CA Commencement 2018

Senior Tributes

Leilani Abeyta

Leilani Abeyta

Anyone would want their portrait painted by you. Beyond talented, beyond brave, your incredible “eye” at your gallery opening riveted us. As Ms. Hills says, “You have the true gift of speaking visually.” Devoted big sister, on the youth board for PlatFORUM downtown, Mock Trial sketch artist, and GSA leader, with quiet confidence and authenticity, you inspire us.

Emma Akomeah

Emma Akomeah

Selfless, driven, and insightful, you have danced your way into our hearts with your caring nature and your quick sense of humor. From Track and Field to your work as a first grade tutor and a student athletic trainer, you have shown deep commitment to community. In fact, a friend says about you: “She is what makes a safe community and positive learning environment.”

Kate Altman

Kate Altman

Your determination and tenacity is a force to be reckoned with. You lead AfricAid, volunteer at Megan’s Place for kids with disabilities, work at a restaurant in Golden, pursue your equestrian life, pick up Cross Country as a senior, dazzle in the art studio, and never let a tough course get you down.

Brady Anderson

Brady Anderson

Your devotion to Horizons is palpable, and with your gift of humor and empathy, those kids instantly look up to you. You are also the rock in advisory, providing the glue for the group. Never frazzled, always anchored, and eternally humble, you excel in scholarly debate, dedicate yourself to video and Track, and as the youngest of seven, you have set your own bright path.

Ryan Antenucci

Ryan Antenucci

Mushroom and meteorite hunter, builder, entrepreneur, craftsman, and filmmaker, you defy the expectations of a typical teenager. You take ideas very seriously—you don’t just “do” school. Your intellectual curiosity and passion for exploration make a deep impact wherever you go, from the classroom and tennis courts to REDI Lab and your business.

Alexander Archie

Alexander Archie

Earnest and down-to-earth, you have developed as a thinker and writer, yet you are a commanding presence on the Lacrosse field and in our most select vocal groups. You also represented CA well at the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, and you take enormous pride in being a caring big brother to your two little sisters.

Lila Arnold

Lila Arnold

With a cheery “Hey, y’all,” you arrive on the scene—and whether you’re wearing hiking boots to summit yet another ‘14er, high heels to kick some butt in Mock Trial, or cowboy boots to show your southern roots, you are enthusiastic and fearless. Our very own steel magnolia, you are a curious intellectual, a remarkable linguist, and a leader for the future.

Blake Aschenbrener

Blake Aschenbrener

Everyone wants you in their corner. You smile through it all—tech theater challenges, problems in Calculus, the check-out line at King Soopers, and every practice on the Ultimate field, no matter the conditions, no matter the stress. Block A, you simply enjoy living, and you make those around you enjoy it as much as you do.

Larson Baker

Larson Baker

You are a loyal, hard-working, and positive role model in every group of which you are a part, but without putting yourself on a pedestal of any kind. On the Soccer pitch you were a star, as a CLT leader, a natural at helping ninth graders, and even as a member of the Copper Mountain Ski Patrol, you helped those in need, including your very own brother.

Ellie Bauer

Ellie Bauer

Always calm, caring, considerate, and a peacemaker, you are the person everyone wants on their team when stress levels are high, or when your opponent’s Field Hockey shots are flying at you in the goal. Not one to be deterred by any challenge, academic or athletic, you do whatever it takes to succeed, since failure is not an option for you.

Maddie Bauer

Maddie Bauer

Your take-charge approach to life has allowed you to excel both academically and athletically. Your teachers describe you as a ball of energy, whose smile and enthusiasm adds something special to academic discussions. Your friends and coaches note how sweet and supportive you are. But you are also a fierce competitor and dependable teammate.

Camryn Beall

Camryn Beall

A peer wrote of you, “When I am around Cam, I feel like a better version of myself.” A superficial conversation is not an option for you, yet your sense of humor is always at the ready. You are both fearless and fun-loving, a commanding presence on the Soccer field, and someone who doesn’t ask, “What’s wrong?” but rather, “What can I do to make things better?”

Eric Bear

Eric Bear

Genuinely excited about everything, you are never a box checker. You think learning is really cool and you are “all in” no matter what you tackle—research labs, Math Club, Eagle Scout, backwoods survival, photography, theater—nothing escapes your talent and enthusiasm. You have true presence, and you do everything with a sense of gratitude.

Cooper Bedin

Cooper Bedin

You have blown us away with your skills as a mathematician, coder, linguist, black belt, and yes, even a knitter. Watching you play your trombone onstage with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band was one of the highlights of our year. Your kindness and desire to dig in and get messy in the process of learning has made our community better, and we know you are off to change the world.

Grace Berlind

Grace Berlind

With your steady work ethic and willingness to challenge yourself, you have gone about taking a creative approach to just about everything you do, from your dress to the artwork that you create, and you relish in the beauty of the world around you, adding to it however you can. You are an acute listener, and you learn from others as they learn from you, with your warm smile and calming influence on those around you.

Quinn Bermingham

Quinn Bermingham

With your humility, few would suspect the power with which you wield a tennis racquet, but that is just one of your strengths. You also have a strong creative bent, and you are happiest when you are at your keyboard, composing music. Your affable demeanor has made it easy for you to interact with all at CA, but you also possess a quiet drive that will carry you far.

Ben Berry

Ben Berry

You have confronted every challenge at CA with a positive attitude and a strong will to succeed, and the mature sense of pride that you take in doing your best is palpable to all. Your contributions to the Soccer and Baseball Teams have also been significant. Best of all, your infectious laugh makes everyone around you enjoy the ride even more.

Christina Bigger

Christina Bigger

You have not let anything in your life stop you or even slow you down. You take on challenges and all the while, you have remained steadfast and positive in your participation in the life of the school. And that carries over to everything that you do, from being a gifted writer, a positive CLT leader to a superb vocal soloist. Mature and poised, you are the ultimate CA ambassador.

Will Bomgaars

Will Bomgaars

Scholar of Chinese, expert in all things Star Wars, and professional washer of cars, you carry yourself with ease, grace, and a wide-ranging curiosity in a range of subjects. You also care deeply about the greater community, as shown by your participation as a CLT leader for ninth graders, and even by training your dog to be a therapy dog for patients in a local hospital.

Mia Brierly

Mia Brierly

You have remained resilient, hard-working, and enthusiastic in the pursuit of your goals, and the challenges that you have confronted have helped inform your art. You bring depth and authenticity to every role that you have played on stage and in your own life. The joie de vivre that you bring to your life and relationships is a pleasure to behold, and it will carry you far.

Brooks Brown

Brooks Brown

Scholar, athlete, friend —you do whatever it takes to help out a classmate in need. Your teachers have also been impressed with your intellectual curiosity and energy which has developed extensively this year. You have that rare ability to see the silver lining in every situation, even while you are doing drills on the lax field or working in the kitchen at Kaos Pizza.

Jess Brown

Jess Brown

You carry yourself with enormous grace and maturity, but without putting yourself on a pedestal in any way. You are an exceptionally hard worker who makes deep connections between disciplines. As the director of HOPE, you displayed a remarkable ability to juggle multiple tasks, and the results speak for themselves. Even as a certified Pilates instructor, you serve as a role model for us all.

Mei Brown

Mei Brown

Few in this graduating class have discovered a more appropriate long-term niche for themselves than you have in your desire to become a nurse. The unflappable way in which you lead your life, your compassion for others, and your warmth all make for a very promising future for you. And wherever you go, hopefully you’ll always have your Frisbee with you.

Greg Cain

Greg Cain

From choir and REDI Lab to the American Computer Science League, rowing, and CLT, we are convinced you might have some superhuman powers to accomplish all you do. We loved watching you play your saxophone with the CA Jazz Band and with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Your drive to learn and excel is entirely intrinsic, and we have all benefited from your grounded, perceptive leadership.

Liam Caplan

Liam Caplan

Bright, creative, curious, and downright delightful, you find joy in everything you do, from serving as Community Council President to theater and Mock Trial. You bring authentic awareness and a sophisticated sense of humor to your writing, the stage, and class discussions, but most of all, you are a caring, inclusive community builder whose leadership leaves CA a better place.

Zoriah Carter

Zoriah Carter

Your commitment to issues of social justice and inclusion has raised our awareness and made our community a better place. You push for change with grace and care and thoughtfulness. Your gifts as a writer with a strong voice have impressed many, and through your art, you have shown your courage with your thought-provoking work.

Courtney Connerly

Courtney Connerly

Is there anyone in the class more consistently organized, enthusiastic, and energetic than you, Courtney?  Your senior speech—highlighting the multiple times you had to take your driver’s license test—is but one example of your grit and self-effacing sense of humor. You have made a lasting and positive impact on this community, as a student, as a CLT leader, and as a director of HOPE. May you continue to try at least two new things every year!

Joanna Cotto

Joanna Cotto

You are a change maker with deep empathy—your ability to foster meaningful dialogue, particularly on issues of diversity and inclusion, has made our community better. When you step on stage or speak in class you have our full attention—from FACES and PlatFORUM to REDI Lab and spoken word poetry—your words are powerful, honest, and fearless.

Ellie Creedon

Ellie Creedon

Through your years at CA you have remained confident and true to yourself, and this has resulted in an impressive performance in our classrooms, on the Volleyball court, through your photography, and in your commitment to the Women’s Health Project in Haiti. You are tough, but also thoughtful and caring.

Zach Curran

Zach Curran

Competing with Bear Creek on their Mountain Bike team, you fly across trails in the Colorado foothills and beyond. We loved watching you suit up against even CA’s Head of School at Giant Relay Day! Biking is your passion, and in it, you excel. You are also a great film editor, a distinctive friend, a steady student, a devoted big brother, and a good-hearted salt-of-the-earth soul.

Eliza Davis

Eliza Davis

Your dynamic, steady, and thoughtful leadership shines in Horizons, C-Club, CLT, Field Hockey, and Lacrosse. When things get hard, you dig in and don’t make excuses. A connector through and through, your freshman advisees love you so much. Your receiving the Zach Hills Award says much about your leadership, and we wish we could bottle your genuine positivity, fearlessness, and your effortless ability to put others first.

Maggi Davis

Maggi Davis

A teacher calls you “kindness incarnate,” and the Rainbowers adore you at camp (though they may not get your Office references like we do). You’ve grown as an artist in choir and theater, as a student in the classroom, and as a Hockey player on the field, and you are stronger than you know. A wicked linguist and Ms. Meyers’ go-to scientist, you remain open to every opportunity that comes your way.

Chad Dines

Chad Dines

When you returned to CA, it was like you never left, and we are thrilled to have your hard-working, kind, and positive presence in our community. You’ve coached football for the Global Down Syndrome Foundation, assisted elderly neighbors, and captained your Football team. From Football and Lacrosse to community service and your classes, you always put in 100 percent effort and lead by example, with integrity and compassion.

Bo Dodge

Bo Dodge

You describe yourself as “an existentialist who drives a ‘67 Mustang,” and you do indeed defy categorization, with an eclectic set of talents, from Baseball to filmmaking, and even to summiting Mt. Kilimanjaro. But you also have a big heart with compassion for others, as you demonstrated in our Haiti program and your participation in HOPE as the “pie man.”

Tommy Ehringer

Tommy Ehringer

You are always thinking carefully and deeply; with you, caring for others and pushing outside of your comfort zone is just second nature. A talented artist, gifted writer, and most importantly, a loyal friend, your creative abilities, empathy, open-mindedness, and kindness continue to amaze us. Your future as an architect shines brightly.

Aliyah Fard

Aliyah Fard

Your “5 Up” talk set a high bar for others, and you did it with authenticity, poise, and warmth. You are invested in your own growth, but generous in sharing your spirit, with a desire to learn from others as they learn from you. In your participation in FACES as a “social justice warrior,” in our music programs, and even in your REDI Lab project, you have been vital to the CA community.

Geoffrey Farmar

Geoffrey Farmar

Committed to family and faith, you devoted time to Eagle Scouts, Football, Baseball, and choir for all 12 trimesters of Upper School. You gave up shoes for Lent, are an ideal older brother, and are so humble, polite, and kind. You also laugh at yourself with ease, and keep Mr. Hammer chuckling with your math puns and riddles—your math achievement award is well-deserved.

Lauren Fossel

Lauren Fossel

Move over, Carl Sagan, we have found your match. As one of your peers writes about you, “What oxygen is to most humans, new ideas are to Lauren.”  When you are not studying the function of amino acids or running ludicrous numbers of Cross Country miles, you can be found on your family driveway late at night, searching for new double stars with your telescope. And to it all you bring unalloyed intelligence, passion, and joy.

Amanda Funk

Amanda Funk

Decorated Upper School star of stage and screen, we don’t know how you do it all!  CC Co-President, singing and acting, Mock Trial—we think you’ve cloned yourself, because around every corner, there you are. Our first student speaker for CA’s “5UP” talks, you spoke about transformation in your life, and we can’t wait to see where your journey takes you.

Avery Gillespie

Avery Gillespie

With your great sense of humor and exceptional emotional intelligence, you can travel to France and Canada with ease and interact with adults like a peer. With your self-awareness and perspective, you have clear priorities in life; you have wowed in the gallery with your photo portfolio and willed your way through academics, showing that persistence pays off.

Andrea Gonzalez

Andrea Gonzalez

Water skiing prodigy, polyglot, and budding engineer—always with a big smile on your face, you even came out for the women’s Ultimate team at state this year and were their top scorer! You have also torn through our most advanced curriculum, all the while being your genuine, warm-hearted, and unpretentious self.

Walker Hamilton

Walker Hamilton

You live, eat, and breathe your love for the game of Baseball. In class, you challenge norms that don’t make sense to you and are great at seeing the world from a different angle. Intellectually curious, engaged, and honest, you are passionate in class discussions, your writing, and your photography.

Eli Henry

Eli Henry

Crazy bright, you are genuine in your motives and are never after a grade. You are a truth-seeker and authentic pursuer of your interests, from soulful sax-playing in jazz band, to Ultimate Frisbee, to “creating films inhabited by mysticism” with Mr. Cano. Seeing your talent and pure joy on stage with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band gave us goosebumps! At heart, you understand that human connection is paramount.

Max Jack

Max Jack

Intellectually curious and humble, with a rock-solid work ethic, you are a talented and prolific artist, and a stellar athlete and student—you can do it all. One of our favorite moments was your calm and determined leadership defending the Soccer goal to win the game against Kent. Your bold and extraordinary art portfolio show blew us away, and Ms. Hills could barely keep the studio stocked with enough canvases for you.

Jayne Kay

Jayne Kay

You are empathy defined. Whether raising money for Haiti, being a fierce libero on the Volleyball court, in REDI Lab or HOPE, you dive deeply into all you do. You are a remarkable person, with an artist’s perspective, a kind heart, and a willingness to get messy in the process of learning and helping others.

Emma Kemper

Emma Kemper

“Unflappable” is the word that first comes to mind to describe you, Emma, and you have a way of going through life with poise and grace, and always with that calm smile on your face. It is easy for us to see you helping adults with disabilities learn to ski at Breckenridge, or taking portraits of young girls in Latin America for our Peruvian Hearts Club.  

Oliver Kendall

Oliver Kendall

Devoted Soccer player, committed music student of Ms. Jordan’s since Middle School, and all-star older brother, you are extremely polite and a gentleman through and through. Your earnest work ethic and your true engagement with others in the hallway has set you apart. When you ask, “How are you?”, we know you mean it.

Eva Knepper

Eva Knepper

You dive in, head first, to try new things, and have become part of the very fabric of our community. From Sorella and your love of languages, to the Conservatory of Dance and tech theater, you are funny, genuine, and lead by example. We love that you are a chameleon, comfortable both gracing the stage as well as supporting others behind the scenes.

Anna Krutsinger

Anna Krutsinger

It’s hard to believe you joined us as a junior, because your legacy is worth many more years. Curious, tough, and humble, you are not afraid to be your intellectual, Frisbee, theater tech, STEM, and Hockey-loving self. From the Ultimate field, to the classroom, to your “5 Up” speech, you are a tireless seeker of understanding and improvement, bravely stepping into the unknown to take on challenge. We have no doubt you will use your passion for problem-solving for good.

Kyra Kurtz

Kyra Kurtz

A three-season Varsity athlete who is so determined and accomplished, we find you in every arena of CA. You even organized the senior game of Assassin in your “free time.” What free time we wonder? You sing with Chanteurs and dance and play the violin at All-State, and you eagerly devour science problems that, as you say, “melt your brain.” A Middle Schooler recently asked, "Is there anything that Kyra can't do?"

Ann-Claire Linn

Ann-Claire Linn

People gravitate to you for so many reasons—your warm and genuine heart, your sharp and inquisitive mind, your gentle and empathetic spirit. We don’t think you know how to be negative! A gifted climber and athlete, an all-around student of the highest caliber, and a truly enlightened and self-actualized human being, we take our lead from you.

Tyler Little

Tyler Little

Gentle and kind, brilliant in the classroom and fierce on the Hockey rink, you’ve overcome injuries with grit and a rugged determination. You can also drive a tractor, mend a fence, shoot a bow, cast a line, command a chem lab, and write some of the most powerful prose we’ve seen. Our true Renaissance man, we admire your resilience and intelligence.

Ren Lubchenco

Ren Lubchenco

Your easy-going accessibility is your most defining characteristic, but that should not disguise the hard work and commitment that underlie your success on our tennis courts, the Hockey rink, and in our classrooms. There also beats an altruistic heart in your soul, one that has helped disabled children and adults learn to sail on Grand Lake.

Olivia Lutz

Olivia Lutz

You walk in, and the room lights up. Twelve trimesters of choir, ten years of orchestral music, backstage theater and coffeehouse organizer, camp counselor and Griz’s mentee, you take care of everyone and never seek the limelight. You are also downright hilarious and are the epitome of joy and generosity. We all want to be with you, because it is a breath of fresh air.

William McCormick

William McCormick

Pilot and jazz aficionado, you are the “old soul” of the class, but you possess a youthful openness to new experiences. When your original game plan for your REDI Lab project was not working, you came up with a new approach. And hundreds of dogs have you to thank for flying them to the safety of new homes. Captain McCormick, you are now cleared for take-off.

Erin McCoy

Erin McCoy

Fearless, friendly, and focused are words that describe you well, best demonstrated by your powerful Town Hall talk last fall about the importance of face-to-face dialogue in connecting with others, instead of just pushing buttons on our smartphones. Your strong sense of compassion and justice has made you a leader in the classroom, on the Mock Trial team and as a CLT leader.

Savannah Mease

Savannah Mease

With your understated yet profound insights and willingness to speak when no one else does, your impact has been far and wide, from CA’s Tennis program, to your language and photography classes, to the Peruvian orphanage to which you have been dedicated. Your intellect is quick but never showy, and your healthy “why not?” attitude is refreshing.

Thomas Messner

Thomas Messner

No one has ever been more enthusiastic about traveling to Haiti than you. Beyond Haiti you’ve been on a remarkable journey here at CA, emerging into an exceptional CLT and HOPE leader, All-State Golfer, and one of the first people to offer to help. Never a façade, there isn’t a phony bone in your body. With your Jeep and your mullet, you remind me of a young Mike Davis.

Quinn Mitchell

Quinn Mitchell

From being an accomplished equestrian and linguist, to your work in the classroom, Chamber Choir, and Sorella, we have loved to watch your remarkable growth and persistence. You are genuine and gracious, and learn for the sake of learning. Most impressive, however, is your service-minded heart, and your willingness to put others’ needs before your own.

Aidan Murphy

Aidan Murphy

Your comments in class are insightful and add exponentially to the discussion at hand. From Mock Trial and Lacrosse to photography and your talent as a writer, you never seemed to break a sweat, and you powerfully contribute in your steady, honest, and intellectual way. You are always seeking knowledge, and have a deep desire to understand perspectives that are not your own.

Jill Murphy

Jill Murphy

Flute in one hand, Field Hockey stick and a calculator in the other, your determination is something to behold. A friend calls you the definition of loyal, and your work in several service organizations has been fearless and bold. And if that were not all, you picked up Golf this year, lending your indomitable spirit to something new.

Cecilia Needham

Cecilia Needham

If every human has a central theme, yours is service to others. You have been an integral student leader for Haiti, HOPE, Horizons, and the Philanthropy Club. In your work as an equestrian, a standout student, and being a truly good big sister, your sincerity, strong work ethic, and genuine heart shine through. You are invested in changing the world, and we know you are off to do just that.

Avery Niles

Avery Niles

You are refreshingly self-aware, mature, and compassionate, with a talent for communicating with others, and your innate leadership abilities have emerged in the classroom, Mock Trial, Soccer and CLT. We have loved to watch your exceptional talent in filmmaking develop, where you bring your critical lens, immense creativity, and willingness to always work hard.

Cosy Patterson

Cosy Patterson

From your genuine kindness to your passionate commitment to the craft of theater, you meet challenges with a smile and quiet perseverance. You bring a theme of empathy to the stage, the classroom, your work with Peruvian Hearts, and your love of animals. Your contagious spirit, artist’s heart, and intellectual mind have added so much to the CA community.

Kenneal Patterson

Kenneal Patterson

Curious New Voices playwright, Neustadt scholar, Mock Trial lawyer, and Road to Hope fundraiser, you bring enthusiasm, a talent for storytelling, and mature awareness of the human experience to everything you do. Two trips to Haiti impacted you in deep ways. We can’t wait to see where your love of life, way with words, and intellectual curiosity take you.

Enzo Pellegrini

Enzo Pellegrini

For years on the Motocross circuit you lived bravely and without fear. When that competitive world was taken from you, you found new outlets for your outstanding talent and focus. From triathlons and skiing to the pursuit of a career in business and your love of music, you have energy and drive in spades. Your Athlete of the Year Award was a deserved tribute to the way you lift teammates up with you.

Paige Phillips

Paige Phillips

Amazing CLT leader and one of the dynamic seniors in the class, you are a hard worker who also learns with enthusiasm and gratitude from every opportunity that comes your way. Devoted to your family and horses (and Hamilton!), you radiate sunshine even on your busiest days. People rely on you, because you always have time and a compassionate ear for them.

Hernaldo Piñon

Hernaldo Piñon

Ever humble and intellectually curious, we were deeply touched by your senior speech—you left us in awe. From your documentary film in your Vietnam class to your talent as a linguist, you take on challenges, like passing the rigorous French fluency exam. It’s my pleasure to note that you have been accepted and will attend the Université Grenoble Alpes in France. Your deep passion for learning languages—even teaching yourself Japanese—along with your strong work ethic, will take you all over the world.

Anna Ponzio

Anna Ponzio

Warm, mature, and thoughtful, you make your successes all seem so effortless, but we would never want to compete against you on the Soccer pitch or Cross Country trails. Even in your challenging academic work, you hardly seem to break a sweat, but we know how disciplined you really are. There are few in whom we have greater confidence for your future success.

Chloe Ponzio

Chloe Ponzio

Mesmerizing dancer, deep thinker, and voracious reader, there is nothing superficial about you, and you have brought depth, substance, heart, and soul to all of your pursuits. When an idea begins to percolate in your brain, you are passionate in your expression of it. But it is the gracefulness with which you go through life for which we will always remember you best.

Jack Prall

Jack Prall

A budding paleontologist, you speak and act with confidence, and you also wear the greatest t-shirts in school. You can climb rock faces on the weekend, give your sisters unabashed big hugs, and sing your heart out for Mrs. Jordan. Unencumbered by the things in life that others let weigh them down, you live fully with a light heart and open mind.

Nicholas Pulido

Nicholas Pulido

Ever curious with broad perspective, you aced Mr. Chase with your knowledge of the universe. Your passion for the outdoors, science, and working with kids has been a meaningful contribution to the CA community. From Tennis and film to Rock Climbing and hunting meteorites, perseverance and positivity have been the name of the game for you.

Emmett Rice

Emmett Rice

You are a curious, caring, Rubik’s Cube and riddle-solver, Soccer- and guitar-playing world traveler. One of the genuinely nicest students we’ve met, you are a leader, not in a forcible way, but by being kind, listening, wondering, and putting puns out there into the universe. From CLT to your hip swivel on the Soccer field to your service work around the globe, you’ve made CA a better place by being here.

Ady Richards

Ady Richards

Passionate, intense, and creative, your mind is always brimming with ideas, and you express them with alacrity and candor. Your leadership of the Mock Trial team and the Haiti Club has contributed to the highest levels of success, and your organizational and time management abilities are without parallel. As a singer and a Lacrosse player, you also shine.

Sam Richards

Sam Richards

A true impact guy on Haiti trips, a cornerstone of our Baseball program, and a dedicated filmmaker, we admire your quiet passion. Your tenderness with kids shows your heart is always in the right place. You also dig deep into difficult situations in the classroom and beyond; when the heat is on, you take on the challenge.

Piper Robinson

Piper Robinson

A peer calls you “easily the most compassionate, cheerful, and kind person I know,” and we agree. You exude positive energy to everyone, along with the determination that has brought you success in our classrooms and in your boat. When you face challenges, you are steadfast.

Xander Rodriguez

Xander Rodriguez

Your innate joy and curiosity are matched by your willingness to speak courageously. You have an exuberance and positivity about life that is contagious. From Mock Trial and video to athletics and driving a carpool of younger boys to school every day, you have been fully present and have helped engage others in our school.

Elide Rojo-Gutierrez

Elide Rojo-Gutierrez

Humility personified, it’s no surprise you were a Latinas First honoree. Your gift with languages, your really fine love of family, your gracious spirit with faculty, and your boundless work ethic make you a standout. With kindness and thoughtfulness, you observe the world around you with a keen eye and remain steadfast in your beliefs and values.

Danny Rosen

Danny Rosen

From your talent in cello, to Ultimate, Hockey, Baseball, Basketball, computer science, and bringing down the house in your Advanced Spanish Seminar theater project, you are no-nonsense and transparent, with a quick wit and willingness to work hard. You model the same clarity of intention you expect from others, making you a wonderful team player, with a core of honesty and integrity.

Evan Rumsfeld

Evan Rumsfeld

Open-minded global citizen, with a heart for service and deep intellectual curiosity, you have impacted our community for the better. From the Scottish Exchange and playing trombone and bass guitar in the Jazz Combo, to working at an orphanage in China and problem-solving in Calculus, we are impressed by your critical thinking ability, flexibility, and genuine empathy.

Lauren Russell

Lauren Russell

Whether in Lacrosse or Volleyball or the classroom, you are fierce, and people know not to go one-on-one with your competitive spirit. At the same time, you balance that spirit with tremendous compassion, and your CLT freshmen remark on your leadership and support for others. Unusually self-reflective, you want to learn for the sake of learning.

Rachel Ryan

Rachel Ryan

Strong, mature, and a true friend, you have found your stride within the CA community, and we couldn’t be more proud. We were deeply touched by your powerful senior speech. You’ve excelled in computer science, led a PlatFORUM workshop, taught waterskiing, volunteered with senior citizens, and contributed to the Tennis Team. And you’ve brought your level-headed and inclusive heart to it all.

Micah Rydberg

Micah Rydberg

Budding architect, what can’t you do? Choir star and incredible pianist, swimmer, and Soccer player who also mentors kids with disabilities, and someone who is devoted to family and faith. So humble and self-effacing, you sometimes fly under the radar, but we notice you, and Mrs. Jordan utterly relies on your leadership. Your talent and your wicked sense of humor make us smile.

Gemma Ryu

Gemma Ryu

Not only are you a fearless student, Rugby player, and graduation speaker, you also roll up your sleeves and get any job done, no matter how messy. You seem to thrive in being well outside of your comfort zone, and that has led to extraordinary success in every realm that you inhabit. You are a renegade in the best sense: low-key, mature, and with an ethical purpose.

Viv Shamma

Viv Shamma

A strong woman of conviction and integrity, a communal soul with intellect and a heightened sense of social justice, you lead in FACES, go to the women’s march in D.C., are a star in theater and have awesome taste in music. So real, so down-to-earth, you are an incredibly enlightened and evolving human being, and you put yourself out there without fear.

Sebastian Skipwith

Sebastian Skipwith

REDI lab was just the beginning! Your entrepreneurial spirit and huge ideas are going to take you far. So much more than a Hockey star, you take care of others with your sensitivity and thoughtfulness, contributing from the gender studies classroom to the physics lab. Empathy and dedication to family and faith are your hallmarks.

Cole Smith

Cole Smith

Gentle soul, exceptional fly fisherman, as skilled at computers as you are at French, you are a CLT mentor, a quiet leader in the classroom, and a graceful Rock Climber, who attacks problems as adeptly there as you do in your science classes. Down-to-earth and unassuming, you nevertheless let your impact be known.

Paige Thomas

Paige Thomas

Adventurous, creative, and widely-traveled, you are a big-picture thinker who readily takes on daunting challenges. Camera in hand, you questioned the role of race in education in your REDI Lab project. Even in your dance choreography you explore complex issues. We know you will take on the world in grand style.

Nathan Tormashy

Nathan Tormashy

Independent, even-keeled and witty, you lead by example and are the definition of a lifelong learner. You maintain connections with material between courses with deep and perceptive ideas. From AP Macroeconomics and the Investment Club to Basketball and Lacrosse, you don’t flaunt, but you excel in everything you do.

Sydney Turner

Sydney Turner

You actually recommend writing letters to people when you want to tell them something important, as you said in your Town Hall speech last fall?  “Ardent-hearted” is a word that one of your peers coined to describe you, and you display it in every part of your life, from your compelling interest in neuroscience to playing Field Hockey. You are also unusually willing to take risks, and in whatever language you happen to be speaking.

Jack VanGilder

Jack VanGilder

Consummate actor, singer, and dancer, your performances have entertained and informed us. But it is for your honesty, courage, and self-awareness that you will be remembered, along with your desire to be a bridge builder between people. You possess a huge heart that reaches out to all, and that is what has made you so authentic on all the stages upon which you have stood.

Jordan Wagner

Jordan Wagner

Your dominance on the Tennis court earned you an early recruit spot for college, but your impact goes beyond the courts. You greet us with a cheery “Hello” each day, you skate up and down the Hockey rink with confidence, and you have impressed your teachers with your trajectory as a student. Loyal to your friends and family, you are dedicated to community.

Charlie Wallace

Charlie Wallace

Need to the know the capital of a country? Or what airline route is the quickest and cheapest to some far-off land? Just ask Charlie! From the refugee center here in Denver to the farthest corners of Iran and North Korea, you are a true student of the world. More than anything, we won’t forget your zeal for learning, no matter the subject—may that energy to know more never fade.

Mitchell Walters

Mitchell Walters

Tenacity personified, you dig in and learn for the sake of learning. Whether it’s fearlessly leading on the Soccer field, Mock Trial, Interim, or biting into a difficult Calculus problem, you don’t shy away from challenge—you embrace it with grit and determination. We will miss both your positivity and your dogged resilience.

Maria Watters

Maria Watters

Your leadership is on full display as captain of the Volleyball team, where you use reason and humor to motivate others, not to mention your killer outside shot. Your positivity and grit have contributed in endless ways to the CA community, including summer camps. From academic classrooms to the photo lab, you effortlessly display kindness and empathy.

Wyatt Westfall

Wyatt Westfall

You solidified the hot corner on the Baseball field and scored the winning goal against Kent in Soccer. A drop-the-mic Calc 3 student, REDI Lab participant, and talented keyboard player in Jazz Combo, there doesn’t seem to be anything you can’t do. Most importantly, you possess a deep sense of self, compassion for others, and willingness to think creatively and take risks.

Connor Wharton

Connor Wharton

Wicked smart, with remarkable linguistic prowess and innate curiosity, Ms. Hill says you demonstrate, again and again, that you can balance honoring intellectual pursuits with candid spontaneity. Your contributions from the Soccer field and photography to AP Macroeconomics showcase your unwavering work ethic and laser focus. You don’t seek the spotlight, but you certainly cast a big shadow.

Anne Younger

Anne Younger

An aspiring oncologist and an award-winning swimmer, your discipline is second to none. You are someone who can juggle advanced research in science labs, a competitive athlete’s schedule, and accomplished piano playing, yet still have time to give generously to kids in Special Olympics, to laugh easily with friends, and to connect genuinely with family.

Colin Zenge

Colin Zenge

We have learned not to be fooled by your quiet demeanor and the serious expression on your face. Beneath that placid exterior beats the heart of a deep thinker, passionate Ultimate Frisbee player, and creative artist, and you are almost always a few steps ahead of the rest of us when it comes to thinking through a strategy to solve almost any kind of problem.

Foster Zinn

Foster Zinn

Your dedication to Copper Ski Patrol, photography, athletics, and academics shows your strong work ethic, insatiable curiosity, and ability to remain grounded. You are willing to take meaningful risks and push yourself out of your comfort zone. Most of all, however, we will remember that your big heart, empathy, and loyalty are core to who you are.