On Friday, January 9, five young alumni returned to campus for a panel discussion about life after Waldorf: graduating from high school, entering college and being undergraduate students at a five different colleges/universities. The alumni shared with current students as well as current and prospective parents their thoughts and reflections about their college experiences.

Motivated by world issues such as women’s rights, environmental sustainability, and social justice, Rachel Bossuk ’14 is a first-year student at Brandeis University. Through endeavors in Erase Racism, the Long Island Food Not Bombs food share, and one of two appointed senior delegates of the Model UN, Rachel found ways as a Waldorf student to act beyond her own self-interest and towards the betterment of others. Possibly the grandest task she took while at Waldorf was the founding of The Sunlight & Soul Light Literary Journal, which has served as both a showcase for Waldorf’s creative writers and a new avenue of socialization and commonality amongst our student body. At Brandeis, Rachel is studying politics and legal studies and is a staff writer for the Brandeis Hoot newspaper. She is also the recipient of a scholarship that covers the full cost of her tuition.

Axel Epie ’14 is pursuing a pre-med course of study at New York University, where he is the recipient of a generous academic scholarship. Born in Mainz, Germany and a citizen of Gabon, Axel’s passion for medicine derives from his African beginnings, which cherish the spirt of human kindness and is a true testament to his desire to be a person of altruism and trust. Through a variety of hospital internships at sites like Bronx Lebanon Hospital’s Emergency Unit, Axel has found ways to give back to the community while preparing for a future as a doctor. As senior delegate of the high school Model United Nations, Axel helped younger members develop their position papers. On the soccer pitch, he was a model of leadership, sportsmanship, and class during two IPPSAL Championships. This spirit was recently recognized when he was awarded the 2014 Gabriel Kane Spirit of Athletics Award.

Brendan Fogarty ‘11 attends Cornell University in Ithaca, New York and will complete a major in Biological Engineering in May 2015. Recently, he was accepted into Cornell University’s prestigious College of Engineering to pursue a master’s degree in Renewable Energy Systems. For the future, Brendan “would love to be in the field of developing technologies to encourage sustainable living.” Brendan spent most of his youth outdoors and developed a true love for nature. A Waldorf student since pre-school, Brendan enjoys traditional Irish music and plays the Uilleann (Irish) bagpipes. He has also volunteered for the National Audubon Society, which is an organization focused on conservation.

This past fall, Gabriela Gallo ’14 began a double-major in French and History at The American University of Paris, where she plans to combine these subjects in a way that allows her to study several regions of the globe in their respective native languages. Gaby’s love of foreign language, history, and world studies extends far. In fact, her depth of curiosity and enthusiasm for these subjects motivated Gaby to take part in two language exchange programs during her years at Waldorf: one in France and one in Germany. In addition to speaking four languages, Gaby is an award-winning poet, was member of Waldorf’s Model UN, editor and contributor to Waldorf’s literary magazine, Sunlight and Soul Light, and was head of Waldorf’s high school social committee. Through Erase Racism, Gaby strived to expose forms of racial discrimination and advocate for laws and policies that help eliminate racial disparities, particularly in the areas of housing, community development, public education and health.

Abigail Jean Lyons ‘10 was the recipient of the 2010 Parent Association Senior Scholarship Award for her essay “The Waldorf Advantage.” In September 2010, she began attending Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College on a full scholarship. There, she pursued a self-designed interdisciplinary major in Health Policies and Perspectives and minored in Creative Writing. During her time at Hunter College she also played on the varsity basketball and cross-country teams, studied abroad in the Galapagos Islands, and taught health education in underserved NYC public high schools. She will be graduating this January and giving the valedictorian address at Hunter’s Winter Commencement Ceremony. After graduation, she will start working as a Research Coordinator at Weill Cornell’s Clinical and Translational Science Center.