Alumni News

Josh recognized for award-winning baseball season

Josh Hirsch (‘19) Josh was recently featured in the Westchester Living magazine for his award winning baseball season in the Spring.

The article, titled, Josh Hirsch, Vistamar MVP, Knows How to Move Past Mistakes, discusses his work ethic and what he enjoys most on the field. Last season, Josh pitched a no-hitter which is no small feat. A no-hitter is a rare accomplishment for a pitcher. There have only been 317 thrown in MLB history since 1876, an average of about two per year.

This goes to show you that practice really makes perfect. Not only did he pitch a no-hitter but he was named the team’s MVP, made the CIF-SS Baseball Coastal All-League First Team and was nominated for All-League MVP. He is currently Senior at Vistamar Academy and is patiently awaiting his last season on the school’s Varsity baseball team. We can’t wait to hear how things play out for Josh this season and beyond!

Zoie is honored with Finer Womanhood Rising Award

Zoie Brogdon (‘19) – Zoe was recently honored with the prestigious Finer Womanhood Rising Award for her equestrian accomplishments at the 2022 Zeta Phi Beta sorority Grand Boule in Philadelphia, PA. Overcoming her nerves, and speaking before more than 7,000 members of Zeta Phi Beta, friends and honored guests, Zoie took to the stage to receive her beautiful customized glass award presented to her by the esteemed International President – Valerie Hollingsworth Baker. Zoe’s family is not in any way affiliated with Zeta Phi Beta, and was sought out independently by this phenomenal organization. Click here to see Zoie’s speech.

Soon after Zoie entered her creative work into a UCLA program called the Young Black Change makers (YBC).  According to the program, Young Black Change makers are youth identifying as Black who are actively engaged in social or political change. In other words, they are civically engaged. Civic engagement can take many different forms for youth, and any activity that reflects passion and commitment to social or political change. 

The YBC was doing a search for any Black young person between ages 13 to 18 to contribute a reflection for a book called Young Black Changemakers and the Road to Racial Justice, which will be published by Cambridge University Press in 2023. This book is based on interviews with 43 Black youth who are highly civically engaged and working toward social and community change in many ways. The purpose of the book is to document these youth’s experiences and how and why Black youth become change-makers. They selected a maximum of 15 pieces of artwork and two of Zoie’s pieces were selected. Her work and name will end up in the published book! 

We are excited for Zoie to add this to her growing list of social impact projects. She is planning for her solo art exhibition in October and hopes that her WNS community will attend. Details to come! Zoie is currently a Senior at Crossroads.

True Jackson Featured In Forbes!

True Jackson (‘18) is featured in Forbes! The article describes True’s dreams of performing her first indie pop album (recorded in 2020 during the height of the pandemic) for a live audience. It reads, “Despite all the struggles of creating an album throughout quarantine she never seemed daunted by her dreams and the challenge to make them come true… One year after releasing “Simulation,” Jackson’s album of original songs chronicling life as a teenager in a sudden virtual world, she yearned to connect with an audience. Live and in person. Her wish was to perform her surprisingly upbeat songs about what her generation had been experiencing and the isolation they felt…” True took matters into her own hands and threw a free backyard show to finally play the music from her album.  The show was a success and gave her a new vision, to help other young artists get out there. Jackson’s second show became an art fest with all female bands and local artists. True says she grew up with severe stage fright but when on stage and the crowd is jumping and singing is when she’s most fearless. The stage time and experience performing has paid off. Most recently Jackson was invited to play a show at the music venue The Mint in April. True had her start performing on stage at WNS. She is now off to The New School in NY to study Contemporary Music and Business

Mele heads to OU!

Mele Faiva Corral-Blagojevich (’19) recently committed to Oklahoma for volleyball, and will join her best friend, Ella Parker (softball), as WNS’s most recent Sooner!

Congrats, Mele! We are so proud of you!

Ayla Bushell is a published author!

Ayla Bushell (’21) is now a published author! Her book, Ineffable, is a collection of dark fantasy short stories, poems, and vignettes that can now be found on Amazon! Take a look at the video of Ayla describing her process and how she conquered her dreams of becoming a published author by her 15th birthday! Congratulations, Ayla! 

Click here to view a video of Ayla talking about her work.

Brendan Goes For Olympic Gold!

Brendan Brisson ‘15 was recently announced as a player on the 2022 U.S. Olympics Men’s Hockey Team! Brendan is one of 14 forwards for the team. He previously played for the University of Michigan and was drafted in the 2020 first round, 29th overall to the Vegas Golden Knights. Brendan also played last year in the 2021 World Junior tournament where they won GOLD and previously played for Team USA 2019 World Junior A Challenge where they finished in third place. The 2022 Olympic Winter Games will take place Feb. 3-20 in Beijing, China. The U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team opens play on Feb. 10 when it faces host China in its first preliminary round game at 8:10 a.m. ET. Brendan is the only player on the team that will be representing California and Westside Neighborhood School. Go Brendan!

Zoie Soars To New Heights In The Show Jumping World

Zoie Brogdon (‘19) was featured in a Financial Times article of the Top Ten International Show Jumpers to Watch. The article features an impressive list of international show jumpers including Zoie and Jessica Springsteen –  an US Olympic Silver Medal winner that Zoie recently completed a clinic with. Zoie also had her first Sports Illustrated (SI Online) video and written interview that previewed on November 19, 2021. The article is titled, How 16-Year-Old Equestrian Athlete Zoie Brogdon Is Making a Mark in Her Sport. To follow along on Zoie’s journey you can follow her on Instagram at @iamzoienoelle. The Brogdon family thanks WNS for always believing in Zoie and encouraging her to follow her passion.

Imani Takes The Arts By Storm

Imani Pullum (‘17) is a freshman at NYU’s Tisch School of The Arts, majoring in Experimental Theatre. Imani has always been a performer, but fell into a deeper love of acting during her time at WNS. Under the direction of Dr. Desi Cameron, the Theater Arts Program at WNS became a second home to Imani and she took every opportunity she was given to perform in the school’s productions. It was actually Dr. Cameron, Ms. Reimann, and Mr. Zacuto who encouraged Imani to accept the role of Nala in the national touring company of The Lion King, during the first half of her seventh grade year at WNS. She was supported with an asynchronous WNS education while traveling the country with The Lion King tour. Imani returned to WNS just in time to enjoy the second half of her seventh grade year. Now, Imani hasn’t allowed any grass to grow under her feet and recently wrapped filming on a network television show, premiering March 2022. Imani is currently on location, filming a major motion picture. She’s been sworn to secrecy until the film wraps, but look for our very own WNS Jet on the big screen in the very near future.

Hope Launches ‘Bored of Boredom’ To Address Educational Inequality

Hope Shinderman (‘17) is currently attending Columbia University as a freshman! During the pandemic she started a not-for-profit organization called, Bored of Boredom, to address learning loss during the times of Covid-19 and educational inequality in general. Bored of Boredom is a student-run organization committed to providing free educational enrichment for all. They offer group classes and individual tutoring. She believes that their mission is truly predicated upon the values that were instilled in her during her time at WNS. Hope was recently awarded the National Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award (Tikkun Olam means repairing the world in Hebrew) for her work on Bored of Boredom. Please take a look at their website, boredofboredom.org to learn more.

Joshua Curl Set To Graduate From Chico State

Joshua Curls (‘12) is currently a senior at Chico State majoring in business marketing and will be graduating in May 2022. He was granted a final year of NCAA eligibility to play on Chico’s basketball team after the 2020-2021 season was canceled due to Covid-19. During his time at Chico state he was on the Dean’s Honor List for 5 semesters and a two time CCAA All-Academic recipient. Though he has always strived to be the best student athlete he can be, he knows his time playing basketball will soon come to an end once this final season is over. He is currently in the process of applying to several law schools in California and will be taking the LSAT this November.