William Wakefield ’25 has had a tremendous senior year at Pine Crest School. Coca-Cola Scholar, Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar, National Merit Scholar and Silver Knight Recipient are just a few of the accolades he earned. William’s list of accomplishments reflects not only academic excellence but also heartfelt service.

Carlos Soto ’25 isn’t someone who seeks the spotlight. But over the past four years, he’s earned the respect of teammates, classmates and teachers alike through steady leadership and a strong sense of responsibility. Whether on the field or in the classroom, Carlos brought consistency, humility and care to everything he did.

For Nathan Chen ’25, graduating from Pine Crest is more than a milestone—it’s a legacy. The son of Pine Crest alumnus Gordon Chen ’97 and the nephew of alumnus Christopher Chen ’94, Nathan spent his high school years walking the same halls, competing on the same fields and learning in the same classrooms his family once did.

“I think it's pretty cool that my dad and uncle went here,” he said. “When my dad visits, he’ll point out where he lived in the dorms or talk about playing football on the same field. It’s been special to share that connection.”

For Charlotte Thies ’25, rowing is more than a sport—it’s a source of strength, discipline and direction. A National Letter of Intent (NLI) recipient bound for Georgetown University, Charlotte has balanced the demands of a two-sport athletic career, the depth of Pine Crest academics and a three-year focus on business and social impact through the Social Entrepreneurship Program.

Charlotte’s athletic journey began on the soccer field at age two, coached by her father. “I did every sport Pine Crest offered,” she said, listing soccer, tennis, golf, basketball, volleyball and track and field. Track seemed destined to be her main focus until her mom, who was a coxswain at Rollins College, encouraged her to give rowing a try. “The second I got on the water, I knew. I loved it. I still did track through high school, but rowing became my passion.”

For Karen Awaida ’25, who joined Pine Crest in fifth grade at the Boca Raton campus, receiving the Founder’s Council Award for Excellence in Musical Theater wasn’t just a celebration of talent, it was a full-circle moment.

Though she’s been singing her whole life, Karen came to musical theater later than many of her peers. It wasn’t until her senior year that she decided to dive in fully. “I really made it my main extracurricular,” she said. “I joined Thespians for the first time, helped with Middle School productions, performed in Spring Scenes and everything I could. I wanted to give it my all in my last year.”

By: Dean Shiff ’26

March 25, 1921 - April 23, 2019

For many Pine Crest alumni, the memories of their time on campus remain a cherished part of their lives. For Kimberly (Altschul) Straker ’90, her experience at Pine Crest not only shaped her journey but also inspired her ongoing commitment to giving back. 

Haley Moss ’12 was often viewed by her peers as a shy student, with a tendency to keep to herself in social settings. It would take some time to discover that while she may have been timid at times, she would prove herself to be a dynamic voice for change.

As a senior communications manager at the high-pressure, high-production institution that is Microsoft, Pine Crest alumna Raanah Amjadi ’09 was also highly visible within the company. 

An architect by trade, Jennifer Silbert ’94 became an entrepreneur in 2014 when she co-founded Rewilder. Deeply passionate about upcycling and sustainability, Rewilder was born as a way to address the amount of non-recyclable, industrial waste piling up in landfills. 

Sterling Champion ’08 credits her time as a Pine Crest student-athlete for much of her professional success. “Pine Crest has honestly played a huge role in my journey thus far,” she said. “Some of the most important doors to open for me came from my connections to Pine Crest.” As a captain of both the girls’ lacrosse team and the cross country team, and the school’s first two-time All-American women’s lacrosse player, Sterling described the skills she acquired in athletics as an asset that she later realized not all people possess. “I learned so much from playing sports, and it shaped me in so many ways. Teamwork, discipline, time management, resiliency, and not being discouraged by failure are among the most important pieces of that foundation, and they taught me that I can persevere through just about anything.”

By Asha Gandreti ’25

By Veronika Hesse ’27

This summer, Frank Sobchak ’88 added a stunning accomplishment to his resume. “We just won the Finisterre division of the Newport Bermuda Race (sailing),” he said. One of the top three most prestigious amateur offshore sailing races, Frank and his crew completed the race in three and a half days.  

As he headed to college, Pine Crest School lifer Mr. David Walters ’02 never thought he was going to be a teacher!

Mr. Scott Wing ’13H, a longtime Pine Crest School community member, passed away on July 3, 2024. Mr. Wing was a former Head of Middle School and Head of School on the Boca Raton campus, spouse of an Upper School math instructor, parent and grandparent of Pine Crest alumnae and honorary alumnus of the Class of 2013. He joined Pine Crest in 1986 and retired in 2014

Jaime Legagneur ’97 has been proactive in the pursuit of her educational and career goals since graduating from Pine Crest. Wanting to experience something new while staying warm, Jaime attended Tulane University in New Orleans for her undergraduate degree.

Aron Weingard ’03 recalls that some of his fondest childhood memories were attending a sleep-away camp in Maine. He was unaware of it at the time, but his connection to this camp would prove to be a profound influence on his life and the lives of thousands of grieving children.  

Graduating from the University of Florida with a bachelor of science degree in Finance and then a master of science in Entrepreneurship, Aron’s career path led him initially to management and eventually to the wealth management industry. What is unique—and not an obvious step based on his background—is the fact that he has become a nationally recognized leader in the space of childhood grief.

Glen Pierson ’23H, Assistant Head of Upper School and Dean of Students will retire this summer from Pine Crest School after 29 years. GP, as he is affectionately known by the students, began his career at Pine Crest in the Upper School science department as a chemistry teacher, although teaching was not always on Mr. Pierson’s radar.