Category: Alumni

High School Advice from a Saklan Alumnus

The 8th-grade class was treated to a special visit with Saklan Alumnus and graduate of the Class of 2025, Cam, for a presentation about Head-Royce High School and navigating the high school application process.

Cam shared important information from their own experience as a freshman at Head-Royce and provided encouragement and advice to Saklan’s Class of 2026 about the sometimes daunting transition to high school. Bring specific questions to ask about each high school that you visit, Cam advised, and during your interview, always trust in yourself because when a high school accepts you, they want you there because of who you are. 

Finally, Cam emphasized the importance of getting to know their new high school teachers, something that felt they were very well-prepared to do after building close relationships with their teachers here at Saklan.

Cam also described campus life at their high school, including clubs, sports, their advisory group, and academics. Cam recommended that the 8th graders nail down the habit of “marking as done” on assignments in Google Classroom, as this will be very helpful when turning in their high school assignments.

The visit ended with a fun, interactive Kahoot! game designed by Cam and a question-and-answer session.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Cam for sharing their experience, time, and encouragement with our 8th-grade students.

#SaklanAlumni

Alumni Corner: Harrison Leenhouts

Harrison Leenhouts, a member of the Saklan Class of 2019, is currently a sophomore at Colby College, double majoring in Philosophy and Economics with a concentration in financial markets. He shared that he continues to rely on the core values he learned at Saklan—curiosity, courage, and community—principles that have shaped both his academic and personal growth.

At Colby, Harrison balances his studies with athletics as a recruited member of the varsity men’s lacrosse team while also staying active with the club climbing team. His interest in finance has led him to join two student-run investment clubs, where he has gained valuable real-world investing experience. Beyond academics and sports, he enjoys rock climbing, spinning pottery, and teaching himself Dari—a language he has been fascinated by for some time.

Recently, Harrison accepted an offer to join Goldman Sachs’ growth equity team in New York as a summer intern for 2026. This achievement marks the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance, and dedication, and he is thrilled for the opportunities ahead.

Reflecting on his journey, Harrison credits Saklan with helping him develop the ability to work collaboratively, stay adaptable, and push through challenges—skills that continue to serve him well today. He is grateful for the strong foundation Saklan provided and looks forward to the next chapter in his career.

We are incredibly proud of Harrison and celebrate his accomplishments, knowing he will continue to make a meaningful impact in all he pursues!

Saklan loves staying connected with our alumni and celebrating their journeys! If you or a Saklan alum in your family have an update to share, we’d love to hear it! Keep us posted on your adventures, achievements, and milestones—we’re always proud to see where life takes our graduates!

Alumni Corner: Ben Griswold

We love celebrating the accomplishments of our Saklan alumni, and today, we’re thrilled to highlight Ben Griswold, a member of the Class of 2011!

Ben was recently promoted to lead the Special Events Department for the Tahoe District of California State Parks—a role that has him planning and managing everything from weddings and concerts to triathlons and film shoots! He loves the diversity of events he gets to be part of and takes pride in making each one a memorable experience.

Ben also works at a local veterinary clinic, spending his free time caring for dogs and cats. He finds this work incredibly rewarding, especially getting to witness the special bond between animals and their owners.

After graduating from Saklan, Ben attended The Athenian School before earning a BS in Parks and Recreation Management from Northern Arizona University. He feels lucky to live and work in one of the most breathtaking places in California, Tahoe, but frequently visits the Bay Area to see family.

Ben, we are so proud of all that you’re accomplishing! Next time you’re in town, be sure to stop by Saklan—we’d love to see you! 

We enjoy seeing what our alumni are up to. If you or your alum have an update to share with us, we would love to hear it!

#SaklanAlumni #AlumniSpotlight #SaklanCommunity #MakingAnImpact

Alumni Corner: Skylar Ellis

Skylar Ellis, a member of Saklan’s Class of 2018, recently returned from studying abroad at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) for four months! While at LAMDA, Skylar enjoyed studying acting, especially Shakespeare’s comedies and late plays. Her favorite class was text analysis, as she enjoyed reading small sections of shows and analyzing what was being said and why. While living in London, she was able to see 30 productions and meet fellow actors onstage. She was also lucky enough to perform versions of Shakespeare’s Cymbeline and the Comedy of Errors, as well as John Webster’s, The White Devil. 

Back at the University of Redlands, Skylar is currently working on a developing show that opens in April. She is also very excited to travel to Scotland this summer to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. 

Best of luck in your upcoming shows, Skylar!

We are proud of our alumni and love seeing what they are up to, whether it be in high school, college, or beyond. If you or your alum have an update to share with us, we would love to hear it!

#SaklanAlumni

Alumni Corner: Dash Nowak

Dash Nowak, a member of Saklan’s Class of 2022, is currently a junior at Holden High School in Orinda. Dash has long been riding horses, and these days he and his horse Daisy are actively involved in rodeo competitions. In 2024 they qualified for the California State Championship in barrel racing!

Dash and Daisy are already looking to the future, and plan to attend a university with an active rodeo program.

We are proud of our alumni and love seeing what they are up to, whether it be in high school, college, or beyond. If you or your alum have an update to share with us, we would love to hear it!

#SaklanAlumni

Saklan Alum Leads “Climate Champions” Summer Workshop

In a world where climate action is more urgent than ever, we are thrilled to announce the Climate Champions workshop, presented by Saklan alumnus Ryan Lo. The workshop, open to students ages 8 to 10, will be held during the first week of August here at Saklan. The Climate Champions workshop is a call to action and awareness, designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary for effective climate advocacy. Ryan has crafted the course to explore the science behind climate and environmental issues, while also delving into climate justice. Through engaging discussions and actionable insights, students will explore the intersections of environmental sustainability and social justice, reflecting Ryan’s holistic approach to advocacy.

Ryan, a leader who has seamlessly blended his passion for environmental justice with impactful community leadership, brings a wealth of experience to this workshop. His award-winning podcast, “A Change is a Chance,” has completed its 34th episode and was started when he was an 11-year-old here at Saklan. Ryan currently leads environmental initiatives at Head Royce, such as “Green Operations” and the “Environmental Justice Initiative.” Furthermore, he has deepened his knowledge of environmental issues by engaging in courses at Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and Columbia. From his days as a student council representative at Saklan to becoming a leader in pivotal environmental initiatives at Head Royce and beyond, Ryan’s journey is a testament to the power of dedicated, informed action.

Climate Champions is not just a workshop; it’s an opportunity for your child to connect with like-minded individuals and gain valuable insights into climate advocacy. As Ryan shares his experiences, strategies, and hopes, participants will be equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to make a difference in their communities and beyond.

We at Saklan take immense pride in our alumni’s achievements and are excited to support Ryan in this endeavor. His commitment to making the world a better place resonates with our core values of creativity, compassion, and courage.

With pride and awe,

David

For more information click here; applications due April 1st.

#SaklanAlumni #HeadsCorner

Alumni Visit

One of our beloved alumni students, Ryan Lo, visited our current eighth-grade class last Friday to share about his high school experience. He spoke about the core academic classes high school students must take to graduate and be well-prepared for college. Then, Ryan explained what electives were offered at Head-Royce and some of his favorites, like Computer Science, Drama, Art, Music, Debate, etc. The eighth-grade students loved hearing about all the clubs and affinity groups at Head-Royce School. Ryan explained that affinity groups help students feel connected and safe with people of similar identities or interests. Some of Ryan’s favorite clubs and groups focus on leadership, environmental action, and community engagement.

Ryan also explained the reality of balancing homework and extracurricular activities in high school. He shared that by sophomore year, most students receive at least 3 hours of homework a night. Finally, the eighth graders asked Ryan lots of questions. Some examples were: What is lunch like in high school? Is there still a recess break? What type of college counseling is offered at Head-Royce? Can you take classes online? How many dances do high schools usually have? How do you manage your time efficiently to complete your work and participate in many clubs and sports?

It was wonderful hearing about how Ryan is happy and thriving at his new high school. We appreciate him taking the time to give back to his Saklan community.

#SaklanAlumni #SaklanGuestExpert

Alumni Highlight: Cyrene Puno

Kim Parks recently caught up with Saklan Alumna, Cyrene Puno. Cyrene graduated from Saklan in 2017, and then attended Campolindo High School. Following graduation from Campolindo in 2021, she began my her semester at Diablo Valley College (DVC), majoring in Film, Television, and Electronic Media. Cyrene has enjoyed taking many film courses, and has a real passion for film making.

Cyrene with her Parents during her Saklan Graduation in 2017

During the fall 2022 semester, Cyrene began tutoring DVC students in English, helping them with essays and other writing assignments. This past semester (Spring 2023) she interned in DVC’s Film and Digital Media department. As an intern, she helped students check out equipment and produce promotional videos commissioned by departments around campus. She was especially excited to get to work in the new art building. A ribbon cutting ceremony took place to celebrate the opening of the building, and Cyrene was honored to speak about her experience in the building, as well as invited to cut the ribbon alongside the president of DVC!

Cyrene is Honored to Participate in the DVC Art Building Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Cyrene is graduating with Honors from DVC and transferring to California State University, Long Beach in fall 2023. She has been accepted into the Narrative Production program at Long Beach State, where she plans to continue studying and creating films to earn a BA in Film and Electronic Arts.

Thank you, Cyrene, for sharing your experience with the Saklan community. Best of luck at CSU Long Beach!

#SaklanAlumni

Alumni Reunion

Calling all Saklan alums, alumni families, and Saklan staff members (current and past)! You are invited to join us for our Alumni Reunion on Saturday, June 17th at Saklan.

Please RSVP here to let us know if you will be joining us.

We are excited to welcome our past students and their families back to campus!

Excited to catch up with fellow alumni and their families? Join the Saklan School Alumni Facebook Page to start connecting today!

#SaklanAlumni

Head’s Corner

Alumni Highlight: Levi Kim (Part 2)

Before the Winter Break, I interviewed recent Saklan graduate and current Athenian student, Levi Kim. Previously, I shared our conversation about his ballet experience and role in The Nutcracker. Below is the second part of our interview, discussing Levi’s transition from Saklan to Athenian.

Why did you choose Athenian as the high school to attend?

While researching different high schools, there were many things I was considering. Some of them included: general academics, arts programs, class sizes, and diversity, among others. Along with being the school my older sister currently attended, Athenian had all of that and so much more to offer. Athenian has a wide range of academic classes and semesters offered, something that made me very excited. While freshman year your classes are more scheduled, sophomore year and up you can pick classes that interest you. In particular, juniors and seniors can take semester-long classes on subjects ranging from women in Greek mythology to analyzing comedy writing. Athenian has a great arts program that I’ve been very fortunate to get to experience these past few months, with classes such as choir, theatre, and dance, all of which I learned so much from. Besides classes and schedules, an aspect that drew me to Athenian was their focus on the environment. One of their graduation requirements is a twenty-six day backpacking trip that many students I talked to described as life changing. This seems like an amazing opportunity to experience nature firsthand and was just one of the reasons I decided to go to Athenian for high school.

Tell me a little about the transition from Saklan to Athenian?

Going from Saklan, a very small school, to Athenian, a slightly larger school, was quite the adjustment. Being a naturally quiet person, I thought I would have a hard time talking to people. However, when entering high school, I met more people on the first day than I had in a long time. Needless to say, I was quite overwhelmed at first, but grateful for all of the kindness people were showing new students who didn’t attend Athenian’s middle school. Over time I met more new people and settled into a friend group. I made connections with my teachers and often asked them for help on assignments or for extensions when I needed more time. All of these things reminded me of Saklan’s environment when I first came in sixth grade; warm, friendly, and welcoming. That was one of the main things that made my transition from middle to high school go so smoothly.

Now that you are halfway through your first year, what advice might you give to a Saklan student going to Athenian?

For any Saklan students coming to Athenian next year, try to meet lots of people and get the most out of your experience at Athenian. Also don’t be afraid to ask for help from your teachers, as they want to support you in your learning journey.

Thank you very much, Levi, for sharing your experience with me and the Saklan community.

#SaklanAlumni