Class Notes & Profiles

class notes

The Shamrock is dedicated to Chandler teachers, past and present, who sparked the joy and love of learning and who made a difference in generations of Chandler students. Enjoy stories of gratitude featured throughout the class notes.

MATTHEW MORPHY ’80 reconnected Richard and Janet Shattuck, helped Mr. and Mrs. Chandler start the school in Altadena, CA on Mariposa Ave. We lived in a very small house in the Southeast corner of the property. I was in the sixth grade and graduated in the third class. I went on to Midland School. I am sure my father and mother are remembered with fondness,” says Shaun.

DEVEREUX “DEV” BALDWIN PURCELL ’66,

born on October 13, 1952, passed away on January 11, 2020. He was the son of Anne Baldwin Purcell and Hugh Devereux Purcell. He was born in Pasadena and resided in Santa Barbara since the late 1970s. Dev attended Chandler School (’66) and Blair High School (’70). He studied at the University of Grenoble in France and served in the Army during the Vietnam War. Dev is survived by his sister, Anita Purcell DeAragon ’78 (Bruce), his nephew (Cameron DeAragon) and niece (Muriel DeAragon), his cousins, Deanne Wallace, Brent Wallace, Jane Hopper ’70, Heather Hopper, and Wilbur (Willie) Hopper Jr.

with former English teacher Cathy Rose at his son’s graduation ceremony from Crane Country Day School. In addition to Chandler, Cathy also taught English at Crane. During the ceremony, Cathy presented the Rose Bowl Award, aptly named in her honor. Afterward, Matthew and his brothers, Tim ’71 and Chris ’74, caught up with their former Chandler

SHAUN SHATTUCK ’53 “My parents,

English teacher Ms. Rose. ANNA PEHOUSHEK ’80 is still working as an Assistant Community Development Director for the City of Orange. Her son, John, is now a high school freshman.

CHRIS WALDHEIM ’81 along with fellow Chandler parents Dimple Bhasin, Jennifer Madden, and Jennifer Giancola Labrucherie, summited Mt. Whitney in November. The trip totaled 17 hours and 22 miles roundtrip. This was a shared goal for these Chandler moms which was achieved after two years of training with Chris as their fearless leader. It was a memorable moment for all. LAUREN CRAIG ALBRECHT ’85 “It’s hard to believe we graduated from Chandler 35 years ago! Where has the time gone? These past several months have given me the chance to reflect on my years at Chandler and the friends and teachers I had while there. One teacher, in particular, made a significant impact on me — Mr. Mac. When I was in 6th grade, he told me, ‘Lauren, you can play anything the boys are playing.’ His voice stayed with me my whole life and was one reason I played sports in high school, college, and beyond. Mr. Mac holds a special place in my heart, and he will be missed. My son, Alexander ’17, is a rising senior at Cate School in Carpinteria, CA, and was selected to be a senior prefect for the freshman dorm. This summer, he began working on getting his pilot’s license. Maggie ’21 is excited to start her ninth and final year at Chandler. She was selected to be on the yearbook committee and will be deciding where to go to high school. We’re hopeful they can get back on campus soon. I’m finishing up coursework for a Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) license at Pepperdine University, something I’ve always wanted to do. I hope everyone is hanging in there during these challenging times and that we will be able to reconnect in the future,” says Lauren.

KATHLEEN MORRISON ’86 is a Reverend and Special Education teacher known to her students at Venetia Valley K-8 School as “Ms. Mo.” Her students learn about their beauty, worth, and belonging under Katie’s loving tutelage. Before she was a teacher, Katie traveled the nation, teaching churches about inclusion. Over the summer, Katie created an outdoor sculpture of 160 large, wooden hearts, made in memory of 160 of the more than 7,000 black lives lost since the lynching of Emmett Till. The Pray Their Names project was featured in locations throughout the Bay Area as visual and digital art combined to make a stunning appeal for attention to black lives lost to police violence. The vision for this installation comes out of a lifelong sense of solidarity with the pain and suffering endured by black and brown bodies. Katie hopes that this visual work will be a source of healing for all bodies, a unifying force to bring people together to meet in the pain and wrestle with the implications of institutionalized racism. “Once we acknowledge and face the wrong, we can begin to do what is right,” says Katie.

ERIC ORTIZ ’88 lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife, Maria, and their three kids — Eva (12), Emilia (8) and Cal (5). Eric works as a senior editor for Granite Media, a digital media company based in San Francisco, managing a sports website called Stadium Talk and a business site called Work+Money. In 2020, Eric wrote and self-published a children's book with his kids (Emilia and Cal) called "How the Zookalex Saved the Village" (available on Amazon). It's about accepting people who are different than you and the importance of building community. He also is a board member for his neighborhood association, leading an effort to create a community mentorship network for youth in underserved communities, and is executive editor of Community Based News Room (CBNR), a news organization for Law at the Margins, a social justice nonprofit based in New York City. CBNR investigates issues that impact underrepresented communities such as immigration, prison reform and homelessness. Maria is CEO of 7 Generation Games, a company that makes educational video games. Eric always will have fond memories of Chandler and wishes all of his old Chandler friends and teachers well wherever they are. BRECKEN ARMSTRONG ’91 “We’ve had a great year thus far! I married my best friend, Martin Garret, on April 4, 2020, after a friendship of 20 years. Although our wedding was planned as a cliffside ceremony in Santorini, the coronavirus had other plans for us. We had a beautiful backyard ceremony with our immediate family followed by a wonderful parade through our neighborhood, during which nearly 150 people lined the streets with rice, homemade signs, balloons, and champagne to wish us well. Our parade made the local news and was featured in the Pasadena Star News, Meet the Press, and CNN World. Even our wedding planner in Greece saw the story on local TV! I remain at the forefront of the COVID-19 battle as an ER doctor at Kaiser Fontana/Ontario. We see COVID all day, every day. It has been a challenging time, but we are up for the challenge! Martin is excited to get back to work and Gwyn has adapted well to life in Chandler homeschool. Stay healthy and safe, and wear your masks!

To choose only one teacher from my nine years at Chandler to highlight is difficult! So many teachers inspired, encouraged, and motivated me over the years. If I had to choose ONLY one teacher who did the most to spark the joy of learning in me, it would be Arlene Anderson, my fifth grade teacher. She had a “bedside” manner that took me from being a wandering mind to an engaged learner. She was firm, direct, and tough, but she also helped to guide and excite me. We diagramed endless sentences, recited “The Highwayman” ad nauseam, and drilled multiplication tables until we were dizzy. Her M&M jar taught us perseverance and dedication to complete our tasks in an age-appropriate manner. I had the pleasure of getting to take her to lunch before her passing and getting to tell her these things in person about 10-15 years ago. To this day, I give Mrs. Anderson a little bit of the credit for every success that I’ve had since I left her class over 30 years ago. Mrs. Anderson was the one who flipped the “learning switch” in

my brain to the “on” position,” says Brecken.

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IN MEMORY OF S. Allan Johnson ’51

Chandler's first graduate and our school's most generous individual benefactor, died on March 27, 2020. Allan ’51 once described the experience of being in a class of one as “thrilling” because he had a one-to-one relationship with his teachers. “A unanimous decision voted me as Class Valedictorian,” he joked. He was also the first “Best All-Around Boy” and “Best Athlete.” Allan went on to attend Flintridge Preparatory High School and The Thacher School before earning a degree in engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He loved computer technology, and he went on to have a successful career buying and selling businesses. Allan and his wife Marguerite were married for 59 years and have two daughters. He credits the Chandlers, Tom and Katie, for giving him a strong foundation. Allan was Chandler’s first recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award. Head of School John Finch reflects, “He always enjoyed talking about Chandler for which he had such fond memories and hearing about the advances that Chandler was making always cheered him. Since being appointed Chandler's Head of School, I have taken trips every two years to visit Al and Marguerite in Atherton whenever a new Chair is appointed to the Board of Trustees. Allan was the most unpretentious and down to earth of people - kind and successful. Chandler has lost a great friend, a tribal elder who lived a life of consequence and who loved the school.” He will be greatly missed. Allan’s legacy will live on at Chandler and continue to be felt by generations of students and families. Each time we step foot into the Allan and Marguerite Johnson Courtyard, we will be reminded of his lasting impact on our school.

CHRISTOPHER LEE ’92 and his wife, Christine, welcomed the birth of their daughter Corinne in November 2019. Their son, Caleb, started second grade at Chandler this fall. Chris reflects, “I was around Caleb’s age when our family moved out of town, and I had to leave Chandler. We are so happy that this is just the beginning of Caleb’s Chandler journey." LAUREN POINDEXTER ’94 is in New York City for a fellowship in sports medicine where she guides athletes and a local NCAA DIII college through the murky return-tosport phases during COVID-19.

KELSEY PETERSON-MORE ’96

and Dave Szamet are thrilled that their daughter Reese has started Kindergarten at Chandler this fall.

AMIT SURA ’96 and his wife Esha welcomed their second child, Selene, in January, right before the pandemic struck. Amit continues to work at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles as a pediatric radiologist and serves as the fellowship director. He continues to remain passionate about medical education and international aid teaching medical students at USC and Malawi where he served on a medical mission in November 2019. Currently, he serves on committees addressing diversity, equity and inclusion both at the hospital,

Chandler, and Poly.

ERICA YEN ’97 left law firm life last year to take on a new opportunity with the legal department of a medical device company, KARL STORZ Endoscopy-America, Inc. in El Segundo, California. She provides legal support for the North American entities of the parent company headquartered in Tuttlingen, Germany. She is back in Pasadena, exploring old haunts and new places with husband Phuong Le and their children, Zoey (5), and Miles (2). “I’ve reconnected with Elise Lovejoy ’95 since we were in the same Mommy & Me class together at The Family Room, and my kids love the numerous neighborhood scavenger hunts Elise has set up and the learning materials she has created for her company, Express Readers. The photo is from our family’s recent socially-distanced outing to Dana Point to escape the terrible air quality in Pasadena and go whale and dolphin watching. You wouldn’t be able to tell from the photo, but the kids had a blast while it was the parents battling seasickness, but overall it was a lovely trip and necessary respite from quarantine life,” says Erica.

KEVIN KOHORST ’99 traveled to Croatia over the summer with his wife Kate, their children William ’27 and Charlotte, brother Matt ’03 and Jennifer Serdienis. Kevin and Matt’s parents, Shelley Allen and Robert Kohorst reside in Croatia, where their father serves as the United States Ambassador to Croatia. During their visit, William trained with Dinamo Zagreb, a Croatian professional football club based in Zagreb, for three days. It was a memorable experience for the entire family.

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THE WALDHEIM FAMILY The Chandler Difference

Chris ’81 and Lena Waldheim were very clear about one thing when choosing a school for their children, Ryan ’16 and 8th-grader Chase. They wanted the best experience for their family. As an alumnus, Chris’ education and experience at Chandler during the late 1970’s played a part in choosing that school. Chris believed that “Chandler would challenge his boys intellectually and maximize their potential.” He is delighted that Chandler has not only lived up to this promise but has far exceeded it. Lena reflects, “We toured several local private schools, but Chandler stood out to me. I enjoyed what I saw. When we eventually chose Chandler, it was even more special, because it was becoming a family tradition.”

Chris credits Chandler for developing his own self-confidence when he was a student, yet he is still amazed seeing the confidence and poise of current students at Chandler. He says, “They have great composure, and they can hold conversations with adults very easily; that was something I didn’t do until I was 25.” He still remembers his teacher, Mr. Hill, who encouraged him to participate in Spanishspeaking contests. As the owner of J’s Maintenance, a family business which recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, the confidence and mastery of his Spanish skills has been essential to communicate effectively with his team and the advancement of his business.

Chandler’s Supportive Teachers

Chris believes it is crucial that a teacher recognize a student’s potential. He says this encouragement makes learning enjoyable and that motivation sticks with you long after your education is officially over. He adds, “I still remember my eighth-grade science project with Mr. Mac, the experiments we conducted and competing in track meets. The whole learning experience has left a big positive mark on my life.”

Lena has witnessed the same support and encouragement with her children. She adds, “Ms. Dolan pushed Ryan in his writing, she took him out for stand-up comedy and taught him how to do it. She was just so encouraging; I simply adore her.” The high quality of teachers stood out at Chandler for Lena, but more than that, Ryan and Chase have felt supported in their interests and passions.

More Than Just a School

If the Waldheims could use just one word to describe Chandler, it would be “community.” For them, this community consists of not only teachers, students, and their parents, but also the parent volunteers, alumni, trustees, and so many more who are committed to the school’s success. He says, “This massive community creates its own energy which is not easy to find in any other school.”

Get Involved and Take the Plunge

The warmth and pride that Chris and Lena feel with their sons continuing the Chandler tradition is indescribable. Ryan has already started to give back by volunteering with his fellow alumni during Big Service Day and serving as a Class Representative. “When I have the opportunity to welcome new families into our community at events, I always tell them to get involved and take the plunge,” says Chris.

The Waldheims have also been vital supporters of the school. Chris reflects, “When we were asked to support the campaign for the Middle School back in 2010, it was an easy answer. We wanted to do everything we could to help Chandler continue to provide the incredible educational foundation to each and every student. And while helping with outreach for the new campaign, we decided to create an Endowed Fund specifically around the Spanish program and their amazing teachers because learning a new language opens up new parts of children’s minds. Knowing a second language provides inspiration and confidence that translates into an inherent knowledge that there are no limits to the ability inside your mind. We will soon have three Chandler Alumni in one house and we have all benefited greatly from the strong foundations that were built on the Chandler campus. For all we have received, we believe that we must pay it forward for the next generations of families who attend Chandler.”

Chris and Lena “took the plunge” and got involved at Chandler as soon as their kids were enrolled. While Chris served formally as a member of the Board of Trustees, he continues to serve as a vital hands-on volunteer for numerous school and CFA events and currently as the President of the Alumni Association and Council. Lena has also served on the Board of the Chandler Family Associates and as a regular volunteer at school and CFA events like the annual Grandparents and Special Friends’ Day. She tells new families, “Partake in this incredible energy that is the Chandler community. It is the difference between just a school and Chandler.”

BLAKE THOMPSON ’99 married his wife, Jaime, in June 2019, and on July 6, 2020, welcomed the birth of their first child, a beautiful baby boy named Chandler James Thompson.

KATIE FREDERICK ’00 is living in Paso Robles wine country on a walnut orchard where they harvest apples, pears, and walnuts. With their first flock of chickens, they have fresh eggs daily. Daughters Addie is 4 ½, Clemmie is 2 ½, and their youngest, Teddie, is eight weeks old. Katie is still making toffee for her company, Simmering Sugar. KATIE WEBB ’00, “The teacher who sparked the joy of learning for me was my 5th grade teacher Mrs. Bev Jacobson. She taught with joy and creativity. She made learning fun and enjoyable, even when basic algebra, literature, and writing skills can be tedious to a 10-year-old. Her passion for teaching was evident, and it seeped into the minds of her students, making me eager to get to class every morning. Fifth grade is a key year as you prepare for the new, intimidating world of Middle School. Mrs. Jacobson made sure everyone was ready, and we were!

I have now spent 12 years in a career in the entertainment world where I can tap into the skills and creativity she taught me every day. I love my job because every day I am learning something new; no day is the same. I am continually finding myself asking questions and regularly researching to continue to learn and be the best I can be. Mrs. Jacobson taught that, and she taught me to be curious. She taught me to be kind. But most importantly, she taught me to be bold.

Mrs. Jacobson, you had such an important role in shaping the woman I am today. I think of you often, and I am forever thankful that my name was listed on your class list that summer day in 1996,” says Katie.

ALLISON MCGUIRE ’01 just launched Present Like A Pro Online, an immersive course that gives business leaders and innovators the skills to powerfully persuade, sell, and motivate in a remote environment. After working with companies like Capital One, Goldman Sachs, and ColgatePalmolive, she developed this 5-week storytelling curriculum that mixes her acting background with business applications. She enjoys dancing indoors and coaching Chandler 8th graders on how to present themselves in their virtual high school interviews confidently. GILLIAN HEYDORFF SUTTON ’02 and her husband Robin welcomed the birth of their son Robby Sutton on May 31, 2020.

PATRICK DILLON CURRY ’03 “I only attended Chandler K-3; my older brother, Chris, attended 3-8, so we can say we covered the grades! The teachers who were standouts for me were Mrs. Christine Barry in first grade, summer, and afterschool programs. She didn’t let anyone get away with a thing but made learning fun while

challenging us!

I loved her accent, too. Third grade was Mr. Jeff McClune, who was a genuinely caring person who set high standards for learning but believed we could achieve the learning goals and helped us get there. We learned report writing, step by step with the mission, and wild animal reports. Looking back, it still seems like a challenge from where I started that year. Last but perhaps first in his impact on me was Mr. Will Salmon. I loved music and performance, and still do, and Mr. Salmon was so creative and enthusiastic in his

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IN MEMORY OF Mr. Mac

On July 6, 2020, the Chandler community lost a legend. “Mr. Mac,” as we all knew him, dedicated 31 years, 1961 - 1992, to the students and families of Chandler School as a former athletic director and science teacher. His legacy as a founder of the Middle School Independent League, a pioneer of girl’s athletics and a creator of Chandler’s athletics and track program are just a few of the benefits Chandler students still enjoy today. In the classroom, Mr. Mac was a talented teacher who brought his lessons to life with humor, enthusiasm and great story-telling. He had a positive and lasting impact on generations of alumni, and he will be remembered by all of us who were blessed to know him as a teacher, coach, mentor and friend. Each time we step onto MacQuoid Field, we will think of you, Mr. Mac. A message from the MacQuoid Family: “I promised my dad that I would share this news with his Chandler family. He loved each of you, and we thank you for being a part of his life. He also asked that we express his sincere thanks to the school’s founders, Mr. and Mrs. Chandler.” – Sheryl MacQuoid Price ’74 CHS ’78

Clyde MacQuoid of San Luis Obispo, California, peacefully passed away on July 6, 2020, just nine days short of his 89th birthday. Clyde was born in San Gabriel, California, where he lived throughout his formative years until he joined the United States Army. Upon being discharged, Sgt. MacQuoid returned home and enrolled in Pasadena City College, where he met the love of his life, Lynn. The couple married and moved to Arcata to attend Humboldt College, where he graduated with a “I promised my dad that degree in Marine Biology. Clyde quickly obtained a I would share this news job with the California Fish with his Chandler family. & Game Department (Mt. Shasta Hatchery) and later He loved each of you, accepted a teaching position at and we thank you for Chandler School in Pasadena. After 31 years of teaching science and running the athletic being a part of his life. He also asked that we department, he retired from express his sincere thanks Chandler and moved to Big Bear Lake, which was arguably to the school’s founders, his favorite and most treasured Mr. and Mrs. Chandler.” place on Earth. Eventually, Clyde and Lynn relocated to – Sheryl MacQuoid Price ’74 CHS ’78 San Luis Obispo to be close to their daughter, Sheryl.

Clyde is survived by his wife, Lynn, of 65 years, and their three children, Michael MacQuoid ’70 (Sandy), Charles MacQuoid ’71 CHS ’75, and Sheryl MacQuoid Price ’74 CHS ’78 (Rusty). He leaves behind seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, three sisters, and three brothers. Clyde was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, teacher, coach, and friend to many. In celebration of Clyde’s life, contributions are encouraged to be made to Chandler School at www.chandlerschool.org/give.

NEAL SALISIAN ’94 Reinventing Yourself

“You need to get it together,” Mr. Korn said to Neal ’94, “or you are going nowhere fast.” Having bottom tier grades and being known as the class clown pretty much summed up Neal Salisian’s experience at Chandler until the 8th grade. For Neal, it was the moment of tough love from Mr. Korn that made all the difference. After that frank conversation with Mr. Korn, and during his last year at Chandler, he received his first “A” in Spanish. From that moment on, he learned that he could be a good student, and he applied himself — it was the spark he needed to reinvent himself.

When Neal left Chandler School, he shed his nickname, shed his past, and started over at St. Francis High School. “My resurgence in high school was easy because Chandler prepared me. I knew what it meant to be a good student, as they were all around at Chandler.” While Neal jokes that he learned through osmosis, he eventually graduated as a Salutatorian from St. Francis in 1998.

Neal completed his undergraduate education at the University of Notre Dame, graduating magna cum laude with a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Computer Applications. He then went on to earn his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, where he was a member of the Hale Moot Court Honors team and president of the Corporate Law Society.

As a Finance major during his undergrad, he was uncertain about what he wanted to do for his career. His father was in Finance, but after interning at an investment bank, Neal was able to see how the attorneys were really the ones making the deals with investment bankers. While attending the prestigious law program at USC, Neal interned at the international law firm Morgan Lewis & Bockius and worked there for almost six years as an associate litigator.

From there, Neal went on to co-found Salisian | Lee, LLP - a boutique law firm specializing in real estate and business litigation. He says, “I wanted to build something of my own, to have pride in building my brand and my firm.” This seven-lawyer, 15-employee law firm has been going strong for ten years. When asked what he enjoys most about his career, Neal says that building something from nothing, developing employees, and changing people’s lives has been exceedingly fulfilling. He says, “I have witnessed lawyers grow and mature into fantastic litigators, and being part of their development is something in which I take a lot of pride.”

From his journey at Chandler to St. Francis to Notre Dame to USC, his most significant accomplishment is still having had the chance to do a 180 and correct his course. The advice that he’d give to anyone who is struggling right now is: “Don’t be limited by the definition others have for you - they are usually false and there are so many opportunities to reinvent yourself once you make that discovery.” He adds, “Sometimes it takes some tough love to realize that you have to be the one to break the cycle and reinvent yourself.”

Neal Salisian met his wife, Stephanie, at Notre Dame in 1998, and they married in 2009. They live in Playa Del Rey and have two children, Neal Samuel “Sammy” Salisian III, five years old, and Nicolette Salisian, four years old. Neal is a founder and Co-Managing Partner of Salisian | Lee LLP.

approach that I know he inspired many of us. I remember I had signed up for a summer class in theater he was teaching, between K and 1st grade for me. My mom told me the story of how he pointed out I was the only boy signed up and asked if that was a problem. I apparently responded, ‘You’re a boy, too, right?’ I loved the summer class, but when the next summer came around, I recruited at least three boys from the Class of 2003 to sign up; Isamu McGregor ’03 was one. We put on a play of Alice in Wonderland, and Mr. Salmon was writer, director, music director and motivator! Thanks to all of these great teachers!"

JENA UMFRESS STARRING ’05 married Daman Starring at the Resort at Pelican Hill in Newport Beach, CA, on September 10, 2020, in a small ceremony with immediate family and close friends.

STEPHANY BAI ’06 AND COLLEEN

O’GORMAN ’09 discovered near the end of their first year at Harvard Law School that they both were lucky to have had Mrs. Bev Jacobson as their fifth grade teacher. “Colleen and I were in the same section, meaning we took most of our classes together our first year, but we didn’t discover this commonality until the year was nearly over. We bonded over it immediately because Mrs. Jacobson is so important to both our childhoods. She so palpably believed in all her students and encouraged confidence but not at the expense of kindness. Colleen and I still remember what she said about us at our fifth grade commencements. She called me an encyclopedia because of how much I read - and talked and encouraged me to keep being curious. She recalled that Colleen had written a diary entry admiring Sandra Day O’Connor for being the first woman Supreme Court Justice and said Colleen should aspire to be on the Supreme Court because she was not only smart but because justice and fairness are so important to her.

Mrs. Jacobson taught both my sister Tammy Bai ’08 and I. I think Mrs. Jacobson’s attitude towards life–hard work and optimism even in the face of hardship–also influenced many of us. Colleen remembers speaking with Mrs. Jacobson after school one day, feeling very upset after reading The Diary of Anne Frank and learning about the Holocaust and how evil people can be. Mrs. Jacobson told her that, yes, the world could be horrible, but there are things you can do about it. This rings true to this day and is something I hope both Colleen and I continue to carry with us even after we graduate law school next year,” says Stephany.

MEAGHAN ALLEN ’08 was a lifer at Chandler, graduating in 2008. Since then, she has attended La Salle College Preparatory, Class of ’12; UC Berkeley for her BA in English Literature, Class of ’17; received an MScR (Distinction) in Cultural Studies from the University of Edinburgh in 2019; and recently completed a second MA at University College London in Art History. In January 2021, Meaghan will be starting her Ph.D. English Literature and American Studies at the University of Manchester in the UK with Dr. Anke Bernau and Professor David Matthews.

Meaghan’s Ph.D. project is intended to explore medieval women martyrs, particularly virgin-martyrs, and their connections to Contemporary Gothic/Horror Final Girls. Meaghan will be considering contemporary women such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Vanessa Ives from Penny Dreadful, Laura Palmer from Twin Peaks, Helen Lyle from Candyman, and the haunted poet Sylvia Plath in relation to Medieval saints like Saint Barbara, Saint Ursula, and Saint Margaret of Antioch through lenses such as Medievalism, Torment, Viscera, and Calling. For more information about this project, you can listen to Meaghan speak on the episode “Sacred Slayers & (Un)Willing Martyrs” on the podcast she co-hosts ‒ Modern Medieval: The Podcast ‒ available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.

JEFF BU ’08

graduated from Harvard Business School in May and joined Bain’s San Francisco office as a management consultant.

SARAH JACKSON ’08, Brown University 2016, completed her law degree from Columbia University in 2019 and passed the D.C. bar. She is an associate for Hughes, Hubbard, and Reed in D.C.

SAMANTHA JACOBS ’08, “All my teachers at Chandler were passionate and impactful, but Mrs. Jacobson, Mrs. Laird, and Mrs. Newhall have been particularly significant to me. I went into education, first as a teacher, and now working in education policy, and these three teachers shaped my path and gave me invaluable guidance.

In 5th grade, I faced some challenging medical issues, and Mrs. Jacobson taught me to acknowledge that the change was monumental but that I should see my difference as a strength and not a weakness. It changed my life, truly, and it showed me that teaching is about more than curriculum - it’s about connections and seeing students for who they are beyond the tests and homework. Once I began teaching years later, I reached out to Mrs. Jacobson, who gave me so much advice on the ins and outs of the classroom and the emotional labor that comes with teaching. I was teaching 6th grade English, so I also reached out to Mrs. Laird and Mrs. Newhall. I didn’t even know if they would remember me so many years later, but both adamantly did and went above and beyond in sharing their resources and advice about how to teach middle school and how to imbue a love of language and literature, as they did for me when I was their student.

I became a teacher and continue to work in education because teachers like these showed me firsthand the power of teachers who care about their work and their students. They taught me that the best teachers never stop learning, and I do my best to carry that lesson with me. I thank them for everything they have done for the Chandler community and me,” says Samantha.

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THE RIVAS FAMILY Reflections

Reflecting on their family’s time at Chandler, Daisy Rivas reminisces about the years she spent receiving hand-painted gifts when her kids were in Lower School, attending countless athletic games, and ultimately watching all three of her children shake Mr. Finch’s hand at commencement. Sixteen years of dropping off and picking up her children Alyssa ’10, Samantha ’12, and Chris ’16, who are all Chandler lifers, really integrates you into a community. And, for the Rivas family, it’s the community that makes Chandler so unique.

Daisy’s late husband, Edgar Rivas, who passed in April 2015, immigrated to the United States from Ecuador in 1972. He and his wife valued education and worked hard to put themselves through college. They felt education was the key to opportunities for themselves and their children. They bought a house, started a family, opened a business, and made a commitment to give their children more than they had.

As parents, Daisy says, they found themselves in the fortunate position to be able to provide their kids with an excellent education and lay the groundwork for being part of a community. Daisy says, “We understand the value of education. Our philosophy on philanthropy is giving back, whether through time or resources.”

A family of dual-working parents, Daisy and Edgar enrolled their children into the Afterschool Program but did not hesitate when it came to volunteering. Daisy was a member of the Board of Trustees, served as CFA President, chaired the Book Fair and participated in countless other events steeped in the Chandler tradition. Eddie was also very involved at the school serving on the Board of Trustees and volunteering for Chandler’s Art Appreciation program. Daisy recalls that there was always something going on at Chandler. “The community of faculty, parents, and students sets Chandler apart. There were always so many different avenues to engage, and it provided a sense of belonging,” says Daisy. Throughout the years, many faculty members made a difference in the lives of their children. Next to parents, Daisy believes teachers are the ones who provide lifelong lessons throughout the various stages of childhood. They receive skills that last a lifetime.

Samantha recalls how Mrs. Jacobson made a difference in her life. “Mrs. Jacobson impacted my life in ways that I could not even put into words. She was the first teacher to ever give me an F and was the first teacher who taught me to believe in myself and be independent. When my dad was diagnosed, Mrs. Jacobson was informed, and since that day, she has never stopped being there for me. Despite her always busy schedule, she will always find time for a visit or to check up on me when I was away at school. My Chandler experience and life would not be complete without Mrs. Jacobson and her husband, Mr. Jacobson.”

“Mr. Hopkins has been essential in my growth during my teenage years,” says Chris, the youngest of the Rivas siblings. “During those times, I had no one that I could look to and trust and I found a mentor in Mr. Hopkins. He always believed in me throughout all my problems and has never given up on me. Even though he moved out of the state, we keep in touch often as if he never left. He is a lot more to me than just my 8th grade history teacher.”

In 2015, the Edgar Rivas Memorial Scholarship Fund was established. To honor his memory, this scholarship is awarded annually to a Middle School Latino student who embodies a spirit of leadership, community service and love of academics, athletics and the arts, all of which were qualities of Eddie. Board President at the time, Matt Wright ’74 CHS ’78, says, “Eddie Rivas taught us how to move through the world with integrity, generosity, iron determination, and a sense of humor. He valued education and worked tirelessly to ensure his children acquired the knowledge and skills to open the doors of opportunity. Alyssa, Samantha, and Christopher are proof of his success.”

Daisy was honored to have had this scholarship in her late husband’s name but feels immense gratitude for being able to award this every year to a young, deserving Latino. Having been welcomed and embraced at Chandler, the Rivas family always felt they could share their culture and celebrate diversity. This scholarship would help further promote diversity, equity and inclusion at Chandler. She says, “Establishing a scholarship in his name was something I know would have meant so much to him. I know that his legacy will live on. Chandler has a history, as a school, but also in my family. We are proud to be part of that history and to know that Eddie’s legacy, spirit and boundless love will continue in the generations of students who are recipients of this meaningful fund.”

Chandler developed my sense of entrepreneurship early in my learning career, this was only made possible by the incredible faculty that enabled me to take creative approaches to fulfilling my assignments and projects. If not for those experiences I wouldn’t be prepared for the ever changing and creativity driven career that I now find myself in.

- Alyssa Rivas ’10

SARAH ANDERSON ’09 is in the Ph.D. program at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, doing brain cancer research in biomedical engineering.

SEBOUH BAZIKIAN ’10 AND SHAWNT

BAZIKIAN ’12 continue to run the One Bicycle Foundation. With the incredible support of the Chandler Class of 2019, they were able to deliver 30 bicycles to healthcare workers in Kenya to help combat COVID-19 by increasing their mobility and reach to dispersed communities. Shawnt graduated from the University of Michigan via Zoom and is working for Intrepid Investment Bankers in Los Angeles, and Sebouh attends medical school in Los Angeles. Despite the circumstances, they are taking advantage of spending more time at their family home in Glendale and enjoying the outdoors.

ERIC FUNG ’10 proposed to Kelly Lau at Princeton University where they met. Eric and Kelly shared the sweet moment at Poe Field, where, as students, they would meet to walk around due to its proximity to the molecular biology and chemistry labs. BRAXTON WILLIAMS ’11 is working as an analyst at Point B, a management consulting firm.

TYLER ANASTASIA ’12 graduated from the University of Mississippi in May with a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing, with an emphasis on digital marketing. Tyler loved his time in Oxford, Mississippi, and wishes he was back in The Grove rooting for the Rebels this year. He is currently a sales representative for Lock-Up, Inc. in Pasadena.

JAMES ANDERSON ’12 completed his senior year at George Washington University in the field of psychology and social work.

WILLIAM PAI ’12 graduated this past June with a degree in economics and accounting, after finishing an amazing four years at UC Santa Barbara. “I am leaving Santa Barbara, even though it will forever feel like home, with a new perspective and a great group of friends to start this next chapter of my life. Not living within a two-minute walk of the beach is sure to be an adjustment! Professionally, I will be starting my career with KPMG in the Audit practice and pursuing my CPA license. Starting my career remotely may not be ideal, but I am looking forward to making the most of the experience and seeing where my journey will take me next! I spent my last summer watching the whirlwind of sports happening concurrently, re-exploring some of California’s National Parks, and surfing whenever the waves are good - hard to complain,” says William. RILEY RENICK ’12 graduated from the University of Denver with a BA in political science in June. He plans to go to law school after a one, or two, year pitstop in Shasta, CA, where he is currently a fly-fishing guide. In addition to fishing, Riley enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and skiing. He credits his memorable Chandler Boojum trips for sparking his passion for the great outdoors.

SAMANTHA RIVAS ’12 graduated from the University of Portland in May with a Bachelor of Science in mathematics and minors in chemistry, biology, and Spanish. She is back in Pasadena, working with the Veteran’s Administration reviewing medical reports to help veterans obtain disability benefits. Currently, she is applying to medical school and hopes to enroll in the fall of 2021.

THEODORE ROSENFELD ’12 graduated from UC Berkeley. He starred in several productions such as Hamlet, playing the role of Hamlet, Eurydice, Noises Off, and 70 Scenes of Halloween. Theo was also very involved with the university’s comedy group Theater for Charity. He has a degree in media studies from UC Berkeley’s School of Letters and Sciences, and he was awarded the Cloak and Dagger Award from the theater department.

ALEC WYNDHAMSMITH ’13 will graduate from the University of Southern California in May 2021 with a degree in economics. Then he will enter the US Navy as an officer in the naval pilot training program.

THELONIOUS CUNDIEFF ’14 is a junior at the University of Southern California. He is busy playing in rock/jazz bands and making music with his band “Off Task,” while also working part-time.

CARINA GRANDE ’14 is a junior at Occidental College, majoring in psychology with a minor in kinesiology. She is active in many on-campus and off-campus clubs and organizations, including LegUp Los Angeles, Neighborhood Partnership Program (NPP), Occidental’s Admissions Office, her local sorority, and psychology research. As the Advocacy Director for Leg Up, a non-profit serving the unhoused community of Los Angeles, she has organized events and recruited volunteers to provide food, water, and supplies for encampments around L.A. NPP and the admissions office have been a way for her to connect with other students of color and give back to the Eagle Rock community. She has also been heavily involved with the Black Lives Matter movement through organizing and raising money to bring food, water, and supplies to protests.

CHLOE DANIEL ’15 earned first-team All-Ivy honors and became the individual women’s epee champion as a UPenn freshman. Her 12-4 performance and .750 winning percentage led all of women’s epee and aided the women’s team who defeated the #1 Princeton Tigers and came within two bouts of the Ivy League title. Chloe is just the 10th women’s epee fencer in program history to be named first-team All-Ivy. JOE BALDWIN ’16 graduated from the Episcopal School of Los Angeles, where he was President of the Thespian Honors Society and Captain of the Varsity Cross Country team. He is a freshman at Vassar College and considering a major in drama.

YUMI BALTHAZAR ’16 started her first semester of college at Case Western Reserve University after an unusual high school graduation from Poly. Though distance learning is not what she imagined, she is enjoying her classes, and even after 13 years of school with Sean Liu ’16, they still FaceTime nearly every day to complain about their chemistry class.

MADDY BERGER ’16 graduated from Polytechnic High School. She was the Chief Copy Editor of The Paw Print, Captain of Poly’s Moot Court team, and Co-Founder of Poly’s Ethics Bowl team. Maddy was a member of the debate team, participated in musical theater, and served as a Poly Ambassador. She is a freshman at Duke University and plans to major in public policy. REBECA CASTRO ’16 graduated from Webb High School. At Webb, she enjoyed yoga, hiking, participating in science fairs, and various sports, including volleyball, dance, tennis and water polo. She was a member of the Honor Cabinet Committee. Rebeca is now a freshman at Smith College, and she plans to major in engineering. DELANEY CHOI ’16 graduated from La Cañada High School. She played varsity golf and softball, qualified as a national merit scholar, and volunteered with Teens for the Advancement of Children’s Hospital. She is a freshman at the University of Chicago and plans to major in mathematics. SOPHIA DE REEDER ’16 graduated from Grand Arts High School, where she was a Music Academy member. At Grand Arts, she was able to direct and produce productions, play lead roles in musicals including Penny in Hairspray and Maureen in Rent, and study singing and guitar. Sophia says, “I really loved my high school experience. Outside of school, I’ve been working on writing and recording original music with my band, and hopefully, I will get to professionally release my songs to the public sometime soon. I’m very excited for the years ahead,” says Sophia. Sophia is a freshman at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, studying creative writing, film, and music.

ELLA DESHOTEL ’16 graduated from Mayfield Senior School, where she participated in Dance Conservatory all four years. She is a freshman at the University of Southern California, majoring in

communications. TARYN KIM ’16 graduated from Polytechnic High School. She was the Debate Captain, Opinion Editor of The Paw Print, and member of the Associated Student Body. She is currently taking a gap year from the University of Chicago and spending her time teaching English to Nicaraguan students virtually.

AARON KORNFELD ’16 graduated from La Cañada High School. He began his fall semester at the University of Zurich, Switzerland as a pre-med student. So far, he is enjoying living abroad! Although he could not visit Chandler at the end of his senior year due to COVID-19, he looks forward to visiting the campus and his former teachers the next time he is back in Pasadena.

WILLIAM LABRADOR ’16 is happy to be living on campus at Washington University in St. Louis and taking a combination of asynchronous, hybrid, and in-person classes.

SEAN LIU ’16 is currently attending Case Western Reserve University after recently graduating from Poly. He is adjusting to on-campus college life during this strange COVID time while still ranting with and complaining to Yumi Balthazar ’16 as they continue their education together.

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ALEX FORD ’09 Truths Intertwined

In the collective pain that was felt in 2014, Alex Ford ’09 joined the protests over the killing of Mike Brown and Trayvon Martin, two unarmed young Black men who died at the hands of white men. Moved by sadness, anger, pessimism, but also hope, he ran across Princeton’s campus to get his camera and document the moment.

Six years later, with countless more murders, the pain that he felt in 2014 still resonates in 2020. Alex created Human Dreams shortly after the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. The trauma of 2014 of a mother losing a son was simply replaced now by a mother losing her daughter, a daughter losing her father - black families torn apart again. “The fact that we were, six years later, in the same space as a nation was tragic to me,” Alex said. This was the inspiration behind his latest creative endeavor.

Human Dreams was created from Alex’s introspection in that moment. He took some time to navigate the numerous feelings swimming through his heart and mind during these times in relation to the conversations in the media. The outpour of support for the Black Lives Matter movement and discussions around racial equity help to develop language to create change. But in the abstract, showing support on social media by posting a black square on your profile is merely adequate; it doesn’t change fundamental problems around racism. Human Dreams opens by listing what seem to be shared dreams of all humans - to create, to love, to experience, but the scene quickly switches from light to dark and Alex’s body floating in a void. Although he has human dreams, everyday society is telling black people that they are not human.

While Alex shared his truth in this video journal, many resonated with the message. “I think it was well-received because I share a truth with so many people,” he says, “Our truths are intertwined and one of the big issues in the country is that we can't see the ways that our truths overlap. We create all these divisions that serve no one but those in power.”

“Like anyone else, I have dreams. I believe that dreaming––searching for something––is one of the most human traits we could possibly share. I don’t know what the perfect version of this world looks like or if that even exists, but at the end of the day, I would choose to be Alex Ford time and time again. I have learned to find comfort in my friendships. This world is a crazy place with good days and bad days. Sometimes it’s difficult to navigate, so find your friends and lean on them. The friends you make at Chandler, in high school, and beyond have to be part of your journey. Good friendships will always help you find comfort in nervous times and joy in sad times. Friends make this journey more fun and way less scary because they remind you that you aren’t alone. I made Human Dreams with some of my closest friends, and if they didn’t support me, I don’t know if I would have ever made it. So make sure you love on your friends, because they’re going to be here forever if you do.”

Alex Ford is a storyteller using writing, filmmaking and art to change the world. We look forward to reading, watching, and experiencing Alex’s creative pursuits.

After Chandler, Alex attended Loyola High School, Princeton University, and is currently working on his Masters in Fine Arts in Film & Television Production from the USC School of Cinematic Arts. You can learn more about his upcoming projects by following Alex on Instagram at @alex.mjv or visiting his website at www.myhumandream.com.

CHRIS CHIEN ’96 Coming Home

Dr. Chris Chien ’96 may very well be one of the youngest Chandler alumni to attend college. At 14, Chris was admitted into the early entrance program at Cal State LA, where he graduated in 2001. He then went on to study medicine at Chicago Medical School, followed by an Internal Medicine training at Cedar Sinai and Cardiology and Heart Transplant training at Oregon Health and Science University. Although he might have been the youngest person in the room, Chris has enjoyed every bit of his experience, which led him to many different parts of the country and provided a rich and varied experience.

Blessed with an enviable career, Chris is also a proud husband to an equally brilliant wife, Julie Doberne, who also happens to be a doctor specializing in cardiac surgery. He is a doting father to daughter, Samantha (3), and son, Adrian (1).

Chandler Instilled Curiosity

Chris attributes a significant part of his success to the curiosity established in him by an open and encouraging environment at Chandler. This curiosity led him to double major in biology and philosophy in college. While seemingly opposed fields, it is perhaps a perfect combination for a doctor who values and empathizes with patients daily. Chris says, “As a cardiologist, it is helpful to be able to talk to my patients about a life and death matter with empathy, as well as the procedure of transplanting a heart.”

How Diversity Shapes Experience

Chris has studied and worked in different parts of the United States and the world. He says that this experience was enlightening to him and has since started appreciating proficiencies he developed at Chandler. One thing that helped him adjust to diverse viewpoints and cultures in his journey was the exposure to diversity when he was at Chandler.

As many students who went to Chandler in the 90s and 2000s can attest, learning Spanish has been vital to communicating to an entirely different population. “Even a small effort to speak in someone else’s language goes a long way in building credibility and gaining trust,” he says, fondly remembering the fun he had with verb conjugation in Spanish class. He is delighted to see that Chandler has been making a conscious effort to advance diversity.

Coming Home

Chris often reminisces about growing up in the Los Angeles area. He remembers that these years were filled with a sense of optimism and a can-do spirit. Chris recalls, “In the mid90s when Kobe Bryant entered onto the NBA scene, these were the years of making the impossible possible for me.” A huge Lakers fan, he admires Bryant and often reflects upon growing up in LA with his friends and going to basketball games. He still considers LA his home and knows he will return one day.

While he is not known for his fadeaway by his patients, he often draws parallels between Bryant’s and his own life - both entering their respective fields so young. While Chris chose a path less traveled, it has made all the difference in his life, helping him explore his passions and find himself. If he has any message for the current Chandler students, it’s “Don’t be afraid of taking a different path. Only you know what is right for your life.”

BLAKE NEITHART ’16 graduated from Loyola High School. He was a member of the school choir, co-found the podcast club, and was appointed to the Senior Leadership team, where he mentored incoming first-year students. Blake served as a sports reporter for the school newspaper, The Loyalist, and he played junior varsity baseball and varsity football. As a versatile football player, Blake played safety, running back, wide receiver, and kick returner for all four years. In his senior year, their football team made it to the CIF Southern Section Championship, and although they lost by one touchdown in the final seconds of the game, Blake received nine offers to play football in college. At graduation, he received the Jesuit Schools Network Award, which is awarded to one person in each of the 52 Jesuit High Schools. The recipient exemplifies the ideal profile of what a Jesuit education represents. Ultimately, Blake committed to Carleton College, where he is a freshman this fall. He plans to major in economics.

CRISTIAN PANG ’16 graduated from Harvard Westlake. As a member of the Varsity Water Polo team, they won two Division 1 CIF championships. He will continue playing Water Polo at Claremont McKenna College, where he is now a freshman. Cristian plans to major in economics and accounting with a minor in international relations. GIUSEPPE PERONA ’16 graduated from St. Francis High School. He was a member of the Cross Country team and Culinary club and participated in Habitat for Humanity. He is a freshman at UC Berkeley and plans to major in computer science.

CHRIS RIVAS ’16 graduated high school in May of 2020 and is currently attending Texas Christian University. He is on the 3-2 program majoring in movement science and focusing on athletic training and kinesiology. He plans to graduate in 2023 with his bachelors, 2025 with his masters, and then pursue his Ph.D. in physical therapy.

KAITO ROBSON ’16 graduated from Westlake Academy in May with the honor of Salutatorian, and he completed the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program. Kaito is now a freshman at Pomona College, Claremont taking classes remotely due to COVID-19. HARRISAN SMYSER ’16, along with Jenna Khachatourian ’16 and Mimi Campbell ’16, were St. Francis Homecoming Princesses, with Mimi being crowned Queen in November 2019. In June, Harrisan graduated from Mayfield Senior School. She was a member of the yearbook committee, and in her senior year, was appointed Editorin-Chief. Harrisan participated in sports on the soccer and swim teams. She also volunteered over 100 hours at Huntington Hospital each year and earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Harrisan has served as a camp counselor for Summer@Chandler as well as for the Afterschool program. She is a freshman at the University of Connecticut.

KARA SUN ’16 graduated from Webb High School, where she was a prefect for the Varsity Tennis team. She is a freshman at the University of Southern California and plans to major in communications.

LANCE TAM ’16 graduated from La Salle High School. He was a member of the swim, tennis, and water polo teams. In his senior year, he completed his Eagle Scout project, which involved a bench restoration at the Arcadia Arboretum. “We sanded down and oiled 11 wooden memorial benches from around the park,” says Lance. After the board of review, he officially became an Eagle Scout. Lance is a freshman at the University of California, Berkely majoring in computer science.

ALEX TIPPIE ’16 graduated from La Salle High School. He co-founded the Economics and Math Honors Societies at La Salle. He was also a member of the Just Dance and Go Clubs and Captain of the Varsity Tennis team. He is a freshman at UC San Diego and plans to major in economics and mathematics.

AARON VAN BLERKOM ’16 graduated from La Salle College Preparatory School. He was Captain of the Speech and Debate team. Aaron studied abroad for two summers in Berlin and completed an internship in Germany. He is a freshman at Northeastern University and plans to major in international relations. RYAN WALDHEIM ’16 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. While at Prep, he participated in performing arts, improvisation and wrote a play for his senior independent study titled Showstopper. He is a freshman at Loyola Marymount University and taking introductory classes in psychology and economics.

LINDSEY WELLER ’16 graduated from Maranatha High School. She participated in advanced choir, dance, and theater, performing in seasonal choir and dance showcases and various productions such as Zombie Prom, White Christmas, Wizard of Oz, Seussical, and 12 Angry Jurors. She is a freshman at California Lutheran University, majoring in musical theatre.

TIMOTHY YOSHIDA ’16 graduated from St. Francis. He was a member of the Robotics Club, Track and Field team, and a National Honors Scholar. Timothy is a freshman at Occidental College.

SIMONE CUNDIEFF ’17 is a senior at Polytechnic High School. She is a member of the Poly Girls Varsity Tennis team. Last year she acted in the Poly student production of Othello and Fiddler On The Roof. This year she will be featured in an upcoming Poly production, Poly Awakening. Simone is also completing her Girl Scouts Gold Award project to create coloring books that highlight black figures in California and Pasadena. She is partnering with Poly and other private schools, and the coloring books will be posted online for free use. WILLIAM FARHAT ’17 After winning the Gold Key Award for his video game Outset, it was automatically entered into the Scholastic Arts’ national competition, which combines photography, visual arts, poetry, and creative writing into the same pool as game design. “I’m happy to say that Outset managed to win a silver medal from the competition and will be featured as part of their arts portfolio for 2020,” says William.

LEON KUO ’17, “This summer, Camille-Marie Pai ’18 and I taught Zoom classes to elementary school kids about culture and gastronomy through Project Sprout, a non-profit my classmate Alex Yeh ’17 started. I also wrote a college-level research paper with a professor from Carleton College on NGOs’ impact on independence movements in Spain. I’m currently writing college applications, learning a few new recipes, and taking on new responsibilities as the senior treasurer at Prep. I’ve also taken up reading again—my current favorite is Fitzgerald’s This Side of Paradise,” says Leon.

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KRISTIN BRISBOIS ’07 The Rest Is Art History

Kristin Brisbois ’07 was prepared for the interview to get into the prestigious Courtauld Institute of Art. The only thing was that the Courtauld provided her with subjects to be covered in the interview for applicants for the MA History of Art and not for her MA program, Curating the Art Museum. After an uncomfortable interview with the head of the programme, she called her parents to let them know she didn’t get it and prepared herself to move forward to the next thing.

“Tough interviews build resilience, but ultimately, you can make that into a learning experience for the next thing,” Kristin says. A few weeks later, and to her surprise, she was accepted into the program in which only twelve students world-wide gained admission. Sometimes life has other plans.

After Chandler School, Kristin went to Flintridge Preparatory. From there, she double majored in Art History and French at Pepperdine University, made her way to the University of London to study at the Courtauld Institute, and then ended up back in Pasadena, where she serves the Education Department at the Huntington - Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens.

“I used to take classes at The Huntington with other girls in my Girls Scout Troop,” says Kristin, "The Huntington was breathtaking to me as a little girl.” As School Partnerships and Programs Assistant, her team is responsible for educational programming, deep learning days, and coordinating learning experiences that blend with lessons from the classroom. Coming full circle, she hosted Chandler students shortly before the School closed for in-person instruction.

It wasn’t just seeing the students jump off the bus in the classic green Chandler jumper; Kristin remembers how her experience at Chandler made her into who she is today. Fourth grade teacher Mrs. Perry had a particularly unique project - the spice project. The task was that every student would study and present on a spice. With this project, she learned facts about her spice’s origin, the climate it is grown in, how it is used by different cultures. While the project in itself was simple enough, the lesson was forever etched into her mind.

“The spice project was so memorable because it wasn’t just memorizing facts; projects like these encouraged me to think creatively, globally, and sparked that love of learning,” says Kristin. She also fondly remembers Mrs. Leese. “I always loved going to art class,” she says, “I learned printmaking and mask design, and these are techniques that I’ve used and redeveloped for The Huntington.”

While Kristin’s love of art started at Chandler, it wasn’t until she took her first art history class at Flintridge Prep that she realized that art could be her career and she didn’t have to be an artist. She thinks it’s important for children who love art to know that there is a range of careers in the arts from scientists and chemists who work in conservation to researchers, curators, and educators who study techniques, time periods, and cultures.

Currently, Former Chandler School art teacher Mrs. Leese volunteers as a docent at The Huntington. In a way that Kristin did not expect, her life came full circle, and to say it in her words, “the rest is art history.” We cannot wait to hear about all the exciting projects to come from Kristin Brisbois.

GAURAV LAW ’17 currently attends Loyola High School, where he has been a class representative for the past four years. He’s enjoyed the academic rigor, athletic competition, and the sense of brotherhood.

SIENNA ARROBIO ’18 continues to thrive at Flintridge Prep. In the fall, Sienna and fellow alum Will Fosselman ’18 were selected to the 2019 Homecoming Spirit Court, representing their Sophomore class. An active student-athlete in three sports, Sienna plays volleyball, participates in track & field, and helped PREP girls water polo reach the CIF championship final game as a team goalie. She enjoys writing for the Flintridge Press publications and participating in many school clubs. Recognized by President Donald Trump for her commitment to volunteer service, Sienna was awarded the President’s Silver Volunteer Service Award for over 250 hours of service through Pasadena National Charity League. “Hello to the Chandler community, please keep in touch,” says Sienna. CAMILLE-MARIE PAI ’18 is a junior at Flintridge Preparatory School. She is working towards her Girl Scout Gold Award and exploring her major passion for food and the whole farm-to-table cycle. In the spring, Camille-Marie’s ceramic project “Tree of Life” was selected for the Southern California High School Ceramics Exhibition at the American Museum of Ceramic Art.

TAKAJI ROBSON ’18 is a junior at Westlake Academy, active with the Varsity Cross Country team and drumline. Takaji is also a member of the Young Men’s Service League. Since the summer, he has been volunteering at the local food pantry and working for philanthropies like Operation Gratitude and Stepping Stones in north Texas.

ALEXANDER FORMAN ’19 taught a Master Class on “How to Call Cues and Design Lighting” to Chandler’s tech crew of 16 students for the Into the Woods winter production. Alex is a sophomore at Sequoyah High School.

JAMES LABRADOR ’19 is indeed loving Loyola and trying out new clubs in a socially distanced fashion. He is still running and involved in Boy Scouts.

EMMA NEWHALL ’19

is a sophomore at Polytechnic. She enjoyed her freshman year serving as a Poly Ambassador and is a member of the Varsity Soccer team.

RYAN GINN ’20, “Mr. Calderon was my seventh-grade biology teacher as well as my teacher for the advanced microbiology studies course. Over the past two years, he helped me with my science fair projects involving bacteria. During my seventh grade year, his witty jokes and humor made science even better. Mr. Cal teaches the material in an interesting and engaging way, allowing you to retain the material and build on. If I am ever going through a rough patch, he is very approachable; he wants only the best for us and treats us like adults, giving us ownership of our successes and failures.

This helped elevate both our level of learning as well as the development of skills useful outside the classroom.

I have always wanted to pursue a career in the science field. When I took Mr. Calderon's advanced studies class, I realized that I was fascinated by human biology, particularly the heart and the brain. After dissecting the fetal pig at the end of seventh grade, I found that I was not squeamish about cutting things open, and this discovery sparked my interest in becoming a surgeon. Coupling this with my growing interest in the brain, I now want to be a neurosurgeon. For me, I need an intellectually stimulating class, preferably in either science or math. Before Mr. Calderon's class, I hadn't contemplated what I wanted to be, but as soon as Mr. Calderon had taught me for a year, I realized biology was something I was passionate about. I couldn't have done it without Mr. Calderon, and I think he deserves to be recognized for all of his hard work and dedication to both Chandler and its students.”

LISA OMORI, PARENT; MOM OF KAI BELZER ’21 & ELLA BELZER ’20

found power and purpose in making masks while sheltering-in-place in March of 2020. As hospitals were overwhelmed with the pandemic and PPE supplies were scarce, Lisa joined thousands making masks for essential workers. Setting up shop at home and as the urgent need of hospitals waned, she started providing masks to the local community, including some essential Chandler parents. Read her family’s story in the School News section on Chandler’s website.

JOHN MUELLER ’20 Surfer, Entrepreneur

John Mueller ’20 was only ten years old when he walked into the announcers’ booth at the 2016 Rincon Classic. He was affectionately nicknamed Johnny on the Spot, a name given for his enthusiasm at running scores and handing out prizes. That same energetic young man set his sight and entrepreneurial spirit on finding a solution to painful surfer rash, and Johnny on the Spot Surfer Rash Balm was born.

A common problem in the surfing community, John dedicated his time to testing different formulations until he perfected an all-natural balm that both functioned and was safe for the environment. In the process, he learned resilience and listening to feedback - positive and negative alike. He says, “If you want to be successful, you have to take heed of both the good and the bad to be the best.” Since then, Johnny on the Spot Surfer Rash Balm has been selling in more than 25 surf stores in California and Hawaii with hopes of branching out to other surfing destinations.

For more about John’s story, 14-year-old surfer, entrepreneur, and Chandler alumnus, visit the Johnny on the Spot website at www.johnnyonthespotca.com.