Everybody has a story to tell.

Our institution has a long-established tradition of honoring and acknowledging our young alumni. CA’s reputation rests on the achievements and impact of each student who graduates and goes on to make their individual mark. Our graduates are thriving at locations around the globe, seizing opportunities of growth, learning, and experience. They are pushing boundaries and becoming trailblazers in their fields. We invite you to read their stories and personal reflections below, and draw inspiration from their work in the realms of fashion, food, finance, fundraising, and real estate.

Christian Malerba ’04

Where did life take you after Cheshire Academy?

After graduating from Cheshire Academy, I earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Connecticut. I played four years of varsity tennis in the Big East Conference and was captain my junior and senior seasons. After graduating from UConn (the 2023 NCAA Division I Basketball Champions!), I spent time teaching tennis professionally around Connecticut and coaching varsity tennis at Hopkins School.

How did CA prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

Cheshire prepared me academically, athletically, and socially for college. Campus created an environment similar to that of college, which allowed me to make a smooth and seamless transition. I never thought I’d be a fundraiser, but my connection to the Cheshire Academy community — specifically former Head of School Jerry Larson — opened the door to a part-time fundraising position in 2011, which then led to a full-time position in 2012. I fell in love with the nonprofit world and continue to enjoy being in the business of giving back.

What are you doing currently?

I am the chief development officer for Project Recover. Project Recover is a collaborative effort to enlist 21st century science and technology in a quest to find and repatriate Americans missing in action (MIAs) since World War II, in order to provide recognition and closure for families and the nation. www.ProjectRecover.org

What are your personal and professional goals? What impact do you want to have on the world?

A personal goal of mine is to find time to thank each person that has had a positive impact on my life or has taken the time to mentor me. One of my professional goals is to continue working for organizations that make a difference in the lives of others.

I’d like to be remembered as a loyal friend, good person, and family man.

Who was your favorite teacher at CA, and why?

Coach Boyd. From day one of middle school and throughout my journey at CA, Coach was always there for me. During my five years at CA, he was a teacher, advisor, coach, and mentor. We made many incredible memories during my academic and athletic career at CA; however, my fondest memories with Coach stem from my time working in the Advancement Office. I will always cherish the long conversations we had in my office reminiscing about tennis and the time we spent coaching together on the tennis court. I continue to stay in touch with Coach and his family.

Why do you think it’s important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy? How has your connection to CA helped you?

Cheshire Academy is a family. Once you’re in, you’re in forever. I’ve spent nearly a third of my life on campus as a student or employee and look forward to spending the next phase of my life giving back to the school. I left the Advancement Office in 2019 and was fortunate to work for the United Service Organizations (USO), serving activeduty military members and their families. It was fellow alumnus Brian Whiting ’87 who helped me get my job at USO. Brian continues to serve as a mentor to me and has helped me grow my career professionally.

I continue to be best friends with my core group of Cheshire Academy friends. We’ve spent the last 10 years celebrating weddings and watching our families grow.

I am also grateful and indebted to my colleagues in the Advancement Office — past and present — who have taught me so much about being a fundraising professional.

What was one of your favorite songs to listen to during your time at CA?

"We Didn't Start the Fire" by Billy Joel. This was a song that my good friend Anthony Laudano ’04 introduced to me. Anthony knew every word. It was a favorite amongst my group of CA buddies!

Kayla Lipsitz ’10

Where did life take you after Cheshire Academy?

Cheshire Academy provided me with invaluable experiences that served me well on my journey after graduating. Following graduation, I attended Quinnipiac University. I immediately took advantage of all QU had to offer at the time, explored a diverse array of courses, and spent time traveling when I could! A year into school, I specifically loved spending part of my summer traveling throughout the South of France and absorbing the vibrant culture. Upon graduation from QU, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, and found myself fully diving into the southern lifestyle where on every corner you discover great art, culture, unique cuisine and, best of all, the southern dialects! Prior to coming back to CA, I served as a marketing director for a boutique real estate company. It was there I learned how to navigate a fast-paced work environment and grow professionally. In July 2022, I got married in one of my favorite places, Martha’s Vineyard, to my husband Harrison, whom I met at Quinnipiac. Aside from my professional career, I enjoy spending my days playing tennis, reading books, and traveling throughout Connecticut.

How did CA prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

Learning what it means to be a self-advocate was by far the most valuable tool I gained from Cheshire Academy. At its core, selfadvocacy represents understanding, innovation in action, and strong communication. I am grateful for the rigorous and rewarding academic journey CA prepared me for to enter my undergraduate studies. However, the specific social tools mentioned allowed me to be adaptable well beyond college; in fact, I've been able to adapt and flourish not only in my professional career, but in real-world scenarios as well.

What are you doing currently?

Currently, I am proud to be the director of alumni and family relations at CA. I have the pleasure of connecting with various individuals who have been a part of our beloved community anywhere from 70 years ago to today. My goal is to invest in the stories of others, the mission, and vision of Cheshire Academy.

What are your personal and professional goals? What impact do you want to have on the world?

I believe in Cheshire Academy’s vision of positively shaping our global citizens of tomorrow, so that’s what I will do too! I strive to be a resource and a well of wisdom and knowledge and, most importantly, encourage others to always put empathy first. Moreover, influencing anything in life requires the power of community. Working together as a community is what gives me inspiration and hope for change.

When you reflect on your time at CA, was there a moment or experience that, looking back now, influenced your path to where you are today?

My experience of being a part of such a diverse community is what eventually led me back to CA. Even throughout my travels and residing in various cities, I did not find a place as welcoming and diverse as Cheshire Academy. CA is certainly a special little place that makes a big impact.

Who was your favorite teacher at CA, and why?

It’s difficult to say who my favorite teacher at CA was considering the many important roles they all play — from teacher and coach to dorm parent — and the level of time and dedication they sacrifice to ensure their students are well taken care of, but one special individual sticks out: my advisor, Laura Longacre. She was with me from the first day of CA up until my last moment at graduation. I will always treasure her commitment, passion, and kind personality. My family and I are so grateful for her — thank you, Laura!

Why do you think it’s important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy? How has your connection to CA helped you?

As an alumna, I am one of many who consider Cheshire Academy a home away from home. Undoubtedly, our common experiences and aspirations are what hold our community together and make us stronger. Staying connected is the best advice I’d give any CA member for the reason you will always have a community to lean on that’s willing and ready to assist you with anything you need, from networking, forming community groups around the world, and many of other opportunities. Whether you are from the Class of 1967 or 2020, Cheshire Academy has something for you. Because of CA, I can build upon professional skill sets and life achievements.

What was one of your favorite songs to listen to during your time at CA?

“Men Señará!” A beautiful song written by a Spanish artist named Bebe from Valencia, Spain. Shown to me by a friend at the time at CA from Barcelona, Spain. I loved “Men Señará” so much I now have the song forever memorized!

Malik Golden ’12

Where did life take you after Cheshire Academy?

Life took me to Penn State, where I received two degrees: one in broadcast journalism, and another in telecommunications.

How did CA prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

As a boarding student at CA, the school helped me to adjust to my life away from family. It gave me the fundamental structure to succeed academically.

What are you doing currently?

Right now, I own a real estate company, as well as a restaurant called Soul Bowls in Hartford, Connecticut, which I will be expanding over the next couple of years.

What are your personal and professional goals in life? What impact do you want to have on the world?

My personal goals are to wake up happy and live life on my own terms while also being a positive influence on those around me. My professional goals are to expand my real estate company and to start a restaurant group that is all over the world. I’m not sure about the impact I will have on the world yet, but my goal is to impact everyone around me in a positive and inspirational way.

When you reflect on your time at CA, was there a moment or experience that, looking back now, influenced your path to where you are today?

The success that I had at CA set the standard for the success that I would strive for, for the rest of my life.

Who was your favorite teacher at CA, and why?

My favorite teacher at CA would be Mr. Black, because he had such an infectious personality and cared about his students. Also, Mr. Rogers was one of my favorite teachers, and shout out to Mrs. Nolan too! But the people that I connected with and loved the most were the maintenance and the lunch crews.

Why do you think it’s important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy? How has your connection to CA helped you?

Cheshire Academy served as the foundation for many of our lives, so it’s only right that we support and give back.

What was one of your favorite songs to listen to during your time in CA?

I can't remember my favorite song to be exact. However, Lil Wayne and Wiz Khalifa used to go crazy! Shout out to Mrs. Kubat for putting me on to Adele.

Joe Tacopina ’17

Where did life take you after Cheshire Academy?

Upon graduating from Cheshire Academy, I had always had the vision of starting my own brand and hoping to one day begin my journey and take on the fashion industry, but first, I had the opportunity to challenge myself as a Division I athlete playing football at Temple University. After adapting to a new routine on a new campus, I realized over time that my true calling and passion was to bring my ideas and vision to life through the expression of clothing, which is what I use to represent who I am. Despite not having a formal education in fashion design, I took on this challenge with my full efforts to self-educate and test my capabilities with trial and error, which is something I inherited by habit and practice as an athlete at Cheshire. Life mimics sports in many ways: developing a good work ethic, perseverance, and keeping focus on my objective, all of which led me to where I am today with Davide, my clothing brand. www.davideclothing.com, and on Instagram @davidedesigns and @joseph.davide_.

How did CA prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

While at Cheshire, I had a glimpse of what college life consisted of. Living on campus, participating in sports, and the academic curriculum all contributed to my skills managing a healthy and balanced studentathlete life on my own over the years. Being a student in a prestigious and elite school like Cheshire allowed me to surround myself with like-minded people who had aspirations to succeed in life. Many of the friendships I developed over the years opened my perspective of what the world has to offer, which helped me broaden my horizons, chase big goals, and challenge my limits. The diverse backgrounds of many around me opened my eyes to see a bigger picture.

What are you doing currently?

I chose to unenroll from Temple University after one year there, believing it would be for my best interest to put my full efforts into creating and learning about product design as well as understanding the complex world of fashion. I released my first collection of high-end luxury men’s design wear in June 2022 and am currently undergoing production for my second collection, which releases in June 2023. Davide has been worn by countless celebrities and athletes, including A$AP Rocky, Richie Akiva, Garrett Wilson, and Antonio Candreva. I am set to open my first pop-up store in downtown Westport, Connecticut, enhancing direct demand from product to customer.

What are your personal and professional goals? What impact do you want to have on the world?

When thinking of professional goals, I see Davide continuing to grow and succeed. Five years from now, I see Davide on runway shows, in the global eye, and a competing brand in the top designer retail stores in the country and internationally. I see Davide becoming a fashion house. I visualize those wearing it embodying the meaning of the brand and representing it with pride. I want my customers to fall in love with the product for what it is, I want them to feel connected with the brand, and to truthfully forget about the price point and buy the item of clothing for what the meaning behind Davide stands for. Personal goals involve eventually having a tight-knit family and living part-time in Europe as well as here in the United States to give my family a beautiful life seeing the world.

When you reflect on your time at CA, was there a moment or experience that, looking back now, influenced your path to where you are today?

I think the diversity and blend of cultures allowed me to get a glimpse into the world. Developing friendships with people from different parts of the world and adapting to new and different ideologies helps me appreciate people I work with, their different points of view, and ideas.

Who was your favorite teacher at CA, and why?

My favorite teachers at CA were Dr. Sacco, Mrs. Monahan, and Ms. Simon. All three of them encouraged my independent thinking and strengthened my foundation with the tools I needed to succeed.

Why do you think it’s important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy? How has your connection to CA helped you?

Even if you weren’t close with certain people in high school, I believe it’s for your best interest to always keep an open mind. You never know where opportunities can present themselves. In my instance, two of my investors and customers for Davide are alumni I met at Cheshire Academy.

What was one of your favorite songs to listen to during your time at CA?

What I listened to the most was Lil Uzi Vert’s “The Perfect LUV Tape” album. The songs remind me of my good times at Cheshire as well as my senior football season.

Kate Davis ’18

Where did life take you after Cheshire Academy?

After graduating Cheshire Academy in 2018, I continued my education at Providence College where I majored in business economics and minored in public and community service studies. During my time at PC, I busied myself with work study positions and internships, continued to pursue my passions of exercise and environmentalism, and met lifelong friends. This path led me to my current job as an analyst at JPMorgan Chase.

How did CA prepare you for college, and how did it influence your professional career?

Cheshire Academy prepared me for college by continuously pushing me outside of my comfort zone — I was encouraged to reach beyond what I perceived as my academic, social, or physical limits. This manifested in many ways, but one of the most impactful was being a part of the full IB Diploma Programme. These classes forced me to think outside the box, seek patterns in my learning, remain curious, and prioritize time management/organization. These skills not only prepared me for college but are lessons I carry with me each day professionally as well.

What are you doing currently?

I am currently working as an analyst in the JPMorgan Chase & Co. Corporate Analyst Development Program in Plano, Texas. This two-year rotational program allows me to learn more about bank functions and develop key business skills and competencies through three unique opportunities each aligned to a core discipline: project management, process improvement, and analytics.

What are your personal and professional goals? What impact do you want to have on the world?

One broad professional goal of mine is to use data to drive social change, develop communities, and create a more equitable future. A specific area of interest is climate solutions and public policy — I want to be a part of the global shift toward a green economy. Each day I prioritize living sustainably to the best of my ability, but throughout college I realized that these micro-level actions, although important, are not going to move the needle. On a personal note, I want to prioritize traveling both domestically and internationally. There are many places that I hope to visit one day but at the top of my list is Southern France.

When you reflect on your time at CA, was there a moment or experience that, looking back now, influenced your path to where you are today?

My experience at Cheshire Academy taught me the importance of community. Whether it was participating in the annual international fair where students showcased their culture through food, pictures, and artifacts, or lining the campus with luminary candles during Lights of Hope each fall, CA always succeeded at bringing people together. These experiences, among others, instilled the importance of community and I seek this feeling out wherever I go. In college, I was drawn to the small class sizes and strong alumni network. Professionally, I decided to work for a company who stresses global thinking and harnesses a culture of inclusion.

In addition to CA’s strong sense of community, I am grateful that an extra help period was strategically placed in our schedules each day. This removed any “shame” around seeking assistance and asking questions. I am learning early on in my career that there is no such thing as a dumb question and being curious goes a long way.

Who was your favorite teacher at CA, and why?

I had a long list of amazing teachers during my time at CA but Mrs. Wright, who taught my math class junior and senior year, was one of my favorites. I always looked forward to her class because the topics were ingestible and interesting, and the two years in her class helped me realize my strength in working with numbers. Lastly, Mrs. Wright exudes confidence — a quality that has proved to be significantly important as a woman in business today.

Why do you think it’s important for you and other alumni to stay connected with — and support — Cheshire Academy? How has your connection to CA helped you?

It is a privilege to belong to a global network of talented, driven, intelligent, and kind people. When looking at my graduating class, it seems as though no two people are on the same path. Some became entrepreneurs, some are pursuing master’s degrees, some work for nonprofit organizations, and the list goes on. Every alumni is unique in their own way and I find comfort in knowing I have people to turn to, to learn about different industries and careers. A Cheshire Academy education reaches far beyond what you learn in the classroom and I continue to support for this reason and want to ensure future students reap the same benefits.

What was one of your favorite songs to listen to during your time at CA?

Any song off of Khalid’s album “American Teen” or the song “Next to Me” by Imagine Dragons.