Surgere Tentamus. We Strive to Rise.
2020-2021 REPORT ON GIVING
Our theme during the 2020-2021 school year, Surgere Tentamus, was a nod to the enduring relevance of our school motto as COVID-19 continued into a second school year and our community and country grappled with political polarization and social justice issues. In addition to supporting student wellness and learning through the pandemic, our theme implored us to continue work in areas such as curriculum development and diversity, equity, and inclusion that will benefit our students today and in the future.
With your support Westridge did just that. The impact of your giving was powerful and immediate, providing financial support through emergency tuition assistance and providing crucial funds for the technology and materials necessary to deliver our program remotely in homes across LA County and beyond. Your care and concern for our students and employees, your support for the school as we built and refined our remote program, and your celebration during our joyous and much-anticipated return to campus in spring 2021 only confirmed what we have always known of Westridge—we are resilient, determined, and committed to working toward a better, brighter future together.
rom take-home ceramics wheels and STEAMWork tinker project kits to virtual museum visits, performing arts and science podcasts, and a new student-run Westridge radio station, our time spent in remote learning was “Teaming” with exciting collaborations, interdisciplinary work, and creative technology integration in curriculum.
ur transition back to campus began in February with the formation of small Lower School cohorts focused on social emotional learning and community-building. By the end of April, nearly all students had returned to campus and in June, parents and family members joined us on Frank Field for our Commencement celebration of the Class of 2021!
You
STEPPED UP
like never before.
We are so grateful to have exceeded our Annual Fund goal, bringing the total amount raised in 2020-2021 to over $1.65 million—well beyond our expectations in this uncertain environment. Because of your generosity, we were able to meet an increased need for tuition assistance, new technology, and more, all while navigating new and ever-changing health and safety requirements.
eramics Teacher Juanita Jimenez retired after 50 years at Westridge, and she was named an honorary alumna at Alumnae Weekend on March 12 and 13, 2021. To further honor Juanita, the Frank Family (who, in 1978, also provided the funding to build the Laurie ’68 and Susan ’71 Frank Art Studio in which Juanita spent the majority of her time teaching) established the Juanita Jimenez Endowed Fund for the Arts. Our sincerest thanks to all of the donors who have supported the fund.
Juanita Jimenez
Endowed Fund for the Arts
Susan & Carlos Garrett
Robbin Gehrke & Robert Moses
Mara Goby ’12
Tae Kyung Ha & Sang Wan Shin
Amirunnessa & Shaikh Mansoor Haque
Lam Ho ’99
Rosemary Howley ’73
Lynwen Hughes-Boatman & Craig Boatman
Rhiannon Hughes-Boatman ’15
Kate Kelley
Lisa Anderson Kelley ’75
Krista Kokjohn-Poehler ’93
Roza & Aron Kuppermann
Dora & Wei Kwan
Carol & Albert Kwong
Valerie Plati Laudenbach ’95 &
Jay Laudenbach
Nancy & Joshua Leichter
Leslie Reeves Lindholm ’87
Carol & Luther Luedtke
Cindy & Greg Martin
David & Margaret Mgrublian
Jeanne Muff Miraglia ’88
Suzy Moser
Carolyn Smith Mueller ’86
Theresa Mullally
Ellen Narver ’72
Rebecca & Peter Adams
Kimiko Adler ’19
Aurora Anaya-Cerda ’96
Anonymous
Vanessa Gaw Baik ’94
Brandi Bakewell ’91
Trevor Bauer ’82
Jennifer Chu Bender ’91
Brooke Bennett ’07
R. David & Beverly Bowlus
Alexandra Brockett ’05
Morgan Muir Callahan ’03 &
Michael Callahan-Dudley
Melissa Campbell-Langdell ’99 &
Alene Campbell-Langdell
Laureen Chang & Peter Brockett
Ling-ling Chung & Peter Chi
Patricia & Ivan Colburn
Elizabeth & John Cooper
Deirdre Coppage ’80
M. Elaine Dunham ’76
Georgianna Bray Erskine ’50
Michele Nishiyama Esbenshade ’91 &
Andrew Esbenshade
Genevieve & Jacob Fakoory
Richard R. Frank
Susan Frank ’71 & Jeff D'Angelo
Cynthia Nichols ’82
Yun Niu & Peng Wang
Sarah Robinson Oerth ’91
Sue Parilla & Theodore Krontiris
Kathleen & Charles Peck
Mary Quirk
Meaghan & Samuel Register
Samantha Reich ’15
Asha & Pratap Saraf
Amanda Schachter ’78
Pamela Schachter ’75
Katharine & Richard Schlosberg
Diane & Michael Scott
Peggy & Jim Shirreffs
Sarah Soifer ’94
Margaret C. Spear
Anahit Sinoryan Turgman
Louise Van Vorst ’75
Lisa Vandergriff
Pamela & Mark Wiedenbeck
Katherine Williams & Robert Waller
Cara Wilson ’21
Christopher Wilson & Brooke Abercrombie
Laurie Frank Wilson ’68
Jennifer Wong Luc & Paul Luc
Raleigh Renick Young ’80
*reflects giving from July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021
We recently completed the installation of
Parking Stackers
in the newly renamed Ahmanson Car Park (formerly known as North Lot), built as a solution to a parking shortage Westridge has faced for years. The stackers and the entire project were generously funded by the Ahmanson Foundation.
You—our community—went above and beyond so that together, we all could RISE.
For that and for your unwavering support of girls’ empowerment and education, we are so grateful.
