On Wednesday, April 29th, Island School alumni and friends gathered virtually to share and participate in our 3rd annual Alumni Summit. Speakers represented classes from Spring 2004 to Fall 2024, with alumni, former faculty and staff, and current and former parents of Island School students in attendance.

Island School Alumni Share Experience & Demonstrate Impact

The summit kicked off with a warm welcome from our fearless founder, Chris Maxey, alumna and Executive Director of Cape Eleuthera Foundation, Taylor Hoffman (S06), and Alumni Relations Manager, Megan Platt. 

We then heard from three Island School alumni who shared insights from their professional journeys, along with reflections on how their experiences at The Island School have shaped their paths. 

Ken Park ST13 kicked things off with his talk, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Energy Transition. Ken reflected on his summer at The Island School and how his interest in the energy sector began when he first saw the wind turbine in the middle of campus. While his career has taken him in unexpected directions, he emphasized the importance of thinking about energy systems more holistically.

Next, Eliza Keene F13, shared her journey as an educator in her talk, Inspiring a Passion for Learning – Applying Lessons from The Island School to Classrooms Around the World. Eliza continues to bring Island School-inspired approaches into her teaching, shaping learning experiences for students across diverse settings. You can read more in Eliza’s written reflection.

Finally, Sophie Beredo ST21 presented her current research through her talk, Finding Nemo in a Changing Ocean. As a Field and Dive Technician on an NSF-funded project in Papua New Guinea, Sophie is studying the relationship between clownfish and their host sea anemones. She explained the challenges these species are facing due to climate change, and how her team is working to better understand and respond to these changes.

This year’s panel focused on the alumni experience throughout the years. We had 3 alumni join us, one representing each decade of The Island School. Jennifer Grovreman F04, Lauren Gould F12, and Anna Cheropowich F24 shared how The Island School continues to make an impact in the midst of evolving cultural and societal landscapes. They also reflected on how The Island School experience often plants seeds that grow and take shape long after students leave campus. 

To close the evening, Alexio Brown F07, our 2026 Founders Alumni Award recipient, joined us as our Keynote speaker. Alexio spoke about the ‘six waves’ that build The Island School experience. He left all alumni with the charge to continue living out the Island School mission of leadership affecting change. As he stated, “Let the waves come, and let them challenge you… Let them reveal the strengths that you actually have.” We all left filled with gratitude for Alexio and his inspiring words. 

All in all, it was an inspiring and memorable evening. While we only heard from a small group of alumni, their stories reflected the enduring impact of The Island School’s mission and the many ways it continues to resonate across our global community. 

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