Young alumni return to support upperclassmen

By Jaiden Patel ‘24

The young alumni panelists pose with Dr. Corinna Crafton, Acting Head of School.

On January 5, the Upper School juniors and seniors were visited by five W+H alumni for a panel discussion about college. The alumni were Ramon Gonzalez ‘22, who attends Columbia University, Izabel Korycki ‘22, who attends Rutgers University, Rose Kassam ‘22, who attends Boston University, Calum Huang ‘22, who attends Villanova University, and Ariana Di Landro ‘21, who attends Princeton University.

The panel was hosted in the PAC from 10:15 to 11:15 and was moderated by college counselors Ms. Sarah Honan and Ms. Alayne Birnhak. The panel covered a wide range of topics including the application process, new friends, and how to pick the college that is right for you.

Ms. Honan said, “The W+H Alumni Panel is always a highlight of the year for the College Counseling team because we get to hear how our recent graduates are doing with the transition to college, and our current students have the opportunity to learn so much from their experience. Much of the advice they share are things we discuss frequently in College Counseling, but I think it is different coming from classmates and peers.”

She went on to mention that she loved how the graduates talked about finding a school where you will be valued and able to thrive, rather than focusing on the name.

Mr. Rudy Brandl ‘83, a W+H alumnus and key organizer in the event said, “It’s always wonderful to welcome back our young alumni and hear them share their success stories with our students and parents. This year’s panelists provided valuable advice and insight in both sessions. They also seemed genuinely grateful for everything W+H provided to prepare them for the next stage of their academic journey.”