Alumni News

Sadie Kaplan (’23):  Sadie’s research and writing is featured in the Voices from the Field section of the NBOA: Business Leadership for Independent Schools magazine, Net Assets: Business Leadership for Independent Schools. Sadie took it upon herself to research and report on what the Business Office really does at WNS as a member of the Executive Board of Student Council. Sadie explains in her findings that a school, like WNS, is a full fledged business “– as complicated from a financial and operations standpoint as many of the larger businesses in the area. The business office plays a huge role in upholding the financials of the school among lots of other responsibilities.” She goes on to explain what the business office at WNS does and speaks with her schoolmates about their roles and importance. She encourages each of them to stop by the office to say hello and get to know the important people who work there. During her 8th grade year Sadie pioneered the creation of the first-ever Student Entrepreneurial Day where students were able to showcase their homemade creations and sell them as school. Thank you, Sadie, for shining a light on WNS and may you always remain curious!

Click here to read.

 

EJ Vernon (‘21) is now a sophomore at Crossroads and playing on their Varsity basketball team. He’s averaging 24 points and 10 rebounds per game so far this season. He currently has two Division 1 Athletic scholarship offers from Loyola Marymount University and San Jose State University as well as interest from several others including Yale, Colorado State, and Notre Dame. While at WNS, EJ played on the Boys Basketball team and helped bring home our first ever WNS championship trophy in the sport. We can’t wait to see how his skills continue to develop over his next two high school seasons and see where he will land in college. We’re all cheering for you, EJ!

Delyle Williams (‘19) is a freshman at Jackson State University and is playing Guard for the school’s basketball team. His team recently competed against LMU on November 14th. WNS faculty members Austin Williams and Olivia Botello took to the stands to cheer on Delyle along with other WNS alumni! His team, the Jackson State Tigers ended up falling short to the local LMU Lions with a 88-66 loss. Delyle played at St. John Bosco for high school as well as at WNS for his middle school years.

WNS Faculty, alumni, and current students cheering on our former students!

Johannes Austin (‘21) started an organization called The Medicine Game: LAX 4 All (TMG) that believes in expanding the game of lacrosse, especially for minority communities in South Los Angeles. The mission is to provide equipment to the underserved community and bring the game of healing between Indigenous tribes to the community in our backyard. You can follow the organization on instagram @tmglax4all to find out more and how you can help. Congratulations to Johannes, we are so proud of your story! 

Katrina Binks (16’) was recently chosen to choreograph a dance piece for Earl Mosley Institute of the Arts show (EMIA) in New York. EMIA is an internationally acclaimed arts organization that is cultivated and curated to support individuals looking towards their future career as performing artists and/or citizens of our society. Next up! Katrina is performing at the Bessie Awards on August 4th, 2023 at Lincoln Center, NYC.  The New York Dance and Performance Awards, The Bessies, is New York City’s premier dance awards honoring outstanding creative work in the field. Congratulations, Katrina!

“I just wanted to share some exciting things that are going on with me.

I currently have a single out on all streaming platforms under my stage name, poet.rhi.  It is called “wonder” and links can be found on my linktr.ee/poet.rhi (can also search “poet.rhi wonder” on spotify, apple music, amazon music, etc) link to music streaming

Also, I was recently recognized by the Los Angeles County Poet Laureate Program as an Honorable Mention recipient.  It was a very competitive pool, and the last winner is now the National Youth Poet Laureate! (attached photo)

And next week, June 14, I will be part of a performance group presenting an original group poem at the Music Center’s Love Amplified Poetry Jam https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets-free-events/tmc-arts/love-amplified-poetry-jam/.

I finished my freshman year on the President’s list at my college (4.0 both semesters), and am preparing for the upcoming Volleyball season where our team finished 3rd in our conference (Big West) last year.

I know that pursuing my dreams would never have been possible without my experiences at WNS, and the motivation and support I received to go and be a leader in my community and beyond!”