Weston Keller
Class of 2023
INTERESTS
Playing Violin, Crosshatching, CinematographyTHINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE
The turntable needle dropping onto Bowie or BeethovenWell-crafted words: from lines of code to practiced prose
Physics-class shenanigans
FAVORITE READ
Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller–it showed me the beauty of questioning convention and inspired me to seek out the histories we let ourselves forget.WHAT I VALUE MOST
Blurring lines between disciplines—letting art, academia, and humanity flourish together as branches of the same tree.WHERE I’M HEADED
Stanford University
Ian Olson
Class of 2023
INTERESTS
Running, Skiing, ReadingTHINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE
The absolute silence of snowMy family
The milky way on a clear night
WHO I MOST ADMIRE
My friends, whose dedication to hard work and each other is unwaveringSMALL MOMENTS I LOVE
When I learn something new–an abstract math concept, a bit of geography trivia, or a unique birdsongFAVORITE PLACE
Taos–where I know the trees better than I know the roadsWHAT I VALUE MOST
Kindness, adventure, and perseveranceWHERE I’M HEADED
Dartmouth CollegeAlex Walpin
Class of 2023
INTERESTS
Theater, Creative Writing, ReadingRECENT EXPEDITION
A sunrise hike up Sun Mountain with my classmates to celebrate our last day of classesTHINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE
Typing out the final line of a storyWhispering backstage before the curtain rises
My mom’s matzo ball soup
HIDDEN TALENTS REVEALED AT PREP
Solving Euclid’s proofs in Geometry–I learned how beautiful math could beCLASS THAT INSPIRED ME
Shakespeare Seminar–We dove deep into the wordplay and motivations of Shakespeare’s fools and clowns. I loved it!WHERE I’M HEADED
Vassar College
Isa Garcia
Class of 2023
INTERESTS
Photography, Swimming, International StudiesTHINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE
The aftermath of a rainstorm in NMTacos from my favorite local food truck
Swimming in the ocean
MY HERO
My mother for teaching me that asking for help does not make you weakFAVORITE ARTIST
Frida Kahlo–her paintings tell the stories everyone is afraid to talk aboutTHINGS I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
A journal and colorful pens to coat life with colorHot sauce so life is never tasteless
Headphones to hear my life soundtrack
WHERE I’M HEADED
American UniversityBreshaun Joyner
English Teacher | DEIJ Team
INTERESTS
Playing cello, Performing Shakespeare, CampingTHINGS THAT MAKE ME SMILE
The darkest sky with the brightest starsMy son’s smile
Hot chocolate and a good book
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
A personal philosophy I call The E3 Principle–Expose and Engage to lead to Enlightenment
FAVORITE PART OF MY JOB
When students have a “Squee” moment–when they are excited about a new insight or discoveryMY HERO
My mother–she is not nicknamed The Duchess for nothingWHAT I VALUE MOST
A sense of integrity and accountability