Chandler School Shamrock Magazine 2022

CHANDLER S H A M RO C K 2022

years of caring, challenging, committed

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MESSAGE from the HEAD OF SCHOOL In mid-November, a few days before Thanksgiving break, I talked to a group of teachers over lunch, and we recollected what we were doing and how we were feeling at the corresponding time last year. “It’s all a blur,” said one teacher. “I can’t believe that it’s 2022 in just over a month,” said another. She continued, “It’s like we didn’t have 2021. All I know is that last year was difficult, and we got through it.” We took our masks off to eat and shared how rare it was to see each others’ full faces and enjoy conversation without raising the volume of our voices to be heard through a mask. We spent a few minutes bemoaning the lingering pandemic before sharing our plans for the Thanksgiving celebration.

Everyone in the Chandler community understands the need to take precautions to stop the spread of COVID, but it’s not uncommon to hear adults grumble about its lingering impact as we did at lunch. We have shared adversity for eighteen months, and given the trends, in all likelihood, it will be no earlier than March 2022 before protocols are relaxed.

Students rarely complain about the restrictions imposed on them. They wear masks, sit a few feet apart at lunch, wash their hands and look out for each other’s well-being. Assemblies and large indoor gatherings are on hold for now, but the students are thriving at school. They are more aware of what they have than what they are missing. One first grade mom offered that the most significant reason kids are so excited about getting vaccinated is that they know it means they will not get sick and they can stay in school.

‘Resilience’ describes the mindsets of Chandler students, faculty and staff over the past eighteen months. Each day is precious. There is no time to waste; we have work to do and are getting on with it together. This edition of the Shamrock is full of examples of resilience.

Most sincerely,

John Finch Head of School

Celebrating 70 Years!

Chandler School was founded on the belief that education should be rooted in strong academics, focused character development and a supportive community. The tradition and promise of excellence are at the heart of our School, and we work together to bring out the best in each other. Inspired by our community’s commitment to greatness, we have embarked on a campaign that will ensure the continued success of Chandler School and our students.

When we invest in our School, we create more opportunities for the Chandler students of today and tomorrow and we demonstrate who we are as a community: united, excellent and committed to making a mark on our beloved School so that our students can make their mark on the world.

In celebration of Chandler’s 70th’s anniversary, we thank you - parents, students, alumni, parents of alumni, grandparents, faculty, staff and friends - for being part of the Chandler community. Your ongoing commitment and support strengthens our School and helps to enhance our programs, create innovative approaches to learning and prepare Chandler students to thrive as scholars, citizens and leaders.

As the School prepares for a transition in leadership with the retirement announcement of Head of School John Finch, we are grateful to Mr. Finch, the leaders who came before him, and the entire community for the strong foundation on which to build the next 70 years. We look forward to sharing the vision for Chandler’s future with you as the School works toward the completion of a new Strategic Plan and embarks on a Head of School search. Together, we ensure a bright future for our School and community; together, WE ARE Chandler School.

CHANDLER SHAMROCK MAGAZINE 2022 is published for parents, alumni, parents of alumni and friends of Chandler School.

WE’D LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU! Share your alumni news and thoughts on school communications. alumni@chandlerschool.org communications@chandlerschool.org FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA!

THE MISSION OF CHANDLER SCHOOL is

to provide each student with the highest quality and most academically challenging education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment. We strive to have our students gain a love of learning, a means of thinking independently and an ability to work collaboratively. A Chandler education seeks to develop good character, self‑reliance and a commitment to community in students as a foundation for academic and personal success.

THE GOALS OF CHANDLER SCHOOL are

to uphold the Chandler tradition of academic excellence and intellectual discipline in a program that develops the mind, body and spirit; to promote respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, which are the core values of our school community; to foster an educational environment that values and communicates respect for racial, religious, cultural and economic differences; to serve the greater community, in recognition that as much is given to us, much is expected from us.

1005 Armada Drive, Pasadena, CA 91103 www.chandlerschool.org Chandler School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.

Now & Then

# C H A N D L ER H I G H L I G H T S

Physical Education A Chandler education develops the mind, body and spirit of each student. While all children participate in daily P.E. classes, some students excel at sports like track, football, basketball and more. In years past, Chandler was known for its traditional sports program led by beloved teachers like Mr. Mac, Mr. Korn, Mr. Cotton and Mrs. Rose; now, with a new generation of enthusiastic physical educators led by Mr. Anderson, students have a wide variety of fitness opportunities.

Visual & Performing Arts In Chandler's visual and performing arts programs, students build confidence in their artistic skills, knowledge and creativity.

Chandler's strong art program continues to inspire future artists and performers by engaging students from all grades to express themselves. While the subject matter may change over the years, the passion for the arts in students remains.

Technolog y Chandler's technology program has a long history of embracing and supporting learning by integrating computing into the core curriculum.

Starting in Lower School, students are introduced to computing gradually, building skills and interest at a developmentally-appropriate pace.

Whereas Apple MacBooks have replaced word processors and DOS computers, students still use technology in concrete and meaningful ways.

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# C H A N D L ER H IG H L IG H T S

Innovation in the Classroom A fundamental part of teaching - being in the classroomwas lost during last year's pandemic. And while many students across the nation spent less time in a classroom, creating gaps that will need to be filled in the coming years, Chandler teachers were resourceful, creative and compassionate during these trying times.

In March 2020, classroom teachers quickly realized there was no playbook for teaching in a pandemic.

So what were Chandler's teachers to do? Write one themselves. We witnessed our educators rise to the challenge during the last school year. They transformed Chandler classrooms into virtual ones through ingenuity, perseverance and hard work.

In Lower School, and consistently throughout K-5 classrooms, morning meetings allowed students and teachers to connect. While many students were returning students and knew their classmates, this was especially important for teachers to get to know their students and new students to integrate into the Chandler community.

Lower and Middle School faculty incorporated technology into the virtual classroom with collaborative tools like jamboards, shared document templates and interactive games/lessons with Google slides. Grade-level teams also incorporated mental health wellness breaks and check-ins to make sure students were being taken care of emotionally as well. While schools may still be reeling from the effects of the closures, Chandler teachers are keeping certain lessons learned in the pandemic at the forefront of their teaching. They are finding innovative ways to connect with students and families, embracing technology that improves learning, investing in professional development that empowers them, and most importantly, making sure social and emotional wellness is the priority.

Now & Then

Buddies & Cha

racter Developm e

As a member of the Character Counts Coalition, our School commits to instilling character education in every aspect of our program. Chandler's mission embodies the core values of our community: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship, which is inspired by the program and through Chandler buddies. Still much a part of the community today, buddies are lifelong mentors.

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# C H A N D L ER H IG H L IG H T S

Challenging Science Curriculum & Resilient Students Last year, the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges to families and especially middle school students across the nation. Children who may have already been coping with normal adolescent concerns were especially vulnerable to the changes. Now, we are learning about the broad impacts on students due to schools being closed for extended periods, physically distancing guidelines, isolation and other unexpected changes to their lives.

Last year, one unexpected change for 7th graders, our Class of 2022, was having all their classes on Zoom, even the legendary biology labs with Chandler’s Middle School Science Chair Robert Calderon. Cal’s tough-love approach to teaching science makes him one of the most-loved teachers on campus. Of the 7th-grade students in his class, he says, “I have high expectations of them. If you fall, you get back up. I challenge them with critical thinking tasks because it will build their resilience for the future.”

Students who say that science is their favorite subject say that Mr. Cal is challenging, but his class is also “fun and memorable.” Some of those same students will also take his woodworking elective and some brave students will study during their lunch recess and weekends to test into the microbiology class Mr. Cal offers twice a year as an elective. This unique class allows students to actively engage in science using the latest tools of biotechnology. The course concludes with more of a research-based structure, where students investigate techniques and protocols of DNA extraction.

“These kids may be gluttons for punishment,” he jokes about students wanting to take a science class as an elective. The class features a hands-on lab and aims to build a passion for future studies in science or create life-long learners and critical thinkers through a deep exploration of experimentation. While some students

may be motivated to take the advanced course for their transcripts or because they want to go into a sciencerelated career, some students want to be part of the class because of their innate curiosity.

When it became apparent that COVID-19 meant distance learning, Mr. Cal worked diligently to create lab kits so that students in the Class of 2022 could have a similar-to-normal experience. So that’s when the worms were sent home. With some creativity and school supply pick-ups coordination, 7th graders were able to conduct experiments at home. Finding a silver lining in the school closure, Declan Mansbridge ’22 says, “the best part of distance learning is the ways the teachers changed their activities to adapt so we could still do them.” He continues, “the school year has been unexpected, but we just had to be flexible.”

But beyond the classroom, Mr. Cal is also a fixture at athletic games, supporting both boys and girls teams.

While being present is something that most teachers practice, Mr. Cal goes beyond engaging with students, fostering motivation in the classroom and out. “I want students to know that sure, I am their science teacher, but I will also be their cheerleader,” say Mr. Cal. Sometimes, he will shout from the sidelines or comment to a student-athlete in his class, but it always comes from a place of love, albeit tough.

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# C H A N D L ER H I G H L I G H T S

T HE EVOLU T ION OF

DEI at Chandler As a member of the Gifted and Talented Program at PUSD, alumna Khalilah El-Amin ’91 was recruited to Chandler School through the Independent School Alliance for Minority Affairs, also known as the Alliance, a nonprofit organization committed to helping families achieve a quality education despite racial, cultural and socioeconomic disparities.

Khalilah, who now serves on Chandler’s Board of Trustees as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Committee Chair, was a product of Chandler’s commitment to diversity nearly 30 years ago in the 90s.

Still, she said the School was founded on increasing access to a high-quality education. Acknowledging that

“

We can build a fully inclusive, engaged community where students can learn to navigate this complex, changing society with empathy and in a culturally responsible way.

”

Chandler has continued on the trajectory of eliminating barriers, she also recognizes how that has evolved and continues to evolve over time.

“When I attended Chandler, I was the only AfricanAmerican student in my grade, which was a very isolating experience - no one looked like me, no one had a similar background or cultural experience,” she remembers. “It is already difficult being in middle school, and while being at Chandler was rewarding in so many ways, I was also subjected to stereotypes, microaggressions and unconscious biases that I carried into adulthood.”

The most recent evolution in Chandler’s path is incorporating true equity and inclusion into its diversity efforts.

Khalilah comments, “DEI work is not easy and it is also never-ending, but it is definitely rewarding. With it, we can build a fully inclusive, engaged community where students can learn to navigate this complex, changing society with empathy and in a culturally responsible way.

This work always has to be given the highest priority.”

Achieving true diversity, equity and inclusion are important for both students and the community; numerous studies have shown that DEI initiatives positively impact the bottom line, whether it be in educational or professional settings. Khalilah goes further to say that “educational institutions are setting the foundation for the pipeline of culturally competent individuals who are eventually going to go out into the world and become responsible members of our global society.”

# C H A N D L ER H IG H L IG H T S

“

I know that Chandler remains fully committed to promoting an educational experience and having deep conversations related to building diverse, equitable and inclusive educational spaces.

Since Khalilah was asked to chair the DEI committee, her commitment has always been to move from the quantitative measure of DEI to think holistically and strategically about what DEI truly means. “DEI is not simply about numbers. I have a vision where all students have a place in this community.” She also feels hopeful about Director of DEI Hillary Blunt’s new role at Chandler. “I know that Chandler remains fully committed to promoting an educational experience and having deep conversations related to building diverse, equitable and inclusive educational spaces.”

”

When Khalliah and her husband, Ishmael, were researching schools for their daughter, Sabreen ’23, they wanted to find the right balance of an academically challenging environment and ensure the social-emotional well-being of their daughter. “I am proud to say that Chandler has made significant leaps in DEI, and Sabreen is getting the experience that we hoped she would have.”

INTRODUCING

Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Hillary J. Blunt To support the school’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) efforts and to meet a strategic planning goal, Chandler hired a full-time Director of DEI in 2021. Following a national search and with the participation of members from the Chandler community, Hillary J. Blunt was appointed and welcomed in the 2021-2022 school year.

Hillary has ten years of teaching experience. She joins Chandler from The Country School, an independent school in Valley Village, where she taught middle school English and served as the school’s Director of Equity and Student Support. In that role, Hillary led the development and implementation of policies and programs that supported a diverse, equitable and inclusive school community. Born and raised in Minneapolis, Hillary graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in elementary education. She earned her MA in educational leadership from Saint Mary’s University in Minneapolis.

In her first few months at Chandler, Hillary has found that Chandler is unique in many ways, “I love the collaborative nature of the School. The Middle and Lower Schools function

as separate spaces, but at the same time, they're interconnected in a way that allows for fluidity between the students, families, faculty and administration.”

She continues, “From the perspective of DEI, it makes the work a little more seamless because the plan for DEI can span the entire school. We can build on concepts and ideas in the lower grades that will then allow our Middle School students to be more prepared for some of those more difficult, nuanced and age-appropriate conversations when they get older.”

One of Hillary’s core goals for her first year is to do a lot of listening and learning from the Chandler community. “I firmly believe that a one-size-fits-all approach to DEI is not the way to go. It is important to remember that equity work has to be responsive to the community in order for us to be intentional about our DEI efforts.” Her hopes are that collectively, all members of the Chandler community can craft the vision of DEI at Chandler and travel on that journey together.

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Thanks to students, parents, faculty and staff for their commitment to each other, finding opportunities to be together while apart, keeping Chandler traditions alive and imagining new and creative ways to honor the Class of 2021. Special thanks to the Class Representatives for their leadership, creativity and support! Fun Fridays, Bike-A-Thon, Time Capsule Launch, Egg Drop, Field Day and the Graduate Luncheon were just a few ways that we came together to celebrate the Class of 2021.

We were grateful to celebrate the Class of 2021 with an in-person Commencement on MacQuoid Field and their achievement of this important milestone.

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CHANDLER GRADUATES HEAD TO TOP SECONDARY SCHOOLS! Agoura High School Blair Academy Brooks School Campbell Hall Cate School Columbus Academy Episcopal School of Los Angeles Flintridge Preparatory School Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy Harvard-Westlake School International School of Los Angeles La Cañada High School La Jolla Country Day School La Salle College Preparatory High School Loyola High School of Los Angeles Maranatha High School Mayfield Senior School Notre Dame High School Polytechnic School Sequoyah High School St. Francis High School The Hill School The Thacher School The Webb Schools Westridge School for Girls

presented to members of the Class of 2021 Arthur L. P. Brown Award for Scholastic Progress Paola Sofia Ceja

Catherine S. Chandler Award for Best All-Around Girl Malini Natalia Pradhan

Fine Arts (Visual) Award

Isabella Diane Lanstra

Jefferson C. Stephens Scholarship Award

THE 2021 CLASS REPRESENTATIVES Thank you to our Class Representatives for their ongoing leadership and for keeping their class connected to the School and each other.

Maggie Albrecht ’21 Brandon Cheng ’21 Emily Hsiao ’21 Anya May ’21 Reza Mohammed ’21 Natalia Pradhan ’21 Katie Sam ’21 Charlie Simonian ’21 Chase Waldheim ’21 Nathan Wang ’21

Malini Natalia Pradhan

Robert T. McInerny Award for Outstanding School Service Margaret Victoria Albrecht Brandon H. Cheng

Thomas A. Chandler Award for Best All-Around Boy Reza Mohammed Chase Alexander Waldheim

Vernon L. Hill Citizenship Award

Chase Alexander Waldheim

FIFTH GRADE GRADE PROMOTION PROMOTION FIFTH

CLASS OF 2024!

The Class of 2024 celebrated the end of Lower School with a special ceremony among their teachers and families.

During promotion, each student expressed their gratitude and shared a favorite memory. We are so proud of the Class of 2024 for their achievement.

BEACON ofLIGHT JAMES DEMETRIADES ’77

here is no denying that Chandler alumnus James Demetriades ’77 has been on an upward trajectory since the age of 22 when he developed software for HealthNet, the largest HMO in the United States. A technology industry pioneer for the last three plus decades, he has been active in various businesses, politics and foundations, ranging from electrical engineering to physics to educational programming.

He has founded several companies in a variety of industries and currently manages Kairos, a venture capital investment company. James has also been featured in Fortune Magazine Forty under Forty, InfoWorld, Computerworld, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, and CIO, amongst other publications.

He founded several extracurricular groups ranging from health information exchange technologies to competitive yacht sailing.

From his impressive resume, you would not know that he struggled, like many middle schoolers, as a new student in seventh grade. James acknowledges that he was a pretty rambunctious kid, finishing school work early and getting out of his seat to disturb other students. Concerned teachers from his Arcadia public school scheduled meetings with his parents for unruly behavior and not paying attention in class. Although his parents were concerned, they knew that their son could pay attention and control behavior problems; he was just bored with his public education.

James’ parents decided to enroll him at Chandler School in the seventh grade, but things did not immediately get easier. As the new kid, he was an outsider. “I was gangly, going through puberty. My hair was starting to curl, which was very difficult because I had random curls that looked like cowlicks,” James remembers. Moreover, he would rather read than socialize with students in his class. And not just read during his recess and lunch, he would open his textbook during class and place his current novel partially under the textbook, so he could read, his teachers none the wiser. He would even read as he was walking between classes.

Beloved former Middle School English teacher Cathy Rose eventually caught on. He remembers that she reached out to

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him, concerned that he was not doing as well as he should. “She really cared,” James recalls, “what made her special to me is she said, ‘Fine. You can read as much as you like during class, but you need to come after school to make sure you catch up on everything you need for my class.’” James passed most of his classes with Bs and Cs with little effort (and lots of covert reading), but Ms. Rose’s extra help pushed up his English grade to an A. “It built my foundation for being a good writer and communicator,” James says.

Another teacher who he fondly remembers was Spanish and Performing Arts teacher Mr. Hill. “I had never acted and he, for some reason, asked me to try out,” James remembers being cast as the lead in Arsenic and Old Lace and Frankenstein. “A quiet, shy kid who read books all the time was the lead in our School plays!” he says, “That gave me confidence and led me on the right path, especially at Webb.”

For many adults, remembering middle school can evoke a negative, gut-level response to one’s memories of feeling like an outsider. Those feelings may have an outsized place in one’s long-term memory. But there is magic in the child development and transformation that happens in middle school that comes from finding your strengths and confidence. James’ parents and the positive teachers in his life provided a consistent, unwavering source of support for him, which made all the difference.

At Chandler’s commencement, the Distinguished Alumni Award recipient spoke directly to the Class of 2021, saying that the years spent at Chandler shape students forever. He imparted to students, “You are only bound by the limitations you allow and only you decide how bright a light you will be in the world.”

After Chandler, James went on to Webb to be captain of the soccer team and became a natural leader. Undaunted, he had the confidence to lead a team of 65 programmers at 22 years old, once graduating from college. James achieved a high level of success by not setting limits on himself, becoming a beacon to those Chandler alumni who would follow.

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You are only bound by the limitations you allow and only you decide how bright a light you will be in the world.

”

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On May 7, the Class of 2017 reunited on Zoom for their Off to College Reunion. Nearly 50 alumni attended the event for a chance to reconnect with classmates, faculty and administrators. Later in the evening, parents of the Class of 2017 had fun at their own reunion catching up with old friends.

MOHONA GANGULY ’17

ANDREW GONG ’17

CHARLES “CHAD” JOHNSON ’17

Harvard-Westlake | Cornell University

Harvard-Westlake | Harvard College

Salisbury School | Montana State University

At Harvard-Westlake, I was the founder and president of the South Asian Students’ Alliance (SASA). We celebrated the South Asian subcontinent through festivals and fundraising events. I was also the captain of the women’s varsity saber fencing team, and a member of the Mock Trial and Junior State of America (JSA) organizations.

Outside of school, I danced Odissi, an Indian classical dance, participated in National History Day and science fair competitions, was a Girl Scout, and played the cello.

There were three achievements that were particularly meaningful to me. I received my school’s Frederick Douglass Award, given to a senior, "who while embracing their own culture, also honors other cultures,” because of SASA. I also received a Girl Scout Gold Award through my work at Crittenton, an organization which serves refugee children who suffer from mental health issues because of traumatic circumstances.

There, I built a sensory garden so the children had a tranquil place where they could work with their counselors. Another meaningful achievement was my Ranga Prabesh, or my “coming of age” dance recital. It is traditional for Odissi students to perform solo to thank everyone who helped them on their dance journey and I felt very fortunate to have mine.

My advice to Chandler students is to take advantage of any opportunities that come your way. Every new activity will allow you to have the most unique experiences in the future.

At Cornell, I am majoring in industrial and labor relations, which focuses on labor and migrant rights, because I want to be a human rights lawyer. I am hopeful for all of the opportunities that lie ahead of me.

Thanks to Chandler’s incredible debate team, I participated in Lincoln-Douglas Debate throughout my years at Harvard-Westlake. I also continued playing piano and led Cadence for a Cause, an organization that performs charity concerts throughout Los Angeles. In my free time, I enjoyed tutoring and writing short stories.

My proudest accomplishment is reaching the finals of the Tournament of Champions, the most prestigious nationwide high school debate championship. While I unfortunately lost the final round, I’m incredibly honored to be among the top two Lincoln-Douglas debaters. I was also awarded a YoungArts Merit Award in Classical Music, and one of my short stories was selected for publication in Best Teen Writing of 2020.

These accomplishments were the culmination of years of hard work and persistence, virtues instilled in me by my Chandler education.

My advice for current students: Chandler teaches much more than the content of your classes. Try as you might, you will not remember today’s catchy Spanish songs and history tidbits in ten years. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t study. In fact, the portable skills you pick up at Chandler—critical thinking, studying, collaborating—are the real permanent lessons the School provides. So try your hardest, but when you still can’t remember how cellular respiration works, it’s okay. It’s the trying that counts. Also, join the debate team!

At Harvard, I plan to study government and economics, exploring my passion for public policy issues. As I begin this new chapter, I hope to find my niche. I haven’t fully settled into my new environment yet, but I’m hopeful that, like my previous schools, Harvard will become much more than an educational institution—it’ll be a home.

Yellowstone National Park served as an outlet for millions of Americans to escape the pandemic.

Spending the summers of 2020 and 2021 living in Yellowstone and working as a volunteer for the National Park Service with my cousin Cole, we helped prepare the Park to initially reopen and continue to facilitate visitation through our various assignments ranging from replacing decades old interpretive signs throughout the vast Park, assisting in the aftermath of a fire in a gateway community, transporting vital COVID medical supplies and working numerous employee COVID Vaccination Clinics throughout the Park. We even had an opportunity to help the wolf biologists track a new Yellowstone wolf pack located in the Lamar Valley.

Influenced by my love of the west, great outdoors, fishing, hunting, and skiing, I am now attending MSU in Bozeman, Montana where I plan to study business with a minor in psychology.

Looking back on my nine years at Chandler, I realize the benefits of its unique close-knit community, the life-long friendships I made, and the well-rounded educational foundation that prepared me to be successful at Salisbury, the boarding school in Connecticut I attended and at which I played varsity baseball for four-years. The support and encouragement of many wonderful Chandler teachers prepared me well for high school. My advice for current Chandler students is to embrace the value of hard work and perseverance, which will serve you well.

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The Class of 2017 has enrolled in these colleges and more Belmont University Boston University Carleton College Columbia University Cornell University Harvard College McGill University Montana State University

Morehouse College New York University North Carolina State University Northeastern University Pepperdine University Pitzer College Purdue University Reed College

San Diego State University The Ohio State University The University of Chicago Tufts University University of California, San Diego University of California, Santa Barbara University of California, Santa Cruz University of Michigan

University of Oregon University of Pennsylvania University of Southern California University of Wisconsin-Madison Vanderbilt University Villanova University Yale University

LEON KUO ’17

EMILY SAM ’17

JENNIFER SPINOGLIO ’17

Flintridge Preparatory School | Yale University

Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy | Purdue University

Westridge School | University of Chicago

To say Chander prepared me well for high school would be an understatement. The transition to high school was seamless. Chandler’s preparation went beyond a strong foundation in the core subjects. I also learned valuable soft skills: study hall periods taught me time management and debate taught me how to communicate professionally. Serving as a leader during STEAM, coordinating the Cesar Chavez Committee, and teaching my own elective called “Introduction to Chinese” also taught me how to be an effective leader and team member.

These experiences helped me succeed at Flintridge Prep. At Prep, I ran Political Science Club, Language Learning Club, and Spanish Honors Society, in addition to serving as Senior Class Treasurer. I was initiated as a member of the Cum Laude Society, recognized as a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, and also received the Benton Memorial Award, World Languages Department Award in Spanish, and the Amherst Book Prize.

At Yale, I intend to major in history and Spanish with plans to go to law school. I hope to work in the field of immigration or civil rights law. I currently serve as the First-Year Liaison of Yale’s Taiwanese American Society and participate in Yale Undergraduate Prison Project outreach.

My advice to Chandler students: Don’t worry about having everything figured out—your favorite subject might be something you might not even know about! This is the perfect time for exploration. And remember, you always have the support of the entire Chandler community behind you.

Two of the most important lessons I learned at Chandler that I still remind myself today are to be comfortable with discomfort and be friends with failure. It is so easy to give in to the negative internal barriers and “what-ifs” that build up when faced with a new challenging experience. But most of the time, taking that fearful plunge into the deep end is not as scary as it seems—just go for it.

Every experience is a learning experience.

At Flintridge Sacred Heart, I was involved in the Tech Club as the Activities Leader and later as the Vice President, was a creator and pioneering member of the Sustainability Committee, and was a member of the Science and Environmental Club. I was the concertmistress in FSH’s Music Ensemble, and outside of school in the PYSO (Pasadena Youth Symphony Orchestras) Symphony and Philharmonic orchestras.

I was a recipient of the 2021 National Honorable Mention of the NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing and the 2021 Regional LA Winner of the NCWIT Award for Aspiration in Computing. At graduation, I was awarded plaques for my achievements in Computer Science and Engineering and Instrumental Music at FSH. This past summer, I participated in Google’s 2021 Computer Science Summer Institute (CSSI).

I am majoring in data science at Purdue University. I chose data science because I’m interested in programming, how data analysis plays a critical role in successful businesses, and the social justice issues that arise in data bias in artificial intelligence. I look forward to approaching new experiences open-mindedly, just like Chandler taught me.

Throughout high school, I was involved in student government, Model United Nations, technical theatre, Girl Scouts, and more. I am a member of the Cum Laude Society and the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, and was recognized as a National Merit Scholar. I also received my Girl Scout Gold Award and had the privilege of serving as valedictorian at graduation.

At the University of Chicago, I will be majoring in public policy studies and data science. I am interested in these majors as I’ve had a passion for public service and data and hope to combine the two. I currently serve as a Researcher with the Paul Douglas Institute, a Data Analyst with the Environmental Research Group, and a Member of the University's College Bowl Team.

Reflecting on my Chandler experience, I would advise students to take advantage of any opportunity that interests you. I have gotten to do so many incredible things, simply because I took the time and effort to apply or begin a project. Chandler has given you the skills needed to succeed, but it is important that you take the initiative and not procrastinate. Fear of rejection or failure can be tough to overcome, but you are more capable than you think. Also, don't worry about the things you cannot control. Instead, focus on what you can do.

Regarding this new chapter, I am hopeful that I will gain experience in my fields of interest, gain new skills, and take classes that will allow me to dive deeper into topics I am interested in.

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Alumni Events Even while most of the world worked, socialized and studied remotely because of the pandemic, bringing Chandler alumni “back-to-campus” took on a whole new experience.

Our annual tradition of Alumni Visiting Day, which brings alumni into the classrooms to share their talents, expertise and insights, transformed from one day of highly coordinated in-person events with many Zoom events over a month to the delight of our K-8 students. Similarly, Middle School Leadership Lunches created an opportunity for alumni to engage with current students and young alumni as part of our Alumni Speaker Series.

Virtual events created a space for connection and provided additional opportunities for students to learn, imagine and be inspired. Opportunities like these strengthen our community connections - past and present.

We appreciate all of our alumni for their service, mentorship and support of Chandler students. For a complete listing of alumni volunteers, speakers and mentors for the 2020-2021 school year, please see page 16 of the Gratitude Report.

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Our annual fall reception for alumni and parents of alumni continued online with an Evening of Music featuring talented alumni and Music & Performing Arts Teacher Brandi Williams-Moore. It was a wonderful evening that brought joy and connection into our homes through the power of music.

Thank you, alumni, for your participation as panelists during the Admissions Open House and Chandler and Beyond webinar. Your reflections emanate the strengths and benefits of Chandler’s K-8 program, and we are grateful for your service.

The Debate Showcase, held on Wednesday, April 21, celebrated the 10th anniversary of Chandler's Debate Program led by Mr. Hulm and Mr. Spencer. We are grateful to our student and alumni participants and congratulate the Class of 2021 eighth-grade team for earning the distinction of Champions at the Debate Showcase!

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C l a ss No t e Includes submissions from January 2021 - January 2022

ANNA PEHOUSHEK ’80 and her family have navigated the pandemic reasonably well. Her son is enjoying high school and recently earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

Anna continues to work as the Assistant Community Development Director at the City of Orange.

BRECKEN ARMSTRONG ’91 is doing well and thriving! Brecken is an Emergency Medicine physician, “so the last two years have been intense,” reflects Brecken. She and her family have had an amazing year of health, happiness and adventure - hiking rim to rim of the Grand Canyon, exploring the jungles of Costa Rica, visiting six national parks in the Midwest by RV and enjoying the theater/opera in L.A. Her husband Martin is happy to be back to work now that the pandemic restrictions have been lifted and her daughter Gwyn ’24 is thrilled to be back on Chandler’s campus for Middle School.

Brecken shares, “Gwyn is doing very well and loves school. I am eternally grateful for the amazing job that Chandler School has done during the pandemic. Thank you Chandler from the bottom of my heart!”

FREDERICK GOTHA ’92 is a Deputy District Attorney in Sacramento County. He is married with three daughters: Ava, Audrey, and Anika, and enjoys coaching their softball and soccer teams.

MARY ABDO ’94 lives in Singapore with her husband James and their children Alexander (7) and Sophie (4) and three very large Maine Coon cats. She is managing director at a not-for-profit advisory group.

NELSON ROOSENDAHL ’93 met fellow Chandler alum Emily Pearson ’13 in Whitefish, Montana. Nelson shares, “When her family’s rental car didn’t start, I brought out a jumper pack, and Emily jumped out of her car to ask me if I found the Chandler sweatshirt I was wearing in a thrift store.” No thrift store needed when you're a Chandler alum - Chandler alumni connections happen everywhere!

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ALUMNI PROFILE RAMU & KANNA SUNKARA ’94

Path of Perseverance Last year, Chandler School welcomed back brothers Ramu ’94 and Kanna ’94 Sunkara to connect virtually with Middle School students on Alumni Visiting Day. In their inspiring presentation, the inventors and entrepreneurs talked about innovation, adaptation, perseverance and overcoming obstacles. They discussed that improvement happens through iterative cycles, by gathering feedback and making refinements.

They encouraged middle schoolers to try out new ideas and develop new ways of thinking while in the safe atmosphere of Chandler School.

Entering Chandler in the 6th grade was an adjustment for the two brothers. Having come from public school, the academic expectations of Chandler took some getting used to. And while the curriculum was more challenging than anticipated, the education was balanced with some of their favorite Chandler memories like the Tower Egg Drop, Substance X and Boojum.

For the Chandler Middle Schoolers who had many questions about becoming entrepreneurs, the brothers had some advice on skills that can be built while at Chandler. “Create a balance between your work schedule and your time - if you’re passionate about something, it’s easy to work endlessly, but you need to take care of yourself physically and mentally,” says Ramu. While the brothers applied themselves to learning, they still found time to have fun and thrive at Chandler.

The path to success was never linear for the brothers, but they believe that nothing that life has thrown at them is really a failure - it is a challenge to learn from and persevere. While the brothers didn’t get into their first choice high school, their experience at Chandler made

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all their post-Chandler education seem like a breeze. After Chandler, the brothers graduated from Arcadia High School and went on to receive their bachelors from USC Marshall School of Business and their Masters in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. With their extensive experience in small business start-ups and franchising, every day can come with a new set of trials. “These experiences can lead to some of the most valuable lessons and when one accepts these challenges, life becomes more full,” says Kanna.

Ramu and Kanna are co-founders and inventors at RE-U-ZIP Innovative Dust Barrier Solutions. Their road traversed has included real estate investment, franchise ownership and ultimately, the start-up of a small business based on an invention that’s revolutionizing the construction industry and supporting the healthcare, government and military sectors. They believe that success does not come from the reward of money, but the fulfillment and happiness of creating something innovative - finding solutions and new ways to think.

KEVIN MANG ’96 and his wife Cheryl are happy to announce that their eldest daughter Scarlett started Kindergarten at Chandler in the fall, officially joining Chandler’s Class of 2030!

ESZTER NEUMAN ’96 is the Chief Compliance Officer for Longwood Management, overseeing the comprehensive compliance programs for over 35 skilled nursing facilities in Southern California. She has three children Zev (8), Louis (5) and Maya (2) with her husband, Ariel Neuman, who is a principal at Bird Marella, a boutique litigation firm in Century City. This photo was taken during their recent visit to scenic Tahoe.

TRAVIS “TJ” YOUNG ’96 AND ERIN KANEKO ’96 with their children Tie,

Declan and Honora welcomed baby boy Ronan Keizo Kaneko-Young into their family on April 28, 2021 in Bellevue, Washington.

ERICA YEN ’97 is thrilled that daughter Zoey Le is thriving in Kindergarten at Chandler as part of the Class of 2030, loving all of her teachers and new friends, and is fully vaccinated! Erica reflects, “It has been such a joy to step back on campus and be flooded with nostalgic memories of the simpler days. What a year it's been, and the silver lining to the pandemic was the normalizing of remote work and being able to spend more time with family and friends.

I am now commuting just twice a week from Pasadena to work in El Segundo at KARL STORZ Endoscopy, a medical device company where I'm Senior Legal Counsel.

My best pandemic purchase was the Peloton, and I am obsessed. Husband Phuong Le and his law partners recently celebrated the one year anniversary of their new firm KLD LLP after 14+ years in practice, specializing in immigration law and investment visas. He loves cooking and plating delicious meals (in addition to supporting local restaurants),

which served us well in lockdown. It's been really gratifying to be back in Pasadena, connecting with old friends and meeting new ones, and I hope everyone is staying safe.”

ANDREA SWAIN LAKS ’99​ with her ​ husband Brian and t​ heir s​ on Christopher welcomed baby girl Carolina Milena Laks into their family in the spring of 2021.

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FA M I LY P RO FI L E DAN ROTHENBERG ’96 & ERIN ROTHENBERG BAKER

For the Good of Community

Dan Rothenberg ’96 and his sister Erin Rothenberg Baker bring a shared spirit of service to Chandler School, building on a legacy of leadership and impact that their parents, Anne and Jim Rothenberg, modeled over decades of commitment to the School.

As a Chandler lifer, Dan has many fond memories from his Chandler experience which include faculty favorites Mrs. Green, Mr. Cotton, Mr. Anderson and traditions such as Substance X, Boojum, athletics and friendships with classmates that continue today. As a Chandler alumnus, Dan has remained involved with the Chandler community, and when he and his wife Sarah first started dating, she remembers attending a Chandler event where she enjoyed chatting for hours with his former history teacher, Mr. Morrison.

Dan and Sarah’s commitment to education and the Chandler community has led them to accept numerous volunteer roles, including Board Chair, Alumni Council, CFA and now their favorite role as the parents of two Chandler students, Morgan and Willy. The young siblings typically beg to stay at school until 6 p.m., which impresses Sarah because it shows that their children feel a sense of ownership and belonging in their school.

As a student, Dan was unaware of the tireless volunteer work going on behind the scenes. In his term as Board Chair, he saw that decades of service by visionary leaders has guided Chandler to stay true to its mission while always innovating with the times.

In addition to their financial stewardship on the Board, Dan saw immense value in creating partnerships with local renowned institutions such as Caltech, JPL, and The Huntington, and he personally helped to facilitate Chandler’s special Huntington relationship. “It’s great for students to see the life-changing research and science inside these world-class organizations,” Dan explains.

“These partnerships expand the scope of incredible ideas that can inspire all Chandler students.”

Dan and Sarah appreciate that Chandler’s strong K-8 education is a foundation to later academic success. “It’s the preparation that Chandler builds into students,” Dan reflects. “Teachers showed me how to take notes, how to chunk a project into parts and then bring it all together – skills that helped me succeed beyond Chandler. We see that academic excellence continues in the education our own children are now receiving.”

What excites this couple most is Chandler’s culture of leaders. “It’s not just one person, it’s the whole community getting involved and who care so much about the school,” says Sarah. They are grateful that their children will now participate in time-honored traditions like the outdoor education program, Sports-a-Thon, the Paul Korn Invitational Track Meet, Book Fair, Family Fair and more.

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FA M I LY P RO FI L E

Dan and Sarah so appreciate Chandler’s faculty who work to deliver an innovative education in a nurturing, balanced and diverse environment that they created a special endowed award, The Sarah and Dan Rothenberg Endowed Faculty Award, to recognize excellent teaching, in addition to funding diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Chandler.

Erin and her husband Jeremy Baker, parents of two Chandler students Annabel and James, are similarly walking in the footsteps of Anne and Jim Rothenberg as highly-involved community volunteers.

As a couple with a deep sense of collective responsibility, Erin and Jeremy consider being involved to be the most important gift a family can give. Jeremy is a dedicated volunteer who can always be counted on to serve the School and community. As a Class Representative, he is a valued leader and member of the CFA. “It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as we all do something, because our children are our future.

What could be more important than that?” Erin asks with a smile.

From their first tour of the School to today, Jeremy and Erin have the resounding impression that the staff, teachers and Chandler community are special. James and Annabel are excited every single morning to go to school.

“It’s so magical to have your kids really engaged in their school,” Erin says.

As a member of the Board of Trustees, Erin is chair of the Board’s Strategic Planning Committee and spends a good deal of time thinking about Chandler’s future. Through that process, the community has come together to decide what’s important, and what’s needed now to keep Chandler at the forefront of educational excellence, with the ultimate goal of educating tomorrow’s change makers.

Erin paints the big picture, “Education is key to bringing our whole community together and to making improvements in society. We’re shaping our future through our kids and the School’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.” It’s a future that Jeremy believes will be enriched by the curiosity and conviction of his children and all Chandler students to seek and embrace what they don’t yet know. Erin and Jeremy proudly support Chandler’s Innovation Lab and initiatives that make the School a diverse and inclusive community.

Chandler has long embodied a belief that education can impact the world, and thanks to the leadership of countless people over many decades - including the Rothenberg and Baker families - the school is equipped to carry out its powerful mission for many decades to come.

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KATIE FREDERICK ’00 with her husband Jacob and their daughters Addie, Clemmie and Teddie welcomed the birth of their fourth child Jude Royal on October 7, 2021.

ALLISON MCGUIRE ’01 married her love Christian Branscombe on September 18, 2021 at their family home in Studio City. They fell in love at first sight and have dedicated themselves to never give up on each other.

Allison runs her business, The McGuire Method, which teaches business professionals (and Chandler students!) acting skills to present effectively. Chris is a leadership development and resilience training coach for companies and individuals. They reside in the Hollywood Hills.

JENNY SETO ’01 and her husband Jason Garcia welcomed their first child, Lucas, on July 19. He made a dramatic entrance into the world, coming 9 weeks early while the couple was out of state. "We were on vacation in Washington, and my water broke while I was virtually attending our childbirth class! It was terrifying, especially because we were staying on an island at the time," Jenny shared. After an agonizingly long ferry ride, they made it to the hospital where Lucas was born just a little over 3 lbs and relatively healthy. They spent the next two months living in WA and spending every day in the NICU. "Thankfully, the hospital had one of the best NICUs in the state," Jenny recounted. "We are so lucky; we got the best care and are so grateful to the NICU doctors and nurses." Once discharged, Jenny and Jason were able to bring Lucas home via a three day road trip. Not an easy feat with a newborn, but Lucas proved he was an expert traveler, handling the long drive and hotel stays with ease. "After all that, being at home with a newborn has seemed easy in comparison!"

Jenny said. "Lucas is four months old now and doing really well. It's been a tough journey, but it's all been worth it!"

SAMUEL CONOVITZ ’04 attended UC Davis for undergrad and pursued a career in legal studies up until 2015 when he transitioned to healthcare, obtaining his Masters in Public Health degree at UCLA in 2018. Since graduating, Samuel worked in quality management at UCLA Health and recently relocated to Portland, OR with his wife, Kelsey. He now works as a quality specialist at Oregon Health & Science University. Samuel and Kelsey are expecting their first child in the Summer of 2022.

SAMANTHA CHAU ’05 has begun residency in Interventional Radiology a​ t LA County Medical Center.

KARISSA HURZELER ’05 is the Collections Information Specialist for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

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ALUMNI PROFILE

Catching up with Olympian What inspired you to become an Olympic athlete?

Athletics has been an important part of my upbringing. My mom was an athlete and my dad competed in the 1984 Olympics in L.A. Following my fathers footsteps, I dreamed of competing in the Olympics since I was little. I have to thank both of my parents for encouraging a holistic approach to the sport: always reminding me to focus on the process, passion, and long term goals–in doing so, I found a lot of success.

Journey to the Olympics When people imagine training for the Olympics, the narrative is often a linear trajectory. But often the journey is a rollercoaster.

During the 2020 Olympics, we saw Simone Biles and Allyson Felix opening up about their mental health, and viewers began to learn about the individual behind the athletic performance.

There is a lot of struggle that goes into each performance and it’s easy to just assume it’s years of training.

My athletic journey to the Olympics was not a linear path. At the start of the pandemic, I decided to take a gap year. I wanted to travel and do research. Moreover, I had a feeling that track would not continue through the fall, and it would be best to make use of the time - to take a moment and pause. So, I moved back to L.A. to train with my coach from high school. There were many questions about whether track meets would continue; I only ran in two meets before the Olympics.

What did it mean to you to represent Palestine?

Growing up in the Palestinian diaspora, there are so many layers to identity; growing up in the West, there are a lot of politics surrounding identity. It was not until college that I began to unpack these layers, and understand my own positionality as a Palestinian woman, an athlete, and as someone who cares about human rights and social justice. I am grateful to be surrounded by a wonderful community at Brown and professors who have been a part of my journey. Watching the Olympics growing up, I always looked for the Palestinian team. I wanted to see a female sprinter, someone who looked like me. It was such an honor to

Hanna Barakat ’13

Beginnings When I started Chandler in sixth grade, I was excited to be part of a team.

I grew up playing soccer and enjoyed the camaraderie of fellow athletes. But, it wasn’t until a routine Middle School P.E. running test that I realized I was quite fast. With Mr. A’s encouragement, I competed in the 100m and 200m as a member of Chandler’s Track Team at CalTech. After my race, I remember Mr. A telling my parents that my results were impressive, and I had a future in the sport.

I was surprised. I remember thinking ‘If Mr. A says “I’m fast”, I must be fast.’

represent Palestine and come together with the four other athletes, in ways that the current situation does not allow. I am humbled that through this experience I can help people make important connections and inspire them to pursue their dreams.

What was the experience like to participate as a member of the Olympic team?

Going into the Olympics, I heard stories from my dad. When I got there, I was surprised it was a full functioning city. It’s a weird utopia; you are surrounded by so many faces, languages and colorful flags. Additionally, I made really good friends from all over the world.

Advice to Chandler students Don’t be afraid to try something new or try a new approach to something you love. Unconventionality can lead to wonderful outcomes.

You may even surprise yourself!

What’s next?

I am grateful to have had last year. Currently, I am a senior at Brown University, majoring in international relations with a focus on the Middle East. I hope to eventually pursue a PhD in information sciences. While training for the Olympics, I was doing research at the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems, and I just found out that my research is being published this summer. I want to work abroad, as I have a bit of a travel bug. I plan to participate in the World Athletic Championships in Oregon in the summer of 2022. After that, who knows... the world awaits!

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LAURA RIOS ’06 ​​graduated from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas - William S. Boyd School of Law. She passed the Nevada Bar exam in October 2021 and is working for a law firm in Nevada. Laura is pictured with brother Joseph ’04 and Mimi ’09 at her graduation.

ERIC FUNG ’10 married Kelly Lau on May 30, 2021 in Princeton Junction. They were thankful to have friends and family join them for their wedding. Eric shares, “This was the first major event for most of our guests since March 2020, and it went off without a hitch. With our health and safety precautions, we were able to dance the night away.” After the wedding, Eric and Kelly moved to Boston, as they will both be starting at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, concentrating in epidemiology.

MICHAEL ANASTASIA ’09 is an account

supervisor at Laundry Service focusing on the Pepsi Energy business.

He’s been enjoying watching his Alabama Crimson Tide roll through the college football season - Roll Tide!

SARAH ANDERSON ’09 is in the biomedical engineering PhD program at the University of Minnesota working on brain cancer research. She may graduate this year and intends to go with a research and development company. The picture shows Sarah (center) with two girlfriends after climbing Mt. Whitney to see the sunrise.

This was at the end of a two-week, 220-mile backpacking trip this past August. Earlier that summer she ran a marathon with friends in Duluth. This summer she’ll run her 10th marathon in Boston.

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MISAO MCGREGOR ’10 released her debut album Kid in the Corner in December 2020.

"Each song is meant to shed away another layer of all that I can be to get to the core of who I am. It's an homage to the experiences that have shaped me, both good and bad, and acts as an end to a chapter only to start anew," says Misao.

TYLER ANASTASIA ’12 has recently moved to Austin, Texas to help open a new office for Nolan Transportation Group. He is currently the senior sales manager leading 13 individuals who provide transportation and logistics for their clients. Tyler and his

girlfriend, Christina, have also recently welcomed a new member to their family, Prince, who is a miniature dachshund.

JAMES ANDERSON ’12 graduated from George Washington University and completed a year with AmeriCorps in Virginia. He is now working as a coordinator with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in Washington D.C. James has recently learned to play the guitar and enjoys writing music.

SAMANTHA RIVAS ’12 is currently pursuing her MD, Class of 2025, at the UCSF School of Medicine.

RILEY STETLER ’12 graduated from DePaul University in June 2020. He is living in New York and working in film and television production.

KIM AUSTIN ’13 graduated magna cum laude from Howard University in May 2021 where she earned a bachelor of arts in political science with double minors in economics and Spanish. At Howard, Kim was recognized by the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Association for her research report on racial discrimination in the labor market in Cali, Colombia. Kim has written articles on global affairs for the United Nations Association - Howard University Chapter and for the Atlantic Council of the United States where she worked for several months. Kim is currently living and working in Washington D.C. as a travel blogger and freelance journalist. In addition to photos from her life in Colombia and Mexico, her blog features content from a summer trip to Dubai, United Arab Emirates which can be viewed at KimLAustin.com.

SABRINA DE BRITO ’13 graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in criminology with departmental honors, a minor in History, and a Certificate in Spanish. She was awarded the Finnegan Memorial Prize for Best Criminology Thesis for her work exploring the impact of community-based treatment centers on juvenile, low-income populations.

Additionally, for the years of leading Penn’s premier improv comedy troupe Without a Net, she received the Platt House Senior Performing Arts Award. Sabrina shares, “I’m thrilled to announce that I was selected for a two-year teaching fellowship through the University of Pennsylvania. Not only will I be pursuing a master’s degree in education from the nation’s top graduate school of education, but I will also be teaching at one of the best independent schools in the country - St. Anne’s-Belfield School in Charlottesville, VA. My role as a Penn History Fellow will enable me to learn the ins and outs of the independent day school world while also gaining professional experience in adolescent education and industry best practices. I’m excited to begin this next chapter and even more excited to be joining the amazing, supportive community at St. Anne’s!”

ELLY HONG ’13 graduated cum laude with a BA in English from Amherst College. She is a proud member of Amherst’s bicentennial class and currently serves as the Literary Editorial Fellow at The Common in Amherst, MA. LILLY MAXFIELD ’13 graduated magna cum laude from UCLA in June with BAs in political science and art history. After graduating, she completed the JusticeCorps program at the Pasadena Courthouse, where she helped self-represented litigants navigate family law court documents. She also traveled to Ireland, Croatia and Corfu with family and friends this summer. Lilly is looking forward to starting a new full-time position as a legal assistant at a national law firm next year.

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ALEJANDRO SALINAS ’13 graduated from Stanford University with a bachelor of science in computer science, where he also served as a sports editor at The Stanford Daily.

He now works as a software engineer at Meta, formerly known as Facebook.

NICO SALINAS ’13 graduated from MIT with a bachelor of science in computer science and engineering. After graduation, Nico returned home to L.A. and is working with Facebook’s Oculus product in Silicon Beach.

OLIVIA VANDERGRIFF ’13 graduated from the University of Tennessee in May with a bachelor of arts in anthropology. Olivia is currently working as a COVID Logistics Coordinator for the University and is enjoying her time in Knoxville.

She enjoys traveling and hiking and plans to move back to Pasadena this summer.

been one of the most rewarding experiences in my life so far. I decided during quarantine last year that I wanted to try pursuing music and entertainment seriously, and so changing my major to music business and then traveling to Korea to learn more about music and dance has been an amazing time for me. I've met so many different people here and it's been really nice to connect through our shared passions and interests despite the language barrier. This experience has also grown my interest in living and working abroad in the future, so I'm really glad that I decided to listen to my heart and spend my semester abroad!”

THELONIOUS CUNDIEFF ’14 is a senior at USC, majoring in Geo Design. He's played college gigs with his band, "Off Task", and looks forward to recording songs he's written during the pandemic. In the spring, he hopes to secure an internship in his field and looks forward to more performing opportunities.

CHLOE DANIEL ’15 was the women’s epee individual champion at the 2019-20 Ivy League Championships. She earned first-team All-Ivy. Chloe is a health and societies major in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania.

PRANAV LAW ’14 is a senior at UCSD

working on his BS in public health, with plans to continue with graduate school.

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CATY SZETO ’14 is a senior at NYU, majoring in music business and minoring in child development and social intervention.

Caty shares, “This semester, I decided to take the plunge and study abroad at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, after having to give up the opportunity to go abroad last year due to COVID. Even though I faced some criticism for pushing to go abroad my senior year, I don't regret my decision at all, as it's probably

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LANCE TAM ’16 enjoyed the summer reconnecting with Chandler friends. He is excited to be on campus for his sophomore year at UC Berkeley and intends to major in computer science.

ADAM ACOSTA ’17 graduated from St. Francis High School. He is a freshman at San Diego State University.

ASHLEY AHN ’17 graduated from Mayfield Senior School. At Mayfield, she participated in choir. Ashley is a freshman at Vanderbilt University, double majoring in human and organizational development and law, history and society.

ALUMNI PROFILE LUCAS CHATHAM ’20

Alumni Artist “As I reflect upon my time at Chandler, I created this piece in honor of my teachers, classes and experiences at Chandler,” says Lucas.

“As a young child, I always enjoyed drawing. But it wasn’t until 6th grade that I discovered my passion for art.” A distinct style of overlapping doodles, unique characters and elements was his inspiration for this limited design that was made available to families in 2021. In the design, there are elements that represent the science program, English, history, P.E., Spanish, math, art and the outdoor education program.

Lucas is a sophomore at the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts (LACHSA). “I am loving LACHSA and the growth and confidence I feel in the development of my artistic creations,” says Lucas. “I’ve learned so much about myself. The dedication and drive that I have for my craft will help me achieve my goals and I look forward to developing my brand Luchat.” You can follow Lucas on Instagram @luchat_art.

ALEXANDER ALBRECHT ’17 graduated with honors from Cate School in Carpinteria, CA. During his senior year, he served as a prefect for the freshman dorm, math tutor and head CateNet Master. He also managed statistics for Cate's sports teams. Currently, he is taking a gap year and working for StatsPerform as a college football and basketball reporter. He will attend Villanova University in the fall of 2022.

MATIN BAGHERI ’17 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. At Prep, he participated in student government and served as junior class president. He was also a member of the junior varsity soccer team and varsity tennis team, which won the CIF championship. Matin enjoyed participating in Prep’s musicals and was cast as a lead in both Chicago and Pippin. He is a freshman at Columbia University, majoring in film.

ZACH BECHTHOLD ’17 graduated from St. Francis High School. While at St. Francis, he was a member of the volleyball team and enjoyed spending time with friends. Zach is a freshman at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in biology.

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MADISON BRADFORD ’17 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. At Prep, she was a member of the varsity soccer team and served as editor for the yearbook. She served as a Youth Ambassador for the Independent School Alliance (ISA) and was a recipient of ISA’s Hekymara Scholarship. Over the summer, she worked at Summer@Chandler with the incoming kindergarteners, Class of 2030, and became a member of Chandler's Extended Care Team! She is a freshman at Boston University and plans to major in psychology.

ESME CHIARA ’17 graduated from Mayfield Senior School. At Mayfield, she was a member of the varsity golf team, editor-inchief for Mayfield’s newspaper, co-head of the Animal Rights Club with fellow alumna Mia Pippert ’17, a member of tech theatre and the National Honor Society. Esme is a freshman at North Carolina State University, majoring in zoology.

ALYSSA CHRISTOPOULOS ’17 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. At Prep, she enjoyed the performing arts and participating in the school’s dance concerts and musicals. Alyssa was also a member of Prep’s cheer and dance teams. As a competitive dancer, she will continue dancing in college. Alyssa is a freshman at the University of Michigan where she plans to double major in dance and biopsychology, cognition and neuroscience.

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SIMONE CUNDIEFF ’17 graduated from Polytechnic High School. At Poly, she participated in a variety of musical productions. She was a member of the jazz band, tennis and basketball teams.

At graduation, Simone was one of the commencement speakers. She is a freshman at Rhode Island School of Design, majoring in art. In her spare time, Simone enjoys playing bass guitar and creating custom apparel.

WILLIAM FARHAT ’17 graduated from Harvard-Westlake. He is a freshman at the University of Southern California, majoring in computer science.

William is also an award-winning freelance game designer. Chandler is grateful to William and fellow alumni Andrew Gong ’17, Jennifer Spinoglio ’17 and Meena Durairaj ’19 for their participation as mentors to the Chandler debate team and judges for Chandler’s 10th Anniversary Debate Showcase in April.

JD FREY ’17 & MARCELL CAMACHO ’17,

led the Saint Francis Golden Knights High School Lacrosse team to the 2021 CIF Southern California Division 2 Championship with a 15-8 victory over Culver City High School. JD scored six goals in the final and was named the game's offensive MVP. Marcell was an instrumental player at face-off and defensive midfield.

JD was team captain, a 4-year varsity player and earned all Mission League and all CIF Southern Section honors scoring 52 goals and 25 assists. JD was named the "Heart and Soul" Award for the Golden Knights. JD accepted an offer to play Division 2 Lacrosse at Assumption University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Marcell won 60 percent of his season face-offs (110/180), played critical midfield defense, and scored 8 goals and 7 assists. Marcell was named "The Most Improved Player" for the Golden Knights.

Marcell is attending the nursing program at Pasadena City College before heading to UCLA.

MATTHEW GAMBOA ’17 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. At Prep, he was a member of the varsity water polo and swim teams and participated in the movie club. Matthew is a freshman at Tufts University, majoring in community health.

MATT HEADLEY ’17 graduated from Cervantes Academy. He is a freshman at Purdue University, majoring in network engineering.

GAURAV LAW ’17 graduated from Loyola High School. At Loyola, he was a member of the varsity tennis team and a recipient of the Christian Service Award. He is a freshman (honors) at The Ohio State University, majoring in sports journalism and data analytics.

EMERSON HERRERA ’17 graduated from the Geffen Academy at UCLA. He is a student of Historical European Martial Arts and placed 9th, as a 16-year-old, out of 45 adult competitors at the SoCal Swordfight Open Rapier tournament in February 2020. Congratulations, Emerson on this achievement! Emerson is a freshman at McGill University.

COURTNEY GANGI ’17 graduated from Mayfield Senior School. At Mayfield, she served as ASB Vice President and sought out ways to give power to the voices of Mayfield's student body. For years, Courtney acted as a retreat leader for her class and a member of the varsity basketball team. She enjoyed performing in her school’s musical theatre program, playing roles from Elle Woods in Legally Blonde to Widow Corney in Oliver!.

Courtney is taking a gap year to heal from a severe concussion, but hopes to study psychology in the future.

DANIEL GERST ’17 graduated from St. Francis High School. At St. Francis, he participated in robotics and Brazilian jiu jitsu. He is a freshman at the University of California, Santa Cruz, majoring in computer science at the Baskin School of Engineering. Go Banana Slugs!

NICHOLAS LIN ’17 graduated from St. Francis High School. He is a freshman at Pitzer College, majoring in psychology.

EMILY HSIEH ’17 graduated from Westridge School. At Westridge, she was a member and senior captain of the varsity tennis team. In 2019, they won the CIF state championship for the first time since 1981. Emily was also captain of an all-girls robotics team where they programmed and built a robot from scratch to compete in the annual FIRST Tech Challenge tournament. A Girl Scout since the first grade, Emily received her Gold Award in 2020 for developing a STEM laboratory curriculum and educational video series to encourage young girls to pursue their STEM passions. She is a freshman at the University of Southern California, majoring in neuroscience.

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AUDREY MA ’17 graduated from Westridge School. At Westridge, she was one of the first members of the school’s Writing Center, serving as a writing coach for two years and worked as a member of Westridge's Peer2Peer group that offered support to students throughout campus. She also interned as a research assistant for Dr. Alex Phillips, a recent CalTech PhD graduate, throughout her senior year and is a co-author on her paper. Throughout Audrey's time at Westridge, she was involved in theater set design, costume design and sound while participating as an affinity and club co-head.

Currently, she is a freshman at the University of Southern California. ​F LORIAN MEISTER ’17 graduated from Geffen Academy at UCLA​. He was a member of the track and cross country teams, which placed first in their league.

He also enjoys photography. Florian is a freshman at Reed College.

MARCOS MOLINE ’17

graduated from Loyola High School. He is a freshman at the University of California, San Diego, majoring in neuroscience.

MIA PIPPERT ’17 graduated from Mayfield Senior School. At Mayfield, she was co-captain of the varsity swim team and a member of the varsity water polo team.

She was co-head of the animal rights club and served as ASB publicity. She also enjoys painting in her spare time.

Mia is a freshman at the University of Oregon, majoring in advertising.

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CLARICE PRANYOTO ’17 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. At Prep, she participated in robotics and dance.

Clarice is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in mechanical engineering and minoring in computer science.

BRANDON SZETO ’17 graduated from Polytechnic High School. He was a member of the varsity basketball team, which won the CIF Southern Section Division 4AA Championship. He will continue playing basketball as a freshman at Carleton College!

BOBBY ROJO ’17 graduated from Notre Dame High School. He is a freshman at Northeastern University, majoring in computer science.

EMMA STELLAR ’17 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. At Prep, she played nearly every sport and enjoyed spending time with friends. She was a member of several student groups such as the Athletic Council on Leadership and Feminism Club.

Emma was awarded the JP Blecksmith Award, which is awarded to a student who embodies the qualities of leadership, scholarship, athletic commitment, personal integrity, mentorship, and public service. She is a freshman at the University of Southern California, majoring in sociology with a minor in Spanish. She loves USC and is a member of the school’s snowboarding team!

JOHN SZIJJARTO ’17 graduated from Harvard-Westlake School. He was a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, a recipient of the Independent School Alliance Hekymara Scholarship and served as co-chair of the Harvard-Westlake Student Alumni Association. He is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in mechanical engineering.

HEATHER THOMASIAN ’17 graduated from Marlborough School in Hancock Park, Los Angeles. At Marlborough, she was an affinity group leader and active member of multiple school clubs. Heather is also a sustaining member of the National Charity League, Red Cross and California Scholarship Federation, where she was a peer-tutor. Heather is currently a freshman at Pepperdine University, majoring in biology on the pre-med track. At Pepperdine she is involved in several clubs and school groups.

She continues to volunteer on weekends at her local church. Heather is looking forward to participating in the June Debutante Ball 2022 for the Pasadena Guild of Children’s Hospital.

Heather is an avid scuba diver, runner and hiker.

ALEX YEH ’17 graduated from Flintridge Preparatory School. He is a freshman at New York University, majoring in anthropology.

TYLER DORLARQUE ’18 is a senior at St. Francis High School, where he's president of the Sports Medicine Club and active with the English Honor Society. During COVID, he became a Certified Nurse Assistant and now works part time at a retirement home in Arcadia. He's been accepted to the nursing program at University of Portland, among other colleges.

FORD MUELLER ’18 is enjoying his senior year at St. Francis High school in La Cañada, where he participated in four years of cross country. He recently achieved his Eagle Scout and completed his Eagle project working with UCSB Anthropology Department and building tools for the forensic search of missing Montecito 2017 mudslide victims including 17-year-old Jack Cantin, also an Eagle Scout, which was nominated for a National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award.

DYLAN TRACY-LINDENBAUM ’17

graduated from Loyola High School. At Loyola, he was a member of the varsity basketball team. He is a freshman at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, majoring in business.

NATALIE VANDERGRIFF ’17 graduated from Westridge School in May 2021 and currently attends Auburn University where she is studying biomedical sciences with hopes of becoming a dermatologist. Natalie enjoys dance and fundraising with her sorority, Kappa Kappa Gamma, which works with organizations focusing on mental health and women’s education.

JAYDON FAAL ’18 is a senior at HarvardWestlake. Over the summer, he worked at Eaton Canyon Country Club and participated in the CORO Leadership Program.

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CATHERINE CHAN ’19 is a junior at Arcadia High School. She is currently working on a nonprofit organization with a few other Arcadia High students called United Through Language (UTL) where they provide free English tutoring for ELD students and underprivileged individuals across the world. Catherine shares, “UTL places more significance on the verbal side of language and as such, our classes heavily emphasize the conversational aspect of English. All our classes are conducted virtually with flexible scheduling. We hope to achieve nonprofit status for UTL by the end of this year but in the meantime, we have partnered with another organization, G2F, to ensure that our organization may function within the means of a nonprofit. Our teachers (fellow highschool students, many of whom are bilingual) go through a selection process and are given credited volunteer hours for their work. As someone who has relatives living in many different areas of the world, I understand how hard it can be to connect with others when there is a language barrier.

I truly believe our tutoring services, which can help students with grammar, vocab, and/ or oral, will be greatly beneficial to students.”

If you are interested in learning more about this opportunity, you can reach out to Catherine at 45270@students.ausd. net or inquiries.utl@ gmail.com.

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EMMA NEWHALL ’19 is a junior at Polytechnic School. At Poly, she is a member of the varsity soccer team and the Women’s Service League. She is also enjoying her time as a student ambassador and helping Chandler 8th graders during the admissions seasons!

CAYENNE LEE ’20 is a sophomore at La Salle College Preparatory. As a member of the La Salle Girls Varsity Tennis Team, they won the 2021 California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Championship. Cayenne placed 2nd in the CIF Girls Individual Tennis in the Camino Del Rey League.

JOSIAH REYES ’19 debuted his first single "Lonely" on iTunes and Spotify under the artist name JoJo Ray in February 2021. He wrote "Lonely" during the first COVID closure to express the isolation and disconnect that he experienced as the world around him shut down. The song was produced by recording artists Chase Stockman and Ryan Wood. Josiah is a sophomore at Maranatha High School, studying guitar and writing more music for a full-length album. He hopes to inspire others through his music, to cling to faith and family in uncertain times and know that even when you're "lonely," you are never alone.

KENSUKE SHIMOJO ’19 is a junior at Harvard-Westlake School. He is a member of the robotics team and got an excellence award at VEX Robotics Tournament and went to the world championship. He placed 2nd at the Boyceville Science Olympiad competition in 2021.

Kensuke is enjoying his experience at Harvard-Westlake.

JOHN MUELLER ’20 is sophomore class president at Loyola High School after serving as class representative his freshman year. He played JV and varsity football as running back. He is running track again this year after a standout freshman year running varsity 110 and 300 hurdles and anchor for 4x400 relay in which he had the fastest time in California of ninth graders in 300 hurdles and was the only ninth grade qualifier at CIF. He still plays club soccer, surfs every chance he gets and continues to expand his small business Johnny on the Spot Surf Products.

ALUMNI PROFILE BRANDON CHENG ’21

edONE Foundation

As the world faced unprecedented adversity, millions of school children were sent home as the COVID-19 pandemic shut down schools across the nation. Many students struggled with remote learning and others did not have access to the tools necessary to successfully navigate at-home learning.

Chandler alumni Brandon Cheng ’21 and Kelsey Kim ’20 were motivated to make a difference and help students succeed.

Brandon is the founder and president of edONE Foundation, which offers children in grades K-5 the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive through free tutoring and mentoring programs. Brandon reflects, “I started edONE because the world needs people actively working together to help others. And, that’s what edONE is here to do.” The mission of edONE is to extend educational opportunities to underserved youth—empowering them to become not only studious learners, but also exuberant human beings. Please visit our website at https://www.edonefoundation.org/ to learn more.

Save the Date CLASS OF 2018 OFF TO COLLEGE REUNION Friday, May 6, 2022 4 P.M. for alumni & parents of alumni

CHANDLER ALUMNI T OPPORTUNITIES TO GE

INVOLVED!

Be a guest speaker and share your career journey and life advice with students from kindergarten to eighth-grade. We also have many opportunities each year, such as panels, workshops and guest teaching.

Please contact Jennifer Johnson ’94 at jjohnson@chandlerschool.org with your interest!

Spring 2022

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GEORGE TELLECHEA ’95

Between Boyle Heights and Pasadena “To get to Chandler, I’ d wake up at 6:00 a.m. to catch a bus

by General Hospital with housekeepers and nannies making their way to Pasadena. I remember seeing the neighborhoods change as I made my way from Boyle Heights to Pasadena,” says George Tellechea ’95.

“It was a sacrifice, but my mom was up with me every morning motivating and reminding me of the opportunity I was given, so I hopped on that bus every day.”

After Chandler School, George attended Loyola High School, then UC Berkeley, where he doublemajored in English and Spanish. He currently works as a senior product manager and is recently enrolled as a grad student at UC Berkeley - this time the Haas School of Business - to obtain his master's degree in business administration.

Throughout his career, and starting at Chandler, he has had to navigate two worlds - not just two distinct communities of Los Angeles County, but also differences in personalities, music and different cultures. While it could be seen as a challenge to some students, the opportunity to alternate also proved a strength.

“As a professional, you are constantly talking to different types of people,” says George, “you have to be a great communicator and listener to build connections and get things done.” These are essential lessons for anyone in business, but he further says that part of this is being open to new experiences and empathetic with many types of people. “I teach my kids to seek out the differences and beauty in others, learning and growing from others.”

George is grateful for the challenges that his time at Chandler afforded him. He recalls that he didn’t exactly fit in with the 90s alternative rock-listening classmates.

When his sister came to campus to perform folklorico in the gym for Cinco de Mayo, he recalls, “It was an awesome memory! And I'll never forget that because I was so proud to have my sister there and I appreciated the opportunity to bring my culture onto the campus.”

He also recalls many of the transformative experiences, like Boojum. He says, “When I think back to my time at Chandler, I feel so fortunate to be part of that class because it was some of the most transformative, valuable years of my life - every day was a new experience. I learned so much, and it was exciting.”

At the beginning of his time at Chandler, George mentions that being in this gray area between two worlds was instinctually weird and uncomfortable. He says, “Eventually, I got comfortable in this gray area, then I made a living out of it as a product manager. I figured this is actually not bad; it's actually a gift. I can travel to different places, interact with different people and groups, and I feel at home wherever I go - Boyle Heights to Pasadena was just the beginning.”

About Chandler’s Financial Aid Program Chandler School strives to offer families access to an indepen- students receive financial aid to attend Chandler School as we dent school education by providing financial aid to qualifying recognize that as much is given to us, much is expected from students to achieve their full potential as learners. Chandler us. To learn more about opportunities to give to Chandler’s School serves the greater community and values racial, reli- scholarship fund, please contact the Advancement Office at gious, cultural and economic differences. Currently, 20% of (626) 795-9314.

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Debbie Nesbit Volunteer Excellence Award This award is given annually to an out-going eighth grade Chandler parent who, over the years, has demonstrated a true volunteer commitment; a person who gives selflessly of themselves to benefit the Chandler community. The award was established to honor Debbie Nesbit for her countless hours of volunteer work during her time at Chandler.

It is our pleasure to announce the 2021 Debbie Nesbit Volunteer Excellence Award Recipient Chris Waldheim ’81.

Congratulations, Chris! Thank you for your outstanding volunteerism, leadership, dedication and service to the Chandler School community.

chandlerschool.org/gala

AWARD RECIPIENTS Claire Glidden 2020 Jeehyun Lee 2019 Candy Renick 2018 Jennifer Walston Johnson 2017 Daisy Rivas 2016 Yuen Fang 2016 Marion Fong 2015 Amanda McCarthy 2014 Maggie Chang 2013 Marianne Wright 2012 Lucia Logan 2011 Kate Jacobs 2010 Karen Deacy-Russell 2009 Kelly Rouse 2008 Barbara Goto 2007 Elise Chow 2006 Stephanie Magsarili 2005 Leslie Comras Aiken 2004 Shelley Allen 2003

CONNECT Despite our physical distance, maintaining our connection to you is more important than ever. The ongoing COVID pandemic continues to drive our creativity in how we support and serve our network of alumni, parents of alumni, faculty and friends.

As the landscape improves, we look forward to better days ahead, reuniting with you together as a community, once again on Chandler’s campus.

In the meantime, get in touch with our Advancement team to make sure we have your current contact information. Stay connected - we love hearing about your journey beyond Chandler. Share updates on education, career or family news or simply check-in about upcoming events. And follow us on social media to stay up to date on important school and alumni news.

communications@chandlerschool.org alumni@chandlerschool.org

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