Education | Santa Ynez Valley Star https://santaynezvalleystar.com The only source for all news about the Santa Ynez Valley - local fresh news and lifestyle Thu, 21 Aug 2025 20:34:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/cropped-SYVS-Circle-Logo-32x32.jpg Education | Santa Ynez Valley Star https://santaynezvalleystar.com 32 32 195921705 College School District opens new year with smiles, BMX stunts and Bobcat Pride https://santaynezvalleystar.com/college-school-district-opens-new-year-with-smiles-bmx-stunts-and-bobcat-pride/ Fri, 22 Aug 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=21502 District’s theme for the 2025–26 school year is ‘Paws for Excellence: Preparing Every Bobcat for Life, Learning and Leadership’ Students, families and staff filled campuses with excitement Friday morning, Aug. 15, as College School District launched the first day of the 2025–26 school year with a flag salute, BMX stunt show, and plenty of Bobcat […]

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District’s theme for the 2025–26 school year is ‘Paws for Excellence: Preparing Every Bobcat for Life, Learning and Leadership’

Students, families and staff filled campuses with excitement Friday morning, Aug. 15, as College School District launched the first day of the 2025–26 school year with a flag salute, BMX stunt show, and plenty of Bobcat spirit.

In the weeks leading up to the opening, preparations were in full swing. Two colorful new murals were completed at Santa Ynez Elementary School by the district’s art teacher. One mural proudly spells out the school’s name, while the second depicts vibrant bookshelves painted on the wall of the new Eighth Grade Bobcat Den, a dedicated space for the district’s oldest students. The art teacher also plans to create a third mural later this year at College School, celebrating the district’s youngest learners, the “Baby Bobcats.”

Another major upgrade included a long-awaited play structure at College School. The new structure replaces a 20-year-old set and features a shade canopy and musical play components, including bongo drums and a xylophone.

“We were able to find a play structure that also had a shade component for our youngest students, and we also added two musical components,” said Superintendent Maurene Donner. “It’s already a favorite spot for our students.”

Also, the school earlier this month had dedicated new tennis and pickleball courts on the campus. The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians and Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation evenly split the cost of a $76,730 project to renovate the courts. They were initially installed by Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation in the 1980s, and after many years of quality use, had become worn and underutilized. Donner saw an opportunity to refresh the space and make it more versatile, with the aim of enhancing their physical education program and sharing the courts with the community.

While exploring avenues for funding, Donner applied for a grant through Santa Ynez Valley Youth Recreation, which partnered with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians to make the project happen.

With the growing popularity of pickleball, Donner aimed to create a space that would better serve their students and the interests of members of the local community.

New teachers also joined the district this year, bringing fresh perspectives to the classrooms. To help the youngest students settle in, the district hosted its annual TK and Kindergarten Lemonade Party on Thursday, the day before school started. Known affectionately as the “Baby Bobcats,” the incoming students and their families were able to see classrooms, meet teachers and classmates, and ease into the start of their school experience.

Friday’s festivities began at 8 a.m. when students arrived, followed by all students gathering in the quad for introductions and the Pledge of Allegiance. After that, the district upped the ante with a high-energy performance from BMX Productions. The California-based crew blended gravity-defying tricks with lessons on being respectful, responsible and safe — values College School District emphasizes throughout the year.

“The BMX demonstration was a fun way to reinforce the importance of responsibility, respect and safety,” Donner said. “It’s a fabulous start to the school year. We’re so excited to have students back on campus, to see their shiny faces. They’re ready to learn — and so are we.”

Students agreed.

“I missed it more than I realized and it’s our last year, so we’re going to make it a good one,” said eighth grader Niki Ball.

“I was a little bit nervous this morning, but it’s been a good day,” added fellow eighth grader Mia Gonzalez. “I’m excited for the activities and being with my classmates again.”

Teachers and staff said the first day couldn’t have gone better.

“Today is the best day ever,” said Charlene Asmussen, first-grade teacher at Santa Ynez Elementary School. “The smiling faces, the whole school assembly, the hugs and the excitement — it’s amazing.”

Principal Anthony Bruemmer said the smooth opening was the result of months of planning.

“It was a lot of work getting ready for it, but the day went very smoothly,” he said. “The kids are excited, and our experienced and new staff are really gelling together well. It’s going to be a strong year.”

“Kids are very excited,” Donner added. “They’re happy. I walked around to each of the classrooms. They’re all ready to learn. It’s going to be a great school year.”

College School District serves students across two campuses: College School, which houses preschool, transitional kindergarten and kindergarten, and Santa Ynez Elementary School, which enrolls grades 1 through 8.

Located at 3325 Pine St. in Santa Ynez, College School District creates a safe, positive and engaging school climate. A highly-skilled team of professionals work in partnership with students, parents, and the community, all dedicated to meeting the academic, behavioral and social-emotional needs of every student. Through rigorous curriculum and a system of support, students are prepared for high school, higher education, and future opportunities.

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Santa Ynez High School names Hannah Wright and Maddie Quiroga co-head coaches for girls flag football program https://santaynezvalleystar.com/santa-ynez-high-school-names-hannah-wright-and-maddie-quiroga-co-head-coaches-for-girls-flag-football-program/ Wed, 13 Aug 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=21426 School’s newest sport will kick off later this month The Santa Ynez Valley High School District has named Maddie Quiroga and Hannah Wright as its girls flag football co-head coaches. Wright and Quiroga both graduated from SYHS and currently coach the JV girls basketball team.   Maddie Quiroga graduated in 2014, where she was captain […]

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School’s newest sport will kick off later this month

The Santa Ynez Valley High School District has named Maddie Quiroga and Hannah Wright as its girls flag football co-head coaches. Wright and Quiroga both graduated from SYHS and currently coach the JV girls basketball team.  

Maddie Quiroga graduated in 2014, where she was captain of the varsity girls basketball team her junior and senior years. Maddie broke the school record for 3-point shots in a game and the record for points in a season, while also being named to All Los Padres League team her senior season. She is currently finishing school to become a teacher.

Hannah (Cantrell) Wright graduated from SYHS in 2015, where she was a captain of the girls volleyball and basketball teams. She was all-league in basketball for three years and was all-league in volleyball twice.  While playing volleyball, she broke the school record for hitting percentage in a game. Wright went on to play volleyball at Santa Barbara City College, where she was named all-conference both years. She graduated friom UCSB and is currently teaching at Jonata Middle School in Buellton.

“We are extremely excited to be starting girls flag football at SYHS,” SYHS Athletic Director Josh McClurg said. “It is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and we had to make it a priority to get it started. I have been impressed with watching Maddie as our girls head JV basketball coach the last three years. She has a great rapport with the girls and brings a positive energy that is needed as a high school coach. The girls program added Hannah as a JV coach this year, and the two of them work extremely well together, so it was a no-brainer on who we needed to have as our inaugural girls flag football coaches.”

Both coaches have deep ties with the Pirates athletic program. Wright’s father, Rob Cantrell, has been SYHS’s girls soccer head coach since 2005. Her mom and brothers all graduated from SYHS, with her brother Austin playing football for the Pirates the last four years. Her uncles all played football for the Pirates in the 1990s, and one of them, Brennan Swanson, went on to play football at Cal State Northridge and then had a short stint with the San Francisco 49ers. Her cousin, Harloe Swanson, will be a senior and is a member of the girls track 4×100 team that broke the 30-year-old school record this past season.  

Quiroga is a proud Santa Ynez Valley Chumash descendant of the first students/athletes to become Pirates in 1896. Her father, Michael Quiroga, graduated in 1980 after being a standout basketball, football, baseball, and tennis athlete. Mike was considered one of the best basketball shooters in school history. Since his passing, Maddie and her family have started the Mike Quiroga Scholarship Fund at SYHS in honor of his legacy. Maddie’s uncle, David Quiroga, was an all-star athlete at SYHS along with her aunt Lydia Quiroga.  Her sister, Ashley Quiroga, was a four-year varsity basketball starter for the Pirates as well.

“The fact that both coaches come from a long line of standout Pirate athletes is pretty special,” McClurg said. “I remember playing men’s league basketball at 18 years old and having to defend Mike Quiroga, who literally could shoot the lights out of gym. Hannah’s uncle, Brennan, and I were teammates on the Los Padres League champion football team in 1993, and went to elementary school together as well. The small-town connections of the Valley are what make our school so special and it is what helps to instill Pirate Pride in all of our athletes.”

The Pirates girls flag football team will play its first game on Tuesday, Aug. 26, at Dos Pueblos (time TBA) and will play at Paso Robles on Thursday, Sept. 4. After weekend tournaments at Pioneer Valley and Lompoc high schools in September, SYHS will play its first home game on Tuesday, Sept. 16, against Lompoc.

A story on the two new coaches and the outlook of the Pirates’ first girls flag football team will run in the next issue, coming out Aug. 19.

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New Waldorf School opening this fall in Buellton https://santaynezvalleystar.com/new-waldorf-school-opening-this-fall-in-buellton/ Wed, 13 Aug 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=21420 Hundred Hills School moving forward as SYV native and her husband look to give local children and their families another educational option A new Waldorf-based school called Hundred Hills School will be opening this fall in Buellton. Historically, Waldorf education is based on the education philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. They are […]

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Hundred Hills School moving forward as SYV native and her husband look to give local children and their families another educational option

A new Waldorf-based school called Hundred Hills School will be opening this fall in Buellton. Historically, Waldorf education is based on the education philosophy of Rudolf Steiner, the founder of anthroposophy. They are independent schools that follow the Waldorf philosophy, which is known for its emphasis on the arts, including music, theater, and visual arts, as well as its focus on the development of the whole child, including their physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Its educational style is holistic, intended to develop pupils’ intellectual, artistic, and practical skills, with a focus on imagination and creativity.

Hundred Hills School is a private, nonprofit, co-educational day school for students in preschool through grade four. It was founded by passionate Waldorf parents Whitney Stevenson-Chanana and Sundeep Chanana, with the unwavering support from equally passionate Waldorf educators Chinyelu Kunz, Terri Webster, and Marjorie Rehbach.

According to its website, the school’s educational philosophy is influenced by a reverence for children’s EQ and IQ journeys, which are segmented into three stages, or the three I’s: Imitation, Imagination, and Intellect. The philosophy is manifested in a curriculum that elegantly prioritizes both academic rigor and experiential/kinesthetic learning.

“I was born and raised in the Valley,” said Stevenson-Chanana. “My father was a veterinarian who worked for Jim Buell in the racehorse industry in the ‘ 70s, and my mother was a substitute teacher. Just last week my mother gave me a book that she found in her things that was written by Steiner in the 1960s about education. When I was a child, my mother actively managed my education by getting intra-district transfers so I could access the best teachers and curriculum available. I attended Family School, Jonata School, Vista, and Los Olivos schools, and Santa Ynez Valley Union High School. My parents supplemented my education by incorporating 4-H, horses, Suzuki Method violin lessons, art, and ag. My mom had a vision of what she wanted to cultivate in her children.”

After graduating from UC Davis, Whitney worked on Wall Street as a research analyst covering semiconductors, retail, and hospitality. She said that when she became pregnant with their first child, she wanted to do a home birth and raise their child outside of New York City, so she and Sundeep returned to the Valley in October 2020, just two months before their first son was born. All of her family still live in the Valley or nearby.

The journey to launch a Waldorf school began in 2021 when, thinking ahead, Whitney and Sundeep were concerned about the education they wanted for their children. She recalled that she was first introduced to Rudolf Steiner when she was living in New York.

“There was an intriguing little bookstore with a lot of books written by Rudolf Steiner, which was always intriguing,” Whitney recalled. “I had a friend who had interesting grown children, capable and smart people. He once commented that if he had more children, he would send them to the Waldorf School, which was located on the Upper East Side.”

“Actually, my husband gets all the credit for the idea of opening a Waldorf School here in the Valley,” she added. “We were trying to figure out how we could remain living here and have our children enjoy the kind of education we wanted them to have. It was his idea to open a Waldorf School here in the Valley. He initiated the process.”

The Chananas are on a site for the school on Dairyland Road in Buellton that was approved in a lengthy Buellton City Council meeting on July 24 (see story on page 6), which will grant them a five-year land lease to incubate the Hundred Hills School. After the initial five-year term, their plans are to build a permanent campus in Buellton.

Now the parents of three small children, ages 4, 2, and a newborn, the Chananas are looking forward to seeing all their hard work come to fruition with the opening of Hundred Hills School this fall.

Chinyelu Kunz is the founder of We Nurture Collective, a podcast she started in 2020. Stevenson-Chanana said she would listen to podcasts by Kunz, and that’s what led her to contact Kunz about opening a Waldorf School in Buellton, and they became friends.  

Born and mostly raised in Enugu, Nigeria, Kunz came to the U.S. after high school to attend college and majored in interior architecture at the New York Institute of Technology, and then studied architecture at Cal Poly Pomona.

“When my son was almost 2, I was introduced to Waldorf education,” Kunz said. “That was in 1992, and I have been completely involved in early childhood education ever since.”

“In 2020, I left the classroom and started podcasting, coaching, and supporting parents in parenting their young children,” she explained. “When Whitney brought up the idea of opening a Waldorf School in Buellton, I was wholeheartedly in favor. Then, by some miracle, my husband was offered a job in Santa Maria in aerospace, and within weeks we were moving from Pennsylvania to the Central Coast. I joined Whitney and became the joint head of Hundred Hills School.”

“Our goal is to create a Waldorf community that is not insular but builds a lasting and enriching relationship with the entire Valley,” said Kunz. “I am passionate about Waldorf education, and I see the benefits it has had on my three children, who are all grown up now.”

Kunz has published one parenting book titled “The Little Book of Parenting” and one children’s book titled “Away to Dreamland,” consisting of poems and stories for bedtime that will be released on Sept. 15. Kunz can be found @wenurture on Instagram, or visit her website at www.wenurturecollective.com.

The school is accepting enrollment for preschool and kindergarten for the fall 2025 classes. They also have a series of free events for families over the summer held on Fridays at 9:30 a.m. at SYV Botanic Garden and Saturdays at 10 a.m. under the magnolia on the Buellton Library lawn.

“We have been really inspired by the way the pieces and the people involved have come together for our project to take flight,” said Stevenson-Chanana.

For more information, visit www.hundredhillsschool.org (a 501c3 nonprofit) or on Instagram @hundredhillsschool.

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Libraries’ Summer Reading Program finishes strong https://santaynezvalleystar.com/libraries-summer-reading-program-finishes-strong/ Wed, 13 Aug 2025 00:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=21416 Over 1,200 readers participated at Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries The 2025 Summer Reading Program has crossed the finish line with success after this year’s theme invited readers to “Level Up at Your Library!” During the six-week program, over 1,247 readers participated in the all-ages program, logging an impressive total of 7,580 books and […]

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Over 1,200 readers participated at Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries

The 2025 Summer Reading Program has crossed the finish line with success after this year’s theme invited readers to “Level Up at Your Library!” During the six-week program, over 1,247 readers participated in the all-ages program, logging an impressive total of 7,580 books and 148,039 minutes. The Summer Reading Program is an annual literacy tradition at the Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries, with a goal of connecting readers of all ages through community events and making reading even more rewarding through earning prizes.

This year, Children’s Librarian Kaeley Christensen redesigned the program to keep access levels high across all libraries while Goleta Valley Library moved into its temporary home during construction. The online tracking tool Beanstack allowed participants to log their reading from anywhere, at any time, while continuing to offer paper logs ensured that families could participate in their preferred format.

Events were held over the course of the Summer Reading Program at each of the libraries in the Goleta & Santa Ynez system. In Goleta, a first-ever Kick-Off event at Stow House attracted over 1,000 attendees who came to play games, register for the reading program, hear live music by Nathalia and Ukulele Jim, and even enjoy an interactive performance with Elemental Aerial Arts. Special events such as magic shows, hula lessons, outdoor concerts, and reptile visits continued throughout June and July at the Goleta Community Center, at the new Buellton Library’s outdoor spaces, and at Solvang Library, where there was often standing room only. The program concluded with a brand-new event in Goleta — a Silent Disco, where children ages 6-12 danced to their preferred music playlist through special wireless headphones! Overall, a total of 13 free community events were held, and 2,137 patrons of all ages gathered to learn, engage, and delight in these interactive performances.

The program would not have been such a success without the efforts of dozens of hardworking teen volunteers, who supported staff in essential ways: covering shifts at special events, awarding prizes as participants reported on their reading, and helping to take photos and interact with families during performances. Goleta & Santa Ynez Valley Libraries also wish to thank the many local sponsors whose generous donations of reading incentives helped participants meet and exceed their reading goals for the summer. Lastly, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Friends of the Goleta Valley Library, Friends of the Buellton Library, and Friends of the Library of the Santa Ynez Valley, whose incredible support funded prize incentives and special events throughout the program.

Planning for the 2026 Summer Reading Program is already underway – the libraries invite all for more literary fun next year!

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Sydney Vogel named to Muhlenberg College Dean’s List https://santaynezvalleystar.com/sydney-vogel-named-to-muhlenberg-college-deans-list/ Thu, 24 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=21332 Sydney Vogel of Santa Ynez and a graduate of Dunn School in Los Olivos, has been named to the spring 2025 Dean’s List while studying biology at Muhlenberg College. To be eligible for the Dean’s List, Muhlenberg College students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or better while taking three or more course units during […]

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Sydney Vogel of Santa Ynez and a graduate of Dunn School in Los Olivos, has been named to the spring 2025 Dean’s List while studying biology at Muhlenberg College.

To be eligible for the Dean’s List, Muhlenberg College students must earn a GPA of 3.5 or better while taking three or more course units during a semester.

Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, four-year residential, liberal arts college in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, with nearly 2,000 bachelor’s and master’s degree-seeking students. The college’s curriculum and experiences are designed to open doors to new ideas, discoveries, friendships, and a lifetime of personal and intellectual growth.

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Stephanie Pedersen named to University of Alabama spring 2025 dean’s list https://santaynezvalleystar.com/stephanie-pedersen-named-to-university-of-alabama-spring-2025-deans-list/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=21147 Stephanie Pedersen of Solvang was named to The University of Alabama dean’s list for the spring 2025 semester. Pedersen is a 2024 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, and was the 2023 Danish Maid for the city’s Danish Days festival. A total of 14,289 students enrolled during the spring semester at Alabama were named to the dean’s list with an academic […]

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Stephanie Pedersen of Solvang was named to The University of Alabama dean’s list for the spring 2025 semester.

Pedersen is a 2024 graduate of Santa Ynez Valley Union High School, and was the 2023 Danish Maid for the city’s Danish Days festival.

A total of 14,289 students enrolled during the spring semester at Alabama were named to the dean’s list with an academic record of 3.5 (or above) or the president’s list with an academic record of 4.0 (all A’s). These driven students are making waves across UA’s more than 70 undergraduate programs and 12 colleges and schools.

The UA dean’s and president’s lists recognize full-time undergraduate students. The lists do not apply to graduate studentsor undergraduate students who take less than a full course load.

For more information visit news.ua.edu.

The University of Alabama, part of The University of Alabama System, is the state’s flagship university. UA shapes a better world through its teaching, research and service. With a global reputation for excellence, UA provides a forward-thinking environment and over 200 degree programs on a beautiful, student-centered campus. A leader in cutting-edge research, UA advances discovery, creative inquiry and knowledge through more than 30 research centers. As the state’slargest higher education institution, UA drives economic growth in Alabama and beyond.

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Local P.E.O. International chapter awards $2,000 scholarship to SYHS graduate https://santaynezvalleystar.com/local-p-e-o-international-chapter-awards-2000-scholarship-to-syhs-graduate/ Fri, 04 Jul 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=21144 Local chapter of Chapter TX, the Solvang chapter of P.E.O. International, has awarded Sadie Godfrey, a recent graduate of Santa Ynez Valley High School with a $2,000 scholarship. This is the first local scholarship Chapter TX has given out.  “We are very proud to give this scholarship to Sadie,” Chapter TX said in a statement. “She has worked very hard to achieve high academic excellence, participated in extracurricular […]

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Local chapter of Chapter TX, the Solvang chapter of P.E.O. International, has awarded Sadie Godfrey, a recent graduate of Santa Ynez Valley High School with a $2,000 scholarship. This is the first local scholarship Chapter TX has given out. 

“We are very proud to give this scholarship to Sadie,” Chapter TX said in a statement. “She has worked very hard to achieve high academic excellence, participated in extracurricular activities, and volunteered in the community over the last four years of high school.” 

Godfrey will be attending the University of California Berkeley in the fall. 

P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) provides educational opportunities for women by offering scholarships, grants, awards, and loans to help women enhance their lives through learning. To learn more about PEO International, visit www.peointernational.org.

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Ben Stuerman named Santa Ynez Valley Elks Student of the Month for May https://santaynezvalleystar.com/ben-stuerman-named-santa-ynez-valley-elks-student-of-the-month-for-may/ Sat, 07 Jun 2025 19:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=20978 Graduating senior has excelled on the volleyball court, in the classroom, and outside of school For the entire 2024-25 school year, the Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge has sponsored a Student of the Month, chosen by the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School staff and administration. The final honoree of the year is Ben Stuerman, […]

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Graduating senior has excelled on the volleyball court, in the classroom, and outside of school

For the entire 2024-25 school year, the Santa Ynez Valley Elks Lodge has sponsored a Student of the Month, chosen by the Santa Ynez Valley Union High School staff and administration. The final honoree of the year is Ben Stuerman, the Student of the Month for May.

Stuerman has gained recent attention as the co-captain of the Pirates boys volleyball team that won the CIF Central Section title and made it to the second round of the CIF state tournament. He was also on the SYHS water polo team, and even on the basketball team in the ninth and 10th grade.

In the classroom, Ben has also shined, compiling a 3.4 GPA, while serving as the yearbook class editor this year. He also earned scholar athlete honors, and was on the staff of the SYHS “huddle” for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, serving as president this year.

Ben will be moving on to Simpson University in Redding, California, where he will continue his volleyball career and plans to major in kinesiology, with plans to become a firefighter, EMT, and paramedic, hopefully for Cal Fire.

This summer, when Ben has free time “for the first time ever,” he hopes to camp and hike in Yosemite National Park and climb Half Dome. He also loves to mountain bike, and is part of a mountain biking team in the Santa Ynez Valley.

Through it all, Ben has maintained his status as a good student and person.

“Ben is one of the kindest and most positive people on campus,” said SYHS Superintendent/Principal Dr. Kimberly Sheehan. “Ben loves living in the valley because of the close community and the great friends. He loves that everywhere he goes, he knows someone.”

One thing that drives Ben is his penchant for community service, and his faith. He has done two service trips to Mexico in high school, both building and helping people in a damaged community, and helping set up a senior
facility for events. He also helps his church locally to plan and set up many events and outreach programs.

“Community is very important to me, and I value strong bonds within it,” Ben said. “I have done many trips down to Mexico and those have consistently been huge parts of my life, seeing how third-world countries function
and get by with what they have.

“I’m someone who values faith, family, and personal growth. As a son and only child, I value the time I spend with my parents, whether we’re traveling, playing volleyball, working out, or taking care of our dog and chickens. Growing up in a small town where everyone knows each other has been a blessing, and our church community feels like a part of our family. My faith is at
the core of who I am. Weekly Sunday morning church, youth leadership, and mission trips have shaped me and deepened my connection to God.”

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‘Pincher Pride, where dreams reside …’ https://santaynezvalleystar.com/pincher-pride-where-dreams-reside/ Sat, 07 Jun 2025 17:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=20971 Every student has their story as Dunn School graduates 28 in the Class of 2025 Dunn, the private school in Los Olivos, is destination at the end of many fascinating paths, and promises to be the start of other fascinating paths taken by students and graduates. Bich (Wainzie) Nguyen is a prime example. Nguyen was […]

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Every student has their story as Dunn School graduates 28 in the Class of 2025

Dunn, the private school in Los Olivos, is destination at the end of many fascinating paths, and promises to be the start of other fascinating paths taken by students and graduates. Bich (Wainzie) Nguyen is a prime example.

Nguyen was born in Vietnam and was going to high school there when she went to a “study abroad” high school fair, and when she found out about Dunn through the agency handling foreign students and researched it a little more, she knew this was the place for her. And according to Dunn’s Chad Stacy, director of the school’s Robert W. Jurgensen Entrepreneurship Program, she didn’t take no for an answer.

“You sought out Dunn. You sought out the Jurgensen program. You even grabbed [Director of Admissions] Mike McKee by the lapels and said ‘I have to come here; I have to come here now!'” Stacy said. “And then you did the same to your parents.”

Stacy told this anecdote while addressing Nguyen in front of an audience at Dunn’s Upper School Commencement. Nguyen was one of 28 students making up the Class of 2025.

A handing out of diplomas at a Dunn commencement consists of a faculty member of each graduate’s choice making a short (officially about 45 seconds) explaining the student’s impact on the school, or what make him or her special to the campus. For instance, a chance for Stacy to explain how Nguyen is, despite her quiet deamanor, “bold, fearless, and a generational game-changer.”

It’s a fashion that elicits a lot of good stories, like Nyuol Aguek’s “journey filled with challenges” from Kenya that brought him to Dunn, as told by Dean of Student Kelsey Sullivan.

Or biology teacher and Loy House head Melissa Escalante admiring Lily Wolter-Brezine as someone “who at any given moment will burst into song.” (Appropriate since Wolter-Brezine was the vocalist for the band hat did a musical performance during the program).

Or basketball and track coach and senior dorm head Esron Gates talking about on a morning group run when he decided to slow the pace, and heard Nojus Magelinskas remarking to him “Hey, Mr. Gates, you’re slowing down, like an old man, you have to keep it up,” and said he was a great coach and leader on the court.

An then there was Melia Collins-Byrd, the lone student speaker on the day, cited a a post-apocalyptic novel titled “Station 11” that Dunn student read this year. It’s about a society that’s crippled by a flu that wipes out most of the population, but a character expresses the idea that everything happens for a reason, an idea that permeates throughout the book.

2025 Dunn graduate Melia Collins-Byrd addresses the crowd during the Upper School Commencement on Saturday, May 31. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS

“That got me to thinking about us and how life is like a book: Some chapters you keep re-reading, and others you couldn’t flip past fast enough,” Collins-Byrd said. “Then there are characters you never expected to matter, but you end up meeting the most.”

“But we did write this together at this tiny school in this little town called Los Olivos from places from all over the world,” she continued. “Somehow, out of the infinite possibilities, all 28 of us ended up here experiencing the same chaotic experience in four years of high school.”

And in what’s becoming a staple for Dunn commencement, Head of School Kalyan Balaven offered up another poetry reading enscapsulating the ending year at the school, only this year it was the dreams of his students submitted the week before. He also noted that the term “Pincer Pride” at Dunn may be correct because the school’s mascot is the Earwig, but “Pincher Pride” may be correct because dreams are what make you want to pinch yourself.

“Pincher pride; where dreams reside. So pinch me I’m dreaming from a dream deep inside” was the recurring stanza with references drawing jolts of recognition from the students who shared their “dreams.”

“You delicately dance with the fabric of your dream refined; entertwined with your grace and mind to become on with fashion design,” must have drawn a smile from Kadence Freed, who started sewing masks in the seventh grade in the midst of COVID, and now is headed to the Arizona State University Fashion Institute (which is actually in Los Angeles) with hopes of being a designer and/or owning her own brand.

“Crack of the bat, from batting cages to the fact you remain our class act to no cap: A major-league contract,” definitely reminded everyone of Theo Anderson, the highly regarded prospect for the Earwigs baseball team who will be playing for the Utah Marshals summer-league team and starting college ball with St. Mary’s College next year.

And then there was “And she is Tony Dunn true, because she dreams to build a school in Vietnam and give back to prove that she can bring the whole student into view,” circling back to Wainzie Nguyen, who is headed to UC Irvine to study business with an education minor, with aspirations to follow in the footsteps of her school’s founder and open her own school in Vietnam.

“I want to open it for the kids who can’t go abroad but they want to have this kind of school,” she said. “Hopefully I can do it one day.”

Whatever paths they may take, congratulations to all the Dunn graduates.

The Class of 2025 at Dunn School celebrates at the Upper School Commencement on Saturday, May 31, in Los Olivos. Photo by Mike Chaldu/SYVS

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Santa Ynez Valley Foundation awards scholarships to 50 local students https://santaynezvalleystar.com/santa-ynez-valley-foundation-awards-scholarships-to-50-local-students/ Fri, 06 Jun 2025 23:00:00 +0000 https://santaynezvalleystar.com/?p=20966 The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation has awarded $85,000 in college scholarships to 50 local students, marking its largest annual investment to date in the future of the Valley’s youth. This year’s awards include scholarships for 30 graduating high school seniors, 27 from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and three from Dunn School, recognized for […]

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The Santa Ynez Valley Foundation has awarded $85,000 in college scholarships to 50 local students, marking its largest annual investment to date in the future of the Valley’s youth.

This year’s awards include scholarships for 30 graduating high school seniors, 27 from Santa Ynez Valley Union High School and three from Dunn School, recognized for academic achievement, personal growth, involvements, and big dreams. The Foundation also renewed scholarships for 20 college sophomores, continuing support that began when they were high school seniors.

“A scholarship is more than financial aid — it’s a vote of confidence,” said Esther Jacobsen Bates, executive director of the SYV Foundation. “It tells a student their hard work, dreams, and potential are worth the investment.”

One student shared, “At the scholarship award night, I was overwhelmed by a strong sense of community here in the Valley.” Another recipient added, “Thank you for your belief in my potential and for helping me achieve my goals.”

This year’s graduating high school senior scholarship recipients are Jesse Arango, Jadon Bailey, Samantha Barboza, Eric Brians, Jazmin Briceno, Addison Bunke, Nataly Davalos, Jackson Elliott, Saira Fernandez, Aaron Figueroa, Adrian Garcia, Addison Godfrey, Sadie Godfrey, Adin Kokorowski, Kea Gonzalez-Lishman, Griffin Markee, Mykah Hardy Moniot, Kaitlyn Hicks, Ryder McClurg, Presley Miller, Malia Ortiz, Natalie O’Shaughnessy, Yasmin Ozkan, Tanner Rhodes, Meara Samaan, and Sofia Goretti Tinajero Suarez.

Two students, Kimberly Medina and Chloe Ann Perez, received the Walter L. Hanson Scholarship. Named in honor of Walt Hanson, editor and publisher of the local newspaper from 1929 to 1945, the scholarship recognizes students dedicated to careers rooted in service to others.

The David & Jan Crosby Scholarship celebrates creativity and artistic expression. This year’s recipients, Naomi Ferguson and Alison Willis, were chosen for embodying those values through their passion and commitment to the arts.

These scholarships are made possible through the Foundation’s deep roots in the Santa Ynez Valley and the generosity of local donors. With a longstanding commitment to enhancing the quality of life in the Santa Ynez Valley and Los Alamos, the Foundation has awarded more than $7 million to local nonprofit organizations and over $1 million in scholarships, supporting nearly 400 students in pursuing their college dreams.

To learn more about the Foundation’s scholarship program and community initiatives, visit www.syValleyFoundation.org.

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