Harker Magazine - Fall/Winter 2023 by The Harker School

A PUBLICATION OF THE HARKER SCHOOL l FALL/WINTER 2023

M A G A Z I N E

A LU M R E U N I O N S

EDINBURGH FRINGE

UNIQUE COURSES

M A G A Z I N E

FALL/WINTER 2023, VOLUME 15 NUMBER 1 Pam Dickinson Office of Communication Director Catherine Snider Managing Editor Jess Curtis Photographer Jennifer Maragoni Copy Editor Zach Jones Rebecca McCartney Staff Contributors Blue Heron Design Group Design Diamond Quality Printing Printer Have an idea? Contact us: news@harker.org 408.345.9273 Or write: Harker Magazine 500 Saratoga Ave. San Jose, CA 95129 Harker is a Bay Area Green Certified Business of Santa Clara County. As part of our many sustainability efforts, Harker Magazine is printed on partially recycled paper.

On the cover: Emy Keyhan, grade 7, dances with Showstoppers. Photo by Susan Harding. On this page: A bubble-maker from Just Like Alice entertains the crowds. Photo by Jess Curtis. On the back: A future Eagle gets into the spirit. Photo by Susan Harding. All photos taken at Harker Day.

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CONT E NTS Alumni Reunion Weekend A new tradition brings Eagles home.

Magic in Edinburgh Harker production creates a buzz at the Festival Fringe.

Where Innovation Meets Education How unique courses transform the student experience.

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Returning alumni provide full-circle moments.

top stories

Top Stories Recent stories reprinted from Harker News online. Harker News publishes stories online about our students and faculty, highlighting accomplishments and celebrating successes. Top Stories highlights a few of the most significant stories posted on Harker News since the last issue of Harker Magazine (spring/summer 2023) went to press. Visit news.harker.org to see full stories and hundreds more articles noting the truly remarkable efforts of our Harker students and faculty. at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world’s largest performing arts festival.

Harker Day attracts big crowds on a sweltering Saturday

https://news.harker.org/harkerday-attracts-big-crowds-on-asweltering-saturday/ Oct. 9, 2023 The high temperatures didn’t stop thousands from attending Harker Day and the Homecoming game on the upper school campus on Saturday. Thankfully shade was in plentiful supply as families wandered the campus enjoying food, games, sports and performances by Harker students.

Due to the high number of performances taking place during the festival, groups are given a strict time limit to set up, perform and tear down their shows. To prepare, the cast and crew of “Spelling Bee” spent weeks running through the production to make sure it stayed within the 90-minute time limit. The hard work paid off, as every show played to a sold-out house.

Senior moves on to selection round of Breakthrough Junior Challenge

Chanticleer dazzles with technique, harmony and diverse repertoire

Spring musical cast and crew perform to sell-out crowds at Fringe

https://news.harker.org/springmusical-cast-and-crew-performto-sell-out-crowds-at-fringe/ Oct. 5, 2023 Over the summer, the cast and crew of the spring 2023 upper school musical, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” traveled to Scotland to perform 4

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Joni Mitchell and Majel Connery, whose song cycle, “The Rivers Are Our Brothers,” was performed in stages at the beginning of each phase of the concert.

https://news.harker.org/ chanticleer-dazzles-withtechnique-harmony-and-diverserepertoire/ Sept. 28, 2023 Famed vocal ensemble Chanticleer wowed the audience at the Sept. 22 opening of the Harker Concert Series with its tremendous singing talents, memorable arrangements and incredible togetherness. The theme for the evening’s repertoire was “Music of a Silent World,” which paid tribute to the natural world through songs that stretched across the world and time, with selections from Max Reger, Stephen Sondheim,

https://news.harker.org/ senior-reaches-semifinals-ofbreakthrough-junior-challengevoting-open/ Sept. 22, 2023 In September, senior Arjun Gurjar reached the semifinals and later moved on to the Selection Committee round of the Breakthrough Junior Challenge. His video will be judged by a group of scientists and industry professionals to determine if he will move on to the final selection round.

Eighth grader Rory Hu receives prestigious Caroline D. Bradley Scholarship

https://news.harker.org/44733-2/ Sept. 20, 2023 Rory Hu, grade 8, was recently named a recipient of the prestigious Caroline D. Bradley

Scholarship, which covers all four years of high school education for highly gifted applicants following a rigorous application process. To be considered, students must submit essays, middle school transcripts, letters of recommendation, a work sample and standardized test scores. Hu was one of just 27 students chosen for the scholarship from thousands of applicants nationwide.

Nearly 30% of senior class named National Merit semifinalists

https://news.harker.org/nearly-30-ofsenior-class-named-national-meritsemifinalists/ Sept. 13, 2023 In September, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation announced that 55 Harker seniors – nearly 30 percent of the Class of 2024 – have been named semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are: Neo Alpha, Defne Avkarogullari, Ritu Belani, Kabir Buch, Carey Chang, Justin Chen, Varun Fuloria, Emma Gao, Vardaan Ghai, Arjun Gurjar, Angelina Hu, Trisha Iyer, David Jang, Dilip Jayavant, Amit Karoshi, Reshma Kosaraju, Jordan Labio, Ella Lan, Catherine Li, Joe Li, Sydney Ling, Adrian Liu, Ethan Liu, Thomas Liu, Claire Luo, Vivek Nayyar, Mina Okamoto, Kabir Ramzan, Jack Shen, Ansh Sheth, Julie Shi, Andrew Smith, Ishani Sood, Ananya Sriram, Claire Su, Om Tandon, Andrew Tang, Aniketh Tummala, Lera Vaisburd, Masha Velikhovskaya, Cynthia Wang, Kaitlyn Wang, Zihua Wang, Michelle Wei, Joelle Weng, Catherine Wong, Max Xing, Olivia Xu, Selina Xu, Fiona Yan, Ella Yee, Jiakai Zhang, Kevin Zhang, Ryan Zhang and Angelina Zhu.

Students clean up Los Gatos Creek alongside SJ mayor

https://news.harker.org/studentsjoined-by-sj-mayor-clean-up-los-gatoscreek/ Sept. 6, 2023 In early September, upper school students performed a cleanup operation along Los Gatos Creek. The activity was organized by South Bay Clean Creeks, whose director, Steve Holmes, spoke to the students about the beaver, salmon and other wildlife returning to the area. The students were joined by San Jose mayor Matt Mahan, who discussed his goals to create more opportunities for community cleanup as well as shelter unhoused people living near the creek. To celebrate a successful cleanup, the students headed to a nearby taco truck!

Student-created board game teaches kids about climate change

https://news.harker.org/studentcreated-board-game-teaches-kidsabout-climate-change/ Aug. 10, 2023 Seniors Reshma Kosaraju and Sasha Masson recently developed a board game to teach children about the dangers of – and possible solutions to – climate change. Titled Eco Quest and designed for ages 6-12, the game encourages children to find changes people can make in their everyday lives that, when made collectively, can have positive effects on a large scale. The students have already introduced the game to the lower and middle school’s after-school programs as well as Kathryn Hughes Elementary School in Santa Clara. They’ve also spoken with education officials in Santa Clara, San Benito, Santa Cruz, San Mateo and Monterey counties about implementing the game in their programs.

Rising senior wins top AI award at ISEF

Upper school kicks off year with annual matriculation ceremony

https://news.harker.org/upperschool-kicks-off-year-with-annualmatriculation-ceremony/ Aug. 18, 2023 The 2023-24 upper school academic year kicked off on Friday with the annual matriculation ceremony, which took place in the athletic center’s Zhang Gymnasium. Speakers included Brian Yager, head of school; Paul Barsky, upper school head; and Daniel Lin, grade 12 and Associated Student Body president. The event also featured performances by Cantilena and The Harker String Quartet.

https://news.harker.org/rising-seniorwins-top-ai-award-at-isef/ July 24, 2023 Rising senior Ella Lan won first place in a competition sponsored by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence at the International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas. Lan’s project, which presents a new way to detect diabetes using AI, won her a $1,500 cash prize and an invitation to the AAAI Conference in Vancouver, to be held in February. The AAAI ISEF Awards were established in 1999 to “recognize outstanding achievement in the area of intelligent computation and robotics,” according to AAAI’s website. Lan’s project also won the Second Award in the Translational Medical Science category at the ISEF. H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WIN TER 2023

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WORDS BY ZACH JONES PHOTOGRAPHS BY SUSAN HARDING ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY ROBERT WATSON

A NEW TRADITION BRINGS EAGLES HOME

Alumni Reunion Weekend 6

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“I WOULD SAY MY FRIENDS WERE SOMETHING THAT I COULD

ver Harker Day weekend, members of the Classes of 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018 returned to San Jose for the inaugural Alumni Reunion Weekend, which celebrated the classes’ 20th, 15th, 10th and fifth anniversaries, respectively. The event featured a full weekend of activities for all four classes, including a special dinner for each, during which alums reunited with each other as well as the teachers who shaped their experiences as Harker students. A special alumni breakfast also was held that Sunday, attended by members of all four classes. Alumni Reunion Weekend was conceived as an alumni-centered addition to the Harker Day festivities, explained Karan Lodha ’04, who joined Harker in August

PROBABLY NOT HAVE GOTTEN ANYWHERE ELSE. THEY ARE STILL MY CLOSE FRIENDS TO THIS DAY.” – Palak Patel ’03 as director of alumni relations. “Harker has a long history of bringing alums back to campus to reconnect with each other as well as with faculty and current students,” he said. Longtime staff and faculty also have organized events locally as well as visited alums living in other areas of the country on what have become known as alumni tours, he added. “The vision for this new reunion weekend structure was to tie milestone H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WIN TER 2023

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high school class reunions to Harker Day, allowing alums celebrating their reunions to participate in other traditions, including Homecoming and the Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.” As a Harker graduate himself, many of Lodha’s favorite memories from the weekend were seeing alums reunite with classmates and teachers. “There is nothing more rewarding about working in alumni relations than watching people come together over shared memories and values, and reunion weekend was filled with those moments,” he said. “It was so incredible to watch people reconnect with individuals they had not seen in as many as 20 years, but then finding new ways to bond over shared life experiences such as building families, forging careers or moving to new places.” Krishna Bheda ’18, a Harker Lifer, said the events provided a unique opportunity to see her fellow graduates again. “I was really excited to reconnect with old classmates,” she said during the Class of 2018 dinner at Santana Row. “I’ve been at Harker since kindergarten, so I’ve grown up with everybody here.” “I’ve seen a lot of them over the years, but there’s some people who I haven’t seen since graduation,” said Kathir Sundarraj ’13. “So it’s a kind of a time warp.” Melissa Chen ’08 enjoyed seeing many of her former classmates and hearing about their lives since graduation. “It’s funny, I think everyone looks the same, just grown up,” she remarked. “But it’s great to just catch up with everyone and hear what they’ve been up to.” Classmate Alan Wong ’08, felt similarly, saying, “It’s great to interact with old friends and just relive the good times that we had at school.” Many visiting alums, including Jonathan “JT” Cho ’13, also had fond memories of their teachers and how they sparked their interest in certain subjects. “I would look to classes … like calculus with Dr. [Victor] Adler,” he said. “I think for me, math had been very much an exercise of rigor. You go and you take the test. The way he approached teaching and conducting the class … was really fun for me.” Daniza Rodriguez ’13, who now works at Harker as an athletic coach and was one of 2022’s Harker Athletic Hall of Fame inductees, also noted that the teachers were a major reason she returned to Harker. “That’s actually one of the reasons I came 8 HAR K E R MAGA Z I N E l FA L L/W I N T E R 2023

back,” she said, noting computer science teacher Susan King as being particularly impactful in her life. “She’s actually the reason I got into programming, because I had no idea what that was 10 years ago or even 15 years ago, and just listening in her classes and in her clubs inspired me to go into scientific computing for my major in college. She opened a whole new world for me.” Teachers in attendance, such as longtime Spanish teacher Diana Moss, greatly enjoyed seeing how their students – many of whom they taught as lower or middle schoolers – had grown up. “It was a thrill to see the kids from the Class of 2003, who were in sixth grade when I started at Harker in 1996. They were a special group for me since they were just the second class to graduate from the upper school,” she said. “I moved from the middle school to the upper school with them in 1999, and a couple of those students I taught in sixth, seventh, ninth and 10th grades! Those first classes were true pioneers, creating the traditions and community that the upper school now enjoys.”

“THERE IS NOTHING MORE REWARDING THAN WATCHING PEOPLE COME TOGETHER OVER SHARED MEMORIES AND VALUES.” – Karan Lodha ’04, director of alumni relations

Among Moss’ favorite moments from the weekend was seeing members of the Class of 2013, “who I knew well through my son Kevin ’14. Several of them played soccer and football and performed in shows with him, so it was fun to reminisce about those days.” She also reconnected with former members of the Green Team, for which she has served as advisor for several years. “I was thrilled to learn that several of our alum are doing work related to climate action. I’m passionate about climate education, and I connected with a couple of alums who are going to come back to Harker to give presentations to our students.” For the Class of 2003, which celebrated its 20th anniversary, the weekend provided an opportunity to see how the school had grown. It also reminded several alums of their role during important school milestones. Gabrielle DeMers ’03, an avid participant in Harker’s performing arts programs, looked back fondly at being a member of the class that helped establish key aspects of The Harker Conservatory. “I just saw a performing arts show by Downbeat,” she

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said. “We named that group in our year. Things like that that are still around now were kind of happening and forming when we were around. We were very much an experiment.” Millie Lin ’18, another Conservatory graduate, remarked on the impact of her time in the performing arts program and the unique opportunities it offered as a member of the vocal group Cantilena. “I remember we got to sing such a range of pieces in different styles and different time periods. The class itself was this small group of people that were incredibly supportive of each other,” she recalled. “[Music teacher Susan Nace] led all of that. She’s amazing and very warm and kind. I think what really stands out to me is just that feeling of true security and curiosity and exploration that I was able to do in Cantilena rehearsal every single time we had class.” Palak Patel ’03, who lived on campus when Harker still ran its boarding program, recalled the experience of making friends with his dormmates and later as an upper school student. “Because I lived in the dorms, I had a very good close group of friends, but by the time I got to ninth grade, I met most of my current friends,” he said. “There was just a small group of us. We had a class of just over 100 and we’re all doing all these things together. So I would say my friends were something that I could probably not have gotten

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anywhere else. They are still my close friends to this day. My best friends are all from high school and being at Harker.” In order to integrate the Alumni Reunion Weekend into the Harker Day festivities, the annual alumni barbecue was expanded and moved into the upper school cafeteria, which Lodha called a “wonderful success.” “Alums kept remarking how nostalgic it felt to eat at the same tables that they had eaten lunch at when they were students, and many appreciated the familiar space given how many other parts of the upper school campus have changed since their graduation,” he said. Lodha said events such as these are important for maintaining connections with far-flung alums with whom contact is sometimes difficult to maintain.

“One of the wonderful things about Harker is that our alums move to all parts of the country and the globe. As such, it can be tough to stay connected … on a regular basis,” he said. “However, having the reunion weekend tied to Harker Day means that alums who are looking forward to their own reunions in the years ahead can mark that first weekend in October and make travel plans in advance.” Events like these also highlight and foster Harker’s sense of community. “More than at any school I’ve ever taught at, there is a strong bond that forms between teachers and students at Harker,” Moss said. “Having them come back to visit us just reinforces that warm sense of community and connection that makes this such a special place.”

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arker community members showed up for Harker Day by the thousands despite the high temperatures, enjoying food, games and student performances. Other favorite activities included cuddling up to the adorable puppies brought in by local rescue organizations and watching the water polo and volleyball teams in action. More than 100 grads visited the alumni area at Manzanita Hall, reminiscing and catching up over food served by the Harker kitchen staff. Just before kickoff at this year’s Homecoming, the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame added five new inductees; see page 32 for details. For more photos, visit https://news.harker.org/harkerday-attracts-big-crowds-on-a-swelteringsaturday/

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WORDS BY DAVID KIEFER PHOTOGRAPHS BY SHAREEN CHAHAL, GRADE 12 AND ETHAN GUAN, GRADE 11,

Magic in

UNLESS NOTED

Photo by Selina Xu, grade 12

Harker production creates a buzz at Fringe

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entral Hall sits on a corner at Tollcross, a major junction near the city center of Edinburgh, the venerable Scottish capital that speaks of coronations of kings and is framed by castles and medieval monuments on green hilltops. The auditorium, with its stained-glass windows and art nouveau architecture, angles toward an ironwork pillar clock that rises above the busy intersection. The proximity of the landmark clock to Central Hall is appropriate because during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, self-described as “the world’s greatest platform for creative freedom,” punctuality is the new king. In August, 52,000 performances of 3,553 shows took place in 288 venues at Fringe, with 2,445,609 tickets issued. Venues included churches, basements, pubs, restaurants and even subterranean tunnels. On a tight schedule with shows beginning as early as 10 a.m. and as late as 2 a.m., there is no patience for tardiness, which is why Laura Lang-Ree’s anxiety level began to rise as her Harker students prepared for their second performance of “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” musical at Central Hall.

that crescendoed to a boisterous yell. The stage was ready and the cast in place. But no show. The delay lasted two minutes … three … four … “What is happening?” Lang-Ree wondered. She ran to the lobby and found the venue managers. “We’ve got a huge problem,” one said. “There’s a line around the block!” So many had come that the floor seating was full and officials were compelled to open the balconies. “That never happens for high schools,” Harker music director Catherine Snider said. After a 10-minute delay, the show began. All four sold out. “It was magical,” said junior Jason Shim, who played William Morris Barfee, he of the ‘magic foot’ that spells words on the ground as William utters the spellings aloud. “I’m trying to justify that word right now. Liberating, enlightening, mind-blowing … I’m not doing it justice.”

Photo by Catherine Snider

Harker’s director of performing arts and her cast of 30, plus 10 crew and six adult managers, followed their schedule to the minute. They entered the hall from Dunbar Street 15 minutes before showtime, built the set, mic’d the cast, tested the sound, prepared the lighting, and even gathered for an energy circle – singing first in a low hum that increased in volume while Lang-Ree provided a pep talk

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feature There are fringe festivals around the world, many in the United States. In 1947, the Edinburgh International Festival was created as a post-World War II demonstration of peace through the gathering and appreciation of performers from around the world. Eight companies appeared uninvited and staged their own shows independent of the festival – on the fringes. The movement picked up to the point that Fringe is greater than the festival that spawned it. The Edinburgh Fringe remains the first and the largest of its kind. “It’s turning art on its ear,” Lang-Ree said. “Every time we go, our minds explode with new possibilities of storytelling. It’s unbelievable.” Production manager Brian Larsen performed there while a student at Cal State Hayward, but there was no talk of it at Harker until Lang-Ree was notified that the American High School Theater Festival was interested in having Harker apply for one of the coveted positions (now 33) that the organization sponsors in Edinburgh. Harker’s “Guys and Dolls” had won a 2006 Rita Moreno Award in San Jose, recognizing outstanding achievement in high school musical theater in Northern and Central California. A patron reached out to AHSTF, which then encouraged Harker to apply. Still “utterly clueless,” about Fringe, Lang-Ree went to Edinburgh to see for herself … and was blown away. “She called me in the middle of the night,” Snider said. “She was so excited. ‘I just saw this

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MAGIC IN EDINBURGH

show called “Urinetown.” It’s the best show ever and we’re going to do it here.’ It completely fired her up. And that was it.” Harker competed for one of approximately 30 slots through an intensive application process that was adjudicated by a panel of collegiate level directors and, in 2007, performed “Urinetown” at Fringe. Harker’s gone every four years since, giving every Conservatory student a chance to perform. As one of the principal characters performing as a peer to professionals on a grand stage, Shim said, “I never imagined that my commitment to theater would get to this level.” A sixth grade drama class from Katie Champlin sparked an interest. Shim signed up for a musical, “Mary Poppins,” earning a solo part, and was further inspired by watching the upper school’s 2019 performance of “Urinetown.” By high school, “I started devoting myself a little more heavily to musical theater,” Shim said. Lang-Ree became a mentor and saw potential, encouraging him along the way. At the beginning of his sophomore year, in the fall of 2022, Shim was all-in for “Spelling Bee.” He took vocal lessons and picked a high-energy piece for his audition: “Try Me,” from the musical, “She Loves Me.” He landed the role of Barfee and his one breathable nostril. “I got really lucky that among all the super talented people at Harker, Ms. Lang-Ree saw me as the

“Liberating, enlightening, mind-blowing … I’m not doing it justice.” – Jason Shim, grade 11

only person who could play this weird guy with the foot,” Shim said. “I’m not sure what that says about me, but I will gladly take it.” From September auditions to the spring musical to a July reconvening to the final performance in August, “Spelling Bee” was a constant companion for Harker’s cast. “You become the character and a bit of the character sticks with you,” said senior Isabella Ribeiro, who played Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre, the feisty activist and president of her elementary school’s Gay/Straight Alliance. “I spent a long time thinking about Logainne and all her characteristics,” she said. “Sometimes, I’ll be talking to my friends and find myself switching between my character and myself.” Shareen Chahal played the free-spirited Leaf Coneybear, riding around the stage on a scooter with a colander for a helmet. Chahal constantly looked for ways to expand her character even further. Lang-Ree challenged the cast to explore off-beat interpretations of their characters. During one exercise, they imagined their character’s spirit animal. Chahal was drawn to a chinchilla, which seemed to characterize Coneybear’s energy and sense of happiness. Ribeiro had the freedom to rant on any politically charged topic during one scene. She thought hard about each performance, attacking the lack of civil liberties in the Florida school system in one show and supporting LGBTQ+ rights in another. With so many choices at Fringe, attracting an audience was vital.

Harker wasted no time upon arrival in Edinburgh, heading down Victoria Street (the inspiration for Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley) and the Royal Mile (the old procession route between Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace) in costume while singing show tunes while bee antennas – an inspired idea by costume designer Caela Fujii to capture attention - swayed on their heads with every step. Most performers hand out some kind of flyer, but Lang-Ree had a different concept. The cast gave out bee keychains attached to a card with a QR code listing performance information. Harker’s performers were instantly recognizable and throughout their stay were referred to by locals and tourists alike as “the bee people.” Shahal, like the rest of the cast, stayed in character. She quizzed onlookers on the spelling of simple words like “cat.” “C-A-T,” they answered. “No,” responded Shahal, channeling Coneybear. “I don’t think that’s right.” This exuberance and sense of humor is part of what made Harker so endearing. “You want to get a buzz going,” Lang-Ree said. “When we go on the Royal Mile, we have a set list. We’re well prepared. We know what H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WINTER 2023 17

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will capture an audience quickly, what to sing, and how to engage them. We practice it at home too.” Efficiency in Edinburgh is the key. When the cast regroups in July, months after the spring musical, Larsen and Paul Vallerga, the technical director and set designer, remounted the set based on the blueprint of the dimensions of the Central Hall stage. A traveling set was created, a lighting board was programmed, and overseas musicians were hired and trained. Only a 90-minute tech rehearsal was allowed. After that, stage prep was limited to 15 minutes to set up and 15 to tear down. An additional student crew of 10 was brought from Harker to handle the environment. “We’re bringing in our director, set designer, costume designer, a sound engineer and a music director who have all worked not only at our school, but professionally in these fields,” Larsen said. “We’re bringing in ringers. And it shows.” When not performing on the streets to solicit patrons, Harker students were rehearsing at their dorm or watching other performances. “It’s the most immersive experience I could ever imagine,” said Kimberly Lobe, Harker’s director of advancement, who attended the Fringe. “It’s not like you’re on a field trip where you’re driving by the sights and waving out the window. You’re literally totally immersed in the culture and the audiences and what’s going on around you.” Shim was especially enthusiastic and paid for it. The day before Harker’s first show, Shim’s voice was reduced to a low growl. Frustrated that he couldn’t hit his notes, Shim sent a desperate note to his understudy. “Help!” “My panic level was a nine,” Shim said. For the next 24 hours, Shim was careful not to talk or sing. He went through the motions in practice while his understudy sang. Lang-Ree provided Shim with some herbal teas and reassured him, “You will be fine.” She was right. “What he needed was just to be vocally quiet, and it’s hard at the Fringe!” Lang-Ree said. “That’s a lesson, right? We’ve all been through that as artists. The first time that happens, and you have something as high stakes as this, it’s horrifying. You just give them advice on what to do vocally and nine times out of 10, you’re going to sing past it. He’ll never do it again, I’m sure.” Many of the Harker’s younger cast had never been out of the country or away from their parents for an extended time. To see them mature and grow in confidence was a highlight for LangRee. “You set expectations and then you watch them take it and run,” she said. “There are always people who surprise you – ones you

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think this will be a piece of cake, and it’s not. Others you worry about, and they blossom in the most beautiful way. We saw characters fall into completely different next-level performances. It’s the most gratifying and beautiful thing to watch.” Ribeiro saw the change too. “My ninth grade introverted self would be absolutely mortified,” she said. “You literally went out in public and sang to people. That would have been so foreign to me.” Chahal was proud that she was able to make the audience laugh. “I was very scared that I was not going to be able to pull off the comedy,” she said. Chahal found a higher calling as well. When starting at the Conservatory, she found herself comforted and supported by older cast members, many of whom performed at Fringe. Now older, she made it an emphasis to offer the same support to the younger cast. “You’ve completely got this,” Chahal told them each day before entering Central Hall. “We’re so ready.” “I felt like I was watching a professional group of performers, and not high school students,” Lobe said. “I was so proud of Harker. I was beaming.” Harker left Scotland behind and eventually landed in San Jose. Parents met their children at baggage claim and one by one, each student closed a chapter in their lives. Only when the last student was whisked away did the staff finally exhale and head home. Edinburgh was a magical memory. David Kiefer is a freelance writer and former journalist at the San Jose Mercury News.

face time

hen Eric Montany isn’t teaching middle school physics and chemistry, he enjoys playing chess, practicing the electric guitar and spending time with his wife, daughter, two stepchildren and big, fluffy white dog, Roland. Born in Iowa and raised in Hawaii, Montany now lives among the redwoods in Ben Lomond. He says lunch is his favorite part of the school day — especially on Wednesdays when he hosts the middle school chess club — and that playing with his 4-year-old daughter makes him feel like a kid again. Read on to learn more about this chess master and engineer.

When did you first really feel like an adult? After joining the Air Force and finishing my military training.

What are you obsessed with? Electric guitars and guitar amplifiers, pickups, electronics, effects pedals, etc. I have a degree in electrical engineering and sometimes think about writing a book about electric guitars.

Where is the one place in the world that you like to escape to? Back to my childhood home in rural Hawaii, where my father still lives.

Brag about something. In the

Classroom

Grade 7 Science

The Egg Drop Eggstravaganza Students design and build a device to protect a raw egg as it falls from a tall height to the concrete ground below.

I won the Colorado state chess championship twice in the three years that I lived there, and wrote a well-received book called “Opening Repertoire: The Modern Samisch,” about a particular chess strategy of attack or offensive game plan.

What is something one of your parents said that you will never forget? In seventh grade, I laughed when a friend of mine purposely tripped someone at soccer practice. My father called me to him, sighed, and said, “Part of being a man is recognizing the difference between right and wrong.”

Eric Montany

What is your most treasured memory? The feel of my newborn daughter asleep on my chest.

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rt students remained as prolific as ever at the start of the school year, creating works in a wide variety of media. Iranian-

American artist Pantea Karimi, the 2023-24 Dickinson Artist in Residence, visited Harker in November and delivered a series of lectures and workshops to Harker lower, middle and upper school students, specializing in works inspired by ancient Iranian architecture and designs. At the end of her residency in late November, she gave

Mason Chen

Transitional Kindergarten “Skeleton”

a public talk on her work as part of the Harker Speaker Series.

Livia Shao Kindergarten “Colorful Toucan”

Edward Huang Grade 4 “Graffiti Street “

Mia Sharma

Grade 2 “Autumn Textile”

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Nila Gunaratnam Grade 7 “Seal”

Oliver Coviello Grade 7 “Bust”

Maya Cheshire Grade 12 “Made for Consumption”

Sophie Pellet Grade 10 “Girl”

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WORDS BY VIKKI BOWES-MOK PHOTOGRAPHS BY JESS CURTIS AND HARKER ARCHIVES

Writing your own script W

hen Mallika Dhaliwal ’11 was a little girl, she would travel to India to visit her grandmother. During the hot summers, she found herself drawn to her grandmother’s library, which was filled with beautifully written books and nice, cool air. She would devour book after book, including those by Agatha Christie and other female authors. It was in this space that she found her passion for the written word. When Dhaliwal arrived at Harker in sixth grade, her innate curiosity was satiated by interesting classes, impactful teachers and another library filled with books. “Mallika was passionate about stories and characters’ motivations. She didn’t simply read the texts; she experienced them with delight,” remembers Pauline Paskali, who taught her AP English class. “Her responses to the literature were both visceral and intellectual. I recall Mallika’s passion for stories and her nuanced understanding of language energized the group.” Dhaliwal attended the Oregon Shakespeare Festival field trip during her senior year and wrote this to Paskali when she returned: “The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is the only place I’ve ever been where art and life combine the way they do. You meet an actor you saw onstage an hour ago in a coffee shop sitting two seats away from you, plays like ‘Hamlet’ are re-imagined 14 22

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Alum using her love of language in Hollywood “Mallika was passionate about stories and characters’ motivations. She didn’t simply read the texts; she experienced them with delight.” – Pauline Paskali, upper school English teacher

in a modern context, and an Elizabethan theater is reproduced meticulously a short walk from your hotel. Most of all, though, the festival reminds you that Shakespeare was never meant to be read in a classroom by English students; it was meant to be heard and seen, spoken and acted by living, breathing human beings whose passion and talent for the theater are so palpable that even those least attuned to Renaissance art sit on the edges of their seats. There is no comparison, Ashland is the best place to see Shakespeare in the whole world. Where else can you see ‘Twelfth Night’ under the stars with a blanket wrapped around producing helped me become a better writer for TV because writers you and hot apple cider in your hands?” oversee many aspects on set.” Her passion for theater has carried over into her behind-theDhaliwal lives in Los Angeles and has worked steadily in Hollywood since scenes work on various Hollywood projects. graduation. She worked as assistant to the head of talent at Anonymous Recalling Dhaliwal’s passion in high school and her work today, music teacher Susan Nace invited her to return to Harker to speak at Life in the Arts workshops last fall. Dhaliwal said when she was in high school, there weren’t a lot of alumni in the entertainment business, so she was drawn to share her experience with students. Ritu Belani, a junior, isn’t planning to go into film but attended the workshop to learn more about what goes on behind the scenes in Hollywood. “I learned about the roles of screenwriters and how streaming has changed jobs in the TV industry,” said Belani. “She also pointed out that we don’t decisively have a current version of ‘Friends,’ a show that the whole American culture can come around. Now, shows are more targeted towards specific niches.”

Content, as well as assistant to Brian Yorkey, the showrunner of Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why.” She was recently a staff writer on the TV miniseries Echoes (2022) and is developing a thriller project based on a book set in Atherton. “There are more opportunities in the industry because of all the different formats, but it can be difficult to find consistent work when you are starting out,” said Dhaliwal, who recently returned from the Sundance Film Festival with a renewed passion for her work. “I have been fortunate because I have had consistent work in my career and am excited about the future.” Vikki Bowes-Mok is a freelance writer and editor.

Dhaliwal always knew she wanted to be a writer but didn’t know exactly what niche to pursue. She attended the University of Southern California, where she earned a double major in critical studies and creative writing from its School of Cinematic Arts, and a master’s degree in fine arts in producing from its Peter Stark Producing Program. “I was grateful to be able to transfer into the film program as an undergraduate,” said Dhaliwal, who fell in love with film but always knew she wanted to write. “The master’s program in H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WINTER 2023 23

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WORDS BY ROBERT WATSON PHOTOGRAPHS BY JESS CURTIS

Where Meets education 24

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The days of the Three R’s are long gone, but even as standardized

curriculum has modernized across the board, Harker encourages teachers to create innovative courses that are seldom found at the high school level. “Offering new courses is a win-win. Our students are offered courses that meet the changing needs of our world and that are of greater interest to them, and teachers enjoy creating a new curriculum, which often speaks to their educational background and unique skillset,” stated Jennifer Gargano, assistant head of school for academic affairs. To bring a new course to fruition, the teacher brings the idea to the department chair, who presents the idea to the division head and to Gargano. Collaboratively, that group determines if the course fits a need, exposing the students to a relevant topic that is not covered by another curriculum.

HOW UNIQUE COURSES TRANSFORM THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

As a result, students looking through the course catalog don’t just find Business Economics, but also Corporate Finance, and Venture Capital and Private Equity. History offerings include Social Justice: Methods and History. Musicians are tempted not just by Study of Music, but Arranging and Composing, while in science, students can explore Biomedical Ethnics or Forensic Science. Harker teachers are all experts in their areas of qualification, but their opportunities to share their expertise are deep and profound at Harker. Elizabeth Brumbaugh, K-12 learning, innovation and design (LID) director and middle school LID director who runs the middle school Innovation Lab, described it this way: “The thing that has been so central to Harker’s success is its hiring process, being able to identify people who are flexible and who keep the student’s overall growth at the center of their hearts.” And once they’re here, teachers tend to stay. The school’s encouragement of professional development and innovating programming means that teachers are free to seek out unusual courses of interest to them and their students. Brumbaugh’s Innovation Lab is a prime example

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UNIQUE COURSES

of a unique opportunity Harker students have to go beyond traditional classwork. The lab gives students the ability to dig into technology and innovative design further than the computer science classes they are required to take in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. “The moment I stepped into the classroom, I felt like I was transported into a world of design and creativity. But even more than that, I felt like I had entered a world of collaboration and teamwork,” said Valentina Mottl, grade 6. If a student falls in love with robotics, or circuitry and electronics, they can explore further. The lab is equipped with 3D printers, laser and vinyl cutters, sewing machines, circuitry boards, prototyping stations and more. Innovations are guided through a lens of social emotional learning with a constant objective of solving problems and seeking additional levels of problems to solve. Upper school English teacher Brigid Miller exemplifies an educator who observes, analyzes, and then creatively crafts a curriculum to excite and engage students. She joined Harker in 2002 after a career in publishing. While teaching a senior short fiction course, she noticed that her students were very drawn to the comic book section of an anthology she was using, so she created a senior course in English literature called Graphic Narrative. The response to the course, as Miller reports it, was “profound, really.” Students who were “fairly engaged” in American literature morphed into being “in love and can’t stop talking, completely engaged.” She discovered that students interact with the texts in ways students never do in other literature classes.

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“The moment I stepped into the classroom, I felt like I was transported into a world of design and creativity. But even more than that, I felt like I had entered a world of collaboration and teamwork.” – Valentina Mottl, grade 6 Her class has even made a splash with experts in the graphic novel field. “I just had an email the other day from Pranav Mullappalli ’23, who is at the University of Indiana. He said, ‘Hey, can I have the syllabus? Because I’m taking a comics class in college and my professor was so jazzed about the idea that I took one already, he couldn’t believe it, and he wants to see the syllabus.’ I get emails like that all the time,” she reported. Jeffrey Yang ’20 also wrote to Miller and said, “I’m currently in my senior year at UCLA and had the chance to take an Asian

American history class in which we read ‘They Called Us Enemy,’ by George Takei. We recently wrote an essay about this graphic narrative. … I still approach all my literature and history classes with the same skills and mindset that you helped me develop across our courses together!” Several other alums have emailed similar stories of achieving success and recognition at college due to the Graphics Narrative class. Sophie Wang ’21 reported, “I attended a talk that [cartoonist] Alison Bechdel presented at Yale today! After her talk, I spoke with her for a bit about your Graphic Narrative course and how my research paper was on ‘Are You My Mother?’ She loves how you’re teaching a graphic novel class to high schoolers.” Harker teachers hone their roles as “knowledge explorers” by developing deeper, and ultimately more relevant, courses of study. Chris Spenner, for example, has been teaching physics at Harker for 17 years. As he dug deeper into research studies, he developed a course called Systems Science: Health, Sustainability and Justice. The course was conceived when he taught on a Harker summer trip to California and Alaska. “We were looking into all kinds of ecology and sustainability issues. This was not just from a ‘science’ perspective, but multidisciplinary.” Students discussed the variations of tide pool ecosystems in the two geographies and then expanded those principles forward to the human interference into such ecosystems and the resulting complexities.

and transmission of information. “It is how information is communicated and how it is measured, and questions whether there are any fundamental sort of limits to storing and communicating information,” she stated. At Harker for more than a decade, Aiyer said she would not be able to teach such an elevated course without the motivated and curious student body that Harker develops. “I am offering a class I took as a grad student,” she shared. Inspired at Stanford by a professor who had worked for the California Lottery Board Association to make the Lotto run more efficiently, Aiyer wanted to bring Harker students real-world applications along with a challenge they might not have been able to tackle in a traditional class. This has served her students well. She receives frequent emails from Harker grads who say that when confronted by similar material in college, they have performed exceptionally well since they were fully versed in the concepts. Other Harker teachers feel inspired to become critical thinking coaches. Longtime upper school history teacher Mark Janda teaches Social

He was able to leverage the fact that Harker students already took the prerequisites for such a course, as it made the concept of offering a more complex look into the field feasible. On her own path to increase knowledge exploration among students, Anu Aiyer, upper school mathematics teacher, was not satisfied just teaching basic statistical theory. The study of statistics can be a foundation for exploring the higher concepts that information theory presents. Statistics is concerned with the collection, analysis, interpretation, presentation and organization of data. Information Theory, the innovative course Aiyer launched in 2016, is concerned with the quantification H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WINTER 2023 27

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Justice and Ethnic Studies, courses that were added in the past two years. Having taught in very diverse school populations, Janda was aware that while Harker has broad ethnic diversity, there are pockets of lower economic populations that are not represented. The mission to raise consciousness of social justice within the Harker community, and within the minds of students, has been a driving force for him, which the administration heartily endorsed. “All my conversations with administrators, parents and colleagues have been nothing but supportive,” he said. “Students are excited when they hear of the opportunity.” The course examines the definitions and principles of social justice and the methods of change. It covers three specific movements: the women’s rights movement, the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, and the LGBTQ+ movement. “Every teacher has the course they ‘have’ to teach,” said Janda, “But there’s always some facet that gets them excited. I have taught world history for 31 years. The Roman Empire falls the same every year. But social justice and ethnic studies? These are fields that are so dynamic, constantly changing. They are issues that are a passion for me.”

UNIQUE COURSES

not just academically “When a kid calls and says, but also emotionally,” ‘I’m in college and I took an she said. “Usually in African American literature middle school, you course and I think this don’t have ceramics and sculpture, in is going to be my minor,’ particular, sculpture. how can a teacher not be It is a forgotten art thrilled?” form. In our culture, – Mark Janda, upper school history teacher we tend to practice representing the world in one dimension … but although we are 3D ourselves and we walk through and experience 3D spaces all the time, we don’t have a connection with it. Sculpture has to be done by looking at different planes and angles, rotated around, understanding all the bones and muscles, what muscle makes you laugh for example. It is actually very complex.” Students appreciate the diversity of media Siegmann presents. “The best part of sculpture class is that we work with not only pen and paper, like the visual arts class, and not only clay, like the ceramics class, but also wood and wood burning, wire and even fabric,” reported Shridhar Chaware, grade 8.

While there is a thrill in teaching a subject that is dynamic and has the potential to evolve in real time, Janda says that there is a more important aspect that excites him even more – the impact it has on his students’ fulfillment. “I get excited seeing a kid’s self-image transformed by having the opportunity to study their culture or issue within an academic setting. Their parents give them a level of education, of course, but it is so important for kids to see themselves in school. With the African American, Asian American and Latino units, the vast majority of my students are … seeing themselves in a way they never have. I see kids fill up. Some of them truly are depleted, even if they’re achieving at a really high level, they’re not sure who they are. Here comes something in an academic sense that says, ‘You are somebody and you have a history and you have a future,’ and that’s pretty exciting. It’s thrilling then to see kids take those experiences and do something with it.”

Siegmann finds her drive by exploring creativity from her own internal passions. “What I really like about teaching here is that they let me be an artist. The curriculum is art sculpture, but within it, I have so much freedom, which I love as an artist, but it is a challenge that keeps me fresh and on my toes.”

Janda was particularly gratified by hearing from Selin Aras ‘21, a student at The University of Chicago. “When a kid calls and says, ‘I’m in college and I took an African American literature course and I think this is going to be my minor,’ how can a teacher not be thrilled?” he asks. Likewise, Elizabeth Fabel ’22 was inspired to pursue gender studies at UC Santa Cruz from her time in the class.

Harker’s environment demands a constant influx of new and diverse topics and disciplines to prepare students for an evolving world. Gargano drove home the point by making the school’s vision for teachers very clear. “We educate tomorrow’s leaders; we are cognizant of that every day. By appreciating and trying to understand various perspectives, our students will ultimately become better and more informed citizens who can contribute to the enactment of positive change and a more peaceful society.”

As an instructional designer, middle school art teacher Sofie Siegmann takes students to the world of ceramics and sculpture. Coming from Europe and well acquainted with classical art traditions, Siegmann’s mindset is expansive. Her goal is not to mold students into sculptors, but rather, broaden their perspectives. “Our goal is to make students more of a whole person in every aspect, 28

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Often Siegmann sees the artistic drive in a student she wants to see launched into the world. “Last year, we did a performance with recycled materials as part of a fashion show concept. A student and a partner took chairs, taped them to their feet, donned big cloaks and stomped through. He said, ‘I feel the need to scream’ and I said, ‘Do it, scream!’ He was really tall, standing on the stools, and he would then bend down and scream. All I could think was, ‘Wow, what an artist, you have that thing in you, I hope you can go be an artist in this world.’ Kids like him are a gift, to all of us.”

Robert Watson is a columnist with various publications, including Parents.com, and the creative director of the Watson Writes Agency, a marketing and freelance writing firm.

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alk to Laura DeKraker Lang-Ree, director of K-12 performing arts, for only a moment and you will learn she thrives on her close-knit family, teaching and directing. Her high school sweetheart husband and their three Harker Lifer kids, along with a dog and two kitties, are a strong unit. Lang-Ree says her family gives her “passion and purpose,” and professionally, she loves the collaboration of the performing arts, the rehearsal process and “being able to show my students the world both in my classroom literally through [participation in] the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.” Being the mom of a cancer survivor (Cecilia ’13) has also deeply shaped her outlook; she volunteers with children’s charities Make a Wish and Good Tidings.

What makes you feel like a kid again? My family’s annual Disneyland Christmas trip where we indulge in twinkle lights, amazing food and 14hour long Disney days. We go hard.

What one piece of advice you would offer anyone who asks? Surrender to what is, accept it, and then make a killer plan.

Brag about something. This summer, I secured an amazing publisher for my passion project: a book 20 years in the making called “Thru the Fire: A Compassionate Guide for Surviving Your Child’s Terrifying, Life-Threatening Cancer with Your Identity, Your Family, and Your Relationships Intact.”

What are you doing when you feel most alive? Professionally: Directing, without question. Personally: Scuba diving at 80-plus feet with all the sea creatures!

Given the choice of anyone in the world, whom would you want as a dinner guest and why? My dad, because I miss him, or the Dalai Lama, because he rocks. Or both. They’d be great together!

In the

Classroom

Advanced Acting

Students recently learned about emotional beats and adjustments and added them to their theatrical monologues for classroom performance. Once emotional beats and blocking are set, they can go anywhere on campus and film that performance as a piece of theater, allowing them to assess their own work so far. At the end of their presentation to the class, they perform a “do-over” – their new and improved version of the monologue.

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gallery Photo by Keith Tharp

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athletics

irls golf turned in another dominant season this fall with strong performances from senior Emi Fujimura, junior Allison Yang, sophomores

Ashley Mo and Kimaya Mehta, and freshman Joyce He. The team locked up its sixth consecutive and ninth overall league title, making it the team with the most league titles in all of Harker athletics. Meanwhile, girls water polo sported an impressive 14-5 overall record at press time. During Harker Day, Joelle Anderson ’17, Ryan Cali ’10, Christopher McCallaCreary ’11, Rebecca (Chang) Kaloudis ’03 and Vivian Wang ’18 were inducted into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame (see

fall-2023-athletics/

Photo by Keith Tharp

fall athletics gallery at https://news.harker.org/gallery-

Photo by Pierre Whitsey

page 32 for more details). For more photos, see our full

Photo by Keith Tharp

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Inducts Five Alums Photo prov ide db y

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Athletic Hall of Fame

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WORDS BY ZACH JONES PHOTOGRAPHS BY JESS CURTIS AND HARKER ARCHIVES, UNLESS NOTED

Joelle Anderson ’17, Ryan Cali ’10, Christopher McCallaCreary ’11, Rebecca (Chang) Kaloudis ’03 and Vivian Wang ’18 were inducted into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame as part of Harker Day on Oct. 7. The inductees were recognized for their athletic performance as well as their dedication to becoming well-rounded student athletes.

HARK E R MAGA Z I NE l FALL/WINTER 2023

As a Harker student, Joelle Anderson was honored as the girls varsity soccer squad’s Most Valuable Player three times and was named West Bay Athletic League’s soccer forward of the year. She also was voted player of the week in Mercury News and Max Preps polls, and posted 101 goals and 35 assists over the course of three seasons. While at Pepperdine University, Anderson was selected for the All-West Coast Conference team five times, and was also a five-time All-West region selection. She was drafted 26th overall in the 2021 National Women’s Soccer League Draft and now plays professionally for the NWSL’s Houston Dash.

In his senior year, Ryan Cali was named both Harker’s male athlete of the year and boys varsity basketball MVP. His talents and work ethic also earned him recognition from the WBAL and Central Coast Section, and he was selected for the First Team All-West Bay and received an All CCS Honorable Mention. As team captain, he led varsity basketball to four seasons of 20 wins. After graduating, Cali played in two 20-win seasons as Foothill College. He later attended and graduated from Linfield University, and served as Linfield’s basketball assistant coach and strength and conditioning coach for three years after graduating. He now works as a personal trainer and established an online coaching business in 2023.

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Christopher McCallaCreary was a prolific and dominant wrestler at Harker, posting an overall 104-30 record with 20 school wrestling tournament championships. In 2011, he became Santa Clara County champion in both freestyle and Greco-Roman and placed third in the state championship. McCallaCreary also impressed as a football player, rushing for 450 yards in 62 carries in his senior year and scoring four touchdowns. He later discovered a passion for music and went on to receive a diploma in audio engineering from SAE Institute of Technology in 2013. He now works as a musician and audio engineer in New York City and interns with EastSide Sound, one of the city’s longest-running recording studios.

Volleyball phenom Rebecca (Chang) Kaloudis was a huge asset to Harker’s early high school volleyball teams, being named MVP in all of her four years at the upper school, and led the team to its first CCS tournament appearance in 2000. Additionally, she was named MVP of the 2001 Milpitas Volleyball Tournament. As a soccer player, she also was named varsity MVP in 2000, 2001 and 2002. She went on to play Division I volleyball at the University of Pennsylvania, which was the 2003 Ivy League Champion. She is now a physician assistant in pediatric surgery at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Tampa, Fla., and lives in Lutz, Fla., with her husband and daughter.

Vivian Wang was a decorated swimmer at Harker, becoming the CCS individual champion three times and a CIF state championship finalist five times. She was also a four-time MVP for the Harker swim team as well as a WBAL All-League MVP and All-American. All seven of the school records she broke as a Harker athlete still stand. Wang later swam varsity at Princeton from 2018-22, during which Princeton was the 2022 Ivy League Champions and Wang was named to the First Team All-Ivy and Academic All-Ivy team. She also served as the Princeton swim team’s student-athlete wellness leader. Wang now lives in New Jersey where she works as an investment analyst in the asset management industry.

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gallery Photo by Susan Harding

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performing arts nsembles performed at the Harker Day show and kicked off the performing season with the Conservatory’s “The Laramie Project.” The Middle School Conservatory produced alternate versions of the Peter Pan story with the grade 6 “Alice in Neverland” and the

grades 7-8 “Peter/Wendy.” Upper school vocal groups took to the stars in “From Outer Space,” and Downbeat spread cheer on their annual tour. Middle and upper school instrumental and choral groups also had concerts. For more fall performing arts photos, visit https://news.harker.org/ gallery-fall-2023-performing-arts/.

All photos by Deborah Lord or Pierre Whitsey

H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WIN TER 2023

face time

indergarten teacher Kimberly Sandoval is adventurous and dedicated. A San Jose native now living in Morgan Hill, she is energized by her classes in language arts, math, science, social studies and character: “I have as much fun as my students are having and it really does keep me young at heart!” Her membership since 2014 in the Junior League of San Jose has provided lifelong friendships and meaningful volunteer opportunities in the South Bay. We learned that she is obsessed with travel, hiking, audiobooks, music and food, and loves to explore new and unexpected places; read on for more!

What is the biggest risk you have ever taken? I’ve jumped out of an airplane and whitewater rafted, but honestly my biggest risk was changing careers to become a primary teacher (I was in the hospitality industry) and I’m forever grateful that I did it!

What do you love that everyone else dislikes? Vegetables! Think Brussels sprouts, broccoli, spinach, etc.

Brag about something. I can spin 100 cotton candies in one hour!

What would constitute a perfect day for you? Start off with a strong espresso, take a quiet hike with my headphones in the hills, listen to and laugh with my students, go to lunch with my girlfriends, have dinner with my family, and end it with watching a movie with my partner, Dave.

If you could wake up tomorrow having gained any one quality or ability, what would it be? Oh, I definitely want to fly!

In the Classroom Social Studies

What is your most treasured memory?

Holidays Around the World

Being there during the final and precious moments with my two grandmothers, my late husband and my two dogs.

Students make passports and a suitcase, and arrange their seats like a plane. Sandoval, dressed as a flight attendant, shows images from different locations and the class enjoys treats from each country.

Kimberly Sandoval 36

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Professional accomplishments of our faculty and staff.

Over the summer, upper school science teacher Eric Johnson spent a week in the Ecuadorian Andes and Amazon learning about Indigenous science from Kichwa farmers, artists and activists. The trip was funded by a grant from the Vegesna Foundation Teacher Excellence Program. Among the many highlights of the trip was a three-night stay with a Kichwa family living at the base of Cotacachi, one of Ecuador’s tallest peaks, where they learned more about the way Indigenous peoples view land “as sacred relatives.” Johnson plans to incorporate the knowledge they gained into a class on Indigenous science in the next academic year.

Middle school science teacher Raji Swaminathan received a grant from the Vegesna Foundation and traveled to England to explore the life of Sir Isaac Newton, from his childhood to his professorship at Cambridge University to his final resting place at Westminster Abbey. Swaminathan’s goal, she said, “is to re-instill the interest in basic sciences in my students.” Her research took her to astrophysics and particle physics classes at Cambridge, which inspired her to integrate new teaching methods in her classroom.

staff kudos

Former middle school teacher Karan Lodha ’04 has once again returned to his alma mater! Lodha now serves as Harker’s director of alumni relations from his home in Los Angeles, and has been excitedly reconnecting with Harker graduates, including former students of Palo Alto Military Academy and Harker Day School. He recently played a key role in launching the Alumni Reunion Weekend, a new yearly event that kicked off in October with the Classes of 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018.

Trustee Update Longtime board of trustees chair Albert “Chip” Zecher ’79 is passing the baton to John Owens ’85. Zecher held the position since June 2018. An alum of Harker’s K-8 program, Zecher took on the role at a pivotal time in the school’s history. Following the death of longtime board chair and former head of school Diana Nichols, the trustees unanimously supported Zecher’s appointment to the position. Major accomplishments during Zecher’s term included the conversion of the Union Ave. property from a preschool to today’s middle school campus; the acquisition of the First Church of San Jose property on Boynton Ave. for future development of athletics and other programs; the addition of 10 housing units for faculty and staff; the growth of Harker’s endowment from just over $2 million to more than $20 million; and the board support of the administration’s efforts to successfully navigate the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Owens, a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, has served on the board since 2013.

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annual giving

annual giving update Thank you for making an impact!

It warms our hearts to witness the overwhelming support from students, teachers, staff and parents who visited our annual giving booth on Harker Day and shared their appreciation with heartfelt messages to our donors and the school community. This sense of gratitude and unity has continued to shine throughout the October AG pledge week and into the holiday season. We are also deeply moved by the dedication of our team of Parent Development Council volunteers who generously contribute their time to raise awareness about the importance of annual giving and support our fundraising efforts during the pledge week and throughout the school year. Your annual giving contributions have a profound impact on every classroom, program and student in various ways. Through annual giving, students thrive both academically and in co-curricular activities. With your active participation and involvement, we can maintain a nurturing and enriching environment that empowers our students to reach their full potential. Again, your dedication is very appreciated. With half of the school year still ahead, we look forward to finishing on a strong note. Let us join hands, ignite the spirit of giving, and complete the school year in a manner that reflects our community values. All gifts are tax deductible. If you have any questions or need any assistance, please contact Jun Wang, director of annual giving, at jun.wang@harker.org. Thank you, Harker community, for your incredible and generous support! – Office of Advancement Photos by Jess Curtis and Susan Harding

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class notes

class notes Keep up to date on the lives of your classmates. Alumni from all classes through 1997 are listed under the years they would have completed grade 8 at The Harker School, Harker Academy, Harker Day School or Palo Alto Military Academy (PAMA). For all classes after the Class of 1997, alumni are listed under the class years they would have graduated from high school, regardless of whether they completed high school studies at Harker. For unlisted classes, we invite you to email alumni@harker.org if you are interested in becoming a class agent or would like to nominate a classmate. All photos submitted by the subject unless noted. For a list of Harker Academy class agents for the Classes of 1972-97, please contact alumni@harker.org.

1980 Anthony “Tony” Barry Clift passed away on Aug. 14 in Santa Clara. Tony is survived by his loving wife, Julie Misfeldt Clift, and his daughters, Lauren and Katherine. Tony’s family shared the following: “Calling Tony an outdoor adventurer would be an understatement. He prided himself on his collection of adventurous hobbies, from reeling in big catches in Ketchikan, Alaska, to sailing the seas outside the Santa Cruz Harbor – and even exploring underwater depths through scuba diving. He enjoyed backpacking, horse packing, mountain biking and satisfying his wanderlust through travel to Alaska, Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands, Belize and Bali. He lived every day to the fullest until the end.” The Harker community sends its condolences to Tony’s family and friends. Gifts can be made in his memory to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation.

Dr. Shalini Bhambani, a cardiologist, visited the upper school in February to deliver a guest lecture to science students. She offered insight into her profession by sharing fascinating case studies and answering questions from students.

1996 In September, Andrea Miles was inducted into the USA Artistic Swimming Hall of Fame. Andrea expressed her gratitude in person at the USAAS Annual Convention, where she shared the evening with some of the individuals who helped her reach her athletic goals.

2002 CLASS AGENTS: Akhsar Kharebov axarharebate@gmail.com Yasmin Ali yasminfali@gmail.com Isabella Liu isabella.a.liu@gmail.com

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class notes 2004 CLASS AGENT: Jessica C. Liu jess.c.liu@gmail.com

Karan Lodha married Liza DeWitt in a small family ceremony in Glen Ellen on June 21. Karan’s sister, Kriti Lodha Vaidya ’08, was in attendance for the summer solstice wedding. Karan and Liza met in grad school in Massachusetts and live in Los Angeles, where they both work in education. This year Karan became Harker’s director of alumni relations!

2005 Natasha Novick opened a luxury home goods showroom and interior design studio called The Paloma in Reno, Nev. The Paloma has a showroom in the city’s Riverwalk District. Over the summer, Irene Altman Becklund and her husband, Jonny, opened a restaurant called Dear Irene in downtown Bend, Ore. The restaurant’s opening was attended by Carmen Antoun.

2003 CLASS AGENTS: Julia N. Gitis juliag@gmail.com Maheen Kaleem maheenkaleem@gmail.com

Alex Iftimie and his wife, Melissa Antal, welcomed their second daughter, Isabella Ellen Iftimie, on Sept. 30. Dad and older sister Olivia, 2, are having a spirited debate over whether Isabella will be Izzy or Ella for short. Alex moved back to the Bay Area in 2020 and recently joined the legal team at OpenAI, where he focuses on cybersecurity, national security and other threats to the safe development and use of artificial intelligence. Rebecca (Chang) Kaloudis was inducted into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame during Harker Day on Oct. 7. See the story on page 32 for details. 40

HAR K E R MAGA Z I NE l FA L L/W I N T E R 2023

CLASS AGENT: Erika N. Gudmundson erika.gudmundson@gmail.com

2006 CLASS AGENTS: Casey L. Near caseylane@gmail.com Meghana Dhar meghanadhar@gmail.com Jeffrey Le Jeff87@gmail.com

2007 CLASS AGENTS: Cassandra Kerkhoff cass.kerkhoff@gmail.com Audrey L. Kwong Audmusic@gmail.com

In June, VyVy Trinh and her husband, Paul Wallace, met up with middle school English teacher Kate Shanahan and husband Raj Mehta! VyVy was a student of Ms. Shanahan in fifth grade, and the two have since become good friends. VyVy moved to the East Coast over the summer, “so we tried to get together a few times this year before she relocated!” said Ms. Shanahan.

2008 CLASS AGENTS: Senan Ebrahim sebrahim@fas.harvard.edu Stephanie J. Syu ssyu363@yahoo.com

Grace (Hudkins) Atkinson wed her partner of two years in their current hometown of Hanoi, Vietnam, in May – on the same day she received Harker’s Life in the Arts award! After a decade in Asia, Grace plans to relocate with her husband to his hometown of Liverpool, England, in January 2024, following a six-month sabbatical and honeymoon traveling through Asia and North America.

2010 CLASS AGENTS: Adrienne Wong adriee@gmail.com Kevin J. Fu kf800@yahoo.com

Sabena Suri and Chiraag Deora were married in Rome at Castello Orsini-Odescalchi on Lake Bracciano in September. Sabena and Chiraag have been best friends for 24 years – going back to when they met in fourth grade, carpooling to Harker together! It’s no surprise that their Harker friends were a large part of their wedding week, with 14 alumni attending the celebrations. The ceremony was officiated by Anuj Kamdar, one of the couple’s mutual best friends, and the bridal party also included Neil Shah, Jessica Hsueh, Shilpa Rajgopal, Rohit Jayakar and Ranjita Raghavan.

Adriee Wong married James Liao in May at a whimsical dance flash mobfilled day in the Santa Cruz mountains. Ryan Cali was inducted into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame during Harker Day on Oct. 7. See the story on page 32 for details.

2011 CLASS AGENTS: Hassaan Ebrahim hassaan.e@gmail.com Moneesha R. Mukherjee rani.mukherjee18@gmail.com

2009 CLASS AGENTS: Stephanie J. Guo stephanie.j.guo@gmail.com David Kastelman davidksworld@gmail.com

Chetan Vakkalagadda finished his hematology/oncology fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago in June. He is done with medical training! He is moving to Portland to work at Oregon Health & Science University as an assistant professor of medicine caring for patients with lung, head and neck cancers. After 14 years in the Midwest for college, medical school, residency and fellowship, he is very happy to be moving back to the West Coast.

Tyler Koteskey was recently a guest on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal to discuss foreign policy and improving veterans’ health care as part of his role as policy director for Concerned Veterans for America. Christopher McCallaCreary was inducted into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame during Harker Day on Oct. 7. See the story on page 32 for details.

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class notes 2012

2014

CLASS AGENTS: Will Chang thewillchang@gmail.com David Fang david.fang75@gmail.com

CLASS AGENTS: Adith Rengaramchandran adithram@gmail.com Nithya Vemireddy nithya.vemireddy@gmail.com Connie Li connieli32@gmail.com

Anika Ayyar and her husband, Akshat, are now MBA candidates at Harvard Business School. Anika worked at Google and a venture capital firm before enrolling at Harvard.

2015 CLASS AGENTS: Katy Sanchez ktlynnsanchez@gmail.com Nikhil Reddy reddnikhil@gmail.com David Lin david.lin210@gmail.com Jeton Gutierrez-Bujari jetongutierrez@gmail.com

On Sept. 2, Tariq Jahshan married Georgia Caldart of Erechim, Brazil, at Thomas Fogarty Winery in Woodside. The photographer was Priscilla Pan ’15, who was a classmate of Tariq’s brother, Ramzi Jahshan ’15. Classmates present included Noel Witcosky, Cole Manaster, Kevin Khojasteh and Jagdeesh Kottapalli.

2013 CLASS AGENTS: Kathir Sundarraj kathir.sraj95@gmail.com Nick Chuang njchuang@usc.edu Nikhil Panu guruhounddawg@gmail.com

2016 CLASS AGENTS: Stephanie Huang stephaniehuang17@gmail.com Grace Guan guanzgrace@gmail.com Michael Zhao michael.zhao@gmail.com Mary Najibi mary.najibi@gmail.com Edward Sheu edwardsheu.ca@gmail.com Kurt Schwartz kurticus100@gmail.com

2017 CLASS AGENTS: Emre Ezer emre.ezer10@gmail.com Alex Youn ahsyoun@gmail.com David Zhu david.zhu@gmail.com Maile Chung mailchung.pb@gmail.com Haley Tran haleyktran@gmail.com

Photo courtesy of Palantir

Joelle Anderson was inducted into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame during Harker Day on Oct. 7. See the story on page 32 for details.

2018

Drew Goldstein (pictured, left), who heads up Palantir Technologies’ U.S. commercial health care team with colleague Jeremy David, was recently featured in a CNBC story about how his team’s software is helping hospitals process greater numbers of incoming patients. In one case, Ohio’s Cleveland Clinic was able to take on more incoming patients due to Palantir’s AI-powered platform predicting large numbers of discharges. More at Harker News: https://news.harker.org/drew-goldstein-13-featured-by-cnbc-for-healthcare-work/

HAR K E R MAGA Z I NE l FA L L/W I N T E R 2023

CLASS AGENTS: Amitej Mehta djamitej@gmail.com Melissa Kwon mwjkwan@gmail.com Gloria Guo gloria.jx.guo@gmail.com Dolan Dworak ddworak@umich.ed

Vivian Wang was inducted into the Harker Athletic Hall of Fame during Harker Day on Oct. 7. See the story on page 32 for details.

2019 CLASS AGENTS: Matthew Hajjar matthew.hajjar@gmail.com Olivia Esparza oesparza@poets.whittier.edu Mahi Gurram mgurram@colgate.edu Riya Gupta gupta2001riya@gmail.com Kelsey Wu kelseywu@college.harvard.edu

Nishka Ayyar graduated from Claremont McKenna College in summer 2023. In January, she will be starting a job at McKinsey & Company, a management consulting firm.

2020 CLASS AGENTS: Lauren Beede 20blauren@gmail.com Chloe Chen chloe.chen@bc.edu Grace Hajjar gracehajjar@g.ucla.edu Bennett Liu bennett.c.liu@gmail.com Anika Tiwari anika.tiwari@gmail.com

Photos by Joshua Martinez

Simar Bajaj spent the summer as a journalist at STAT News, the national health and medical publication of the Boston Globe. Simar was stationed in Washington, D.C., where he had a congressional press badge and often worked from Capitol Hill. Over the summer, he won a number of journalism awards: Newcomer of the Year by both the Association of British Science Writers and Medical Journalists Association as well as the Student Journalism Award from the Online News Association. These three awards were for his work in The Guardian, WIRED, The Washington Post and Slate.

2021 CLASS AGENTS: Kristin Tong kristintong@gmail.com Olivia Guo olivia.guo@pepperdine.edu Helen Zhu helen.c.zhu@gmail.com

Raymond Banke graduated from Columbia University last spring after studying design and fine arts and has been working in app design. Before taking on a position at SeatGeek as a product designer this fall, Raymond received an artist residency opportunity at the Djerassi Resident Artist Program in Woodside. According to the Djerassi website, Raymond uses ceramics, metal and various found objects to create kinetic sculptures that control, disrupt and ultimately transform the movement of water. In October, a group of upper school students – accompanied by visual arts chair Joshua Martinez and art teacher Pilar Agüero-Esparza – visited Banke’s studio at the Djerassi property for an up-close look at his work.

Meona Khetrapal accepted an offer to be an undergraduate AI intern for JSALT 2023, the ninth Frederick Memorial Summer Workshop on Speech and Language Technologies, organized by Johns Hopkins University. The eight-week intensive workshop will be hosted at the Le Mans Université in France. She will be researching finite state methods for speech applications alongside skilled doctoral and master’s students as well as industry professionals from Google and Rev.

H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WIN TER 2023

class notes 2022 CLASS AGENTS Alexa Lowe alexa.lowe@gmail.com Gigi Chan gc449@cornell.edu Irene Yuan irene.d.yuan@gmail.com

Photo provided by Brian Yager

Smrithi Sambamurthy had a piece featured in the de Young Open at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. The open is a triennial, submission-based exhibition focused on Bay Area artists. Suman Mohanty, a medicine, health and society and child development double major, Smrithi’s piece was part of her AP 2D Digital Design: Sustained has been minoring in Spanish at Vanderbilt Investigation portfolio. Smrithi’s University and serving as a Spanish Medical work will be exhibited at the de interpreter at a free clinic in San Francisco. Suman also spoke at the American Transplant Young through Jan. 7. Congress, where she was one of the youngest attendees. She worked on a project that was Indigo Lee and current junior Ian Gerstner were named semifinalists in published by the American Heart Association the 2023 National Pitch Competition, organized by INCubatoredu. Their and has been featured on the Vanderbilt web- company, called POTTR, sells eye-catching vases that also work as fly site for using her Cornelius Vanderbilt Schol- traps by luring flies into a compartment with a special solution. In addiarship stipend to do volunteer work in India: tion to their functionality and aesthetic appeal, POTTR vases are also easy https://as.vanderbilt.edu/news/2023/02/09/ to clean and maintain. More details at Harker News: https://news.harker. love-for-health-education-sends-cv-scholar- org/student-run-company-reaches-2023-national-pitch-semifinals/ suman-mohanty-to-india/

Alums living and studying in the Washington, D.C., area gathered in late October for a dinner with Brian Yager, head of school. The group included alums from the Class of 2002 - the upper school’s inaugural graduating class - as well as the Class of 2023 - the most recent graduating class!

HAR K E R MAGA Z I NE l FA L L/W I N T E R 2023

Harker Concert and Speaker Series The arts are integral to a complete

Michael Eric Dyson, Ph.D. Fri., Jan. 19, 2024 | 6-8 p.m. The Life and Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: An Evening of Performance and Reflection

education at Harker, and we are honored to share the remainder of this year’s lineup of outstanding performers and speakers with the community. Plan to join us!

Aaron Lington Organ Quartet Fri., Feb. 9, 2024 | 7 p.m. Aaron Lington, baritone saxophone Brian Ho, Hammond B3 organ Jason Lewis, drums Bruce Forman, guitar

“Chinatown Rising”

CONCERT

Rothschild Performing Arts Center The Harker School - Upper School Campus 500 Saratoga Ave., San Jose

SERIES

Mon., April 8, 2024 | 7-9 p.m. 7 p.m. Movie Screening 8:30-9 p.m. Discussion A film screening and discussion with filmmakers Harry Chuck and Josh Chuck

2023-24

Harker Speaker Series Free Admission Harker Concert Series $25 per concert $15 students/seniors Reception one hour prior to each performance. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and soft drinks

Information & tickets: www.harker.org/concerts l www.harker.org/speakers H AR KE R MAG A Z INE l FALL/WIN TER 2023

The Harker School 500 Saratoga Ave. San Jose , CA 95129

final frame

NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN JOSE, CA PERMIT 2296

O of C: 12/23 (BHDG) 8,000