great!”
But this is where I turn to you.
And I should preface this by saying, we try not to play favorites, we teachers, we really do.
But as our old friend Teddy points out, we all have our ‘affinities’.
Setting aside the fact that my beloved daughter sits among you, I do feel an affinity with your class.
I taught you as freshmen. And sophomores. AND seniors. English, more to the point.
John Trimble '24 adjusts their boutonniere while getting ready for Commencement.
You’re a very gratifying bunch to teach English to. Collectively, you have what makes good readers good. Not just keen minds. But open. You look for a reason to like the text, and learn from it, not set it aside.
You enjoy uncertainty, ambiguity. You’re challenged by it. If there’s a happier creature on earth than a baffled Clyde Kye, I haven’t seen it.
Maybe Ember, luxuriating in the description of a broken tooth; or Thomas, flushing red with frustration at his own thesis, insisting it could be better; Mel brimming with everything she wants to say, at once; Seb politely begging to disagree, while Tonfai lobs the truth bombs down from the mountaintop; or Noor bounces at the prospect of revision; But it’s every damn one of you. Burak, putting on that anti-intellectual show in class, only to turn around and hand in those steel-cut arguments; Tristan, scouring for the simplest, most indelible route; Josie, losing her voice–hearing that–and finding it again.
You have what makes good writers good. Grit.
The determination to work a sentence til you get it right. Carla. Chloe.
The stubborn commitment to what you mean, what you intend. Sahar.
Nothing derivative. You only borrow to transform. You understand the point here: to be a primary source.
I’m not naïve, of course.
I don’t expect you to forswear the technology. You’re going to work with it, test it, use it in ways that would probably never have occurred to us, and that some of us might even object to. But that’s to be expected, and that’s okay, and here’s why.
We all know what a ‘foil’ is, in literary terms. It’s that character who both compares and contrasts with the hero
In a way that helps us see them better. I confess, I had always thought the reference was to fencing: The foil was the guy our hero sword-fought with. No. The word ‘foil’ refers to the little silvery cup on which a jewel is mounted, to make it shine more brightly.
There it is:
Whatever you do with all the new software coming down the pike at you, no matter how innovative or autonomous it seems to be, just keep that image in mind.
AI is a foil: shiny, flat, cheap, there for the purpose of serving the jewel. It is not a threat.
It is a clarifying opportunity:
to recognize what it can do for us, but also what it can’t. And when it tries, it fails (to a discerning eye) so utterly, so comically by comparison to what we are capable of, at our best, the point stands out in bold relief: The jewel – the diamond –the most beautiful thing the universe ever came up with –is still the individual human…being.
You know this. I know you know this. I’ve read your work.
One of the unsung perks of teaching: It instills hope. A hot commodity when there’s so much out there to fear for. The planet. Justice. Democracy.
As for the Word,
I have to say I am not afraid. I am not afraid for one good reason. And I am looking at it.
On behalf of the whole Cate family, your families, and everyone else out there upon whom you’re about to cast your spell, thank you.
Myles Warren '24 walks toward the stage to accept an award.
2023-24 Awards
Commencement Awards
Jeffrey Sumner Pallette '88 Award
Jules Hirsch Wecker '24
William New, Jr. '59 ServonsAward
David Tunnell P'19,'21,'23, Trustee
Santa Barbara Scholarship Cup
Annie Chian '24
Ellis Cup
Abolarin Naomi Oke '24
Shannon Winifred Murray '24
Morgan Gwynne Temby '69 Award
Caroline R. Batchelder '24
The Miramar Award
Muhsin Abdul-Hakim '24
Charlotte Brownlee '85 Cup
Mei Gong '24
Benjamin D. Williams IV Inquiry Award
Yada Nokhong '24
Dohrmann Pischel Class of 1914 Medal
Shawn Cordeiro '24
Nelson D. Jones '48 Medal
Yeidy Thaily Salmerón '24
Santa Barbara School Medal
Noor Harwell '24
Head of School Award
Andrew Carranza '24
William Shepard Biddle '18 Cup
Josie Tove Frazer '24
Kristian Scurtis '24 and Melanie Davidson '24 were recognized as outstanding athletes, earning the esteemed Beach Soulé and Peter Cate awards, respectively.
Student Body President Andrew Carranza '24 is congratulated by Adrian Ordoñez '24 and his fellow classmates as he receives the Head of School Award.
Yada Nokhong '24 receives the Benjamin D. Williams IV Inquiry Award, given to a student whose scholarship is generous, original, and demonstrates a sense of wonder about all that we do not know.
The Jeffrey Sumner Pallette '88 Award
JULES
WECKER '24
Presented by Andrew Carranza '24 and Adrian Ordoñez '24
The Jeffrey Sumner Pallette '88 Award is presented by the graduating class to a classmate whose presence and character have inspired our class to laugh, question, and care for each other through a combination of honesty, kindness, and optimism. This person has remained unapologetically themselves and constantly shows us all that authenticity is the key to joy here at Cate.
This place will forever be grateful for his ability to care genuinely about everything and everyone. Through his commitment to making people smile, actively engaging with students from all backgrounds, and mastering his ability in the arts, he has cemented his legacy at our institution. A regular face in assembly announcement giveaways
and the Ceramics barn, he spreads love with every funny (or unfunny joke), loving hugs, and positive energy. Still, above all, he always has time to check in on his High House Lido children, who have looked up to him so much this year.
He holds the remarkable ability to see the good in everyone. Although he did not have a Servons speech this year, we did not need to hear him talk to know how much he loves Cate, and how much Cate loves him. An avid Math tutor, he can solve problems in seconds, rivaling that of Frankie G’s speedy mental calculations. Many can attest to feeling inspired by his chivalry, kindness, candor, and charisma.
Whether it’s sharing a laugh in the dining hall with him or sitting eagerly as he brings a fresh loaf of sourdough in your direction, you only ever love this place more after talking to him. In some way or another, he has touched us all. Whether or not we talk like we used to, we are honored to present the Jeffrey Sumner Pallette Class of 1988 award to Jules Wecker '24.
William New Jr. '59 Servons Award
DAVID TUNNELL P'19,'21,'23, TRUSTEE
The William New Jr. '59 Servons Award was conceived to honor the legendary service to Cate of its namesake. For many years the award was presented by Bill New himself: an inventor, philanthropist, and trustee. With Bill’s passing, the award now lives beyond him, a memory of the service he offered this community and a standard for those of us who would presume to follow in his footsteps. The Servons Award acknowledges service that is as distinctive and unselfish as it is impactful and memorable.
It is awarded this year to a trustee who has surpassed the highest standards of service to the School through his selfless devotion to prioritizing the needs of the School. This trustee brought a formal structure to the fiduciary health of the School as the chair of the finance committee and active board
member for the past seven years. It is no exaggeration to say that he has fundamentally shifted the foundation of the School, ensuring that we have the stability and funding to not only survive but thrive, more essential than ever in these complex times.
Fast-paced, inspirational, inquisitive, and extraordinarily generous, this trustee has forever impacted the reimagination of Cate’s physical plant, the character of our board, and this entire institution by inspiring everyone who interacts with him to set the highest standards, to perpetually embody integrity, and always dream boldly. Through his ceaseless enthusiasm and unparalleled drive, he inspires others to join him in launching the school towards valiant goals.
The recipient of this award embodies “the spirit of this place” through
selfless service, generosity, and simply being there in a time of need, nurturing magic of Cate. As with most great leaders, this trustee is a skilled simplifier, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt to offer a solution or a path to a solution and then focus our efforts toward a unified goal. It is inspiring how this trustee’s work infuses every aspect of the School we love today, yet the investments he has made are often unseen – under the ground, between the walls, and within the intricate spreadsheets.
As we prepare to honor this trustee today, we can be assured that his legacy will forever live on as one of the giants in the history of the School. We are better because of you. It is my pleasure to honor David Tunnell with the Servons award.
Faculty Awards
Stephen Spittler '63 Cup
Frank Griffin
W. Burleigh Pattee
Fellowship Award
Brooks Hansen
Fellowship Award: Centennial
Craig Bouma
Fellowship Award: Circumspice
Ge Song
Academic Awards
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Philip Owen '92 Poetry Prize
Kendall Grace Rhee '24
James C. Durham '02
Writing Prize
Sebastian Sutch '24
English Department Prize
Annie Chian '24
Clyde Kye '24
HISTORY DEPARTMENT
The Frank B. Light Cup
Olivia Almqvist '26
Ian Sheshunoff '26
Edwin Hartzell United States
History Prize
Zach Coulter '25
The James Masker Global Studies Award
Sophie Alijani '24
Crosby Milligan Rosenthal '24
History Department Prize
Charlotte Wells '24
HUMANITIES
DEPARTMENT
Gaby Edwards Humanities Award
Kakeru Hirofuji '27
Tori Kim '27
MATHEMATICS
DEPARTMENT
Stanley M. Durrant
Mathematics Prize
Philip Choi '26
Alex Zhang '26
Colin Day Mathematics Award
Riley Pan '24
Myles Caldwell Warren '24
Allan J. Gunther
Mathematics Award
Yada Nokhong '24
Rensselaer Polytechnic Medal
Madeleine Patrick '25
Computational Thinking Award
George Gordon '24
MODERN LANGUAGES
DEPARTMENT
Chinese Prize
Francesca Sutch '25
Alyna Takahashi '24
French Prize
Christian González '24
Ember McMullen '24
Japanese Prize
Robert Gable '24
Spanish Prize
Claire Blythe Clark '24
Stanley D. Woodworth
Language Cup
Tracy Cao '24
Frances Davis '24
Susana Elizabeth Diaz '24
SCIENCE DEPARTMENT
Biology Prize
Mei Gong '24
Noor Harwell '24
Chemistry Prize
Jeeyou Jung '25
Physics Prize
Caroline Elizabeth Keohane '24
Burak Yanar '24
Pritzker Science Early Distinction Award
Samuel Young '26
The Hans F. Summers Award
Annie Chian '24
Art Awards
Joseph Knowles Foundation Arts Award
Sophie Blank '27
Arelic Rodriguez '27
Fred Bradley '68 Prize: 2-dimensional
Connor Pan '25
Fred Bradley '68 Prize: 3-dimensional
Mei Gong '24
James R. Feld '81
Ceramics Award
Brooke Friedman '25
Mack Nieman '25
Tony Hooker '56 Sculpture Award
Regi Flores '24
Photography Prize
Caroline R. Batchelder '24
Johnny Foster '25
Irwin Exhibition Award in Photography
Kate McCoy '25
Digital Imaging Award
John H. Trimble '24
Joseph Bradley Art Prize
Ingrid Lu '24
Zoe Moss '24
Marion Wolsey Cate
Acting Prize
Anna Charlotte Morse '24
Connor Pan '25
Dance Award
Abolarin Naomi Oke '24
Theater Award
George Gordon '24
Noor Harwell '24
Franklin Ellis Vocal Prize
Nathan Keshen '24
Peter Folger '25 Music Cup
Kairei Jones '24
Ember McMullen '24
Extracurricular Awards
Betty Woodworth
Librarian’s Award
Daisy Gemberling '25
Kendall Grace Rhee '24
Mesan Award
Peregrine James '25
Oona Olivia Summerford-Ng '24
Francesca Sutch '25
Cecily Todd '24
El Batidor Award
Charlotte Wells '24
Community Engagement Award
Caroline Grace Coors '24
Noah W. Hotchkiss Memorial Award
Shawn Cordeiro '24
Technology Prize
Yada Nokhong '24
Student Activities Award
Lain Moran Biles '24
Thomas Jarman Paige '24
Melanie Davidson '24
Angie Zoric '24
William Nghia Hammond '24
Alison Wang '25
Stephanie Akinfolarin '25
Cecily Todd '24
Human Development Award
Ingrid Lu '24
Simran Elizabeth Sharma '24
Athletic Awards
Outdoor Program Award
Ember McMullen '24
Redington Cup Award
Claire Bianchi '26
Quincy Thorne '26
Most Inspirational Athlete Award
Riley Pan '24
Everest Schipper '24
Sebastian Sutch '24
Sportsmanship Award
Sophie Alijani '24
Crosby Milligan Rosenthal '24
Beach Soulé Award
Kristian Scurtis '24
Peter Cate '37 Award
Melanie Davidson '24
SENIOR VARSITY SPORTS LETTER AWARDS
Six Varsity Letters
Christian González '24
Ada Ives Hansen '24
Kairei Jones '24
Oliver Lee '24
Angie Zoric '24
Seven Varsity Letters
Muhsin Abdul-Hakim '24
Sophie Alijani '24
Caroline R. Batchelder '24
Pen Brooks '24
Claire Blythe Clark '24
Remy Minnis '24
Shannon Winifred Murray '24
Kyle Minsu Park '24
Crosby Milligan Rosenthal '24
Everest Schipper '24
Ari Seal '24
Eight Varsity Letters
Karla Camacho '24
Thomas Jarman Paige '24
Riley Pan '24
Kristian Scurtis '24
Nine Varsity Letters
Melanie Davidson '24
Sebastian Sutch '24
10 Varsity Letters
Josie Tove Frazer '24
Caroline Elizabeth Keohane '24
Tyler Martinez '24
VARSITY SPORTS AWARDS
Baseball
Peter Lehman '25
Quinn Pullen '25
Boys Basketball
Jacob Gabbay '25
Peter Lehman '25
Tyler Martinez '24
Marcus Scudder '25
Girls Basketball
Ada Ives Hansen '24
Riley Pan '24
Boys Cross Country
Everest Schipper '24
Sebastian Sutch '24
Girls Cross Country
Caroline Elizabeth Keohane '24
Francesca Sutch '25
Football
Pen Brooks '24
Tyler Martinez '24
Crosby Milligan Rosenthal '24
Kristian Scurtis '24
Boys Lacrosse
Cody Mast '25
Kristian Scurtis '24
Burak Yanar '24
Girls Lacrosse
Sophie Alijani '24
Shannon Winifred Murray '24
Riley Pan '24
Boys Soccer
Samuel Anum '25
Charlie Dorion '26
Lucas Huiner '25
Ari Seal '24
Girls Soccer
Melanie Davidson '24
Josie Tove Frazer '24
Shannon Winifred Murray '24
Boys Swimming
Joba Samson '25
Zachary William White '24
Girls Swimming
Stella Rogers '25
Angie Zoric '24
Boys Tennis
Ethan Bloom '24
Girls Tennis
Sophie Alijani '24
Alyna Takahashi '24
Boys Track and Field
Everest Schipper '24
Girls Track and Field
Annie Chian '24
Josie Tove Frazer '24
Boys Ultimate Frisbee
Dilan Lee '24
Nyle Ahmad '25
Boys Volleyball
Clyde Kye '24
Mack Nieman '25
Ben Richmond '24
Girls Volleyball
Melanie Davidson '24
Josie Tove Frazer '24
Oyin Opawumi '26
Boys Water Polo
Baye Breene '25
Remy Minnis '24
Phin Stephenson '25
Girls Water Polo
Tallulah Bates '25
Caroline Elizabeth Keohane '24
Ani van Lynde '25
Class Agents
Sophie Alijani '24
Caroline R. Batchelder '24
Mei Gong '24
George Gordon '24
Ada Ives Hansen '24
Noor Harwell '24
Oliver Lee '24
Shannon Winifred Murray '24
Riley Pan '24
Kyle Minsu Park '24
Jules Hirsch Wecker '24
Cum Laude Society
Sophie Alijani '24
Annie Chian '24
Melanie Davidson '24
Josie Tove Frazer '24
Mei Gong '24
Christian González '24
Noor Harwell '24
Clyde Kye '24
Oliver Lee '24
Ingrid Lu '24
Ember McMullen '24
Yada Nokhong '24
Thomas Jarman Paige '24
Riley Pan '24
Sebastian Sutch '24
Burak Yanar '24
6.
7.
8.
1. Annie Chian '24 proudly receives the Santa Barbara Scholarship Cup, recognizing her exceptional intellectual curiosity and accomplishments.
2. Everest Schipper '24, Riley Pan '24, and Sebastian Sutch '24 are celebrated with the Most Inspirational Athlete award for their hard work, leadership, and unselfish play.
3. Caroline Coors '24 radiates joy as she accepts the Community Engagement Award, a testament to her impactful contributions to Cate’s service initiatives.
4. Yeidy Salmerón '24 graciously accepts the Nelson Jones Class of 1948 Medal, symbolizing her exemplary leadership marked by humility, integrity, and dedication.
5. Shannon Murray '24 (left) and Abby Oke '24 stride toward the stage after being awarded the Ellis Cup in acknowledgment of their spirit, energy, and unselfish concern for the community.
Daisy Gemberling '25 (left) and Kendall Rhee '24 were recipients of the Betty Woodworth Librarian’s Award.
Caroline Batchelder '24 was honored with the Morgan Gwynne Temby award, recognizing her profound empathy and dedication to the welfare of others.
Shawn Cordeiro '24 receives the Noah W. Hotchkiss Memorial Award for his exceptional effort in welcoming individuals to the Cate community.
Commencement Through the Lens
1. From left: Adrian Ordoñez '24, Yeidy Salmerón '24, Regi Flores '24, Susana Diaz '24, and Andrew Carranza '24 gather for a photo in the Johnson Library before Commencement.
2. Christian González '24 stands for a photo with his diploma during Commencement.
3. Cecily Todd '24 shares a moment with faculty during the traditional receiving line following Commencement.
4. From left: Fritz Veltman '24, Thomas Paige '24, Sebastian Sutch '24, Everest Schipper '24, Jules Wecker '24, and Tyler Martinez '24.
5. Muhsin Abdul-Hakim '24 and Humanities Department Chair Ivan Barry embrace during the faculty receiving line.
6. Noor Har well '24 expresses gratitude to a faculty member upon graduating from Cate.
7. Riley Pan '24, Ada Hansen '24, Ingrid Lu '24, and Eleni Bhatia '24 pose for a photo as they get ready for Commencement.
8. Anna Morse '24 (left) and Charlotte Wells '24 are all smiles during the processional on Kirby Quadrangle.
9. Felipe Blanco '24 pumps his fist in triumph as he receives his diploma.
10. Frances Davis '24 and Visual Art Department Chair Joy Doyle embrace during the faculty receiving line.
Cum Laude Introduction to Kate Parker '85
Written by Annalee Salcedo, Dean of Academics
Read by Alexandra Lockett, Head of School
In 1985, when Kate Parker was a senior at Cate, she was the head student librarian in the McBean. Twenty years later she returned to Cate as a part-time library technician, just as her young children were starting public school in Santa Barbara. Over the next few years, she explored and nurtured two passions: public education policy and libraries. She pursued the first by running for public office. In 2006, Ms. Parker was elected to the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Education where she eventually served as President. And in 2018 she was elected to the Santa Barbara City College’s Board of Trustees. Ms. Parker was recognized by the Santa Barbara Educational Foundation in 2019 with the Hope Award, for her continuous work to improve the school experience for learners of all ages. True Servons.
And Ms. Parker did all that while working at Cate, going to school for her Masters in Library and Information Sciences, and raising her children Adam, Simon (Cate Class of 2018) and Nick (Class of 2021). In 2017, Ms. Parker was appointed Cate’s Director of Libraries and throughout her tenure, she has been a teacher, a partner to our faculty, the steward of our collections, and a leader, bringing her commitment to equity and inclusion to her work in all these capacities. Ms. Parker has dedicated herself for almost two decades to supporting Cate students’ curiosity and independent learning, teaching students the academic research skills they need to succeed at Cate and in college, and perhaps most importantly, fostering a love for reading among all the young people on the Mesa, from our Early Learning Center toddlers to you, our most accomplished scholars.
When you return to the Mesa as alumni, the Inquiry Collaborative with our new library will be an energized space for physical and digital research, interdisciplinary inquiry projects, collaborative learning, hard work, quiet study, and maybe even vigorous play. Know that Ms. Parker’s passion for excellence in education and her commitment to Cate helped to inform the vision for that beautiful building and for the programs it will enable. We are sorry you and Ms. Parker will be leaving before it opens. But we look forward to welcoming you and her back to witness the Colab as the hub of learning, living, and working together on the Mesa.
To quote a former colleague, “Kate was HI (human intelligence) before there was AI – the original ChatGPT – and there is nothing she can’t help answer.” In her many years at Cate, Ms. Parker has encouraged students to follow their curiosities, formulate interesting questions, and to find those answers for themselves. We cannot think of a more fitting speaker to address and celebrate our Cum Laude honorees from the Class of 2024.
Cum Laude Address Speaking Freely
By Kate Parker '85, Library Director
Thank you so much for your kind introduction, and many congratulations to the deeply impressive Cum Laude Society initiates for the Class of 2024. It’s an honor to speak to you today, not least because this is my first speech at Cate since my junior-year English class with Jim Durham, an incredible teacher whose grammar textbooks lived on for many years here and whose faculty citation still hangs in Schoolhouse 1. I always hope current students will pause and reflect on these markers around campus and perhaps stop by the school archives to learn more. Great Cate teachers of the past are not just campus ghost stories; they continue to inspire and weave their magic through the overlapped lives of your long-term faculty, the traditions this School continues, and even the way we adapt our teaching over time.
I must admit I have no idea what I spoke about during that long-ago presentation. Instead, I remember my classmate Rachel Davis’ vivid description of Ojai ranch life, the hard work it took to maintain her family’s orange orchards, even the way she evoked the scent of bitter smoke from smudge pots wafting amongst the trees on icy mornings – that now old-fashioned way of protecting citrus from frost damage during cold snaps in Southern California. This was long before the tradition of Servons speeches began, but then, as now, Cate classmates inspired each other. Often a trick of a good teacher is to simply get out of the way as budding scholars wrestle with their questions and share their stories, and that was such a moment in Jim Durham’s class.
Whatever it was about, my own speech would have given no one – least of all me – any clue that a large part of my adult life would be given over to public speaking. Librarian, yes: I was the head student librarian my senior year, loved everything to do with reading, research, and libraries, and the only shock is that it took me until my 40s to go to library school. Politician, no: I was reserved with adults, rarely shared my thoughts in class, and was so terrified of speaking in public that I don’t think I
piped up once in assembly as a student here. Long-time art teacher Patrick Collins described me in my Art History class comment as “quiet” and “bemused.”
And yet, in 2006, after just one year back in the workforce following a long stint as a stay-at-home mom and with no political background at all, I ran for and won a seat on the Santa Barbara School Board in a crowded field with six candidates. The next 16 years of my life were devoted to politics and public service in education, both at Santa Barbara Unified and then at Santa Barbara City College. And the girl who never raised her hand in class, who listened but rarely spoke, gradually found her voice thanks to many, many public meetings, speeches, debates, and voter forums. What did I learn from my time in office that I could share with brilliant young academics like you?
First, I’d ask you to stay or get involved as leaders in your communities wherever you go. Many of you in front of me have done this at Cate: run for student government, served on student committees, truly participated. But if you haven’t, don’t let old self-concepts hold you back. Now is the time to shed the labels you may have held onto for too long, the ones you picked up here that no longer fit. We are so different as we get older than we were as teenagers. One day, you’ll look back across the years and be astounded at how much you’ve grown. Change is a gift. Embrace it, shake off those invisible restraints, go forth and lead. Your perspective matters.
And as you do, actively seek out opposing views and arguments. Dear students, I wish I could say that the wide world beyond the Mesa has community conversations with good snacks, kind adults, and group norms that assume positive intent. Serving on a school board, I learned first-hand how deep caring, intelligence, and utter rage can walk hand-in-hand. Getting along civilly with people who will not be civil with you is hard. It is so, so tempting to try to cast out those we disagree with, to shut our ears to their voices, and attack their character just as they attack our own...to call them names like far right, far left, bigot – terms
One day, you’ll look back across the years and be astounded at how much you’ve grown. Change is a gift. Embrace it, shake off those invisible restraints, go forth and lead. Your perspective matters.
“
that are used so extravagantly these days that they’ve lost a common meaning. And when you’re a politician, part of your job is to get other people who think just like you elected, so you never have to listen to your opponents at all. Of course, politics is all about winning majorities to get party policies pushed through. But this practice simultaneously holds real danger: like-minded politicians need a strong opposition to help them recognize when their ideas may have unintended consequences, when they’re foolish, or even downright dangerous. If I were a history teacher, I’d be bringing up Lincoln’s war cabinet about now. It’s a fact that when I served with school board members who all thought the same way or who so wanted to get along that they would not publicly disagree with each other, we made worse decisions – often decisions that temporarily placated a vocal majority but that were not best for students and staff in the long run. So, as you fan out across the globe, think of me when a peer makes you uncomfortable with the points she’s raising in class, when that annoying gadfly goes to the mic yet again at your Associated Student Government meeting, and when your irritating professor tells you to more fully develop counterpoints to your argument. It will not seem like it at the time, but these are all good things.
I’ll also note that you should beware of attempts to restrict your speech and think twice when you seek to restrict others’. Sometimes, these attempts seem small and come from the best of intentions. You may have noticed when you came here as freshmen or sophomores that, at times, Cate has a blind spot in this area, and trusted adults occasionally put forward ideas about speech that are, well, a little crazy. With time and experience, in this small community, we gradually and individually figure out the difference between word change that is meaningful and word change that is not, and I hope we take that wisdom with us beyond the Mesa. In the broader American landscape, when speech becomes truly contentious, we have the First Amendment to lean on. During the years I served as school board president, I was required by law to allow all voices to be heard, and woe unto me if I forgot to watch the clock at a contentious meeting and gave one speaker 20 seconds longer than another. To the short-changed speaker, that clearly made me an evil sympathizer with the long-winded bigot from the opposing side, rather than simply a human who was briefly distracted. My advice to you? Know that in speech, as in life, what goes around comes around: if you think someone has
such bad ideas that they shouldn’t be allowed to speak on your campus or in your town, there will come a time when others think your ideas are so bad that you shouldn’t be allowed to speak either. Indeed, we’ve seen ample evidence of this on today’s college campuses. Also, if you’re an elected official running a difficult public meeting, always keep your eye on the clock!
Finally, understand that you are sometimes wrong, that you will need to listen to people you disagree with to realize this, and that changing your mind and your practice with evidence is very, very hard for humans to do. We all know Hans Christian Anderson’s “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” that classic parable of vanity, fear, power, and foolishness wrapped up in one short folktale. When I was little, I thought for sure I would always be like the child in the story – of course, I would speak truth to power! Of course, I would express myself freely and point out fundamental reality, good grief! As I got older and humbler, I thought perhaps I would be like the townspeople – I might not personally feel comfortable speaking up first in a difficult situation, but hey, when someone else did, I’d recognize the truth, I’d change my mind, and I’d speak up, too. After years in
Ingrid Lu '24 and Riley Pan '24 hug during the Cum Laude Society induction ceremony.
elected office, however, I gradually came to realize that we are most often the emperor. Andersen closed his story with the realization spreading like wildfire through the crowd that the emperor was naked, “The Emperor shivered, for he suspected they were right. But he thought, ‘This procession has got to go on.’ So he walked more proudly than ever, as his noblemen held high the train that wasn’t there at all.” Oh, the times a board threw good money after bad, let terrible decisions stand, and poorly served the community when a majority of members could not only not accept they had made an error, it was so unthinkable that it simply could not be true…even as a particularly disastrous decision was as clearly visible to a sometimes contemptuous public as that naked emperor on the high parade. I wish I had wise words on how to always know when you’re a fool to speak up or a fool to stay quiet. If only we could avoid the disillusionment or shame that comes when we realize that we have
wholeheartedly believed something that is not true, made an all-too-public mistake, or defended bad ideas for far too long. These times come to us all, and I can only share that as hard as it is to be either the child or the townfolk, to speak openly against the will of the king or the mood of the crowd, to publicly acknowledge we are wrong and change course without pointing fingers at anyone but ourselves, those are the times we hang onto our self-respect, if only by our fingernails.
Jim Durham was an enthusiast of Ralph Waldo Emerson, so I’ll close with this quote from his favorite Emerson essay, “Self-Reliance”:
What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally arduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think
they know what is your duty better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.
To the newest members of Cate’s Cum Laude Society, thank you for bringing us sunshine today and throughout the years you graced this campus with your presence. I have every faith that you will live up to your academic and intellectual promise and the spirit of Servons as you move through the world. Remember always that you are your own guiding star: be independent and trust yourself-not who or what others tell you to trust. Listen widely, and speak freely. Thank you, and congratulations again.
16 members of the Cate Class of 2024 were inducted into the Cum Laude Society. Back Row: Ember McMullen '24, Noor Harwell '24, Ingrid Lu '24, Melanie Davidson '24, and Thomas Paige '24. Middle Row: Burak Yanar '24, Oliver Lee '24, Annie Chian '24, Yada Nokhong '24, and Mei Gong '24. Front Row: Sebastian Sutch '24, Sophie Alijani '24, Christian González '24, Josie Frazier '24, Riley Pan '24, and Clyde Kye '24.
About the Baccalaureate Ceremony
Baccalaureate is a 15th century custom that came to this country from Britain. The term comes from the Latin “Bacca” – meaning “berry” – and “lauri” – referencing the laurels that were used to adorn those who earned their degrees.
2024 Baccalaureate Ceremony A Place to Call Home
By Karla Camacho '24
From where I am from, nobody knows about places like Cate, much less attends a school like this one. To us, if you go to a boarding school, you are either going to prison, you are becoming a nun, or your parents don’t love you. Because, in my neighborhood, we are all families made of people who left their homes for a better opportunity. All my neighbors want to leave this strange world. My parents want to go back home.
So, when the people around me found out I was considering leaving my home at such a young age, I was not met with support or excitement but a bundle of twisted emotions. Everyone told me how much of a horrible idea Cate was. They said I should stay at home and questioned if my parents loved me. My acceptance sent people through the roof. For example, my mother, who was the one to receive my Cate package, was crying tears of sadness in the living room as she stared at my box, saying, ya te vas. You’re leaving. And my grandmother told me, don’t go so far, your parents gave up so much for you, at least stay for them.
Because of those around me, when I arrived at Cate, I had my walls up, ready to prove to everyone around me how wrong they were and that I was going to the right place and making the right choice. This lasted for a total of 30 minutes, while I unloaded my belongings into my room. My smile lasted until I ran to my balcony to wave goodbye to my parents, only to see them already driving away.
This broke me. I was sobbing. I cried for my mom, and when I was able to stop the tears, I knelt to unpack my suitcases and started crying again because I didn’t want to undo my mom’s folded clothes. I sat on my cold floor thinking, “I can’t believe I have four years of this.”
I called my dad that afternoon and told him how sad and lonely I was. As we talked, I scrolled on my laptop, looking at schools within 10 miles of my house to transfer to. My dad offered to drop everything and pick me up. All I had to do was say yes. But I was too prideful, so instead, he promised that if I really hated it in a month, I could come back home. Only 30 days.
Today is day 1,336.
I hate how sentimental this place has made me. I hate that I can’t imagine a world without the people who live next to me. I hate that I won’t have a common room to go into next week. I hate the tears this place has brought to me. I hate how I don’t hate it here, how I love it too much to not want to go.
This week, I have sat on my floor crying once again, though this time it’s as I pack up those same suitcases that were so hard to empty. I have found myself crying for Cate.
I have been so in touch with my emotions, that everyone has seen me cry. And let me make it clear, I hate showing emotions.
But who wouldn’t have tears when Frank Griffin walks out of his last math class and is cheered on by the whole school.
Or when you run a campus loop the B and G workers greet you by name and ask about your day. It is always the people who you wouldn’t think that remind you of home.
Or when you see the walls in your dorms signed by people who called this place their home before you. And while you sign your name under theirs.
When you hug everyone at the Sunset Ceremony. The time we set aside to appreciate who we were that year.
Or when you open your balcony doors late at night and see the beauty of Carpinteria. When the lights in the small town blend with the stars in the sky, and
you sit there mesmerized. The beauty of Cate, that no bad day can take away from.
Tears have been flowing, and it’s not great I am an ugly crier. But looking back, it’s nice to see how much I care. This place that my family didn’t think was right, has now become mine.
And I am not crying because I am leaving my physical home like I did when I was younger. My home did not go from my small apartment to Pars, Upper Hall Longhouse, or 1960 Cate Mesa Road. My home just became something different, something else.
My home for the last three years was this chapter of Cate. With these teachers, my classmates, and everyone we knew in the last three years. And like any good story, every chapter must come to an end. Leaving doesn’t mean that the story never existed. This doesn’t mean you can’t reread your favorite part or highlight your favorite lines. All it means is that there is more to your story.
This time next year it will be others talking about the things that make them cry, the anecdotes from life they keep with them, or the pure gratitude they are feeling for this place. This time next year it won’t be the same story of Cate School I have experienced.
But that’s okay. That’s why I am okay with being more sentimental. It means I know I am loved in this part of my story. It means coming here was the right choice.
Today is the last time we are all guaranteed a tomorrow on the Mesa. These are the last couple sentences in our chapter. So take a second to take it all in and appreciate the fact that we are here now. Look at the beauty surrounding us, and enjoy the company of the people sitting next to you. Truly take it in.
I am glad we shared this part of our stories together.
Thank you.
The 30 Seconds
By Shawn Cordeiro '24
Whenever I’ve passed by Shaps [Troy Shapiro] on campus, seen him in the physics lab, or checked in for the night at CHW, he has always pointed out the smile on my face. He would then ask the question I’ve now grown accustomed to hearing, “How come you’re so happy, Shawn?” My instinctive response to this question has consistently been, “I’m not sure. I just am.” And I would just smile back. But today, Shaps, and all of you who have ever asked me the same question, you will finally get the answer you deserve.
I’ve always imagined life to be an extensive series of 30-second moments. Whether they actually last 30 seconds or not, I like to think of important intervals of time in my life as 30-second events. Each of these moments of time are defined by unique experiences that add up to become the memories that we carry on forever. These 30 seconds can span any length of time. From the one second your heart stops when the ball rolls off your fingertips deep in the fourth quarter. To the one hour spent grinding for a math final with friends late into the night, to the one month spent befriending a day student to secure rides off campus to even, your four years at Cate.
However, at the end of each of these “30 seconds,” there arrives a point where we must stop to reflect on all that has happened. At this moment in time, we often pause to process our emotions, and articulate our opinions. What if I had made that shot? Did I study hard enough for that test? Would I like my day student friends if they didn’t also come with a Prius? As my time at Cate draws to a close, am I proud of everything I have done? These are some of the questions we have or undoubtedly will ask ourselves at some point after each moment passes.
While writing this speech, I continuously found myself reflecting on one particular moment long seared into my memory. One that actually lasted a mere 30 seconds when I was just 14 years old.
I was enjoying a beautiful day with my family amidst the bustling streets of Barcelona when a white van suddenly, and intentionally, sped down a pedestrian-only street, colliding with dozens of innocent civilians. Although this specific instance within the moment remains ingrained in my mind, the time that ensued before and after the event are the ones I remember most vividly. In the first ten seconds, just before the
chaos erupted, I recall a mother and her son walking ahead of us. The son was excitedly sharing his plan to find chocolate with his mother, but his words were brushed aside as his mom ignored him. Then, unnoticed by his mom, he slipped away to find the chocolate, just as he said he would. In the chaotic aftermath of the last ten seconds, my family sought refuge in a nearby supermarket. A scene of desperation unfolded before our eyes as parents frantically searched for their
missing children, and siblings and friends hollered across the aisles, trying to find their way to each other. While pausing to gather my own emotions and empathize with those around me, I recognized this to be the most pivotal moment. The 31st second. The moment just after a crucial interval of time passes, when people express either gratitude or regret.
“ “
Stay present and do not live life regretting the last second or anticipating the next. This is the time to have fun and make memories you will never forget.
I share this story not to scare or sadden you on this joyous occasion but rather to offer a deeper glimpse into my perspective on life as a series of 30-second intervals. The initial 29 seconds encompass the choices you make through each of life’s moments. How much you studied for that test, which drills you chose to go hard on during practice, or all of the collective judgments you made over your four years at Cate.
Then arrives the 30th second. The pinnacle, the finale of the moment. This can be anything from handing in the test you studied for, playing in the game you practiced for, or even your Cate School graduation. But inevitably, as time zooms by us, the 30th second will pass and we will find ourselves upon the 31st second. A moment of reflection. It’s during this second that most people pause to ponder
Shawn Cordeiro '24 and Karla Camacho '24 share a smile of encouragement in between their addresses during the Baccalaureate Ceremony.
the preceding moments with a feeling of gratitude or perhaps regret for the decisions they chose to make or didn’t make during their 30 seconds.
I am immensely grateful to my roommate, my closest friends, our amazing teachers, and the remarkable Class of 2024 for giving me the greatest 29 seconds at Cate and of my life. Undoubtedly, certain seconds proved more challenging than others: my class’s freshman year marred by COVID-19, persevering through the challenging coursework of junior spring, and any time we had to painfully endure watching Dave Soto '08 play a game of basketball. All a testament to our determination and resilience.
Everything from sleeping in a dorm for the first time to going to a scorching hot Joshua Tree during outings week, getting injured playing sports, exploring Santa Barbara with friends, taking finals, getting reinjured, discovering new passions, and getting or not getting in trouble for all the bad decisions we have made happened during these 29 seconds.
Since we cannot change what we have done in any preceding second, it is critical to make the most of every single moment while we have it. Stay present and do not live life regretting the last second or anticipating the next. This is the time to have fun and make memories you will never forget. However, the most important thing during this time is to think about how you want to feel on that 31st second when the moment has passed you by. Will you stand proud, of all that you have achieved, and all that you have attempted? Or will you sit anxious, worried, or regretful?
So, to Shaps and anyone else who has asked me the question, “Why am I always so happy?'' It is because I saw firsthand on that day in Barcelona how one seemingly insignificant interaction between a mom and her son could have very well been their last, potentially ending in regret or sorrow because of the decisions each of them made at that moment. So I smiled every day I was here, in delight and in
sadness, so that when I arrived at my 31st second, driving down that Mesa road, I could smile just one more time, knowing I had fully cherished each second I had at Cate.
To the Class of 2025, 2026, and 2027, know that you are in the midst of your 30 seconds at Cate. Set goals for yourself, and work hard to achieve them. Forge new relationships with people you wouldn’t normally talk to. Step out of your comfort zone. Make the absolute most out of each of your 30 seconds –there is still plenty of time to change the things you want to change.
Now, to my class, the Class of 2024. We have arrived at the doorstep of one of our first 30th seconds. When we finalize this moment by crossing the stage at graduation, we will be proud of all the hard work we have put in throughout these years, the relationships we have fostered, and, most importantly, the memories we have created with each other. That said, we are not at the 31st second quite yet, nor should we treat ourselves like we are. Because even though we have gone through almost four years of a Cate education, we still have one more night to go.
So let us promise ourselves this. That we wiIl try our absolute best to cherish the final moments of our 30th second. Feel the grass outside Kirby Quad, soak in the beautiful scene of Sunset Bench, listen to the chirping birds on the day walk and smell the oak of the Chapel one last time. Give yourself a pat on the back for the good moments, accomplishments, and actions, but also take notice of the ways in which you went wrong these past few years. More importantly, forgive yourself for those mistakes. Learn from them, and try to make new choices accordingly in all your future 30-second moments.
But right now, instead of looking back at the bad and accepting defeat, you still have time to solidify your 30 seconds at Cate. Thank the teachers you need to thank, hug the friend who has helped
you the most, tell that special person how much you appreciate them, and most importantly, apologize to the people you may have hurt along the way.
Don’t leave Cate with any regrets. Do everything in your power to make sure that upon your 31st second, on your last drive down the Mesa, you can look back on everything and be content with how it all turned out, that despite the mistakes, you at least gave it everything you had. So, with that being said, to the graduating Class of 2024, let’s make our 30th-second count the most. I love you all, and thank you for everything.
“
When we finalize this moment by crossing the stage at graduation, we will be proud of all the hard work we have put in throughout these years, the relationships we have fostered, and, most importantly, the memories we have created with each other.
“
Cate’s a capella group No Strings Attached delights the audience with a sensational performance of “Colors” by Eric Burton.
Introduction of Baccalaureate Speaker Frank Griffin
By Alexandra Lockett, Head of School
Like many transplanted New Englanders including Curtis Cate himself, Frank Griffin made the cross-country drive from his first teaching job at Tabor Academy in Massachusetts to the Mesa in the summer of 1979. This intended short-term adventure quickly went from years to decades during which he has had a number of roles that have included working under four of Cate’s eight Heads of School.
There’s only one way to summarize Frank’s service to the School – you can’t. Frank has truly done it all and in the process, redefined a standard of excellence in doing so. What’s most remarkable, however, is how Frank continues to evolve and grow with or even a little bit ahead of the School. A bit like Benjamin Button, Frank Griffin seems to be aging in reverse, belting out Taylor Swift lyrics one minute and expertly mentoring us all, the next.
Boarding schools rely upon the “triple-threat model” where faculty serve as teachers, coaches, and dorm parents. What we don’t talk about as frequently, however, is the ephemeral and essential ingredient of culture, which serves to integrate all aspects of our program into a beautiful, cohesive whole.
Just as all good bread is made with a mature starter culture of yeast and the same holds true here. Frank Griffin is the starter culture of Cate, deliberately and predictably transforming our simple ingredients into a distinct, nourishing, and comforting whole.
If you’ll allow me a moment to geek out on calculus for just a moment, the integral is defined as the sum of infinite infantesimal intervals.
As we look back on Frank’s career and attempt to calculate the infinite infantesimal intervals of service to the School, I’d posit the sum would be an integer, whole unto itself, undivided – integral to who we are as a school.
Specifically, some of Frank’s infinite infantesimal intervals here at Cate include:
• Teaching virtually all levels of Math as well as economics, geography, and the first Human Development program when Cate went coeducational in 1981.
• Serving as the Math Department Chair for 20 years, the Director of Studies for eight years, as a dorm parent and dorm head in Schoolhouse, Long House, High House and Bothin/Parsonage, the Director of Athletics, boys varsity basketball coach for 16 seasons, as a member on the Admissions Committee under five different directors, and, of personal impact to me, as a member of the Head of School Search Committee.
Perhaps the most significant event was meeting English teacher and Assistant Dean of Students, Emilie Conrad, in 1985 which led to a much discussed campus romance that culminated in their 1988 wedding. Emilie retired in 2018 after 33 years on the Mesa, 26 as Director of College Counseling. Their daughters, Casey and Erin, graduated from Cate in 2009 and 2012, respectively.
Baccalaureate Address Music, Math, and the Mesa
So, let’s get right to it. This talk is pretty simple, and I hope a little fun. My goal is to connect three things that are near and dear to me.
Music, math, and the Mesa.
A bit of a warning, since this talk has a PG-13 rating, there will be a sprinkling of four letter words. They are…
Cate. Math. Mesa. Time. And the theme of this address: Love.
Such profanity.
In Cate classrooms, and with our culture of inquiry, we often start with a question, so here’s the first one:
Why me?
Cate Baccalaureate speakers in the past have included actors, scientists, and dignitaries. So I know what you might be thinking.
How could this “older gentlemen” who hasn’t changed his facial expression in 40 years know anything about love?
And speaking of passion, what about fashion? This guy looks like he shops at Target and Forever 61. And you have a point.
But for the record, I was not the School’s first choice. Several distinguished writers, alumni, and compelling speakers were honored to be invited but regrettably had prior commitments. And just like some of you the week before prom, I was available.
And since most end of the year talks include future advice, here’s the first bit:
Like me today, It’s okay to come off the bench. In fact, get used to it. You won’t alway be everyone’s first choice. Some of my best life lessons have come after rejection and not getting something I desired. Watching and helping my colleagues, family members, and teammates thrive and succeed with me in a supporting role can be very rewarding.
I read a study published in the Journal of Social Psychology about Olympic medal winners that said that the happiest athletes were actually the bronze recipients. Gold medal winners often felt more relief from the pressure of expectations than the thrill of their
victory. Silver winners sometimes felt the heartbreak of “almost gold” and even felt that they actually lost. Bronze medal winners are often so thrilled just to make it to the medal stand ceremony that they experienced the most joy.
In our world’s obsession with championships, winners, and G.O.A.Ts, remember it’s okay and much more likely that you might be No. 2, No. 3 or even No. 13. It’s okay.
PART I: LOVE AND SONGS
Now to the more serious inquiry question: What is love?
I have had this idea for a talk long before the senior projects on Inquiry Day but was further motivated by the wonderful presentations given by Sahar [Shariah '24] and Nate [Keshen '24]. They took me on a nostalgic tour of my own connections to rhythm and blues and love
This is a love story, well more of a story about love
Above: The Class of 2024 sings Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” during Frank Griffin’s Baccalaureate Address.
This is my Servons talk, without a front row, that I have never given and didn’t think I ever would. My chance for “What if I had one moment to speak to the community before I leave? What would it be?”
So, I am going to describe love through songs, specifically 44 song titles. Rest assured, I am not going to sing them, but if and when you hear a familiar title, I hope it brings a smile or sparks a memory.
So, in the words of the late Jim Croce (my favorite musical poet and lyricist), I’ll have to say I love you in a song.
Seniors, let’s go on a little musical ride. Since you’re not riding shotgun in a Yukon on this road trip, I get to pick the songs.
The word love can be a verb, a noun, and even an adjective.
Verb references seem to be rarer and dominated by I love you, two letters on either side of a word that when said together create every emotion we can imagine.
Love you like a love song. I just called to say I love you.
And while the verb form contained in “I love you” may be the most common three syllables and words in the universe, I am more intrigued by the noun to try to answer the question.
What is love?
Several artists’ songs actually anticipated this talk.
Foreigner said I want to know what love is.
Nat King Cole and Billie Holiday asked: What is this thing called love?
So here goes.
Love is Strange. Love is Blind. Love is True.
Love is a Game. Love is Steady and Love is the Drug, says Roxy Music.
Love is a Rose and Love is the Icon. – Barry White.
Love is the Answer. Love is the Question. Love is the Problem. And from the Beatles, love is all you need.
Rod Stewart just simply sings love is… Love has also been described as crazy, stupid, bleeding, perfect, and tainted.
And, just like assembly at Cate, love isn’t always on time.
You can’t hurry love (Supremes). You can be addicted to love (Robert Palmer). and
You can’t help falling in love (Elvis). And you can go looking for love in all the wrong places. And according to Aerosmith, you can even find love in an elevator.
Peter, Paul, and Mary said love is like a lemon tree.
And Pat Benatar rocked love is a battlefield.
We also hear that… Love grows. Love bites. Love hurts and Love stinks (J Geils).
Songs tell us that…
You can find love. You can lose it. You can fall in it, and not see it coming
We all know the Power of Love from Back to the Future
Love can be confusing as Digital Underground coined: Wussup Wit the Love
Love can also be an adjective.
We learn from Marshall Tucker: Heard it in a love song, so it can’t be wrong.
And maybe this weekend is just a “Love Story”
Because, we were both young when I first saw you I close my eyes and the flashback starts I'm standin’ there.
On a balcony in summer air I got tired of waiting Wonderin’ if you were ever comin’ around My faith in you was fading
When I met you on the outskirts of town, and I said Romeo, save me, I’ve been feeling so alone
I keep waiting for you, but you never come Is this in my head? I don’t know what to think
He knelt to the ground and pulled out a ring
And said, “Marry me, Juliet You'll never have to be alone I love you and that’s all I really know I talked to your dad, go pick out a white dress
It’s a love story, baby, just say, “Yes”
PART II: LOVE AND MATH
To quote the late Tina Turner, you might be thinking…
What’s love got to do with it?
So this is where the four-letter words time, love, and math unite. You can never get enough of love Love is forever and love is enduring.
What does this mean?
My late mother Jane, who I hold in the same esteem as longtime and beloved Cate faculty member Sandy Eillis, was a friend to all. These women always had time for one more person. Think about that.
Was there any limit to their love? No, their capacity was infinite and only limited by the 24 hours in a day. And of course there was always tomorrow to continue the conversation.
It’s pretty clear that love is infinite and this is where math comes in. Math is the only subject that can describe the concepts of time and infinity, two ideas that all of us ponder deeply in our lifetimes.
Math helps. Numbers, starting with 1, 2, 3, 4, go on forever, just like time. What happened before time? How do you go backwards? We can use negative numbers to make sense of that. They also go on forever.
What about the future? More time, more numbers.
I will love you ‘til the end of time or even until the twelfth of never (Johnny Mathis).
Time can be described by numbers. Time and numbers are infinite. I tell my students that I have always wanted to teach a course on infinity but the content could never fit into one trimester. Math helps us understand concepts, contradictions, and paradoxes like infinity.
A great way to better understand infinity comes from the 19th and 20th century German mathematician, David Hilbert, who created and wrote about The Infinite Hotel. It goes like this.
There is a hotel with an infinite number of rooms, all on one floor, labeled 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on. It’s currently full, with an infinite number of people, one in each room. Every room has a guest, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4 and so on, and you are the manager about to turn on the no vacancy sign.
Though being a Cate graduate, you silently think that if the hotel is infinite, there must always be room for more. Your thinking is tested as a guest arrives and asks for a room. Your first response is sorry, we are full, since every room has someone in it already.
The guest, who happens also to be a recent Cate alum, says “Actually, I have a way to open up a room.” Think for a moment, can you figure it out?
Their response: Have the person in room 1 move to room 2, guest 2 to room 3, guest 3 to room 4 and so on and this opens up room 1 for me, which is great, since I am tired and don’t want to walk to the end of an infinite hallway.
Problem Solved: But then a bus shows up with an infinite number of passengers.
The dilemma: You should be able to find rooms. After all, the hotel is infinite, but it’s also full right now. You can’t just move one person. What do we do? Well, normally, I would have you pair up with elbow partners or break up into small groups, but time forces me to spoil it.
Any Calc 2 student knows the trick. The current residents are in rooms 1, 2, 3, and so on. If each of them moves to 2 times their room number, meaning 1 goes to 2, 2 goes to 4, 3 goes to 6, 4 goes to 8 and so on, then the current group fits into the even numbered rooms and you have just opened up all the odd numbered rooms, which are infinite. Just go out to the bus and as they get off, tell them in order to go to rooms 1, 3, 5, and right down the hallway.
You have just opened up an infinite number of rooms.
Hilbert continued this analogy with irrational and rational numbers, but there are parents in the audience, so we’re going to leave it right there.
If you are feeling a little mind blown, join the club. Infinity, just like love, is contradictory, full of paradoxes and can feel overwhelming.
How can you describe love? Using math, love will find a way (Pablo Cruise).
PART III: LOVE AND THE MESA
So why talk about love at all? Why tonight?
One can argue that love may be the most important word you will ever experience. It will thrill you, scare you, discourage you and be the source of your best
and worst moments. Hard to imagine anything more important than who you love, what you love, giving and receiving love
If love and math are challenging, contradictory and full of paradoxes, let’s turn to parenting and teaching.
One more thought from my mother who is a gentle voice in my head every day. She was a homebody and would always tell me near the end of our many visits, “You know, it’s always hardest to be the one left behind.”
So seniors, you should know that at commencement, every year, you break our hearts. We are the ones left behind. We love you. We do the most insane thing there is in secondary education. We not only teach, coach, and advise you – we live with you. And you’re not easy. Just ask your families!
I was recently reminded of a quote from the 19th century Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard that helps me understand why we as parents and teachers behave the way we do.
Life can only be understood backwards but…it must be lived forwards.
One more time.
Life can only be understood backwards but…it must be lived forwards.
Seniors, please understand that this is the reason for our care, our support, our frustration, and our love. We are looking back to help you move forward.
But before this all goes to your head or you start to get weepy, Just because we love and care for you doesn’t mean we always like you. You can be challenging, difficult, annoying, frustrating and self-serving.
But you can also be inspiring, create stories and work that leave us in awe. Perform and compete in ways we will talk about for years. Show more grit than a Marine and do things you didn’t think
you could ever do. Show such care and compassion for each other, to our own children and even with our pets that it brings us to tears. And this is what happens every year at Cate.
Class of 2024, you are amazing. To paraphrase Dolly Parton, we will always love you.
Tomorrow, you will be honored individually and collectively and will make all of us walk away in exhaustion, appreciation, and awe.
Every talk at this time of year has to have a few lessons and my love quotes come from three unlikely sources, Pyles Camp in the Sierra, Ted Lasso, and Forrest Gump.
1. From the Pyles camp motto adapted from Gandhi:
Live and love others like there is no tomorrow and Learn like you will live forever.
2. From Ted Lasso: If you care about someone and you got a little love in your heart, there ain’t nothing you can’t do together.
Of course he also quipped to a tortured lover, “Sounds to me like someone’s trapped inside life’s most complicated shape: a love triangle.” That’s the final math reference tonight.
3. And you don’t have to be a Cate graduate to get tonight’s message. Forrest Gump said it well, “I may not be a smart man, but I know what love is.”
FINAL THOUGHTS:
(no this talk is not infinite)
If there are any takeaways from tonight, in addition to the 44 song titles, there were exactly the same number of love references as there are members in your senior class, one for each of you.
My message is very simple.
On this beautiful evening and this special celebration weekend where we are surrounded by the mountains and
enveloped by fog and love, think about everything you love about each other, your families, the people, and this place.
Savor this last weekend together.
And with credit to Hugh Grant but without his accent, “If you look for it, I’ve got a sneaky feeling you’ll find that love actually is all around.”
Can you feel the love tonight?
I hope so. Thank you and take care.
The Class of 2024
Every year, before the Head of School confers diplomas upon graduating seniors, she speaks of their individual character and achievements, noting the unique ways they’ve enriched life on the Mesa. These “literary snapshots” composed of observations, speak to the depth and breadth of the Cate community.
CLASS OF 2024 MATRICULATION
American University
Babson College (2)
Barnard College
Bates College
Binghamton University
Boston College
Bowdoin College
Brown University
Bucknell University
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Case Western Reserve University
Chapman University
Claremont McKenna College (2)
Colby College (3)
Colorado College
Columbia University (2)
Dartmouth College
Emory University (4)
Georgetown University
Hamilton College
Howard University
Kenyon College
Middlebury College
New York University (3)
Northeastern University (2)
Northwestern University
Parsons School of Design at The New School
Phillips Exeter Academy (Postgraduate Program)
Pitzer College
Princeton University (3)
Queen’s University (2)
Santa Barbara City College
Scripps College
Southern
Methodist University
Syracuse University
Trinity College
Union College
University of California, Berkeley (4)
University of California, Santa Barbara (2)
University of Chicago (2)
University of Chicago
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Iowa
University of Miami
University of Southern California (2)
University of St Andrews (2)
University of the Pacific
University of Virginia (2)
University of Wisconsin (2)
Vanderbilt University
Wellesley College (2)
Wellesley College
Wesleyan University (2)
Yale University (3)
MUHSIN ABDUL-HAKIM
Muhsin embodies loyalty and leadership. Recognized for his intrinsic ability to uplift and give voice to the unseen, he harmonizes any space with his calm demeanor and commitment to fairness. As a Prefect, varsity athlete, and scholar, Muhsin’s selflessness and mindful leadership have earned him deep respect in this community. His gratitude for Cate is evident in his every action, profoundly impacting those around him. As he moves beyond Cate, his journey of empowering and inspiring change, reflective of his name’s meaning – a wise, beneficent man of service – continues.
SOPHIE ALIJANI
With High Honors
Sophie makes the world a better place by inspiring everyone around her and savoring every single moment as a learning opportunity. From learning through inquiry, finding peace in the ocean on the most challenging SCUBA dives and surfs, fiercely competing in tennis and lacrosse, and striving to make Cate a more inclusive community, Sophie has been a role model to each of us in some way. She tackles everything she does with her whole, authentic self and with deep reservoirs of grace and kindness for those around her. She loves this place and its people – no one works as hard as Sophie to promote Cate’s excellence.
FERNANDO BALDOCCHI
If there was a Cate version of James Bond, Fernando would be a top candidate to play the international spy. With an inviting charm and intelligent wit, it is easy to see Fernando’s impact on the people of this community. Within a few minutes of meeting Fernando, you will quickly learn that his first love is polo. Not far behind, however, is people. A tour guide, a Prefect, a Public Service Night head, and a member of our Holiday Cheer committee, Fernando’s impact on the Mesa is focused on supporting people and making their lives better – a superpower he will undoubtedly carry forward to enrich every community he joins.
CAROLINE R. BATCHELDER
Few students can move from one friend group to the next and be received with genuine smiles and affirmative acceptance. Caroline earned this because she is unfailingly kind and supportive. She’s the go-to person for countless 9th and 10th-grade students in her role as a Prefect in the Class of 1925 House dormitory. A driven student, she relishes challenges and meets them with enthusiasm. Sidelined for most of her athletic career with injuries, she has come roaring back this year to contribute mightily to the success, spirit, and camaraderie of her tennis and soccer teams and just this week, distinguished herself as a fierce kayaker on the American Wilderness trip. She lives her life with integrity, joy, and light and has made this community better in the process.
ELENI BHATIA
“My heart is full,” lamented Eleni in her Servons speech, “Like I have a spark inside lighting up my whole body.” Eleni has transformed into a highly involved student, athlete, mentor, and friend in her time at Cate. She invested deeply in the people here and she found her own light reflected back by others – in the kindness of her friends, the steadiness of her 9th-grade seminar students, the enthusiasm of her Girls Lift partners, and the investment of every faculty member lucky enough to have her in class. She is generous with her time, unflinchingly resilient, strong in both body and spirit, and already a little bit wise.
LAIN MORAN BILES
With Honors
Lain began her high school journey on the East Coast, but lucky for us, she found her way to Cate in her junior year. She is insightful and has an intentional approach to her studies. One teacher noted, “Lain is a thoughtful and gracefully moderated student, yet she is equally quick, sharp, and intellectually agile.” In her Servons speech she acknowledged, “If I couldn’t get out of a situation, I would have to find a way to get into it.” It is clear that she does not back away from challenges, but instead joyfully embraces them with confidence.
FELIPE BLANCO
Felipe is not only funny and kind, but also incredibly dedicated to his studies. He is known for his affable demeanor and his actions accentuate his sense of purpose. A committed athlete, especially in tennis, Felipe’s strong work ethic and drive to push his limits have led to significant personal growth. From excelling in the most challenging science and math courses to overcoming altitude sickness at the start of the Kern trip, Felipe shines in the face of adversity. He is a good friend, offering support with his infectious warmth, humor, and indomitable spirit that lifts everyone around him. He is the kind of young person who glues this community together without ever asking to be recognized.
ETHAN BLOOM
During his time at Cate, Ethan has become a talented student and a truly confident young man. We heard his beautiful writing when, as a junior, one of his pieces was chosen from many submissions, to be read in the writing contest over Family Weekend, and we saw his growth as a teammate and leader on the tennis court when he helped lead his team to the CIF championship last year. Ethan is a true friend, bringing a balance of both hard work and a contagious sense of fun. As one teacher noted, “Indeed, when Ethan sets his mind to something, there is nothing his razor-sharp focus cannot accomplish.”
PEN BROOKS
Pen is charismatic and talented. He loves spirited connections with his friends and is deeply driven when pursuing his passions. Nowhere is that more evident than when he is composing music, music he often writes and arranges himself, playing multiple instruments and singing with a voice full of power and emotion. Consider, as well, the sweat equity he expended leading the varsity football team, and when injury forced him off the lacrosse field last spring, he helped set a school record in the 1600-meter relay on the track. Pen’s determination and spirit are unmistakable. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and passion.
LIAM BURDICK
Liam is a deeply introspective and intellectual young man whose greatest strengths are his integrity and sensitivity to the world around him. That world includes the streets of Manhattan, the rugged terrain of northern New England, the pristine wilderness of Ontario and Quebec, and now, the foothills of central California. Liam pays attention to the architecture of life in each place and is guided by a curiosity that has made him an engaged student across all disciplines. What makes Liam such an interesting student is his ever-moving brain that is wired for inquiry and his appreciation for genuine, deep, and authentic conversations about just about anything under the sun.
KARLA CAMACHO
Karla is clever, kind, and authentic. She has found a powerful voice, and shown grit in competing on our cross-country and swim teams. However, above all else, Karla stands out for her love of people and her ability to engage with them. Languages, to her, are a doorway to someone’s heart. She has shown this in her ability to connect deeply and express her love for Chinese culture and tradition. Karla will be missed not just by her classmates and teachers but also by our Facilities team, who chat with her in Spanish as she jogs around campus. This is not goodbye, Karla, just “hasta luego.”
TRACY CAO
With Honors
Tracy is a global citizen who embraces international experiences, a broad perspective, and interdisciplinary learning. She made the brave and adventurous decision to spend her junior year in France, and her fluency in three languages reflects her deep curiosity, dedication to learning, and desire to connect with others. Tracy successfully balances her demanding coursework with her many creative pursuits, and we have marveled at her talents as an accomplished pianist and graceful dancer. In all her efforts at Cate, Tracy has brought her signature touch of creativity, enthusiasm, and dedication.
ANDREW CARRANZA
Against all odds – that is the motto Andy used when he ran for Student Body President. When Andy sets his mind on a goal, his dedication is relentless and his commitment unwavering. Whether it is documenting the world around him from behind a camera or playing a captivating character on stage with an ensemble cast, Andy is an artist who will write the story of his own destiny, all the while laying the groundwork for those who are sure to follow behind him. Andy has left an eternal mark on this community, and we cannot wait to see what new horizons he will conquer next.
ANNIE CHIAN With Highest Honors
Annie is a genuine scholar. She is a thinker – creative, engaged, and focused. Annie’s strengths span the disciplines and she has generously shared her curiosity, effort, and intellect in all of her classes. As a writer, a scientist, an outdoors person, and a Prefect, Annie has immersed herself in the Mesa, discovering new passions, deepening her natural proclivities, and developing cherished relationships. Yet, she has time to climb trees, bake for the advisory, and walk faculty dogs. We don’t have to be versed in the art of augury to marvel joyously at what the future holds for Annie.
CLAIRE BLYTHE CLARK
If you like to be around calming people, Claire should be at the top of your list. She possesses the rare quality of maintaining her tranquility under pressure and is willing to step up, even in areas unfamiliar to her like the lacrosse or water polo teams. Claire is comfortable leading as well as supporting, without seeking recognition or the spotlight. An excellent writer, Claire won the Scholastic Writing Award Gold Key and leads the Communications Committee, showcasing her work in The Week Ahead. As a beloved Teaching Assistant, she mentored 10th-grade students through their self-discovery journey, ensuring they didn’t feel overwhelmed or lonely. Claire is a friend to all.
JESSICA MYA COOKS
Jess has the voice of an angel, the determination of a tiger, and the humility of a saint. Though she is soft-spoken, Jess is a skilled listener who is committed to seeking a better understanding of others and their unique perspectives. She is quick to recognize those who are going through a difficult time and is always willing to offer a kind word or a helping hand. When Jess sings, she leaves an audience spellbound. Whether it is sharing her talents or her kindness, Jess’s generosity and gentle presence embody the spirit of service and companionship.
CAROLINE GRACE COORS
A committed volunteer, intrepid adventurer, determined student, and devoted Swiftie, Caroline has many talents. Like an architect, she creates a blueprint for her goals and achieves them. Caroline approaches every challenge with a growth mindset and a positive attitude. Whether kayaking through sea caves, getting her SCUBA certification, or taking early morning beach walks, she appreciates every outdoor opportunity. Caroline dedicates herself to making a difference in others’ lives, spending countless hours tutoring local students, working with the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, and leading our Public Service Night program. We can’t wait to see the mark Caroline’s service leaves on the world beyond Cate –it has surely made an impression here.
SHAWN CORDEIRO
Everything Shawn does, be it leading the School as a Head Prefect or tour guide or helping the varsity basketball team to victory, is accompanied by his animated, infectious smile. We have all become accustomed to this look and are warmed by it here on the Mesa. Even in times that might be stressful, there’s Shawn, ready to greet you with a high-five, a hug, and a word of encouragement. During his time at Cate, Shawn’s ability to connect with his peers and faculty alike has been the glue that brings the community even closer. Such companionship and leadership are rare, and we will miss it deeply.
MELANIE DAVIDSON
With High Honors
Relentless and competitive on the volleyball court and soccer field, Mel is one of our most empathetic, big-hearted Teaching Assistants. She channels her competitiveness toward collaboration in the classroom, positively transforming every space she is in with productivity and curiosity. Athletic Director Wade Ransom said, “I get more compliments about her demeanor in the gym than any student we’ve had in my 16 years. All-time players make their entire team better through their attitude and example. And Mel is an all-time player.” Mel, in fact, is an all-time person, giving her very best in everything she has done at Cate.
FRANCES DAVIS
Despite being one of the youngest members of her class, Frances possesses a wisdom beyond her years. Self-assured, comfortable in any setting, admirably kind, fiercely competitive, and full of integrity, Frances brings insight to every interaction and endeavor. A lover of architecture, travel, and languages, Frances is revered by her peers for her humility and supportive nature. A teacher recently said, “Frances can always be counted on to make the community spaces more positive and supportive.” Her innate desire to connect and build community aligns seamlessly with her diverse interests, making her a true global citizen. Frances’s presence undeniably enriches the communities fortunate enough to be around her.
SUSANA ELIZABETH DIAZ
Susy has an adventurous heart with the sensibility of a poet. Passionate, curious, tenacious, and confident with the right touch of boldness, Susy’s presence is undeniable. Whether it is her thoughtful essays, music performances, or her box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Susy does not believe in living with regrets or wasting time and energy on wondering about the “what if?” She stays confident in her decisions and accepts what comes with them. Susy will be remembered as someone who changed the atmosphere of a room and made us smile while making us think.
REGI FLORES
Regi’s adventurous spirit and sharp mind make her remarkable. Her intelligence, commitment, determination, and persistence are her greatest strengths, shaping her into a person of exceptional sensibility, ready to bring positive change to our hectic world. Like a starling murmuring in her flock, Regi rises high, appreciating the infinite value of those around her. She thrives on collaboration and teamwork, naturally contributing and adding value to her communities. Regi is destined to achieve something unique with her life, showcasing the beauty and harmony she embodies and encouraging unity and collaboration in those around her.
JOSIE TOVE FRAZER
With High Honors
Josie is one of our most accomplished scholars and involved students, but her authenticity and genuine approach to forging human connections define her the most. Our memory of Josie on the Mesa will be of her at her freest – bobbing to the beat of some cool jazz or bouncing to the rhythms of rock and roll, slapping her bass, and reveling in the pure unadulterated joy of an artist in synch with her instrument. Music fills Josie’s soul, as she has filled ours every minute that she has been here.
ROBERT GABLE
Whether around the Harkness table for a historical discussion or representing a country at a Model United Nations debate, Bo prepares by listening first. Classmates and teachers appreciate him for his affirmations, feedback, and opinions, and while he shines in the classroom setting, many of his conversations happen along the trail during one of the many Bo-led Hiking Club excursions. In 1907, Robert Baden-Powell devised the Scout motto, “Be prepared.” Bo, who earned the Boy Scout’s highest rank of Eagle Scout in the fall, is certainly ready for his next adventure.
MEI GONG
With Honors
Mei’s many achievements and contributions as a gifted singer, sculptor, scholar, and scientist, are shared with the community as offerings expressing gratitude. Her mind, abilities, and potential are structured, it would seem, to collaborate, create, and problem-solve. What is most inspiring about Mei is her heart and unrivaled desire to build bridges among people. Much like her many beautiful ceramic creations, Mei molds her diverse talents together to empower, uplift, and create opportunities for others to shine too.
CHRISTIAN GONZÁLEZ
With High Honors
Christian is an introspective intellectual and empathetic academic force. Over the past four years, he has found a love for problem-solving and an appreciation for critical thinking, which shine through on our cross country, soccer, and track teams just as brightly as they do in the science lab and French classroom. Christian has left no stone unturned in his academic pursuits at Cate. Intentional, contemplative, and respectful, Christian has demonstrated his commitment to both family and community in his activities beyond the classroom; a true exemplar and ambassador of the School.
GEORGE GORDON
George is dynamic, thoughtful, and energetic. He has scaled the craggy precipice that is Cate with finesse, transforming himself into a remarkable contributor in the classroom, in the theater, on the sports fields, and in the dorm. George is a leader who has evolved into a bright, inquisitive, creative, and fearless presence, equally comfortable behind the scenes as he is on the main stage. His thoughtful leadership sets an important example for all of us, inspiring us to strive for joy and progress in all we do.
WILLIAM NGHIA HAMMOND
Will is a giver, deeply caring for this place and its people. He has dedicated his time and spirit to supporting and cultivating the climbing program where he finds challenge, joy, and peace. He is generous with his laughter, his deep intellectual contributions in class, his musical talents, his playfulness, and his honest takes. Courageous enough to speak up in the moments when something seems wrong, yet open to considering other perspectives, Will wears his heart on his sleeve and invites us all to do the same.
ADA IVES HANSEN
Ada is generous, empathetic, warm, and funny. As one faculty member aptly remarked, “Ada elevates everyone around her.” She has immersed herself in the fabric of Cate, endearing herself to all who know her. While Ada’s prowess in athletics is undeniable, it is her ability to inspire and lead others that truly sets her apart. An inquisitive scholar, a cherished Teaching Assistant, a formidable athlete, and a captivating actor, the enthusiastic praise and applause that greet Ada after any performance are a testament to the deep affection and admiration the community holds for her, and she truly deserves every ounce of it.
NOOR HARWELL
With Honors
Noor simply shines. Whether it is controlling lights from the tech booth for performances, uplifting, teaching, and supporting her fellow theater colleagues, or dazzling on stage recently as Glinda in The Wizard of Oz, Noor, whose name means light in Arabic, has consistently been a beacon of the values that we hold most dear. In the classroom, she is collaborative and contemplative, selflessly leading by example. At Cate, Noor’s light met a spark with the outdoors program that has ignited in her a new passion for the wonders of the wilderness. Wherever the road takes her next, Noor will help illuminate the way for others, which in turn, makes her shine even brighter.
TRISTAN BIYU FOX HUI
Tristan handles the large architecture of storytelling just as mindfully and deftly as interior design. He manages to weave scenes, settings, and characterization together in a voice that is absent of any false notes or pretensions. He is a generous member of the community, unassuming, willing to take risks, and unfailingly generous toward others. Tristan inspires us to write our own stories just as he gathers material from everything around him and breathes life to it as only the most creative person can. Words and stories are Tristan’s gifts to us.
KAIREI JONES
Kairei’s art provides a window into the soul of this brilliance. Known in class and on campus for his active listening and deep interest in the perspective of others, Kairei’s giving nature truly sets him apart. That generosity of spirit has also been on display in his remarkable work in the pit orchestra. From the darkened space in front of the stage, he has provided the saxophone parts for close to 100 pieces while also holding down more visible roles in the jazz band and orchestra. A water polo player and competitive swimmer, Kairei is fast. Indeed, these still waters run very deep.
CAROLINE ELIZABETH KEOHANE With Honors
Caroline is not among the estimated 75% of the population who fear public speaking. She proved this when she delivered a Speech Club talk on stage about confidence, as a sophomore. A runner and swimmer, Caroline has contributed to the success and toughness of the water polo, cross country, and swim teams. Her leadership has made what we eat in the dining hall better as a liaison for the Food Committee and residential policies more student-friendly as a representative on the Dorm Heads Committee. Just when we think we have her pegged, we see her on stage showing off her impressive Irish step-dancing skills with a beaming smile. Fearless, agile, and ambitious, that’s Caroline.
NATHAN KESHEN
There’s not much Nate cannot do and do well, and it is a point of pride (his and ours) how widely involved he is – as a student, an athlete, an artist, and a friend. While he has been all of that since he arrived, his decision to join Camerata his sophomore year launched a prolific musical career, from stage musicals to voice ensembles. His performance in Chicago last year allowed us all to see a musical and theatrical star in the making. But, investing wholeheartedly in a community is no act; it is who Nate is, and how much better have we been as a result.
CLYDE KYE
With Highest Honors
Astute and articulate, Clyde has been a steadfast member of this class. It is a rare student who can lead the restructuring of Cate’s discipline system with the Dean of Students while earning the respect, friendship, and admiration of students and faculty alike. Humble and modest, Clyde doesn’t seek approval or popularity. He simply commands it with his earnest disposition, effortless altruism, and uncommon level of common sense. We have seen his values and ethics in action as Prefect in Long House, a captain on the volleyball team, and leader of the philosophy club. Clyde’s constancy at Cate has made it better for us all.
DILAN LEE
Dilan’s tenure at Cate is a testament to thoughtful balance. As a scholar, he is equal measures of analyst and artist. His work reveals precise reasoning as well as aesthetic appreciation, and his quick wit elevates the level of both discourse and levity in the classroom. As a community member, Dilan has sought diverse experiences, from volleyball matches and ultimate frisbee games to relaxing leisure activities and sophisticated ceramics pursuits. Indeed, Dilan’s strength of character informs all he does, bringing moral intelligence to every realm he inhabits. Respectful, unassuming, gracious, and steady, Dilan offers a blueprint for benevolent living.
JULIAN LEE
Julian is a connector. He chose to fully immerse himself in our program, a feat many find difficult as a new junior. He has never met a stranger, found a task too difficult, or a challenge he was not willing to try. In the classroom, he adds a positive and enjoyable dimension, while asking the questions others might be afraid to ask. On the athletic field, Julian is a source of positive energy, hard work, and fun that ties a team together and raises everyone’s experience. Wherever he goes, Julian continues to bring us closer.
OLIVER LEE
With High Honors
Winston Churchill said, “Courage is what it takes to sit down and listen.” By Churchill’s assessment, Oliver is the most courageous person on campus. Though Oliver would humbly deny this designation because he does not seek the spotlight, those who have had the chance to interact with Oliver, and to know him, would agree. Oliver seeks to first understand the perspectives around him and to appreciate individuals for who they are. He is the sort of person who makes others feel comforted and at ease by being reflective, patient, and kind. Oliver’s brand of courage is a rare gift indeed.
RYAN LEE
Ryan’s superpower is his curiosity. A science teacher noted, “Ryan approaches learning with a sense of wonder. He files everything we talk about in the classroom into his personal memory bank, and in this way, it is so much more than learning for him. Ryan is knitting the material into a deep and profound understanding of the world.” His many interests include basketball, photography, poetry, and rock band, but most of all, people. Ryan will be remembered for his open mind, his open heart, and the ebullient energy he brought to each interaction on the Mesa.
ZIYANG LIU
Ziyang is a compassionate and attentive listener. Her thoughtful nature and insightful ideas never fail to captivate those around her. When people talk about enthralling and imaginative artwork at Cate, Ziyang’s name often comes up. She has a remarkable talent for crafting exquisite handiwork and excels in both English and Chinese calligraphy, making her very popular among the children she volunteers with at the learning center. Ziyang’s multifaceted abilities and genuine care for others make her a cherished member of our community, leaving an indelible mark on all who have the privilege of knowing her.
INGRID LU
With Highest Honors
Ingrid loves a challenge. Whether it is taking on rock climbing or an advanced English discussion, Ingrid revels at the chance to take on a new obstacle, all while leading with dedication, honesty, and, as one teacher put it, her “searing intellect.” In the classroom, she continually excels and consistently wows. In her social circles, she is kind, empathetic, reflective, and thoughtful, drawing people in with her appreciation of multiple perspectives. With her unique combination of curiosity, tenacity, and kindness, no challenge will ever be too great for Ingrid.
TYLER MARTINEZ
A fierce three-sport athlete, Tyler dominates on the lacrosse field, basketball court, and football field. In the classroom, Tyler summoned all his resolve and challenged himself as a scholar and community member, impressing teachers time and time again. With each trimester at Cate, Tyler has discovered his inner strength and expanded his abilities all with his signature blend of sincerity and humility. Tyler bet on himself and it paid out every time – we’re really glad we did too.
EMBER MCMULLEN
With High Honors
Ember has been a force for good throughout her time at Cate. The founder of Cate’s hiking club, this child of the Rocky (and now also Santa Ynez) Mountains made it her mission to help her peers become as comfortable in the outdoors as she is. Ember is a brilliant scholar, equally at home discussing geopolitics, music production, French literature, and environmental policy. Courageous, wise, and kind-hearted, Ember leans into both her strengths and her growing edges, while modeling leadership and civil discourse in the classroom and in the community. She is the spirit of adventure incarnate – indeed, the next frontier awaits her.
REMY MINNIS
Remy is the quintessential community citizen. Companionship and loyalty are as important to Remy as his love of learning and desire to improve each day. He takes his relationships and their commitments seriously and not only makes good decisions himself but is the first to rally others around him to follow. This takes courage, on Remy’s part, and a wealth of respect from his peers to follow. A decorated water polo player, and quite possibly the best in Cate history, Remy is humble and warm – the truest embodiment of our values – virtue and vigorous play.
CHLOE BROWN MONCHAMP
Chloe is fierce, passionate, and warm – evident in the classroom, where teachers often remark that she is curious, willing to explore, and an exceptional critical thinker, but most of all in her service work. Chloe demonstrates empathy, dedication, and professionalism far beyond her years in the projects she has spearheaded in Western Mexico, bringing Servons to life in her own Chloe way. Her values are a boon to this community and her legacy of humanitarianism will endure.
ANNA CHARLOTTE MORSE
Anna is a captivating force on stage, drawing attention with her fluid movements and vibrant energy. But, it is more than just Anna’s talent that leaves a lasting impression; she is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. Anna’s kindness extends to all those she encounters, from her classmates to cast members, to students in her first-year seminar class, and even to folks she befriends around campus who need someone to brighten their day. Her deeply empathetic nature drives her commitment to fostering connections and ensuring everyone feels valued and seen.
ZOE MOSS
Zoe is full of complexity and surprise. She is a gifted artist, weaving narrative and intrigue into her paintings with an imaginative style that shows up in her artwork just as often as her fashion. Her creativity is saturated, rich and vibrant, and she brings tenacity and drive to all parts of her academic experience at Cate. Secretly, she’s a baller on the junior varsity basketball team. Consistently, though, Zoe is herself – honest, vulnerable, and colorful. What will Zoe surprise us with next? We can’t wait to see.
SHANNON WINIFRED MURRAY
Shannon is a community builder. She approaches every endeavor with the same tenacity and determination as she does each game as a defender on the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams. Her interest in civics, service, and inclusion has propelled her to serve as a leader at Cate in every way imaginable. Shannon is the consummate doer, whether she is spearheading the haunted house, making cookies for her entire class, or fundraising for the prom, she leads by example and generously works to create a positive experience for all. Her optimism and enthusiasm are contagious, and this community is undoubtedly better because of her.
YADA NOKHONG With High Honors
Tonfai is an exemplar of creativity and innovation. From her meticulous work in the classroom to her unmatched stage managing skills, Tonfai’s commitment to excellence is a thing of awe. Behind every stunning project and flawless assignment lies countless hours of painstaking planning, research, and refinement. Our International Convocation and lip sync battles will never look the same without her iconic K-Pop performances, and we will think of her fondly every time we conveniently sign up for assembly announcements using the app she coded herself. A leader, a scholar, a dancer, and a friend, Tonfai’s many talents enriched our lives.
ABOLARIN NAOMI OKE
When Abby is a part of something, she raises the bar for everyone. Her work ethic is tireless, her energy boundless, and her commitment unwavering. Over the last four years, she has poured herself into the community and has come through Cate as one of our most dependable and inspirational students. Her leadership is felt daily – in class discussions, in the dance studio, and most of all, in the dorm. Abby gives it her all every day, demanding more of herself each time, and in the process, she has done more than anyone else to make Cate a more inclusive and vibrant community.
ADRIAN L. ORDOÑEZ
Adrian has the gift of bringing people together. He builds community, promotes an inclusive environment, and makes any place feel like home. This is undoubtedly because of Adrian’s earnest and sincere commitment to others. At Cate, he worked to provide an environment for all voices and for people to feel comfortable, at ease, and valued. We are sure Adrian will continue serving other communities, bringing positive change, and helping others cultivate their way to make the world a better place, just as he did here at Cate.
ELLIOT MURRAY OSBORN
Elliot embodies the spirit of Santa Barbara. He thrives on exploring the coastline, both underwater with a spear in hand and above it, steering a boat he built himself as part of his Senior Inquiry Project. Elliot builds owl boxes, conducts herpetology and bird surveys, and serves as a docent at Coal Oil Point Reserve. He is also a committed athlete, contributing to the lacrosse team with his thoughtful off-field leadership as meaningfully as he does with his on-field vision and powerful shot. We will miss his quick wit, extensive knowledge of local fauna, and exceptional Irish step-dancing skills.
THOMAS JARMAN PAIGE
With Highest Honors
Thomas asks a lot of questions. Driven by a profound curiosity about the world and a commitment to understanding diverse perspectives, Thomas is at his best when engaging deeply with different cultures and viewpoints. His dedication to academic and personal growth is evident in his balanced approach to humanities, sciences, and languages. He is exceptionally versatile and intellectually engaged. Brooks Hansen said, one of the joys of teaching Thomas is “...waiting for that moment in his writing process where he will go slightly red, clench his fists, and say ‘But it’s not enough!’ More often than not, it is enough, but let’s credit Thomas for the standards he keeps.”
JASMINE PALEKAR
With Honors
As a Teaching Assistant, as Public Service Night head, or in the classroom, Jasmine’s compassionate and thoughtful leadership combined with a bold and inventive intellect make her a force for all that is good. Her composure, grace, and giving spirit echoed in her Servons talk with advice that anyone on the precipice of a life event should heed: “Letting go of beautiful things is hard. But, life is full of beautiful places and beautiful people, and there are a million precious moments that you haven’t even had yet, that I haven’t even had yet.” We can’t wait to see what beautiful, precious moments lie ahead for Jasmine.
RILEY PAN
With High Honors
Riley is often one of the first students to return from holiday breaks and one of the last to leave. Her pride for the Mesa started at a young age and photographic evidence shows a toddler playing piano in the Katharine Thayer Cate Memorial Chapel on visits with her parents. In recent years, she has naturally found herself leading the girls of this campus in one capacity or another – through Women’s Forum, in the dorms, in the classroom, and on the athletic field, this independent young woman did not meet a challenge that she could not conquer.
KYLE MINSU PARK
Kyle is a natural leader and motivator. As a Teaching Assistant, he has partnered with teachers to bring lessons to life and spends significant time outside the classroom connecting and supporting his students. Kyle is a gifted musician and an active steward of our community. He is the kind of young man who leads from within, listening, sharing, and empowering those around him to promote positivity, financial stability, global sustainability, and mental and emotional well-being. One of a kind, Kyle will surely change the world for the better, and help us all have a good time along the way.
CHRISTIAN PRESTON RHEE
Christian is a deep thinker. His teachers frequently describe how they enjoy pulling him into a conversation and watching him share a critical piece of insight that elevates the discourse. Christian’s writing similarly reveals the kind of analysis that comes from slow, careful reflection. In the afternoons, Christian worked tirelessly to build relationships with teens diagnosed with autism. Other times, he could be seen executing a perfect half-turn and picking out a killer pass with the junior varsity boys soccer team he helped to lead. With his hard-working, humble, and empathetic nature, Christian is sure to make a difference well beyond Cate.
KENDALL GRACE RHEE
A teacher called Kendall “a writer through and through” whose boundless exuberance flows out of her in stanzas, refrains, prose, and poetry. Kendall’s writing and everything else she does is purposeful. She knows how to use her gifts for the greater good and as a tool for social justice. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, Kendall led the Asian Student Union and kept us focused on the unique impacts on our Asian communities. Her energetic and optimistic personality buoyed our Student Librarian, Tour Guide, Public Service Night, and Creative Writing programs, and her many projects off the Mesa are rooted in her poetry, activism, and unwavering drive to change our society – one word at a time.
BEN RICHMOND
“Ben’s the guy everybody wants on the team.” That is what one of his pod leaders said after the Kern this year. Similarly, Ben became the cornerstone of the volleyball team – a natural leader and advocate for the game – and an invaluable day student Prefect. Quick-witted and unflappable, Ben is upbeat and engaged in every setting – athletic, social, and academic. His momentum as a scholar and analytical thinker has surged. School communities depend on students who combine scholarship and hard work with humor and an even keel. We have depended on Ben for his energetic leadership, unfailing kindness, and well-timed witticisms.
CROSBY MILLIGAN ROSENTHAL
When something needs doing, Crosby steps up without hesitation. He is a student of history and an avid outdoorsman, who navigated the remote waterways of Canada with discipline and decisiveness. On any team – football, lacrosse, or as a Prefect – he leverages his sharp mind and personal strengths – curiosity, compassion, and integrity – to serve our community with humility. Along the way, Crosby collects friends and seems to know everyone on the Mesa. When asked, Crosby said, “Knowing the whole community that surrounds me is important. There aren’t many places like Cate that foster strong, lifelong relationships.” Crosby will indeed be blessed with friends the world over and a lifelong home on the Mesa.
YEIDY THAILY SALMERÓN
Since Yeidy came to Cate, she has shown us that she spares no effort to achieve her dreams. Her limitless commitment and dedication are strengthened by her empathy and resilience. She has a passion for promoting justice and inclusion and cultivates meaningful connections with others. Yeidy faces challenges with purpose and shows us that no obstacle is impossible. As a veteran member of the Inclusion Representatives, an athlete, a student, and a Prefect in the Class of 1925 House dorm, Yeidy has taught us to be unafraid to do what is right and to transform our hopes into tangible actions.
EVEREST SCHIPPER
To truly know Everest, watch him run a race. Whether at the California Cross Country State Championships or the CIF Master’s track meet, Everest’s strong will, drive, and tenacity are remarkable, all underscored by his devotion and conscientiousness. In the classroom and community, Everest is unassuming but has become a serious scholar-athlete and loyal friend, finding joy in connections and progress in diligent, focused work. Everest, like his name, is a mountain of determination, putting one foot in front of the other, and scaling his personal goals with unwavering resolve.
KRISTIAN SCURTIS
Look at Kristian and you will see one of our most decorated, dominant, and dynamic athletes. Captain of the School’s first CIF championship-winning team in football and top defenseman in lacrosse, Kristian is a monument of class and grit on the field. But, look a little closer, and you see a driven, dedicated, and independent thinker who challenges his peers, his teachers, and even himself to examine their thinking. Never one to follow hastily, Kristian has provided the consummate example of what it looks like to blend independence with an unselfish commitment to community. Look beyond Kristian and we see a bright future full of opportunity and potential on the horizon ahead.
ARI SEAL
If there are two things Ari knows well, they are soccer and filmmaking. On the soccer field, Ari embodies teamwork and sportsmanship and pairs it with his exceptional skill and perseverance in the sport. Behind the camera, Ari captures the world through his lens and continues to foster the spark of creativity that was ignited in his junior year with filmmaking. Pensive and resilient, Ari transforms challenges into growth opportunities and has demonstrated remarkable personal leadership at Cate. Sincere, genuine, and caring, Ari leaves an enduring impact on all those fortunate enough to know him here on the Mesa.
SAHAR A. SHARIAH
Sahar is brave. From Newark, N.J., Sahar moved to Cate sight unseen and has never looked back. A frequently sought-after voice, Sahar has served as a member of the Student Life Committee of the Board for four years, led the Black Student Union, and been a leader in the dance program at Cate. Her captivating artwork is often on display in the galleries on campus, and her love of literature and political thought fuels her work in the classroom where she shines. Sahar has been a trailblazer at Cate and she leaves this community wiser, stronger, and braver than she found it.
SIMRAN ELIZABETH SHARMA
Blend creativity, curiosity, and kindness with an incredible sense of purpose and responsibility, and you will start to get a sense of the magic of Simran. Sim is the type of student who runs a school behind the scenes, and she has been a powerhouse both on and off the Cate campus over the past four years. A student senator, an academic tutor at a local elementary school, a youth volleyball coach, a school tour guide, a peer mental health intern, and a Teaching Assistant her senior year, Simran’s stick-to-itiveness has known no bounds. We know that wherever she goes in this world, Sim will build stronger communities and closer connections –she has done it here already.
OONA OLIVIA SUMMERFORD-NG
Oona notices the beauty in everything. Through the arts program, she has demonstrated a level of thoughtfulness, investment, and appreciation that is wise beyond her years. Known for her vibrance as a leader, Oona has found joy in leading the yearbook, The Mesan, and in her leadership of the junior varsity tennis team. If the pace and depth of Oona’s growth are any indications of what the future holds for her, then she is on a trajectory that will propel her toward a lifetime of wonderful, beautiful things.
SEBASTIAN SUTCH
With High Honors
Introspective and discerning, Seb exhibits complete immersion and intrinsic motivation in all he does. His exceptional success and unwavering stamina as a student-athlete are a testament to his dedication and drive. Seb is an unparalleled academic and his spirited pursuit of knowledge extends beyond personal enrichment; he seeks to uplift everyone around him. He is a phenomenal runner who succeeds out of fierce determination in every sport he commits to. A Teaching Assistant, one of the heads of our Public Service Night program, and captain of two varsity teams, Seb has served this community with his signature drive.
ALYNA TAKAHASHI
Alyna came to Cate as a caterpillar, inching along and navigating the new and unchartered territory of the Mesa with reservation. Reticent, and even a bit scared, Alyna kept to herself. Over time, she has transformed into the CIF-championship-winning tennis player who takes risks in the classroom and exudes brilliance in campus life like the butterfly we always knew she could be. Her wings are ready and her signature ukulele is tuned. As the next great adventure awaits, Alyna is poised to return the shot coming her way.
CECILY TODD
Ceci is a dynamic presence in the classroom and on the stage. Unafraid to speak her mind, Ceci is a leader who inspires others to stand in their authenticity. She delves into challenging topics, is an unapologetic feminist, and engages deeply in classroom discussions. Ceci’s high expectations of herself and others are most on display through the dance program, where she has served as a classically trained choreographer and lead dancer for many performances. Above all else, Ceci values common ground and communication. She has a unique ability to galvanize others to do their best work – she is sure to do the same in every community she graces with her gifts.
JOHN H. TRIMBLE
Jade is a deep thinker and a genuine intellectual. Since their arrival on the Mesa, Jade has been one of our top math students and a leading scorer in Cal Math League competitions. Interested in a wide range of disciplines Jade’s breadth of knowledge has dazzled teachers and classmates alike on a daily basis. Any conversation with Jade is sure to be stimulating and educational. It is easy to understand why they have been a respected and sought-after peer tutor. One of the original residents of Cook House East – Lower Level (CHLL), Cate’s first all-gender dormitory, Jade has made the Mesa more welcoming simply by being a part of it.
FRITZ HENRY RUARDUS VELTMAN
Fritz is a young man of integrity, consistency, and strong character. He is a confident leader who builds bridges through his generous and warm demeanor. It is no wonder he was chosen to lead the School’s efforts in introducing students and families to the Mesa as a head tour guide and served as a mentor to our youngest students as a Teaching Assistant. Where he truly found his stride, however, was on the track, where he ran alongside some of his closest friends. In all endeavors, Fritz brings his humble and charitable presence and Cate is all the better for it.
CHRISTIAN LYLE TOTTENHAM WALTER With Honors
There is this bucket hat that Christian wears almost every day that is covered in different pins. Many won’t know this but each of these pins has a different story, and the pins on the hat change every day. Christian is a details guy. He is a standout student known for his talent, tenaciousness, and remarkable fine-tuning ability. A formidable math enthusiast, Christian has made impressive strides in his academic pursuits. Beyond the classroom, Christian is an avid video gamer with an impressive gaming record. But, it is the small things that bring him joy. Like the small pins with special stories that Christian adds to his hat, Christian’s story is one that is now a part of our hat on the Mesa, and we are grateful for it.
MYLES CALDWELL WARREN
With Honors
Myles Warren has distinguished himself as one of our most widely involved students throughout his time at Cate. He has been a terrific all-around student; a top contributor to our water polo, swimming, and surf teams, a highly respected Prefect, and possibly our most versatile – and busiest – musician and singer. He is always up for any performance, whenever and wherever it may be. Most of all, Myles has been a great friend to countless peers, including many of his younger dormmates, who revere him. He is kind, patient, honest, and eager to do what is right, with a boldness that embodies marching to his own drum.
JULES HIRSCH WECKER
Jules embraces every endeavor he pursues with enthusiasm. His exceptional work ethic and steadfastness have made him a master potter, known for bringing out beauty with care and meticulousness. Jules is a servant leader, known for his empathy, and a thoughtful friend, known for his commitment. As one faculty member recently remarked, “Jules epitomizes humility, integrity, and dedication.” Jules’s impact on those around him is undeniable, and his joyful pursuit of excellence sets a standard for others to follow. Indeed, Jules elevates any conversation he is a part of, and as one teacher aptly noted, Jules is “simply the best of who we are at Cate.”
CHARLOTTE WELLS
Charlotte puts her limitless energy and empathic heart in all the right places – people she cares about, issues that matter to her, and distinction in her studies. Charlotte has the intellectual capacity and strong-mindedness to persist in some of the most pressing concerns of our time which support her long-standing passion for our criminal justice system. She harnesses every opportunity that comes her way for good and puts her stamp on everything she does, especially her writing and songwriting. When it comes to community, Charlotte is intuitive, loyal, and generous with her time, talent, and humor.
ZACHARY WILLIAM WHITE
Zach is an old soul who listens well, chooses his words impeccably, and cares deeply for his friends. He has a singular ability to absorb a wide-ranging conversation and weave together different components into an overarching narrative. In addition to his achievements in the classroom, Zach is one of the most talented swimmers in Cate history. His junior and senior years are defined by his resilience in the face of setbacks, where his leadership made a greater impact than any individual time could. Our pool will be just a bit emptier without Zach here next year, but bigger pools await him beyond the Mesa.
BURAK YANAR With High Honors
If there’s a group of people on campus passionately working hard at something worth doing, Burak is likely at the center. He seeks challenge and loves the unrelenting pursuit of knowledge. Burak has distinguished himself for his ambitious scholarship, steadfast support of Public Service Night, and passionate leadership on the lacrosse field where he grew from someone who had never played to one of the greatest goalies we have ever had. Burak seeks to do his part, particularly to make the most of the partnerships between teachers and students. Principled and steady, Burak is sure to bring his unique vivaciousness to any community he calls home.
ANGIE ZORIC
Angie is interested in everything. If it were up to her, she would take 15 classes per trimester, participate in every Round Square program, and attend every scholarly lecture within a hundred miles. Even during the summer, Angie’s agile mind never slows down. She is one of our top swimmers and water polo players and one of the best cellists we have had in years. She is very proud of her Serbian heritage and inspires others to celebrate their own cultural background. Angie’s energy and enthusiasm are unparalleled, and she makes any gathering more memorable and delightful.
Faculty Recognition
Cate faculty and staff were honored with end-of-year awards, and those departing the Mesa were thanked for their many years of service in a special assembly for the community in the Hitchcock Theatre on May 15, 2024.
The Stephen Spittler '63 Cup
FRANK GRIFFIN, MATHEMATICS INSTRUCTOR
Presented by Abby Oke '24 and Shawn Cordeiro '24
Each year, The Spittler Cup, named for Stephen Spittler from the Class of 1963, is awarded to a faculty member whose presence on the Mesa pushes their students to challenge themselves in and out of the classroom, who inspires their students to lead with kindness and respect, and who brings joy and laughter to all of those around them.
Every faculty member on this campus is cherished and admired for their generosity and passion. This year, however, the Class of 2024 has chosen
to recognize one faculty member in particular for their devotion and investment in our community.
This faculty member is known for his ability to connect with students in almost any situation, whether it be in sporting events, class, or even in passing by. His hardworking nature is shown through his unique teaching style, as he strives to teach challenging material in a way that makes his students feel comfortable asking questions and thinking outside of their comfort zone.
Frank Griffin is one of the biggest role models for faculty and students alike. Everyone wants to be like Mr. Griffin. For 45 years, you have dedicated so much to Cate with your care, compassion, and thoughtfulness. You welcome people with one of the best smiles on campus and engage with every single person in a very individual way. Your wisdom and guidance show through your actions daily and everyone knows that any time spent with Frank Griffin, in or out of the classroom, is time well spent.
As a former college basketball star, and boys varsity basketball coach at Cate your adaptable nature was apparent on the Mesa when you returned to coaching the girls basketball team this year. Your knowledge of the game earned you the respect of the team and the greater community. For all those who don’t know, Frank Griffin not only refereed an NBA summer league game but also called a foul on Larry Bird – certainly, the highlight of Bird’s career.
As the fearless leader of the Cate Math Club and mentor for our students in the Cal Math League, Frank Griffin’s wisdom is unmatched. He is always helping students improve their math skills in and out of the classroom and knows how to connect with every kind of learner. You understand that all students are different and meet them where they are, and in the process, you form bonds that students will remember forever.
Frank Griffin has worn many hats at Cate, including being a dorm head for Griffin Dorm, the name given to Schoolhouse by students and faculty in his honor. Here, Mr. Griffin fostered camaraderie between his students through games, snacks, and late-night conversations. Mr. Griffin’s commitment to the dorm extended beyond just the students as he also mentored many new faculty members in dorm life. Although he is no longer a dorm head, he continues to maintain relationships with his students, and without a doubt, your presence on campus will be missed.
Your spirit will forever remain a cherished part of this School’s story. The Griffin legacy will be talked about for ages and carry so many beautiful memories. From the best and freshest guac on campus, to always showing support for the Taylor Swift Fan Club, to being one of Cate’s best faculty comedians.Thank you for everything, Frank Griffin. You will be greatly missed, but no matter where you go, your impact on people will be profound and I can say confidently that everyone you’ve known here over the decades is forever grateful for you.
When we need advice, you are who we go to. When we need support, you are who we go to. When Cate School needs someone for almost any important task, you are the person to go to. Therefore, it is our honor, and the Class of 2024’s privilege, to present to you, Frank Griffin, with the Stephen Spittler Cup.
The W. Burleigh Pattee Fellowship
BROOKS HANSEN, ENGLISH INSTRUCTOR
The W. Burleigh Pattee Fellowship is the oldest faculty award and was established by friends of Mr. Pattee, to honor outstanding teaching at Cate.
The recipient of this award has legendary status among students and alumni who speak of him in mythological terms. However, what is unusual about this teacher is despite the folklore surrounding him, he carries himself with humility and shows up each day in the classroom in the spirit of Servons. His students expect to have a great experience and this teacher’s expectations for himself are even greater. Not resting on reputation, he throws himself into lesson planning and providing intensive feedback to his students with the same intensity as his students invest in their writing for him. Just as he studies his students, they study him and, as a result, the classroom is a place of collective effervescence where this teacher and his students delight in their discoveries and growth together.
The Centennial Fellowship
DR. CRAIG BOUMA, SCIENCE DEPARTMENT CHAIR
The Centennial Fellowship was conceived to honor thoughtful, purposeful, and innovative classroom teaching. Focused directly on pedagogy and practice, this award seeks to recognize an educator whose work this year has demonstrably advanced his or her own teaching skills, course design, and lesson planning and in so doing impacted productively the learning of his or her students.
The recipient of this award is a champion for scientific inquiry where his belief in “explore before explain” drives student learning in every science class here at Cate. This teacher believes that students must “do science” through hands-on discovery of concepts and principles as a way to build enduring understanding. His own doctoral study into the persistent misconceptions that inform student thinking about science guides his own pedagogy and that of his department. This year, his new course: “Science for Life: Debunking Misinformation in a Digital World” asks students to further investigate and interrogate collective beliefs by focusing the process of scientific inquiry on science itself.
The Circumspice Fellowship
GE SONG, CHINESE INSTRUCTOR
The Circumspice Fellowship was designed to acknowledge the multiplicity of endeavors in which Cate faculty members are involved. This award recognizes excellence in teaching in the broadest application of that role, encompassing as we do at Cate, all that happens in the classroom, in the dormitories, on the stage or athletic fields, and in broad-based engagements with the community. This is an honor built on the actualization and exemplary achievement by a faculty member of the very same diverse commitments we ask our students to make.
This year’s recipient has distinguished herself as a steadfast presence in the classroom, dorm, and as an advisor. In every one of her roles, she brings the same fierce attention and open heart to each of her students, making it her business to learn all she can about them, their passions, and backgrounds. In particular, she serves as an essential source of support for our international students from East Asia who seek her out as a touchstone during times of homesickness and culture shock, or shared holidays and cultural celebrations. No matter their background, this teacher helps students feel at home here at Cate through her acts of care and compassion. It is no surprise that her students feel compelled to serenade this teacher at assemblies!
Retirement Celebration
On May 11, 2024, the Cate community gathered at Mesa House to honor the retirement of four esteemed Cate School faculty and staff members: Frank Griffin, Juan Hernández, Lauren Jared, and Gilberto Ortega. The evening was filled with heartwarming stories and good cheer, celebrating their unwavering dedication and contributions. It was a memorable event, honoring individuals who made an indelible impact on the school community with a combined 152 years of service to the School.
From left: Juan Hernández, Gilberto Ortega, Frank Griffin, and Lauren Jared were recognized in a celebration at Mesa House to honor their combined 152 years of service to Cate School.
Frank Griffin
Written by Annalee Salcedo, Karl Weis, and Craig Bouma
Annalee Salcedo: In Frank’s 45 years at Cate, the physical campus has grown: new faculty homes, Sprague Gymnasium, Horowitz Aquatic Center, Booth Commons, and of course the new Inquiry Collaborative. Not as visible as new construction, but certainly more meaningful, Frank has dedicated 45 years of his life to building the people and community of Cate. He has been foundational to the success of students, advisees, athletes, teachers, coaches, advisors, dorm parents, administrators, and heads of school. Karl, Craig and I (because Frank loves the Rule of Three) are just three of those hundreds of people and we have the honor of toasting Frank tonight.
Karl Weis: Speaking of foundations for success…
Industriousness – Friendship – Loyalty –Cooperation – Enthusiasm
These are the blocks that comprise the foundation of John Wooden’s Pyramid
of Success. John Wooden of course was UCLA’s legendary men’s head basketball coach, and anyone who has ever spent any time with Frank knows how much he admires the coach’s philosophy. So we thought we’d use Wooden’s words and ideas to celebrate Frank.
Craig Bouma: Industriousness. John Wooden said, “There is no substitute for work. Worthwhile results come from hard work and careful planning.” Frank himself always says, “Plan the work and work the plan.” His meticulous planning (love the notebooks!) has underpinned
his success at an unbelievable number of jobs at Cate–teacher, dorm head, Athletic Director, Director of Studies, Head Basketball Coach, Faculty Trustee, and on and on. No one has worked harder for Cate in such a wide variety of roles, no one has given so selflessly. Of course, he’s also somehow found the time, with Emilie, to have a happy family life and raise two wonderful daughters, Casey and Erin.
Annalee: Number two on our Wooden list is friendship which Frank expresses through mild hazing, endless support, and lighthearted humor.
Karl: Like when Frank made me be Joey in a Friends skit my first year.
Craig: Like when Frank welcomed my family to this community, becoming both a mentor and a close friend.
Annalee: Like how Frank keeps chocolate covered peanut butter cups in his office for me or how he will, on any ordinary day, leave a handwritten note of appreciation on my desk.
Karl: Next is Loyalty. John Wooden said, “Be true to yourself. Be true to those you lead.” Frank has been unfailingly loyal to Cate and everything he believes in (not least of course Boston professional sports teams!) seeking every day to make this school a better place. There’s no greater sign of loyalty to an institution than doing the bureaucratic grunt work that seems to be an integral part of every independent school. In his long career, Frank has led innumerable task forces, special committees, and ad hoc advisory groups on any number of topics having to do with education. But perhaps Frank’s crowning achievement is that he has headed up three WASC reports. Every seven years, members of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) submit a selfevaluation. The very mention of this year-long process strikes fear into the hearts of every educator we know, as it involves endless meetings, drafts of answers to vague questions, more meetings, more writing, more meetings, more editing, and ultimately an inevitably poorly timed visit from the evaluating committee. But Frank didn’t run in the other direction when WASC came knocking with this soul-destroying task–no, Frank embraced the challenge and led, encouraged, and wrote most of three different excellent reports.
Craig: Cooperation/Collaboration. “Listen if you want to be heard. Be interested in finding the best way, not in having your own way.” Frank artfully guided the Inquiry Group that documents the inquiry practices
at Cate for the future. Frank’s own words summarize what inquiry at Cate is all about: We are striving to develop pedagogical practices as well as a curricular program that has schoolwide consistency and cohesion for our students. Our goal is that inquiry not just rest with individual teachers, departments, or disciplines but be widespread and a central theme in the Cate academic experience.
And what makes Frank so special is he goes about all of this with…
Annalee: Enthusiasm. According to Coach Wooden, “It brushes off on others. You must truly enjoy what you are doing.” Frank enjoys a “tearable pun” which unfortunately brushes off on all of us. Whether its for the mathletes who come every Thursday night to M3 to
play with challenging problems, or for the Swifties who invite Frank – their Taylor Swift Fan Club faculty advisor –to all their listening parties, or for the Schoolhouse girls who used to gather in the common room to listen to Frank read them bedtime stories, Frank shows up for all these students with warmth, humor, and enthusiasm.
Karl: We cannot celebrate Frank without celebrating Emilie, Casey, and Erin. They are more industrious, more loyal, more enthusiastic, and better looking than he is. Without them, there would be no pyramid of success.
We raise our glasses to you, Frank. You have been our own legendary coach, and in John Wooden’s words, “Your energy and enjoyment, drive, and dedication will stimulate and greatly inspire others.”
Above: Frank Griffin with his wife Emilie, and daughters Casey '09 and Erin '12. Bottom left: Craig Bouma, Annalee Salecdo, and Karl Weis deliver their remarks wearing "Can I Be Frank" t-shirts. Bottom right: Frank Griffin in his early years on the Mesa.
Lauren Jared
Written by Brooks Hansen and Lisa Holmes
Brooks Hansen: If we can agree that the most important ingredient in any sandwich is love – and I think we can all agree on that – then I expect that most people here will also agree that the most important ingredient in teaching is the same. The question has always been, “But what exactly do we teach? The student? Or the subject?” In Lauren Jared’s case, the answer doesn’t matter. She loves both, to a degree that we should all remember and treat as a model.
Lisa will be saying some words about the impact of Lauren’s leadership and scholarship, but let me likewise attest, having had the pleasure of teaching Comparative Religion with her these last five years, Lauren’s devotion to her discipline is nothing short of noble. We know the period closest to her heart is medieval Europe. She enshrined it in Freshman Humanities for all those years, and protected it jealously, aware that it was under almost constant threat, being, well…medieval European history. We also know how that passion has informed the steady expansion of her interests and her expertise. If you recommend an article to Lauren, a primary source, a movie, a piece of music, she will go find it, read it, listen, watch. She will speak to
you about it, and she will demonstrate a detailed mastery of it, in front of students, you never saw coming. Lauren never stops feeding.
But, as clear as her love for the subject may be, her affection for her students is just as plain. It’s there in every comment she writes, the balance she strikes between attention to the objective, but attention to the student as well, always closing on more personal notes of appreciation, encouragement, and gratitude. It’s in that same spirit –modest though she may be by nature –that she makes sure to share with those same students, her experience, her travels, her home, her food.
Maybe most telling – and I hope she doesn’t mind my saying this – but the last couple years have been a particular challenge for Lauren, what with ailing and aging parents. Not easy. She had to miss some classes here and there. But it was remarkable to me to see how this pained her. It pained her in the first place because she always wants to do her part obviously. She’s one of the great team players we’ve even had, and most determined collaborators. Mostly, though, it pained her because she didn’t
young, open minds to the poetry of John Donne, to Leila and Majnun, to the Book of Job. She wanted to be in the classroom – and this is the Keck Lab we’re talking about – discussing history, ideas, and literature with her students. Each time she returned, she told them this, and you could feel her sense of relief and restoration. This was the well from which she drew her comfort, and strength – and you better believe those students felt it, too. I suspect these were the moments, and the lessons, they will remember most.
Lisa Holmes: Just yesterday I went to see Lauren in her office and found her reading essays from her senior English class on Epics. “You have to hear this,” she said and then proceeded to read me a beautiful opening to an analysis of Beowulf. “Isn’t that amazing?” she beamed when she finished. I have always been inspired by Lauren’s devotion to the Medieval and her ability to help students find the humanity in the past and make connections along the way, but what I most admire is the joy she takes in the
growth and development of her students, the way she affirms and celebrates others – her students for sure and also her colleagues.
Last year, Lauren gave the Cum Laude address on the topic of deliberation. She implored this group of remarkable Cate senior scholars to go out in the world with an authentic openness to ideas. She suggested that an emphasis on debating ideas focuses too much on winning, leaving us entrenched in our thinking and unwilling to change our minds. Deliberation, she said, “gives us a way to explore issues that are multidimensional and complex … to rethink and deepen our ideas, to become curious about what we think, and to change our minds for the better.”
I loved this message and for more than a decade, I experienced the wonderfully open and collaborative ethos she created as the history department chair. Over the years, she skillfully guided our department through several redesigns and reimaginings of curriculum and gave us space to examine and test our assumptions about the skills and knowledge we felt were important for our students. Fewer than 2% of college students nationally major in history, but at Cate, we have lotteries for our senior electives and are constantly updating and adding to the program at all grade levels. Lauren’s leadership helped us do
such good, intellectually challenging and meaningful work on behalf of the School.
Last year, Lauren shared with me a piece she wrote about her mom for her memorial service. It is a heartfelt and beautiful tribute to family and the power of love and support and it ends with gratitude to her mom for what she named as “nurturing life-affirming love.” I so admire the way she lives that model set by her mom, the intentional and spiritual way she goes about the world, her capacity to listen and suspend judgment, and the pride she takes in her family – husband Todd, and children Jamie and Alyssa, and son-in-law Anton.
I have relied on her open mind and heart as I have navigated my personal and professional life at Cate. Among the many blessings in my time on the Mesa, having Lauren as my first office mate at Cate in 2001 is at the top of the list.
Brooks: Happily, we’ve not seen the last of Lauren, on our path, in our classrooms, at our table. She will be gracing us, if more sparingly next year, continuing to inspire students and colleagues with that same elegant blend of authentic scholarship and heartfelt affection. When time comes to miss her, that’s a big chunk of what we’ll be missing. And remembering. And trying our darndest to preserve.
Gilberto Ortega
Written by Luis Flores
Read in Spanish by Luis
Flores
Gilberto Ortega originario de Jalisco, México Siendo el mayor de siete hermanos. Emigró a Carpintería en el año de 1979. Mismo año que comenzó a trabajar junto con su padre en Rancho Nuevo que es ahora la propiedad de Vedder. Después de trabajar por algún tiempo regresó a su tierra natal para conocer a su esposa Irma. Juntos regresaron a Carpintería, Gilberto trabajó un corto tiempo en los campos de fresas, en lo que conocemos como la Conchita.
En el año de 1992 ese entonces el business manager Dick van Antwerp que un tiempo vivió en Rancho nuevo y tenía comunicación con Gilberto, lo invita a trabajar a Cate y ahí comienza la historia.
En Cate muchas veces no nos damos cuenta el trabajo que hacemos, sin darnos cuenta animamos a los maestros e inspiramos a algunas personas simplemente con un Buenos días, una sonrisa o un saludo, somos esas lucecitas de navidad que iluminan parte del camino de cada persona.
Gilberto es esa luz que siempre está constante, al haber realizado su trabajo durante tantos años. Con dedicación ayudaba a que los deportistas no sufrieran lesiones, al mantener los campos en buen estado. Contribuyo a que los estudiante, faculty & staff pudieran realizar todos los diferentes deportes que existen en Cate.
Muchos de nosotros nos llevaremos ese olor a pasto recién cortado que nos hará recordar las mañanas en Cate, cuando Gilberto pasaba con su carrito cortando el pasto, parecía fácil solo estar arriba de un carrito y dar vueltas pero todo tiene sus grados de dificultad. El saber manejar esa cortadora de césped requiere experiencia y conocimiento , tener cuidado de no voltiarse a la hora de
Lauren Jared celebrates with her family after 33 years of service to Cate.
cortar una área inclinada. Como en la parte de atrás del edificio de ciencias o 25 House por nombrar algunos lugares. Gilberto se apresuraba por cortar el pasto y mantener los jardines limpios antes de que comenzaran las clases, esto para que los estudiantes no tuvieran alguna distracción y se pudieran concentrar en sus clases.
También recordaremos la brisa de las mañanas por los dormitorios de 25 house o el teatro cuando Gilberto regaba los jardines. No se nos olvidara esa frase que decía Gilberto “aqui ando nomas regandola.” Que se referia en forma humorística al regar el pasto.
Algo que extrañaremos más de Gilberto será su humor. Esa forma que en diferentes circunstancias tenía un comentario humorístico y un poco sarcastico.
Y esas mañanas que tocaba guitarra y cantaba canciones antes de comenzar a trabajar.
Por esta Escuela Cate han pasado muchas personas, pero muy pocas lograron dejar la misma huella que tú. Eres un ejemplo de dedicación, trabajo, esfuerzo y compañerismo.
Gilberto, te deseamos que en esta nueva etapa disfrutes mas el tocar la guitarra, montar a caballo, ver crecer a tu familia y nietos.
Por favor, ven a visitarnos de vez en cuando aunque sea solo para tomar el café!
Muchas Gracias Gilberto por todo lo que aportaste a La gran comunidad de Cate y Muchas mas gracias por permitirnos trabajar contigo.
Read in English by Ben Swain '14 Intro:
Luis has asked me to read an English translation of his speech. I have the great honor of reading this for Gilberto, and
enjoyed before that the even greater honor of working with him. Know that any eloquence belongs to Luis, and any errors to me. Remember that when I read the words “I,” or “we,” it is Luis speaking.
Translation:
Gilberto Ortega, who is originally from Jalisco, Mexico, and is the oldest of seven siblings, emigrated to Carpinteria in 1979. That same year, he began working with his father in Rancho Nuevo, which was located at that time next to Cate, where the Vedder property is now. After working there for some time, he returned to his homeland, to meet his wife, Irma. Together, they then returned
From left: Tano Vega, Gilberto Ortega, Encarnacion Vega, and Juan Hernández in 2000.
to Carpinteria, and Gilberto worked for a short time in the strawberry fields in what we know as La Conchita.
In the year 1992, the then-business manager Dick van Antwerp, who had lived at Rancho Nuevo, and had stayed in contact with Gilberto, invited him to work at Cate, and that’s where the story begins.
At Cate, we Facilities members often don’t fully appreciate the work that we do, but, without realizing it, we brighten teachers’ days and inspire people with nothing more than a good morning, a smile, or a greeting. We are those little Christmas lights that illuminate part of each person’s path.
Among us, Gilberto is the light that is bright and constant, having done his work for so many years. Through his dedication, he helped the athletes not suffer injuries by keeping the fields in good condition, and he contributed to the students, faculty, and staff being able to do all the different sports that exist at Cate.
When he’s gone, that smell of freshly cut grass will make us remember the
mornings at Cate when Gilberto passed by on his lawnmower cutting the grass. It may seem easy just to be on top of the lawnmower and go around, but everything has its degrees of difficulty. He knows how to drive it while being careful not to roll over at short notice, like around the back of the science building, or the Class of 1925 House, to name a few places. Gilberto worked hard to cut the grass and keep the gardens clean before classes started so that the students would not have any distractions and could concentrate on their classes, and so we will also remember the morning breeze through the bedrooms of '25 House or the theater when Gilberto watered the grass.
There are some many things that we’ve shared with Gilberto that we will miss. Certainly we will miss his humor, and the way that in different circumstances he would have a slightly sarcastic humorous comment. Some moments will always be with us, like the mornings where he played guitar and sang songs before starting to work.
Many people have passed through Cate, but very few managed to leave the same mark as you. You are the
perfect example of dedication, work, effort and camaraderie.
Gilberto, we hope that in this new stage of life you enjoy playing the guitar more, riding horses in Jalisco, Mexico, and watching your family and grandchildren grow.
Please come visit us from time to time, even if it’s just for coffee! Thank you very much, Gilberto, for everything you contributed to the great Cate community and many more thanks for allowing us to work with you.
Below: Gilberto Ortega and members of the Cate facilities staff in 2012.
Gilberto Ortega and his family after he is recognized for his 32 years of service to Cate.
Juan Hernández
Written by Tim and Peggy Smith
Read in Spanish by Tim Smith and in English by Peggy Smith
Traducido por: Mónica Martina GarcíaGamero Revilla de Urízar – Marquesa del Pinar del Río
El año mil novecientos ochenta y dos podría ser el más significativo en la historia de Cate, ya que trajo dos eventos que cambiaron profundamente y positivamente nuestro colegio. El primero fue la graduación de la primera promoción de chicas. El segundo, la llegada del magnífico Juan Hernández.
Robusto, benevolente, estoico, amable y valiente, Juan ha sido una presencia incondicional en este campus por 42
(cuarenta-y-dos) años – un ejemplo estelar de virtud, de dignidad y de arduo trabajo. Los antiguos residentes de Cate, que todavía están por aquí, recordarán aquellos tiempos cuando al caer de la noche, Juan cerraba el campus, asegurándose que sus puertas y edificios estuvieran seguros. Más recientemente, los madrugadores de este campus pueden reconocer sin esfuerzo la figura familiar de Juan subiendo la colina al amanecer, preparándose para la crucial jornada de mantener nuestro campus resplandeciente. Al caer el sol, es normal ver a Juan involucrado en otros trabajos, como ayudar a un colega con un proyecto en su jardín o recomendando la planta perfecta que sí florecerá. En efecto, nadie conoce los recónditos lugares de nuestro campus y sus necesidades tanto como Juan.
Algo particularmente fascinante es ver como Juan cuida los campos deportivos. Su trabajo no tiene nada que envidiarle al de los muchachos del Estadio de los Dodgers. Así de
bueno es lo que hace. Ya sea cortando la hierba y recubriendo los campos o instalando la valla del campo exterior y colocando el arco de la portería, Juan es un modelo de concentración, haciendo meticulosamente el trabajo de preparación por la mañana para que los estudiantes-atletas puedan lograr la gloria máxima por la tarde. Sin duda, podría ser nombrado MVP de todos los deportes durante todas las temporadas en Cate. Y, si echamos cuentas, en este momento Juan ya habría ganado como ¡420 (cuatrocientas-veinte) varsity letters!
Día tras día, Juan lo da todo sin fanfarrias ni quejas. Es simplemente lo que hace. Y en momentos de crisis, eleva más su esfuerzo. Cuando cae una gran tormenta, Juan se pasa toda la noche limpiando los drenajes para evitar inundaciones y retirando escombros para que al día siguiente todo siga igual para todos los que convivimos en este lugar, como si nada hubiese pasado. Y a pesar de todo, Juan nunca parece ni cansado ni agobiado.
From left: Gerardo Martinez, Juan Hernández, Tano Vega, and Benjamin Trejo at Cate in 1995.
Lo único más grande que la productividad de su labor es su corazón. Es un devoto padre de familia y un amigo afectuoso. Si uno pasa por su casa un domingo, es más que seguro que oirá música y verá adornos, mesas, comida y muchos invitados. Juan es un amoroso esposo para Rosa, el orgulloso padre de Juan, Claudio, Cristina y Emily, y el juguetón abuelo de Adrian, Emmanuel, Sophia, Kamila, Sebastian y Isabella. Celebrar cada momento especial con ellos le llena de alegría.
El espíritu de Cate School siempre ha sido servir a los demás, un concepto que Juan Hernández acoge de todo corazón. Anteponiendo las necesidades y los intereses de quienes le rodean a los suyos propios, Juan es un verdadero ejemplo de lo que es ser miembro de una comunidad, simplemente el protector del bien común. Su capacidad de trabajo es extraordinaria, su preocupación por los demás, excepcional, y su encarnación de Servons, inigualable. Todos sabemos que en las escuelas se puede sustituir a todo el mundo, pero la impresionante colección de virtudes y habilidades de Juan nunca podrá ser igualada.
helping a colleague with a project around the yard. Indeed, no one knows better the inner workings of this Mesa than Juan.
A particular amazement is watching Juan tend to the athletic fields. The guys at Dodger Stadium and SoFi have nothing on him. Whether mowing the grass and lining the fields or installing the outfield fence and setting up the goal posts, Juan is a paragon of focus, fastidiously doing the prep work in the morning so that student-athletes can get the glory in the afternoon. To be sure, he could be named the MVP of every sport during every season at Cate, and, if you do the math, at this point he’s earned something like 420 varsity letters!
Day in and day out, Juan toils without fanfare or complaint. It’s simply what he does. And, in times of crisis, he kicks it up a notch, impossibly so. When a huge rainstorm hits, Juan will stay up all night, clearing drains to prevent flooding and removing debris so that it’s business as usual for the rest of us the next day. Through it all, Juan never looks harried or tired.
tables, food, and guests … lots of them. He’s a loving husband to Rosa; a proud father to Juan, Claudio, Cristina, and Emily; and a playful grandfather to Adrian, Emmanuel, Sophia, Kamila, Sebastian y Isabella. Celebrating milestones with them brings him great joy.
The year 1982 might be the most significant one in Cate’s long history, for it brought about two changes that tremendously and favorably impacted our School. The first was graduating our inaugural class of girls. The second was hiring the magnificent Juan Hernández.
Robust, benevolent, stoic, gentle, and valiant, Juan has been a stalwart presence on this campus for 42 years – a stellar example of the virtue and dignity of hard work. The night owls who’ve been around will remember the several decades when Juan closed the campus for the evening, making sure doors and buildings were secure. More recently, the early risers of the Mesa know the familiar sight of Juan walking up the hill at daybreak, preparing to begin the important work of campus upkeep. In between, there is the actual work shift, and at dusk, we are likely to see Juan
The only thing greater than Juan’s work productivity is his heart. He is a devoted family man and a caring friend. Drive by his house on a Sunday, and you’ll likely hear music and notice decorations,
The ethos of Cate School has always been about serving others, a concept that Juan Hernández wholeheartedly embraces. Putting the needs and interests of those around him before his own, he is the quintessential community member – a trustee of the common good. His capacity for work is extraordinary, his care for others exceptional, and his embodiment of Servons unparalleled. We all know that everyone in schools can be replaced, but Juan’s impressive collection of virtues and skills will never be replicated.
After 42 years of service to Cate, Juan Hernández celebrates his retirement with his family.
Years of Service
Evan Akers
5 YEARS
Dean’a Curry
Jose Espinoza
Guille Gil-Reynoso
Diamond Gray
Ben Swain '14
Tiarzha Taylor
Jose Juan Zermeno
10 YEARS
15 YEARS
20 YEARS
40 YEARS
45 YEARS
Annalee Salcedo
Cece Schwennsen
Matt Drew
Kim McCormack
Benjamin Soto
Oscar Urízar Tamayo
Paul Denison '79
Frank Griffin
Matt Drew
Annalee Salcedo
Cece Schwennsen
Oscar Urízar Tamayo
Paul Denison '79
Benjamin Soto
CAMP CATE 2024
By Emily Sosrodjojo '13
On Friday, June 7, members of the Cate community, including alumni, parents of alumni, current and former faculty, families, and friends, arrived on the Mesa to celebrate Camp Cate 2024. Despite the June gloom, the weather remained in the mid-70s throughout the weekend, allowing alumni to enjoy the great outdoor venues on the Mesa. Guests who arrived early strolled down the iconic Robert A. Day '37 Walkway, visited their favorite campus spaces, and perused the archives full of pictures and memorabilia.
This summer’s reunion weekend was significant as it was Head of School
Alexandra Lockett’s first Reunion Weekend. Alex greeted alumni and families at Mesa House for the Kick-Off Party while alumni joyfully embraced one another and reconnected with former teachers and retired faculty. Guests enjoyed tacos de adobada and beverages from Firestone Walker Brewing Company.
It was not just the adults who had a celebratory Friday evening – children of alumni participated in the Junior Camp Cate program. Olivia Dorion '22, Director of Junior Camp Cate, and five Cate students welcomed campers with a unique Camp Cate t-shirt and a fun-packed
The 4s and 9s gather at the Ocean View Reception at 1985 House Admission Building.
agenda for the weekend. Campers also enjoyed Eliseo’s Tacos before heading to Booth Commons to play board games and enjoy s’mores.
Saturday morning began with the 41st Annual Mesa Race. Track and Field Coach Tim Weir tracked runners’ bib numbers and times while counselors directed runners throughout the course. Cullen Barber '19 represented his class and was the first male to cross the finish line in 13:26, while Marlowe Griffin Lyddon '09 was the first female to finish the race in 19:00. Science instructor Dr. Jamie Kellogg greeted runners,
alumni, and families with espressos and lattes, bringing a warm smile to everyone. While the race took place, alumni and families enjoyed breakfast at the Otis Booth Dining Commons. Others visited the soon-to-be-completed Inquiry Collaborative, the School’s new academic hub for learning, exploration, and innovation.
The Johnson Library opened its doors mid-morning for the Head of School Hour and Alumni Leadership Council presentation. John Kearney '00, Alumni Leadership Council President, welcomed alumni and provided an overview of
recent happenings on and off the Mesa. Dave Soto '08, Senior Associate Director of Admission, shared admission trends and the diverse cohort of incoming students for the 2024-2025 academic year. Director of College Counseling Maude Bond summarized how Cate’s counseling office supports students through the college application process. Director of Advancement Lindsay Newlove encouraged alumni to remain engaged with Cate and with each other. The hour culminated with an update on the For Cate and Forever campaign and a Q&A session with the Head of School.
Young campers enjoyed arts and crafts activities throughout Saturday morning, lawn games on Kirby Quadrangle, and foosball and chess in Booth Commons. The community reconvened on Commencement Lawn to enjoy a BBQ lunch from Carpinteria local, Stanley Macias. Throughout the weekend, the Katharine Thayer Cate Memorial Chapel was open to all guests who wished to honor community members who had passed away since their last reunion. Some alumni played tennis with 2023 CIF-SS Champion Nate Newlove '25, while others challenged former coaches in basketball pick-up games.
Alumni experienced returning to the classroom with Cate’s veteran teachers leading Master Classes. The Johnson Library was packed with alumni eager to spend time with former teachers. Math Instructor Frank Griffin spoke about Cate’s Inquiry Method, which incorporates a visual and exploratory approach that encourages students to question and be curious. English and History Instructor Lauren Jared introduced a historical document to draw out conversations surrounding a medieval ritual to heal sick babies. History Instructor Juarez Newsome rounded out the afternoon with a raucous and broad look back at historical world events from various graduation years.
Alex Lockett invited all alumnae to Mesa House for a Women of Cate gathering. Alumnae of all generations had the opportunity to meet and connect over shared life experiences. The event concluded with all women forming a circle and participating in a moving reflection. A strong bond of Cate alumnae emerged that evening as alumnae walked to the Ocean View Reception.
Reunion Dinner took place in the beautiful Booth Dining Commons for the first time and the space was filled with joyful and excited alumni. Guests mingled, enjoyed a salmon and tri-tip dinner, looked at Mesan yearbooks, and reminisced about their Cate years.
Becca Roberson '94 introduced the Head of School, who was thrilled to see hundreds of alumni and families on the Mesa. Alex was especially pleased that her father, who surprised her for the weekend, was present to witness the reunion. Fresh batches of Muffet Tuffets and milk pitchers were available for old times’ sake. Luke Laurence '19 and Cal Sinclair '19 even enjoyed a surprise birthday cake from their classmates. The evening concluded with the much-anticipated dodgeball game in Fleischmann Gym and the annual rivalry between the 5th and 10th reunion years.
Sunday morning quickly arrived and a handful of alumni woke up early to do a backcountry hike to Bee Camp led by Math Instructor Tim Smith. Alumni began packing their bags and leaving their dorm rooms while witnessing hugs, laughter, tears, and smiles all at once. Much excitement and buzz for the next reunion was present. The dates are set for next year – alumni in classes ending in 0s and 5s are invited to their reunion celebration June 6 through June 8, 2025.
We look forward to welcoming you “home” next summer!
Camp Cate Kick-Off Party at Mesa House.
Friday evening afterglow at Booth Commons patio.
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Head of School Alex Lockett welcomes Nathan '94 and Georgia Clay '99’s children to Mesa House.
Lauren Jared leads an alumni class on Exploring Medieval History.
Jr. Camp Cate campers focus on their chess game.
Carson Williams '19 takes a shot during the annual alumni basketball game.
Reunion Dinner on Saturday in Booth Dining Commons.
Morning hike to Bee Camp.
Class Notes
1949 Reunion
Terry Sanders, the two-time Academy Award-winning President of the American Film Foundation, was in Prague lming his documentary “Rescuing Democracy and the Rule of Law,” which chronicles the little-known story of collaborations between more than 5,000 American lawyers and judges who disrupted their lives to go overseas and help former Soviet Bloc countries transition to democracy. e lm highlights the ongoing rule of law work that continues today. Terry is hoping to complete the lm by the end of September. e entire collection of over 50 lms is available on American Film Foundation Vimeo on Demand for the rst time.
1954 Reunion
Duncan Abbott, his wife Meredith “Ky” Brooks Abbott, and his family celebrated daughter Whitney Abbott '90 at her solo art show opening at Sullivan Goss Gallery in Santa Barbara in February. Santa Barbara Independent article highlights the family: “Meredith and Duncan grew up together in Carpinteria.
WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!
For the fall Bulletin, we welcome submissions from members of all Cate classes. Please email Guille Gil-Reynoso at guille_reynoso@cate.org.
Meredith lived at the top of Rincon Road, while Duncan lived at the bottom of the canyon in an 1870s house on a 55-acre avocado and lemon ranch. Duncan’s father bought the property in 1922, and Duncan and Meredith still live in that house today. Robert Abbott '95 – Whitney’s brother – lives in the house his mom grew up in. ‘It’s very Frog and Toad,’ Whitney acknowledged with a smile. In the 1960s, Duncan became a portfolio manager and worked in San Francisco for Bank of America at Haight and Ashbury for 15 years. at’s where Whitney was born. In 1975, when she was three years old, the family moved back to Carpinteria, and Duncan decided to manage the avocado ranch.” Duncan’s 70th Cate Reunion was even more special when his granddaughter, Gwen McTigue '26, and former classmate John Trotti, joined him. Duncan looks forward to his granddaughters, Edie Abbott '27 and Aggie McTigue '28, joining the Ram family this fall!
1956
Tony Hooker and Betsy Shelton were married in Belvedere, Calif, on June 4, 2023.
Terry Sanders in Prague filming his documentary “Rescuing Democracy and the Rule of Law.”
Left to right: John Trotti '54, Ky Abbott, and Duncan Abbott '54.
Duncan Abbott '54 (left) and John Trotti '54 at the Ocean View Reception during Camp Cate.
1964 Reunion
The Class of 1964 Reunion Committee mobilized their plans when the 2024 calendar year began. Homer Alexander, Rick Baum, Oliver Janney, Charlie McCormick, Charley Osborne, and George Paloheimo crafted a letter for their classmates in January, inviting them to return to the Mesa for their 60th Reunion. The class enjoyed reminiscing about their schooldays while marveling at the changes that have occurred since then. Mike Burns surprised his classmates with a last-minute registration, not wanting to miss any fun!
1972
This May, Bruce King, Brad Roberts, and John Thacher joined classmate Todd Boekelheide at the California Film Institute’s DocLands Documentary Film Festival in San Rafael at the premiere of his new film, “Make a Circle.” The film celebrates unsung heroes and sheroes who educate and are mentors to our youngest generation. Be sure to check it out!
1973
Walter Douglas, Arden Kwong '76, Grant Ivey, Geoff Thorpe, and Win Shiras '72 returned to the Mesa to celebrate the Class of 1974’s 50th Reunion as a gesture of friendship and gratitude towards the class.
1974 Reunion
Thanks to the incredible behind-thescenes efforts of Reunion Chairs Bill Kennedy, Greg Smith, and Jim Wright, the 50th Reunion at Camp Cate was a huge success! 27 members of the class returned for the weekend and 45 total guests (including spouses and alumni from other 1970s classes) enjoyed the golden reunion celebration. There is much to tell about this year’s special 50th: a Parsonage takeover; campfire reflections by Bill’s Airstream; and a record-breaking Cate Fund campaign by the class. For more, readers will have to wait as the complete tale will be told by Greg Smith in the Fall Bulletin and Report on Philanthropy. Be on the lookout for this article in the coming months! Jim Wright shares: “John Lee and his wife Chimene recently hosted a small 1974 class reunion at their Santa Cruz house. John, Rob Rose, Bruce Tom, and I enjoyed catching up. Chris Upham stopped by for an early visit the night before. We received a very nice gift from Chaz McEwan: a video of our graduation and a pictorial of the many years we spent on the Mesa. This gift started a chain of responses and an exchange of old pictures of the heyday of long hair in the 1970s. It even brought out a few welcome responses from some of our quieter alumni.”
Front row, left to right: Betsy McCormick, Rick Baum '64, George Paloheimo '64, and Rita Paloheimo. Back row, left to right: Homer Alexander '64, Dede Alexander, Charlie McCormick '64, Mike Burns '64, and Julia Newcomb.
Left to right: John Lee '74, Bruce Tom '74, Rob Rose '74, and Jim Wright '74 reunited and enjoyed catching up and reminiscing about their days at Cate.
The Class of 1964 enjoys dinner and looks at Mesan yearbooks at the Reunion Dinner.
Walter Douglas '73, Nancy Douglas, and Gordon Pattee '60 met at the New York City Reception in November.
1979 Reunion
Though small in numbers, the Class of 1979 had a wonderful time reconnecting with one another at Camp Cate. Tom Weller has not missed Camp Cate since 1999 and was impressed by the number of improvements that have taken place on the Mesa. Alec Williamson, who had not attended Camp Cate for over ten years, hopes to restart his attendance streak. Paul Denison had a special reason to celebrate during this year’s reunion – his first one with his daughter, Tessa Denison '19 who attended her 5 year reunion! An additional draw for Ving Simpson was the attendance of his daughter, Allie Simpson '04, son-in-law, Cooper McGuire '04, and grandchildren, making it an extra special Cate family reunion. The Class of 1979 knows their 50th Reunion is on the horizon and are on a mission to gather more class members to return to the Mesa in 2029! Steve Boehm was sad to miss this year’s reunion festivities. He writes, “I will miss my first reunion. My wife and I packed up and moved to Tennessee last year. This move was from a city to the country – a fantastic new experience for a pair of 4th generation Californians, and it exceeded expectations. I recently went on
a pontoon boat ride with Eric Slater and his wife, Claire. The country is beautiful out there. I continue to work in M&A – the last five businesses sold range from $20M – $120M in revenue. I enjoy the challenge well, at least three days out of four. I had some memorable moments with Jay Gould, but I had no idea how good he was with a keyboard. He became a true friend of mine that evening as we
shared some thoughts on life. The last reunion was special to me as we shared a lifetime of memories with good guys. I wish I could have attended the reunion. For classmates who are inclined, call me when you have a minute, as I would love to catch up.” Rob Dunton was honored to share antics and memories of Jon Mann at Jon’s memorial in January, held at the New York Public Library, where
Left to right: Tom Weller '79, Paul Denison '79, Ving Simpson '79, Rob Dunton '79, Alec Williamson '79, and Toby Scott '79
Front row left to right: Chiméne Lee, Jim Wright '74, Arden Kwong '76, Wade Morse '74, Ginger Morse, Dell Lee '74, Marcela Cerecero, Geoff Thorpe '73, John Perkins '72, Win Shiras '72, Grant Ivey '73, Dana Twining, and Rose Sekulovich. Second row, left to right: Sandy Schroeder, Janet Gentile, Neil Schroeder '74, John Lee '74, Chaz McEwan '74, Bill Kennedy '74, Dave Forbes '74, Lisa de los Reyes, Zack Crane '74, Miguel Maafs '74, Greg Smith '74, and Belinda Smith. Third row, left to right: Peter Angleton '74, Jan Angleton, Marco Gentile '74, Rob Rose '74, Bruce Toms '74, Walter Douglas '73, Jim Sayre '74, John Clawson '74, Jeff Holter '74, Juan Miller '74, Fred Powell '74, Martin Gross '74, Mark Whiting '74, Greg Kubicek '74, Bert Brown '74, Butch Twining '74, Chris Nadai '74, Russell Van Fechtmann '74, and Betsy Cramer
Jon’s family gifted his 10,000-piece Lincoln Memorabilia collection. In attendance was Jon’s brother, Andrew Mann '83, along with hundreds of others whose lives were impacted by Jon’s generosity, wit, and scholarship. Rob shares, “Inspired by the loss of another classmate and as a worn 63-year-old, my bucket list is now real. I checked off two this year: surfing the crazy-long left break in Chicama, Peru, and heli-skiing outside of Revelstoke, B.C. Both were epic. I heard from Steve Weintz, who moved to Laguna Beach after many years in Big Sur. Babak Ahmadi traveled to Turkey, a bucket list journey of my design.” Toby Scott visited the Mesa in the fall. He toured the construction site
for the Inquiry Collaborative and caught up with science department chair Craig Bouma.
1984 Reunion
Leila Chism, Jay Melican, and Shelley Tantau celebrated their 40th Reunion on and off the Mesa as they rented an Airbnb for their weekend at Camp Cate. Thank you to Reunion Chairs Jay Melican, Matthew Morphy, and Sylvia Torres-Guillén for inviting their classmates to the Reunion. Sylvia left feeling inspired by her first-ever Camp Cate and is ready to start inviting people to their 45th Reunion! In February, Mona Khalil met with Ewe Speaks, Cate’s speech and debate team, to share her experiences during her tenure in the United Nations Office of the Legal Counsel and International Atomic Energy Agency. She described how international affairs and international law are inextricably linked and had a great time talking to students. Monique Parsons celebrated the commencement of her youngest, Jules Wecker '24 It was also the culmination of a year of teaching physics for older son Teddy Wecker '17, who will head to Northwestern in the fall to pursue a Master’s degree in physics.
1985
Hitchcock Theatre was rockin’ at the final Convocation of the year. Cate alumnus Adam Topol, professional drummer and percussionist who has toured extensively with Jack Johnson, performed for the Cate community. Multi-instrumentalist Zach Gill, founder
Members of the Class of 1979 engage in a discussion about global events in Juarez Newsome’s Master Class in the Johnson Library.
Christopher Cuse '81 (middle) celebrated with math all-stars Gary Pierce (left) and Frank Griffin (right) at Mesa House in May.
Left to right: Andrew MacDonnell, Shelley Tantau '84, Leila Chism '84, and Jay Melican '84 at the Ocean View Reception during Camp Cate.
Front row, left to right: Leila Chism '84, Chris Mosley '84, Shelley Tantau '84, Jay Melican '84, Sylvia Torres-Guillén '84, and Jamil Akoni '84. Second row, left to right: Andrew Pearson '84, Geoff James '84, Paul Gifford '84, Kurt Lighthouse '84, Mat Martin '84, Hilary Johnston-Barton Doubleday '84, and Matthew Morphy '84.
Left to right: Kurt Lighthouse '84, Jay Melican '84, and Head of School Alex Lockett.
of ALO, and bassist Kenny Lyon of the Lemonheads, Brazzaville, and NOFX joined the performance. Students had the chance to join them and play on stage! Adam attended U.S.C. and Berklee College of Music before moving to L.A. and becoming a drummer/percussionist for many artists. He toured with Pixies guitarist Joey Santiago and began playing with Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley, and Jimmy Cliff. During that time, Adam took trips to study Afro-percussion in Havana and Matanzas, Cuba. He has toured extensively with Jack Johnson, recording and songwriting on the band’s many albums.
1989 Reunion
During spring break, David Andrews and his twin boys ran into Ashley Campion Semler '90 and her son, Tiger Semeler, at a junior tennis tournament in Las Vegas, Nev. David writes,“It is always so fun to cross paths and connect with Cate alumni!” After being one of the guest speakers for the Class of 2024’s Senior Exit Program, Shafia Zaloom returned to the Mesa merely a few weeks later to attend the 35th Reunion. Bob Johnson stayed on the Mesa to fully immerse himself in weekend activities. Rachel Mayorga’s weekend was extra special as her sister, Teresa Mayorga '86, and her son joined her stay on the Mesa. Keeping up with her Camp Cate ritual, Clare “CC” Salstrom Keck '89 participated in the Mesa Race on Saturday morning and reunited with classmates Rachel and Alison Metherell Valentine. Reunion Chairs Lauren Albrecht, Lyman Casey, Jessica Kaludis, Geoff McDonald, and Roz Nieman saw the fruits of their outreach as they spent a great weekend with many classmates.
Front row, left to right: Rob Vandenberg '89, Rob Johnson '89, Brooke Lambert '89, David Andrews '89, Allison Pomerantz Schiller '89, Lauren Craig Albrecht '89, Jessica Stewart Kaludis '89, and Holley Shepard '89. Second row, left to right: Patrick McCoy '89, Scott Symington '89, Clare “CC” Salstrom Keck '89, Roz Emmett Nieman '89, Palmer Malarkey '89, Shafia Zaloom '89, and Geoff McDonald '89.
Left to right: Brooke Lambert '89, Shafia Zaloom '89, Valarie Gardner '89, Roz Emmett Nieman '89, Lauren Craig Albrecht '89, Jessica Stewart Kaludis '89, and Holley Livingston Shepard '89.
U.C. Berkeley, Kappa Kappa Gamma, and Cate friends reconnected! Left to right: Ryan MacDonnell Bracher '90 P'23,'25,'27, Nicole Roberts '89, Amy Rogers P'25,'27, and Katie Lillard '88.
Front row, from left to right: Patrick McCoy '89, Valarie Gardner '89, Allison Pomerantz Schiller '89, Lauren Craig Albrecht '89, Alison Metherell Valentine '89, Shafia Zaloom '89, and Brooke Lambert '89. Second row, from left to right: Palmer Malarkey '89, Rob Vandenberg '89, Geoff McDonald '89, Rachel Mayorga '89, Jessica Stewart Kaludis '89, Holley Livingston Shepard '89, Clare “CC” Salstrom Keck '89, and Bob Johnson '89. Third row, from left to right: Benjamin Huff '89, Susie Awad Herwig '89, Roz Emmett Nieman '89, David Andrews '89, Scott Symington '89, and Taylor Clyne '89.
Left to right: Henry Andrews, Tiger Semler, Ashley Campion Semler '90, David Andrews '89, and Fisher Andrews made sure to snap a photo at a junior tennis tournament in Las Vegas this spring.
1994 Reunion
Inspired by Eugene Park’s witty letter and efforts furthered by fellow Reunion Chairs Athena Jones, Kenny Li, Beth Monda, Ashley Walmsley Bruemmer, and Samantha Wykoff, the Class of 1994 returned to the Mesa for their 30th Reunion. Athena was disappointed to have missed the weekend due to unexpected travel complications. Becca Roberson was honored to introduce Head of School Alex Lockett at Saturday night’s Reunion Dinner. Charlie Wykoff, who ran Mesa Race with his youngest son, Xander, placed third at the finish line. Matt Horowitz-Syrkin and Nathan Clay spent the weekend playing the piano to class favorite songs. Matt HorowitzSyrkin, who joined O’Melveny & Myers, was profiled by The Hollywood Reporter and Variety Magazine this year as one of the nation’s top media and tech lawyers. The firm is known for entertainment law, patent litigation, product liability, project finance, and venture capital.
1995
Cate’s Career Club hosted Tracye Lawyer, Grace Dickman '13, and Ethan Ha '20 for a session that focused on their experiences as college athletes. Current students came eager with questions about life as collegiate athletes and the various sports programs. Unsurprisingly, students came because they wanted to meet the legendary Tracye Lawyer! Students learned about the recruiting process and the importance of time management in college.
Left to right: Athena Jones '94, Samantha Wykoff '94, Daniel Cherry III '96, Catherine Dudley McDonough '95, and David McDonough '97 at the Mesa Dinner in April.
Left to right: Eugene Park '94, Matt SyrkinHorowitz '94, Alex Bloomingdale '94, and Dave Cass '94.
Alison Metherell Valentine '89, Clare “CC” Salstrom Keck '89, Rachel Mayorga '89, and Benjamin Huff '89 with their children at the finish line of the 41st annual Mesa Race.
Left to right: Palmer Malarkey '89, Allison Pomerantz Schiller '89, Scott Symington '89, Taylor Clyne '89, and David Andrews '89 are all smiles before Reunion Dinner.
Front row, from left to right: Robert Fisher '94, Becca Roberson '94, Samantha Chang Wykoff '94, Nathan Clay '94, and Kelly Nord Katzberg '94. Second row, from left to right: Andrea Browne Robertson '94, Sabrina Pak '94, Sabrina Schlumberger Scott '94, Cassie Wayne '94, Eugene Park '94, and Ashley Walmsley Bruemmer '94. Third row, from left to right: Dave Cass '94, Charlie Wykoff '94, Matt Syrkin-Horowitz '94, Alex Bloomingdale '94, Beth Green Monda '94, Claire Overgaag Barnaba '94, and Teresa Reeves Bernstein '94.
Joe Russell '95, Stephanie Russell, and Kristin Bradley Egan '01 happily bumped into each other after making a Cate connection in northern California at the Vintners Picnic in May.
1996
Returning to the Mesa in February to speak at Convocation in honor of Black History Month celebrations, Daniel Cherry III encouraged students to embrace and learn from their mistakes, and to have the courage to think differently when it comes to the quest for greatness. Daniel spent time meeting with faculty and the Black Student Union.
1999 Reunion
Luke Caffey flew in from Tokyo to attend the 25th Class Reunion. Micah Carr, Kelechi Nwanyanwu, April Rabkin, and Cyrus Tanaka enjoyed a memorable Camp Cate as they brought their children for the weekend. A musically inclined group, Chris Ahlman, Georgia Clay, Adam Fell, Rodrigo Garza, and Adam Horowitz, were found near a musical instrument throughout the weekend, singing memorable songs or playing the piano and acoustic guitars. Paul Grumet represented the class on Saturday night’s dodgeball game between the 4s and 9s in the Fleischmann Gym. Classmates Rodrigo, Andrew Hoover, and Amanda MacNaughton cheered him on as Paul stood his ground against the Class of 2014. Although unable to attend Camp Cate himself, Reunion Chair Peter Given took his responsibilities seriously as he and fellow Reunion Chairs Sara, Luke, Rodrigo, and Stephanie O’Mary-Berwald reached out to classmates for months leading up to Camp Cate. Christopher Petrin '00 and Ethan Schaffer '00 joined the Class of 1999 for their 25th reunion.
Front row, from left to right: Juarez Newsome, Catherine Reitman '99, Micah Carr '99, Angela Nostrand '99, Georgia Clay '99, Stephanie O'Mary-Berwald '99, Anne Grumet, Amanda MacNaughton Price '99, Kristen Harris-Nwanyanwu, and Kelechi Nwanyanwu '99. Back row, from left to right: Adam Fell '99, Cyrus Tanaka '99, Sara Blask '99, Ethan Shaffer '00, Luke Caffey '99, Neal Perlmutter '99, Adam Horowitz '99, Andrew Hoover '99, Christopher Gough '99, Paul Grumet '99, Chris Ahlman '99, April Rabkin '99, and Rodrigo Garza '99.
Front row, from left to right: Micah Carr '99, Christopher Petrin '00, Anne Grumet, Stephanie O'MaryBerwald '99, Amanda MacNaughton Price '99, Catherine Reitman '99, Angela Nostrand '99, Rodrigo Garza '99, April Rabkin '99 and Andrew Hoover '99. Back row, from left to right: Luke Caffey '99, Christopher Gough '99, Paul Grumet '99, Chris Ahlman '99, Cyrus Tanaka '99, Neal Perlmutter '99, Kristen Harris-Nwanyanwu, Ethan Shaffer '00, Kelechi Nwanyanwu '99, Sara Blask '99, Adam Horowitz '99, Emily Bailard '99, and Georgia Clay '99.
Sara Blask’s lifelong dream of one day seeing Earth from space still hasn’t been realized, but she’s one step closer to her role as the head of launch and crisis communications at Blue Origin, a space company founded by Jeff Bezos. She’s supported 13 missions during her
four years at Blue Origin, including all seven crewed flights. Sara splits her time between West Texas, Cape Canaveral, and Seattle, where her golden retriever, Hubble, is the unofficial mayor of the neighborhood. Catherine Reitman, creator of the TV show Workin’ Moms,
Daniel Cherry '96 enjoyed meeting with Head of School Alex Lockett and Cate students after his Convocation this spring.
reflected on her journey at a Cate Convocation in February. Catherine spoke about the importance of finding purpose and confidence through mistakes and risks and how she uses all the colors of her life in her work as an actress, producer, and writer. After 20 years of working with teenagers (especially Cate students!) as an academic coach, Georgia Clay now works with adults as a Certified Life Coach. She focuses on relationships, parenting, and self-love and works one-on-one with clients to create routines that vastly improve their balance and fulfillment. Georgia is also a Gottman Leader and works with couples on building and maintaining happy partnerships. She still lives in the foothills of Carpinteria with her husband, Nathan Clay '94, and sons Leo (12) and Bodhi (6).
Sara Blask '99 poses in front of the Road to Space sign at Blue Origin, where she manages public relations and crisis communication.
2002
Megan and Chris Lyons are overjoyed with the arrival of Mackenzie Bea, born on December 7, 2023. Sally Semegen and Michael de L’Arbre '04 welcomed the birth of their first child this spring. Uncle Mark Semegen '04 had the honor of documenting their first family photo.
2003
Derek Alexander Lief married Marina Ilkaniev on January 14, 2024 at The Log Cabin in San Francisco, Calif.
2004 Reunion
The Friday Night Kick-Off Party got started with the Class of 2004. Reunion Chairs Emily Grossman, Cameron Maloney, Allie and Cooper McGuire, and Kristen Sprano encouraged their friends to be prompt. Many Alumni from the Class of 2004 showed up early and were eager to be with each other. The Reunion was a family affair as Rusty Barker, Abigail Baum, Rob Lauer, Will Macfadyen, Arrington McCoy, Anita Rai, and Jonathan Wang brought their children to Jr. Camp Cate for the first time. The class had a wonderful time and participated in all activities, including attending a Master Class session with History Instructor Juarez Newsome, A Look at the Most Significant U.S. Events in the 21st Century. Abigail Baum and Edward Kenney welcomed Adelie Ruth into the world on November 24, 2023. Grandfather Rick Baum '64 could not be happier enjoying his new grandchild.
Catherine Reitman '99 laughs with the audience during her Convocation in February.
Georgia Clay '99 is loving her work as an academic and certified life coach in Carpinteria, Calif.
First row, from left to right: Piper Stremmel '04, Emily Grossman '04, Allison Sparkuhl '04, Sable Watts '04, Arrington McCoy '04, Anita Rai '04, and Abigail Baum '04. Second row, from left to right: Michael de L'Arbre '04, JR Callery-Coyne '04, Mark Semegen '04, Allie Simpson McGuire '04, Kristen Sprano '04, Max Bruner '04, and Rob Lauer '04. Third row, from left to right: Cameron Maloney '04, Will MacFayden '04, Tyler Mellos '04, Rusty Barker '04, Tony Davidson '04, Cooper McGuire '04, and Jonathan Wang '04.
Three Baum generations were present at Camp Cate! Katie and CJ Donnelly '03 are overjoyed with the arrival of Caden John, born April 25, 2024. Big brother Quinton (2-years-old) loves his new baby brother. Pei-Ru Ko published her first book in Mandarin on building a collective food culture, Ferment with Love: Healing through Food Collectively. Pei-Ru shares in her book, “Food that feeds our collective wellness must be delicious. It needs to be joyous. And it needs to feed generations.”
Mark Semegen '04, JR Callery-Coyne '04, Anita Rai '04, Tony Davidson '04, and Tyler Mellos '04 sharing their thoughts during Saturday afternoon’s Master Class in Johnson Library.
2005
Tina (Seaman) and Mike Brown are thrilled and loving their time with baby Violet Swift, born on July 31, 2023. Tina, Consultant for the Clean Grid Alliance, led a Cate Connect session with Business Club students early this year. Tina provided insights regarding the clean energy field and encouraged students to find their purpose by allowing themselves to take meandering roads as they explore future career paths. Seeing Cate Alumni sharing their knowledge and lessons learned with students is always fantastic. Elizabeth (Moynier) Welch and Ryan Welch welcomed their new bundle of joy, Phoebe Katherine, born on February 5, 2024. Goldie (Miller) Davidoff, an attorney in the Seattle office of Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has been promoted to shareholder this year. The organization has offices in the U.S., Mexico, and Singapore.
2006
Alison Ryu and Jeff Hau are enjoying precious moments with Tate Atlas, born December 7, 2023.
2007
Andrew and Haley Patton are in love with baby Brooks, born September 20, 2023. Shoko and Issei Suzuki welcomed baby Luca into their family on November 16, 2023.
2008
Anne Sewall, who works at Westfield Real Estate Asset Management, visited the Mesa to chat with Cate’s Investment Club in January. Anne taught students the basic concepts and terminologies from the real estate asset management sector. She provided students with mock scenarios of properties in three cities and discussed each location’s pros and cons. Students thoroughly enjoyed the exercise while learning about Anne’s experiences on the Mesa. Alvin Kim married Bomina Lim on June 4, 2023 at Park Chateau, in East Brunswick, N.J.
2009 Reunion
Reunion Chairs Raisa Bruner, Casey Griffin, Vivan Som, Isaac Thompson, and Wilcox Weaver worked hard for months to ensure nothing could stop their classmates from missing out on the Camp Cate fun – even newborn babies! After receiving her MBA from INSEAD in June 2023, Raisa has moved to London and is now working in venture capital. Gabriela Hempfling and Daniel Renshaw enjoyed the reunion with baby Lyra Sofia, born on December 22, 2023. Sam Arnow and Marlowe Griffin Lyddon represented their class at Saturday morning’s Mesa Race and enjoyed Wood Coffee served by Jamie Kellogg. Weston Razooli debuted his feature film, Riddle of Fire, at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. Since then, Weston’s movie has been playing in over 50 theaters, including several in L.A. Sara Hetyonk Duron and David Duron are happy to announce the birth of Halliday Rose, born March 6, 2024. Brent Bennett married Genevieve Laberge on April 6, 2024, in Arcadia, Calif. Cascade Zak and Zach DeWitt joyfully welcomed baby Roberta “Bertie” on March 23, 2024. Michael Yoon and Jieun Lee are getting married this summer in Seoul. They are excited and expect a few Cate classmates to attend the wedding! Michael will finish his residency at Dartmouth College this summer and start a new addiction psychiatry position at Mass General Brigham in Boston.
Anne Sewall '08 visited the Mesa to chat with Cate’s Investment Club about real estate asset management.
First row, from left to right: Allison Sparkuhl '04, Arrington McCoy '04, Sable Watts '04, Allie Simpson McGuire '04, Anita Rai '04, and Kristen Sprano '04. Second row, from left to right: Mark Semegen '04, JR Callery-Coyne '04, Tyler Mellos '04, Rusty Barker '04, Max Bruner '04, Piper Stremmel '04, Cooper McGuire '04, Michael de L'Arbre '04, Sally Semegen '02, Cameron Maloney '04, and Rob Lauer '04.
Front row, left to right: Sara Duron '09, Halliday Duron, Aliena Klaus Squire '09, Gabriela Hempfling '09, Nick Brown '09, Guadalupe Ortega '09, Raisa Bruner '09, Sam Arnow '09, Marlowe Griffin Lyddon '09, and Head of School Alexandra Lockett. Back row, left to right: Charlotte Livermore Healow '09, Casey Griffin '09, Maddie Firestone Giebink '09, Cascade Zak DeWitt '09, Kristina Park '09, Shelby DeGroot '09, Tori Thompson '09, John Warren '09, Evelyn Weis '09, Wilcox Weaver '09, and Max Sabel '09.
2011
Kayla and Cormac O’Connor are excited to announce the birth of Teeley Lula, born April 8, 2024.
2012
Shyam Kiran Akula married Johnathan Brandon Sataloff on March 23, 2024, at Merion Station, Pa. Shyam returned to the Mesa in May as a Convocation speaker. He shared his research in neurobiology and how his journey from Cate led him to an upcoming residency at the University of California, San Francisco. Emily Nguyen and Will Schleier are enjoying precious time with baby Mary Elizabeth “Betty,” born December 14, 2023.
2013
Aaron Karlsberg married Christine Xue on April 9, 2024, at the Santa Barbara Courthouse. Aaron and Gena (Davis) Bezdek '03 came to the exciting conclusion that they were both Cate alumni when Aaron joined the AgileMD
team, a clinical decision support software company. They learned that they lived within a few rooms of one another in '25 House and Long House. While Aaron is on the West Coast and Gena is in Massachusetts, they enjoy sharing fun Cate memories over Slack. Emily Sosrodjojo married Brian McGee on March 16, 2024, at the Crystal Chapel in Guam. Josh Yaro married Caroline Caciano on December 23, 2023 in the Katharine Thayer Memorial Chapel at Cate.
2014 Reunion
Lacy Douglas, Chloe King, Jenny Lundt, Sarah Martin, Gavin McPherson, Erika Noble, Jasmine Paz, Bryant Perez, Andrew Robbins, Maddy Simpson, Ben Swain, and Monica Wang attended their second Camp Cate in a row – the only alumni to have perfect attendance from their class. Chloe King traveled from the Galapagos Islands to attend her first Camp Cate. Andrew Robbins motivated his classmates to participate in Saturday night’s annual 5th vs. 10th reunion
First row, left to right: Michael Revord '14, John Basar, '14, Max Vasquez '14, Emily Brahma '14, Jean Shen '14, Emily Duong '14, Jasmine Paz '14, Sarah Martin '14, Maddy Simpson '14, Monica Wang '14, and Rachel Pak '14. Second row, left to right: Andrew Robbins '14, Howon Byun '14, Gavin McPherson '14, Spencer Whiteman '14, Bryant Perez '14, Shuta Kobayashi '14, Erika Noble '14, Suzie Park '14, Jenny Lundt '14, Chloe King '14, Paola Rios '14, Lacy Douglas '14, Edward Zhu '14, Anna Lueck '14, and Andrew Sinclair '14.
dodgeball game. After winning the first round, the Class of 2014 lost against the Class of 2019. A rematch will indeed occur next time these two classes come together again! Suzie Park and Christi Choi supported Emily Brahma’s acapella performance in New York over Memorial Day weekend. Emily Brahma and Rex Chang '13 are both members of Google’s renowned acapella team, Incognitones The Class of 2014 rallied together throughout March Magic to reach over 50% participation. The motivation was to ensure that Ben Swain’s baseball team gets a special treat during the spring season!
2015
Celine Chang married Brian Shin on January 13, 2024 in Seoul, Korea.
2016
Jason Pak married Eliza Hoang on June 24, 2023 in Hanoi, Vietnam.
2019 Reunion
Despite being the youngest, the Class of 2019 ensured their presence was known at Camp Cate. More than 50% percent of the class attended their first reunion weekend. The Long House hallway filled up quickly with familiar faces. Cullen Barber was placed in his old room from his first year, while Hunter King slept serendipitously in his old room from his senior year! Daphne McKeefry and Israel Sanchez came from Alaska – a testament to how much they wanted to be together with friends again. Georgia Douglas attended Reunion Weekend and a family reunion. Georgia shares the same reunion cycle with her oldest sister, Lacy Douglas '14, and had a bonus visit
from her parents, Walter Douglas '73 and Nancy Douglas, who attended the Class of 1974’s 50th Reunion. Hunter and Israel took a climbing trip with Physics Instructor and Climbing Coach Troy Shapiro, Willie Kellogg '23, and Austin Hansen '28 Maddie Denis and Brad Gordon, and a few others hiked to Bee Camp before they departed from the Mesa on Sunday morning. The Class of 2019 participated in many weekend activities and thoroughly enjoyed reminiscing and reconnecting with old friends.
Anthony DuPrau '19 and Sebastian Sak '19 enjoying tacos at the Mesa House Kick-Off Party.
The Class of 2019 peruse through their yearbook during Camp Cate Reunion Dinner.
Cal Sinclair '19 and Luke Laurence '19 celebrated their birthdays with their fellow classmates at Reunion Dinner.
Front row, left to right: Paola Rios '14, Spencer Whiteman '14, Emily Duong '14, and Jean Shen '24. Second row, left to right: Sarah Martin '14, Jasmine Paz '14, Howon Byun '14, Erika Noble '14, Jenny Lundt '14, Lacy Douglas '14, Rachel Pak '14, Emily Brahma '14, Chloe King '14, and Suzie Park '14. Third row, left to right: Sarah Roberts, Andrew Robbins '14, Edward Zhu '14, Ethan Bertrand, Ben Swain '14, Maryam Ahmad, and Bryant Perez '14.
Front row, left to right: Brad Gordon '19, Sean Zhang '19, Luca Kim '19, Alice Zhang '19, Flora Troy '19, Maddie Denis '19, Lulu Blau '19, Kaiser Ke '19, Kate Bradley '19, Ethan Cassulo '19, and Israel Sanchez '19. Second row, left to right: Georgia Douglas '19, Jeffrey Kim '19, Huy Lê '19, Victor Vasquez Diaz '19, Stefan Suh '19, Alex Kim '19, Sarah Dike '19, Rivers Sheehan '19, Clare Meehan '19, Anthony DuPrau '19, and Cal Sinclair '19. Third row, left to right: Abhishek Suresh '19, Cullen Barber '19, Luke Lawrence '19, Carson Williams '19, Hunter King '19, Baker Fox '19, Jake Nelson '19, McCarthy Willett '19, and Sebastian Sak '19.
Front row, left to right: Lulu Blau '19, Georgia Douglas '19, Daphne McKeefry '19, Israel Sanchez '19, Maddie Denis '19, and Kate Bradley '19. Second row, left to right: Flora Troy '19, Rivers Sheehan '19, Tessa Denison '19, Clare Meehan '19, Sarah Dike '19, Luca Kim '19, Victor Vasquez Diaz '19, and Huy Lê '19.
Third row, left to right: Cullen Barber '19, Cal Sinclair '19, Sebastian Sak '19, Kaiser Ke '19, Luke Laurence '19, Brad Gordon '19, Hunter King '19, Alex Kim '19, Carson Williams '19, Anthony DuPrau '19, and Jake Nelson '19.
Marriages
1956
Betsy Shelton to Tony Hooker
June 4, 2023
2010
April 6, 2024
2013
December
2003
January 14, 2024
March
2014
September
2008
June
2013
April
March
January
June
Marina Ilkaniev to Derek Alexander Lief
Bomina Lim to Alvin Kim
4, 2023
Genevieve Laberge to Brent Bennett
2012
Shyam Kiran Akula to Johnathan Brandon Sataloff
23, 2024
2013
Christine Xue to Aaron Karlsberg
9, 2024
Emily Sosrodjojo to Brian McGee
16, 2024
Caroline Caciano to Josh Yaro
23, 2023
Sally Shin to Andrew Chen
9, 2023
2015
Celine Chang to Brian Shin
13, 2024
2016
Eliza Hoang to Jason Pak
24, 2023
Births
2002
Mackenzie Bea to Megan and Chris Lyons
December 7, 2023
2004
Caden John to Katie and Clifford (CJ) '03 Donnelly
April 25, 2024
2005
Phoebe Katherine to Elizabeth (Moynier) Welch and Ryan Welch
February 5, 2024
2002
Delphine to Sally Semegen and Michael de L’Arbre '04
April 30, 2024
2004
Lilah Rose Shane to Hayley Bridges and Justin Shane
February 26, 2024
2006
Tate Atlas to Alison Ryu and Jeff Hau
December 7, 2023
2004
Adelie Ruth to Abigail Baum and Edward Kenney
November, 24, 2023
2005
Violet Swift to Tina Seaman and Mike Brown
July 31, 2023
2007 Brooks to Andrew and Haley Patton
September 20, 2023
2007
Luca to Shoko and Issei Suzuki
November 16, 2023
2009
Halliday Rose to Sara Hetyonk Duron and David Duron
March 6, 2024
2012
Mary Elizabeth “Betty” to Emily Nguyen and Will Schleier
December 14, 2023
2008
Madison Ricker to Maureen and Dave Soto
June 14, 2024
2009
Roberta “Bertie” to Cascade Zak and Zach DeWitt
March 23, 2024
FACULTY
Benson (Benny) Patrick to Laura Moore and Casey Ortiz
May 1, 2024
2009
Lyra Sofia to Gabriela Hempfling and Daniel Renshaw
December 22, 2023
2011
Teeley Lula to Kayla and Cormac O’Connor
April 8, 2024
Karys Jorja to Kadeine and Josh Peterson
April 4, 2024
In Memoriam
Jacob Dexter-Meldrum '16
AUGUST 25, 1997 - FEBRUARY 14, 2024
By Douglas Dexter
Jacob Dexter-Meldrum was born on August 25, 1997, in San Francisco, Calif. to Christina Meldrum and Douglas Dexter. Jacob lived his first 14 years with his family in Marin County, settling into Ross from ages 3 through 14. In 2001, he was joined by his brother Owen Dexter-Meldrum. During Jacob’s childhood, the family spent summers at a Michigan lake cottage in Christina’s family for over a century. Jacob enjoyed time with his grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins and learned to sail –early among Jacob’s diversity of interests. During the remainder of the year, he enjoyed time with family and friends around Ross and more local aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Jacob took an early interest in playing violin and chess, participating in chess tournaments throughout grade school. Jacob also loved baseball, which he played from age five through high school. Jacob enjoyed serving as a stabilizing force as team catcher and leadoff hitter. But surfing was Jacob’s greatest athletic passion. In middle school, Jacob would rise at any hour to meet good waves at any water temperature and stay until the last waves were blown out.
Cate School
By age 10, Jacob had determined that he would attend a boarding high school and become a physician. He prepared and submitted all of his application materials for boarding school, including a video. Jacob attended Cate School in Carpinteria, Calif., where he could pursue his passions for academics and surfing. Jacob revered then Cate Outdoors Program Director Ned Bowler, who recalls:
“Jake was that quintessential enthusiast; his genuine desire for adventure in and around the ocean was astounding. It was as though he was a dolphin in another lifetime and wanted to return to his source, the sea, with all its miracles of life and motion. He surfed gracefully and loved to share his experience on each wave with great detail and hand gestures.”
Jacob continued his love for baseball at Cate, as remembered by Coach Ben Soto: “Jake found that rare balance of boyish fun mixed with a competitive drive out on the diamond. He was always working on his craft to ensure he gave his best effort, whether in the batter’s box, behind the dish, or on the bump. I will always remember JDM for his corazon to
compete and show up for each contest, knowing that he had put in the practice time to be at his best when his best was needed. He will also be remembered for that smile that could light up any dugout!”
Meanwhile, Jacob added a passion for the ceramics wheel, water polo, and music. His Cate faculty advisor and Performing Arts Chair John Knecht recalls:
“Jake threw himself into everything he loved. He debated world topics with seriousness and loved testing big ideas in real time. Jake offered his heart and energy to faculty children, teaching them how to play chess in the McIntosh Room, throw a ceramic bowl in the barn,
or surf the waves at Rincon Point. He made his impact everywhere on campus.”
Jacob thrived academically at Cate, graduating with Honors. At graduation, Head of School Ben Williams summarized Jacob’s tenure in this way:
“Jake seems to be perpetually on the lookout for ways to help. He started the 'Room to Read' program as a freshman with the hope of acquiring books to fill a library he had planned for a village in Africa. . . . He is competitive too, only in the best sense of the word, trying to get everything he can from himself or his teammates in whatever worthy venture they are engaged. He is a water polo and baseball standout – distinctive for his strength, both physical and moral – and for his leadership, which always takes us in the right direction.”
Bowdoin College
Jacob attended Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. There, Jacob brought together many of his previous passions. Jacob was captain of the water polo club team. Jacob hosted and taught at the college ceramics studio. He surfed throughout Maine’s long winters, even traveling North to the chillier waters of Nova Scotia to surf during Thanksgiving break. At Bowdoin, Jacob acquired additional passions for learning Arabic and laboratory research. Jacob applied his Arabic studies to live in Jordan for eight months, providing services to and befriending refugees from Iraq and Syrian Wars.
In the Bowdoin laboratory of Professor Bruce Kohorn, Jacob demonstrated unbound curiosity and excitement and a deep love for science that inspired his fellow students. For his thesis, Jake studied plant cellular adhesion to identify genes essential to the formation and stability of the plant extracellular matrix. In his independent research, he identified a previously unknown genetic allele in Arabidopsis thaliana that is required for proper pectin accumulation and cell wall structure, as well as supporting work in the lab
that identified an entirely novel and unknown gene necessary for proper cell adhesion in plants. Jacob co-authored two publications that came out of this research.
More importantly, Jacob’s peers felt his unconditional support of their endeavors and passions, even, and perhaps significantly, if they differed from his own. He championed the achievements of those around him and saw potential in others they often could not see in themselves. During his senior year, Jacob was a student housing advisor and graduated in May 2020 with an Honors Bachelor’s Degree in Biochemistry.
Icahn School of Medicine
Beginning in August 2020, as the COVID-19 pandemic stressed the healthcare community and New York City, Jacob commenced studies at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City to realize his dream of becoming a physician. That same month, Jacob’s mother, Christina, unexpectedly died. Jacob continued his studies, again embracing his interest in
learning, and was planning to graduate in May 2025.
During his third year, one of Jacob’s clinical preceptors shared that he “demonstrated a phenomenal attitude, aiming to be helpful where he can and investing in his patients as if they were his own family. Additionally, he had a team-oriented attitude, always looking to help the team with tasks and patient care.” Jacob also found time and motivation to occasionally travel 90 minutes by subway ride to surf at Rockaway Beach and is attributed to sharing this passion with many classmates.
Tragically, on February 14, 2024, Jacob passed away unexpectedly. He leaves behind his father, Doug, and his brother, Owen Dexter-Meldrum, as well as aunts, uncles, and cousins, who love and miss him dearly. His family suggests that anyone seeking to honor Jacob’s memory should consider donating to Doctors Without Borders, an organization for which Jacob aspired to work.
Jacob “Jake” Dexter-Meldrum and Jack Pruitt '16 giving their Tuesday Talk, now known as Servons speech.
John Handlin Threlkeld '53
MAY 21, 1935 – SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
Published by The Fresno Bee from September 21 to September 25, 2021.
John Handlin Threlkeld “Jack” passed away peacefully on September 15, 2021 at age 86.
Jack had been a longtime resident of Los Banos. A descendant of California pioneers, he was born in San Francisco on May 21, 1935, to John and Agnes Threlkeld (nee Weston). His family moved to Fresno in 1942. Jack attended Hamilton Junior High School in Fresno, Cate School in Carpinteria, Menlo School in Atherton (class of 1953), and the University of California Davis (class of 1955; fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa).
He married Jane Harris Kleerup in 1956 and deeply loved her and their family, which includes three daughters – Susan (Curtis Smith), Debra (James Berge), and Kristi, as well as two Berge grandchildren – Paul and Rachel. He enjoyed a distinguished farm management career, first with Miller & Lux and then its successor Bowles Farming Company and related entity San Luis Canal Company.
Charles Edward McConney '71
APRIL 21, 1953 – JANUARY 12, 2024
By Rob Davila '71
On behalf of fellow members of the Class of 1971
We are saddened to report the death of Charles Edward McConney, a softspoken and beloved member of the Class of 1971, who had an encyclopedic knowledge about many subjects, especially the lives of his classmates, a number of whom he had summoned to monthly Zoom meetings and annual gatherings in the Santa Cruz redwoods over the past several years. A proud father and grandfather, Charley is survived by his sister Mary of Seattle and her family, a son, Michael, of Dayton, a daughter, Catherine, of San Diego, and several grandchildren. Charley, who was 70, died of a lung ailment on January 12, only a few days after our Zoom meeting attended by Alexandra Lockett, Cate’s Head of School.
His classmates are heartbroken at the loss of Charley, who Bill Andrews '71 noted, “seemed to know more about his classmates than anyone else.” In late November, Charley learned he had Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, his sister said, noting their mother also died of this condition. In January, he took a turn for the worse and was hospitalized, where, according to his sister, “he made peace with dying” with his children by his side.
Charley, who attended UCLA and the School for Foreign Service at Georgetown, had a spiritual side, majored in religious studies, and explored many religions and philosophies. He had several careers, including commercial real estate, banking, and, finally, teaching high school special education at University High School for many years. He loved traveling and spent several years as a vagabond exploring the country, before settling in Ohio near his son and family as a soccer granddad. Charley loved chauffeuring his granddaughters to after-school activities and attending soccer games, piano recitals, and church activities. “He was very grateful for the rich and wonderful life he had, the friends he had made and for his children’s partners and his granddaughters,” his sister said.
From the Archives
Commencement Around the Mesa
Much like the transformative journey of its students, the commencement ceremonies at Cate have embarked on their own evolving path, reflecting the growth and adaptation of the institution throughout the years.
Originating at the Old Theatre nestled at the base of Cate Mesa from 1914 to 1929, the tradition evolved and shifted to the top of the hill, where the McIntosh Room hosted the proceedings for a time. As the graduating classes grew, the School experimented with the larger space of Fleischmann Gymnasium and an outdoor location, although, according to founder Curtis Cate in School Days in California, it was always either “too hot or too foggy.”
Ultimately, despite Mr. Cate’s weather concerns, this outdoor location between the Johnson Library and what is now
Folger Center, came to be known as Commencement Lawn, and became the steadfast host for more than half a century. Yet, in 2019, nature intervened, compelling a relocation to Thayer Peck '53 Field due to inclement weather. After there was no ceremony in 2020 due to COVID-19 (diplomas were hand-delivered by alumni to all 75 graduates spread out across the globe), Commencement returned to Thayer Peck '53 Field from 2021-2023.
In 2024, as the campus underwent transformations with the construction of a new track, Commencement found itself on the vibrant grounds of the Kirby Quadrangle. Now in a more central locale, and following a successful and smooth ceremony, this new venue heralds a new era, promising a lasting home for future generations of Cate School graduates.
Seniors pose for a photo through the Johnson Library window before Commencement.
2023-24 Cate School Board of Trustees
OFFICERS OF THE BOARD
Lisa B. Stanson '92 Chair
Newport Beach, Calif.
J. Wyatt Gruber '93
Immediate Past Chair
San Francisco, Calif.
Marianne Sprague Vice Chair
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Kristen Klingbeil-Weis Treasurer
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Alexandra Lockett
Head of School, Secretary Carpinteria, Calif.
LIFE TRUSTEES
Richard D. Baum '64
Kenwood, Calif.
Dan A. Emmett '99
Santa Monica, Calif
Greg H. Kubicek '74 Vancouver, Wash.
TRUSTEES
Lauren Craig Albrecht '89 Pasadena, Calif.
Calgary Avansino '93 San Francisco, Calif.
Ryan MacDonnell Bracher '90 Rutherford, Calif.
Daniel J. Cherry III '96 Redondo Beach, Calif.
Lynn Harwell San Francisco, Calif.
Sheila Marmon Heuer '90 Culver City, Calif.
Adam S. Horowitz '99 Irvine, Calif.
Athena Jones '94
New York, N.Y.
John Kearney '00 President, Alumni
Leadership Council Ventura, Calif.
Patrick Ko '97 Taipei, Taiwan
Casey McCann '97
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Dr. Jay P. Melican III '84 Hillsboro, Ore.
Rosalind Emmett Nieman '89
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Monique Parsons '84 Glencoe, Ill.
Elizabeth Patterson
Santa Barbara, Calif.
Leone Price '02 Los Angeles, Calif.
Gwen Rehnborg CPO President
Pacific Palisades, Calif.
Edward R. Simpson '86
Los Angeles, Calif.
Jiwon Choi Song ’00
San Antonio, Texas
Brian Tom
Hong Kong
Judge Eric Taylor '80 Los Angeles, Calif.
Sylvia Torres-Guillén '84
Los Angeles, Calif.
David Tunnell
San Francisco, Calif.
FACULTY ADVISORY TRUSTEES
Dr. Craig Bouma
Science Department Chair Carpinteria, Calif.
Dr. Laura Moore
History Instructor Carpinteria, Calif.
Angie Zoric '24 listens to her senior citation before accepting her diploma.
CATE SCHOOL
1960 Cate Mesa Road
Carpinteria, CA 93014-5005
Melanie Davidson '24 and Ben Richmond '24 laugh with their classmates during Commencement for Cate’s Class of 2024.