Class of 2022 Senior Issue

Allison Paik fits the definition of being like her favorite rival artists Kanye West and Taylor Swift: She is controversial in the best way possible because she is unlike any other student here at Webb. Throughout her years at Webb, Allison has been a sports superstar as she participated in varsity volleyball, track, basketball, and swimming. She pushed herself to try many new things at Webb, always playing into her fun, spontaneous, and adventurous side. If you are looking for Allison around campus, you will most likely find her in the museum because she loves the Webb paleontology and science programs because of the hands-on experience it provides. Her passion for researching will follow when she goes off to college, as she will remember it “All Too Well!” Allison will always cherish the times she had at the Welcome Back Dance, as well as her competitive sports side that was displayed during Theme Nights. When not in the museum, Allison spends her weekends hanging with friends at the beach, having dinner in LA, chilling with friends around town, or just playing with her two dogs Kobe and Luka. Allison shot for the stars and landed in the clouds at the University of Southern California where she plans on continuing her passion for science.

I always love being around Allison because she is one of the funniest people I know and is super spontaneous.

— Rachel Hong ('22)

When it comes to planning for a future education and career, Andy Bi sees him-cell-f pursuing the vast field of biology for years to come. Whether attending bio summer programs at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania, or participating in the iGEM competition, Andy has his eyes focused on his passion for exploring the molecular connection between the lives of organisms and their interaction with the natural world. Outside of conducting research and experiments in science labs, Andy avidly follows his favorite team in the NBA: Miami Heat. He enjoys playing basketball himself, too, as one can often spot Andy and his friends going to open gym and practicing on the weekends. When Andy relaxes alone in his dorm, he catches up on sleep or listens to rap music, often from his favorite artist, J.Cole. He also enjoys watching movies, especially Forrest Gump, for its entertaining story and lessons about courageously pursuing one’s passions. Mirroring this inspirational message, Andy plans to continue exploring his love for biology at the University of California, Berkeley, next fall. Who knows, we may see the publication of his groundbreaking research in the future.

[Andy] is the secret genius. His superlative is related to the fact that not many people know him, which is really their loss. Although he is quiet, if you really get to know him, he is one of the nicest people you will ever get to meet.

— Charlie Sun (‘22)

“My impression of Angela is hella bean sprouts, mommy, Phoebe Bridgers, and slay,” said Nichola Monroe (‘22). Angela can be seen around Webb’s campus knitting, watching The OC, or blasting Phoebe Bridgers. A typical Capricorn, Angela is hardworking– serving as a member of the chapel council – practical, and wise. Her sage advice to underclassmen is to take advantage of their time at Webb and to make sure to have fun! Her favorite Webb memories include winning Theme Nights senior year (especially as it was her first official Theme Nights at Webb) and joining the softball team during spring season. Additionally, as an experienced cello player, she found Mr. Szanyi’s Advanced Studies Experimental Literature class to be the most fulfilling because it allowed her the freedom to experiment with various types of music. During her time at Webb, Angela learned what it truly meant to take care of herself and place value in her mental health. Next year Angela will be studying Applied Math at Rice University, where she hopes to challenge herself and learn more about the subject.

Angela is the ultimate slay. With a completely unique vocabulary and made-up new words she creates every day, Angela’s mind and spirit always amazes me. Every minute I spend with her on the Jameson benches, in my room, or in the dining hall is filled with laughter.

— Sharon Xu (‘22)

No matter what you say or what you do, Arshia Sazi will always be there for you. He will be right by your side until 3005, because that is the type of person Arshia is. He is also many other things, like co-chair of the Honor Committee, the founder of both the Middle Eastern culture club and the Webb lifeguard and rescue club, and this year’s WSC valedictorian, but even more than this, Arshia is one of the kindest and most compassionate people you will ever meet. Arshia’s favorite memory from his time at Webb was driving around in Gooch’s car singing “V.3005” by Childish Gambino at the top of his lungs with Xander and Jordan next to him in the back seat. During online school, he and his friends would embark on spontaneous excursions to try a new restaurant or to drive almost two hours to explore Venice beach, yet not even step foot on the beach itself, showing his propensity for spontaneity. Arshia is a four-year water polo player, and if you watched him play today, you would have no idea that during his freshman year, he jumped into the pool never having played the sport before in his life. Nevertheless, Arshia persisted and became an important varsity player before his time at Webb was up. This shows Arshia’s perseverance in the face of adversity and his ability to keep his head up even when faced with a tough challenge. Next year Arshia will be attending Stanford University, where he will be studying Biology, but you can still count on him to be right by your side until 3005.

Arshia is like the magic carpet from Aladdin; he is very hairy, he will support the weight of anyone who needs him, and I’m pretty sure he can fly.

— Nick Lee ('22)

Ever in need of homemade birthday or Christmas cards? You can always count on Bianca Arteaga, whose creativity flows as she produces some of the cutest cards for her friends and teachers. Bianca always puts in the extra effort to make the people around her feel special. Thus, it is no surprise that her favorite Webb memory was driving around SoCal as a peer advisor and delivering her freshman seminar class Christmas gifts. As softball captain, in addition to her impressive stats and accolades, Bianca introduced new players and got them excited about the team. Aside from designing cards or leading the VWS softball team, Bianca keeps an open mind. Her favorite classes, Honors Ethics and Modern Global Affairs and Honors Modern Constitutional Debates, have led her to major in Political Science. Furthermore, her casual conversations with Nina, which are almost always in Spanish, have inspired her to pursue a Spanish minor as she heads off to UC Davis next year. She will forever cherish the memories she has made at Webb, including being a “fake-fitnesser” with Haley during functional fitness, trying out new sports like water polo and basketball, and getting her hand ran over by a golf cart during Zombie Apocalypse. Even though some of these memories may seem unpleasant, Bianca always remains optimistic and advises others to do the same. She cannot wait to start her new adventure up in northern California and make even more cards for the people that she will meet along the way.

Bianca is the type of person that can help you get into shape by laughing until your stomach hurts.

— Haley Colorado (‘22)

Active but easygoing, Blake Suttner is the embodiment of all his favorite pastimes such as running long distances during cross country and spending time with his friends and family outdoors. Blake can be found exploring the outdoors on Webb events or on a trip alongside his friends, at places ranging from local areas around Webb to Zion National Park. Blake will also miss going to Webb events, reminiscing about the friendly competition and creativity that many of the events fostered, which is something he believes is one of the best parts about the Webb community. He also discovered many of his current academic interests during his journey at Webb, one of them being learning new subjects in the humanities. His favorite classes at Webb have included Advanced Studies Gothic & Horror Literature and Culture along with Advanced Studies Human Migration, where he got to develop his passion for both history and culture. These classes and the experiences he gathered from them inspired Blake to major in Political Science at Tufts University next fall. After his time at Webb, Blake wished that his younger self would not take everything too seriously and take advantage of all the things that life has to offer instead. For the next four years, Blake will continue to pursue his advice, excited to take on new adventures in his life and looking forward to things as simple as seeing seasons on the East Coast.

Although Blake makes being bad at parking his only personality trait, he is truly full of great attributes. Friends of Blake are lucky to know someone so funny, insightful, and thoughtful.

— Madeline Lilley ('22)

“You can’t hit a home run if you’re afraid of striking out.” Bradyn Wishek lives by this Babe Ruth quote, and right off the bat, you will notice his passionate, dedicated, and friendly nature along with his love for baseball. Fitting for the athletic director’s son, Bradyn has a strong passion for sports, specifically baseball. Having played for 13 years, the sport gave Bradyn thick skin and confidence, along with teaching him to how to be a leader. In addition to baseball, Bradyn also plays football, recalling Webb’s triumphant win against Silver Valley High School which was particularly memorable because of their impressive plays. Off the field, Bradyn uses his leadership skills to also serve the Webb community as a day student prefect, helping bridge the gap between the boarders and day students with his enthusiastic personality and experience living at Webb. Self-appointing himself as the designated driver for his boarder friends on campus, Bradyn is always there to offer his friends a ride and take them on late night In-N-Out runs. Departing Webb, Bradyn looks back fondly at his time and growth since his freshmen year along with the strong connection to the community he will miss when he graduates. However, he is excited to continue his baseball career next year and study Political Science at Grinnell College.

Wishek is always there to take us to get food and has been a great guy on the field and in the classroom.

— David Hastings ('22)

Brandy Zhang may be reserved during Harkness discussions, but she loves without reservation. Brandy is like a year-round Santa Claus who always comes bearing hugs, gifts, and an infinite amount of love. Whether it is acquiring 10 limited edition Winter Olympics keychains all the way from Beijing, ordering way too much dim sum on any given weekend afternoon, or getting cute little Valentine bracelets for her single friends, Brandy is always looking out for others. Brandy is the type of friend who will agree to a trip to Rowland Heights for spicy Sichuan hotpot without hesitation, even though she can barely survive a bag of hot Cheetos without bursting into tears. While Brandy is the most loyal friend you will ever find, she is fickle when it comes to celebrity crushes. Brandy has so much love in her heart that she can never limit her love for just one artist — from a room filled with EXO posters to an entire photo album of Ma Jiaqi to planning a future with her most recent crush, Li Runqi, Brandy moves through her fangirl phases quickly. Brandy’s love for these artists has also inspired her to pick up a few skills herself, including singing, dancing, playing the piano, guzheng, and cello. Apart from music, Brandy loves visual arts and all things aesthetic, such as beautiful sunsets and fashion. If there is one thing she wholeheartedly hates, it is New York City. Fortunately, Brandy will be attending Wellesley College in the beautiful city of Wellesley, Massachusetts, where she will major in sociology with a minor related to art.

I will never forget when Kozden forgot Brandy’s name our freshman year at a tennis game and went like, ‘it’s some fancy drink…’ He called her Hennessy. But I think Hennessy fits her: spirited, classy, with a hint of sweetness.

— Cathy Wang ('22)

If Brian Yeung was asked to recall one of his funniest and earliest Webb memories, he would undoubtedly think back to the time when he and Howard Chandler were eating McDonalds in front of the administration building late in the night when they saw a cardboard cutout of a gorilla. Moments later, it finally dawned on them that the “gorilla” they saw was actually a massive bear, and both Brian and Howard began to panic and freak out. Aside from this hilarious incident, people know Brian for many things: his badminton skills, his genuine friendships, and his body-building physique, something he is extremely passionate about cultivating. If there is one place you can count on seeing Brian, it is definitely the Webb gym on the weekends. When he is not working out, music is his go-to hobby, with one of his favorite artists being Joji. However, upon getting to know Brian, you will find that he is a heavily devoted scientific investigator who pushes himself to see the human value that science offers. This year, he had the pleasure of being taught by Mr. John Choi, Director of Equity, in his Medicinal Chemistry class, where he researched addiction and the brain’s complex chemistry. Inspired by this class, he plans to major in Neuroscience when he goes to Pitzer College this coming fall. Although Brian will certainly not miss the wildlife of Webb, he will deeply miss the sense of community and his friendships as he wraps up his final year.

He has an insane work ethic, and Brian is a very friendly guy; whenever you feel down, he is the go-to guy to lift you up, physically and mentally. He really cares about everyone.

— William Li ('22)

Have you ever wondered what an easygoing and likable CEO — unlike the typical unfriendly stereotype — might be like? Caleb Novak, who enjoys investing and leading teams, is ready to be that companionable CEO. Living in a tight-knit community at Webb, he learns from the kindness of others and passes it on to others around him. Team spirit not only taught him to understand the importance of cheering on his teammates until the last moment during cross country, no matter if he is injured, but also taught him to get out of his comfort zone and showcase his dancing talents during Theme Nights and Webb Idol, inspiring and making those around him laugh. His favorite memories at Webb are the trivial yet important ones that make him feel the warmth of his friends, including the one where the Target entry door beeps every time Dillon Anabi passes through. When he leaves Webb next year, he will miss the people that have always been on his side, the bonds he has created with everyone, and all the funny memories. Bringing these characteristics of encouragement and affection that guided him through his Webb career, this young, determined boy will be studying Business Management next year at Colorado College to pursue his goal of becoming a CEO.

Caleb is funny, random, and friendly; he reminds me of a reindeer, always jumping around with thoughts.

— Roy Zhang ('22)

Everyone dreams of a secret weapon: Caroline Metz is the perfect triple threat. She has the brains, wit, and athleticism to be everyone’s first pick. Caroline has always had a passion for learning, being named one of the National Merit Scholarship winners this year. She has always connected learning with building connections with her teachers, such as Mr. Caldwell and Dr. Beikmann, who is also head of the VWS Honor Council, which Caroline has been a part of since her junior year. Her ability to connect learning with building bonds proves that she can be friends with any fish in the sea. Her quick quips prove she is one of the funniest, cleverest people you will ever meet. She must think quickly to conceal her secret identity as a mermaid, just as in her favorite show, H2O Mermaids. Caroline has also been a part of the VWS varsity soccer team all four years, captain the past two years, and has played a key role in helping her team bring home league championships, the CIF championship, and the regional championship title this year. Caroline plans on bringing her dynamic qualities to the east coast where she intends on majoring in Biology and Public Policy at Duke University. She will share her graceful and electric personality with more fish in the sea.

I remember sophomore year I had a big party for my 16th birthday and Caroline and I had to meet at Webb really early in the morning for our cross-country meet. Caroline stayed up with me really late to clean up after the party. Even though we were really tired the next day, we were still having the time of our lives.

— Emma Holliday ('22)

Catherine Li is a risk taker. This year, for the first time ever, she joined cross country with an open mind and left every practice with aching muscles but an unbeatable runner’s high. She also tried climbing for the first time in outdoor activities. Although it was difficult in the beginning, especially when she landed on her elbow and had to visit urgent care, she cherishes the funny memories she made and the unwavering resilience she found in herself. Both of these activities have encouraged her to challenge herself and prioritize doing what she loves to find a passion in life. Catherine Li is also a leader. As the head executive, she enjoys cooperating with other members of the student government and making new friends with unfamiliar peers. She loved organizing events, especially when her class wins — twice at Theme Nights, to be precise. But most importantly, Catherine Li is a friend. Her rambunctious friend group has surely made an impact on the Webb community, their laughter ringing in every corner of campus. When Catherine heads to the east coast to attend Swarthmore College, she will miss the countless memories made under the Californian sun, and Webb will surely miss her adventurous and cheerful spirit.

Catherine is both a mom and a child at heart. She takes care of everyone but also loves to take people’s shoes off and throw them away into the rain.

— Fiona Jiang ('22)

Cathy Wang is currently the oldest student on Webb’s campus. However, even as a senior citizen, Cathy stays active participating in basketball, cross country, and rock climbing despite previously hating sports and never having done any of these activities before. She reminds herself to continue trying new things “because you’ll never know what you end up liking.” Cathy’s relationship with the outdoors has been a rough one after she developed blisters on her leg from wearing tight jeans on a Webb skiing run. Having many new experiences, her outlook on life was forever changed by Advanced Studies Existentialism and the Human Condition because it sparked her interest in philosophy and integrated existential thoughts into her daily life. Even though she did not take existentialism with Ms. Fisher, she loves her for her passion and ‘always appropriate’ impersonations and jokes that fill every class. When her essays, dorm residents, and journalism duties become overwhelming, Cathy turns to TV shows like “The Good Place” and questionable teen dramas like “Teen Wolf” to lighten her day. Cathy will be studying at John Hopkins University majoring in International Studies because it is the perfect combination of her love of the humanities, political science, and philosophy. She also hopes to travel and learn many different languages because already knowing Chinese, English, and Spanish isn’t enough for her. With all of Cathy’s lofty goals in mind, it is important to remember her real goal in life is to be reunited with her dog, Jake.

Being friends with Cathy, you are not only blown away by her hotness, but also constantly amazed by her decision-making skills. She particularly enjoys using her elbows while climbing, coming back with bruises all the time. But at the end of the day, we are all inspired by her resilience and willingness to try new things.

— Catherine Li ('22)

If you search “beige” on Google Images, you will find thousands of distinct results for something you thought would lead to one answer. Now if you search “Celine Lau,” you will find similar results to that of her favorite color. Some search results that might pop up are “adventure” and “fun,” which is unique to her love for the game Genshin Impact. Or maybe as you scroll you will find “anatomy class” and “athletic trainer,” two Webb programs that have influenced her decision to study medicine in college. But a common trend you will find as you scroll through a Celine Lau database is two contradictory dualities that define Celine. An example ingrained into her database is how Celine created an MLM scheme based on interactions between her friend group. By balancing her love for her friends and her interest in multi-level marketing, her MLM vision became a reality. Her passion for medicine also balances the topics she enjoys, such as problem-solving and neuroscience. As she makes the move about an hour away from Webb, Celine will continue to balance her favorite things and expand her search results at the University of California Los Angeles. In five years, who knows what else we will find when we search “Celine Lau” on our computers.

Saline is the most loyal and honest friend anyone can ask for. She’s a no BS type of person and is so hardworking yet so humble. If you want to get her anything, get something beige because there’s a 90% chance that she’ll love it.

— Leslie Huh ('22)

Charlie Sun is the sun. Radiating an enormous amount of light and energy, Charlie always brightens up everyone’s day, making those around him constantly smile and laugh. As a dorm prefect and admissions fellow, he has served as a guide and role model for new students. In fact, other than ordering food, one of his favorite weekend activities is playing basketball with his new friends. In addition to his multiple leadership roles on campus, Charlie is heavily involved in robotics and swim. His favorite Webb memory was being side-by-side with someone for an entire race during a swim meet and hearing his teammates cheer him on. Although he did end up losing by a mere few seconds, he felt empowered by his team and will forever cherish those moments. His involvement in robotics, which began at a young age, has influenced his desire to pursue programming as a career. He hopes to someday work at Google as a software engineer or even start his own tech startup. Aside from his passion for robotics and swim, Charlie is intellectually curious. He especially enjoyed the class Advanced Studies Gothic & Horror Literature & Culture with Mr. Hansen, where he had the opportunity to try new learning styles. Next year, Charlie will attend UC San Diego and major in either Computer Science or Data Science. As he heads to San Diego in the fall, Charlie hopes to shine even brighter and continue being the sun that lights up everyone’s life.

Charlie loves to cheer you up with his not-very-funny jokes and very-funny fails.

— Andy Bi ('22)

Freshman Chris Chung was not the mature Chris we have come to love today. Every night, he went to bed at 6 A.M. after hours of gaming and woke up at 8:45 A.M., only to fall asleep again in Mr. Huerta’s Foundations of Civilization class. However, everything changed when he got his HC for the many tardies, snapping him out of this self-defeating mindset. In his Junior year, Chris enjoyed virtual office hours with Mr. Owers and connecting with his friends through gaming — going to bed at a reasonable time, of course. As a senior, Chris steps up as the WSC Class of ‘22 vice president and enjoys leadership opportunities such as planning for the homecoming dance’s decoration and theme committee. Throughout Chris’s journey at Webb, he has grown in various parts of his life, from changing music tastes at least five times before settling on a mixture of K-pop and Hip Hop, to becoming a devoted student and getting into Claremont Mckenna through early decision. A memory that encapsulates his love for the Webb community is crying amidst an overwhelming group hug by the entire WSC varsity basketball team to congratulate him on his college acceptance. Moving forward, Chris is excited to explore different subjects such as finance and dermatology in college, taking with him memories of the many afternoons of playing Fortnite with Kalman and his sophomore victory at theme nights.

For all the time I’ve known him, Chung has been the first person to believe in me and the last person to tell me I can’t do something. He supports and motivates the people around him day in and day out regardless of how he’s feeling. He’s the most loyal friend anyone could ask for, and even if he gets down on himself, he always bounces right back just like volleyballs did off of his face during our season.

— Richard Alrachid ('22)

If you peruse some of the local restaurants in Shanghai, you might come across a Webbie. Well, if he’s rocking out to Guns N’ Roses, it’s none other than Daniel Song! As a bona fide foodie, one of Daniel’s favorite memories at Webb was hopping from restaurant to restaurant in Los Angeles with Mr. Kozden and the rest of his sophomore year Unbounded group. As Daniel’s senior year comes to a close, he will miss managing the Webb basketball team, as well as playing for the WSC junior varsity team in years past. What Daniel will miss the most, though, are the connections he made at Webb, but he looks forward to making even more at his next destination, as well as reconnecting with his family and cat, Winnie, in Shanghai after graduation. Set to attend Santa Clara University, Daniel Song is excited to get studying, whether it is Sociology, Math, or Computer Science.

Daniel looks like he could be my dad. He snores very loud. Nevertheless, he is a very supportive neighbor, and I can always go in his room and get some snacks. He reminds me of Snorlax, for how big and lovely (hanhan) he is. I remember, our freshmen year, we Ubered to the village together and got an HC, and we stayed up all night finishing our Evo Bio lab. Also, Daniel would always make sure his juice had no added sugar, and, as he says, ‘sucrose is not sugar.’

— Tony Lin ('22)

While being captain of the football team, an admissions fellow, a sports editor for The Webb Canyon Chronicle, a member of the honor committee, and an honorary track manager, you would imagine David Hastings would spend most of his time buried in books or perfecting his catching in football. However, he is a rockstar. Anyone who knows David will notice him trying to crack jokes and make the best out of every situation, whether by hyping up Kalman Dong (‘22) during functional fitness, vibing out to “Running to Stand Still” by U2 on his long drives during the weekend with his friends, or doing song collabs with Hank Sun (‘22). Throughout David’s life, especially during quarantine, music always played a significant role, which would explain why Dr. Dzula is one of David’s favorite teachers. Dr. Dzula has not only helped David develop his love for writing through journalism, but he has also helped David take his music career to the next level. Growing up watching his parents exemplify what it means to be a great leader, David knew studying Business Management at Tulane University was the right move. After college, David plans on continuing his studies in Business Management while simultaneously touring the world with those closest to him and performing songs he has written along the way.

David is the kind of guy who you just want to have around. He’s got the best smile and the “what’s up bud” which just makes your day instantly better.

— Logan Causley ('22)

If you have ever seen a large amount of hair with a body somehow attached to it, you have spotted Dillon Anabi (‘22). Dillon is a Claremont local who loves drawing, going to the gym, and spending time with his friends and family. Throughout his four years at Webb, Dillon has played for the WSC varsity basketball team, where he relished chaotic bus rides home from away games. Dillon leads as a peer advisor and radiates friendly energy to anyone having a bad day. Dillon has most likely seen every anime under the sun, with some of his favorites being Hunter x Hunter, One Piece, and Demon Slayer. Dillon’s favorite saying is one that will prove very useful for this upcoming transition into college life: “A ship in harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships are meant for.” Although he will miss his mom’s breaded chicken, a dish he can eat eight of in one sitting, Dillon possesses enough admirable qualities and personality to amount to his large head of hair, and he will thrive during his time at the University of California San Diego. Dillon enjoys AP Calculus and AP Statistics and plans to major in Machine Learning and Data Science. Although Dillon plans to run away to San Diego, his energy and amazing outfits will be dearly missed by Webb students and faculty.

Dillon is a complex guy. He’s like Batman, but not really. He doesn’t fight crime.

— Richard Alrachid (‘22)

Dylan Lange enjoys the great weather and the people of the golden state especially being from Manhattan Beach, California, a sunny paradise. Dylan is excited for the change in scenery that comes with going to Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, and the new experience is something he looks forward to the most. On the weekends, Dylan loves playing the guitar and going to Webb’s open gym. As a dorm prefect, he takes on many responsibilities and is a great people person–ask anyone who knows him! He makes everyone more comfortable, especially the new freshman, with his bubbly disposition. He is described as cheerful and spontaneous and, without a doubt, the go-to person to lighten up your mood. When asked what he would miss the most, Dylan responded with, “The people, easily, without a doubt. People at Webb tend to surprise you with how much they’re willing to fight for you. As a boarder, you are forced to live with people, like siblings, and you don’t realize how important they are in your life until they are gone somewhere else.” And it is without a doubt that he will be missed just as much. Dylan lives by the quote, “The worst ideas make the best memories,” which aligns well with his spontaneity. Some advice he would give to his freshman year self is to not forget about doing all the Evolutionary Biology homework for the first month of school, and to definitely try everything Webb has to offer at least once.

It’s always fun to see what’s new with him, whether it’s riding shopping carts or something else.

— Nick Theobald ('22)

Most students at Webb have heard the horror stories surrounding Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) and its hardships. However, for Elizabeth Bowman, IPC is listed as one of her favorite classes throughout her time at Webb, among other famously tough classes like Advanced Studies in Experimental Physics and Linear Algebra. She loves science because of its interactive learning and methodical side, even if advanced math and the many opportunities for error in each lab might be frustrating. Liz has many hobbies aside from being a major fan of science. If you enjoy anime, you can relate to Liz, who has watched anime since 3rd grade; among her favorites are classics like “Hunter x Hunter.” Although she chose not to be in robotics this year, she is also a mentor whose passion for robotics shines through. Perhaps the most visible trait you might recognize in Liz is her vibrant, constantly changing hair. Liz can be easily found in a crowd because of her dyed hair, and she explains that her changing style and hair dye collection is a healthy but creative way to express her personality and reset her mindset. When it comes to college, Liz has pushed through the admissions process, but with a few battle scars and words of advice for her underclassmen: prepare yourself for rejection! Despite the rejection letters, however, she is thrilled to be going to Boston University next year and is most excited to start living life independently and explore the many research and science opportunities in the east coast.

Liz is a wonderful friend with a great sense of humor that never fails to make me laugh. Also, like her dog Sadie (aka. Side-eye Sadie), she has one of the best side-eyes I’ve ever seen. Because her eyes are blue, her pupil sort of just floats on the side while the rest of her eye looks like a bubble. It’s pretty fascinating.

— Sarah Balanza (‘22)

When you first meet Emily Wang, her serious resting face might give you the impression that she is intimidating. It also does not help that her friends describe her as “scary” and “angry,” especially towards younger Webbies who shared a dormitory with her this year. However, once you get to know Emily, you will find that she is the opposite. Emily’s playful nature always threw her into chaos as an underclassman, like the time when she and her friends would move each other’s furniture into the hallways. Over the years, she has taken on many responsibilities, getting involved in the community as an admission ambassador and a member of the honor cabinet. Dedicated to the arts, her favorite course is Honors Studio Art, where she finds that having the freedom to compose what she wants has led to the creation of some of her best work. Outside of academics, Emily is a natural performer. Some of her favorite memories were made during her time performing in the fall dance shows, where she got to work with one of her favorite teachers, Mr. Szanyi. Although she loves being on the stage, she equally enjoys watching her peers perform at Webb’s Jubilee show. Through her exciting personality, Emily tries to remind everyone that fun should be a priority. Majoring in Entrepreneurship and Finance, Emily will be attending Babson College in the fall of 2022, where she will be taking both her serious attitude and an adventurous heart to the east coast.

A lot of the freshmen in South Hutch think she’s really scary, but in reality, Emily is a caring friend and dedicated in everything she does.

— Sharon Xu ('22)

While many people have been described as a ray of sunshine, it has never fit anyone better than Emma Holliday. You cannot miss her bright hair and friendly face as she shines her light around Webb’s campus. It used to be that you could barely find her on campus at all––and no, it’s not because of her height. Emma spent more time her freshman year off-campus than she spent on campus, which she says is one of her biggest regrets. However, this year, she is making up for it by spending more time hanging out with her closest friends at Webb. As she juggles three sports, the friends she surrounds herself with are the ones who motivate her through both the fun and challenging times that such a schedule brings. Emma has done cross country, soccer, and dive all four years at Webb. In her senior year, Emma has slowed down, enjoyed the ride, and has gotten lots of sleep before she gears up to head off to college. Without a doubt, her effervescent personality will shine a light on her classmates’ lives at the University of San Diego in California, where she will study Business Administration.

She comes up with the most creative compliments to make people’s days better. She’s the sweetest human on the planet.

— Logan Causley ('22)

There are many things that only Eugene Guo can do: start his own investment club and company, get free meals under an Uber Diamond membership, try almost all the Michelin restaurants in Shanghai, and unfortunately miss the majority of varsity basketball season due to accidentally twisting his ankle on the Alamo stairs. Eugene is a spectacle at Webb. Not only because you have to look up to be able to even see his shoulders, but because of how difficult it is to spot him anywhere outside of his room, open gym, or the loop for food delivery. With his hood up, AirPod in one ear, and hands in his pockets, Eugene resembles the brutally brilliant entrepreneurs that he looks up to. Even with this intimidating demeanor, the mere mention of his idol, Ms. Haleftiras, his favorite show Legend of the Condor Heroes, or a reference to his own performance of the song “A Bridge of Fate” can easily make him laugh. Even under his occasionally dull eyes from sleep deprivation, Eugene’s brain is always busy absorbing lessons from autobiographies such as Ray Dalio’s Principles or analyzing today’s stock market trends. Although you will no longer see Eugene dress up for his favorite event, community dinner, you will soon see him working for biotech companies or the CDC after graduating from Emory University. Incredibly bright and literate, Eugene will always live by his favorite quote “trust the process” as he becomes an investor that inspires the younger generation.

Eugene has an abstract soul. He has a surprisingly good relationship with Ms. H. I loved staying in Inglewood with Victor and Eugene for the entire winter break, where we all caught COVID. Everyone would love chef Guo’s burgers. Not surprisingly, I was sick the next day eating chef Guo’s burger.

— Tony Lin ('22)

Eva Paniagua might seem like Rory from one of her favorite shows, Gilmore Girls, as you can always catch Eva with her nose in a book. However, if you have ever spent time with her, you know that she is more like Lorelai with her sassy and exuberant energy. Eva might seem intimidating to the untrained eye with her cool outfits and intelligent contributions to class discussions, but if you talk to her, you will realize she is very boisterous and witty. As the VWS varsity basketball manager for three years, Eva has learned “to be a pig, you got to roll in the mud,” from her friend and coach, Ronnie. Eva is always ready to have a good time and to get her hands dirty as President of the Rotary Club and peer advisor. Eva is also an artistic soul with her love of painting and watching reality TV shows with her mom. What could be a greater art form than 90 Day Fiancé? When she is not playing with her dogs, Jack and Pippa, or listening to the hard rock band Skillet, she is trying to save the world. Eva says that we all will die if we do not save the environment, so she plans to major in Biology with a focus on Conservation during her time at Boston University. Eva will miss the sunny California weather along with her friends and family as she moves 2,566 miles away to Boston, but she is excited to explore and discover more about the world and herself.

She’s a fox. She’s beautiful. She’s sly. She’s fun. She’s a little shy in the beginning, but once you get to know her, she’s crazy.

— Mia Baldwin ('22)

Fiona Jiang is full of contradictions. Despite being a proud member of the Webb Shenzhen gang, she is proficient in only one line of Cantonese, “my name is Fiona,” something she has bragged about since freshman year. Her friends describe her as having a naturally theatrical aura. She speaks and acts with a splash of dramatic effect that never fails to put a smile on everyone’s face. Ironically, while Fiona can hardly keep a poker face for more than three seconds, she loves playing poker. Fiona dominated the Webb poker table during this year’s Casino Night, winning a total of 20 shuffle tickets. Not only has Webb allowed Fiona to shine as a poker player, she has also grown as a leader and scholar. In addition to serving as dorm prefect and admission fellow, Fiona found her passion for computer science through Webb’s collaborative program with Harvey Mudd, which she will continue to pursue by majoring in Networked and Social Systems Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania. College is only the starting point for her carefully orchestrated multi-step career plan. After graduation, Fiona hopes to move to the Silicon Valley, where she will start her own unicorn technology company, hiking in the mountains on the weekends, and taking occasional day trips to Napa for a glass of fine wine. While Fiona is ready to initiate the next phase of her elaborate plan, she will miss fighting for the limited Webb run spots, various bagel bar innovations, the long leg mosquitos, and most of all, the people here.

When you first get to know Fiona, you’ll probably imagine her as the ideal candidate on a Forbes 30 Under 30 list (she still is) — determined, confident, intellectual. However, once getting to know her more, Fiona is way more than that. She always has unique humor that no one can compare, is always up-to-date even with the most random gossip, and of course, is always excited to try out different things (e.g., her soon-to-come college “reinvention” journey).

— Brandy Zhang ('22)

“Bruh… bruh… bruh…AH!” No, the owner of these random sounds is not a cow or a ghost. They belong to Fran Torres. When Fran is not screaming during Calculus class or making weird noises with his dorm residents during check-in, he is either texting his family or playing volleyball with Webb’s WSC varsity team. Though he walks around campus with an easygoing attitude, putting smiles on people’s faces with Among Us jokes, Fran has earned the respect of the underclassmen through his job as a dorm prefect where he established a sibling relationship with residents at North Hutch. Outside of Webb, Fran’s life has revolved around the criminal justice system in the United States, and he hopes to continue to spark conversation around topics he first learned in Webb’s Crime and Punishment course. Inspired by the class, Fran plans to pursue a job where he can combine psychology and therapy within the system. As he leaves California to study at Amherst College in chilly Massachusetts, he knows he will visit his hometown to catch up with friends on Super Smash Bros and eat really good food in sunny California. Maybe one day, when a fog surrounds campus and trees cast shadows onto buildings, students will hear the ghost of Fran’s senior self yelling into Chandler Field.

Fran is the first person I call when I’m stressed or anxious. He’s able to calm my nerves just with his presence. I’ve literally never had a dull moment with him around, like that one time when Fran hit me in the head with a Wii remote.

— Marina Saeger ('23)

Have you ever stared out at the ocean, watching the rhythmic waves crash slowly onto the beach? That feeling reminds you of Gaby Trauttmansdorff-Weinsberg, a person who reflects the peaceful and happy spirit we all strive to find. The movies, animals, and places Gaby love coincidentally mirror her personality. For example, Gaby constantly finds herself gravitating toward light blue colors, although she has tried to convince herself that her favorite color was pink. Light blue represents understanding, peace, and the ability to stay calm. She also adores agreeable and friendly dolphins, noting their humorous laughing sounds. Gaby is best known for her success in varsity tennis, as well as her kindness around the dorm as a prefect. As tennis team captain, she guides newer players and helps the team improve. As a dorm prefect, she communicates well, makes Jameson residents feel at home, and is understanding when people race to check in a few minutes late. She loves the quote “think outside the box” because it reminds her to not be overly conscious of her actions simply to please others, but to find her own happiness and community, making the most of everything Webb has to offer. Gaby prepares to take her ability to care for others onto a professional level. She plans to use this motivation to help others and aspires to become a lawyer. Gaby plans to study International Relations at St. Andrews in Scotland.

Gaby reminds me of Rapunzel in all the best ways: she’s a princess going to a land far, far away, she’s good with a frying pan, but also will whack somebody, if need be, and most of all, she has the rare ability to heal with her protectiveness, kind words, and soft humor.

— Nick Lee ('22)

Have you ever met someone who loves napping as much as Garbo Chung? Regardless of what time it is, she always manages to find the time to squeeze in a nap and dream, especially before a class or after school. Another thing you might not have known about Garbo is that she is a talented artist; one of her most beloved pastimes is water coloring. Taking inspiration from 18th-century painter J. M. W. Turner, who is her favorite artist, she sees water coloring as a medium for expressing the wonder and magnificence of the world. Garbo also finds enjoyment in playing the piano, performing pieces such as Mariage d’Armour and Beethoven’s Bagatelle No. 25 in A minor, nicknamed “Für Elise.” Aside from the arts and music, Garbo’s academic interests are geared toward mathematics and sciences. At Webb, Garbo is the President of the Math and the Physics & Astronomy Clubs, and she dedicates a lot of her time to Webb’s robotics program and her team, 358 Gaulbots, which earlier in the year made it to the Regional Championship at Monrovia High School. One of her fondest Webb memories happened during her freshman year, when she and a few other boarders used a Ouija board and freaked themselves out for days, believing they had summoned spirits that were going to haunt the dorms. As of now, Garbo plans to major in Computer Science at Stanford University. Once she graduates, Garbo sees herself being a researcher in the near future, residing in an apartment situated in a large city, and definitely taking as many naps as possible.

Garbo is caring, creative, and extremely scared of bugs: she would change her entire outfit if a fly would land on her clothes; Garbo is sometimes quiet, but she always supports her peers in her own way.

— Tina Rong ('22)

As Player One in his own videogame world, Gerry Song can get through anything impossible. In level one of his journey, Gerry learned the fundamentals of the game and developed some of his favorite memories, including his love for Jubilee, listening to Queen, and interacting with people at freshman year Homecoming by playing casino games. Gerry also slayed his first-ever musical at Webb, playing a vital character in Pirates of Penzance, his favorite production at Webb. After breezing through level one, Gerry advanced to level two where he did the impossible: learned to love his favorite class, Integrated Physics and Chemistry. Gerry enjoyed the challenge of IPC and noted how satisfying it was to finish an assignment or project and get rewarded with a good grade. Before Gerry advances to level three, he will temporarily sit on the sidelines in his game and cheer on other characters such as the WSC varsity volleyball team, which is his favorite sport to support at Webb because of the high energy. In level three, Gerry met one of his favorite characters, Dr. Beikmann, who taught him several vital lessons. As Gerry prepares to finish his final level of this videogame, he advises newer players to focus on work because playing videogames for hours is not always the smartest idea. Nonetheless, as Gerry begins a new quest at NYU Shanghai, he will study Political Science and minor in Music, continuing to be the main character of his videogame world.

Even if he’ll never say it, Gerry is sort of an emotional rock in his cheerfulness. I don’t just mean when he’s perfectly happy, but he doesn’t hesitate to hear you out, and at other times smile anyway. I heard that smiling does make you happier, and I think Gerry certainly helps proves this true.

— Nathan Choi ('22)

You can know everything about Haley Colorado in 15 minutes. By going on one “15-minute run” with her in functional fitness at the softball field, you will first learn that Haley does not actually run, but breezes through her time at Webb. Although not involved in track, Haley breaks the school record in multiple events: most Webb omelets eaten, most all-nighters pulled binge-watching Netflix instead of doing homework, most times someone has lost their keycard, and the most times someone has said, “I just failed that,” and proceeded to pass the test. While Haley still cannot do a proper sit-up or pull-up, she easily exercises her intelligence in her favorite classes: Medicinal Chemistry and Advanced Studies Experimental Physics. Haley is also a talented varsity water polo player and has been the only freshman who continued playing the sport in her senior year. Mr. Jurczak, her favorite coach, and her teammates all inspired her to continue playing to develop her skills and mentor newer players. Her advice to underclassmen is to stay with the things that are difficult because, in the end, they are worth it. While Haley will not have the opportunity to go on more “15-minute runs,” which include learning TikTok dances, listening to Ariana Grande’s “Thank You, Next,” chilling on the bench, or talking with Bianca about their latest obsessions, she will continue to try new things at Harvey Mudd College this fall while studying Engineering.

Haley and I dedicated all four years of our functional fitness careers to getting abs; we did so many ‘core’ workouts and pretended to work out and thought that that would get us abs. However, just laughing with Haley about her obsession with white t-shirts shirts and red pants is an ab workout itself because she is one of the funniest people I know.

— Bianca Arteaga '22

Whether it is through his spiffy Thursday suits, singing from Alamo Lawn, or the “light” morning workouts, Hank brings a unique, indelible energy to the class of 2022. Hank has never adjusted to the time difference after moving here from Beijing, China, as he naturally wakes up at 6 A.M. every day, which he spends working out in the gym or on runs. Hank is unapologetically himself, and his Webb legacy is defined by trying new things. He has thrown his hat in the ring for multiple sports teams to see what sticks, and has been a dedicated member of the track, triathlon, and football teams. Football has been the most important activity for him, as it is the only sport, he has played for all 4 years for its strong sense of camaraderie. It has also helped shape him into the passionate leader he has become. He loves to put himself out there and is always the first one to the dance floor to display his notorious dance moves. Hank also serves as one of the Alamo prefects this year, and one of the defining moments of his Webb career is winning Webb Idol. His confidence and experience living the dorm lifestyle will set Hank up for success when he arrives at the campus of Tufts University next fall, where he will be studying Earth and Ocean science, building off his paleontology work at Webb.

Whatever song you put on your phone, Hank will somehow know it and will immediately be singing acapella to it. It can get on your nerves, but we all love it.

— Logan Causley ('22)

Anyone who follows Hunter Lange on Instagram (or on any social media platform, for that matter) knows that he has a way with words. Often, his carefully crafted sentences focus on matters that he cares deeply about, including human rights, decolonization, adoptee experience, and environmental justice. His understanding of the importance of human connection has led to both his work with Empowering Student Voices Initiative and his fond memories of open dorms at Webb; the friendships he made there will last forever. It may seem like Hunter has already reached the peak of human existence and is now waiting impatiently for the rest of us to catch up, but he is in fact still incredibly down to earth. He cares deeply about the land we live on and how we inhabit it, as well as how we treat others who share the land with us. In Advanced Studies Culture and Politics of the Border, Hunter loved learning and writing about physical and social borders and how and why they exist. Hunter will continue to pursue Critical Race and Ethnicity Studies at Reed College in Portland, Oregon.

I think Hunter is the perfect balance of a person, because he can be really silly at times when you really need a friend, but also whenever you need to talk about anything serious, he’s always there to listen and give nuance to it.

— Valeria Gonzalez

Although she came to Webb halfway through her high school career after attending art school in a different city, Illiana Redding’s pursuits in art did not stop after this transition. As a result of this change, she has created many inspiring and often abstract pieces of art in the art studio. Her paintings and works of art using different mediums can be found in various places on campus throughout the year, including Art Café in Hooper. Although many people might remember Illiana for her quirky style or artistic talent, she has also found her passion for something entirely different: water sports. Illiana’s experience with sports has changed a lot during her time at Webb. She has transformed from a student who used to hate most sports, especially because of morning practices, to someone who actively arrived at practice early to go to the pool for an extra hour of practice. Swimming has been one of Illiana’s favorite parts of Webb, not only because of the sportsmanship and competitiveness, but also because of the close-knit and kind community that she has discovered. She loves everything from Webb’s cult-like boba culture to the support the school provides to “catch you when you fall.” Once she does leave Webb, however, Illiana will be ready to take on Babson College and discover more passions, yet she still hopes to continue her career in art. She cannot wait to be happy, do things that are cool, and meet new people after she graduates.

Illiana’s the most interesting person I’ve ever met. Funny, talented entrepreneur girl boss.

— Eunice Lau ('23)

Isabella Llorens’s brave personality shines through her passion for social justice, an interest sparked by her participation in the Student Diversity Leadership conference during her junior year. As co-president of the Empowering Student Voices Initiative, Bella is not scared to start difficult discussions with her peers and teachers. It is not a surprise that one of her favorite classes is African Ideologies and Revolutions with Mr. Calvert. When Bella is not staying up until two A.M. studying for a test, she winds down by spending quality time with her family, walking along the beach, looking at the sunset, and hanging out with her friends at Disneyland. After school, you might notice Bella speeding away to dance practice, where she spends hours on end perfecting her technique. Bella’s carefulness is fueled by not wanting to recreate an incident from freshman year, where she kicked a senior in the head while dancing, giving them a concussion and fracturing their skull. However, you cannot blame her because she was in the right spot while doing the right moves. In the fall, Bella will attend Columbia University, envisioning majors in Political Science and Ethnic Race Studies with a concentration in Dance. Bella is hoping to positively impact life at Columbia by establishing and joining clubs that continue discussions for racial equality and justice.

In true dancer form, Bella reminds me of different qualities of dance-like movements; she is dynamic, creative, strong, and passionate.

— Madeline Lilley ('22)

If you are ever in need of friendship, support, or just someone to rant to about everything from Dungeons & Dragons to astronomy, look no further than Jalelah Johnson. Energetic and motivated, Jalelah excels in her academic and personal ventures, such as being an avid science enthusiast and competing in several sports. Despite having a challenging Webb journey, where she attended a different school for the entirety of her junior year, Jalelah has maintained her unmistakable bright spirit through all of life’s difficulties. After experiencing both highs and lows, Jalelah believes that Webb’s camaraderie is one of the best parts of the school and community. Jalelah demonstrates this belief by participating in all of Webb’s events that involve spending time with her friends or going on outdoor adventures. Jalelah has gone through trials trying to find the things she enjoys, but now she can confidently say that some of her favorite things to do are swimming, Webb triathlon, and her “newfound interest,” rock climbing. If not at the pool or in the hills, Jalelah can be found at home in Atlanta, Georgia hanging out with her friends or making pizza from scratch. Jalelah looks forward to the next chapter of her life, where she will continue exploring her interests at Mercer University in Macon, GA. One day, she hopes to be a part of the process that saves lives by going into a career in emergency and natural disaster response, where she will certainly be able to use her skills of swimming and communication while doing what she loves most, connecting with and helping other people.

Jalelah’s personality compensates for her height.

— Joseph Ferrari ('22)

Have you ever seen a kid walking around campus trying to catch snakes and dressed in Travis Scott apparel from head to toe? Yes, that would be Jasper Bagley. Jasper is outgoing, athletic, and extremely passionate. Whether scoring on the soccer field or doing research about different types of snakes, Jasper always puts 100% effort into everything he does. Jasper is a go-getter and will not give up until he achieves his goals. Jasper is the best to be around in the dorm; you can always count on him for ramen and utensils, and he never fails to pass a room check. Although he is always promoting hype beast sales for his favorite used shoes that might seem sketchy, you can always trust Jasper to be sporting the newest trends, whether it be shoes, jackets, hairstyles, or jeans. As a four-year WSC varsity soccer player, he has consistently shown his experience as a striker, scoring multiple goals per season, proving an amazing athleticism that the WSC soccer team will undoubtedly miss. Jasper will be taking his hardworking, persevering attitude to St. Mary’s in the fall, with hopes of landing a spot on the Division 1 soccer team.

Jasper can be a hazard at times and come to your room blasting Kendrick and not leave until one in the morning, but he is still a lot of fun to hang around and watch funny shows with.

— David Hastings (‘22)

A self-described orange sorbet, Jaydyn Akpengbe claims to be one of the sweetest people at Webb. Matthew Gooch (‘22), said “I like orange sorbet, and I like Jay.” Although you might hear him around campus threatening to “eat” people or challenging Mr. Duque to a one-on-one basketball game, Jaydyn has a soft side. In his time as class president, Jaydyn has lifted others up and helped establish a strong sense of camaraderie among the class of ‘22. In fact, one of Jay’s favorite Webb memories is when his class won Theme Nights for the first time their sophomore year, beating the upperclassmen. Jaydyn dedicates himself to serving others. His goal to become a doctor after attending Brown University proves his commitment to making the world a better place. Clearly, Jay has the brain for this, because, as he loves to mention, he won four spelling bees at his elementary school, Water of Life. In college, Jay will miss the small, tight-knit community that he was a part of at Webb, where he was able to bond with “the boys” by playing hand tennis at lunch.

The class of 2022 pride ourselves on being a united family, and that’s in large thanks to Jay. Jay embodies camaraderie, loves school spirit, and most of all, takes pride in his community and friends.

— Nick Lee ‘22

If you have asked Jessica Huang about her most embarrassing moment, you have surely heard her giggle and say, “I triggered the fire alarm for microwaving a cookie freshman year.” The cookie was unassumingly rotating around the microwave when suddenly the fire alarm started blaring due to some mere misunderstood Japanese instructions. Jessica and her friends spent lots of time cooking and consuming many foods, but miraculously only managed to set off the fire alarm once. Jessica’s search for food drove her exploration of the village, and after three years she finally found her favorite coffee shop, “Iron and Kin.” Her love for their coffee is felt throughout her current dorm, Appleby, for she has made many residents a cup with her camping coffee maker. One of her favorite memories was celebrating her birthday with her fellow South Hutch residents where she spent it eating a giant Lady M Matcha crepe cake. From then on, she started to see Webb as a home home. Her energy spreads far in the community, including on cross-country routes and the softball field. Feeling at home so far away from her hometown Zhongshan, China, it is no surprise that Jessica’s experience at Webb has influenced her plans for the future. Jessica plans to study Education at Emory University; since education has always had a huge impact on her, she now wants to be the person that can make an impact on others. Once in Atlanta, Jessica will miss her friends, but more importantly, Poncho the cat. As far as advice to the youngins goes, Jessica asks that if you don’t understand Japanese, google translate it.

Jessica is literally a cat, she meows at everything. She goes ‘meow meow meow meow meow,’ and everything she owns has a cat on it.

— Emily Wang ('22)

Five-foot nine. 115 pounds. Kicker on the football team. Team captain of the fútbol team. Menace. Jimmie McCloud is a big man with big goals, but also someone who appreciates the little things in life. Simple pleasures like talking to his friends during the weekends, being a leader on the soccer team, or reminding his little brothers, Cameron and Scott, to keep out of trouble will always be better than loud parties or big events for someone like Mr. McCloud. He lives by the motto “treat others how you would like to be treated.” One time, during the soccer season, Jeremy Tolmochow and Nick Grobler were struggling with dribbling. Jimmie remembered the difficulty of his first soccer season at Webb and how his team helped him get on his feet. Showing his dedication to the team and his teammates, he taught them some helpful tricks on and off the field for weeks on end. Continuing with this enthusiasm, he later helped new incoming players. Through fútbol, Jimmie discovered a profound sense of responsibility and enjoyment in helping others feel the stability he was once given. To this day, Jimmie’s loquacious nature on the field and warmhearted character off the field make him a joy to be with and an easy friend to laugh with. Jimmie claims he does not want his brothers to be like him in the future, but in reality, everyone should embrace their inner Jimmie and bring out the menace!

Jimmie, although peculiar sometimes, helps me get through my days at Webb. I will miss him dearly.

— David Hastings ('22)

“I just could not make it without art,” said Jojo Jiang, who takes pride in her identity as an artist. Jojo knows what being an artist means and understands the struggle of becoming one: the cycle of destruction and reparation. While working on her art portfolio, others had accidentally destroyed one of her nearly finished works. During the fixing period, she worked nonstop without feeling tired, and her dedication paid off in the form of a masterpiece that she adores. Her passion for art is not limited to design and illustration, but also extends to a passion for music and dance. During events such as Theme Nights, the winter dance show and Jubilee, Jojo shares her passion for dancing with the Webb community as she performs on stage, radiating energy and enthusiasm. She cherishes all the moments she had with her friends at Webb and created “The Chapel Walkout Song” to celebrate the irreplicable high school journey where she witnessed the development of everyone, including herself, from teenagers to adults. The breadth of art acts not only as a source of relief, but also as a visualization of her journey in life. Next year, she will continue to explore her artist identity at Parsons School of Design.

Whenever I need someone to talk to, she will always tell me jokes to cheer me up; she will always compliment others and make others feel better about themselves. She is also very inspiring, artistic, talented and humble.

— Emily Wang ('22)

Hailing from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Jonathan Lou is Webb’s fun uncle. Just like your favorite uncle, Jonathan is not the best at making good decisions. His favorite pastime consists of buying stupid stuff, hoarding said stupid things, and further writing songs about his hoarded goods. But that’s okay, because he redeems himself for his hoarding addiction with his passions for cooking and theatre tech. And just like your favorite uncle, Jonathan cherishes the time he spends with his “kids,” both as dorm prefect and “parent” to his tightly knit group. Most of all, as Jonathan graduates, he will miss the friends he made at Webb, but looks forward to the hoarding he will do as a college student. Jonathan will be studying Urban Technology at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor in the fall.

Jonathan? Well, he’s funny, he’s talented, and he’s cool. And even if he says he isn’t, he’s cool.

— Eunice Lau ('23)

Wherever Jonathan goes, the place becomes his stage to shine. From executing 3000 damage points with a single ability in League of Legends, bringing liveliness to one Health and Living session (and dominating his classmate’s Snapchat stories) by rapping “Not Afraid” on the stage of Liu Cheung, astonishing another crowd of Webbies as he returns to Jubilee with new performances, to scoring the first goal against WSC varsity soccer’s longtime opponent St. Margaret’s, Jonathan writes his own story of heroism. Slowly, Jonathan has grown to possess the same qualities of his personal heroes, becoming as strong as Messi, as fearless as Eminem, as legendary as Uzi, and as kind-hearted as Iron Man. More than his own hero, though, Jonathan cares for those around him with his interesting, loving soul as he voices for gender equality in Humanities classes and inspires other students as a dedicated paleontology and biology scholar. In college, there is no doubt that Jonathan’s heroic story will continue—and despite challenges, the hero in him prevails.

Jonathan might seem cold on the outside, but he’s very hot on the inside. In fact, he’s also very gentle, especially to his girlfriend. As a friend, Jonathan is extremely friendly and loyal. He’s the better Yu. My favorite memory with him is playing JV soccer senior year. Jonathan is talented at many things, which include commenting. If he taught me one thing, it would be to be kind to girls.

— Tony Lin ('22)

Have you ever been blinded by bright, neon colors on a celestial body? If so, you were not looking at the sun, you were actually looking at Jordan Granda. Jordan, from his dreamy hair to his flashy clothes, is unapologetically himself. Jordan proudly laughs with his friends until he cannot breathe, he courageously is the human meat shield for his friends on Fortnite, and he is always open to saying what is on his mind without being bothered by other people’s opinions. For example, when asked what his future plans were, he said one of the biggest things on his bucket list was to simply go skiing. His carefree nature is reflected in his work as head peer advisor and golf club goon. Whether he is comforting new students at new student orientation — his favorite Webb event — or striking up conversation with the opposing team during a golf game, Jordan is never afraid to be himself. When Jordan leaves Webb, he says he will miss the people the most. Jordan has decided to major in Industrial Labor Relationships at Cornell University. In New York, he hopes he can fulfill his dream and finally go skiing.

Even though Jordan was injured for half the season, he always showed up when it mattered.

— William Li ('22)

When asked where he is from, Joseph Ferrari replied, “The fifth dimension” and this is not too far from the truth. In actuality, Joseph was born in the Los Angeles area and has spent most of his life here in Claremont, California. Around campus, Joseph is known for his witty comments and being one of Webb’s only pole vaulters. Joseph is an unparalleled Star Wars fan here on campus and is President of the Star Wars Club. He is also an avid paleontology student and some of his favorite memories at Webb have come from his time in the Paleontology Program. Joseph enjoys paleontology for the people involved and the research opportunities it provides. When not searching for new species in the Wyoming wilderness Joseph spends time with his friends playing Dungeons and Dragons and discussing the finer points of intergalactic hyperspace routes in a galaxy far far away. Joseph is always involved in Theme Nights and was an integral behind-the-scenes operator in each of the three senior theme night victories, involved in both writing scripts for, and the production of, the theme night performances. Joseph did not have a normal reading list as a child, he grew up reading Steven Hawkings Brief History of Time and other “science books.” In turn, Joseph will be spending his college years in Chicago, studying Astrophysics at the University of Chicago. Joseph is not sure what aspect of Webb he will miss more the community or the climate, as Chicago is known for its frigid winter temperatures.

Joseph is like Dwight Shrute from the office.

— Nathan Choi ('22)

Josephine Burdekin is always trying to make the world a better place, whether by starting difficult yet necessary conversations in Mr. Calvert’s African Ideologies & Revolutions class, being the chair of the honor committee, telling jokes and laughing with all her friends, or helping her team dominate on the volleyball court. On the weekends, Josephine loves learning new dance moves and shocking all her friends with her clean movements, or gliding on the ice whilst performing tricks that only an experienced figure skater like herself could pull off. With that being said, it is no surprise that Josephine’s favorite Webb memory was her sophomore year Homecoming. Josephine has continued laughing with friends on the senior bench and is excited to chill out and stop trying to fit in molds other people are creating beyond high school. Attending Yale University in the fall, Josephine will soon transition from being a Webbie to a Bulldog. Although her favorite class at Webb was Advanced Studies Fascism with Mr. Huerta, she plans on majoring in either Molecular Biology or Biochemical Engineering after coming to realize that she enjoys stem-based courses.

Josephine comes off as super quiet and intense, but once you get close to her, she quickly reveals her goofy personality through her obsession with squishmallows and random animal doodles.

— Emma Holliday ('22)

Josie Chow is like an alarm clock. She plays three instruments: ukulele, oboe, and flute. She knows two languages: Chinese and English. She will also miss one thing when she leaves Webb: the community. ERR! ERR! ERR! Wake up! Every morning, Josie goes to the dining hall and talks to some of her “sisters”: Yvonne, Sofia, and Leslie. She then skips and hops over to her favorite class, AP Calculus BC. However, Josie is, in fact, human and thinks Calc BC is actually very difficult, but it is her favorite class regardless because, according to her, writing weird symbols makes you look smart. Josie describes herself as determined, laidback, and humble. She is determined; every afternoon, Josie goes up to open gym for her favorite activity, functional fitness. She loves self-improvement and even went on a huge self-development journey throughout her time at Webb. She is laidback; during her Webb experience, Josie transformed from the stressed-out, perfectionist she was her freshman year to a more relaxed and easygoing senior. Finally, she is humble; when asked where she sees herself in 5 years, Josie refused to answer because she “simply did not want to jinx herself.” Josie is excited to be attending UC Berkeley and plans to study Molecular and Cellular Biology to become a zoologist. Every evening, Josie reads a good book, like her favorite, The Fault in Her Stars by John Green, but also reflects on her day and her future at college. Hopefully, Josie wishes that she can find new “sisters” at Berkeley while staying connected with her old ones. Until then, good night, Josie.

Even though I knew her for only two years, Josie reminds me of my mom… A cool mom!

— Yvonne Kan ('22)

After debuting his secret DJ skills at the 2021 Welcome Back Dance this school year, Kalman Dong has continued to show his secret talents at Webb. One of his not-so-secret talents is his basketball skills. Kalman has been on the WSC varsity basketball team for the past three years, being a captain every year. His school spirit is not only shown through his time in the athletic department but also as an admissions fellow and a dorm prefect. Some of Kalman’s fondest memories include performing during Webb Idol, spending time with his friends in the dorms, open gym, and going off-campus to grub on a variety of food ranging from sushi to wings. Kalman has always had a passion for learning. Mr. Choi, Dr. Lauer, and Mr. Calvert are his favorite teachers on campus because of how engaging they make their classrooms. Kalman plans on bringing his excitement for learning to New York University where he intends on majoring in Political Science; the way that government and policies affect corporations and everyday people has always intrigued him. In five years, he predicts himself to be either working for a sports agency or attending law school.

Kalman reminds me of Superman because he’s a very strong guy and very robust and driven when it comes to his goals. Since Kalman is older than me he has been like an older brother for me this past year.

— Sam Zeiden '23

It comes as no surprise when the name “Kevin Ren” makes yet another appearance on the Webb Athletic Record Board. When asked about his legacy at Webb, those three words cannot be more accurate in capturing his impact. Yet, Kevin cannot merely be reduced to numbers on a scoreboard—he simply has so much more to show. If you saw him tackling Nick Lee (‘22) for a half-eaten muffin or plowing through five plates of food at a KBBQ restaurant, you would know that Kevin is truly a formidable force. His drive and power allow him to excel and propel himself forward, both inside and outside the pool. Not only is he a CIF winning, champion breaststroke swimmer, but he is also Webb’s champion arm wrestler with an undefeated record, a motivational speaker during swim meets, and one of the “buffest nerds” his friends have ever met. Whether you know him by Revin Ken, Bevin Ren, Ken Ren, or the guy who plays Pokémon Showdown outside of class, Kevin’s influence extends to the entire Webb community, encouraging and inspiring others to act with the same passion and authenticity as he does. For the next four years, Kevin seeks to explore his passion for biology and helping others, diving into Biomechanical Engineering at Dartmouth College and continuing to bring his best to the swim team.

Kevin’s like a Dorito: triangular, spicy, and just a little cheesy, but he’s also always a great pick-me-up.

— Nick Lee ('22)

If you were to hear laughter and bursts of enthusiasm around the campus, there is a 99.9% chance that Kiera and her friends are in the house! There are three words to describe Kiera: quirky, unique, and genuine. The quirky Kiera would wake up at 6 a.m. to slide down Gym Hill using ziggles and scooters on a typical school day, would throw fake blood on old school uniforms to prepare for the haunted tour, and blast Christmas music during Halloween with her friends. These Webb moments have been embedded in her mind as blissful core memories. The unique Kiera values authenticity. Like her favorite quote, “If I cannot bend the heavens above, I will move Hell” by Virgil, Kiera will pave her way to success and express her individuality. Growing up in Indonesia, where spirituality pervades culture, her pathway is full of insightful thoughts and knowledge of cultism, religious studies, and mental health. Lastly, you cannot miss out on the genuine Kiera, for she is charismatic in an affectionate way. Not only does Kiera constantly remind herself to be grateful for all the support she has here at Webb as an admission fellow, but she also thrives as a dorm prefect that underclassmen can look up to. Kiera is ready to continue her path at UC Davis as a quirky friend, a passionate Psychology student, and a genuine leader.

She is always there for you no matter what; she’ll always help you no matter what you need; she genuinely cares about what you have to say; she is good at guiding you and not just telling you the answer.

— Mick Adkins ('23)

Have you ever met a person whose “IQ seemingly drops” while in the presence of a large body of water? If not, then make no mistake: these are the traits of a Koki Mashita. However, these dynamic characteristics are not all he is known for; Koki’s friends also know him as a remarkably compassionate and grounded person who has a solid understanding of himself and his academic interests. Koki’s interests include investing, the studying of blockchains, venture capital, and cryptocurrencies; he believes these topics are going to have a secure role in the future, which is why he will be studying these subjects at UC Berkeley next year. Aside from researching stocks, Koki enjoys all sport-related activities like water polo, volleyball, and Webb Day dodgeball competitions. If it is not cryptos or sports that are occupying Koki’s mind, then it is definitely his Webb friendships. One of Koki’s earliest memories of making friends at Webb goes back to freshman year when a snake managed to find its way into his room. After persevering through the chaos of Jasper Bagley’s frantic screams, Koki became better acquainted with his dorm, and his friendships subsequently became stronger. Even though Koki is sure to miss the tight-knit community at Webb, there is no doubt the mark left by Koki’s presence will live on through the people he has impacted and the friendships he has made.

I don’t think there is a single person that doesn’t like Koki. He is an integral part of the Webb community and everyone feels safe around him; I think that any person would feel grateful to have him as a friend or teammate.

— Jordan Granda ('22)

As she takes home the title of valedictorian, you might think Laura Li spends all day in her room studying, but her life is quite the opposite. Laura Li stays true to her personal value of living life to the fullest and does not worry too much about small assignments. Whether it be her spontaneous trips to Santa Barbara, a day at the beach with her friends, or being out in the city at night, Laura is not afraid to have fun. This free spirit of hers could be fueled by her diverse background; her ethnicity is Chinese, yet she was born in Saudi Arabia and grew up in Canada. Because of her experience with many cultures, Laura calls many places home, but she has found another here at Webb. She is going to miss breezing through Webb, exploring the campus, and just chilling with her friends. The paleontology program will be at the top of the list when it comes to things she will miss about Webb. Throughout the years, she fell in love with the Alf Museum and the hands-on research opportunities she excitedly took part in. Next year, Laura will continue seeking spontaneous adventures at Rice University, where she will be majoring in Business or Pre-Medicine.

Since Laura and I are boarders, it is great to have someone like her in the dorms who is spontaneous and always fun to be around.

— Rachel Hong ('22)

“Stoppp!” Her voice raises, and immediately you know Leeann Shu is in the room. Besides her 5’10 height, extremely long legs, and her dominating presence on the basketball court, Leeann’s easily recognizable voice, along with her unfettered humor truly defines her. A California native, Leeann embodies every quality of a true leader, whether that takes form as a day student prefect, Copy Editor of The Webb Canyon Chronicle, admission fellow, or senior editor of the yearbook. If she is not spending time with friends at the Claremont Village, you can catch Leeann watching events like Webb Night or Jubilee on the weekends. But Leeann is more than a simple spectator. As the star of her own show, she never forgets to challenge herself in classes like Advanced Studies Experimental Physics, as she slowly works towards the goal of increasing healthcare equity around the world. Guided by the motto that “I may not be there yet, but I’m closer than I was yesterday,” Leeann will pursue Biochemistry at UCSD and looks forward to becoming a doctor or pharmacist. Next time you hear Leeann’s voice, it will no longer be shouting with her sister, Yvette, but speaking eloquently at world-renowned health organizations and conferences.

Leeann is the most chill out of the chaotic that you will ever meet. She is the kind of person that you can make eye contact with and start laughing. I loved roasting each other in journalism about our experiences in varsity basketball, where it got really intense and loved driving with her and being so scared. She reminds me of Candance Flynn, because of how funny, curious, and chaotic she is. Even if she is not the protagonist, she carries the show.

— Bianca Arteaga ('22)

Eyes closed, head back, and legs stretched out to their full extent, a sleeping Leslie Huh leaves her trace in every corner around campus. However, Leslie needs these moments of sleep because she is active every other minute outside of the classroom. Whether she is yelling lyrics of a new K-pop song in the dining hall, forgetting to take out her earbuds during her swim meet, or leading discussions during Honor Cabinet meetings, Leslie has made her distinct mark on the Webb community. Leslie has truly found a home where she not only sleeps but uses every opportunity the school gives her to learn more about herself, such as finding friends who share her love of shows like Jujutsu Kaisen or joining technology programs at Webb like the computer science course with Harvey Mudd. Even outside of Webb, Leslie can’t catch a break; she drives her friends around LA, picks up delicious Asian food, and takes everyone to John Mulaney’s live performances. Leslie will continue to discover new things about herself and pursue a job in technology when she joins the computer science program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, but let’s hope Leslie runs on more than three hours of sleep as she takes her first steps beyond high school.

Life with Leslie is like honey in lemon tea: She makes everything so much more sweet and magical. You can’t live without her.

— Celine Lau ('22)

Leslie Morales has no shame in expressing her obsession with the Shrek movies. During her freshman year, she was known for always wearing a green shirt that was often associated with the infamous green ogre. Leslie recalls one of her favorite memories at Webb being “Shrek night,” where she and her friends went go to the Hooper balcony and binged all the movies in the franchise. In these moments, her closest friends would describe her as talkative, energetic, and unapologetically herself, just like Shrek. Aside from having the wittiest remarks, Leslie’s friends say she never fails to make them feel appreciated, and on top of that, she gives the best hugs. As a dorm prefect and an admission ambassador, Leslie’s caring persona succeeds in making both younger and older Webbies feel welcomed. When Josie Chow (‘22) came to Webb as a transfer student in her junior year, Leslie was the first to reach out and make her feel like she belonged in the community. Additionally, as someone who has been on Webb’s cross country team for the last four years, Leslie carries her energetic character onto the track. Naturally, her favorite event is Zombie Apocalypse, where she enjoys the thrill of being chased by her peers. Although she will be starting her college education in Massachusetts, Leslie will miss dorm life in Jones. Passionate about sociology and political science, she plans to study at Wellesley College, where she hopefully will continue to share her enthusiasm for Shrek with the new friends that she will make in the East Coast.

Leslie is a beautiful mess of contradictions. When you think you have figured her out, she hits you with the unexpected.

— Sofia Centeno ('22)

Hailing from Redlands, California, Logan Causley has roots that run deep in Australian and Sicilian culture, a definitive part of his charisma and identity. With immigration being a part of his family’s history, Logan is looking to explore foreign affairs when he attends American University in Washington DC next fall. Within the Webb community, he is unmistakable in his cowboy hat and boots in the field during paleontology digs. In between classes, you can hear his classic Aussie accent impression as it booms across Webb’s campus. His interest in paleontology first motivated him to begin his path to Webb, having taken paleontology courses on campus in the summers before his freshman year. He has since worked closely with the Ray Alf Musem. As a tri-sport athlete dominating water polo, triathlon, and swim, Logan’s competitiveness is not to be overlooked either. Logan has also found success as a PA this year, working in a mentorship role by helping younger students adjust to Webb with his boundless compassion. Logan’s peers look up to him as a well-rounded leader in the dorms and in the pool lanes, something that Logan takes pride in as he strives to serve others within a community as much as possible.

I first met him at Webb’s summer school. I showed up to class, and already there was this short little guy who was leading the team and taking all of us to the science lab. He’s an interesting guy, full of passion and emotions.

— Hank Sun ('22)

When you spot a wild Madeline Lilley on campus, she is most likely carrying a pink speedo swim bag and heading to the pool, her natural habitat. The transformations then happen quickly: day clothes off, swimsuit on—of course, can’t forget the essential cap and goggles—and voila! Madeline has shifted from a Head Day Student Perfect to water polo and swim captain, commanding the water with her effortless butterfly strokes. Aside from winning league championships and dominating the record board, this talented athlete also engages in a variety of other activities during her free time; Madeline enjoys spending time with her friends, driving around her hometown Claremont, or hanging out in the village. When staying at home, she bonds with her family and naps to recover from weekday academic stress. Madeline enjoys her studies, notably public policy and the political sphere, and her passion to change national injustices prompted her to study political science at the University of Southern California next fall. She will miss watching Euphoria with her friends and Jaydyn’s squeaky feet whenever he walks. Meanwhile, the Webb pool, her natural habitat, won’t feel the same without Madeline’s energy and leadership during the past four years.

She is the same everywhere. Inside the classroom she is passionate and driven, and that translates outside the classroom into swim and how much she likes to hang out with friends. What you see is pretty much what you are going to get with Madeline. She’s not going to change for anybody.

— Isabella Llorens ('22)

Marie Blake is a go-getter and the ultimate athlete. In the winter season, she is the captain of the VWS varsity basketball team, and in the spring she runs track and plays softball at the same time. Since freshman year, Marie has dominated the court and proved herself a valuable player on every team she plays for. She is one of the few members of the basketball team who plays the entire game, and can always be counted on to lead by example. Marie is also a force to be reckoned with off the court. As vice president for the senior class, she rallies the class of ‘22 together to help them win events like Theme Nights and Webb Day. She loves her friends and is someone who goes from making you cry with laughter to being your fiercest defender. During her free time, Marie can be spotted lounging on Jameson beach with friends, or watching Coco for the 500th time. Next year, Marie will leave sunny California and spend her first semester at NYU’s London campus, delving into the liberal studies program.

She has a very strong presence. That’s the impact that she has. Making it known that she is here, and in this space. When she leaves it will definitely be felt.

— Hunter Lange (‘22)

A coffee fanatic, Mariia Lykhtar is your go-to person when searching for coffee recommendations. You can typically find her brewing a refreshing iced cappuccino on a warm day with Jaden Smith or Teo playing in the background. She is the perfect person to go to for fashion advice, constantly binging Hautelemode’s fashion critique videos. However, Mariia has also worked hard at Webb, serving on the chapel council and as co-captain of the varsity tennis team. Mariia’s favorite Webb memory was watching Jubilee freshman year as she was able to spend time with friends and watch classmates perform. She plans on studying film in college and says that in-depth conversations with Webb teachers dissecting movies helped her realize that this was her true passion. As of now, one of her favorite movies is V for Vendetta and a show that helped her get through a challenging sophomore year is Gilmore Girls. Mariia will be attending Emerson College next year and is excited to have more freedom to explore other passions outside of Webb.

My favorite thing about ‘Marsha’ is that she’s unapologetically herself, always down for an adventure or two, and is always wearing the coolest outfits.

— Marie Blake ('22)

As a 6’4’’ redhead, Matthew Gooch is hard to miss, not only because of his stature, but also because of his energy that radiates throughout campus. Gooch is described as a human teddy bear because of his friendly personality, a trait that has made him a perfect peer advisor over the past two years. As a head peer advisor, and captain of both the varsity water polo and wrestling team, Gooch is a true leader and embodies what it means to have school spirit. A piece of advice he would give his freshman self would be to attend more school events, as some of his favorite Webb memories were weekend events, like Jubilee and Zombie Apocalypse. Not only will Gooch miss Webb’s events, but he will also miss the thought-provoking conversations with the Webb community. With a penchant for conversation, he is the co-creator of the “Let’s Talk” club, where they created a safe space for group discussions on controversial topics. Gooch enjoyed Mr. Brian Rogers’ discussion-based The American Idea class where he first heard his favorite quote by William Carlos Williams which reads, “So much depends upon the red wheelbarrow glazed with rainwater besides the white chickens.” It is one of his favorites because it reminds him of Mr. Rogers and the impact he had on his life. Gooch plans on taking the many lessons he learned from Webb to Bentley University where he plans on majoring in Business.

It’s very hard to miss Gooch because he is a 6’4’’ red-head, but somehow his personality is bigger than him. He’s like the friendly green giant that smiles and gives you raisins.

— Nick Lee ('22)

At a mighty height of 5’2”, Mia Baldwin might be small but do not let her stature fool you. Known for being the biggest ball of bubbly energy you can find, Mia brings a comforting presence to the Webb community She gladly accepts the title of being the stereotypical “granola girl” as she thoroughly enjoys immersing herself in nature through drawing, hikes, and trips to the beach with her friends. Mia lives by the quote, “being embarrassed is a choice,” and thus is always unapologetically herself. She is not afraid to dance like nobody’s watching, which she always does at one of her favorite events at Webb: the back-to-school dance. Another favorite of Mia’s is Theme Nights, where she screams as loud as she can from the bleachers. If Mia is not showing the most school spirit, she is on the volleyball court playing for the VWS varsity volleyball team as their captain, or maybe you will find her helping to pave paths for new students as a peer advisor. Mia is excited to make new connections at college next year but will never forget the irreplaceable friendships that she has made at Webb. As scary as leaving the comfort of the Webb community is, Mia invites the new change of scenery that she will encounter next year at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo where she will be majoring in Communications. Although Mia is excited to realize her fantasy of owning a little greenhouse in a nice rural neighborhood with a hot boyfriend, preferably Robert Downey Jr., she will never forget the Webb community and it will never forget her exuberant spirit either.

I would like to consider Mia as like a school mascot she always kind of has a pep in her step, is always running around to different groups saying random stuff. She makes everyone happy, she is a goofy goober.

— Sophia Bachoura (‘22) and Eva Paniagua (‘22)

If you have ever seen a wandering camera at orientation or been stopped to get posted on @webbstugov ‘s Instagram for “fit check Fridays”, then you most likely have seen Mikey Chai. Known for rocking GOLF from head to toe along with a reliable pair of Dickies, you can always count on Mikey to make you a playlist full of “Slow Jamz” and songs from his favorite artist: Kanye West. In his free time, Mikey loves playing music with his band Orange Juice at events like the DSP socials and Jubilee. He also enjoys trips to the beach with friends and going to the gym after packing in a scoop of creatine. Music is a huge part of Mikey’s life as he knows how to play three different instruments: piano, guitar, and drums. Aside from his artistic side, Mikey thoroughly enjoys learning more about Web 3.0 and cryptocurrency. He enjoys talking to one of his favorite teachers, Mr. Kays, who teaches him about the cryptocurrency world. Mikey is excited about beginning the new chapter of his life; however, he will miss his golden retriever Daisy when he moves away from all the “Real Friends” he has made at Webb. As Mikey awaits “Graduation Day,” he will reminisce about his favorite Webb memories, like playing on the WSC varsity basketball team and participating in Theme Week where he was able to show the utmost “School Spirit.” Hopefully Mikey’s absence does not leave Webb a “Ghost Town” as he is “Bound 2” succeed in studying Music Business at the University of Southern California next year.

When you are around him you aren’t afraid to be whoever you want to be. Mikey is such a genuine guy who gives you the space to be who you are and that’s something that you don’t really find often.

— Richard Alrachid ('22)

Have you ever walked through Chandler field during the weekend and seen two girls sitting together with their boba drinks? That is Nancy Li and Haley Colorado enjoying their time together and taking a break from the busy academic schedule. Nancy is there for her friends, always encouraging and telling them that they can do it. In Nancy’s academic career, she benefits from the understanding and approachable faculty members who motivate her to achieve her best. Nancy feels this loving atmosphere especially during Theme Week. She prizes the class spirit and how everyone shares props and customs. When asked “do you want to borrow mine?”, everyone is always ready to support one another, and no one is left out of the community. Being a part of this community, she also loves helping others. She shows her warmth during community service activities, especially when walking dogs for the local community — her enthusiasm for aiding dogs and their owners never wanes. As an admission ambassador, she is proud to share how she has benefited from an inclusive community. Next year, as she steps into Northeastern University to study combined Business and Economics, she will miss being in a small but close community.

In the classroom, she might seem quiet, but when you know her very well, you know that she is very outgoing, curious and weird in the best way. She is someone that you are comfortable hanging out with.

— Haley Colorado ('22)

If you are ever in Fawcett Library and look in Study Room 3, you will likely see Nathan Choi discussing differing topics, talking about video games one moment, and more serious issues such as the U.S. border the next. Nathan’s interests are varied and reflected in his extracurriculars. He has been a part of the paleontology program and has gone on multiple peccary trips. Nathan enjoys other fields of science as well, aside from peccary trips. His fondest memory at Webb was creating a rap about mitosis in ninth grade. Nathan’s interests are not limited to the sciences, however. He enjoys video games and the humanities, but also language classes like AP Chinese. He plays games such as Rainbow Six Siege and Tetris and watches films such as The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya. Nathan is also an athlete who plays volleyball, where he is the libero for the varsity WSC team. Due to his multiple areas of interest, Nathan has not chosen a focus for his studies but hopes to find it in the future by participating in internships to figure out what he is passionate about. Next year, instead of studying in Room 3 of the library, Nathan will pursue an array of passions at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts.

Nathan is like Michael [from The Office]. He’s smart but he goofs around.

— Gerry Song ('22)

Nathan Lara has a unique sense of humor, which he often shares with his friends and those around him. He jokes about various subjects such as current events. “wǒ hěn xǐhuān BING CHILLING” is a quote that Nathan strives to live by. While his humor is prominent, Nathan has many interests, ranging from science to music. He has a strong interest in history, as his favorite classes at Webb are Latin America in the 20th Century and Advanced Studies The Cold War Era. He found the depth of the content intriguing, and he thought the literature was substantial. In his free time, Nathan expands his interests to playing video games such as Super Smash Brothers and enjoys writing music for the piano. When Nathan is not participating in his hobbies, he attends various Webb events Such as Casino Night and Webb Night, where everyone can bond by playing various games. Nathan will miss the friends he made along the way when he leaves Webb. He will go on to bring his sense of humor and his passions to UC Irvine.

He always has something funny [or witty] to say. He always makes people laugh.

— Jalelah Johnson ('22)

If you see a ball of yarn rolling around campus, chances are that Nichola Monroe is knitting her latest creation. Originally from Basel, Switzerland, Nichola is day-by-day encouraging other students at Webb to knit after her success of getting Sharon Xu into knitting. This created a chain of all of Nichola’s other friends picking up this activity. As for other hobbies, Nichola likes to unwind and go outdoors to rock climb. A part of Webb that Nichola will not have at college is knowing the community and having a great perspective of all the shortcuts on campus. Mr. Kalter, who has guided her through Webb rock climbing events, and Ms. Brosh, who teaches Advanced Studies Modernism and Honors Women Writers, are her favorite teachers at Webb. While AP Calculus AB is not her favorite class, she still finds ways to enjoy it. Her favorite memory at Webb was during her Unbounded trip to Joshua Tree when she got to use the walkie talkie to tell Mr. Kalter jokes. Next year, Nichola will be taking a gap year, so she can do more of what she loves, which is exploring. However, she will be attending Scripps College in the fall of 2023 where she will explore her interests in Environmental Analysis and English.

Out of my friends Nichola has always been the most stable and grounding, so when I need advice that is mature and direct, I go to Nichola because she is always there.

— Gaby Trautmansdorff-Weinsberg ('22)

Nick Lee is a gentle giant in many ways. His voice carries not only across the quad but also across the entire community; Nick is a frequent attendee of both Empowering Student Voices Initiative meetings and City Council sessions. Nick’s loud voice and his impressive stature both contribute to his athletic prowess as a water polo player and a swimmer. During his off––season, he trades the competition and aggression of water sports for the peacefulness and compassion of community service. From his time working with Mr. Choi both in the classroom and during community service, Nick learned how to integrate his learning with the community by applying the skills he gained from Webb to benefit his neighborhood. In his classes, Nick loves studying the history of his home state, whether that means digging up fossils in Barstow in Advanced Studies Paleontology or learning about the Tovaangar people native to Los Angeles in Advanced Studies LA Literary Culture. While he remains a California boy at heart, Nick will attend Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island to study Education and Urban Agriculture.

Nick’s whole persona is that he’s so responsible… but you should never let him get behind the wheel of any vehicle. He’s crashed a car, crashed a boat, crashed a bike; any type of vehicle he gets onto he crashes.

— Matthew Gooch ('22)

Playing with electrical toys brought home by his father opened up the world of 0’s and 1’s to young Nicholas Theobald; this passion for coding would come to influence his choices in school as well as his aspirations for the future. Coding is an important part of Nick’s life, but it is not the only thing defines him. He also cares for the tight knit and supportive community at Webb, visible through his role as head prefect and captain of both the WSC cross country and volleyball teams. One of his fondest memories is spending the night at Catalina Island with the cross country team. Outside of school, Nick listens to his favorite musician Ben Howard, works on personal computer science projects, and also photographs the Bay Area. Next year, Nick will be traveling far from California to study Computer Science at Bucknell University or venture across the pond to a university in England.

Nick is the most down to earth person you will ever meet. He’s a great person and an amazing friend.

— Dylan Lange ('22)

With the heart of SpongeBob, the brains of Sandy, and the personality of Squidward, Nikhil is the real star of the pineapple. In addition to being a head day student prefect and big Seahawks fan, Nikhil also plays basketball and is intelligent, harkening to his Sandy side. His favorite part about basketball is coach Michael Dunford’s life lessons that he shares. Although Dunford may yell at his players he yells at them out of love. He loves each one of his players like his own children. Nikhil remembers his freshman year when Kevin Ren beat Matt Martinez at Webb Night in arm wrestling. This was one of his favorite memories at Webb because of how much he was jumping up and down, causing his phone to actually fall out of his pocket from the excitement close to how Plankton always drop the formula. He also enjoys Theme Nights because it brings the entire class together, especially his class of 2022, just like how united the characters are in Bikini Bottom. Nikhil also enjoys the intense environment created by the class rivalries just like Mr. Krabs and Plankton. Nikhil will be attending Case Western Reserve University this fall studying computer science similar to Sandy.

Nikhil is a little weird, but everything about him is super caring and he will do everything to the extreme to make people happy.

— Nick Lee ('22)

A true cat person, Nina Luo is deeply curious, unconventional, and loves cats, except that she has to share her love with all 11 of them, kittens included. Besides cats and dogs, Nina’s big heart adores all the lovely things, from the melodic flute she plays, to the anime characters that she admires, and even to the late-night Genshin Impact games that occasionally distract her from doing homework. However, Nina always gets things done and never fails to surprise those around her with the countless talents that she unintentionally discloses. For example, at softball practice, while every member of the softball team was watching her, Nina successfully caught the ball so everyone could leave practice early. Even though she stays indoors most of the time, she is proud to have survived two varsity tennis seasons without fainting. She goes home to Arcadia every weekend, but you can always count on her to drive back to introduce Sunday Chapel speakers. Bringing many gifts with her — spanning from music, visual arts, to e-sports — Nina will remind herself of her favorite motto “carpe diem” she she joins the University of Washington. There, Nina will begin a new journey patting more cats and doggos, and surprising more of her friends with all that she is capable of along the way, while always remembering to seize the day.

Nina is my third roommate. She would let me nap on her bed and put a million scrunchies on her hair just so I can be happy. That’s the kind of person Nina is: she is a chill and loving behind-the-scene mother. When Nina says ‘child’ and mildly attacks you, that means you are like a sister to her. Nina is the least judgmental person you will ever meet. You can high five a piece of string cheese, and she would think you’re the most amazing person you’ll ever meet.

— Bianca Arteaga ('22)

A country girl at heart, Paige West is well known for her spirited charm. Her friends describe her as independent, reliable, and empathetic, thanks to her ability to give great advice and make the best of every situation. The day Webb closed due to COVID-19 was dreary, and Paige and her friends had the best idea to go down to Chandler Field and go puddle sliding in the rain. Paige’s idea made this scary moment one of the most important and lasting ones that they were able to take with them. Logan Causley (‘22) described her the best, “By being herself, [Paige] left the biggest impact. I think it is important to have strong individual personalities in a community, and she contributes to that.” She has influenced people close to her in some of the best ways possible. Paige will be taking her bubbly self to the University of Arkansas, where she is excited to double major in Business and Economics and double minor in Spanish and Marketing. She will miss her horse, family, and friends the most, but as her favorite quote says, “You’re exactly where you’re meant to be.” We know that wherever life takes her, Paige will shine like gold.

She has been my day one person. I have gone through a lot of tough times with her and I’ve become her “therapist” we help each other through everything.

— Logan Causley ('22)

While the first things you may notice about Pierre are his slightly squinted eyes or long bangs, his unique sense of humor never fails to stir a wave of infectious laughter across the room. Born and raised in Shenzhen, China, Pierre came to Webb as a fluent French speaker, talented musician, and brilliant mathematician. Rather than priding himself on his accomplishments, however, he utilized his skills to better the Webb community in various ways, from leading the WSC junior varsity tennis team to teaching Mr. Caldwell to play the piano. Pierre’s fervent poetry discussions with Mr. Hansen were a hallmark of Humanities office hours, and his rich, confident blows on the French horn will echo Liu Cheung for years to come. Despite Pierre’s heartfelt advice towards his freshman self to attend classes on time, his senior year still harbored quite a few instances of waking up to Ms. Jeantete’s knock in the morning. And although Mr. Dahler still has not forgiven him for missing his Linear Algebra class homework, Pierre’s love for math and computer science will lead him to delve deeper into these subjects at Wake Forest University. As he heads off to college, Pierre will miss the late night study sessions accompanied by the song, “烟花易冷,” and playing League of Legends with his truly incomparable group of close friends. But who knows, Pierre jokes, at least colleges don’t have check-ins and lights out

Pierre is a very positive friend to have; he is generous in sharing, incredibly funny, smart, and highly dependable. His jokes always add vibrancy to the community.

— Andy Bi ('22)

There are few seniors that would cheerfully tutor a sophomore for the PSAT when they have a long paper due the very next day, and Rachel Bai is one of them. Despite her relatively tiny frame, Rachel’s boundless creativity and generosity exemplify the perfect qualities of a leader. Whether as badminton or robotics captain, Rachel’s genuine question, “How are you doing today?” never fails to radiate positive energy to those around her. If not found helping fellow students in math lab, mentoring lowerclassmen in robotics, or teaching badminton tactics to novel players, Rachel is usually brainstorming new ideas to change the world for the better. Her personal notebook contains anything from the design of a sustainable passive cooling system, how to construct a device to track sleep quality, to her daily philosophical ponderings related to Albert Camus’s ideas. Along with her academic pursuits, Rachel’s time at Webb includes many lighthearted moments, such as losing all her money during her first poker game at Webb’s casino night, obsessively watching the anime Sailor Moon during her junior year, and adopting a pretentious air during Advanced Studies Existentialism and the Human Condition course. Although most people only have the energy to focus on a single discipline, Rachel’s natural curiosity for computer science engineering and philosophy have led her to explore both subjects at great lengths. As Rachel ventures off to UC Berkeley next year, she will continue to be diligent in her studies while also remembering to take care of herself in her quest of helping others.

Rachel teaches me new things every day, from agriculture, baking, to how to maneuver a new video game. She is also incredibly smart and welcoming — the senior that everyone would go to.

— Elizabeth Bowman (‘22)

As a VWS head dorm prefect and the responsible one of her friend group, Rachel Hong not only guides lost freshmen, but she also guides her friends who commend her for her rational and coordinated nature. Although her friends love to tease her from time to time, they also make sure to acknowledge the genuine kindness Rachel exudes for others. Whether it is bonding with the elderly at the nursing home, introducing prospective students to Webb as an admissions fellow, or shelling out some solid life advice to her friends, Rachel will be there for you because she cares. She is also not afraid to explore, seeking spontaneity and new opportunities to take on. In doing so, she has found a home in Webb’s theatre tech program, executing the behind-the-scenes production with excitement as stage manager. While she may not miss the time her IPC experiment kept growing mold, Rachel will miss her memories of grabbing her favorite lychee black tea boba with her friends, cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway, or romanticizing her life by watching juicy reality TV shows like Selling Sunset or The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills with Laura Li. After Webb, Rachel plans to study Human Biology at Pitzer College and eventually plans to go to medical school with a focus on helping the elderly through her efforts. Once you get to know Rachel, you realize she is a one-of-a-kind soul who will be always by your side, ready to explore the best things life can offer.

Rachel always motivates and brings out the strengths in me. She never fails to make me laugh, and she is literally my ride or die.

— Laura Li ('22)

If you were with Richard Alrachid recently, you would have heard the story of how he smashed an avocado into his friend’s shirt, then rolled onto the floor, uncontrollably laughing. Immediately after, he cleaned up the mess, giggling quietly as he scooped up the avocado. Although this story sounds peculiar, it reflects Richard’s humorous but caring nature. He is fun to be around when helping his volleyball teammates improve serves, driving his friends to early morning hikes, leading the community through his role as co-head of the honor committee, and consistently making everyone laugh until their stomachs hurt. However, he also encourages everyone to be the best version of themselves by setting a unique example. When Richard runs out of energy drinks at 2 a.m., he begins chewing coffee beans to push through the last of his long papers. He has found a way to balance his exciting social life with his meticulous care for every assignment he submits. Richard fights things head-on, powering through all the challenges he sets for himself and continuing with a lively skip in his step. His amazing perseverance inspires others to put in their best effort, hoping to be just as successful as Richard one day. Richard will be taking his success to UC Berkeley in the fall, where he will major in Political Science, and one day become “the best corporate lawyer to ever walk the face of the earth.” By then, we hope he is not smashing avocados into his client’s backs.

If Richard was any animal, he’d be a hamster. Richard working is like the hamster running on the wheel: nonstop, continuous effort. But Richard also knows how to take breaks and enjoy the snacks on the side of his cage. If I was his hamster friend, I’d be the happiest hamster in the world.

— Xander Kong ('22)

Roy Zhang can often be found behind tables. If you look behind the sound technology table at any given Webb event, chances are you will see Roy there. Most recently, you might have seen him behind the audio table at Jubilee, working his magic on laptops and microphones. In general, Roy is known for his music, whether he’s scheduling Chapel Council musicians or performing at Webb Idol himself. Although many of his roles in the community connect to music, Roy is also very involved in the international student liaison leadership program. You have probably seen him behind many tables in front of lines of students waiting for an ISL treat. Aside from giving out snacks, Roy also enjoys helping incoming international students adjust to the new environment and seeing them grow more comfortable with the Webb campus. When Roy is not leading events, you may find Roy behind a very different table: a dinner table. Roy loves to eat with his friends on the weekends, where some of his favorite memories include introducing Matthew Gooch to new foods like pig intestine and crawfish, as well as taking him to Korean Barbeque for the first time. In the future, although Roy will miss these weekends of eating, he looks forwards to attending Vanderbilt University to study Anthropology. He plans on going to graduate school, and then heading back home to Bejing, China or leaving the states for someplace new. Whatever he decides to do, Roy will carry his memories of many tables and friends from Webb with him into his future.

He’s the only person I know who’s accidentally ordered 800 dollars worth of food.

— Matthew Gooch ('22)

Coming from Claremont, Sarah Balanza quickly found her place at Webb. With her tight-knit group of friends, a few supportive sports teams, and a passion for drawing and art, she has always been one to pave her own path. Sarah is the type of person to run around outside on a rainy, windy day with her friends and refuse to go back inside because she can — and she has. Other than being the school’s number one supplier of wet socks, a large part of Sarah’s legacy at Webb lies in her art, whether it was presented to the public or withheld from its showcase for being “too graphic,” like her favorite piece was. As Webb leaves her foreground and a new venture replaces it, Sarah will miss the tennis and badminton teams, as well as Dr. Greco’s art class. Sarah’s next venture will include studying Sociology and Psychology at Pitzer College.

One time Sarah texted me panicked with a picture of her sandwich that said, ‘Spot On!’ She was confused as to why that phrase appeared on her meal. She continuously asked ME to explain even though I have no familiarity with the sandwich. In a moment of revelation, I asked, ‘where did you order the sandwich?’ She replied… ‘The Spot.’ Aha! I thought. ‘Now, what’s the name of the sandwich’… a pause. She finally replied meekly, ‘Spot On Panini’. The mystery was solved. It was very funny.

— Liz Bowman ('22)

You probably have heard of the mom of the friend group, but have you ever heard of the mom of Webb? Well, if you have not, it is Savanna Cespedes. Whether it is as the captain of the VWS varsity volleyball team, head day student prefect, President of the Art Club, an admission fellow, or even just in her friend group, Savanna makes it her top priority to care for the people around her. When Savanna is not baking Christmas cookies for her friends or organizing top-notch “friendsgivings,” she is spending time with her family, watching her favorite baseball team the Angels, or blasting 2000’s throwbacks on trips to the beach with friends. Savanna is involved in every event under the sun at Webb, but her favorite is the back-to-school dance where everyone brings tons of school spirit to kick off the year. Savanna is passionate and does everything to the fullest, from organizing events to playing volleyball in and outside of Webb. She has played club volleyball for the past ten years and could not bear to part with the sport that has become a part of her, so she will be playing for the Pomona Pitzer Volleyball team next year when she attends Pomona College. Savanna will be majoring in neuroscience and hopes to go into pediatric medicine where she will pursue a career that will allow her to continue helping others. There is no one else quite like Savanna and the Webb community will miss their mom.

Savanna will pride herself on being the mom and she has all the best characteristics of a mom she can tell when something’s wrong, she will organize something to make you feel right, and she will be there for you no matter how long, how much energy, or how much time it takes.

— Nick Lee (‘22)

As a born-and-raised California baby who considers 60 degrees “freezing,” Sharon Xu is the embodiment of the California spirit. As a dorm prefect and admission fellow, Sharon warms everyone’s heart with her endless love and genuine care, just like the California sun. Sharon finds joy in the simple moments of life—studying in the Village with her friends, chilling on the Jameson patio, and watching Gilmore Girls for the millionth time while knitting. Not only can Sharon recite Gilmore Girls line by line, but she also confesses a mild obsession with Robert Pattinson’s face and admits Twilight is one of her guilty pleasures. Sharon has a love-hate relationship with Webb classes. While Sharon struggled with Mr. Calvert’s harsh grading during Adv. Studies Fascism, she nevertheless finds the experience rewarding and appreciates Mr. Calvert’s constant support, whom Sharon insists looks like Penn Badgley. And although Sharon professes her profound hatred for calculus every opportunity she gets, she loves Mr. Caldwell, whom she sees as a parent at heart. While she has grown used to the comfort of Webb, California baby Sharon Xu is now ready to step into the coldness of upstate New York, where she will pursue her passion for biology and the humanities at Skidmore College, and perhaps overcome her perfectionism by embracing her sister Sandra’s words, “Cs get degrees.” But, before that, Sharon is going to take one last adventure in the West Coast: a gap semester rock climbing with the High Mountain Institute.

Sharon is a brave and caring individual. I just hope that she can consider carefully when someone asks her out on a date with the same line twice.

— Tina Rong ('22)

Most people know Simon as a gifted tennis player, but not many know of his dreamy side. Simon’s chapel quote says it all, “Even with studying, there can be mistakes, but with guessing, there can only be miracles.” Whether it is a guessing game, a Haikyuu episode, or a Twice song, Simon can always spot a miracle in everything. Throughout his time at Webb, the freshman retreat was a miraculous experience that Simon kept at the back of his mind, for he was able to step out of his introverted self and spend quality time with his friends. Simon’s welcoming trait led him to take on the role of an admission fellow, where he learned the lessons of responsibility and leadership. As his new journey at UC Berkeley approaches, Simon envisions himself double majoring in Computer Science and Math, while exploring stocks and the economy. Recognizing the importance of a solid academic foundation, he wishes to continue his education at graduate school for a wider pool of career choices. Welcoming new changes, Simon looks forward to finding miracles during his time at college.

During advisory dinner, we would go to Mr. Choi’s house, and he would play the Geometry Dash on the piano every time the whole time.

— William Li ('22)

Have you ever had Dean Duque rally a group of upperclassmen to help you find your missing phone? Sofia Centeno has. As a shy freshman, Sofia was struck by the kindness of the Webb students and faculty when she needed help. Her community continued to grow when she joined theatre, where she was able to transform on stage and break out of her shell, most notably as Marianne Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility. Along with theatre, Sofia is the founder and president of both the Book Club and the Latinx Culture Club, where she gets to share her culture and love of reading with the Webb community. One of her favorite courses is American Crime and Punishment, a class that pushed her towards a career that helps people through criminal justice reform. Next year, Sofia will be studying sociology and neuroscience at Pomona College, where she will build as strong of a community as she did here at Webb, hopefully without losing her phone.

She’s been an open ear. She’s the type of person to try and distract you when you’re sad, she tries to keep you happy.

— Josie Chow (‘22)

“There are gajillions of stories of mischief and fun, but to keep things simple, let’s just start with one.” Let’s start with the story of Sophia Bachoura (‘22), an embodiment of the Cat in the Hat. As a four-year VWS varsity volleyball player, you might have seen Sophia’s powerful hits wearing the number 10, or sometimes the number 13, as she tends to forget her jersey. Sophia aspires to share The Cat in the Hat’s fun, lighthearted energy and has accomplished this throughout her time at Webb, especially as a Day Student Prefect. Her favorite Webb memory was this year’s Theme Nights where the seniors achieved their third victory, and Sophia discovered her wondrous talent for dancing. Unfortunately, instead of becoming a professional dancer, Sophia will attend Chapman University in Orange, California to major in business and possibly graphic design. Hoping to be a world-renowned jewelry designer, Sophia plans to follow in her dad’s footsteps and work for the family jewelry business, building on her experiences and spending her summers designing jewelry. Although she is excited to venture out and expand her creativity in college, she will miss her cat Rogue Bachoura along with her friends and family. Sophia has left the same impact at Webb as the Cat in the Hat when he left the children understanding a thing or two about fun, and although students here will miss Sophia’s lighthearted and fun spirit, we can only hope Sophia will leave the same impact on her new classmates at Chapman University.

She’s just always in such a good mood, and she’s always rational about her decisions, which is something I admire. She never lets the dark things creep in. She finds the light in everything.

— Mia Baldwin (‘22)

Stuart Lin has a competitive spirit that shines through in anything he does. Hailing from Shanghai, China, Stuart plays basketball, baseball, and for a short while, tennis. Heightened by his love of competition, he enjoys watching and taking part in events such as Webb Day and Night. On weekends, Stuart stays focused on homework and video games while keeping that competitive fire, but occasionally, will go up to open gym to lift or to practice some basketball drills. Whenever Stuart finds something interesting, he has a quote in Chinese that translates to “I laugh a lot” in English. If he were to tell his freshman-self anything, it would be to care more about his GPA because of how important it is for his future. Stuart will be bringing his competitiveness to a much bigger stage at Emory University next fall while pursuing an interest in Computer Science.

I would describe Stuart as happy, and ‘nihon.’ Stuart is so special that there is no one like him. Stuart loves to give TED talks after eating hot pot.

— Tony Lin ('22)

Always radiating positive light and energy to those around her, Sunny Yu is a ray of sunshine. Hailing from Beijing, China, Sunny brought her unique perspective into Webb’s humanities classrooms, becoming undoubtedly one of the most prolific or, as Dr. Dzula puts it, “aggressive” writers on campus. As a naturally thoughtful and compassionate leader, it is no surprise that she took on the roles of the Editor-in-Chief of the WCC, a member of the Chapel Council, the debate team captain, and the VWS varsity cross-country team captain. In addition to her impressive accomplishments and persistent work ethic, Sunny brings incredible sincerity to every one of her relationships. To her teachers, she is an avid scholar who never settles for mediocrity; to her friends, she is the forever affectionate “Guardian of Justice”; to lowerclassmen, she serves as both a role model and a humble and altruistic friend. Most importantly, Sunny is an activist who is deeply passionate about social justice and representation of marginalized groups in the media. Driven by a genuine thirst for knowledge, Sunny will continue to pursue her interest in the social sciences and STEM at Stanford University by studying the intersection of these disciplines. Although she will miss reading on Jameson Patio, singing at Jubilee, and being the most enthusiastic Webb mafia organizer, there is no doubt that Sunny will bring her laughter to the Stanford campus, where she will continue to be the “Guardian of Justice” and the sun’s embodiment.

Sunny reminds me of hotpot. There are so many random, interesting aspects of her that come together to form a fascinating individual. Just like the delicious and popular dish, her amazing qualities render her well-loved among Webbies.

— Bianca Arteaga ('22)

The bubbly, talented, and wildly athletic Taren Duffy is the perfect friend anyone could ever ask for here at Webb. Her genuine, kind-hearted spirit earned her a reputation for being someone anyone would want on their team, especially on the pitch, where Taren would 100% be the first-round pick if there were to be a pickup soccer game. Taren has been on the VWS varsity soccer team all four years and captain for the past two seasons. She embodies what it means to be a leader by giving it her all every day on the soccer field, as well as in the classroom. Taren is also the perfect teammate as she makes sure that everyone on the team knows that they have a friend in her. A piece of advice she would give her freshman self would be to procrastinate less so that there can be more time for making memories with friends. Taren enjoys spending time with her friends at school events, especially Theme Nights because of how rewarding it feels to be a part of a class competition. Her hobbies include lots of soccer, binging movies, especially her favorite rom-com, 10 Things I Hate About You, and listening to music. Luckily, one of her favorite genres of music is country because she will be attending Texas Christian University in the fall where she will major in Finance and Real Estate; the internships she has taken over the years have inspired her to follow in her father’s footsteps and enter the real estate world.

Taren reminds me of a gazelle physically because of her long strides when she runs but also because she does everything with such grace and is so nice to everybody.

— Isabella Llorens '22

Rarely seen outside of her Jones room, Tina Rong is the ultimate dorm dweller, but she holds this title with pride. When you do see Tina outside the dorms, it is most likely in the math classrooms discussing linear algebra with Mr. Dahler, writing code in the robotics lab, or leading the math club to glory. Although Tina is in her room all day, she is definitely not sleeping. Her late nights are fueled by coffee provided by other sleepless Jones seniors. On the weekends she tries to catch up on sleep lost to essays and problem sets, and of course drawing in her sketchbooks or on Cathy’s end-of-year countdown. Tina has always loved art, often drawing sketches of teachers, friends, or capturing moments with her phone camera. Her passion for collecting moments extends to her work in the yearbook where she enjoys helping the entire Webb community compile all the memories of the year. Anyone who has seen her handwriting will tell you that it is beautiful. Tina will be studying at UC Berkeley, majoring in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science combined with Business Administration. She hopes to “earn money” while making meaningful contributions to her community. At Cal, she wants to participate more because she wants to fulfill the dreams of her freshman self. Hopefully, in five years Tina will graduate without going bald and be fulfilling her dream: earning lots of money.

I feel at home in Jones because I know that whenever I open my door, Tina will always be right across, whether it’s for a late-night snack, someone to draw with on my countdown calendar, math help, or an extensive rant session.

— Cathy Wang ('22)

Often in his Yeezy slides, green jacket, and sports jersey, Tony Lin’s iconic fashion sense makes him easy to spot on campus. You can always catch a glimpse of him at open gym, his favorite activity, where he enjoys playing either basketball or badminton. Tony might show up half an hour later than he had promised, but his friendliness easily allows him to start bantering with other players the minute he arrives, bringing a lively presence, and distracting them so they all forget about his tardiness. When Tony plays with both AirPods in his ears, he is enjoying good R&B music from his playlist of more than 3000 songs. Apart from enjoying campus life, Tony likes to go off campus and get good food, watch movies, or sing karaoke with friends. Whether it is enjoying fresh oysters at his favorite restaurant in Santa Monica or visiting Luxy Karaoke six times a month and singing emotionally, Tony is the go-to person if you want to have fun and make the most of your time. As a Kirkhill resident (but Alamo resident at heart), Tony will miss playing 2K21, FIFA, Monopoly, and Uno in Ruddick as he leaves for college. Inspired by his ‘goddess’, Ms. Haleftiras, Tony is considering pursuing Environmental Science or Psychology at University of Connecticut. Whatever Tony chooses to study, he will always be “teacher Tony,” the loyal friend and mentor to his friends.

Tony is a charming person that is passionate about helping others with their relationship problems. He is the best at cheering you up and one of the most supportive people I have ever met as he is always available in his dorm room for anybody that seeks help.

— Eugene Guo ('22)

Tory Baer has always been drawn to the ocean. Perhaps it is the majestic and mysterious sea turtles that she can see herself in, as she is “totally mysterious depending on the day”, or maybe it is the feeling of home she gets when snorkeling by the coral reefs of Australia and the Galapagos Islands. The biggest reason may be the fact that she constantly finds herself amazed by the depth and reflection she finds in the ocean. Tory was thrown into the Webb community while online her junior year, but persevered and is now a valued and loved member of the community. Her warm heart and sweet personality initially shone through at events like theme nights, where she got to know people for the first time. Tory is also a spectacular soccer player, but her stumble down the Jameson stairs inhibited her from playing this season. Tory is a calming presence to be around, always encouraging friends to take advantage of earlier bedtimes, or reminding them not to stress because everything is going to be okay. These are lessons she would have wished to have during her freshman year, so she shares these experiences with others, hoping to help her friends. Tory has always been fascinated with the brain, and passionate about studying how crazy and limitless the mind can be. With this motivation, Tory plans to attend Syracuse University next year in New York, majoring in Psychology.

If Tory was in the middle of the ocean, you could probably hear her laugh from the shore. Her laugh is everything about her.

— Mia Baldwin (‘22)

You might have heard Victor Zhang’s name around campus a few times, whether through people talking about his impressive “from-scratch go-kart” or his hobby of designing and 3D printing parts for robotics. Victor enjoys sharing his love for all things robot, including sci-fi movies like I, Robot and Star Trek. If you are a die-hard Star Wars fan, though, you might clash with Victor, who thinks the series has too much action and not enough sci-fi. If you are his friend, you would know that, although he may not show it at first, Victor is caring and willing to sacrifice for his friends. Whatever your connection with him may be, his passion for technology is inspiring. At Webb, Victor loves robotics because he can pursue and develop his mechanical engineering skills, especially in his favorite class, Advanced Studies Experimental Physics. While Victor’s present achievements are impressive, perhaps even more riveting is his past. From 10-12 years old, he had a basic understanding of car mechanics, and his grandmother and mother both steered Victor towards building cars. Whatever he does, it is sure to be driven by his devotion for mechanical engineering, so perhaps it is no surprise that next year he is headed for the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, the number one college for Mechanical Engineering in the nation. Although he will miss Webb, his future is full of potential. In whatever he does, Victor’s hard work and dedication perseveres.

I’m not a squirrel.

— Victor Zhang ('22)

On any given day you can find Will Li in the rafters of Holt, on the roof of Kirkhill, or making a slip’n’slide in the shower stalls with his dorm mates. Most recently, he had an adventure with milk, lemonade, Gatorade, and G-fuel. With Gooch, he invented some legendary drinks; Glemonade, Gfilk, and Gilkenade. While most people would never consider drinking such a concoction, Will is not most people. You can likely tell by now that Will’s “momma didn’t raise a coward.” Despite Will’s need to keep his freedom and defy authority, Will made his shot and submitted a WSC prefect application in order to become an authority figure himself. Will became a beloved prefect in Holt, unsurprisingly being dubbed ‘best prefect’ in the yearbook. His friends describe him as not bossy, a friendly leader, and someone who will make sure everyone is having a good time. Just like with prefect-ing, Will puts his heart in whatever he does, like in golf: He dedicated many hours of effort to honing his sport, and has described himself as “like Kevin for swim but at golf.” Make sure to check out the team’s Instagram, and like their “flicks.” Will’s success at Webb will follow him to Baltimore, Maryland, because his philosophy on failure is simply “If you don’t have a backup plan, you don’t need one,” basically stating that if you do not anticipate failure, you will not fail. He will be studying Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, which he is excited about because the major basically does not allow you to take humanities — #science4lyf.

I thought he was a really funny guy because he was short and had no hair. My first impression of him was like a very strong Buddhist monk.

— Simon Kang ('22)

The only person to have ever fallen from the catwalks above the theater is William Ma. As the master electrician, Willma spends nearly every free moment during the fall, winter, and spring seasons in the theater, rigging, focusing, and programming lights with his crew. Even when he steps out of his tech blacks for the winter dance show, Willma remains a consistent presence backstage who helps bring the show to life. He is the first student to be offered the opportunity to design the lighting plot for a musical: Mamma Mia! His dedication to tech is reflected in a similar devotion to computer science. Since designing a knock-off version of flappy bird sophomore year, Willma has progressed to designing his own website, interning at an artificial intelligence startup, and is currently working on a variation of the wordle game for his Harvey Mudd CS35 class. As much as Willma loves tech and CS, nothing can match the love and care he has for his friends. He is always willing to make time for his friends, even with many overdue assignments himself, and will always empathize with their personal and academic struggles. Willma will be attending the University of Toronto, majoring in Computer Science and trying to keep himself from freezing in the wintertime. On a curling trip with Mr. Caddy, he proved that he was truly a Canadian by excelling at curling. Canada is lucky to be getting the biggest nerd with the biggest heart.

Willma will light up your life like a strobe light, take that however you want.

— Jonathan Lou ('22)

Xander Kong is a man of many talents: musician, thespian, and soccer player. If participating in a smorgasbord of activities is not enough, Xander is a leader. Xander is captain of the debate team, involved in Webb’s Student Diversity Initiative, and the WSC student government head executive. Despite all this, Xander’s closest friends describe him as a constantly hungry, soccer-obsessed baby who outside of the classroom is one of the most outgoing and spontaneous people you will ever meet. Xander is someone who will always be there for you, and looking past his loud and boisterous persona, he is a caring and compassionate friend. During his time at Webb, Xander has made many memories from performing at Jubilee to scoring his first goal as a center back his junior year, however, Xander’s favorite memory is winning head executive his senior year, as he always looked up to his sister, who was also a head executive, and wanted to follow in her footsteps. Next year, Xander will be attending Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Even though it is a little cheesy, Xander said he will miss the Webb community most during his time in college. It is Webb, however, that will miss his myriad talents and extroverted personality as he moves on to the next stage in his life.

Xander is like a… I wouldn’t say big brother because he’s a baby, but he’s a friend to everyone.

— Mikey Chai ('22)

Although Yvonne Kan might have accidentally texted her golf coach, Mr. Owers, “Do you want a dress too?” after mistaking him for her friend, she continued to flourish as co-captain of VWS golf, always leading her team with a strong spirit. Make no mistake, Yvonne is the brightest girl around, beaming with joy as she laughs with her friends around campus or when she curates her dazzling work about fossils at the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology. As she entered her last year at Webb, Yvonne decided to branch out more, and in doing so, cultivated a newfound love for musical theater, caught up in the lively spirit of dances, songs, and plays. While she treasures her time making memories with her friends and family on the weekend, she also loves to relax on her own, taking the time to bake fluffy milk bread from scratch or getting lost in a captivating book for hours. Whether it is by the red stain on the ceiling of McKenna Lab from an unfortunate IPC experiment, by her stunning vocals while performing at Jubilee, or by her clear-cut manner in humanities discussions, Yvonne will be remembered at Webb. Seeking out the next four years at The University of Arizona to study ecology or geology, she leaves her wonderland behind with bittersweet feelings, yet with a hopeful excitement as she ventures forward on the next chapter of her life.

Yvonne was one of the only few people who actually listened to me when I faced some challenges in my life. I felt truly heard when I talked to her, and I actually felt seen.

— Josie Chow ('22)