Alumni News

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Rafael Regan (Class of 2006)

Rafael spent his freshman year at Aviation High School in Des Moines, WA. He is now a junior at Ballard High School, where he runs on the track and cross-country teams, belongs to Earth Service Corps, and serves as secretary of the debate team. Outside of school, Rafael is a member of the Seattle Youth Commission and works with the City Council and the Mayor. His service on the Commission has let him recognize his gift of respecting and understanding others’ ideas while still staying true to his own opinions. He says, “Overall, my idea of success is growing up to understand that we all have something to contribute to society while finding a way to live happily . . . I feel like The Island School has given me so much in terms of self-confidence and friendships. The Island School has also given me the critical thinking skills that I use every day, from reading exercises in kindergarten with Kathy and Mary to the science projects in fifth grade with Mike and Betsy.”

Ellen Ferrin (Class of 1996)

Ellen Ferrin

Ellen is a second grade special education teacher and a part-time consultant for a child welfare organization in New York City. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Amherst College and her Masters in Social Work at Columbia University. She will receive her Masters in Education from Bank Street College in 2012.

Ellen’s favorite memories include Monday Morning Sing and cross-grade lunch dates at The Island School. She is grateful for her education at The Island School because it emphasized “experience and inquiry rather than testing and memorization.” She says, “When I teach children now, I try to hold my excitement about learning close and make my lessons relevant, accessible and curiosity-provoking.” Ellen’s past work running a home for teenage girls convinced her of the close connection between social work and education, and she plans to train teachers in the basics of social work.

Ellen and Bustela

Ellen’s idea of success is multifaceted: making a difference in the lives of others, achieving balance, striving for improvement, and being strong and dependable in difficult situations. She enjoys running with her dog, playing basketball and volunteering. She looks forward to traveling to Nicaragua this spring.

Joey Alsberge (Class of 1994)

Joey and his nephew

Joey in Burundi

When I was a college student [at Lewis & Clark], I wanted more than anything to go to Africa and work with a medical project. I knew I wanted to go to medical school and become a doctor, but before I hunkered down for years of medical training, I really wanted to get some hands-on experience working for an extended period of time in a place of great need. As the end of my senior year of college approached, I identified a wonderful project to volunteer with in Burundi, East-Central Africa, called Village Health Works. They were starting a medical clinic in a rural village, and they needed help–it was just what I was looking for. . . I got to help get a clinic and its various programs up and running. Being there for two years really allowed me to make a significant contribution to the organization and the community, and I feel extremely lucky to have had that opportunity.

Joey is currently studying medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City. He is proud that his nephew is now a student at The Island School.

Dylan Arnold (Class of 2005)

Dylan as Adam in "The Shape of Things"

Dylan will graduate this year from Idyllwild Arts Academy, an arts-based high school in southern California. Dylan’s focus is theater. He got his start in The Island School productions in the portable classrooms (anyone remember those?), on the school library stage, and at Bainbridge Performing Arts. In the summer of 2011, he was cast in a lead role in an independent film titled Fat Kid Rules the World, playing the jock younger brother. Best summer job ever! The movie will premiere in March 2012 at the SXSW Film Festival in Austin, TX, and will also screen at the 2012 Seattle International Film Festival in late spring.

Chris Agnew (Class of 1987)

Chris Agnew

Chris with his wife Lara McCluskey and son, Blue Agnew

Chris is the Pacific Northwest Director at National Outdoor Leadership School in Conway, WA. He received his BA from Western Washington University and his Masters from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Chris’s idea of success is staying balanced and finding happiness in family, career, and outdoor adventures. He says, “The Island School gave me a comfort and self-awareness with how I learn best, and a depth of understanding numbers and patterns that can only be gained through hands-on exploration. I still use this foundational knowledge today when I’m looking at financials on an Excel spreadsheet.” He has fond memories of former first grade teacher Judy Jurgens, and of playing in the woods and on the rope swing at recess. It’s no surprise Chris fits the natural world into his life on a daily basis and chose a career that involves both teaching and the outdoors. Chris recently traveled to India and Nepal as part of his job, and enjoys rock climbing and backcountry skiing.

Willy Chotzen-Freund (Class of 2002)

Willy (Class of 2002) on right, and his brother Zach (Class of 1998)

Willy is a junior at Washington University in St. Louis. He is double-majoring in Economics and Political Science and minoring in Legal Studies. He lists politics and baseball as his passions. Last summer he interned in the California Governor’s Office, and the previous summer he worked on Governor Jerry Brown’s campaign. At Washington University, he is involved in student government and is the president of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi. He plans to attend law school after graduating and begin a career in politics or law.

Class of 2004 Reunion

Members of The Island School Class of 2004 got reacquainted in Webster Hall on June 5, 2011, just one week before their high school graduations. Many parents and teachers were in attendance too. Pictured here are Fritz Schlesser, Jolyon Gidari, Tucker Gilles, Blake Harper, Dana Van Wyck, Clara Dunn, Renee Henderson, Tatum Larson, Rachel Schneiderman, Samantha Morrissey and Sarah Lukins.

Renee Henderson (Class of 2004) is the 2010-2011 Kingston High School Student of the Year

The Kingston High School staff selected Renee as this year’s student of the year “because she epitomizes the student who accepts academic and personal responsibilities with grace and charm. She is a sterling individual to have in the classroom, in athletics, and extracurricular activities. Simply stated, Renee demonstrates stellar qualities throughout the range of activities in which she participates. Congratulations, Renee, for a job well done and for recognition richly deserved.”

Class of 2003 Reunion

Margaret Carder, Christine Pence, Kyle Schneider, Kiren Caldwell, Spencer Lucas, Phoenix Glendinning, Ginger Glendinning

Luc Rosenthal

Eight members of The Island School Class of 2003 reunited at Webster Hall in July of 2010 as they marked their graduations from various high schools. Shown here are Margaret Carder, Christine Pence, Kyle Schneider, Kiren Caldwell, Spencer Lucas, Phoenix Glendinning, Ginger Glendinning and Luc Rosenthal.

Rainey Vokolek Scott (Class of 1986)

This photo was taken at The Island School’s Fall Carnival. My daughter Adelaide really enjoyed herself and I promised there would be more to come! It is special to think of the “next generation” of Island Schoolers … and something I kept in mind as I served on the Board of Trustees for the past six years. I felt privileged to work with people that care so much about the school. My experiences with the wonderful teachers, staff, parents, fellow classmates and trustees mean so much to me.

I enjoy living back on the Island with my husband Brian and our daughter Adelaide. I am the artifact collections manager at the Naval Undersea Museum in Keyport. Prior to that I was Curator at the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum and in the collections division at the Museum of Flight.

Ben Leedy (Class of 1988)

Ben Leedy is an attorney with the Portland, OR, firm Holland & Knight. He lives south of Portland in West Linn with his wife, Tracy, and sons, Max and Sam.

Leigh Ferrin (Class of 1989)

My husband Carmen and I live in Tustin, CA, with our boxer dog, Jasmine. Carmen works at Athletes First, a company that represents athletes, and I am working at the Public Law Center, an organization that provides free legal services to low-income individuals. I am a staff attorney in the consumer department, working primarily on bankruptcy, debt collection and homeownership issues.

I have wonderful memories of The Island School, from the Carnival (I had to explain to Carmen what a “cake walk” was!) to learning French in kindergarten, to making a movie in my third grade class. I am very lucky that my mom is still involved so I get to go back and visit many of my elementary school teachers on a regular basis! And when I don’t get to visit, I at least get to hear about everyone, and about all the amazing changes that have occurred since I was a student there.