鈥淕3 students wrote personal letters and notes of encouragement to the Class of 2025 alumni,鈥� said Stuart Haddow, Director of Annual Giving and Alumni, who coordinated the project. 鈥淭he students had the opportunity to interview Austin Wilcox, a 糖心原创 alumnus from the Class of 2017, to gain insight into what it was like to navigate the first year away from 糖心原创鈥oming from a small environment where you know everybody to a much larger setting and having to adjust to that change.鈥�

Inspired by Austin鈥檚 stories, the third graders filled Valentine鈥檚 cards with advice, encouragement, and personal reflections. Then the kindergarteners became little 鈥渆lves,鈥� assembling the packages at multiple stations and adding a personal touch to each one. Every package included a packing slip with the name of the student who contributed.

The care packages were thoughtfully curated with 糖心原创 alumni koozies, stickers, sticky notes signed by Head of School Kristy Lundstrom, packets of hot chocolate, liquid IV, and Airheads. 鈥淚t was meant to put a smile on their face, to remember that there are people cheering them on for 糖心原创,鈥� Haddow explained.

The packages traveled nationwide, reaching alumni coast to coast. 鈥淭hese packages went across the country鈥� It was meant to touch every single alum from the Class of 2025,鈥� Haddow said. 鈥淲e are really trying to show them that this new MV alumni chapter is like a new beginning. This isn鈥檛 the end, it鈥檚 a continuation of the relationship after you graduate.鈥�

Through collaboration, creativity, and a touch of Valentine鈥檚 magic, 糖心原创 students reminded their alumni that the Mustang community is always cheering them on, no matter where life takes them.

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Head of School Kristy Lundstr枚m opened the ceremony by acknowledging the School鈥檚 global audience:

鈥淎 special welcome to our Dewey School families in Vietnam鈥攚e are so grateful for your partnership and presence today. We are proud to celebrate four Vietnamese students graduating in person, here with us this morning鈥攚hat a remarkable expression of our global community in action.鈥�

She also recognized families of students tuning in across time zones, reflecting on the expanded reach and promise of the School鈥檚 personalized learning programs:

鈥淵our commitment to learning, innovation, and purpose is an important part of our story, and we celebrate you today as well.鈥�

From Atlanta to Hanoi, whether attending in-person or watching on demand, the 2025 Commencement Ceremony reflected 糖心原创鈥檚 vision of an interconnected, purpose-driven community鈥攁nd marked a joyful celebration of learning, leadership, and legacy.

Student Voices Take Center Stage

The ceremony featured reflections from student leaders whose words underscored the power of growth, community, and authenticity. Delivering the Salutatory Address, Ryley Fuller offered heartfelt gratitude and a bit of humor, setting the tone with:

鈥淚 know that personally, without the support from God, my family, my friends, my teachers, and of course Grammarly, I would not be here speaking today.鈥�

He went on to highlight the wide-ranging accomplishments of the Class of 2025鈥攆rom 鈥渕ultivariable calculus box optimization鈥� and Latin sports broadcasts, to championship-level athletics, impactful clubs, and student-led innovation, even joking about 鈥淧hotoshop abominations鈥� in Innovation Diploma. With wit and warmth, he reminded his classmates that their time at 糖心原创 has been marked by 鈥渆nthusiasm, support, and amazing accomplishments鈥濃�攁nd concluded with a powerful affirmation:

鈥淩egardless of where you go or what you do, you will always have a place in the Class of 2025.鈥�

Valedictorian and Head Prefect Herris Fentress delivered a stirring and deeply personal address about legacy, gratitude, and the unseen support behind every success. Reflecting on his 13-year journey at 糖心原创, Herris humbly shared:

鈥淓very time people congratulate me on being the Valedictorian, I think of this thing Isaac Newton once said鈥攐r at least according to the internet鈥攈e said: 鈥業 stand on the shoulders of giants.鈥欌��

He acknowledged the 鈥減roverbial giants鈥� of the MV community鈥攖eachers, coaches, administrators, friends, and family鈥攚ho helped shape him into the person he is today. From shouting out academic mentors such as Dr. Schewe and Ms. Lederer, to thanking his esports coaches for teaching him resilience, Herris painted a vivid picture of a community that empowers through care, encouragement, and opportunity.

Looking ahead, he challenged his classmates to think beyond accolades and toward impact:

鈥淵our greatest opportunity to make a difference isn鈥檛 only in the achievements or success you have now, it鈥檚 also in the way you impact the people around you, and how that impact shapes the future.鈥�

He concluded with a message that resonated across the gym: 鈥淕o out there and be giants. Thank you all.鈥�

Beau Reinking, Sustainability Prefect, offered the final Benediction, quoting Bren茅 Brown:
鈥淟et go of who you think you’re supposed to be; embrace who you are.鈥�

His words captured the collective courage of this class to lead from a place of authenticity and compassion.

Leadership and Legacy

Following the student speeches, Kristy Lundstr枚m delivered a heartfelt and personal message to the Class of 2025鈥攊ndicating that 2025 Commencement was her favorite day of the year:

鈥淵ou and I started this Upper School journey together,鈥� she said, speaking directly to the seniors. 鈥淔rom the beginning, you鈥檝e shown us who you are: deeply curious, kind, original, bold.”

She celebrated their range of accomplishments鈥攂oth academic and personal:

• Winning State Championships and performing Shakespeare
• Designing apps and haunted houses
• Logging over 3,200 service hours
• Launching 糖心原创鈥檚 Global Campus and personalized pathways
• Mentoring younger students and leading with authenticity

鈥淵ou鈥檝e led not by having all the answers,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut by asking better questions and being brave enough to try again.鈥�

鈥淐lass of 2025: Your fingerprints are all over this place鈥攏ot just in the design labs and hallway art鈥攂ut in the relationships you鈥檝e built and the legacy you鈥檝e left.鈥�

During her inspirational close, Lundstr枚m offered a final charge to the graduates:

鈥淪ay yes. Don鈥檛 ask why鈥攁sk why not? Say yes to the tough conversations, to going first, to being bold. Use your knowledge, use your skills, lean into your attributes鈥攂ecause you know how to design a better world. So go do it.鈥�

鈥淏e bold. Bear fruit. Be giants.鈥�

Honoring Character

A 糖心原创 tradition, the David Barclift Leadership Award was presented by Kristy Lundstr枚m to Reese Hickey, recognizing a senior whose character, vision, and servant leadership have left a lasting impact on the community.

A Celebration in Music and Joy

Introduced by Academic Prefect Charlotte Nagel, the traditional senior musical performance brought down the house with a mashup of Green Day鈥檚 鈥淕ood Riddance (Time of Your Life)鈥� and Lynyrd Skynyrd鈥檚 鈥淔ree Bird.鈥� A group of talented graduates鈥擜nthony Beccaria, Dareen Cheong, Amelia Katz, Lawson Neff, Jake Pierce, Beau Reinking, and Sydney Smith鈥攖ook the stage, transforming a meaningful 糖心原创 tradition into an unforgettable highlight of the morning.

For Anthony Beccaria, who joined 糖心原创 as a freshman, the performance was more than a farewell鈥攊t was a full-circle moment. He began playing guitar with Upper School Music Instructor Mr. G in Grade 9 (having never played before). What started as casual practice soon evolved into a passionate pursuit of musical excellence, with Anthony embracing every opportunity to refine his craft.

By the time he stepped onstage at graduation, Anthony had become known for his talent and humility鈥攂ut nothing prepared the audience for what came next. His 鈥淔ree Bird鈥� solo was nothing short of electric. As he leaned into the final guitar riff, fingers flying across the fretboard, the audience erupted in cheers and celebration.

What began as a simple senior tradition became a moment of transcendence鈥攁 powerful sendoff that showcased not only musical skill but also the spirit of this remarkable class. The performance was joyful, raw, and full of heart. A perfect exclamation point on a morning filled with love, reflection, and limitless possibility.

A Global Class, A Shared Purpose

With 70% of the class heading to colleges out of state, 11 students committed to play collegiate sports, and more than $7 million earned in scholarships (excluding HOPE), the Class of 2025 is ready to lead on a global stage.

From local neighborhoods to international communities, and from screen to stage, these graduates leave not only with diplomas but with purpose鈥攁nd a charge to lead boldly, wherever their journeys take them.

Once a Mustang, Always a Mustang.

? Watch the full Commencement Ceremony on the .

.

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鈥淚 remember feeling apprehensive,鈥� recalls Ben Potter, the AP U.S. History teacher at the time. 鈥淏ut even with masks on, I could see it in their eyes鈥攖here was energy, enthusiasm. They were asking bold, beautiful questions that went far beyond our syllabus.鈥�

It wasn鈥檛 long before Nathan Desta and Jake Lager, both Class of 2022 stepped into leadership roles and founded The Armchair Philosophers Club, a space dedicated to exploring life鈥檚 biggest questions. What began as a weekly Zoom meeting quickly evolved into an organic community鈥攈allway debates, spontaneous conversations, and a growing group of thinkers eager to wrestle with questions like What is the nature of truth? How do we define morality? and Why are humans capable of both great good and great harm?

鈥淚鈥檝e never seen students take such ownership of their learning,鈥� Potter said. 鈥淣athan and Jake created something from nothing. They modeled what agency looks like鈥攏ot waiting for permission to explore, but instead inviting others into deep inquiry.鈥�

What happened next is a testament to 糖心原创鈥檚 culture of co-creation and personalized pathways. Inspired by the momentum of the club, students approached Mr. Potter with an idea: what if these philosophical discussions could become a formal course? With support from the Humanities team, The Big Questions was born鈥攁n elective designed for juniors and seniors to explore timeless, complex ideas in a collaborative and curious environment.

Though Potter moved on to Charlotte, North Carolina, before the course launched, his vision lived on. Dr. Mark-Anthony Karantabias, a University of Kentucky Ph.D. and scholar of ancient law and ethics, took the reins and designed a course that would quickly become a cornerstone of the Upper School experience.

Before he ever entered the classroom, Dr. Karantabias had a clear intention: 鈥淚 wanted to stress and cultivate genuine open-mindedness through the ability to engage and understand others in a civil, respectful, and professional manner to counter today’s climate, which generally prefers and promotes echo chambers. I also wanted the students to consider some of the most difficult concepts with which humans wrestle: What is evil? Does it exist? Is it subjective? Is it an entity as it is in Abrahamic religions? Is it non-existent and simply the absence of the Good because the Good cannot author an imperfection, as Platonists argued? Is it a mechanism used by the 鈥榳eak鈥� to justify their plight, as Nietzsche proposed? Should free speech be monitored? Who gets to monitor it and set the norms? Is unbridled free speech necessary鈥攅ven in its worst forms鈥攖o avoid tyranny?鈥�

He adds, 鈥淪tudents come into The Big Questions seeking not just answers, but better questions. This course invites them to slow down, to reflect, and to grapple with the ambiguity of what it means to live well. It鈥檚 rigorous, but it鈥檚 also profoundly human.鈥�

For Nathan, the experience not only shaped his thinking – it influenced his future.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a stretch to say that the club influenced me greatly to major as I did, and that Big Questions class offered a strong foundation for my uni classes down the road鈥攅specially my ancient Phil classes. Dr. K did a super good job explaining Aristotelian thought and Platonism in particular. It stuck with me!鈥�

The course and the culture of deep inquiry at 糖心原创 gave Nathan the confidence and clarity to pursue his academic interests in college. Now a philosophy major at Georgia State University, he continues to explore many of the same themes first discussed in Room 207.

鈥淚 won the Alvin Altman Award for academic excellence in my first two years,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 also received recognition through the Troy Moore Ethics Contest for an essay on 鈥榯he good life,鈥� and presented on similar philosophical themes at the Georgia State Undergraduate Research Conference, which earned me a Global Engagement Award.鈥�

The story doesn鈥檛 end there. As expanded, The Big Questions made the leap to a virtual platform, opening the course to an even wider community of thinkers. Now heading into its fourth year, the online version continues to evolve, with Potter returning to help revise the course to meet the needs of today鈥檚 intellectually curious and globally aware students.

At its heart, The Big Questions is more than a course鈥攊t鈥檚 a case study in student-driven innovation. It鈥檚 what happens when learners are empowered to ask, design, and lead. It鈥檚 what happens when a school trusts students to shape their own journey of purpose.

After graduating from 糖心原创, both founders carried their spirit of inquiry and leadership with them: Jake Lager went on to Auburn University, and Nathan Desta is continuing his studies in philosophy.

As Nathan reflected during his senior year, 鈥淲e didn鈥檛 just want to have answers handed to us. We wanted to wrestle with ideas, to build a space where doubt was welcome, and where we could really think.鈥�

And think they did. And still do.

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The 糖心原创鈥檚 Virtual Reality (VR) team was among 60 presenters at the annual in Los Angeles last week. Presenting details on a VR experience for pediatric patients at , the VR team shared design and development considerations that have resulted in documented patient improvement and success over the last five years.

Established in 2018, The Island was designed and developed by 糖心原创 Upper School students, for Children鈥檚 Healthcare of Atlanta, to be used as both a distraction from pain and a way to encourage patients to use their bodies during physical therapy sessions. The first iteration of The Island was presented to Children鈥檚 in January 2020. The experience included hearing seagulls squawking and waves crashing, along with the ability to interact with beach balls, treasure chests, and 鈥榩ick up鈥� buckets on the ground. A beach carnival provided users with additional opportunities to move and interact with carnival games. Over the last 5 years, patient response and data collected by physical therapists using the program have resulted in ongoing optimizations of The Island by 糖心原创 students.

Jason Amos, Manager, Day Rehabilitation at Children鈥檚 Healthcare of Atlanta, shared insights on how the program鈥檚 effectiveness is being measured. 鈥淔or patients with Acquired Brain Injury and Spinal Cord Injury, the mean pre-program 鈥渏oy鈥� scale rating was 3 and the post-program 鈥渏oy鈥� scale rating was a 4, all demonstrating improvements. Patients successfully achieved their therapeutic goals using VR (upper extremity movement, balance, lower extremity movement, vision, executive functioning) and demonstrated increased participation, subjectively.鈥�

On March 29, 2023, seven VR students: Herris Fentress, Christian Foster, Callum Graham, Burak Inel, Madison Kaul, Cade Reinking, Sydney Smith along with Director of Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab Marie Graham, and Assistant Director of Immersive Technology, Nikolai Ibanez presented to the sold-out crowd of physicians and medical professionals at vMed23. 鈥淭he work being done by our VR team is an example of how student capacity can grow exponentially when real-world applications are provided. Not only do students see an authentic purpose to their work, but they are also invested and engaged in making a positive impact,鈥� said Kristy Lundstrom, The 糖心原创鈥檚 Head of School.

Working on the 糖心原创/Children鈥檚 program has provided invaluable experience for all students involved. The original student team responsible for developing the first Island experience included , 糖心原创 Class of 2021. Justin is currently at Stanford University and co-authoring the revised Python course reader for Code In Place, Stanford鈥檚 online international coding course. Other team members have gone on to Georgia Tech, Clemson, and Belmont University. In addition to the CHOA program, the current VR team is also designing and conducting research about how VR might increase the quality of life for hospice patients and is bringing virtual reality to nursing home residents to increase joy.

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1. ENGINEERING INTERNSHIP – Burton Energy Group

糖心原创 alumni are the perfect professionals to host 糖心原创 interns, they know just how powerful it is to start with questions and follow individual passions. This year McKayla Davis, Class of 2026 is interning with Margaret White, Energy Engineer at and MV Class of 2016. Since McKayla is in Grade 9, her Upper School experience has just started but Maker, Design, and Engineering (MDE) has been her favorite class, 鈥淢y favorite part of MDE was using the . Mr. Tiffin told me it is similar to what mechanical engineers use so I decided I wanted to intern with an Engineer.鈥� McKayla plans to shadow Margaret and other engineers at the company, 鈥淚鈥檒l get to experience a lot of different types of engineering and see if any of them spark an interest. I鈥檒l also ask questions about what schools they went to and what degrees they earned to get their jobs. It will give me some insight into whether I want to go down that path or not.鈥�

2. MEDICAL INTERNSHIP – NORTHSIDE HOSPITAL SYSTEM

Blythe Graham, Class of 2024, has always had a passion for helping people, especially babies and young children. 鈥淟ast year I interned with a PK5 class at the Preschool. It was a great experience and just solidified my love for babies. I know I definitely want to make a career out of helping children and recently I have decided I wanted to go into Neonatal or Pediatric Nursing鈥� Blythe explained. This week she is interning with a nurse practitioner at Northside/Northpoint OB/GYN for the first half of the week and for the second, she is interning with an OB/GYN at Northside Hospital. She plans to shadow each of them as they do small procedures, perform C-Sections, and facilitate births. Blythe added, “I know I want to go into the medical field, so the more I can experience the better! But this experience might also show me that I might not want to go into the medical field, and that鈥檚 okay too.”

3. FINE ARTS INTERNSHIP – VININGS ART GALLERY

Jesie Bodine, Class of 2026 is interested in the social and psychological aspects of his internship. Jesie has a passion for psychology, especially around how people respond to art. Jesie shared some of the specific opportunities he will have during his internship with Mary Bayus, Gallery Director at the , 鈥淚 will get to know three artists featured in two separate exhibits. I want to know about their art, how they felt when they made it, what it means to them, and how their art makes others feel. I want to become a psychiatrist and this is a great opportunity for me to get to know these people on an emotional level. This process will also help me make a recommendation on what pieces belong where in the exhibit.鈥�

THE INTERNSHIP PROCESS

Many internship opportunities develop through connections made through friends, family members, or professionals. Throughout Upper School students are developing their networks and building relationships while pursuing their passions. Some students are stepping into these internship experiences for the first time and have not developed the connections. In that case, the internship team: Deshawn Jenkins, Ricky Hyde, Eduardo Milrud, Marie Graham, Melvin Feng, and Sheri Johnson provided names of 糖心原创 parents and MVXperts that work in those fields. It is the student鈥檚 responsibility to contact them, inquire about their careers, and see if they would be interested in hosting them. The 糖心原创 community is committed to giving our students an impactful experience to grow their connections throughout Atlanta.

THE MUTUAL IMPACT OF AN MV INTERNSHIP

Last year, at her company . Wells was ecstatic to have an MV student helping out, 鈥淚t was great to have her fresh perspectives. It helped re-spark my passion and motivation.鈥�

From last year to this year, there was a 65% jump in internship participants (28 students to 43 students). Next year, the program is expected to grow as more students learn about the real-world experiences their peers participated in.

This Friday morning, students will present and showcase their 2023 Interim internships. Each student will stand in front of their peers, explaining what they expected, liked, wished, and wondered, including artifacts (pictures, clothing, tools, instruments, and more) that embody their experience.

Check out more interim stories on .

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We sat down with Maggie to learn more about how her specific Interim experiences shaped her views on education, international travel, and cultural immersion. She fondly recounts moments and experiences that sparked her passion for traveling and learning, from her time in New Mexico to her experiences in London, Paris, and New York. Moreover, she offers advice to current students participating in Interim abroad or participating in other Interim experiences.. Maggie also shared specific 糖心原创’s mindsets that have helped her succeed in her professional life abroad, including helping her to shape PlayPlay’s American operations playbook.

MV: What was your experience traveling with 糖心原创鈥檚 Interim program and how did it begin to shape your global perspective?

MM: Every interim experience that I had was incredibly transformative – even the ones that weren鈥檛 my first choice. I remember my Freshman year being starry-eyed over the international trips that the upperclassmen had priority for and when I found out that out of my choices I was going to be placed on one of my last pick trips – the art department鈥檚 tour of New Mexico – I was a little disappointed at the lack of croissants and city lights. However, once I got on the trip with the hodge podge group of students and Mr. Kunath, MS. Carol and Mr. Campbell, I felt like I was going to thoroughly enjoy my time and the company of the older kids that I didn鈥檛 really know. I was right. I got back from New Mexico with a newfound passion for Georgia O鈥橩eefe and multiple buffalo sightings under my belt.

New York, London, and Paris I had expected to adore, which was exactly the case. What surprised me most about every trip, domestic or international, was how connected I felt to the teachers/administrators chaperoning as well as our local guides. I distinctly remember being in New York my sophomore year with Mrs. Tumbleson and Dr. McCubbin when they told me they could see me in New York for university. I think that was the first time anyone outside of my parents had said that they thought I was bound for a bigger city and maybe a different life than the one I was on my way to.

London my junior year further confirmed this hope as I realized that it was possible for me to dream even bigger than New York for myself. Even if I wouldn鈥檛 have said it out loud at the time, just being there soaking up every museum and historical plaque gave me the necessary boost in self-confidence to seriously dream beyond the US.

MV: How has your experience with the Interim program impacted your views on education? Can you share any specific examples or insights you gained from your time there?

MM: I think that Interim has really shaped my views on education because the program proved to me firsthand the benefits of experiential learning. You can lecture young people all day long and even that can be fascinating and gripping from time to time, but once you bring a student face to face with a subject, a period of history, or a craft, it鈥檚 like you implicate them in the lesson and therefore make them reconsider their own life. I feel as though Interim took a desire that was probably always in me and made acting on that desire not seem so insane or impossible – the novels that I鈥檇 been reading didn鈥檛 have to be a world away, the cultures I鈥檇 been learning about didn鈥檛 have to be totally foreign to me and the history that I鈥檇 studied didn鈥檛 have to be totally in the past.

MV: Was there a particular moment or experience during your Interim experiences that sparked a curiosity or interest in continuing your education internationally?

MM: I had always thought that I had a 鈥済et out鈥� itch within me and this all reached a boiling point my senior year when I first touched down in Paris surrounded by my best friends, some of my favorite teachers (Mr. Baroody and Mr. Piligian) and our local guide – Angel – truly an angel. The 2017 Interim trip to Paris and Normandy wasn鈥檛 necessarily focused on immersion in the 鈥渞eal culture of France鈥� but rather the crown jewels of the city and its historical foundations. I drank all of this up, often hanging back with Angel to further discuss his time in France. I began to look around at the regular people living their regular lives every day but doing so in the shadow of the world鈥檚 great wonders. Starting then, an infectious desire to live in Paris started festering within me鈥poiler alert, less than two years later I transferred from George Washington University in DC to The American University in Paris, saying 鈥渃鈥檈st la vie鈥� and arrived at my new Parisian apartment with two suitcases and zero knowledge of the language.

MV: In what ways do you feel that 糖心原创 specifically prepared you for working abroad, both in terms of skills and mindset? How did those preparations help you navigate and succeed in international professional environments?

MM: I would say that 糖心原创 prepared me for my professional life abroad by instilling in me a mindset of 鈥渨hy not?鈥� and 鈥渙kay, let鈥檚 try again.鈥� Working abroad as an American often means that your role will include helping an organization grow its presence in the US or among other Anglophone countries. In my case, I have been working for a French startup that has a massive presence in France, but virtually no name recognition in the United States. So, my colleagues and I on the US team have had to create the playbook for the largest potential market in the world. This has involved a lot of daring trial and error and experimentation that I鈥檝e always felt pretty comfortable with because 糖心原创 made sure when I was 14 years old that I got comfortable with 鈥渇ailing up鈥� and then asking 鈥渉ow might we do this鈥� over and over. Long story short, 糖心原创 made me feel empowered enough to try, fail, re-evaluate, and then try again鈥hich is basically all that living and working abroad amounts to.

MV: Do you have any advice for students who are going abroad, participating in core, or volunteering this interim term?

MM: As clich茅 as this may sound, take advantage of every opportunity and offer. I understand that it鈥檚 enticing to try and get a 鈥渟econd spring break鈥� where you can just chill at the beach or get Chick fil A every morning before hitting the mall, but you have all your future days in the metro Atlanta area to do just that. The fact that we have even been offered such a program and especially with as many options as there are now (I鈥檓 seriously jealous) is so rarely heard of and the kind of thing that a lot of students would dream of. Traveling and trying new jobs will never be as easy for you as it will be now and in the next few years. While you have the wide open offer of these experiences domestic or abroad, do your future self a favor and say 鈥測es.鈥� What鈥檚 the worst that could happen? You don鈥檛 like the food that much? The weather isn鈥檛 ideal? The internship proves not to be your dream job? That is awesome! Really, it is, because just by trying, you鈥檒l have figured out something you don鈥檛 love which will only get you closer to finding what you do.

The post How Interim Laid the Foundation for a Global Career for this MV Alumna appeared first on 糖心原创.

founded by Ona Oli, Class of 2029

Founded in 2019, Ona Oli (a Lower School student at the time) launched Beautiful Curly Me, a brand with one goal in mind: to encourage young girls to love themselves and be confident in who they are. Her business came from identifying a problem that needed to be solved. This principle is taught every day here at 糖心原创. Her path to purpose started at age six. She and her mother realized people of color were not fully represented in children’s books or toys. Ona envisioned her own brand that would include dolls with beautiful curly hair and brown skin and books filled with affirmations to help little girls feel confident in themselves. After 4 years in business, Ona鈥檚 products are distributed on her website, Amazon, Flourish, Maisonette, and more. Her business and philanthropy efforts have been featured by Good Morning America, People Magazine, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and media outlets throughout . Just last month, Ona did a where she spoke about her journey so far as well as her goals for the future.

鈥淭hrough this journey, I have gone from not liking my hair to embracing my curls. And beyond that, loving who I am inside and out. With every doll I create or book I write, I am able to show another little girl it is possible to do anything she sets out to do.鈥�
-Ona Oli

founded by Sam Hodges, Class of 2023

With a passion for graphic design and after forming a skateboarding group with a few friends, Sam developed a business idea. How might I create an exclusive high-quality streetwear brand of originally-designed, screen-printed T-shirts that are comfortable and durable enough to wear while walking or skating around town? (That was three years ago) Discovering first-hand that relationships are foundational for learning and for business success, Sam built relationships with teachers at 糖心原创 and small business owners across the world which helped him throughout the branding, marketing, and product development stages. Upper School Visual Arts Teacher Mariana Depetris helped jumpstart his production process by teaching him how to screenprint. Other small business owners (now friends) helped Sam plan his brand release and understand the best way to sell his products. Through these conversations, he was able to get input on production restraints and supply and demand resulting in Sam opening his store temporarily last spring, receiving orders, and closing it to fill them. 鈥淲hen you are setting up a brand like this, you can do it as I did by setting up the shop and then closing it after orders come in so I know how many materials to buy. Or you can keep it open and spend a bunch of money buying in bulk when you don鈥檛 really have the demand yet. The way I did it, I had the demand already and I was able to supply it.鈥� Follow for new designs and store reopening dates coming this spring.

Collins Classic Charities Corporation founded by Collin Maher, Class of 2025

Collin Maher leveraged his love of running and charitable spirit to organize a Peachtree Road Race qualifying event called . On February 18, 2023, hundreds of runners will gather here at 糖心原创 to run or walk 3.1 miles around Sandy Springs. Throughout Collin鈥檚 event-planning journey, he has developed relationships with the City of Sandy Springs to secure permits for road closures and support from police and EMT staff on the day of the event. He partnered with , a race production company, to ensure the Cocoa Class is the event is a USATF-certified loop course and Peachtree Road Race qualifier. Proceeds from the race will benefit Shoes that Fit, a non-profit organization, to benefit Lakeforest Elementary School students who are in need of new athletic shoes. The Made in MV Podcast featured Collin鈥檚 story in a recent episode capturing the details behind what it takes to organizing this charitable event, .听

鈥淚 am excited for the race and all the ways it can make a positive impact and increase well-being. I know the impact good shoes can make when it comes to my own running, so being able to work with Shoes that Fit and direct some of those donations to kids at the Lakeforest Elementary School brings even more meaning to this project.鈥�
-Collin Maher, Class of 2025

founded by Maddy Strudwick, Class of 2022

The company Maddy founded, promotes the product QUACK! and encourages users to utilize communication to solve problems. QUACK!鈥檚 motto? Talk to the duck. Get unstuck. Read her story .

author, Mia Whitney, Class of 2017

During her Sophomore year, Mia鈥檚 older brother was in the midst of his college tour process and she tagged along and helped with taking notes on each school. She saw firsthand the need to be prepared as well as organized to make the most of these campus visits. This experience sparked the project of designing a solution for keeping the college planning process more organized.

By working with College Counselor Dr. Erin McCubbin, Mia incorporated the most important things to look for while researching schools: Academics, Social Life, Facilities, Safety, and more. Within each of these categories, students could give each a star rating and write notes about the programs. Mia went through many iterations before she officially published it on Amazon during her senior year.

The YOUniversity Planner is designed to encourage organization when students are experiencing their college search process offering a unique way to record notes and ultimately empowering users to make the most informed decisions for their future. The product also provides aids including a mini-dictionary, User Profile, and calendar. Every American college and university is listed according to state.

Since Mia graduated from 糖心原创, the experience of developing and bringing this product to market has positively impacted her life. 鈥淓ven when I was applying to medical school, I was still talking about this project. It was something that I had worked on for years and saw through until the end. I could talk about it in interviews when they asked me 鈥榃hat was something you put your head down and completed?鈥� Or 鈥榃hat is something you are proud of?鈥� or 鈥榃hen was a time you helped people around you?鈥� Mia explained.

When student curiosities and passions are paired with design-thinking skills, access to diverse social networks, and the confidence to see their efforts through to a final product, incredibly impactful things will happen.

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Homecoming Day official proceedings started at 3:45 pm with Head of School, Kristy Lundstrom leading 糖心原创 students, parents, faculty and staff onto the field. Members of Coach Hill鈥檚 family including his daughters Erica, Sydni, Symone, Kyndria, and Megan, five of his grandchildren, Kyiah, Kourtlyn, Maliq, Axel, and Gage and his fraternity brother Darryl Singleton joined the 糖心原创 community on the field.

Students went first, as attention was drawn to MustangVision for a honoring the memory of Coach Hill through the words of 糖心原创 students. The video set a tone for Kristy鈥檚 remarks.

鈥淐oach Hill made such a positive impact on our school with his infectious enthusiasm, his love for life, his love for his students and student-athletes and love for his colleagues.

On behalf of the School community, I would like to welcome and thank his family for joining us for this significant moment. And, thank you to our major supporters for making this dream a reality.

It is with great honor and respect that together, we dedicate this field to his memory today and remember Coach Hill for generations of Mustangs to come.

As a school, we will take his story of care and compassion and use that as a model when our team of athletic coaches lead and nurture our athletes.

As a community, we will take this field and build on it. We will expand the adjacent property behind it to offer more opportunities for Health & Wellness, community gatherings, and sporting events.

We will seek opportunities to create more community moments such as this with alumni, future students, extended families, and visitors. This field will foster relationships 鈥� just like Coach Hill did. We salute you, Coach!

At this time, I would like to ask our senior representatives to present gifts of gratitude to our dear friends on the field.

We also want to take a moment to thank every member of our community that gave of their time, talent and treasure, whether big or small, to make The Ron Hill Field a reality.

Ladies and Gentleman, welcome to The Ron Hill Field!鈥�

Alumni, Jackson Hammond presented gifts to Coach Hill鈥檚 daughters. Gifts of appreciation were also presented to donors who made the event possible, without their support 糖心原创 would not have been able to returf the field to honor this incredible man.

After the field dedication ceremony, recording artist and 糖心原创 senior, Maggie Simms sang the national anthem. The Mustangs went on to face the Tattnall Trojans in what suggested in a played before kickoff, was the best way the team could honor Coach Hill. 鈥淚f we walk off that field together after giving it our all for the 4-6 seconds a play, what a team we would be. What a way to honor Coach Hill.鈥� The Mustangs went on to beat the Trojians 35 to 34. See on this very special game.

See more pictures .

Thank you to the gracious donors who made the field dedication event possible.

Mr. and Ms. Scott S. Quesinberry
Mr. Jon Ramsey
Mr. and Ms. Michael J. Rego
Mr. and Mrs. Brent Rhodes
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rogers
Mr. and Ms. Jeffrey Schimelman
Ms. Kristin Schleicher
Mr. and Mrs. Steven Schwalb
Mr. and Ms. Wallace N. Shiver
Mr. Colin Smith
Mr. and Ms. Steve S. Soteres Sr.
Mr. Jonathan J. Spitz
Mr. and Ms. Samuel Still
Mr. and Ms. Craig A. Sweeterman
Mr. and Ms. Brett D. Taylor
Mr. and Ms. Chris Thomas
Mr. and Ms. William Tice
Mr. and Mrs. Brandon Tubandt
Mr. and Mrs. Donovan K. Vansant
Mr. and Ms. David B. Walmsley
Mr. and Ms. Jeff Warshaw
Ms. Jennifer K. Webb
Mr. and Ms. Allen Westmoreland
Mr. and Ms. Travis Williams

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The Upper Campus field, now known as 鈥楻on Hill Field鈥� was returfed this past summer with new material that includes proprietary cooling technology helping to reduce the surface heat by up to 35 degrees and requires no water/irrigation to enable its cooling effect.

During the game there will be a special 鈥楩irst Five鈥� shoutout where 糖心原创鈥檚 first five graduating classes will be recognized. We are excited to take a moment to honor the class of 鈥�08, 鈥�09, 鈥�10, 鈥�11 and 鈥�12 via 鈥楳ustangVision,鈥� 糖心原创鈥檚 new 40 foot video scoreboard. We can鈥檛 wait to welcome you back to campus in a few weeks!

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During Interim Term, students are able to participate in weeklong internships. Upper School teacher and Interim Internship Coordinator Marie Graham connected two Mustangs with similar passions and ideas, Class of 2022 Livi Sweeterman and MV alum, Class of 2017 Wells Maley (UGA 鈥�21), which led to an amazing experience for them both.

After studying fashion merchandising at the University of Georgia, Wells went out on her own, starting her own business in the fashion industry. Livi, planning to attend Colorado University Boulder, hopes to also pursue fashion as a career in her future. We recently sat down with them to learn more about their week together.听

MV: Wells, tell us a little bit about your company and how you got started:听

WM:听听started while I was home from college during Covid during my junior year at University of Georgia. Originally I just did it for a fun passion project and carried it through senior year. Just before I graduated, I decided to go for it full time and pursue it as my career after UGA.听

In the summer of 2021, I was in an intensive business bootcamp and after that things kicked into full gear. The main bread and butter of Swells of Splendor is silk scarves. I design textiles that are then printed digitally onto silks or fabrics by the yard for upholstery, and the whole business revolves around that artwork.

MV: Livi, how were you and Wells first connected? How did this Internship come to be?

LS: I鈥檝e always known that I want to do something regarding fashion that allows me to be creative in the future, but I鈥檝e never seen what the business side of that might look like. While planning for my internship, Mrs. Graham told me about Wells and her company and she connected us.听

MV: Walk me through your week together. What did you do? What did you accomplish?

WM: It was an exciting week! We did a pop-up shop at a sorority at Georgia Tech. Livi assisted with research on resale shops and locations we could hold future pop-up events. Marketing is a big part of the work – Livi brought a lot of creativity, thinking through how we could use Spotify and听. One of the days we spent creating content around the city. She really got to dabble in all of it.听

LS: We had so much fun!. We had a set schedule of what we wanted the week to look like and what we wanted to accomplish. One of my jobs was to find boutiques around the area that would be interested in selling Wells鈥� product, so I found a few unique shops and connected them to Wells for future business.听

We did a lot of Instagram promotions through reels. I learned a lot about advertising and the public relations team that she works with, too. The last day we were together we got all dressed up and went around Atlanta taking photos and videos to showcase the product.听

MV: Wells, what was this experience like for you? I鈥檓 sure it was a learning experience having an intern for the week. Livi, how do you feel MV prepared you for this experience?

WM: I said so many times throughout the week that I was so impressed with Livi. She brought such a standard of excellence to everything she did – it was wonderful! It was great to have her fresh perspectives, too. It helped re-spark my passion and motivation.听

WM: 糖心原创 fosters so much creativity. Through these internships but also through听. Livi shared听听with me and there are so many skills and talents she was able to grow during that experience.hose skills were there and helpful when she came to work with me.听

LV: 糖心原创 has been so helpful growing our skills on the business side of things, for sure!听

Students participated in a myriad of different internships during Interim Term, taking the opportunity to explore their unique passions. Check out a few other highlights below.听

Class of 2023 Lyndsey Franklin, The Boys and Girls Club of America

鈥�I loved working with the Boys and Girl Club of America because I not only got to see what work is put in behind the scenes, but also how well it translates to the children they take care of! I鈥檓 so grateful that I had this opportunity to help and learn more about this community.鈥澨�

Class of 2025 Amelia Katz, Schauben & Co., Americasmart听

鈥�My goal going in was to add value to the Schauben & Co. showroom at AmericasMart by being professional and to learn as much as possible from merchandising and sales to customer service and inventory.鈥�听

Class of 2023 Maggie Sims, 糖心原创 Studios听

During Interim, Maggie worked with Vann Thornton at 糖心原创 to write and produce a new original song听.听

鈥淭his song is one of my favorites of all the songs I have written. When I write lyrics, it is more so a story than a song. I construct songs based on my own experiences and how I am feeling, but also from stories I hear on the news, on social media, or tragedies or successes my friends and family have experienced.鈥澨�

Maggie鈥檚 first EP,听Stay,听can be found on Apple Music, Spotify, or anywhere you listen.听

In case you missed it, check out more on Interim Term in the听, in the, or a sampling of both on this episode of the听

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