Well-rounded MEET

Upper School students are all about the As: Academics, Arts, Athletics

By Tami McMann

Summit students are encouraged to “Aim High,” a maxim widely used across campus. While achievement and progress are celebrated in each division (see “Student Spotlight” on page 22), it’s especially impressive when students are active in multiple pillars of our program. The four Upper School students featured here not only exemplify well-rounded pursuits, but they also excel in the three As: academics, arts and athletics.

Maya Wood ’23 Artist, Scholar, Three-season Athlete

It can be difficult to catch up with senior Maya Wood, and not just because she is a track star who can sprint the 100-meter dash in barely more than 14 seconds.

She also represents the arts program on the Upper School Leadership Team and is a founding member of the National Art Honor Society at The Summit. Besides serving as an ambassador for the arts, Maya has participated in multiple exhibitions, earning top recognition again and again. She was recently awarded a Gold Key in the Scholastic Art Awards for an illustration titled, “Hey, Soul Sister.” She says her favorite piece is an acrylic painting on paper titled “All She Sees is Pink.”

“It was very personal to me,” she says, “and I think it shows how far my skills have improved.” The piece won first place overall at the Taft Museum’s Artists Reaching Classrooms Exhibition last year.

A t hree-sport varsity athlete, Maya is always on her feet. She competes in cross country running in the fall, indoor track in the winter and track and field in the spring in sprints, relays and long jump. Track is her favorite of the three, and her most memorable moment as a Silver Knight was in 2021, her sophomore year.

“D uring a 4x200 meter qualifying race for the state meet, I messed up the handoff and we were disqualified,” she shares. “I felt guilty about it, but I had to put the team over my feelings. We refocused and in our next qualifier, the 4x100, we advanced and were able to compete at state in that event. Getting disqualified but overcoming it to move on made us closer as a team.”

I n the classroom, Maya excels at learning while immersed in a challenging Advanced Placement courseload. She is a National Merit Commended Scholar and one of the College Board’s National African American Recognition Program scholars. Her grade point average is exemplary.

“Being around so many different people with different interests at the Summit has helped me focus on what I want to accomplish and what I want to pursue,” she says. “I try to put effort into everything I do so I can be proud of the outcome.”

W ith all these achievements, you might wonder if there’s anything this student cannot do well.

“I c an’t park,” she admits. “I have to get here early so I’m one of the first people in the parking lot.”

Graham Hodge ’24 Singer, Scholar, Football and Basketball Player

Junior Graham Hodge joined the Upper School as a freshman from St. Gertrude School in Madeira. Right away, he began involving himself in school activities while maintaining a rigorous academic courseload.

“I h ad conversations with my parents about what kinds of activities really make me happy and what interests me most,” he says. Ultimately, what stuck for Graham was Camerata, where he sings bass, and positions on the varsity basketball and football teams.

Following the 2022 football season, Graham’s hard work as a defensive end resulted in two recognitions from the Miami Valley Conference: First Team, AllConference and Honorable Mention, AllDistrict.

Academically, Graham is equally motivated to excel in the classroom. He is enrolled in the Homan Center for

Entrepreneurial Leadership and this summer he has an internship lined up as part of the Homan program. Other classes he enjoys are Advanced Placement (AP) U.S. Government and AP English Language and Composition. Graham is also on the leadership team for the class of 2024 and maintains a high grade point average. After Summit, he intends to pursue a business degree and someday be his own boss.

A s he approaches his senior year as a Silver Knight, Graham has a few “bucket list” items yet to accomplish. He wants to take classes from Dr. Tracy Law ’85, Ph.D. and Stephanie Duggan, win a state basketball championship and be seen as a leader among the boys performing with Camerata. With so many balls in the air, Graham says his biggest challenge is putting the distractions away and focusing on one priority at a time.

“Summit teachers work on really connecting with students,” he says. “Everyone supports your goals.”

Zari Gillispie ’25 Artist, Scholar, Volleyball Player, Swimmer

It’s not hard to spot Zari Gillispie in a crowd. The 5-foot-11 sophomore with a bright smile quietly commands attention whether she is on the volleyball court, in the pool, at the artist’s table or in the classroom.

Z ari is a top student who balances a challenging schedule of honors and college preparatory classes. Outside the classroom Zari is an avid reader of murder mysteries. She also volunteers at the Cincinnati Museum Center teaching young visitors about animals and nature. Next year she wants to join Summit’s Mock Trial team and might someday pursue a law career. Her accomplishments as a visual artist are impressive. Inducted along with Maya into Summit’s founding class of the National Art Honor Society, Zari has artwork on display in Columbus until 2024 as part of the Ohio House of Representatives High School Student Art Exhibition. She enjoys sketching on paper, but graphic design allows her to add layers and depth to her art.

D uring the fall volleyball season, Zari was a standout player. The Miami Valley Conference named her Player of the Year and First Team for District 16 Division III as well as First Team, All League. A middle hitter, she had 56 blocks and 179 kills and her power on the court helped advance the varsity team to the regional finals for the first time in program history. In the winter, she competes on the swim team in three sprint races: 50-yard freestyle, 100yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.

“ To succeed at The Summit, it takes inner drive,” she shares. “You might not want to study for that test or go to practice, but you have to keep pushing yourself. This is a very inviting community, and your teachers and peers are always there to help you.”

Connor Schaaf ’26 Musician, Scholar, Gymnast

C onnor Schaaf came to The Summit as a third grader when his father, Rob Schaaf, was hired to teach middle school. Now a freshman, he is known for more than just being the younger brother of PJ Schaaf ’23.

C onnor is enrolled in honors classes like biology, geometry and Chinese. This year, he was part of a team that was recognized by the National Chinese EXPO of Student Works for a group project called Shadow Puppet Show of Moon Festival. He voiced one of the characters in the video recording.

“Chinese is very different from English and most other languages,” he says. “That’s what’s interesting about it – the sentence structure, vocabulary, alphabet – it’s challenging to learn.”

O utside of school, Connor spends most of his time at the gym. He began gymnastics training at age six when his family lived in Philadelphia. Today, he trains six days a week for more than 20 hours total. His best events are rings and pommel horse.

“ The sport is challenging and scary,” he admits, “but there’s a sense of accomplishment when I push through and get over my fears. Being able to mentor and teach younger kids helps me understand how far I’ve come. I have a lot more confidence in my ability to persevere.”

Besides setting a high bar for himself as a learner and athlete, there is another side to Connor. He is also a musician who has played the clarinet in Summit’s band program since fifth grade.

“I’ve found that it’s very easy to stay disciplined if you have a goal and are motivated to achieve it,” he shares. “When it’s something I care about and I want to succeed, I push through.”