MESSAGE from the HEAD OF SCHOOL t our annual retreat this summer, Chandler’s administrative team spent time identifying the school’s core values and discussing ways to reinforce them. We found ourselves returning to Chandler’s mission as a guide. Chandler’s educational philosophy and core value propositions are embodied by its mission. Each page of this edition of the Shamrock is filled with evidence of Chandler’s mission at work.
“
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.
Chandler’s Board of Trustees reviewed the mission at their annual retreat last April and decided not to make any changes to its content or wording. The mission will be under additional scrutiny during the 2018-19 school year as we prepare for an accreditation visit by the California Association of Independent Schools in January 2019, a process we go through every seven years. The association believes that a strong mission statement must be a living document that inspires reflection and growth and resonates with constituents in the school community. Chandler’s mission serves that purpose.
A core value not captured by the mission is the strength of studentteacher relationships that help define Chandler’s purpose. Results from last spring’s parent survey confirmed how important the student-teacher relationship is to your satisfaction with the school. Families find qualified, caring faculty that contribute to an excellent academic education, along with a positive, caring, safe environment, and the development of character and values in their children.
Based on an analysis of the data from 260 parents, Chandler’s survey results portray a healthy, stable school with satisfied families in both divisions. Key benchmarks indicate a high level of satisfaction: 100% of first-year families indicated their experience thus far has exceeded or equaled their expectations; about 93% of respondents believe Chandler offers an “excellent” or “good” value for the cost (with almost 60% selecting “excellent value”); roughly 94% are likely to recommend Chandler to another family; and about 94% are planning on remaining at Chandler through eighth grade. “These figures place well above independent school averages,” wrote the survey designers.
Chandler offers several key strengths that contribute to the high satisfaction levels. Ratings and open-ended responses identified academics as the greatest strength of the school, including academic balance and consistency, the pursuit of excellence, and an emphasis on technology. Many parents responded in glowing terms about faculty members that teach and care for their children. Parents are also pleased with the positive school environment and sense of community, believing Chandler “knows their children.” Families view the campus and facilities as major strengths and value school safety and the emphasis on development of values and character. The range of opportunities offered to students is appreciated as part of the development of the whole child. In sum, Chandler is fulfilling its mission. Chandler is not perfect. As much as we want to build on our strengths, your survey responses have helped us identify areas in our academic and co-curricular programs that we need to improve as we strive to fulfill Chandler’s mission in every facet of our operation. Nothing wilts faster than laurels rested upon. Most sincerely,
John Finch Head of School
CHANDLER
O N T H E C O V E R
S H A M R O C K M A G A Z I N E 2 018 is published for parents, alumni, past parents and friends of Chandler School.
First-graders on a leaf safari led by science specialist Stephanie Ho. Students collected leaves and asked questions such as, “Why are some leaves brown and crunchy? In what ways could I sort these leaves? What does this leaf shape remind me of?” It was Einstein who said, “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”
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;
content s C H A N D L E R T O D AY
ALUMNI NE WS
News Highlights
2
Q&A with Music Teachers
6
Great American Road Trip
8
Graduation
10
Distinguished Alumna:
14
Off to College: Class of 2014
16
Alumni Visiting Day
18
Class Notes & Profiles
20
Catherine M. Rose Scholarship
21
Alumni Events
40
Deborah Nesbit Award
42
Golf Classic
43
The Power of Giving
44
Parent Survey Result
45
Ann Fromholz ’82
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. ch a n d l e r s ch o ol. or g Chandler School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation.
r e d n <Ki > g n i d Co Chandler kindergarteners learn to program a floor robot, the BeeBot. Using teamwork and directional language, they tell BeeBot how to navigate a maze. By third grade, students are using laptops and Scratch, a visual programming language, to create and share interactive stories, games and animations.
Running the
Show
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Ident it y Poems Seventh-grade English teacher Ashley Laird teaches poetry that encourages students to find their own voice - with poems.
The Gift
Best Bu ddies Chandler’s buddy program pairs each Middle School student with a Lower School student from kindergarten, first or second grade. Older kids benefit from a chance to be a leader and role model, and younger students love having a bigger and wiser special friend on campus.
Asking Artful Questions Third-grade teachers Shelby Montevirgen and Carla Fernandez asked students to research a personal passion, create an artifact, and present to the class. “We want our students to be trained in the art of asking artful questions,” explains Montevirgen. Questions included: When was skiing invented? Was baseball the first sport to break the color barrier? Where does slime exist in nature? How exactly does the brain work?
From a long, long time ago In a far away land There lay an ancestor Of dark skin, of twisted hair Who had many gifts One of them The gift of song A gift as special As the first one on Christmas morning A gift so pure No one could ever touch it A gift so incredible That even the gods would Stop – And marvel When she sang It filled the air Floating in the sky And floated to her daughter For hundreds of years This gift floated And swam And flew And ran And ended up In a small child’s hands Who had a small voice This child would grip the gift And sing And when she sang The gods would look down Her ancestors would look down And they would stop And they would say “Her voice flows in her blood From those before her” - Nyla Cross seventh grade
Summer 2018
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Divin g in to
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Robert Calderon’s advanced microbiology elective is unique among middle schools in the United States, giving highly-motivated students a chance to use the latest tools of biotechnology. “I want students to build a passion for future studies in science,” he notes. Eighth-grade student Nicole Gonzalez validates his efforts. “I definitely want to become a doctor now,” she says. Students start by culturing bacteria cells from soil samples, and analyze cells through staining techniques to determine if they are gram-positive or gram-negative. Cells are then lysed and the genomic DNA is extracted. Through research, students decide what types of bacteria are likely to be discovered, and design oligonucleotides accordingly. These oligonucleotides (small strands of DNA or RNA) are then used as a starting point to amplify a specific sequence of the genomic DNA using a process called PCR (polymerase chain reaction). Students analyze the amplicons (copies of the genomic DNA) using gel electrophoresis, where nucleic acids are pulled through a gel using an electric current. Students then stain the gels to view under a light source. From these gels, students determine the relative lengths of the genomic strand and the relative abundance. Later in the class, students investigate other techniques and protocols of DNA extraction. Students investigate their own genetic makeup by analyzing DNA sequences from their own cheek cells. These techniques include the amplification and cutting of DNA using restriction enzymes to produce amplicons of various lengths. “I’ve enjoyed practicing new lab skills,” says Nicole. “At first it can be intimidating, but over time we learned to use the equipment,” she concludes.
Art Attack
Chandler loves art. In April, we celebrated artwork and creative expression with our biggest, boldest Artworks yet. Powered by superhuman CFA parent volunteers and our tireless art department duo, the Ahmanson gallery showcased artwork from every single Chandler student. The evening soiree featured live music, artist interviews, sketching easels, tie-dying, a doodle wall and delicious food.
Summer 2018
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In Perfect Harmony “Music is my 5-star part of school,” wrote third-grader Taylor Trauber earlier this year. Many Chandler students agree, because of the passion and joy exuded by our teachers, Will Salmon and Brandi Williams-Moore.
The talented pair owns impressive real-world credentials: Will has led an avant-garde opera group for 35 years; Brandi toured and sang with heavyweights including Alicia Keys, Toni Braxton, and Whitney Houston. Every year, they bring Chandler audiences to tears with stunning student performances. They lead Chandler in the performing arts with an inspired vision for the power of music.
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YOU BOTH TEACH EVERY GRADE LEVEL AT CHANDLER. WHAT IS THAT LIKE?
WS I love that I have this contrast of the different ages. I find it very refreshing, and I never get stuck on a single emotional level. The things that matter to a kindergartener are different for an eighth grader. BWM It’s an advantage and privilege to teach K-8. To see kids’ growth and to nurture that in a supportive environment is a gift. The relationship that I build with families is special. I see siblings over the years. It feels familial a true community.
YOU HELP KIDS FIND A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE IN MUSIC.
WS A lot of what I do is teach songs and then have kids create something with them. I’ll introduce a classic folk song, and ask them to make up another verse or do a dance that’s related. The culture has become, “Hey, we create.” They come into the music room and create their own stuff. BWM I love how Michael Jackson used music as a platform for social awareness. We spent a fifth-grade class period talking about his song, “Man in the Mirror” – what does it mean, what do we take for granted in our comfortable lives. Making connections to the song’s meaning and emotion also helps kids perform it.
DO YOU FIND WAYS TO LINK MUSIC AND CULTURE?
WS I always put the music in a social context. If it’s music from Japan or music from the Middle Ages, I’ll talk about how the music functions in that context. That comes really naturally to me, and I was glad to find other people here interested in that. BWM In my History of Hip-Hop class, we look at hip-hop as not just a style of music, but as a culture and evolving tradition. We talk about how hip-hop came from a small corner of Brooklyn and now is worldwide.
WHAT DO YOU HOPE STUDENTS CARRY AWAY WITH THEM?
WS I want children not only to enjoy music with me, but continue to have music be a part of their life. I hope they will find it both deep and fun, because I do! If we had wonderful ensembles but afterwards everyone was tired of it, that wouldn’t be success to me. BWM Music is universal. I try to convey that you may not be the best, or perform music, but music is everywhere. I taught a unit on Beethoven and kids realized we hear his music in everyday life – ring tones, ads, movies. Alicia Keys sampled his work in her songs. They mature in knowing what they’re listening to, and that can always enrich their lives.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MUSIC & PERFORMING ARTS ELECTIVES Musical Theatre Productions (two per year) Instrumental Ensemble A Cappella Modern Dance Composing Music Drama Workshop Socially Conscious Music Music of Asia Garage Band Percussion Jazz Mini-Musical (sixth grade) Glee Club
t o n an u p s te ia c o nds amily Ass Chandler F air in April, raising fu s F ilie epic Family andler School. Fam s, Ch tion to benefit y of incredible attrac ili ch da enjoyed a uge slide, laser tag, h wall, including a k tank, rock climbing , live un cook off, d ainting, gold panning g cin ep zip line, fac cks, and dozens of enti d: w tru music, food . Spotted in the cro er, te ms auction ite who returned to volun rs ni ne young alum dmit ted kindergar te . -a irts and newly ng Class of 2027 t-sh rti proudly spo
Alumni BBQ @ The Family Fair
Alumni and parents of alumni gathered on the Point for the annual Alumni Family BBQ. Afterward, they enjoyed the Family Fair, a beloved Chandler tradition.
Congrat Sixty-Eight Students in the
Class o
tulations
of
2018
Received Their Diplomas on June 6, 2018!
Awards Presented
TO MEMBERS OF THE CLASS OF 2018
Chandlerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s graduates head to top secondary schools!
Arthur L. P. Brown Award for Scholastic Progress
Alliance Environmental Science and Technology High School
ASHLEY HUANG
Vernon L. Hill Citizenship Award
Alverno High School Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy
KATIA ALEXA COULIS STAVROPOULOS
Mayfield Senior School
Robert T. McInerny Award for Excellence in School Service
La Salle High School
SAMUEL LUKE IGNACIO SALSEDA
Fine Arts (Performing) Award
WILLIAM JOHN FOSSELMAN
Fine Arts (Visual) Award
ISABELLA ROSE MARCH
Westridge School Loyola High School Harvard-Westlake School St. Francis High School Polytechnic School Flintridge Preparatory School South Pasadena High School
Clyde E. MacQuoid Award for Best Girl Athlete AVA AILI ALMS
William Wilson Award for Best Boy Athlete
MICHAEL COLE DEMONTEVERDE
Jefferson C. Stephens Scholarship Award ELIZA JEAN WILLIAMS
Catherine S. Chandler Award for Best All-Around Girl CLARA ANN KLEINDORFER
Thomas A. Chandler Award for Best All-Around Boy MICHAEL COLE DEMONTEVERDE
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Highly Gifted Magnet at North Hollywood High School Episcopal School of Los Angeles Brentwood School Maranatha High School California School of the Arts San Gabriel Valley Santa Margarita Catholic High School The Webb Schools Campbell Hall School Notre Dame High School Marlborough School
Almost Alumni The Class of 2018 enjoyed several Almost Alumni events, hosted by Chandler's Alumni Council, to celebrate the milestone moments leading up to Commencement and what it means to become Chandler alumni. This year, the Class of 2018 gift of $10,000 will fund an art mural for the South Campus, and also support the Starlight Foundation through advocate Salima Darakjy '92 and Bikes 4 Orphans, founded by Sebouh '10 and Shawnt '12 Bazikian.
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2018 CHANDLER SCHOOL DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWARD WINNER
Ann Fromholz ’82 Polytechnic School Dartmouth College University of Southern California Law School Principal, The Fromholz Firm
Each one of “ you is capable of
creating that kind of change, of making the world a better place...
”
says Ann Fromholz, this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award winner. As an employment attorney for over 20 years, Ann ensures fair treatment for all workers. “It’s important work,” she says thoughtfully. As it turns out, Ann has inherited a multigenerational family legacy of insisting on fair treatment in the workplace. “My grandmother graduated from law school at George Washington University in 1926, and no one would hire her,” Ann recounts. “Eventually she got hired by a federal agency. But she and other women were subsequently fired in the depths of the Great Depression, because, they were told, ‘men need jobs to support their families.’”
“The Civil Rights Act hadn’t arrived, so this was legal. My grandmother knew someone who knew Eleanor Roosevelt, and Eleanor took my grandmother’s and the other women’s story to FDR. He promptly had these women hired back. So my family has a history of fighting for equal rights.” Beyond her work, Ann volunteers extensively and generously to defend, support, and bring opportunities to disadvantaged women and high school students. “I volunteer with the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s domestic violence project. We help women and men without means to prepare court papers to obtain temporary and permanent restraining orders,” Ann says.
“ Mr. Morrison was an incredible history teacher, and it’s
no coincidence that I became a history major... Chandler probably was the toughest academic experience I had until law school.”
“Also, I’m in my fifth year coaching a mock trial team at Animo Pat Brown Charter High School in the Florence Firestone area of Los Angeles. It’s a college-prep charter school in the heart of dangerous gang territory. All our students have faced major adversity, and they’re climbing up. In mock trial, every one of them will try a case in a Los Angeles courtroom. All of them go to college. One of our mock trial alumni now is a staff writer for the Yale Daily News.”
Ann frequently speaks with Chandler students on Alumni Visiting Day, and in Expert Advice, a Middle School elective class. “Chandler students are so insightful, incredibly bright, and so open-minded. They consider the individual person, not the external differences,” she notes. And, her own daughter is now a happy Chandler second grader.
On being recognized as the Distinguished Alumna, Ann notes, “It’s such an honor. Chandler has produced such impressive people, and has such high standards, so to be selected from the alumni body is really wonderful.”
It’s easy for Ann to trace the impact of her Chandler foundation. “Mr. Morrison was an incredible history teacher, and it’s no coincidence that I became a history major,” Ann recalls. “Chandler probably was the toughest academic experience I had until law school.”
2019 CHANDLER SCHOOL
DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI AWA R D
The Chandler School Distinguished Alumni Award is given annually to a Chandler alumnus or alumna in recognition of outstanding achievement and unselfish dedication to his/her community. Those who are honored with this award have, through their life and work, embodied Chandler’s mission and Six Pillars of Character: Trustworthiness, Respect, Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship. The Chandler School Alumni Council invites nominations for this award. If you know of a Chandler alumnus or alumna whose life or work you would like to see honored with this award, please consider the following criteria: • Significant accomplishment in career or field of interest; • Excellence in service to the community or to society in general; • Volunteer service which has inspired others; • Embodiment of Chandler’s Six Pillars of Character.
The deadline for nominations is DECEMBER 1, 2018. Nominations will be considered confidentially by the Chandler School Alumni Council, and the award will be presented at Commencement in June. Please contact Director of Alumni Relations and Major Gifts Jennifer Sells Johnson ’94 with nominations or questions at alumni@chandlerschool.org or (626) 795-9314 ext. 111.
Summer 2018 15
Class of
2014
OFF TO COLLEGE REUNION
Chandler welcomed alumni and parents from the Class of 2014 to campus for a festive Cinco de Mayo-themed reunion before they start college in the fall.
ANNA GONG '14
Harvard-Westlake School | Harvard Univ. “Right now, my plan is to joint-concentrate in computer science and visual arts, but I'm excited to explore other options in college,” says Anna. “In high school, I illustrated for our newspaper, as well as school magazines, and I painted 5'x7' posters for our musicals. I was also concertmaster of the Harvard-Westlake Symphony, and I started a club, Cadence for a Cause, which performs concerts for homeless and underprivileged communities. I also played on the tennis team. I earned several awards, including National Merit Finalist, Cum Laude Inductee, and Senior Art Award." “My 9 years at Chandler prepared me tremendously well for high school – not in the sense that I could be a perfect student as soon as I went to a new institution, but in the sense that I was open to change and ready to grow further.” “Chandler's incredible community impressed upon me the importance of time management, good study habits, and good character, and in high school I was able to grow into those ideals,” Anna says. “Chandler is a nurturing, safe environment that also challenges its students intellectually, and this combination shaped who I am as a person. I appreciate Chandler so much for teaching me how to be a good person – not because kindness is a quality that can be taught, but because Chandler makes kindness a daily experience.” 16
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Class o
HALSTON HARPER '14
CONRAD JENSEN '14
Polytechnic School | Univ. of Oregon “I plan to major in law and sociology in college,” says Halston. “I also will play varsity volleyball.” “At Poly, I played volleyball and was President of the Black Student Union and Women of Color Club. I participated in Moot Court, and took part in the musical and arts program.” “Chandler really prepared me well for high school because of the rigor and the opportunity to be involved in many things. Chandler taught me time management and prioritizing the right things. What I most appreciate about Chandler are the countless opportunities to grow as a student and as a person through sports, volunteer work, and fun school traditions like Pi Day.”
St. Francis High School | Vanderbilt Univ. “I’m looking forward to studying mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt,” Conrad says. “At St. Francis, I was President of the Science Research Club, and also was involved in the Robotics Club, Rubix Cube Club, and the cross county team. I was recognized in the science fair for a research project testing different fuels in a jet engine I built myself.” “Chandler prepared me very well. I excelled in my freshman year, and ended up graduating with a 4.4 GPA and won several academic awards. Chandler has a loving community with caring teachers. Everyone wants you to succeed, and I’m grateful for that.”
The Class of 2014 has enrolled in these colleges and more
of
2014
American University of Paris Boston College Boston University Brown University Bryn Mawr College Claremont McKenna College Emory University Fordham University George Washington University Glendale Community College Hampden-Sydney College Harvard University Indiana University Bloomington Macalester College McGill University Northeastern University Occidental College Pasadena City College Regis University Santa Clara University Scripps College Seattle University Sonoma State University Southern Oregon University
Texas Christian University Tufts University Tuskegee University University of Washington University of California Irvine University of California Los Angeles University of California San Diego University of California Santa Barbara University of Chicago University of Oregon University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania University of Richmond University of Southern California University of Virginia University of Washington University of Wisconsin Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Yale University
NICK YEH '14
INDU PANDEY '14
CHRIS JUNG '14
St. Francis High School | Univ. of Pennsylvania Harvard-Westlake School | Harvard Univ.
Loyola High School | Boston College “I’ll major in finance with a minor in management at Boston College,” says Chris. “My activities at Loyola included track and field (hurdles), stage crew, Peace & Justice Coalition Club, Monogram Club, Investment Club, Club against Cancer, Robotics Club, and the Pre-Med Club. I also achieved my Eagle Scout rank.” “Chandler’s demanding homework load definitely eased my transition into high school,” notes Chris. “Above all, Chandler gave me many good friends. We still maintain our strong bonds and will stay friends for life.”
“In college, I plan to major in government,” says Indu. “At Harvard-Westlake, I debated LincolnDouglas. I was ranked 4th in the nation and won some tournaments, which was an honor. I also started an organization called Girls Debate to encourage girls to pursue public speaking and give them a community in a male-dominated activity. I wrote for the Harvard-Westlake Chronicle, and started a popular satire column. I also was Cum Laude, on the honor roll, and part of the World Languages Honors Society.” “Chandler helped me learn study skills and time management. I kept busy in middle school and high school, and the skills I started to develop at Chandler were invaluable to me. Best of all has been my relationships. I met my best friend (Elizabeth McCarthy '14) in kindergarten, and this summer we went to Spain for two weeks together!”
“I plan on majoring in environmental studies and real estate, and hope to continue on my path of entrepreneurship,” says Nick. “At St. Francis, I graduated Summa Cum Laude and was a member of the National Honors Society, California Scholarship Federation, and Mu Alpha Theta. I was Founder and President of the Investment and Entrepreneurship Club and played varsity water polo and volleyball. Last year, I started a non-profit, Project Sprout Inc. We teach about and install Tower Garden hydroponics systems at low-income community centers.” “Chandler really gave me an advantage in high school. It taught me the skills and discipline I needed to be a good student. Chandler also helped me foster a sense of community and service to others. Our eighth grade Boojum trip was an incredible experience that helped us bond.” “I encourage Chandler students not to be afraid to ask for help – you’d be surprised how far that gets you. Also, keep in touch with classmates and teachers.” Summer 2018 17
Alumni Visiting Day Alumni Visiting Day featured alumni whose generous spirit, eagerness to solve problems and think creatively make them ideal role models for Chandler students. Highlights included two Middle School workshops on the themes of entrepreneurship and community service. Learning how to make a difference, students heard from Susan Dutra ’94, who led an empathy exercise to imagine the needs of young people on the streets. Susan is the Director of Development at My Friend’s Place, a nonprofit serving homeless youth in L.A. In another community-service session, Sebouh ’10 and Shawnt ’12 Bazikian shared how their love for cycling led them to create the nonprofit Bikes 4 Orphans and provide bikes to orphans worldwide. A line up of creators and risk-takers also talked with Middle School students in small break-out sessions about the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship: Tony Christopoulos ’85, the president and CTO of Tap.in2, shared his passion for computers and technology which led to a career in software development for tech startups. Omar Dittu ’98, told students that following your inspiration is a little bit scary, but fulfilling. His contemporary fashion line, Patrons of Peace, wowed Chandler students. Naveen Jeereddi ’88, the CEO of Jeereddi Partners, explained what it takes to become a successful investor, and shared his best Chandler experience - meeting his wife, Amy Hathaway ’88! Andrea Swain Laks ’99, the president and founder of Blooms by Drea, shared with students real-world lessons of life as a creative entrepreneur. Matt Rising ’99, a managing partner with Swell Energy, excited students about solar energy and the thrill of being part of a team that’s tackling a major world problem.
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MANY THANKS to all the alumni guest experts who visited classrooms: Michelle Noble Barnett ’86 Sebouh Bazikian’10 Shawnt Bazikian’12 Tony Christopoulos ’85 Faisal Dittu ’96 Omar Dittu ’98 Susan Dutra ’94 Ann Fromholz ’82 Matt Gangi ’98 Amy Hathaway ’88 Naveen Jeereddi ’88 Raymond Jimenez ’05 Dr. Sunjay Lad ’95 Andrea Swain Laks ’99 Anna Pehoushek ’80 Matt Rising ’99 Alyssa Rivas ’10 Joyce Wang Sakonju ’87 Hilary Tate ’96 Chris Waldheim ’81
SAVE THE DAT
E
Alumni Visiting Day FEB. 13, 2019
Summer 2018 19
NANCY ADAMS ’68 missed seeing her classmates at Chandler’s Alumni Reunion in June. “I remember the day JFK was shot. I was in fourth grade at Chandler. I did not stay in touch with my classmates, unfortunately, but I hope they are all doing great!” Nancy moved to Idaho in 1971 and lived there until the 1980’s. She then moved back to Los Angeles and started and ran a successful recruiting business for nearly 30 years. She now works from home as a recruiter online. Nancy has a son in the tech business, and he is married to a wonderful girl. She resides in Pasadena and travels to Idaho every summer. “I love the country so much.” She hopes to see her classmates at the next Alumni Reunion.
CHANDLER
class notes 2 0 17 - 2 0 1 8
CYNTHIA CHILCOTT SIMON ’73 CHS ’77
and her husband Mark have moved up to Healdsburg, California.
DIANE SAUNDERS ’59 and her husband Bill moved to the Orange Grove area four years ago, and also spend part of the year in La Quinta. She plays lots of golf, bridge, and does needle pointing. Diane enjoys
watching her grandson, Jodey Exner, flourish at Chandler in kindergarten. He lives close by, so she sees him often, and looks forward to watching his growing years at Chandler.
KATE MCINERNY ’67 “I graduated from Chandler School in June of 1967, the Summer of Love. The Doors were rocking our world with "Light My Fire" and classmate Tony Gilkyson ’67 adroitly played his drums in morning assembly to that song. We all soon departed, many reluctantly, for high school. Another classmate, Dicksey Callaway ’67, went on to become student body president at Westridge. There were twenty students in our class of 1967, fourteen boys and six girls. We were very bonded. We continue to be now, thanks to the internet and social media. We've had two class reunions (2011 and 2012) in which we also had some wonderful faculty attend (Cathy Rose, English; Charles Ebert, math; and Mike Mims, photography). Charles Ebert and his wife lived in the apartment above our classrooms! Many in our class experienced the unique teaching of artist Jirayr Zorthian and the girls actually played flag football! It was only a few years prior that Chandler had been an all-boys school. We all loved Tom Chandler who would preside over morning assemblies (by reading a poem or discussing a current event) and practice his golf swing out on the playing field (mingling with us during recess or P.E.). He was wonderfully charming, old school, and dapper. I went on to Westridge, with a year at Santa Catalina, attended the University of Oregon where I ran track my freshman year. Bill Bowerman, the great coach and co-founder of Nike was still there, and I practiced on the track at Hayward Field where Steve Prefontaine also worked out. I graduated from UC Irvine in social ecology (1976), a 20
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new interdisciplinary program, with an emphasis in psychology. Ultimately, I became a real estate agent in San Francisco and Marin County (1984-2010) and witnessed the transition from analog to digital, from paper to internet, from land line to cell phone. I have a daughter, Clare Johnson, who graduated high school from Stevenson School, college from UC Davis (B.A. Spanish), and earned her B.S. in nursing in 2017. She now works in the cardiac care unit of a major teaching hospital in California. After 32 years in the Bay Area, I returned to the beloved state of Oregon in 2010 and now live in a small, historic gold rush town called Jacksonville, not far from Crater Lake, the Siskiyous and Cascades, and the Elizabethan stage of Oregon Shakespeare in Ashland. Chandler was a special time in my young life, a very formative time: 1963-1967.”
Catherine
M . Rose
SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Cathy Rose taught English at Chandler Middle School for seventeen years, in influencing hundreds of students as a gifted faculty member and friend. Cathy, a Pasadena native and U.C. Berkeley graduate, landed at Chandler in 1964 after im impressing Tom Chandler from behind the information desk at Vroman’s Bookstore. In honor of Cathy Rose, two graduates of the class 1974, Laura Brown and Matt Wright Wright, have newly established The Catherine M. Rose Scholarship Fund. “To this day, each of us remains influenced by Cathy Rose’s love of literature and poetry, and especially Shakespeare. She taught us to pronounce Chaucer in Middle English. She honed our courage and our public speaking skills through monthly poetry recitations. She taught us to write clearly and expressively and because she cared about grammar, we did too,” recall Brown and Wright.
“...the necessity
of offering a Chandler education to the wider community is as pressing as it has always been...”
“Outside the classroom we learned to identify native flora and fauna, to under understand why John Muir matters, to decipher Bob Dylan, and not to eat raw olives. Be honest, the skills you learned from Ms. Rose in junior high school saved you untold hours of struggle in college and beyond, didn’t they?” The Catherine M. Rose Scholarship Fund will support Chandler’s financial aid program and provide tuition assistance for qualified students of diverse ethnic backgrounds, in honor of Cathy’s wishes. "In the fifty-four years since I began my teaching career at Chandler, much has changed in the appearance, size, and affordability of the school, but the necessity of offering a Chandler education to the wider community is as pressing as it has always been,” Cathy says. “I hope that a scholarship in my name will help to provide opportunities to aspiring students over the years and continue a legacy that I deeply believe in." “It is our goal to endow the fund, making it available to deserving students for decades to come. If, like us, your life has been enriched by Cathy Rose’s love of learning, we hope you will consider a gift to the Catherine M. Rose Scholarship Fund,” say Brown and Wright.
For more information, please contact Jennifer Sells Johnson ’94 Chandler Advancement Office jjohnson@chandlerschool.org (626) 795-9314 x111.
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CL ASS NOTES LAURA BROWN ’74 joined McKinsey & Company as an Instructional Designer. Her next book, The Only Business Writing Book You' ll Ever Need, will be published by W. W. Norton in January of 2019. PAULA MCCULLOUGH BOWN ’79 and husband, Jim, have been in St. George, Utah for 22 years now. Jim works as a gastroenterologist, and Paula keeps track of their five kids. Their oldest, Sarah, is married with a baby girl, Claire, and teaching English at BYU. Their second, Elizabeth, is married and just graduated with her MPA. Our next three children, Peter, Caroline, and Grace are all students at BYU. Martha is her only one at home and is 15 going into 9th grade. “Life is good!”
Pasadena. I even gave a talk about a year ago at the Huntington Library, as I have become, among other things, a scholar of black speculative fiction writer, Octavia Butler, whose papers are housed at the archive there," says Amy. Recently, she published a book, titled Migrant Futures: Decolonizing Speculation in Financial Times, Duke University Press.
JEFF WARREN ’90 won his second Emmy award for editing the show “Giada in Italy” for the Food Network.
JOEL LAVIN ’88 is entering his 5th year
as the principal of River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary in Eugene, Oregon. He truly enjoyed opening a brand new building for this dual language program in its 9th year of implementation. Joel has two children who recently completed 5th grade and 8th grade. His daughter, Lila, was promoted exactly 30 years after her dad was promoted at Chandler. His son, Solomon, will be entering middle school in the fall. Joel’s partner of 18 years, Anna Spickerman, works as an attorney for the Department of Justice of Oregon.
ERIKA PERSON WERNER ’88 is loving life in Pasadena as a freelance voice and piano instructor after spending 20 years as an opera singer in New York. She is grateful to Mrs. Ermey for her passionate music instruction at Chandler. Art classes at Chandler also made an impression, and, after a 25 year hiatus, she started painting again. “It was fabulous to catch up with old friends at the reunion in June (Amy, Naveen, Panney, Paul and Kirk), and hear about all the amazing things they've been up to. I hope to see even more of you again soon,” says Erika. AIMEE BAHNG BOYER ’89 is back in Southern California after having taught at Dartmouth College for several years. She is a professor of gender and women’s studies at Pomona College. “Living in Claremont allows me to revisit all my favorite spots in 22
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Bakersfield. Cameron and family spent almost three years living in Sydney, Australia, from 2013 through 2015.
BLAKLEY COE GRAHAM ’93 has truly enjoyed becoming a member of Chandler’s Alumni Council. “The Chandler Reunion was a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and share past memories of our Chandler experience,” says Blakley. CARSON MOSS ’93 and his wife Kathleen have lived in New York City since their 2012 wedding, and rent rooms to their 9-month-old daughter Zoë and 3-year-old son Carson. Both children are upstanding, if noisy, tenants. CHAD COLTON ’94 graduated from University of San Diego School of Law in May. While in law school, Chad worked with the Energy Polic Initiatives Center (EPIC), served as president of the Environmental Law Society, received the CALI award for Energy Law and Policy, and interned for the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department. He would love to hear from fellow alumni, and can be reached at chadcoltonlaw@gmail.com.
FRITZ GOTHA ’92, wife Tiffany and three daughters (4,8,10) are still living in Sacramento. As a Deputy District Attorney, Fritz is in charge of the elder abuse unit. When not in the courtroom, Fritz is on the field coaching his daughters’ soccer and softball teams. CAMERON BOSWELL ’93 is living in Santa Clarita with his wife and two sons, ages 8 and 6. He is currently a Vice President at his family agribusiness with operations in San Joaquin Valley, California, and New South Wales, Australia. The primary crops are pima cotton, tomatoes for paste, pistachios, and safflower. Cameron works most days in Pasadena (a few blocks from Chandler in Old Town) but frequently travels to the farms near Corcoran and
HEATHER GOTHA ’94, husband Mark and daughter Elliott (3) live in Newark, Delaware. Heather is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle surgery. Recently, she was selected as one of the top orthopedic surgeons in Delaware. In June, during her 20th reunion at Andover, Heather was inducted into the Andover Athletic Hall of Honor.
CL ASS NOTES CHRIS MANG ’94 and his wife Van welcomed their first daughter, Callista, into the world last year. 2018 also marked 10 years since his battle with cancer (leukemia). He is currently cancer free and has started a new job at Warner Bros.
ELIZABETH GOTHA ’97 and her husband Judsen welcomed a son, Anders, on May 15. Two days later Elizabeth graduated from University of Maryland Medical School. She will stay in Baltimore for her residency. NICK TIMIRAOS '98 and his wife Mallie
celebrated the birth of twin daughters, Cora and Eliza, in September 2017. They live in Washington, D.C., where Nick serves as chief economics correspondent for The Wall Street Journal.
Comet), Ben Moss (Anastasia), Nick Rehberger (Fiddler on the Roof). Patrick looks forward to performing in the L.A. area and hopes Chandler friends find his music on Spotify!
KARISSA HURZELER ’05 received a
Master of Arts degree in museum studies from San Francisco State University in January.
KATIE KELLEY FREDERICK ’00 and her
FARRELL HEYDORFF ’96 has been
working at Westridge School in Pasadena for five years and was recently hired as the Dean of Lower School and Middle School Student Activities. She is currently living in Pasadena with her two dogs Bruder and Lucy.
KEISUKE NAKAGAWA ’96 and his
wife Karen welcomed the birth of their daughter Skyla on February 8, 2018.
husband Jacob welcomed the birth of their daughter Clementine Belle Frederick on February 18, 2018. Their daughter, Adelaide, is thrilled to have a baby sister. Katie is Chandler’s kindergarten teaching assistant, a consultant for Rodan + Fields and the founder of Simmering Sugar, a gourmet toffee company.
JENA UMFRESS ’05 received her degree in English and comparative literature from UC Irvine in 2013, and is working as a Senior Manager in marketing and donor relations for Stand Up To Cancer in Santa Monica.
GILLIAN HEYDORFF SUTTON ’02 and her husband Robin purchased their first home in Pasadena. Gillian is a project manager with Newmark Knight Frank. PATRICK DILLON CURRY ’03 will be
returning from NYC to Los Angeles in August 2018 to be part of the inaugural class of the new Master's program in Music Industry at USC. Recent activity in New York includes a workshop performance of his musical, Water, and multiple cabaret performances of his original music, performed with great friends and collaborators from Broadway: Arielle Jacobs (Aladdin), Courtney Bassett (Great
DAVID JACKSON ’08, Economics graduate of Emory University '16, recently accepted a sales analyst position at Hunt Companies, Inc. in Dallas, Texas. SAMANTHA JACOBS ’08 received an M.A. in English in education from King's College in London and spent some subsequent time teaching 6th grade English at a South LA charter school. Samantha recently moved to Washington, D.C. She is now working for the National Council of Teacher Quality on their communications team, focusing on publications and outreach. Summer 2018 23
ALUMNI PROFILE
A GROWING VISION LELAND WALMSLEY ’79
It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that Leland Walmsley ’79, was born to be a landscape architect. His grandmother, Margaret Sears, is a legendary landscape architect of the 20th century whose portfolio includes the exteriors of Gone with the Wind, the original gardens of the world-class Ojai Valley Inn, and significant early California estates. Other relatives have practiced architecture, landscape architecture, construction and city planning in Southern California dating back to 1918. But, Leland took a circuitous path into the profession. “I was actually a marine biology major at UCSB,” Leland says, “I was swimming before I could walk. I was always near the ocean.” From UCSB, Leland transferred to USC film school, where he entered the film industry as a production designer, creating sets for Hollywood. “I paid for my films by designing gardens in Pasadena,” Leland recalls. “It’s not a big leap to go from Hollywood sets to landscape design, which are basically just permanent sets.” In his heart, Leland realized, was a motivation to contribute to healing the earth through landscape architecture. “Landscape architecture can increase the health of the land or make it sicker,” Leland says. Santa Barbara was emerging as a leader in sustainability, so Leland founded everGREEN landscape architects (www. evergreen-sb.com) there in 2004. He has enjoyed his chosen profession immensely. “I get to paint with flowers and design with plants,” he says. “At the same time, I’m working with clients whose houses have a very light footprint on the earth, even some that are off the grid entirely.”
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“I took a lot of art classes as a kid at the Norton Simon,” Leland recalls. “I also was influenced by the Boy Scouts. Our mottos were ‘Be prepared,’ and ‘Leave a place better than you found it.’” Those early experiences helped prepare Leland to think outside the box and use both his creativity and resourcefulness to create beautiful, healthy gardens for his clients. Those clients, Leland points out, include some of his Chandler friends. “I’ve done projects for several Chandler alumni – Larry Crowe ’67, Tyler MacCready ’77 – and Chandler has a strong reputation in Santa Barbara,” Leland notes. “We all identify with our elementary school (Chandler) as our most formative school.” “The educational aspect of what I’m doing is rewarding,” Leland says. “I’m teaching my clients how to re-engage with nature and to live with nature, not on top of nature. These are extremely successful people, who are discovering how to be stewards of the land.” The stress of modern life also has encouraged people to view their homes as private sanctuaries, Leland observes. “People want to stay at home, not travel so much, enjoy a little slice of paradise in their own garden. To find nature, they don’t need to go to the Alps or Yosemite.” Leland seems destined to continue painting with plants, and pushing the frontiers of sustainable design. He offers Chandler students a parting gem that has rung true in his own life: “It doesn’t really matter what you’re good at, but what you are good at, stick with it and be the best you can be. If you stick with something you love, you can’t help but be great at it.”
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CL ASS NOTES SIDNEY KARESH ’08 finished up the opportunity of a lifetime as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Belarus this spring. She spent nine months teaching English at Minsk State Linguistic University, as well as leading a language club at the international library, working with the public affairs section of the US Embassy, and meeting with groups of younger students around the country. She has since had the chance to travel around Europe, and looks forward to returning to California soon to see what life has in store for her next.
I graduated with an Astronautical and Aeronautical Engineering degree from the University of Washington in June 2017 and am now working on board the NOAA Ship Rainier, a hydrographic survey vessel, homeported in Newport, OR.”
VICTORIA PENG ’10 graduated from the
University of Pennsylvania this May with a degree in psychology and will be moving back to Los Angeles. In addition to beginning her job at a real estate investment firm on the Westside, Victoria looks forward to volunteering as an art gallery docent and reconnecting with her Chandler and Polytechnic classmates in the area.
SARA JANE STEPHENS ’10 graduated in
ERIC FUNG ’10 graduated in June from
HARPER UMFRESS ’09 “This past April, while in training for an organization called the NOAA Corps (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), I ran into a former Chandler teacher named Danielle Summers-Nelson on the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle during a training cruise. At about 2:00 in the morning, while sailing off Chesapeake Bay, Seaman Nelson was overseeing a group of a few trainees, of which I was a part, standing lookout on the bow. Seaman Nelson and I were discussing where we were from and, all of a sudden, we made the Chandler connection. After several months of a somewhat rigorous training program, it was great to talk about Pasadena and Chandler and the community that we both remembered. Seaman Danielle Summers-Nelson, USCG, is serving as a member of the permanent crew on the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle.
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Princeton University with an A.B. in chemistry and a certificate in materials science and engineering. In the fall 2018, he will begin his Masters of Divinity at Princeton Theological Seminary.
SARAH GILMAN ’10 played the iconic role of Velma in the feature film, Daphne and Velma. Recently, she completed filming a lead role for a YouTube Red show, Foursome.
May with a B.A. in advertising and minor in Spanish language from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX. Additionally, she just started her advertising career as an Account Coordinator at Goodby, Silverstein, & Partners in San Francisco, California.
DUNCAN SPARKS ’11 recently completed his 3rd year of architectural studies at Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo. Duncan will be traveling to Rome, Italy to study abroad in the fall to begin the 4th year of his studies. TYLER ANASTASIA ’12 is a summer
intern at Caruso, specializing in marketing at the Americana at Brand. In the fall, he will begin his junior year at the University of Mississippi. Enjoying his experience in the south, he is taking full advantage of college life. He is an Executive of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.
CL ASS NOTES WILLIAM PAI ’12 recently finished his
second year of school at UC Santa Barbara after attending Flintridge Prep for high school. He has now started a summer internship at UBS in their wealth management group. William is working with Chandler alumnus and past president of the board, Dan Rothenberg ’96 . He is looking forward to finishing his last two years of school and pursuing a career in financial services after graduation.
SAMANTHA RIVAS ’12 worked with a
math professor and three other students this summer in Oregon, developing a mathematical model to better understand vaccination strategies for the control of infectious diseases. She is also helping professors in the nursing and education departments with statistical analysis for a research project on the effect of contemplative videos on perceived stress, anxiety, and spiritual distress levels in nursing students.
OLIVIA VANDERGRIFF ’13 is starting her
sophomore year at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, where she is currently studying forensic anthropology with a minor in Russian language, where her goal is to eventually work for the FBI. Olivia is currently a member of the Alpha Chi Omega sorority, and is enjoying getting involved within the group and reaching out to the community.
SAENAH BOCH '14 will be attending Yale University in the fall. DYLAN CHOI ’14 graduated from La Canada High School and earned a full academic scholarship to UC Santa Barbara. He will be studying biomedical engineering and hopes to play on the golf team there. This summer, he played in the Quicken Loans National PGA Tournament, where he finished with a 70 in the first round and contributed to his team total of -17 at the end of the event.
ARON GUEVARA '14 will attend Boston University in the fall as a journalism major. She received the Hekyemara Scholarship from the Independent School Alliance. She is excited to explore Boston and the East Coast and looks forward to what her future holds. This summer she volunteered at the Glendale YMCA as a camp counselor and worked at Summer@Chandler as a teaching assistant. SARAH JOHNSON ’14 graduated from Polytechnic School and will be studying psychology and business at USC.
THEO ROSENFELD '12 played the part of Garry/Roger in the UC Berkeley production of Noises Off. Theo is also involved in Theater for Charity, Bare Stage and CalTV. CARINA GRANDE ’14 graduated from Mayfield Senior School and will be attending Occidental College. At Mayfield, she was involved with the diversity committee, joined the environmental club, enjoyed AP courses, received an English award, played softball and soccer and much more. “I enjoyed my time at Mayfield,” says Carina.
CATE LATTING '14 looks forward to attending Northeastern University in Boston.
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ALUMNI PROFILE
Reaching Everest SALIMA DARAKJY ’92 WESTRIDGE SCHOOL BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY & COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
HOW DID YOU BECOME INSPIRED TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE STARLIGHT FOUNDATION? Volunteer work has always been important to me, particularly in healthcare. In high school, I volunteered at Verdugo Hills Hospital; in college, I spent summer breaks as a counselor at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times near Idyllwild, California. Looking for a similar activity when I moved east for graduate school, I volunteered for the Washington, DC chapter of the Starlight Foundation and experienced first-hand what wonderful services they provide, not only in granting wishes to seriously and terminally ill children but by bringing entertainment, comfort, and fun to hospitalized children. WHY DID YOU PICK THE EVEREST BASE CAMP CHALLENGE? In my mid-twenties, I made a casual deal with someone that we would hike to Everest Base Camp “because the views would still be incredible but without the risk, time, expertise, and financial investment involved in a summit attempt.” As I spent the next 10-plus years building my career while continuing my graduate education, I all but forgot about that deal. Then, when I turned 39 last year and started thinking ahead to how I would celebrate the many gifts in my life and the milestone of turning 40, I remembered that deal I made to see Mount Everest and sought a way to do it for a greater purpose. That was the kick-off of the Everest Base Camp Challenge. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF IN THIS EXPERIENCE? For me, living a full life entails pushing my limits, in the same vein as this earnest line from a poem by Longfellow: “Though shalt know…how sublime a thing it is to suffer and be strong.” A close family friend made a very generous donation then asked, “Can’t you just solicit donations for Starlight without having to climb a mountain?” Yet in my mind, there is much more to be gained when success is achieved through struggle. Another lesson is that life is about balance. I live in one of the most densely populated cities in the world and work in an analytical field. Although I didn’t really enjoy spending time in nature while taking class trips during middle and high school, being active outdoors in the vast expanse of nature where I’m away from a computer is vital to me now.
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HOW DID YOU TRAIN FOR THE CHALLENGE? Living in Manhattan, I reside at sea level essentially. So aside from my usual workouts, I needed to prepare for the altitude and climate of the Himalayas. I did three practice climbs: Mount Whitney, California (14,505 feet) and Pikes Peak, Colorado (14,114 feet) in October 2017, followed by Mount Washington, New Hampshire (6,289 feet) on a day in January 2018 that had freezing rain and a wind chill of -19 °F. WHAT WERE SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE JOURNEY? Certainly, the terrain of Sagarmatha National Park provided some of the most beautiful, awe-inspiring views I’ve ever seen. The warmth and hospitality of the Sherpas, guides, and porters, who worked together seamlessly to ensure a safe and successful journey were so impressive. I can’t overstate how hard they worked on our behalf, or how strong they are both physically and in terms of their character. I reached base camp at the same time as Scott Doolan, the first paraplegic to climb/wheel to Mount Everest Base Camp. I saw him and his team arrive at Dingboche (14,469 feet), and the struggle of traversing uneven, rocky paths in a wheelchair was palpable. Therefore, it was such a thrill to cross paths again a few days later at base camp when he set the record. WHAT WAS YOUR FUNDRAISING GOAL AND DID YOU REACH IT? I set a fundraising goal of £5,000 (equivalent to roughly $6,500). Fundraising turned out to be much more difficult than I anticipated: six weeks before my departure date, I was still £2,100 short of the goal, which seemed completely unattainable at that time. Incredibly, the very next week through a family contact, I received an incredible boost from the Stanley W. Ekstrom Foundation with a donation of £2,840 including matching individual contributions 1:1 in order to reach 100% of my goal. That single donation actually put me at 111% of my goal and momentum continued from that point, with a generous donation from Barrett Family Wines and an astounding $2,500 contribution from Chandler’s eighth grade class arriving shortly thereafter. In total, I raised more than $11,000.
COULD YOU SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THE ROLE CHANDLER PLAYS IN YOUR LIFE? The nine years I was a student at Chandler taught me the importance of community. I remember when the mother of one of my classmates was seriously injured in a car accident. Other Chandler parents immediately offered their support to the family, preparing meals, arranging carpools, and reading to her while she was hospitalized and in a coma for months. That early example of the capacity we all have to look out for and assist one another—even in small ways, no matter how busy we may be—has shaped how I interact with my community and the world beyond. ANY ADVICE FOR CHANDLER STUDENTS? You define who you are and what you can achieve; never let others hold you back. The first colleague who heard about my plan to trek to Mount Everest Base Camp said, “You’re crazy!” Similarly, I tried to rally friends to join me for stair workouts and practice climbs, but people either said, “No, thanks, that sounds dangerous,” or they committed at first only to bail at the last minute. As for that person I made the deal with in my twenties to see Mount Everest together someday, they denied ever agreeing to such a journey. Despite being on my own for the physical training and the actual trek, my family, friends, and everyone who responded to my challenge with generous donations, positive energy, and words of encouragement ultimately contributed to my success.
I was so honored “ to receive Chandler's
eighth-grade class gift of $2,500!
”
CLASS ALUMNI PROFILE ISABELLA LONGORIA-VALENZUELA ’14
Young Soprano EMILY FULTZ ’99
COLORATURA SOPRANO OPERA SINGER WESTRIDGE SCHOOL
will attend Brown University and plans to study either public health or cognitive neuroscience, and also Latino studies. In high school, she ran cross country and went on a Poly-led service trip to Nicaragua, where she taught children English. She also served on the Ambassador Council and participated in student clubs such as Latinos Unidos, FemEd, and Women of Color.
U.C. SANTA CRUZ CONSERVATORY FOR THE ARTS, BERN, SWITZERLAND
Emily has enjoyed a culture-rich decade abroad in Europe, pursuing her passion and gift for op‑ era. She recently described her work to Chan‑ dler students as "the ultimate in multi-tasking." As an ensemble member of the opera theater in Pasau, Germany, Emily may sing on any night in English, German, French or Italian while danc‑ ing, acting and interacting with her orchestra and the audience. “I never thought about myself as brave, but to survive in opera you have to be very disciplined and have some courage. When I was in fifth grade at Chandler, Mr. Salmon composed our winter concert with music from The Magic Flute, and I sang Queen of the Night. That experience kind of ignited something in me – I realized what I had done was special. Mr. Stephens called me a little songbird. Now, I’ve sung Queen of the Night professionally.”
JOSHUA MA ’14 is off to the University of California, Irvine. He was recruited to run cross country and track & field. In January, Joshua advanced to Eagle Scout and received the Gold Presidential Service Award at Loyola High School.
CONNOR MARTIN ’14 was honored to have been selected valedictorian of St. Francis High School and he’s excited to attend Macalester College (Saint Paul, MN) this fall. OLIVIA SMITH '14 will attend the University of Wisconsin in the fall. Go Badgers! She plans to study business. LILA WEITHAS '14 looks forward to
attending Texas Christian Univ. in the fall.
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NOTES ALUMNI PROFILE ASHLEY WU ’14 was part of the
Ambassadors Council, captain of the varsity tennis team, president of the Asian Culture Club, and senior class president. She also received her Gold award as a junior. After graduating from Poly, she will be heading to Atlanta to study human health at Emory University.
CAITLIN FONG ’15 serves on Flintridge
Prep’s Athletic Council on Leadership which hosted the 2nd annual La Mascota 5k on April 7, 2018 at Griffith Park to benefit the La Mascota Children’s Hospital in Nicaragua. This year, Caitlin served as the race director and with the support of over 250 participants and several sponsors raised over $18,000 that will directly benefit the families of children receiving cancer treatment at the La Mascota Hospital through A World of One's Own (AWOO). AWOO, started by Chandler alumna Naomi Hatanaka ’07, is a non-profit organization that provides transportation and food baskets to families who sometimes travel hours a day to receive free, vital cancer treatment for their young ones. The third annual La Mascota 5k will be happening on April 6, 2019 at Griffith Park.
JAZZ Musician ISAMU MCGREGOR ’03 PIANIST/KEYBOARDIST, COMPOSER HARVARD-WESTLAKE SCHOOL NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
Isamu’s versatility on the piano and keyboard, rooted in his own modern, contemporary take on jazz, has led him to play pop music with platinum-selling recording artist Colbie Caillat, world jazz/pop with global star Richard Bona, soulful house music with Tortured Soul, and progressive jazz fusion with drum legend Virgil Donati. Isamu also writes his own music, and arranges instrumental music for clients. “I’m a firm believer you can learn something from any kind of music. I went to school for jazz, but nowadays I’m playing all styles of music. I’d get bored pretty quickly if I was just playing one thing. Mr. Salmon led music at Chandler in a way that was fun, eclectic. He’d give all the kids a xylophone, which was a risky endeavor. He was really encouraging about creativity and ex‑ pression. I’d write music for the plays. It was nice to have his refreshing approach and some space to let our minds wander and let us explore.”
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ALUMNI PROFILE
Honoring Family Roots ERIN KANEKO ’96 FLINTRIDGE PREP UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA WASEDA UNIVERSITY IN JAPAN
Hiroshi Kaneko began working in the early 1930s as a craftsman of Japanese tea candies called wagashi in a tiny shop in Tokyo, Japan. He was entrusted, after years of loyal service, to take ownership of the recipes and was able to open his own wagashi store. His granddaughter, Erin Kaneko ’96, recalls, “That shop was his introduction to owning real estate. My grandmother Kiyoko encouraged the family to keep buying properties instead of leasing storefronts, and over time they acquired more properties and businesses.” Unfortunately, Hiroshi and Kiyoko experienced the boom and bust of multiple real estate cycles. None was more devastating than in World War II, when bombs destroyed nearly all of the family’s properties and businesses. Shortly after the war, Hiroshi recognized that people could no longer afford the sweet wagashi delicacies. He decided to build a small makeshift factory and started producing dango, which are Japanese dumplings made from rice flour. The word dango is from the proverb “hana yori dango”, which literally translates to, "dumplings rather than flowers" and refers to a preference for practical things rather than aesthetics. Kiyoko sold these simple dumplings from a pushcart often
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with her young son in tow and her infant daughter strapped to her back. Over time their business grew and they were able to rebuild what they had lost during the war. By the time Erin’s father, Osamu Kaneko was born, Hiroshi and Kiyoko had built a large factory and family complex to house over 100 extended relatives and employees. Osamu grew up in the family compound during a time when his parents experienced great professional success. They were strong entrepreneurial role models as his mother handled the bookkeeping responsibilities and his father was in charge of daily operations and real estate acquisitions. Erin followed her father and grandparents into an entrepreneurial career in real estate. Today, she is a Managing Principal with Wilshire Capital in Seattle, where she handles commercial construction management, real estate project finance, and investor relations. However, she initially chose a different path. “I graduated from my master’s program and had a deep desire to work for UNESCO in developing countries. I had completed my graduate research in Papua New Guinea and enjoyed various internships with non-profits that focused on the externalities of education on developing indicators,” Erin recalls. “Unfortunately, when it was time for
me to get a job I was passionate about, the global economy was spiraling and there were very limited opportunities in the nonprofit sector. So, I took what I could find, which turned out to be helping companies make the best use of their de-valued real estate holdings.” Today, Erin loves her work. “I have an incredibly interesting job and thoroughly enjoy what I do,” she says. “My responsibilities are versatile and I wear many hats, but this is a meaningful challenge I appreciate and embrace.” She also values her family’s legacy in real estate, and the deep expertise available to her. “My father followed his family into real estate, but crossed the Pacific Ocean at 18 years old and braved the New World. During his real estate career in the United States he learned about real estate finance, deal structure, market fundamentals, and more. My father later returned to Japan and applied U.S. market fundamentals to Japanese real estate and many consider his work to have revolutionized the real estate industry in Japan.” “Growing up, I never realized how influential my father was, and that his knowledge and connections in the industry would have a tremendous impact on my future career,” Erin reflects. “I am unbelievably fortunate and indebted to my father for his guidance, encouragement, and patience.”
remember Mr. Anderson refused to let me settle for being “good”, if it meant losing the opportunity to become better.” “I have also known many teachers throughout my academic career who would reward outright talent and often disregard the students that struggled, but worked hard to improve their skills. Ms. Jacobson was different; of course, she had an appreciation for students with natural abilities, but what was special about Ms. Jacobson was that she rewarded hard work and progress with her acknowledgment and heartfelt praise. It was truly meaningful to receive a compliment from Ms. Jacobson, as every statement of adulation was sincere and reflective of my efforts. Many teachers and coaches at Chandler had a profound role in my process of becoming the person I am today and I am forever grateful to them.” Erin’s love of her real estate career has taught her to stick it out through life’s challenges. “If someone told me 6 years ago that I would be working in the real estate industry I would have laughed and politely disagreed. However, I thoroughly enjoy what I do and find myself learning something new every single day.”
While Erin learned the principles of real estate from her family, “during my time at Chandler I was taught that learning is a gradual process and that knowledge is accumulated in increments; these two lessons are the key to becoming a lifelong learner,” she says.
“I strongly advise Chandler students to be open to new opportunities that they may not have planned for because I feel that people in general are not able to predict what will make them happy and where they will perform best. Specifically, when it comes to career decisions we are often told to find our passion and create a career; however, I believe that sentiment needlessly limits job options. Although probably not a popular opinion today, I would suggest that instead of reflecting on your ‘passion’ to find a great career, go out and try jobs that are available and attainable.”
“Chandler teachers gave me the confidence and tools to learn at any age,” Erin says. “I was able to learn Japanese at 21 years old, I entered a graduate program at 24, and started a new career at 31 because Chandler teachers prepared me to be able to acquire knowledge at any stage of life. I am forever a student, and that gift comes from Chandler.”
“I’ve learned a lot about myself from the difficult professional decisions I have made. Most importantly, I have learned that many successful people are absolutely passionate about their professions, but more often than not their passion developed alongside their success.” Erin concludes that, “you have more options for a fulfilling career than you might think.”
“I also had tremendous instructors that challenged me everyday: Ms. Jansen, Ms. Kirby, Ms. Hancock, Ms. Marzec, Ms. Jacobson, Mr. Korn, Ms. Wilson, Mr. Anderson, Mr. Salmon and many more. In fact, I vividly remember that there were times I became frustrated with how hard teachers and coaches pushed me because I thought that I was already doing ‘good enough’. However, that is the true difference between Chandler and other schools: instructors were not satisfied with my ‘good enough’ when they knew that I was capable of doing more. I specifically
Summer 2018 33
CL ASS NOTES CHARLOTTE PIZANTE ’15 received her Girl Scout Gold Award in June at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, after finishing at the end of her sophomore year first in her troop. Charlotte worked with the City of South Pasadena to create an educational communication program on water conservation, and also designed and implemented a permanent interactive, dry landscape garden. Her motto was “Spread the word to conserve,” and she invited the 4th grade Chandler troop to the space for a fun planting event. 100 hours of work completed! More than 200 girls are expected to be awarded their Gold from all over Los Angeles, and every year Chandler is represented by one or more of their Girl Scouts who have participated from 2nd grade into their junior and senior years of high school. The scouting experience and parent leadership at Chandler has been amazing. Mary Pearce and Kitty Schaller were Charlotte’s Troop Leaders and all remaining members of her troop will go for Gold before the end of their senior year.
“It was so much fun, and I missed the performance as soon as it was over.” In the spring, Ryan was awarded the Amherst Book Prize by the English Department.
RYAN WALDHEIM ’15 will be a junior at Flintridge Prep this fall. He’s been involved in the Comedy Sports improv team and the Yell, the school’s satire newspaper, of which he is now the assistant editor. He had the honor of starring in a musical written by a Prep senior called You Had To Be There.
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Next year at Andover, I’m going to be the proctor in our first and only all-gender dorm, after spending the pilot year there sophomore year. I’m looking forward to a great junior year!”
EMMA CADENA ’16, ETHAN GOULD ’16 AND JENNA KHACHATOURIAN ’16
“Though our time at Chandler was short, the experiences that we shared with each other have helped define who we are as individuals. The bridge program was our introduction into a life at Chandler and we wanted to come back and help influence future students. This volunteering opportunity has allowed us to bestow many tips and tricks upon the future sixth and seventh graders. It’s been great to share this experience with the new generation of shamrocks.”
CARSON YU ’15 completed his junior year at Poly. He enjoyed playing varsity tennis and helping their team win another Prep League championship, as well as earning the MVP award and leading the team as co-captain. This summer, Carson will be doing lab research at Caltech and continuing his volunteer work at Huntington Hospital. This fall, he looks forward to starting his senior year at Poly as News Editor for the school paper. “I am grateful to have attended Chandler and to have benefited from its excellent middle school curriculum,” says Carson.
MAX ROSENFELD '15 was the emcee
for Flintridge Prep's Junior Parent Dinner show. He is on Senate, plays varsity baseball and was recognized on the Pasadena All Star baseball roster. Additionally, Max received the Junior Spanish award for his language skills, having exhausted Prep’s Spanish options, as well as for his work with the annual Nicaragua program.
my language proficiency grow immensely; I learned a lot about Russian culture and what life in Russia is like.
GRACE HITCHCOCK ’16 “This spring was a term of trying new things for me. I joined Andover’s cycling team and had a fantastic first season. Now, I absolutely love cycling and am very excited to continue pursuing it in and out of school. Additionally, I had the opportunity to volunteer for Dan Koh’s congressional campaign in the Andover district. It was a great experience to see the inner workings of political campaigns and participate in civil service. Most recently, I did a three-week languageimmersion trip in Russia, living with a host family in the small city of Petrozavodsk and a short time in St. Petersburg. The trip was absolutely incredible—not only did
ESME CHIARA ’17 “I came to Chandler in the sixth grade, and the Bridge Program was the start of a new beginning of an amazing educational experience for me. The Bridge Program also allowed me to forge new friendships with fellow new students, many of whom I am still good friends with today. When I was asked to volunteer in the Bridge program, I was excited because I wanted the new sixth and seventh graders this year to have the same helpful introduction to Chandler that I had.”
CRISTIAN PANG ’16, now a junior at
HarvardWestlake, has continued the tradition of academic excellence that he refined at Chandler to excel as both a student and an athlete. He feels very fortunate to be part of a Division 1 water polo team and hopes to continue as an athlete in college. Speaking of college, he is already starting SAT/ACT test prep despite his loaded water polo schedule. Most recently, he helped his 16 and under team take first place at the Junior Olympic qualifiers and hopes to keep the momentum at the State Championships. After 9.5 years as a dedicated water polo player, Cristian has managed his time with enough balance to enjoy hobbies. He continues his interest in pottery which started at Chandler, molding at the wheel to his imagination's content. Cristian is extremely grateful for the foundation Chandler helped develop in him to be a self-starter and motivated student.
KAITO ’16 & TAKAJI ’18 ROBSON moved to Texas from San Diego last summer. They are at Westlake Academy enjoying playing sports (basketball and track & field). They also continue to be part of the local youth orchestra in Dallas. Kaito will be a junior and Takaji will be a freshman this fall.
ALEXANDER ALBRECHT ’17 found
his second home at Cate School. He played JV tennis, took a photography class, joined the tech crew and helped with the sound FX for the fall play of Into the Woods. He also worked with the Athletic Department by assisting with statistics for the football and basketball teams. This summer, he worked at a camp in Michigan, and he hopes to connect with Chandler alumni soon.
NATALIE VANDERGRIFF ’17 is starting
her sophomore year at Westridge, where she is currently involved in theatre, dance, and softball.
CONNECT WITH CHANDLER! SEND US YOUR CLASS NOTES!!
Cesar Chavez Recognition Chandler celebrated Cesar Chavez Day with help from Leon Kuo ’17, last year’s president of the Cesar Chavez committee. Alternately speaking in Spanish, Mandarin and English, Kuo encouraged students to honor and share their cultural identities. “Serve others and you’ll get to know people of all different backgrounds,” he said.
The Cesar Chavez Foundation presented eighth-grade Spanish teacher Señora Vasquez with a proclamation, recognizing “Eight years of service… to the legacy of Cesar Chavez and other leaders of the Farm Workers Movement who have inspired and transformed communities.”
ALUMNI PROFILE
Brothers’ Nonprofit Provides Bikes4Orphans SEBOUH ’10 & SHAWNT ’12 BAZIKIAN ST. FRANCIS HIGH SCHOOL UCLA / UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Sebouh ’10 and Shawnt ’12 Bazikian love bicycling. Even more, they love giving bikes to kids; 366 at last count, through their nonprofit, Bikes 4 Orphans. And both young men are still full-time students themselves. It all started at Chandler, according to Sebouh. “I was riding in the eighthgrade Bike-A-Thon with Mr. Korn, pedaling around the Rose Bowl loop on my old bike, and I saw these packs of professional cyclists whizzing past. I fell in love with cycling right there.” A few months later, and Sebouh was the proud owner of a new racing bike, engaged in weekly training rides and races. He pursued amateur competitive cycling through high school at St. Francis and UCLA. “In my senior year at St. Francis, I met an orphanage director from Kenya. She mentioned that her 43 kids had to walk two hours to reach school, and two hours to get home. Immediately, in my mind, I thought bicycles would be the perfect solution to their problem. I set a goal of giving her 43 bikes to help those kids get to school faster.” Sebouh recruited his brother, Shawnt, and together they started raising money. “We met a lot of rejection. People didn’t trust two teenagers asking for money. We applied for grants, held fundraisers, and we raised that money and donated 43 bicycles.” An invitation to Kenya followed, where Sebouh and the kids biked to school together. Their two-hour walk shrank to just 30 minutes on a bike. Sebouh also saw that older kids could bike to their jobs, getting there faster and earning more money.
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Word spread on Facebook and Twitter, and orphanage directors began contacting Sebouh and Shawnt, asking for bikes. “We never expected it to become big, but at this point we’ve been able to raise close to $75,000 and donate 366 bikes,” Sebouh says. Asked what he’s learned along the way, Sebouh points to the power of a simple story to get people inspired. “The bikes along with helmets and tools cost just $169. It’s not a complicated solution. One bike changes an orphan’s life, by helping them get to school and receive an education.” Sebouh and Shawnt are thrilled about their upcoming delivery of 110 bicycles - their largest to date to the Riley Orton Foundation in Kenya in late fall. “This orphanage will always be dear in our hearts,” Shawnt says, “These girls are exploited on their twohour journey to school by predators and once we learned about this, my brother and I vowed to provide bicycles to every single girl at the orphanage.” The experience has given Sebouh and Shawnt newfound skills. “I was a shy kid,” Sebouh says, “Now I’m making presentations and giving interviews. We’ve learned to deal with rejection and just keep rolling.” Shawnt sums it up, “I’d tell anyone: find your passion and then see how you can combine it with charity. You can’t go wrong with that approach.” To learn more or to support Sebouh and Shawnt, visit www.bikes4orphans.com.
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chandler's eighth-
grade class gift enabled us to buy 110 bicycles. The initiative they took to help students thousands of miles away speaks volumes to their character. They inspire us to work harder to make Bikes 4 Orphans even more impactful.
â&#x20AC;?
Summer 2018 37
This year, five alumni families shared the special joy of seeing their own child graduate from Chandler School.
THE ARROBIO FAMILY Geoffrey ’83 & Sienna ’18
THE CHRISTOPOULOS FAMILY Anthony ’85 & Vanessa ’18
Please join us!
OPEN HOUSE
THE MYERS FAMILY William ’75 & Caroline ’18
Lower School (K-5) Middle School (6-8)
THE RENICK FAMILY Randall ’78 & Lucie ’18
13
SAT OCT
9-11:30 AM
THE STAVROPOULOS FAMILY Peter ’82 & Katia ’18
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Shamrock Magazine
1005 Armada Drive | Pasadena
www.chandlerschool.org
UNIVERSITY
CHIC AGO
Four graduates from the Class of 2014 will reunite as freshmen at the University of Chicago this fall. We caught up with them before they pack their bags for the Windy City.
HARVARDWESTLAKE SCHOOL
VIVIAN LU
POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL
JONATHAN THEIN
FLINTRIDGE PREP SCHOOL
IVAN SCHMIDT
ELIZABETH MCCARTHY
Vivian hopes to major in biological sciences or molecular engineering. “In high school, I competed in Science Bowl, was on our fencing team, and edited our literary magazine. I also conducted nano-medicine research at a biomaterials lab at USC. I worked on a drug-delivery system to target autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, and helped prepare a manuscript which was published in Nano Research.” Vivian wrote and illustrated a bilingual children’s book called Ciara and the Land of the Waves. It is sold in bookstores in Asia and available online. As a Junior Ambassador for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA), she raised $10,000 through art commissions and book sales. “Last year, I won a national gold medal from the Scholastic Awards for one of my paintings and received a Senior Art Award. I was also named a National Merit Finalist, inducted into the Cum Laude Society, and chosen to speak at my class’s commencement ceremony as valedictorian.” “Chandler prepared me incredibly well for high school. Looking back, I most appreciate how tight-knit the Chandler community is. Coming in as a new sixth grader, I met so many wonderful people - and now I’m heading to college with three of them! I’m especially grateful for my teachers for instilling me with a deep appreciation for learning.”
Jonathan enters University of Chicago as a Dean’s Scholar, a merit program for academic achievement. He plans to major in economics with a focus in business and organizations, and also pursue a pre-med track so he can work as a doctor or in hospital or healthcare management. “Chandler prepared me very well for high school in all regards. Some labs I did in eighth grade were repeated in my AP chemistry class.” At Poly, Jonathan was involved in the admission Ambassador's program and the Ambassador Council. He played basketball, captained the volleyball team, and played a year of football. He was a member of the Asian Culture Club, MD Junior Club, and Math Club. "In terms of advice, I would recommend staying connected with both your classmates and teachers. These are great people that you can really rely on and trust."
“I plan to major in biological studies with a focus on research in genetics or immunology, alongside business,” says Ivan. “Mr. Calderon's biology program is the main reason why I want to become a biological researcher. His Advanced Microbiology course covered techniques that became essential during my Caltech lab internship. He taught material that grad students were using. Most importantly, his passion and curiosity drew me in.” “Mr. Hulm's debate program was a great way to discuss issues. He taught us to use facts and research to support arguments. Later, as President of the Republican Club, I helped bring in speakers and host conversations about political topics. Students were able to respectfully discuss their opinions. Without Mr. Hulm, I wouldn’t have been as effective at helping make my high school more diverse in thoughts and opinions.” “I also was on the cross country and tennis teams, and participated in the Nicaragua program. I was named to the Cum Laude Society, Dean's List, and senior year homecoming and prom prince. I rode my bike from Canada to Mexico (28 days and 1,800 miles) to raise funds for the Arthritis National Research Foundation.” “Looking back, I appreciate that Chandler taught us how to be good citizens and serve the community. Volunteering with Mr. Korn’s Head Start Program showed me that giving back is always important.”
“I might study something close to cognitive science, but I’m still undecided,” says Elizabeth. “Chandler’s Spanish program allowed me to finish Poly's language requirement in my sophomore year after Spanish IV AP. Then, I had more freedom in my schedule to take classes such as AP Computer Science.” “Every summer, I attended an engineering camp where I helped build 3 lake-faring boats. I fenced, and helped lead the Science Olympiad Club. I got my Gold Award for Girl Scouts by helping reorganize Tonita Fernandez’s after-school learning center. Now, I'm working for a Caltech team participating in NASA's Centennial Challenge to develop a 3D printer that can build houses on Mars autonomously before astronauts arrive. I won Poly's Biology Department Award, I got 3rd place in the State Science Olympiad Fermi Questions event, and I'm a National Merit Scholar.” “At Chandler I got to try so many unique and interesting things, which I’m so grateful for.”
POLYTECHNIC SCHOOL
Summer 2018 39
A lumni Reunion
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Shamrock Magazine
s of e Classe th g n ti a Celebr ’78, ’88, ’93, , ’58, ’68 8. ’0 d ’98 an
Piz za on the Point
@ Chandler Big Ser vice Day
Colle ge Connec t io n
SAVE THE DATES! College Connection Care Package Stuffing Party
(for parents of alumni in boarding school, college, graduate school or the military)
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018
Alumni and Past Parent Reception (for alumni and parents of alumni)
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2018
nt e r Pa t s Pa ion & ni c ept m A l u Re
Alumni Pizza on the Point & Big Service Day (for alumni in high school)
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2019
Alumni Visiting Day
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2019
Alumni Reunion & Family BBQ (for alumni and parents of alumni)
SATURDAY, APRIL 13, 2019
Class of 2015 Off to College Reunion (for alumni and parents of alumni)
FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2019
Deborah Nesbit Award FOR OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERISM The Debbie Nesbit Volunteer Excellence 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. She was an active member of CFA and gave generously of her time, talent and enthusiasm. Congratulations to the 2018 recipient of this award: Candy Renick.
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Chandler would like to recognize with honor all the recipients of this award: Shelley Allen 2003 Leslie Comras Aiken 2004 Stephanie Magsarili 2005 Elise Chow 2006 Barbara Goto 2007 Kelly Rouse 2008 Karen Deacy-Russell 2009 Kate Jacobs 2010 Lucia Logan 2011 Marianne Wright 2012 Maggie Chang 2013 Amanda McCarthy 2014 Marion Fong 2015 Yuen Fang 2016 Daisy Rivas 2016 Jennifer Walston Johnson 2017 Candy Renick 2018
Chandler Golf Classic 2018 GOLF CLASSIC AWARDS MENS’ CHAMPIONS Joe Mallinger, Steve Mena, Kelly Johnson, Mike Ortiz ’92 LADIES’ CHAMPIONS Shannon McGuire, Dimple Bhasin Emilie Lanstra, Samira Mallinger PUTTING CONTEST Kai Kuwata CLOSEST TO THE PIN Andrew Lee LONGEST DRIVE WOMEN Samantha Weigandt ’96 LONGEST DRIVE MEN Rob Rasmussen STRAIGHTEST DRIVE Vito Gioielli 50/50 Chuck Tapert
GOLF CLASSIC COMMITTEE John Berger ’88, Co-Chair Joe Mallinger, Co-Chair Nobu Junge, CFA Liaison Joan Bravo Anthony Cannizzo Kristen Cannizzo David Chao Tony Christopoulos ’85 Wayne Forester Sandra Gonzalez Dwight Holcomb Jennifer Sells Johnson ’94 Cynthia Mansbridge
Shannon McGuire Susie McKee Joyce Mitamura ’80 Sarah Myers Michael Ortiz ’92 Vernon Patterson Derek Pippert Dan Rothenberg ’96 Joyce Sakonju ’87 Sean Stellar Scott Street Chuck Tapert Beth Walker
THE
POWER OF
Financial aid is incredibly important to ensure that people of all different backgrounds can participate and thrive at Chandler. Every student benefits from a diverse community; it’s an essential part of a Chandler education.
Giving MAYA VASQUEZ '13
Flintridge Preparatory School Yale University / Columbia University
While I appreciate the incredible learning opportunities and technical skills I picked up at Chandler, I most value that the school taught me to be kind and to care. Empathizing with our peers, and everyone around us, is such an important skill going into our adult lives; realworld encounters are so much more meaningful when one acts with compassion, and Chandler students are well prepared for these experiences. Learning high-level math and having the ability to write a 10-page research paper are both important, but ultimately the kindness I learned and felt at Chandler was my greatest takeaway. At Chandler, I participated in debate, softball, and yearbook. The two greatest skills I learned at Chandler were organization and time-management. I was extremely prepared for high school, both socially and academically. One of my best Chandler memories was canoeing down the Colorado River on our seventh-grade Boojum trip. I had just lost my grandfather a month before. Also, I was scared of tipping the canoe over. However, everyone was so kind, calming my nerves and giving me love and support. On that trip I met some of my closest friends, as well as my biology teacher and seventh-grade advisor, Mr. Calderon, one of my most unforgettable and supportive instructors. Chandler encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and persevere through tough times. I see these same qualities in my sister, who is entering Chandler Middle School. After Chandler, I went to Flintridge Prep. I’ve just completed my first year at Yale University, where I danced in the Ballet Folklorico group and was a design editor for the Yale Record. For my sophomore year, I’m transferring to Columbia University. I hope to major in Ethnicity and Race Studies. Generous donors helped me receive an incredible K-8 education and access to endless extracurricular opportunities. My Chandler experience made me the person I am today – and for that I say thank you!
CHANDLER SCHOOL
PARENT SURVEY
2018 RESULTS
100% TOP 3 of respondents in their first year at Chandler say the experience has exceeded or equaled expectations
95% 94% 93%
of respondents say their child’s satisfaction and enthusiasm is an extremely or very important factor in choosing Chandler.
of respondents of respondents are likely to say Chandler recommend offers an excellent Chandler to (60%) or good another family. (33%) value
CHANDLER’S GREATEST STRENGTH “I’m so grateful for the teachers at Chandler whose care and dedication match their teaching expertise.”
FACTORS FOR CHOOSING AND REMAINING AT CHANDLER
Quality of Faculty
School Atmosphere & Culture
Faculty Care & Concern for Your Child
balance pursuit of excellence
ACADEMICS faculty quality & care consistency
“Both of my children found their wings and work ethic from Chandler. Much gratitude.”
We absolutely adore Chandler. Our son comes home “ always excited about school, inspired, full of new insights and reports of the most amazing class activities.”
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PAID
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WE MISS YOU! Get re-connected with Chandler School and discover the latest news, events, programs and special invitations that await you. Last year, Chandler hosted an alumni and past-parent reception, family BBQ, the Golf Classic, Alumni Visiting Day, Off-to-College Reunion, guest speakers in classrooms, and professional networking mixers for alumni and parents of alumni.
STAY CONNECTED TO CHANDLER
by sending your contact information to Jennifer Sells Johnson â&#x20AC;&#x2122;94 at jjohnson@chandlerschool.org.