Class of 2020 Senior Issue

If you are ever stuck in an awkward situation with nothing to say, you might want to listen to Akira Hori’s favorite quote from Duck Dynasty: “Hey can mean anything. It can mean yes, it can mean maybe, it could mean no, it could mean next week. Hey, the bottom line is you have to understand me to understand hey.” If you do not know Akira, he enjoys hanging with his friends — whether it is sitting at lunch at Al’s Patio or messing around on the baseball and soccer fields. In his free time, Akira likes to eat out, fish, play the guitar, and cook. Although he will miss his friends after Webb, Akira is hoping to pursue his dream of running the music industry in five years and studying the business industry while attending Elon University in North Carolina. As Akira heads off for his next adventure, he leaves his fellow Webbies with some advice, “Don’t be afraid to try your best. Know that it is okay to fail, but be smart and know that nobody is invincible.”

He is similar to Borat. He is very nice and can bring that comedic value to any situation.

— Kyle Burt (‘20)

When Albert Xu goes to college next year, the Les Perry gym, Alamo, and Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong restaurant will be missing a familiar face. Whether it began in Mr. Quick’s Advanced Studies Anatomy and Physiology class where he learned to stop fearing carbs or as a student trainer with Mr. G., Albert loves nutrition and health. He enjoys staying active by going to every open gym, participating in functional fitness, and shooting hoops. Some of his favorite memories were when worked out with friends because they motivated and pushed each other to their limits. In the dorms, Albert bonded with his fellow residents when he was a prefect. He especially appreciated Alamo food nights, when the dorm came together and felt like a family. On the weekends, Albert indulges himself with delicious food and quality time with friends. They often ate Korean BBQ, their favorite yummy but high-protein meal, and watched horror movies at night after check-in. When Albert begins studying at New York University next year and majors in Global Liberal Studies, he hopes to go to Paris or London in his second year, where he will find more food to enjoy and ways to get active.

“Albert never ceases to amaze me each day with his dodgy hair colors and styles, impulsive buys, and random spontaneous stuff he does. While he forces me to question what I know about the human mind and body, he is a loyal and caring brother to me who I am forever grateful for. “

— Jayden Chiu (‘20)

Anyone who plays football or baseball against Webb could very possibly wake up in the middle of the night with their bed soaked with sweat, thanks to Alex Cardenas. He gives his opponents nightmares because of his fierce determination and work ethic in athletics. After a slow start, Alex hit a turning point for his Webb athletic career in his junior year when he gained more confidence and bonded with his teams. Other than sports, Alex loves Theme Nights, hanging out with his best friends Emily Arias (’20) and Ryan Bridges (‘20), or watching Breaking Bad while listening to songs by The Weeknd. Alex’s biggest motivation throughout his high school journey is his mother; Alex has witnessed just how hard his mom has worked for him. In the near future, Alex will take his talents to UC Riverside where he will major in Business. After college, Alex sees himself living in the mountains of Oregon, running a business, while keeping busy everyday.

Alex is like Pam from Brawl Stars. He is tough on the outside and makes fun of you all the time but he is always ready to give you a hug when you need one.

— Emily Arias (‘20)

Poet and actress Alia Al-Turki is headed for Broadway and the New York Times’ Best Sellers List. In Honors Creative Writing, Dr. Maxon saw her gift in writing and begged her to submit her work to Webb’s Breakfast literary magazine. Often described as a powerful force, Alia is outgoing, open-minded, and able to excel at anything she puts her mind to. During her first year at Webb, she landed a lead role in Les Miserables and dazzled the audience. She was able to show her off her creative side, flaunt her acting and vocal skills, and embody her character. Dean Lantz, aka her Webb mom, still remembers her fantastic performance, and it brings a smile to her face every time that she thinks of it. But only a lucky few were allowed to witness Alia off-stage, coming to her room for late-night talks together in the dorms. Alia will miss chill water polo practices, car rides with Dean Lantz, and beef jerky pick-me-ups with Mr. Duque. Alia plans to take what she learned at Webb to Chapman University, where she hopes to further her love for literature. We are excited to see what she does next.

Alia is 100% unapologetically her in the best way possible. She has such a sweet smile that’s backed with quick wit and humor. She’s loud and funny and can brighten anyone’s day. She truly is the epitome of a ride or die friend.

— Chloe Stewart ('20)

If you hear the newest Tyga album blasting on the weekends, Alice Hou is probably chilling with her friends in the dorms. From being the co-head of the International Student Liaison to the co-captain of the varsity cross country team, Alice has left an unforgettable mark on the Webb community with her contagious laughter and positivity. After moving from Hong Kong to Claremont during her sophomore year, Alice not only got to know her best friends (Jenna, Doris, and Mia), but she also got to make some crazy memories, like accidentally setting off the fire alarm in South Hutch because she forgot about boiling porridge in a pot. As a big fan of the tight-knit Webb community, Alice has enjoyed organizing Jubilee with the ISL members. Next year, Alice will bring her passion for visual arts across the country to Cornell University to double major in Art History and Economics; she hopes to work at an auction house after she graduates from college.

Even though Alice orders all-tofu poke bowls and gives us weird looks when we eat all of her wife cakes that she brought all the way from Hong Kong, I love her for hyping us up for every little thing that we want to do, no matter how stupid it is.

— Doris Yuan (‘20)

Perhaps even more than her graceful performances in winter concerts or excelling the hardest course load Webb offers, Webb will never forget Alina Hu’s signature laugh. She often bursts into fits of laughter over the nerdiest jokes or weirdest puns, willing to laugh at anything, including herself. Quiet, tall, and graceful, Alina is “adorkable,” being the combination of someone lovely and dorky. From playing both the Guzheng and double bass to enjoying Mr. Dahler’s AP Calculus BC class, Alina never stops challenging herself. Alina even brings her creativity to life as a talented cook, often making innovative cuisine out of a microwave on the weekends in Jones such as porridge and playing with different types of eggs, but never with carrots. Alina will continue pursuing her passion for math and computer science at Harvey Mudd College, a STEM school perfect to challenge Alina to solve more puzzles and try new things.

Alina knows more about Qing dynasty court life than she does about modern technology. She uses her signature awkward smile sparingly, but it’s very powerful when she does use it.

— Jonathan Becker (‘20)

If you have seen a girl with a brilliant smile chilling at the Senior Spot, you have met Amanda. If you have ever spoken to her, you have experienced Amanda’s kind and gentle nature, as well as empathy for everyone around her. Amanda also carries a flame within her — she is a fierce advocate for social justice, diversity, and community by speaking out for her beliefs. One of her most impactful contributions to Webb is Empowering Student Voices Initiative (ESVI), a student group that discusses diversity at Webb, confronts stereotypes, and educates our community. During her time at Webb, Amanda has truly valued its close-knit community; one thing she will miss the most is her strong relationship with her advisor, Mrs. Lantz, since its supportive nature is “something unique to Webb.” Likewise, Amanda appreciates the strong bonds her class created during their senior year Theme Nights, a time that she believes the Class of 2020 was closest. Although she loves the time she spent at Webb, she is excited for the next chapter of her life. This fall, Amanda will attend Pitzer College where she plans to study Sociology, serving as a foundation for her future plans to do community work.

The only memory I have of Amanda in elementary school is when I caught her trying to snip off some of my hair with a pair of scissors in the middle of geometry.

— Teja Reddy ('20)

If you have ever mistaken Amelie Cook for Dr. Cantwell, do not feel bad. Even Amelie herself has noticed the uncanny resemblance. Not only do they look alarmingly similar but they also share a love for the humanities. Coincidentally, they both have worked together on Webb’s literary magazine, Breakfast. Amelie loves to write and has been a part of The Webb Canyon Chronicle since her sophomore year. This year, she serves as the Copy Editor. Her job, which may be the most difficult role in the publication, is to scrutinize over every article right before its publication for any lingering grammar and style mistakes. Despite the heavy workload from her position, Amelie still finds time for her hobbies. You can find her hanging out with friends, reading anything by author Joan Didion, and running. After taking a gap year to work with AmeriCorps, Amelie will head off to Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota to major in Sociology and Anthropology.

Amelie is the best friend for an adventure of a lifetime. Whether it is a weekly Target run or a road trip to San Diego, she has already got a thousand funny stories and a great playlist for the journey.

— Emma Lin (‘20)

Andrea Phung describes herself as “quiet, kind of, and awkward.” She might give off this impression to the uninitiated because she is a resident South Hutch lounge couch potato, but her deep involvement at Webb will make you think twice. A four-year athlete, Andrea will never forget running to Sprout’s and getting food with the JV tennis team. She also served as a day student prefect; from the drive-in movies to Halloween haunted tours and pumpkin carving, Andrea has loved planning events. Her adventures are not limited to the campus — one of Andrea’s most cherished memories is ice skating with some friends, despite the fact that many of them did not know how. Andrea enjoys her downtime like sleeping in on the weekends and watching TV. Andrea will watch any show that catches her eye, unless it is in the horror genre, so she has watched a range of different shows like The Good Place, Once Upon a Time, and anything from Disney. Andrea’s next challenge will be braving Illinois winters as she heads to Northwestern University, leaving South Hutch without her familiar face.

“Andrea’s really supportive. If you’re procrastinating, she won’t push you to do your work. She’ll support your decision and procrastinate with you.”

— Deanna Oei ('20)

Angie Chen loves to meow. Sad meows, happy meows, scared meows, you never know when you will be blessed with Angie’s iconic meow. Apart from the meows, she also shares cats’ loving personality as she is an incredibly supportive friend and a caring upperclassman. Having spent all four years in the Hutches, she enjoys helping and watching the freshmen grow in the dorms. But these personality traits are not the only things Angie has in common with cats. She also loves musicals. Not only was she in the musical for three years, but Angie also plays the piano for large school events such as VWS chapel and is a chamber singer who specializes in melodic high notes. However, while many are awed by her musical talent, she is also secretly an excellent visual artist and aspiring actress. In the future, she hopes to play June in Legend, a coming movie based on the Legend trilogy, which is something she has been looking forward to ever since middle school. As she heads off to Occidental College next year to study Business, Webb’s campus will echo with her beautiful music as well as her meows.

Once, I accidentally tripped Angie over in South Hutch during 11 p.m. check-in on the weekend. She was running down the hallway screaming about Pennywise, and I stuck my foot up expecting her to jump over it, but instead she face-planted straight into the floor.

— Alia Al-Turki (‘20)

Everyone knows Ariel Benjamin. And not just because of her amazing chapel talk, her position as an admission fellow for the past two years, or the fact that she has been on the Liu/Cheung stage acting or singing in almost every production for her entire Webb career. Everyone knows Ariel because she makes an active effort to know and care about everyone else — and maybe because she went viral on TikTok this year. Despite her rapidly increasing social media following, Ariel is still dedicated to her academic progress. She plans on attending Smith College and majoring in Religious Studies with a possible minor in Creative Writing. Although she is excited to pursue her studies, Ariel will cherish all her memories from Webb next year, from eating snow cones at Jubilee to getting stuck in the Live Oak Dam during her first triathlon. As Ariel explores the world outside Webb, she will face the challenge of getting to know and love a whole new group of people along the way, but with her fun-loving, outgoing personality, anything is possible.

Since Ariel is vaguely TikTok famous, it’s best to compare her to the app. She’s hilarious, sweet, entertaining, and she’s always there. Plus she never shuts up about Timothée Chalamet.

— Maya Jaffe (‘20)

At some point during your Webb career, you must have heard Ashley Fu’s beautiful singing, whether it was at Jubilee, school events, choir performances, or in the shower stall next to you in South Hutch. Not only is Ashley a talented singer, she is also a skilled ukulele player who writes songs in her free time. When she is not immersed in the world of music, Ashley loves going out to the mall in Arcadia for Haidilao and exploring SoCal with her friends. However, Ashley enjoys staying in the dorms as much as going out. Her favorite memories at Webb were the times when she and her friends watched Chinese reality shows in the Hutches while savoring food from The Upper House and Blue Fin Sushi & Teriyaki. Ashley is a leader in the Webb community. She serves as a dorm prefect for South Hutch, is a three-year member of the chapel council, and leads tours as an admission ambassador. In the future, Ashley hopes to change society for the better as she plans to work in an non-governmental organization after studying Sociology or Political Economy at Georgetown University.

Ashley is a selfie fanatic. And she likes to make funny faces when taking selfies, like putting her face really up close to the camera so it looks gigantic or sticking her tongue out.

— Elaine Liu (‘20)

Make way for “Captain Aspen America!” A Marvel-loving Avengers fan since day-one, Aspen has the heart of Captain America but the same passion for archery as Hawkeye. Aspen’s spirited personality is seen through her love for archery: aiming for her goal and shooting for it. Beyond archery, she is a woman of many talents, ranging from running regular 5k runs for the VWS cross country team, showing off her Mario Kart skills in the Ruddick Room, and impressing Mr. Quick with her Advanced Studies Anatomy and Physiology skills. She especially loves late night food events at Jones. Aspen plans to share her fun-loving personality with Wellesley College, where she will major in Pre-med. When asked about where she sees herself in the next five years, Aspen simply states, “Same person, but with new exciting experiences.” Wellesley will definitely offer Aspen new experiences and challenges —but like Captain America once said, “I could do this all day.”

Aspen is one of the most reliable people I know, and she is always down for an adventure.

— Rebeca Castro (‘20)

Ava Sinha loves animals. Ever since she was a child, she knew she wanted to be a veterinarian. Not only does she love animals, she is also enthusiastic about photography. Combining her love of animals and photography, she takes breathtaking photos of the outdoors to share with the world and help people gain an appreciation of the beauty in nature. At Webb, you can find Ava hanging with her close friends at the Senior Spot or watching Friends in the dorms. Ava serves as a dorm prefect in South Hutch and is a member of JV tennis. During her junior year, she enjoyed taking Advanced Studies Anatomy & Physiology with Mr. Quick. Even though Ava thinks the Class of 2020 did not have the funniest skits or the most advanced dances, she loved Theme Nights and spending the week with her class. Next year, this Palm Springs native is heading off to Penn State to major in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Business. In five years, you can catch Ava continuing her wildlife preservation photography and working hard in veterinary school.

“Ava is like a samosa. She may be a little hard on the outside… but on the inside, she is a mixture of all the best things. She is passionate, loving, empathetic, and one of the funniest people.”

— Caroline Metyas (‘20)

If you have ever seen a grandma walking around campus or eating in the dining hall, chances are that is not a grandma but, in fact, Bridgette Lee. Every day, she finds the most comfy clothes she owns, looks in the mirror for the final approval “yes,” and goes about her day. Bridgette is unfeigned, indecisive, and wishful, and her good vibes will lift your spirits no matter what. She not only gives advice to her freshies as a peer advisor, but also helps you out and gives you the best advice you could ask for whenever you need. Bridgette is co-captain of the soccer team and a pole vaulter on the track team. Her favorite Webb memory was attending Jubilee 2019 and rocking out to the music her friends performed on-stage. She enjoys a good time of relaxing with friends and not having to worry about anything. For Bridgette, she is the happiest when she puts on her Picasso hat and creates a work of art, or when embracing the freedom of driving around. Next year, she will attend Sarah Lawrence College, where she will play soccer and earn a degree in the arts.

For as long as I have known Bridgette, she has been able to frequently burp like no other with no care in the world. That is one of the things I admire about her — her ability to not let others define who she is and who she wants to be.

— Victoria Romero (‘20)

On the outside, Caitlin Pender is intimidating, sarcastic, and a little pessimistic, but hidden inside is an athletic, smart, and laugh-out-loud type of girl. The entire campus can hear Mr. Jurczak yell “PENDER!” when this four-year varsity water polo player makes a splash in the pool. She also enjoys hanging with friends and annoying the coaches during swim season, despite her distaste for the sport itself. Caitlin made Webb her home and found guidance from her advisor Ms. Bauman and coach Mr. Jurczak, both of whom she will miss dearly next year. Caitlin will miss Unbounded Days adventures and squeezing in with all of her friends on Alivia Du (‘21)’s bed in South Hutch. Next year, Caitlin will live by the beach at UC Santa Cruz where she will study Human Biology on the pre-med track to become a nurse. If that plan does not work out, she will live on a boat with her 12 cats and study Marine Biology. Caitlin wants Webb to remember her 2019 Theme Nights performance where she dramatically entered the stage as Rose from Titanic on a “boat” with Ian Iglehart (‘20)’s arms around her in the famous “Titanic Pose.”

“I never thought in a million years that Caitlin and I would become so close, and I never thought in a billion years that she and I [would] share the same love for Twilight and Edward Cullen. She’s hella funny and tough, but really protective and caring, even though she doesn’t like to show it.”

— Alivia Du ('21)

Candy Gao aspires to make the world a better and happier place, so there is no doubt that she enjoys her role as a dorm prefect in Appleby, bonding with her dormmates and brightening their days. As an avid lover of performing arts, Candy enjoys being a member of Music of the Generation Club and expressing her emotions through song-writing and choreography. She had the opportunity to perform for Webb during Jubilee the past three years. On the weekends, you can either find Candy exploring campus, goofing around with her friends, or trying out her own cooking recipes in her dorm room. Candy’s journey at Webb has created a wide range of important memories, including playing on the water polo team for four years and leading the Haunted House tours in the 2019 Halloween party. Living by the quote “I love myself, and I love myself who loves myself” by her favorite K-pop artist KGY, Candy’s ultimate goal for life is simply to be happy and enjoy every day to the fullest. The lovable, optimistic Candy will venture to Atlanta, Georgia this fall, where she will attend Emory University to major in Quantitative Sciences.

Candy will be the one who tries to cook rice with a microwave for you to make you feel better when you are sick.

— Ashley Fu (‘20)

If you walk past the Senior Spot and hear loud laughter, joyful conversations, and the opening hiss and crackle of a fresh LaCroix, it is probably Caroline Metyas. Her favorite class at Webb has been Advanced Studies Los Angeles Literary Culture because of the topic, classmates, field trip to Philz Coffee, and Dr. Riel’s passion for teaching the subject. Caroline is a four-year participant and co-captain of the VWS cross country team. Her inspirational leadership has allowed her to develop extremely close bonds with her younger teammates. She is the runner you can always count on to make you laugh and smile (especially when she is jamming out to Beyoncé or 2000s hits), and has helped her teammates genuinely enjoy the grueling sport. She enjoys running errands with her friends or watching funny feel-good comedies like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Arrested Development. After spending her senior year hanging with her friends outside the library and procrastinating on various assignments, Caroline is excited to start a new adventure at the University of Southern California. She plans to major in Health and Human Sciences with a minor in Middle Eastern and North African Studies, with the hope of one day becoming a doctor.

Caroline is like a box of chocolates. Sometimes you get a nut, but in the end it’s always sweet.

— Ava Sinha (‘20)

One of the first things you learn about Cayden Lazier when you meet him is that he is a baseball fanatic. In fact, his passion for the sport began 12 years ago, and he has been playing ever since. Although he also plays for a team outside of school, Cayden stays dedicated to the WSC baseball team, as they are like a second family for him (he has fond memories of their shenanigans together on Catalina Island). Cayden’s passion and competitive spirit carries over to other aspects of the Webb community as well; not only does he bring his all to Webb Day, but the day student prefects have also benefited from his intensity and devotion to getting things done. Yet, in spite of his sporty attitude, Cayden is an academic at heart. Keeping up with his previous track record — as he loved classes such as Neuroscience and Science & Engineering — Cayden plans to go to Purdue University next year to study Biomedical Engineering while playing for their Division I baseball team. In the next five years, we will hopefully see Cayden in medical school as he pursues his dream of becoming a trauma surgeon.

It’s impossible not to smile when you’re around Cayden, The instant he walks into a room, you can feel his positive vibes.

— Teja Reddy (‘20)

Perhaps the world’s greatest ferret enthusiast, Cecilia Li once doodled more than 160 ferrets on a single sheet of paper. Her love for the soft, furry mammal matches for her love of sleep and robotics. Joining the robotics team in the winter of her sophomore year, Cecilia quickly became Webb’s robotics queen, spending more time working in the program than any of her teammates as their co-captain. She also exercises her leadership skills as a dorm prefect in North Hutch. On the weekends, Cecilia loves to take a break from work and sleep in; she would prefer to sleep in every day if not for morning classes. While ferrets, sleep, and robotics are a few of her staples, she also harbors a passion for science. She has attended two summer peccary trips and taken full advantage of Webb’s physics and paleontology programs. Because of this passion, Cecilia currently plans to attend UCSD in the fall and she intends to major in Earth Sciences. Her dream after college is to own seven cats and work as a museum curator or librarian because she loves calm settings. Even though she would tell her freshman self to form more friendships and procrastinate less, she is leaving Webb with a new plush ferret and no major regrets.

Cecilia is/A ferret that sleeps a lot/And is playful too.

— Kevin Wang (‘21)

If any of the VWS athletics awards did not have Chloe Stewart’s name on it, it must be the sport that Chloe does not play. For Chloe, sports are a way to express herself and release stress. Whenever she is playing, nothing else matters except the game. However, her numerous achievements in athletics are only a tiny hint of all she has to offer. As a dorm prefect, Chloe’s caring personality makes North Hutch a sweet home for all the residents. As an engaged student, she maintains consistency in school with help from her favorite teacher, Mr. Quick. When she has freetime, you might find her working out, watching Mama Mia!, or reading her favorite book The Martian. Chloe will be taking her talents to University of California, Santa Barbara and will also be a member of UCSB’S Division I softball team. Even though she is anxious to meet new people, Chloe is very excited to start a new chapter in her life.

“Chloe is one of the most thoughtful, caring, and talented individuals I’ve met. From an athlete to a [prefect], she’s always been an inspiration as she did amazing in both of these fields. I’m extremely thankful that she was my roommate this year and because of that I learned how much of an amazing person she is.”

— Malika Neogi (‘20)

If you want to be introduced to songs by Radiohead, learn how to throw in shot put, or have someone cheer you up after a hard day, Christopher Conte is the perfect person. Chris has fun at Webb thanks to his favorite events such as Webb Day, his best friends Alex Cardenas (‘20) and Ryan Bridges (‘20), and his favorite teacher Mr. Rogers. On weekends, Chris spends most of his time listening to records, watching movies such as the Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and hanging out with his girlfriend. In the near future, Chris will be continuing his academic career at the University of La Verne. He has not decided on a major, but is thinking about Broadcasting, which will eventually lead him to be exposed to more film work. Chris is nervous about losing his current friends, especially his teammates on the track team when he heads off to college. However, Chris is excited about becoming an adult and making his own decisions. When he was asked about his biggest motivation, Chris responded in the most Christopher way possible, “I’m notorious for not having any motivation.”

Chris is someone that you will not regret getting to know. He likes to have fun and mess around, but he is also someone you can go to when you need something or if you just wanna chill.

— Ryan Bridges (‘20)

If you have ever spoken to Chris Ma, you have probably heard him mention Beijing Guoan, his favorite soccer team, at least once. Because he spent his childhood in Beijing, Chris comes from a family of avid soccer lovers, which has influenced him to participate in various supporter groups and clubs for the sport. Besides his devotion to soccer, Chris also enjoys playing badminton at Webb and watching horror movies with his friend, Albert Xu (‘20). Although he appreciates these times at Webb, some of his most unforgettable memories include getting locked out of his room in Jameson for an entire night and going on the senior retreat that brought the class of 2020 together. Throughout the years Chris also appreciates his time with Mr. Quick, and Chris is grateful to him for being his badminton coach and always making the Advanced Studies Anatomy and Physiology class full of laughter. This fall, Chris will move to New York City to study Sports Management at New York University, and he hopes to intern at the Beijing Guoan Football Club in order to manage a professional soccer team in the future.

With Chris Ma’s passion for soccer and Beijing Guoan, I think he can succeed in anything that he loves. 国安永远争第一。

— Stephen Li (‘21)

Chris Nditiru dominates both video game virtual worlds as well as the real world. When Chris is not improving his skills playing 2K video games at home, you can catch him on the upper tennis courts with Mr. Kozden and his friends. He also likes biking, cooking, and spending time with his brother. Chris enjoys watching horror movies. His favorite memories of freshman year were the times his buddies and him sat together and terrified themselves. Besides support from his friends, Chris says that Travis Scott’s song “Sweet, Sweet” and other artists such as Frank Ocean and Young Thug helped motivate him through his four years at Webb. Although listening to music is a great way to cope with stress at Webb, Chris hopes that younger students follow his advice and do their homework the day it is assigned to help manage the heavy workload. Chris’s ability to help others is exemplified by introducing new faces to Webb as an admission fellow and serving as the WCC’s co-editor of technology. Chris is looking forward to helping more people as he attends Skidmore College to study Political Science.

“The thing that sparked Chris and I’s connection was when he showed me a song called ‘80 Degrees’ by Kanye West, which is what got him into hip hop. He is chill, honest and very respectful.”

— Thomas Campana ('20)

Christopher Haliburton always puts himself out there. The only member of the Class of 2020 to make the switch from day student to boarder, he is not afraid of taking risks or making changes. His brave, outspoken personality shines through his social justice activism, an interest sparked by his participation in the Student Diversity and Leadership Conference during his junior year. He is grateful for the support he received from Webb faculty, especially Ms. Mani and Dr. Hubbard. Chris spent hours in the library chatting with friends and mentors about his favorite movies and music ranging fromTwilight to Beyonce, academics, and current events. Ms. Brosh’s Honors Crime and Punishment class sparked an interest in Political Science that he plans to carry to the next stage of his academic career at Occidental College in Los Angeles where he will also be running track. Although he will miss his friends from Webb, Chris is hoping to find a new group to chase around Target and In-N-Out. His wisdom, kindness, and generosity will be missed all around Webb, from the Honor Committee, to Jameson, to the library, but we are all excited to see where he goes next.

Chris is the type of person you can always get along with even if you don’t agree with him. I’ll always look up to his leadership on and off campus.

— Aliza Tyndale (‘21)

If you saw a photo taken by Colin Kidwell without any context, you would probably think it was taken by a professional. Many of his photos look like they belong in a critically acclaimed gallery, and one day they just might be. Besides his passion for photography, Colin is energetic, friendly, and introspective. Throughout his time at Webb, he has enjoyed classes such as Literature and Leadership in the Wilderness and Foundations of Virtue, both of which he said dramatically helped him grow as a person; he recommends every Webb student takes them. In addition to spending time in the classroom, Colin’s favorite afternoon activity is technical theatre because he was able to be himself, surrounded by people that accept him. Some of his favorite memories are simply spending time with his friends, laughing and having a good time, especially at events like Casino Night where he enjoyed dressing up. Next year, Colin will miss the community that is so integral to Webb while studying Communication in Media at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.

When I play Smash with Colin and he does something cool, he always scrunches his face up and goes, ‘That was NARSTY!!!’ He says narsty with an r for some reason.

— Gabe Hong (‘20)

Deanna Oei is a stealthy ninja and a bundle of joy. With her passion of working behind the scenes and creating activities for other people to enjoy, Deanna particularly likes participating in theatre tech as stage manager and navigating her role in student government as technology commissioner. A Claremont native, you can find Deanna savoring poke in the Claremont Village, binging on Raising Cane’s chicken fingers during long lunches throughout senior year, or making spam musubi at home. On the weekends, she enjoys playing the harp, staying up late to watch YouTube, and sleeping in. Living by the saying, “We are Groot,” from Guardians of the Galaxy, she is a big fan of Marvel and Disney media, especially the songs from The Greatest Showman and Disneyland, because “[they’re] really upbeat and happy.” Next year, Deanna will head to Tufts University in Boston to study Computer Science. While she is sad to leave her family and friends behind, she cannot wait to live in a place besides Claremont and finally experience a snow day. In five years, you can catch her working in a tech company or behind the scenes in the entertainment industry, designing the special effects for the next Hollywood blockbuster.

“Deanna is a Wii Party master and a pro at photoshopping unicorns. If you ever need help writing your essay, ask Deanna, and she’ll create a magical story completely unrelated to the topic!”

— Andrea Phung ('20)

Denis Khononev is kind, easy-going, and cheerful. As an international student coming from Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, Denis was nervous about finding friends to talk to at Webb — once he arrived on the campus and met his fellow classmates, he realized he had nothing to worry about. Denis loves how people at Webb are friendly and approachable; he likes how you can wave “hi” to anyone, even if you do not know them well. Denis will miss the everyday moments of hanging with friends in the dorms or heading to the Claremont Village to get boba on the weekends. Denis loves playing soccer and enjoys practice with Mr. Gerken because he always finds a way to keep it fun. His favorite soccer games were always the ones that were against Sage Hill because the school was aggressive and kept things exciting. Next year, Denis will head to Santa Monica Community College to study Economics and Business. Inspired by his parents who are entrepreneurs, Denis hopes to create a business or startup, but his ultimate goal is to find a job that makes him happy.

Denis is one of the most caring and genuine people I have ever met and has been a close friend to me since freshman year….I’m thankful to have Denis as one of my close friends, and I’m glad I can call him my bratan [Russian slang for brother].

— Harrison Lee (‘20)

Matriarchal, artsy, and enthusiastic are just a few of the traits that make up Doris Yuan’s complex character. Although matriarch seems like a weird word to call a 19-year-old girl, it fits Doris perfectly since she is known as the “Grandma” of Jones dorm — where she spent most of her time. This co-chair of the VWS Prefect Council cherishes her time playing with Sol and Ero, screaming the words to her favorite songs at the top of her lungs with friends, and even sorting through the trash since Doris’ main goal was to make Jones feel like home. To non-Jones residents, Doris might be the artsy girl who painted the turtles in front of Taylor Lab or the face behind her iconic catchphrase, “Oh, really?”; for those who were fortunate enough to know Doris, like Mr. Jurczak, who taught her for three years, she is funny and sarcastic. Having her artwork showcased around campus is only one of Doris’s proudest achievements that she accomplished while at Webb. Next year, she will continue challenging herself at Cornell University, where she will surely expand her collection of personality traits.

“When you’re friends with Doris, you’re rewarded with good memes, her good taste in music, her skills as an exquisite chef, lots of Snapchats, and her secret softie side.”

— Jenna Zhao (‘20)

Elaine Liu is one of the most thoughtful, kind, and polite people you will ever meet. After finishing a block of AP Chemistry, Elaine’s favorite class, you can either find her cooking dumplings in her dorm or dining out with her friends. Elaine is an all-out foodie: she will miss the hot pots in Santa Anita Mall and sushi in the Claremont Village the most when she goes to the University of California, Berkeley. When Elaine is not tasting dishes, she is most likely organizing dorm events in Appleby, designing the newest yearbook page, or hanging out with her best friends: Candy and Ashley. Looking back, Elaine feels that she should have taken advantage of every opportunity that was offered to her. She is most grateful for Ms. Barhydt, her yearbook advisor, and Mr. Caldwell, her math teacher, for always believing in her. As Elaine heads off to college next year to major in Chemical Biology, she plans to continue exploring her passion for science. You might even find her at a graduate school on the east coast in five years!

If I have one wish, I would give it to myself that I wish, in the future, to find an equally funny, equally quirky, equally annoying, and equally cute friend as Elaine.

— Candy Gao (‘20)

Eleanor Corbin is ready to take on the world. She is a powerful and ubiquitous presence on campus who has served many roles: a day student prefect junior year, a member of the Honor Cabinet senior year, and co-captain of the debate team. Eleanor loved being a part of her senior class skit at Theme Nights, but she also loved her junior year Prom. It is hard to say what she loved more: dancing with her friends at last year’s Prom, or cheering and shouting with her class during this year’s Theme Nights. Eleanor also loves participating in the musical and debating against other schools. To her freshman self she would say, “Stop caring so much, and stop overthinking everything. You do not need everyone to like you for you to have a good high school experience.” After Webb, Eleanor will study Political Science at Grinnell College with the goal of making a positive impact on the world. Hopefully, she will be working on some type of political campaign in five years.

I have so many memories of Eleanor, from countless debate tournaments, discussing angst about judges, possible wild plans to debate a difficult topic, and as she got older, how we could best mentor and cultivate together the skills of newer, younger debaters.

— Jessica Fisher

Emily Arias has been properly “yee-hawing” for as long as she can remember, and much like a cowgirl, she knows all about the balance between hard work and fun. As an athlete, Emily has played a key role on the volleyball team, leading to back-to-back league championships and a state qualification. Her fierce determination to all her sports teams, including softball and waterpolo, was rewarded with packed stands in the gym during big games and unforgettable shared memories with her teammates, especially when a shower exploded in the pool locker room. Emily is in her natural habitat when she is playing Animal Crossing while chilling with her dogs, but she cannot go too long without seeing her friends. She will miss the times she spent with her close-knit group of friends she found at Webb, like at Homecoming and going to Haven City Market. Her friends all appreciate Emily’s energy, jokes, and her “smile of a Lego man” that brightens their days. When Emily swaps SoCal for NorCal at Santa Clara University to study Biology, she will bring the same spirit and passion that got her through Webb. As she always says, “You can take me out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of me.”

One of the main reasons why I liked volleyball season was because I had someone like Emily who would match my energy both on the bench and the court. We would always scream ‘yummy’ and make stupid jokes during practices and games.

— Sara Hagiwara (‘20)

Emily Li is a proud foodie. She has a huge appetite, eating 14 Upper House dumplings during ISL’s Lunar New Year celebration. Emily is a sucker for free food in particular, attending every food event in the Dzula/Greco house. Along with her love for eating, Emily also has an appetite for punny jokes, which is why her favorite place is “online”; In five years, she sees herself “in the mirror, most likely.” At Webb, she loves to bike, hike, eat take-out, sleep, play Hay Day, and talk with her friends Enya, Deanna, and Andrea. One of her favorite memories is playing Wii at Deanna’s house and dominating the Wii Party. Notedly, Emily is fascinated with life and “how life comes from the lifeless,” which led to her deep interest in biology. This interest prompted Emily to attend Stanford University this fall, where she plans to major in Biology and also take another major or a few minors, whichever suits her taste best.

Step aside, Gordon Ramsey. Emily Li is the new master chef.

— Enya Chi ('20)

One month into high school, Emma Lin fearlessly ran around campus barefoot and performed crazy cartwheels in the quad. While this memory is one that Emma laughs at now, it highlights her energetic personality. Her love for school spirit landed her the positions of spirit commissioner and senior class vice president, where she was able to help bring the community together at her favorite event, Theme Nights. During her time at Webb, Emma also fully dedicated herself to dance, starring in all four dance shows. She especially enjoyed 2020’s “Frames,” since it included novice senior dancers that made the annual post-dance show party even more memorable. In her free time, Emma likes driving around La Verne with friends, watching movies in all genres, and hanging out in Jones dorm. Emma even had a spontaneous adventure jumping into the Hooper fountain, an activity she thinks all Webbies should do before they graduate. Emma will leave behind her identity as a Gaul to become a Babson College Beaver this fall. She is excited to go to school in a forest, but will miss the closeness of the Webb community and the “crushed ice” offered in the dining hall.

Emma often describes herself as a rat and, while I don’t really think she resembles a rodent, I do think that she possesses some of a rat’s best qualities. I’m basing all my rat knowledge off of Ratatouille, but just like Remy, Emma is creative, outgoing, curious, and ready to do whatever it takes to pursue her dreams.

— Amelie Cook (‘20)

Enya Chi has a wide array of passions, ranging from Webb’s humanities courses to her love for Kpop, specifically Eric Nam. Anyone who knows Enya Chi knows that she has a passion for the humanities. Learning about how society functions and taking Advanced Studies Existentialism and the Human Conditions, her favorite class, has prompted her to pursue her interest in Sociology at Wellesley College. Following her patterns of deep and critical thinking, Enya can see herself following a career in economics or law. However, Enya also enjoys simple pleasures, like biking around Claremont, spending time with friends, and sleeping in. Along with biking, the functional fitness afternoon activity has allowed her to combine her love for working out and chatting with friends. Enya would advise her freshman self to procrastinate less on homework and to go to sleep early without over-stressing about every assignment. She is always excited for Roll Call at the end of the year, so she is disappointed that she cannot experience being a senior onstage in Hooper herself. Despite that feeling, Enya is eager to fulfill her dream of living in a big city, even if it is not New York City…yet.

From lychee (Li-Chi) to chili (Chi-Li), Enya is both sweet and spicy.

— Emily Li (‘20)

A seasoned programmer in robotics and a Computer Science enthusiast, Eric Liu is Webb’s resident techie. Although he has worked hard within Webb’s CS program, he is also proud of the two individual projects he completed outside of Webb: one focusing on programming specifically to analyze medical data on drug addiction and another one focusing on building a robot to heat and cool a pool. During his time at Webb, Eric has taken both AP CS Principles and CS 35 at Harvey Mudd College. His passion for CS stems from a Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth gifted and talented summer program Intro to Robotics course, leading Eric to continue to follow his passion as a CompSci major at Washington University. Eric’s love of CS is only matched by his love of Dota 2, a multiplayer video game, and badminton. While Eric may not have fit the conventional idea of a social butterfly at Webb, he loves going out with friends to celebrate special occasions and would not change anything about his Webb experience.

He is pretty much an otaku, staying at his dorm/home all the time. The dorm is where he spends more than half his day.

— Louis Luo (‘20)

If Frank Hu were an animal, he would be a hedgehog. On the outside, some see him as just another guy with spiky hair and a quiet, composed personality, but once you get to know him, he is full of energy, sharp-minded, and loved by all. Whether he is working in difficult humanities classes like Advanced Studies Gothic & Horror, patrolling the freshman dorms as a head prefect, or playing soccer on Chandler Field, he is always doing his best and making an indelible impact on his community. Out of all of his favorite things at Webb, Frank is going to miss the people the most. Playing video games in Albert Xu (‘20)’s dorm and bonding with his prefects are memories that Frank will not forget when he heads to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts to study International Relations. So if you see a stern yet caring businessman making his way around the world in ten years, it might just be Frank Hu.

Frank was born New Jersey, raised in Shanghai, lived in California for four years, and will be going to college in Boston. Despite all his traveling, he still can’t understand directions to the post office. I hope he doesn’t get lost without us.

— JD O’Donnell ('20)

Gabe Hong is much more than just his well-known long hair: he is a leader both on and off campus. As a peer advisor, Gabe enjoys getting a preview of what the Webb community will look like in the year to come, and he values being able to bond with the newest Webbies. In the afternoons, Gabe can almost always be found in the pool swimming or playing water polo, where he enjoys getting to work with his teammates and foster a team spirit. Although Gabe lives locally in Rancho Cucamonga, he chose to board at Webb because he “thought it would be fun.” Gabe also takes pride in his Korean heritage, and said that the class Honors East Asian Culture and Conflict was like an “awakening” for him because he had a personal connection to the content and loved learning about the history of his ancestors. A lifelong animal lover, Gabe sees himself researching marine life in the future. He will miss walking around Webb’s campus and knowing all the students at school when he attends UC Santa Cruz.

My favorite thing about Gabe is his passion. His passion to learn his Korean culture, his passion to be kind to others, or even his passion to learn as many K-pop dances as possible.

— Colin Kidwell (‘20)

Garrett Revelli is proud to be unapologetically himself every day. As one of the few people at Webb who can claim to be a full-fledged Eagle Scout, Garrett is extremely dedicated to staying active — even choosing to drive to Webb early in the morning to swim laps in the pool. Garrett is also a passionate cross country runner, tennis player, and even, for the first time this year, soccer player. While Garrett does not hold any official leadership titles at Webb, he consistently demonstrates his leadership skills both in and out of the classroom. Whether it means voicing his opinion in Honors East Asian Culture & Conflict or AP Environmental Science, or offering helpful advice to a friend in need, Garrett embodies what it means to be an Eagle Scout: a genuine leader for all. We hope that as Garrett studies Political Science at James Madison University next year, he will continue to be unapologetically himself.

“Garrett is a proud holder of the Scout Law: to help other people at all times, keep himself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. He’s consistently chomping at the bit to go straight where the crow flies in his mission to be a leader out the wazoo and to never put the cart before the horse.”

— J.D. O’Donnell (‘20)

Gil Dominguez-Letelier lives by the famous “How I Met Your Mother” quote, “If you’re not scared, you’re not taking a chance. And if you’re not taking a chance, then what are you doing?” Over the past four years, Gil has certainly taken as many chances as possible. As a freshman, he bought pizza for hoards of new friends just to make movie night on South Hutch patio a little more fun, and joined the fall play for the first time only to fall in love with theatre. Gil’s roles on stage are some of the most memorable parts of his time at Webb. For every show, Gil challenged himself to put on a new face with each new story. In his favorite performance, Chek(hov) 1,2, Gil played hilarious Igor Igorovich, who forced the audience to question the boundaries of comedy. Next year, he will continue to explore theatre and take as many risks as he can at Sarah Lawrence College when he studies Theatre Performance.

Always count on Gil to turn in assignment months past the deadline.

— Tiffany Chang (‘19)

If you see a group of friends together, laughing and making memories, Giselle Alrachid is sure to be right in the middle of it. She has spent the last four years enjoying Webb’s community environment, where she was easily able to interact with her friends at any given time. This close bond with her peers even drove her to join the VWS water polo team, where she found herself excited to go to practice; she fell in love with the sport. Although she is sad to see all her friends separate next year when they go off to college, she is excited to attend Loyola Marymount University, where she will major in Biology. Giselle decided to continue her studies in this field after taking both AP Biology and Advanced Studies Biotechnology at Webb. She was often fascinated with the projects and research she was doing in both classes. Looking even farther ahead, Giselle sees herself in some sort of medical field, like the characters in her favorite TV show, Grey’s Anatomy. Even though she may regret not realizing how quickly her high school years would go by, Giselle is proud of the friends and memories she has made at Webb.

I’m so glad Giselle never became a Gerber baby because then I would’ve never known that a person could have such a big brain, a beautiful heart, and an ear-piercing yet infectious giggle.

— Lydia Toy (‘20)

Whether it be on the court, on the field, or onstage, Hannalise Davidson jumps into the spotlight wherever she goes. A Claremont native, Hannalise has found plenty of ways to bridge the gap between day students and boarders at Webb. She loves going out with her friends, going on hikes, and just driving around in her truck. It is no surprise that Hannalise has made a family at Webb; she has the innate ability to bring different people together, which has helped her thrive in her roles as Peer Advisor and as President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She brings this same spirit of togetherness into her athletics. In her four years of basketball at Webb, she has developed a strong bond with her teammates and her love for the sport. Hannalise will be studying Biology and Spanish at the University of San Diego next year where she hopes to begin her journey towards becoming a dermatologist, a goal that stems from her interest in popping pimples. There is little doubt that Hannalise will accomplish her dreams wherever she goes; she knows her friends and family have her back and her faith is leading her forward.

She is the friend that will invite you to an event at 5:00, tell you she will pick you up at 4:00, and then show up at 6:30 with a Starbucks.

— Helina Zhao (‘20)

Harrison Lee is a ninja. Spotting him grabbing a bagel or lounging in the library in between classes is a rare sighting. Despite living in one of the furthest rooms from lower campus, he is always willing to make the walk up Gym Hill just to lie down in arguably the comfiest bed at Webb. But do not mistake his covertness as antisocial, because Harrison will usually be in his room with at least two other people. Throughout the years, his room has served as the headquarters for him and his friends. If you get locked out, need to take a break from work, or just want to hang out — Harrison’s room is the place. He is always willing to share whatever he has, whether it be his room, snacks, or food that he ordered. Harrison shares his generosity by serving as WSC vice president. He also served as co-captain of the varsity tennis team this year. He will miss his friends, Mr. Kozden, and pork tacos from the Price Dining Hall. Next year, he will attend Loyola Marymount University and major in Business.

I used to be in Harry’s room more than I would be in my own room. This did not just apply for me but a whole bunch of other people. I think this really shows how open he is and how he is just a really good guy.

— Linh Nguyen (‘20)

Helina Zhao looks for fun in everything she does. Helina loves going out on weekends with her friends and living it up on incredible Webb weekend runs to Westfield Santa Anita or the beach. Her creativity is hardly bound to her weekend adventures, as she brings that same spirit to her interest in business, a passion that developed when she took Honors Stories & Strategies of Entrepreneurs with Mr. Duque. She is planning to major in Business and Science at Babson College in Massachusetts where she hopes to begin her journey to create new and innovative products for the modern world. At Webb, Helina also enjoys managing the VWS basketball team at Webb; she was especially grateful that she was allowed to eat on the sidelines during games and practices. Even though she will be continuing her academic journey thousands of miles away, Helina will not forget about the people that made her time at Webb so special. Her roommate and friends will always hold a special place in her heart, and she will not forget about the fun times they shared.

“Helina has the best energy. She is excited and passionate about business, and a very talented artist. She is always there for you when you need it and will always stand up for you.”

— Hannalise Davidson (‘20)

Ian Iglehart coasts with his head down because he enjoys simplicity. On the pool deck, Ian is an active member of the swim team who can always be found chilling with his “swim homies” and respecting the solid program Mr. Rosenfeld runs. Starting sophomore year, Ian joined the paleontology program and even finished a research paper with Dr. Lofgren about some fossils Raymond Alf discovered in 1950. As a huge foodie, Ian loves falafel, double wrapped burritos from Chipotle, and homemade hummus. It is no surprise that in the future, he wants an awesome kitchen in his house so he can cook all the food he wants, especially hummus and bread. Ian enjoys what each individual high school grade has to offer and is sad to lose the end of his senior year, especially the opportunity to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with the boys. Ian will miss the times laughing hysterically with Caitlin Pender (‘20), hanging out with his dorm buddies, and Trader Joe’s runs. Next year, Ian will head to California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo to study Engineering.

Ian is the best kind of friend to be around because at the end of the day, he never fails to make you feel better and your stomach hurts from laughing so hard. And yet the best part of it all is that you know he is always ready to do it all again the next day.

— Caitlin Pender (‘20)

One of the kindest and most open-hearted people you will ever meet, Isabelle Saad cherishes the people around her. When she is not busy working with the VWS Honor Cabinet or as an admission ambassador, Isabelle can be found spending time with her friends and family, baking, watching a movie, or attending church. She values the time she spent with the people close to her, which is why she appreciates Webb’s tight-knit community. Isabelle even found her own, even closer group of friends in the theater department. On the stage of Liu Cheung, she was able to grow not only as a person but also as a singer. The spring musicals help her learn more about how to use her own “instrument.” Isabelle plans to continue singing at Scripps College, where she will be learning voice, opera, theater, classical guitar, and piano, alongside her studies of psychology and other sciences. She hopes to take these two very different studies and combine them in her career as a doctor, where she plans to incorporate some music therapy into her practice, helping others one song at a time.

“I thought of her funny way of saying “no,” like how it’s pronounced in Spanish. It’s just ironic that she’s a girl that almost never says no. She doesn’t say no when strangers ask for help, when she faces a challenge, or when her friends need her. She is always available and she is always giving everyone a loving smile.”

— Nancy Li ('20)

J.D. O’Donnell is undoubtedly one of the most familiar faces on campus, but he still finds unexpected ways to surprise people. As chair of the WSC dorm council, J.D. helps plan and direct many school events, and he is often immersed in the frontline — even being a co-host for Jubilee did not stop him from grabbing his guitar and performing on stage three times. J.D. is a year-round athlete at Webb, from cross country to soccer to tennis, but the bonds he has made in the programs with his teammates and coaches made those afternoons memorable. Nonetheless, the qualities J.D. are less known for are equally as important: he is a lover of Snapchat stickers, a Bachelor fanatic, a mountain man, and a country soul who just wants to sing Tim McGraw’s “Live Like You Were Dying” with the boys. J.D. will miss impressing people with his native Spanish tongue, going on hikes with his friends, and hearing Garrett Revelli (‘20)’s insightful quotes, but he is excited to pursue life in college. After Webb, J.D. plans to go abroad to France in preparation to attend the University of Southern California, majoring in Business Administration the following year.

“J.D. is an untamable young stallion, reminds me of a young Zapata.”

— Liam Gerken ('20)

Known for his classic t-shirt and shorts look, super blonde hair, friendly smile, and bright orange truck, Jacob Weigand is one of those people you are always happy to see. Radiating happiness himself, Jacob is usually excited to stop and chat with you too. His eagerness to help, meet new people, and immerse himself in the Webb community inspired him to become a peer advisor his junior year. He has loved driving his truck to campus before the school year started and setting up for orientation with the other peer advisors; one of his favorite parts of being a PA was bonding and hanging out with the other leaders. Becoming a head PA during his senior year, he was able to work alongside some of his closest friends from other leadership groups as well. Jacob even considers himself friends with some of the teachers at Webb, who, in addition to the community and the WSC golf team, he will miss a lot at college. Five years from now, Jacob hopes to be finished immersing himself in studies and to spend his time on the golf course instead. His next step towards this goal will be at University of Richmond in Richmond, Virginia.

“There are only two people confident enough to drive bright orange trucks: Jacob and Mr. Caddy.”

— Kate Guernsey (‘20)

Janitza Luna is indomitable and nothing can stop her. Her determination on the soccer field, in the classroom, and in the kitchen of a casual Asian fusion restaurant has made her a strong person, ready for the many challenges that life outside Southern California will offer. Next year, Janitza is heading off to Illinois to study sociology at her dream school, Northwestern University. Even though the hard work her many accomplishments required was sometimes exhausting, she is proud of the way her effort has translated into major success. As Editor-in-Chief of the WCC and a day student prefect, Janitza always found ways to impact Webb. She spent most of her spare time riding with her friends to movies and restaurants, singing along to songs like “Total Eclipse of the Heart” all the way. She is thankful to her family for teaching her to be proud of her Mexican heritage and keeping her connected with her family outside the United States. Janitza will miss post-dance sleepovers and seeing her best friends and puppy, Apollo, every day, but everyone who knows her is sure she will never stop finding ways to do amazing things anywhere she goes.

Janitza is like a chihuahua. She is small and feisty and I am afraid of her. But, once you get to know her, she is overwhelmingly lovable.

— Caroline Metyas ('20)

If you are looking for a friend who loves to have spontaneous, stress-free dance parties on the weekend, Jasmine Garcia is your girl. Although she had never taken any formal dance classes before Webb, she found a love for the sport in the fall season with Mr. Szanyi, where she was able to release her nerves from the day with no pressure. Along with Mr. Szanyi’s lessons, Jasmine is grateful for her relationship with Dr. Cantwell, who she feels helped her grow as a person. This close-knit relationship she created with her teachers and classmates at Webb is one of the things Jasmine will miss most when she attends University of Redlands in the fall. After studying Communication Sciences and Communication Disorders, she hopes to create a close bond with her own students when she works with children in special education. Her connection to her cousin with down syndrome and her patience with kids has given her a passion for helping others learn. Thanks to her kind-hearted nature, Jasmine is sure to make a positive impact on the world around her in the future.

Jasmine is like a warm ray of sunshine in everyone’s lives that just makes our days brighter and our lives happier—she is everything you would want in a friend.

— Caroline Metyas (‘20)

A born leader, Jay Gupta embodies the characteristics of a lion as the “king of the forest.” Like a lion, Jay balances his social and private life well, from planning a successful Theme Nights and Prom as the president of his class to eating at restaurants with friends, where the chef made fun of his crew. Besides advocating for the people in his class, Jay dominates debate tournaments and has won the national championship, thriving in topics related to politics, economics, and commerce. Jay was also a two-year community service member. Although he will miss the close bonds of his class and courses like Honors Stories & Strategies of Entrepreneurs and Honors Economic Thought in the Modern Age, he will continue to lead and serve in the Stern School of Business in New York City as he pursues a dual major in Business and Political Science, delving into the fascinating intersection between government studies and economics. This Adam Sandler fan and Newport native will hold onto his strong bonds with his class, put himself out there, and connect with more people.

Social, leader, and not athletic are the words to describe Jay. Or I can change them to: outgoing, friendly, and funny.

— Louis Luo (‘20)

Jayden Chiu lives by the Lionel Messi quote: “I start early and I stay late, day after day, year after year. It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.” Following Messi’s words, Jayden is a diligent and passionate student who appreciates Dr. Lofgren, his Advanced Studies Paleontology teacher, for being a great mentor by guiding him through his many research. Outside of the classroom, Jayden enjoys working out in the gym, ordering food, or blasting Taylor Swift songs with his friends on the weekend. As a prefect in MacLeod, Jayden also loves helping out with the annual Halloween and holiday parties. Although he loves Webb and Claremont, Jayden was born and raised in Hong Kong, so he is influenced by both Western and Eastern culture. This has influenced his passion for traveling and reading about different cultures from a young age. Next year, Jayden will bring this interest with him to Johns Hopkins University, where he plans to major in International Studies before his final goal of working with the United Nations.

My favorite memory with Jayden is grinding out IPC projects late at night sophomore year because he always carried me.

— Ping Fong (’20)

Jeffrey Zhong embodies Webb’s “I think it’s fine” attitude. His calm approach to life has allowed him to juggle his commitments as WSC all-school president, Bio Club vice president, Star Wars Club vice president, and Marvel Club secretary. When not practicing for the varsity tennis team, you can probably find Jeffrey surfing YouTube, perfecting a diss track of Chris Haliburton, playing Wii Sports with friends, or binge-watching the latest episodes of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure. He has also found his place at Webb through his roles as yearbook staff member and two-year WSC varsity basketball team manager. While Jeffrey enjoys his quiet time, he loves seeing members of the community come together through high-spirited campus-wide events such as Theme Nights. He is a huge STEM fan; his three all-time favorite high school classes are AP Statistics with Mr. Neyer and two dual-enrollment Computer Science courses at Harvey Mudd. Next year, Jeffrey will continue to grow as he travels to Houston to major in Computer Science at Rice University.

“Jeffrey and I have been good friends since we started to make weird, absurd meme videos in middle school. He’s the type of person that you just love to be around, no matter what you’re doing, because he is always willing to laugh or do something ridiculous with you.”

— Jonathan Becker (‘20)

If you ask the Webb community to describe Jenna Zhao, everyone will give you the same answer — philosophical. Jenna loves philosophy because it offers her different perspectives and helps shape how she acts and thinks. At Webb, you might find Jenna doing homework with her friends, leading the VWS varsity tennis team to victory as co-captain, or reading Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. Webb feels like home to Jenna; she has made her family here out of her best friends and her favorite teacher and advisor, Ms. Fisher. This fall, Jenna will be attending The University of Chicago and will major in English and Philosophy. Jenna is nervous because she does not know what the future holds, but she is confident that there will be new and exciting opportunities. In about ten years, Jenna hopes that she is happy and is contributing to the world.

“She is a big brain who always comes up with deep intellectual queries.”

— Mia Wang (‘20)

Jill Ji has a laugh that can only be described as one of a kind. It is loud and high-pitched, capable of penetrating the thin walls of Jones dorm and traveling all the way through the second floor. Her laughter reflects her passionate character. Jill loves to dance, and one of her best Webb memories was dancing to K-pop music with her friends at Jubilee. Jill is also passionate about social issues and has designed psychology courses for kids who grew up without their parents in Southern China. If there is one thing that Jill is not passionate about, it is sports. As a not-so-athletic person, Jill admits that the biggest mistake she has made was joining track during her freshman year, which was pure physical torment. However, she never regretted that choice, as she was proud of herself for sticking with it for the season instead of quitting. As she leaves for Johns Hopkins University next year to study International Studies and Economics, the one thing she will miss the most is the time at Webb itself, as she can never return to these teenage years.

Jill likes to dance in her room a lot. She will just stand in front of the mirror and randomly start dancing, or you know, just twisting on her chair. At first, I was like ‘Jill, are you okay?’ but I got used to it.

— Alina Hu (‘20)

If you ever walk into the library and hear a loud screech coming from Berry Center, chances are it came from Jonathan Becker. One may think it is quite unusual for someone to make as many weird noises as Jonathan, but it is in his nature. He describes his life as “one prolonged meme.” Jonathan loves creating, collecting, and sharing memes. He is constantly making lists and ranking things, and has even made a YouTube video, where he ranked fruits with Webb alumni Simon Dawson (‘19). His favorite memory at Webb was walking around the library after Early Decision I results and handing out bread from Le Pain Quotidien to cheer people up. Jonathan is a compassionate and curious spirit, who loves to try new activities and lets his actions speak for his personality. Once he is passionate about something, there is no stopping him. He loves to dive into new cultures and learn new languages. Jonathan will continue his passion for learning this fall at Claremont McKenna College, where he will study International Relations.

He may look like a flamingo from a distance, but once you get to know Jonathan, he’s an amazing friend who always has your back, weird facts, and dank memes when you need it.

— Jeffrey Zhong (‘20)

If you do not remember Justin by the library front desk, you will remember him on the Liu/Cheung Theater stage, smiling at his audience. Freshman year, Justin preferred to hide out in his room, struggling to find his place at Webb. He finally branched out during a baseball tournament that year on Catalina Island, where he bonded with his teammates and made some of his best memories. During sophomore year, he challenged himself to step into the unknown and audition for the play. Besides making phenomenal friends among the cast, theatre helped Justin overcome social anxiety and engage his imagination. These moments helped Justin evolve into the outgoing, kind, friendly person we know today. Justin became a leader on campus as part of Chapel Council, which he believes is one of Webb’s most important programs, and as a dorm prefect, becoming a core part of the beloved Alamo brotherhood. After strengthening bonds with his class during this year’s Unbounded Days at Catalina Island, Justin will miss the tight community on campus and strong connections with WSC’s class of 2020. Next year, Justin hopes to become part of another supportive community on the beautiful campus of Lake Forest College.

Justin is one of those people who is unapologetically himself. He is authentic, genuine, and completely comfortable in his own skin. But more than all that, he’s just a good, kind person.

— Mo Igbaria (‘20)

Bubble tea runs, waiting for food at the loop, jamming out to music with her friends, and much more: Kara truly takes advantage of all that Webb has to offer and always lives in the moment. You can often find her watching The Office, listening to Tyler the Creator, her idol, and snacking on gummy worms or gushers. Kara is truly a creative soul and is an avid fan of painting, creative writing, and filming. Next year, she hopes to major in Communications at the University of Southern California and hopes to use her degree to make an animated television show about growing up Asian. At Webb, Kara served as a VWS perfect, always able to adapt to any circumstances and ready to lend a helping hand. Celine Lau (‘22), Jones dormitory resident, has fond memories of Kara’s late-night instant ramen presents. Kara is excited to take the skills she learned at Webb, not to mention her favorite ramen she has accumulated, to excel at USC. Thanks to her caring and artistic personality, we know she will do great things in the future.

“Kara is one of the most charismatic, creative, Nintendo-loving people I know. She’s like Yoshi: fiercely loyal to her friends, a kind and compassionate leader, and always down for a new adventure.”

— Sydney Wuu (’20)

Kasra loves helping his friends. If you have seen Kasra around campus, chances are he was picking up food for his squad to enjoy later in the Ruddick Room. Kasra exudes enthusiasm, whether through expressing his love for the dining hall’s grilled cheese or for the WSC JV tennis team. While at Reynolds, he loves to settle down with gaming, watching Naruto, and blasting J. Cole’s “No Role Models.” Kasra’s most cherished memories at Webb all include making his friends laugh, especially at Welcome Back Dances. Another one of his favorite memories is the Halloween Haunted House, where he munched on treats like caramel apples, while discussing what gaming console was the best. Born and raised in Georgia, Kasra is going to Kennesaw State University, but plans on visiting California from time to time. While in Georgia, Kasra will continue to develop his love for gaming through his passion for engineering. In five years, Kasra sees himself “not being a vegan,” as well as developing video games for fellow enthusiasts to enjoy.

“Kasra is one of the most genuine people that I’ve met. He’s so funny and I’m proud to call him my friend.”

— Harrison Lee ('20)

Kate Guernsey’s door is always open, literally and metaphorically. Apart from her broken door in North Hutch that refuses to shut, her room could be confused for a freshman advice hub or a refuge for her day student friends — it is always occupied. Kate has a calming presence that naturally welcomes people, but her energy and soul should not be overlooked. Embracing her free spirit, Kate departed her home in San Francisco to board at Webb. Her time living on campus has gifted her with some of her favorite memories: analyzing episodes of The Bachelor with other religious followers, choreographing new cheer routines with her roommate, attending all-school events, and venturing out for trips to In-N-Out with friends. Kate has enjoyed many Webb courses from a range of departments, such as Advanced Studies Anatomy and Physiology and Advanced Studies Gothic and Horror Literature and Culture. However, she has spent the majority of her time at Webb building connections with people in the dorms as the VWS Dorm Council’s co-chair, on community service trips, and in the pool during water polo season. While the people at Webb have made it her home, Kate is excited to open a new door at the University of Richmond this fall.

Don’t let the resting sad face fool you! Kate is the Doug to my Steve Butabi—always hilarious, ready to have a spontaneous dance party, and able to help people realize their true feelings regarding any situation.

— Lydia Toy (‘20)

If you are looking for someone who knows how to both bait a hook and score a soccer goal, Kellen Willmore is your guy. A soccer superstar since age four, Kellen has loved playing both in and out of Webb because of the sport’s team dynamic. He will continue his soccer career next year at the University of the Pacific, where he will be majoring in Environmental Science and Law. His passion for these studies stemmed from taking AP Environmental Science and Honors American Crime and Punishment when he was surprised to be interested in the work he was doing. Although he is excited to pursue his interests in college, he is going to miss Webb’s community events that amped up class spirit, including Webb Day, and spending time with his friends fishing on the weekends. He and his friends usually prefer fishing at the local lake in Rancho Cucamonga, Kellen and Kyle Burt (‘20) once went fishing in the pond outside of the Admissions Office at Webb, a memory he will never forget. Although he has enjoyed messing around with his friends, he has learned to focus on his academics at Webb, a tool he is excited to use in the future.

“Boys, treat your girl like Kellen treats Bailey [his truck].”

— Akira Hori ('20)

Kush Arya lives his life to a simple creed: it is in falling short of your own goals that you will surpass those who exceed their own. Kush has tirelessly pursued his dreams since well before he discovered a love for coding in grade school, and with every new language he learned, his burning desire for knowledge only grew fiercer. From coding in his free time to taking college-level classes, Kush has only been limited by the resources available to him. At Webb, his determination and resilience are hardly confined to the classroom; he brought both to his role as DSP as well as to his athletics. In cross country, Kush found a sport that helped him reframe challenges as opportunities to succeed. From Mr. Gerken‘s witty comments to Mr. Caldwell’s reassuring and proud back pats after a difficult meet, Kush has no shortage of stories when it comes to the faculty who pushed him to discover who he could become. He will continue his journey by studying computer science at Reed College next year.

You can try, but you will never be able to get on Kush’s level. He is absolutely superior in every way, shape, or form. So don’t be surprised when he takes over the world simply out of spite.

— Ariel Benjamin (‘20)

Kyle Burt has always loved the outdoors. An avid fisherman for years now, Kyle learned the skill from his grandfather before going on to create the Fishing Club during his junior year. The club allowed Kyle to further develop his passion while also spending time with his friends. Two years ago, he attended the Survival Skills 1.0 Unbounded trip, which encouraged him to take the Leadership in the Wilderness course to learn more about camping and survival training. Besides fishing, Kyle enjoys hiking, skiing, and going to the beach, especially when his friends join him. Kyle is passionate about baseball, which is reflected in his commitment to the WSC varsity baseball team. This year, he even attended the Baseball: America’s Pastime Unbounded trip, where the students went to see the MLB’s pre-season spring training in Arizona. When he is not outdoors or playing baseball, Kyle loves to listen to country music, especially Luke Combs, and watch Breaking Bad or Stranger Things. Hailing locally from Rancho Cucamonga, Kyle is excited to move one step closer to his dream of moving to Tennessee by majoring in Business at Southern Methodist University.

He’s like a country song that appears one way, but there’s a different person inside him.

— Akira Hori (‘20)

Long before Leo Liu founded the Biology Club, became a peer advisor, and participated in JV tennis, he was the legendary freshman DJ in Fawcett Library. Hailing from Shenzhen, China, Leo is an easy-going person who is passionate about pursuing what makes him happy, such as playing video games and going out with friends. During his time at Webb, Leo particularly cherished his friends, his JV tennis coach Mr. Kozden, and his advisor and teacher, Mr. Jurczak. Leo will never forget the time when he said, “Ok, boomer,” to Mr. Dahler, which got the entire class laughing. On the weekends, Leo enjoys going off–campus with his friends and playing Dota, his favorite video game, with fellow senior Eric Liu (‘20). Coincidentally, Eric will also be Leo’s college roommate next year, as both are heading off to Washington University in St. Louis. In college, Leo plans to major in Bio Medicine on the Pre-med track because of his interest in the sciences and the good biology program his university offers. However, Leo is also open to exploring new majors, and, in 5 years, plans to get a doctorate.

Basically, Leo’s a weeb, a DJ, and he’s bald.

— Sydney Wang ('20)

Liam Gerken’s most common one-liner — “that’s insane!” — proves that he is bursting with energy at all times. Liam’s vibrance reaches many people on campus, from serving as a day student prefect, a group he believes is underrated at Webb, to being a part of the varsity cross country team. Although Liam does not particularly enjoy running, choosing to focus on his love for his teammates and their interactions defines his approach to life. Even while engaging in discussions in Advanced Studies Fascism, talking to “Doc” Lofgren in the Paleontology lab, or watching Frank Hu (‘20) eat sunflower seeds on a kayak, Liam finds a way to cherish routine parts of the day. Liam will miss the moments of crowding around the television to watch The Bachelor with the boys and flipping water bottles at the Senior Spot with his friends. Despite his tendency to be a messy eater, his friends will miss him because of his “contagious goofy vibes” and his dog, Chewy. This self-proclaimed “nomad” will add Boston to his list of residencies in the fall, where he will explore his interests in Economics and Philosophy and continue his soccer career at Tufts University.

Liam is insane at many things: playing soccer, crushing the APs, taking photos, being a great friend, but swimming is not one of them.

— Frank Hu (‘20)

You may think of Linh Nguyen as the aloof senior, dressed in black and never really seen on campus; in reality, he is more than what his monochromatic outfits give off. Linh created his favorite memories in the MacLeod dorms, where he proudly lived for three years, including the times he and his friends spent throwing paper towels at each other in the showers or playing music so loud that Mr. Valera had to knock on their doors. The dorms also nurtured his love of Travis Scott music and shows like The Office, Naruto, and Breaking Bad. When his schedule is more relaxed, Linh can be spotted in Price Dining Hall hanging out or with his peer advisees, who he loved teaching. His helpful spirit and passion for photography allowed him to serve as Editor of Photography for the El Espejo yearbook. Aside from Yearbook, Linh spent his afternoons at golf practices. He cherishes the weird and interesting conversations he has with Mr. Neyer, his coach and advisor, as well as singing and joking around with his teammates. While he will miss the camaraderie of the golf team and closeness of the Webb community, Linh will tee off at UC Irvine to study business.

Linh has been one of my closest friends since freshman year. All the countless memories we had in Kirkhill and Macleod are what made Webb memorable.

— Harrison Lee ('20)

It is Friday during lunch and Fawcett Library is hosting the weekly performance series. You walk inside to see a large crowd in the back. Everyone is jumping up and down to Webb’s, and possibly Claremont’s, best rapper, London Tyck. When the mic is in his hands, you best believe that he will be dropping the hottest bars you have ever heard. Besides dropping mixtapes, London also serves as a member of the Honor Committee and plays basketball. If he is not busy with school work or leadership duties, London can be found practicing basketball or catching up with one of his favorite shows, Westworld. A highlight of his Webb career was attending Prom as a sophomore and wearing a comic book themed tuxedo that caught everyone’s eye. While moving on to the next chapter of his life, London will miss Webb’s community and the amazing people he met and became close friends with. He is not sure where he will be going to college in the fall yet, but he envisions that in his future, he will be a sports journalist or a basketball coach.

“Despite being the hardest rapper in the game and the most notorious heartbreaker on campus, London is the nicest person you will ever meet and will constantly go out of his way to make sure your day is better.”

— Cayden Lazier (‘20)

Proud to be the unorthodox protagonist of a Webb legend, Louis still laughs at himself for bringing coconuts into Holt and trying to throw a coconut party on the second day of school. Silly and intuitive, Louis wants to tell his freshman self, “Do not do stupid things.” His serious and compassionate side is exemplified by his experiences as the leader of A Perfect Love club and three-year badminton player. Whether it be watching Altered Carbon, Stranger Things, the Marvel series, listening to All Time Low and My Dilemma 2.0, winning casino nights, or hanging out with friends, Louis’ friends can always count on him to make them laugh and have fun. Since freshman year, his contagious laughter and personality has promised him great friends at Webb. His friend Eric Liu (‘20) even describes him as “Luffy from One Piece because he does the craziest things sometimes.” Despite his silliness, Louis is a strong student and enjoyed Mr. Walker’s epic Calculus class the most. Believing in the Chinese philosopher Laozi’s statement that “When things get extreme, they tend to develop towards the opposite direction (物极必反)”, Louis will continue his journey in Washington University to pursue his passion in CS or business.

Louis likes to tiptoe to look taller and talk about making people take a seat.

— Eric Liu (‘20)

Luke Raus is a STEM and athletic powerhouse. His legacy as valedictorian and leader of Webb’s robotic, cross country, and track teams will linger long after he departs campus. He served on the Peer Advisor team during his junior year and the Honor Council during his senior year, utilizing his natural curiosity and goofiness to mentor his peers. Luke also possesses an artistic dimension; he loves Advanced Art because it has given him the creative latitude to push himself in new ways. Luke will miss showing up to every community event he can; some of his favorites include representing the juniors for Just Dance at Webb Night 2019 and sprinting around a transformed, darkened campus for Zombie Apocalypse. Luke will miss all the meals he shared with his friends at Price Dining Hall, especially those featuring Webb’s iconic sugar cookies. Next year, as Luke heads off to Olin College of Engineering, he is excited to reside outside the Claremont area for the first time. He is leaning towards a Robotics specialty that would immerse him in the hands-on aspects of mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering. Above all, Luke hopes to never stop learning.

“Luke always amazes me with his thought-provoking ideas and super creative projects he builds. But more so than that, Luke is one of the most caring and genuine persons I have met… just don’t delete any of the graphs on his calculator.”

— Jeffrey Zhong ('20)

On the second day of freshman year, Lydia Toy slid down Gym Hill, skinning her knee on the unforgiving gravel and ruining her brand-new pair of Converse. But ever since, she has demonstrated what it means to bounce back on her feet. Lydia is the ultimate renaissance woman. She has worked to accomplish a lot, even in the face of challenges, whether as co-captain of the varsity volleyball team, star water polo goalie, Admissions Fellow, or two-year dorm prefect in North Hutch. Beyond her many titles, she is also an avid Parks and Rec watcher and Joji fan. Lydia loves learning; she enjoys studying the abstract concepts of chemistry almost as much as she loves grappling with challenging existential debates. Outside of Webb, Lydia is the proud owner of a pet Siberian Husky named Blu, and will spend the next four years as a proud Husky herself at Northeastern University. She plans to pursue a major in Biology on the pre-med track with the dream of following in her father’s footsteps to become a surgeon. While enjoying her first Bostonian winter, Lydia will reminisce about Webb’s Haunted House, Jubilee, Kevin Quick’s taco night, and most of all, her friends.

“Lydia has been my Jerry since way before I watched Cheer. I love Jerry, but Lydia’s mat talk is better.”

— Kate Guernsey (‘20)

If you have ever seen a guy wandering around campus wearing funny cat shirts, like shirts with cats floating in space or eating pizzas, that dude is no doubt, Malachi Cassel. Malachi might appear quiet in classes, but he has a wild soul outside the classroom. Once, he decided to jump over the rocks behind the guard shack at the loop and ended up cutting his head open on the corner of the shack in front of all the students returning from the summer peccary trip. This anecdote is only one of the many instances where Malachi has gotten hurt doing something fun but a little crazy, as his mentality is to live life to the fullest and have fun. Apart from doing crazy things, he also enjoys playing water polo. As a four-year varsity player and captain, Malachi has led the team to countless victories. When he is not in the pool, he is playing video games with his friends, Gabriel Hong (‘20) and Colin Kidwell (‘20), with Super Smash Bros being their favorite. Next year, Malachi will return to his hometown to attend the University of Redlands, where he will study Mathematics and continue to pursue a carefree lifestyle.

Malachi reminds me of a mixture of a panda and a gorilla. He has the quiet nature when you first meet him, and when you get to know him, he’s playful and when you make him mad, you are done. He’s like, ‘I will end you, it’s over.

— Colin Kidwell (‘20)

You might run into Malika Neogi in Price Dining Hall where she often volunteers to help do dishes in the mornings. If you do not see her behind the dishwashing station, then you surely can find her at the gym. Malika loves working out and some of her favorite activities include playing volleyball, outdoor climbing, and CrossFit. Her other hobbies include hanging out with friends, spending time outside, and watching Netflix. Her favorite show is The 100, a CW series about a dystopian future where Earth is abandoned. She often goes on weekend hiking trips and is an experienced hiker. Serving as a head waiter, president of Webb Platoon Club, and admission ambassador, she is an integral part of the community. She will miss her friends, the dining hall, the maintenance staff, and everyone who has been with her since freshman year. If she could give advice to her freshman self, she wishes she had taken art class instead of theater because she loves to draw. Creating art, for Malika, is therapeutic and helps her relieve stress. Next year, she is going to the University of Washington in Seattle where she plans to study Biology, with the hopes of one day becoming a surgeon.

“Malika’s the most genuine person I know. She’s so kind and willing to go out of her way for others without needing recognition. She’s the strongest person I know both physically and mentally. She’s jacked. She’s like a little ball of sunshine.”

— Chloe Stewart (‘20)

Coming from Rancho Cucamonga to board at Webb, Max Urias is one of the few boarders who can go home on the weekend. Max is known for his generosity — he often opens his home to his out-of-state and international friends. However, if you ever find yourself playing a one-on-one sniper battle in Call of Duty, do not expect the same kindness. From Warzone to Super Smash Bros, there is not a video game Max will not beat you in. Besides excelling in virtual games, Max is also a beast on the soccer field. Max has loved to play soccer long before attending Webb. He has played for Webb’s soccer team since freshman year and joined the varsity squad his junior year. In the community, Max enjoys being a prefect. He values his time spent participating in activities together with his residents, his favorite being Webb Idol. As he moves on to another adventure, he will miss being a prefect, his friends, and the small class sizes at Webb. Next year, he plans to attend Loyola Marymount University and major in Psychology.

“Maxi is the most philosophical person I have seen of his age. He questions everything and does not abide by mainstream ideas and beliefs, a quality so rare nowadays.”

— Denis Khonenev (‘20)

Maya Jaffe has six children. Their names are Luna, Quinten, Ollie, Jax, Serena, and Valerie. It should also be noted that her children are not human, they are all succulents. As Webb’s resident astrology-loving, plant mom, Maya is one of the few people who can claim to embody all the characteristics of her star sign. She is a Capricorn through and through: an ambitious and persistent realist with a passion for DIY projects and gardening. A prominent leader in both the theatretech and peer advising programs, you can always count on Maya to get things done — a trait sparked partly by her competitive spirit (she proudly stands as one of the finalists in the schoolwide game of Assassin in 2019). With this ambitious attitude, it is no surprise that Maya already has a plan for her future; she plans to double major in Psychology and Neuroscience at Santa Clara University before hopefully going to graduate school to further study the human brain. While Maya’s family and friends (and her dog Kiba!) will miss her next year, they have no doubt that she will achieve great things.

Maya can only be summed up as your chaotic good, crazy Jewish aunt who’s always looking out for what’s best for you, but maybe not for herself.

— Ariel Benjamin (‘20)

Mia Wang exudes goofiness. With her friends, she cannot even walk straight when doubled over in laughter. Her silliness even landed her a CBO her sophomore year, but since becoming a Jones dorm prefect this year, she has learned to laugh at her mistakes. Mia loves her job as a prefect because she loves Jones; it was her home for two years, and it became a central aspect of her time at Webb. Some of her favorite memories come from Jones, specifically the times that she hung out with friends in someone’s room until 3 a.m. Although Mia enjoys messing around, she can be serious, especially about her academics. One of the classes she enjoyed the most was Honors Economic Thought in the Modern Age with Dr. Riel, one of her favorite teachers. “I love Dr. Riel, he’s so weird. He always has a coffee mug except he holds it wrong,” says Mia. Looking back, if Mia could tell her freshman self one thing, it would be to not procrastinate, which she still does, and enjoy the time with her friends at Webb. Mia will be attending Occidental College next year, majoring in Cognitive Science before attending medical school.

“Mia is constantly sleepy and whenever I go into the room, 90% of the time, she’s taking a nap. She also doesn’t admit that she’s a weeb.”

— Jenna Zhao (‘20)

If you ever see someone doing cartwheels or rolling down the hill outside of Hooper Student Center with her friends, it is probably Michelle Munguia just messing around! Michelle displays her exuberant energy through the activities she loves most: serving her community as a head peer advisor and playing on the varsity water polo and volleyball teams. As an athlete, she has helped lead her volleyball team to victory to win the League Championship two years in a row in addition to making it to CIF. Michelle is willing to step out of her comfort zone and try new things, including water polo and her favorite class, Advanced Studies Gothic and Horror Literature and Culture. Most would not imagine someone as sweet as Michelle to choose a subject that focuses on scary movies and horror, yet she really enjoyed the class and found it interesting to learn something new. Michelle’s loving and kind personality will continue to make an impact on other people’s lives as she heads off to the University of Southern California to study Business Administration. She believes that her time at Webb serves as a platform for her to become a leader in the real world.

Even though she’s a hard worker and super intelligent, she’s so much fun outside of the classroom. I love hanging out with her and laughing at the most random things that usually aren’t even funny… honestly she’s just the best person!

— Lydia Toy (‘20)

Mo Igbaria epitomizes the image of a Webb senior. Always happy for company while procrastinating at the Senior Spot, he can be seen with his trusted entourage: basically anyone from the class of 2020. He is known for living in exercise clothes, either by breaking the dress code during the school day or changing right after the last block. His iconic style mirrors his love for wrestling and functional fitness with Dr. Beikman. His journey with Webb wrestling began his freshman year and ended one of his proudest moments — winning a match at his senior game. Mo always complained about homework, but he was able to get it done and return with a smile the next day regardless. Despite a heavy workload, his fondness for the medical sciences grew when he took Advanced Studies Anatomy and Physiology and Neuroscience his junior year, and, although he regrets taking Advanced Studies Organic Chemistry his senior year, he knows that these classes will be beneficial towards his aspiration to work in the medical field. After completing high school, Mo is excited to be among the corn of Iowa at Grinnell College, on his way to becoming a doctor.

Mo is thicc, caring, quick-witted, and despite being an athlete, he is weirdly into making and painting tiny model airplanes.

— Teja Reddy (‘20)

If you have never had an opportunity to hear Molly Mitchell sing, you are missing out. Luckily, most of the Webb community has been graced by her amazing vocals through her performances in the musicals, Jubilee, and the Fawcett Library Performance Series. Molly says that the Webb theatre department made her realize her passion for performing and recognize her desire to pursue the field after high school. Outside of theatre, Molly enjoys hanging out with her friends, watching Buzzfeed Unsolved, and going on camping expeditions with Mr. Gerken for the Literature and Leadership in the Wilderness course. This class was this Rancho Cucamonga native’s favorite because she felt like she was learning information that would be valuable and applicable in the future. She will miss the lessons she learned and the people she met at Webb. Next year she will study Theater Education and Performance at Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts.

If you’ve ever hurt Molly, you’re the absolute worst. And she’s probably written a song about it. Actually, she’s definitely written a song about it.

— Ariel Benjamin (‘20)

Nancy Li lives the life of royalty. A Shanghai native, Nancy is gentle, graceful, and humble, but her personality also embodies passion and fierceness. She toured prospective families and shared her experience at Webb with them as an admission fellow, showcased her singing talents in Chamber Singers, thrived in all humanities courses, and expressed herself rigorously through music and words. Nancy is also an adventurous princess: she loves to explore pretty spots in Los Angeles on the weekends, and she enjoyed her Unbounded trip that let her explore new fields like fashion and business. Although she will miss Webb’s close knit community, Nancy will join a new intellectual community at the University of Chicago as she pursues a major in Economics and Philosophy where Nancy will carry on her heritage and find the connection between the two seemingly disparate fields. In five years, no matter where she is, Nancy sees herself starting her own business and enjoying new fun adventures with friends as she always remembers to be present, take her chances, and not be shy.

Nancy chooses to love everyone despite their decisions, and she holds herself with humble grace that she gives freely. I say humble grace, because she is one of the most humble, earnest people I have ever met. She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met, and I am so blessed to call her my best friend.

— Isabelle Saad ('20)

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ping Fong was thoroughly prepared for the hustle and bustle of Webb. He has found his place at Webb studying in the dorms while listening to pop music, playing varsity badminton and soccer, confiding in Mr. Quick, going out with his friends, and eating salmon in the dining hall. Ping excels in his humanities classes, especially enjoying Advanced Studies Humanities Thesis Seminar and Advanced Studies Human Migration. Webb also provides an outlet for him to fuel his passion for working out making his perfect day a trip to the gym with his friends. As a Jameson dorm prefect, he makes connections with the residents and formed lifelong friendships. Ping will miss his friends and teachers the most when he graduates, but he is ready for the transition to Claremont McKenna College. Whether he decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and go into a real estate career, or go on his own path and join the PPE program (politics, philosophy, economics), he will surely succeed. His determination, passion, flexibility, and motivation will make him an unstoppable force.

Beyond the stoic and burly physique, Ping has an incredibly kind soul and an intelligent mind (street-smart and somewhat book-smart). Above all, he deeply cares about his friends and family, and he has been a brother to me since the very first day of freshman year.

— Jayden Chiu ('20)

Rebeca Castro’s personality could be described as different shops at Claremont Village: “I Like Pie,” a pie shop for foodie lovers, “Rhino Records,” a music store with hidden gems like Linda Ronstadt and Billie Holiday, and “Tocaja,” a tea store known for for their ambitious thinkers who drink boba daily. This Birkenstocks-loving-gal always likes to stay busy. She can be seen on campus running miles around the courts with the VWS JV tennis team, organizing important events as an HC member, inviting underclassmen to see Spanish movies as the head of the Spanish Club, or learning some fun yoga poses like the Balasana. No matter what she is doing, Rebeca’s cheerful smile not only extends through her extracurriculars, but through her passion as well. Transitioning into Smith College, where she plans on majoring in Environmental Science or Engineering, Rebeca loves creatively thinking outside of the box. When looking into the future, Rebeca states that she wants to organize something that will help people—a selfless move that embodies Rebeca’s spirit and mind. Maybe if you are lucky enough to stop by Rhino Records at the right time, you will see Rebeca with Birkenstocks and earphones vibing to “Different Drum.”

Rebeca Castro is kind, caring, selfless, creative, and an old soul.

— Jenna Zhao (‘20)

Renny Jiang is described as a panda by Megan Huang (‘21), despite her future as a Brown Bear. This adorable animal can be ingenious and discerning: over the course of Renny’s Webb career, she has won countless debate individual and team trophies, truly becoming a “finessing queen”—someone smart and multi-talented. A proud debate captain, Renny also leads the debate afternoon activity and mentors younger students. This fall, when Renny attends Brown University, she will miss little moments in the classroom like whispering song lyrics to her friends. She plans to major or minor in Gender Studies because she noticed the significant amount of sexism in the male-dominated field of politics and public speaking. Outside of the academic world, she was one of the founding members of Breakfast and an active community service member. Her voice will never be stifled as she continues fighting for a world where people can speak their mind regardless of gender. In five years, it would not be surprising to see her become a civil rights lawyer who advocates for minority groups and sets new precedents for marginalized people in court.

Renny has a propensity for ignoring calls but expects you to pick up her FaceTime promptly in a nicely-lit and furnished location.

— Megan Huang (‘21)

Shark Tank will have to make room for Robbie Reimer and one of his businesses in the future. From lemonade stands as a child to Mr. Rosenfeld’s Honors Stories & Studies of Entrepreneurs, Robbie has always been interested in learning more about the business world and making money. This passion has led him to Cal Poly Pomona, where he will study Business. Although Robbie is looking forward to pursuing his dreams, he is going to miss being so close to all of his friends and making memories with them like performing in Theme Nights. When he is not skating at the local skatepark, Robbie can be found training or messing around with the wrestling team and helping his teammates as a captain. As an underclassman, Robbie appreciated the connection he had with his peer advisor; he joined the program his junior year to help other students learn some of the lessons he did, such as not worrying so much about what others think. This self-confident and hard-working attitude that Robbie discovered at Webb will help him achieve his goal of pursuing business opportunities in the next five years.

“Robbie is a great guy with more potential than he thinks he knows… I know that Robbie’s drive to win will get him, and those who are with him… to victory.”

— Thomas Campana ('20)

Whenever Ryan Bridges is around, Webb is filled with positive energy. No matter if Ryan is on the baseball field or in his favorite teacher Dr. Beikmann’s classroom, he is always engaged and ready for more challenges. Speaking of baseball, Ryan started playing when he was four years old and will continue his career in college. During his time at Webb, Ryan has had the most fun hanging out with his best friends Alex Cardenas (‘20) and Christopher Conte (‘20), playing baseball with his teammates, and participating in Theme Nights. In the near future, Ryan will be attending Cornell College in Iowa, where he will study Kinesiology to pursue his dream of becoming a physical therapist for a major sports team, preferably the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ryan is always inspired by his parents for all their sacrifices and efforts to get him to where he is today. Just like his favorite song says, Ryan is always “Head Over Boots” for the things he loves.

Ryan would rather play soccer in Hooper than run during practice.

— Alex Cardenas (‘20)

Sabrina Lapree-Chavez is an animal lover. She advocates for the ethical treatment of animals and yearns to know them on a more personal level. This passion for animals is what motivated her to go on a pre-vet track at Bucknell University next year, paving the way towards becoming an Animal Behaviorist. At Webb, Sabrina enjoyed Astrophysics with Mr. Hamilton, Honors Modern Women Writers with Ms. Brosh, and hanging out with Mr. Duque. Her favorite Webb memory is Jubilee because she loves how the community comes together and creates a space where everyone can feel comfortable to do what they want. Breaking societal norms while sticking to her Texan roots, Sabrina is an avid fan of both country and indie music. On campus, you can often spot her in the dining hall munching on potatoes, her favorite food. Though Sabrina will miss Webb’s tight-knit community, anyone who knows her can tell she is prepared for all that her future will bring. The animals that she will work with will be lucky that she has their back.

She is one of the kindest people you will ever meet. She is thoughtful, loving, and always makes people feel welcome. She always greets people with a smile, and will always give you a hug when you ask.

— Paige Woodard ('21)

If you ever hear spirited screaming bouncing off the hallway in Jones, it is probably Sara Hagiwara. Although she is known for her goofiness, Sara has exemplified leadership at Webb as sophomore class vice president, junior and senior class presidents, and co-founder of the Japanese Club. Her favorite class is AP Calculus AB because of the social environment created by her charismatic teacher, Mr. Caldwell. Sara also has a creative side that loves music; she spends much of her free time DJing the water polo and volleyball team practices, curating Spotify playlists for any mood, playing the tuba and ukulele, participating in Jazz Band, and perfecting her dance moves as a budding TikTok star. This globe-trotter has lived in New Jersey, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, and plans to set off for Winston-Salem, North Carolina this fall. Sara will miss eating out with friends at Domi’s Peruvian Cuisine and attending high-energy Student Government dances like Sadie’s. Jones will definitely feel a little quieter next year, but catch this future Demon Deacon studying Business Administration at Wake Forest University!

On the outside, Sara may seem like a cute little fairy. On the inside, she’s a gremlin — the embodiment of chaos — who is always laughing, always screaming, and always helping others while having a good time.

— Lydia Toy (‘20)

Shelby Mokricky has been a leader on campus in almost every way imaginable. As a co-head of the peer advisors, she finds the optimism of Webb’s newest crop of students “refreshing.” In the afternoons, Shelby is co-captain of the VWS varsity soccer team and technical stage manager for Webb’s productions, including Pirates of Penzance and Mamma Mia!. Throughout her time at Webb, theatre tech has been Shelby’s “happy place,” and she especially enjoyed working on Urinetown her freshman year. In her free time, Shelby enjoys watching Webb sports, specifically WSC varsity soccer games and relaxing by watching Jane the Virgin or How to Get Away With Murder. Shelby would tell her freshman self that “things don’t always have to go as planned and that’s okay,” which is a fitting phrase for her to live by since Shelby says she does not know what she wants to do in the future yet. However, she did enjoy Dr. Linsley’s Advanced Studies Global Gender Studies Class and says that may be a topic she might pursue in college. Next year, Shelby will major in Global Studies at the University of Richmond, although she admits that will probably change several times before she graduates.

Shelby is the best friend anyone could ever want. She’ll curl your hair the morning of your chapel talk, watch really bad rom coms, participate in spontaneous karaoke, drive to Michael’s for craft night, and she wont stop you from getting Ding Tea three times in one day!

— Kate Guernsey (‘20)

Have you ever seen Summer Chen’s stuffed animal collection? If you have, you know the care and dedication Summer puts into maintaining the well-being of her stuffed animals (or jellies as she calls them). This care is imbued in everything else she does for Webb. To her friends, Summer is the most loyal and caring person you could meet. Whenever someone needs a back-up drummer, a buddy to walk home with late at night, or even just a great listener for a long conversation in South Hutch lounge, Summer is there for any of her friends. In addition to loving her friends, Summer spends most of her time caring for The Webb Canyon Chronicle and the El Espejo yearbook where she served as Editor-in-Chief for both publications. Every week, she proudly announced new events at community dinner and organized everything into its right place. Next year, Summer Chen will head to Wellesley College and study Psychology and Philosophy. Of course, her jellies will be coming with her and she will certainly find new people to care for and care about.

I hope my kids will be best friends with Summer’s kids because Summer will make them the best food, teach them French, give them jellies, and make them the best gifts

— Doris Yuan (‘20)

If you ever see a tall Asian boy walking on campus, chances are, it is Sydney Wang. Chinese born and raised, Sydney is everywhere on campus and is involved in many sports and organizations, such as cross country, swim, and orchestra. Although Sydney was a part of many activities throughout his Webb career, his favorite sport at Webb is triathlon. Additionally, he also appreciates Mr. Gerken and Mr. Jurczak, as well as their classes, but he especially enjoyed Advanced Studies Existentialism and the Human Condition. On the weekends, Sydney enjoys hanging out with his friends, sleeping in, and staying up late to stargaze from his dorm in Alamo. His favorite Webb memory includes ordering food for delivery and eating in the Ruddick Room. Next year, Sydney will be leaving sunny Claremont and heading into a big city to attend the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he will study Physics; he is also considering Economics. While he is currently unsure about where he will be in five years, Sydney is thinking about doing research on astrophysics.

“Sydney might seem like he doesn’t care when you talk to him about random stuff, but he’s always there when you actually need it.”

— Ashley Fu ('20)

Splashing with her friends during water polo practice, listening to Kacey Musgraves on the pool’s sound system, and watching the cotton-candy California skies pass overhead is Sydney Wuu’s idea of a perfect day. Sydney is the embodiment of the Webb spirit. Dedicating herself to Student Government for all four years, a co-captain of varsity water polo and tennis, valedictorian, admission fellow, and Editor-in-Chief of the WCC, there will be a hole on Webb’s campus without her. One particularly fond Webb memory was a 12-hour tennis trip to Santa Barbara, where VWS beat the #3 CIF seed and shared a lovely pizza dinner to celebrate. Whether on a cruise ship or an airplane, Sydney has enjoyed globe-trotting to cultural destinations like Greece, Singapore, Spain, and Japan. Sydney has always lived somewhere warm, so next year as she heads to Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire to study Economics, she is excited to experience seasons and snow. Sydney will cherish the late-night memories she made with her friends in Jones, preparing Theme Nights, and playing Brawl Stars. In five years, you can catch Sydney back on the West Coast, changing the world and living near a beach with a really big dog.

“I feel like everyone thinks of Syd as this insanely smart perfect superhuman who studies, then studies some more, and then studies even more. What they don’t know, is she prefers Brawl Stars over homework, friends over office hours, and adventures over swim practice.”

— Lydia Toy ('20)

Teja was born “Reddy” to overcome any challenges he may face in life, whether those challenges pertain to his passion for technology or his love of running. Having always felt at home around technology, it was only natural for Teja to develop his love for computers. Teja has already taken college level courses in Computer Science at Webb, and he will continue to take classes on this topic at Harvey Mudd College while majoring in CS. His passion is hardly bound to his academics, as he brought every ounce of it to every race he ran in cross country. He loves the long runs where he can talk about the many aspects of life with a friend, while being surrounded by the allure of nature. He loves the people he ran with: his friends, teammates, and coaches. He believes that these people make cross country something really special. Since Teja will be staying in Claremont for college, we hope that he finds the time to take some runs past Webb and say hello to the people who will always remember him as the funny and genuine person he is.

“Teja’s approach to life mirrors his classic, knowing smirk: it’s playful, and makes you want in on the joke. If you’re lucky enough to be let into that beautiful, witty, loving brain of his, it’s glorious.”

— Anjali Reddy ('18)

Having resided in seven different countries ranging from Malaysia to Ecuador, Thomas Campana is a certified globetrotter. Because he has moved every two to three years for his mom’s work with the U.S. Embassy, Thomas has experienced culture from all over the world and developed a love of traveling. Even though Thomas only joined the Webb community in his junior year, he immediately took on leadership roles, becoming a dorm prefect in Lower MacLeod and taking the Leadership in the Wilderness course during his first year at Webb. In pursuit of more adventures, Thomas will be taking a gap year to study abroad in Russia before attending the University of South Florida, Tampa. In college, he will be majoring in Biomedical Sciences before he hopes to attend medical school to become a surgeon or oncologist. Leaving Webb, Thomas is going to miss hanging out and playing games in his room with friends and dressing up as Santa for the annual Toy Drive, but he is ready to face new challenges in college.

His kindness and quirkiness are the reason for countless unforgettable memories, during late nights watching a movie and early mornings doing homework.

— Harrison Lee (‘20)

Tina Kabbouche has always been and always will be a “horse girl.” An avid animal lover, Tina has been fascinated with horses and has committed to a vegetarian lifestyle from a very young age. At Webb, her love for Advanced Studies Anatomy and Physiology surprised her; she did not think she would have so much fun memorizing bones. When she is not in class, watching Grey’s Anatomy, or practicing with the VWS varsity soccer team, Tina can be found in Liu/Cheung Theater, where she found a home during her freshman year. Since then, Tina has spent every spring season in technical theatre, designing and creating props for the musicals. She has fond memories of all of the shows she has worked on, especially her freshman year production of Urinetown. Theatre, along with her friends and Mr. Duque’s dogs, are just a few of the things she will miss most next year in college. Tina will be following her passion for horses by studying Animal Science at Cal Poly Pomona, on her way to becoming a veterinarian.

My favorite memory of Tina is when we bought a bunch of worms for a class project and ever since then I get random texts of ‘WORM’ from her. It makes my day every time.

— Sabrina Lapree-Chavez (‘20)

Togrul Savalan exhibits his influential leadership through his actions. Whether he is crushing it at debate or introducing new faces to Webb’s campus as an admission ambassador, Togrul is a familiar and friendly person on campus. Togrul enjoys teaching the ropes of debate to younger Webbies and learning about new polarized topics that pertain to everyday life. Outside of Webb, you can catch Togrul with his friends watching a movie or eating at the Claremont Village. Besides his friends, Togrul will also miss his favorite class, Honors Stories of Middle Eastern Conflict taught by Mr. Rosenfeld. His most memorable moment in the classroom was participating in an activity where the class had to create a solution for an issue in Palestine and he acted as a United Nations Security Council member. Reflecting on his time at Webb, he would say, “Every year at Webb is important, so you should work hard and don’t slack off.” While Togrul will miss Webb’s unique environment, he is looking forward to studying Political Science at UC Riverside. In five years, he is hoping to be in law school to further develop his debating skills and to change the world.

“Togrul is very well-known for introducing himself and greeting everyone, but not many people know that he loves to eat, and that he considers himself an American patriot.”

— J.D. O'Donnell ('20)

Victoria Romero may seem like a quiet person on the outside, but once you get to know her, she is one of the most fun people you will ever have the opportunity to be around. She lives by the anonymous quote, “Do your best and never give up,” which explains her extremely busy schedule and dedication to multiple activities. She balances running track at Webb, playing club soccer for Legends Academy, and being a scholar all at the same time. Victoria loves spending time with her friends on the weekends, whether that be kicking back and watching a movie or catching waves at the beach. The highlight of her Webb career was participating in Theme Nights each year because she loved seeing the bonding and class spirit that would build over the week. She will continue her academic and athletic career at Pepperdine University, where she will play varsity soccer at a Division I school. Who knows, you may just see her in five years playing professional soccer, and continue to soar to even greater heights.

“Victoria is one of the only people I know who is absolutely incapable of understanding the punchline to any joke in under five minutes, and when she finally gets it, she laughs way too hard way too late. Kind of like Spongebob.”

— Jacob Weigand ('20)

When Vincent Pizano visited Six Flags amusement park for the first time at the age of seven, he discovered his passion for roller coasters. He was instantly captivated by their magical movements as well as their intriguing structures. Ever since then, he knew that he was going to grow up to become a mechanical engineer. Vincent’s favorite class at Webb was Integrated Math II with Mr. Neyer. One of Vincent’s favorite activities is rock climbing, as he enjoys the mathematical process of maneuvering between holds and the final satisfaction of reaching the top. Vincent is an extremely logical person. When doing work, he always lists the tasks in order from the easiest to the hardest, and completes them step by step. Looking back, Vincent regrets and laughs at his freshman and sophomore years, when he was a “dorm-dweller” and missed out on the fun Webb had to offer. Now that he is more outgoing, he has made so many incredible friends, who he will miss dearly when he heads off to the University of California Irvine next year to study Mechanical Engineering.

“There is no [nonsense] with Vincent. He does not act to please anyone else. He just lives his life, does what he wants, and doesn’t care if anyone is looking at him weirdly, which I find really cool.”

— Malachi Cassel ('20)

If you see a local hypebeast boasting about his cars in Grand Theft Auto, it is probably Will Deng. Alongside Will’s commitment to video games, he has also been part of Webb’s badminton team with coach Kevin Quick. He is determined both in and out of the sport; with his powerful serves and overheads, he never takes no for an answer. This WSC student loves to order food on Friday nights and adventure to Rowland Heights for delicious hot pot. Will’s favorite memories at Webb consist of going to dances like proms and homecoming events, especially where his friends are at. Although he has enjoyed these special times, Will wishes that in his freshman year, he would have worked harder and had a more balanced sleep schedule. Because Will loves being outside of his comfort zone, he is branching out to study Pre-med at Loyola Marymount University. In five years, Will sees himself running a successful business company, while still talking about his favorite Quirk from My Hero Academia.

Will Deng is honestly one of the nicest, most genuine people I have met at Webb. His joking personality from time-to-time can be intimidating to others, but he really knows how to stick up for his friends.

— Helina Zhao (‘20)