Alumni Spotlight
SYAers bring an increased understanding of the world to the colleges they attend, the communities where they live and the lives that they lead.
From political leaders to restaurateurs, from educators to fashion designers, from authors to CEOs, our alumni are an inspiration to the greater SYA community and the world at large.
Reaching New Heights
As one of America’s most accomplished high-altitude mountaineers, Carlos Buhler ES’71 has 46 international climbing expeditions with a climbing career that spans five decades on five continents. He frequently travels to Spain to visit his mountaineering friends, especially those from the Peña Guara club in Huesca, which he joined while a student at SYA Spain.
Carlos was recently featured in Desnivel, a Spanish publication dedicated to mountain culture.
Audies Finalist for Best Audiobook of the Year
Lake Bell's audiobook, Inside Voice: My Obsession With How We Sound is up for best audiobook. The Audies, presented by the Audio Publishers Association, recognize excellence and distinction in audiobook and spoken-word entertainment.
Inside Voice unpacks the writer-director-producer-actor’s obsession with voice and all its permutations. It takes us on a journey to discover how this vital piece of our identity serves as an x-ray of our personal histories. Bell explored the power of voice in her critically-acclaimed and award-winning film, In a World, which she wrote, directed, and starred in. With this audiobook, she dives back into the rabbit hole to deliver a fun, whip-smart exploration of the psychology, social science, cultural constructs, and mechanics of our voices.
Panelist at Global Summit on Climate Education
Sara Bernstein Graham CN'02 recently participated on a panel on experiential and immersive learning as part of the Climate Issues Panel Discussion at the Global Education Benchmark Group's Global Summit on Climate Education. As the Assistant Director of the Sage Center for Global Education and Inclusion at the Sage Hill School (CA), Sara brings her SYA experience to her pedagogy. She commented, "I always tie everything back to SYA—it’s why I do what I do. Being able to speak firsthand about immersive global education is key, and I couldn’t have done that without SYA, the program that changed the course of my life and led me to where I am today!"
Pioneering the First Independent University Study on Bitcoin
Cornell University's College of Arts & Sciences' Robert S. Harrison College Scholar Program has officially approved the first independent Bitcoin-focused study on January 11th. The pioneer behind this academic milestone is Ella Hough CN’20, a student at Cornell University, who is set to embark on a unique academic journey that is centered around Bitcoin.
How to Persuade a Computer
Artificial intelligence is shattering expectations of human predictability, motivation and speed in every part of society – including law. Max Sills FR’05, an attorney, explores the practical challenges of negotiating with AI-powered systems as they become integrated into the world around us, offering a hopeful path to navigate these soon-to-be transformed institutions.
Designing for Belonging
Kamilah Welch IT’08, a student with the Online Master of Design Studies Design for Human Health Program (MDS-DHH) at the Boston Architectural Center, has aspirations of using skills learned in the global workplace.
While working as an Education Team Lead at the Partners Neurology Residency Program in Boston, Kamilah regularly visited local jails to teach mindfulness techniques to incarcerated individuals awaiting trial. All of the people she encountered would either be released or sentenced and moved to a different correctional facility. She said, “The people I met wouldn’t be staying in the prison I was visiting. I started to think about what type of space could better help them with this transitional time.”
Recognized by the New York Junior League
Megan Zuckerman FR'12, a longstanding volunteer for SYA and the New York Junior League (NYJL), has been recognized as a 2024 Outstanding Volunteer for the NYJL.
This award is reserved for those women who exemplify a superior standard of excellence in volunteerism. Megan is one of five recipients selected from more than 2,400 volunteers for this prestigious recognition.
Megan will be honored at the organization's Winter Ball next month.
Learn more about the award here
Recognized For Outstanding Pro Bono and Public Service Work
Darcy McLean ES'01, trustee, received the 2024 Emerging Leader Award from the Association of American Law Schools Section on Pro Bono & Access to Justice. This award honors early-to-mid-career staff or faculty who have made an outstanding contribution to pro bono and public service in the law school setting.
Darcy is the senior pro bono & community engagement manager with Alston & Bird. This recognition follows Darcy’s previous leadership position with Georgia State University College of Law’s Center for Access to Justice.
From U.S. "Newsweek" to "Newsweek Japan"
Kara Panzer CN'09's article on marinated tofu, "I Was Vegan and Craving Bacon. I Had an Epiphany," first appeared in the U.S. version of Newsweek in November 2023. A few months later, it reached the print edition of Newsweek Japan.
Will Sundance Films “Wind Up in Theaters Quickly” to Rescue “Decimated” Calendar?
Jason Blum FR'86, founder of Blumhouse and trustee of the Sundance Institute, joined Sundance officials Joana Vicente, Eugene Hernandez and Kim Yutani to kick off the 2024 Sundance Film Festival with a press conference and panel.
The conversation covered the past, present and future of Sundance, the panelists’ favorite fest memories, acquisitions predictions and Hollywood’s recent strikes.
Read the article. Watch the video.
Iconic American Fashion
Experience the epitome of American fashion with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) in an exclusive video including influential designer Jason Wu FR'01, who shares his deep connection to the CFDA.
See Sotheby's IG post to hear more about the dress Jason selected to donate to the "CFDA: Defining American Style" auction.