30 Years, 1 Community: WAB Alumni Around the World

Thirty-eight profiles, thirty years, one unmistakable thread: WAB alumni carry forward a spirit of creativity, curiosity, and community, combining disciplinary knowledge with the agility to thrive and make a difference in a rapidly changing world. 

Globally Mobile

39 alumni, 30 cities, 5 continents. From Nairobi to New York, London to Dar es Salaam, our graduates prove that a WAB education travels well. 

Why they came: They arrived due to parent global business postings and on diplomatic assignments, ensuring classrooms that had a mosaic of perspectives from day one. 

How long they stayed: the average WAB journey spanned 6.7 years, long enough for friendships (and Mandarin tones!) to stick for life. 

"Building a yurt in Inner Mongolia, performing as the Emperor in Mulan, enjoying the teacher’s acting for pantomime plays, playing football (soccer) with classmates, taking scientific measurements of a riverbank, and singing "Here Comes the Sun" among other great songs as part of music class.  All the friendships with my classmates and teachers - it was a very special time," shared Shannon McDonald from Class of 2001.

Diverse Paths, Shared Purpose 

The series spotlights careers as varied as our community: 

Across every field, alumni credit WAB's blend of learning, research, and disciplinary knowledge, together with the confidence to prototype, pivot, and collaborate. 

"I'm currently working in an AI startup leveraging the latest tech to automate the manual tasks in jobs. With the current advancements in AI, there are so many incredible opportunities to improve the way we work and live, " shared Tina Song from Class of 2019. 

Memories That Still Matter

When asked for their fondest moments, three themes emerged: 

• Community & Celebration – Rock in the Park, Jazz & Chill, China Studies 
• Relationships – amazing community and support surfaced in more than half of the responses. 
• Student Agency – building yurts, launching clubs, leading service trips 

"The people and the campus! I met so many incredible individuals during my time at WAB, and I can honestly say I've never encountered a more beautiful high school campus," said Ciara Salg from Class of 2013.

Making a Difference—Every Day

Whether advancing green-energy logistics, mentoring first-generation university students, or composing scores that raise mental-health awareness, alumni keep WAB’s values in action: 

"WAB taught me the joy of learning and the profound impact of community in creating meaningful change. In my role as a lecturer, I integrate culturally informed, real-world teaching practices, expressed by Ji Yun Lee from Class of 2013. 

Why It Matters for the Next 30 Years

These stories affirm what makes WAB special and future-ready: 

• Knowledge + Competence: rigorous academics combined with real-world problem-solving 
• Culture of Care: relationships that outlast report cards 
• Platform for Agency: space to test ideas, fail safely, and try again 

As new generations step onto campus, they inherit a legacy of curiosity, compassion, and joy. And every year, at Rock in the Park, new voices rise, echoing the same melody our alumni now hum in boardrooms, labs, studios, and communities worldwide. 

Here's to the next chorus.