Once again, SGWS graduate, Isabella Sparhawk, makes the news. She has not only been granted a patent for her science project work this year; her project has also advanced to be judged at Intel ISEF, the world’s largest international pre-college science competition. The Intel fair is this week, May 12 to 17, and offers cash awards ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. Good luck Isabella!

Congratulations also go out to SGWS alumni, Timothy Fries, who has received the Second Year Distinguished Scholar award from Muskingum University, where he ranks in the top 5 percent in academics for his graduating class. Fries was also inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society this year.

Ariel McCleary, an SGWS grad, is having great success as a vocalist and instrumentalist at Stow High School and in her band Recipe of Life.

Ariel will be performing in the Stow-Munroe Falls High School musical “Hello, Dolly!” where she will play the second female lead Irene Molloy. Performances are at Stow-Monroe Falls H.S on Friday April 19th and Saturday the 20th at 7 p.m.  There is also a Sunday performance, the 21^st, at 2:30 p.m.

Ariel and her Recipe of Life band mate Shelby Denton also won the 2012 Stow-Munroe Falls High School talent show with their original song, “The Journey.”

Watch The Performance:

McCleary credits Spring Garden for opening up her eyes to the music world: “If I hadn’t been in the choir or played musical instruments in the orchestra and music classes, I would’ve never found my notch with singing. I would’ve never found a desire to be in the musicals and plays in high school. Spring Garden taught me the beauty of music and how it changes you.”

Isabella Sparhawk is an SGWS grad whose Mock Trial team for St. Vincent – St. Mary moved on to state competition this March in Columbus.

Ms. Sparhawk also won an award at Regionals for Best Attorney. And we also just learned she won 1st Place Grand Champion in the Northeast Ohio Science and Engineering Fair!

The Mock Trial team of fellow SGWS grad, Matt Rossi, a senior at Hoban,  also advanced to the state competition in Columbus this year. And Matt won “Outstanding Advocate” at the State Competition.

Congratulations Matt and Isabella!

William de Cardenas, an SGWS grad and current senior at Theodore Roosevelt High School, in Kent Ohio, has won Best in State in the Verizon App Challenge. Cardenas, along with classmates in the App Club, designed an app to test streams for pollution.

The team has qualified for national competition, a $10,000.00 prize and a trip to Florida in June. Great job, Will!

Spring Garden Waldorf School alumni, Chris Connelly, was awarded the Kroc Fellowship with National Public Radio. The fellowship is an honor to receive and Chris is paid to intern in all aspects of NPR.  He is currently a producer for All Things Considered.  His next assignments will be as a reporter both producing his own stories and reporting on national news in Washington D.C.

Chris went from Spring Garden to Firestone High School and then to Antioch and Berkeley for Media and Journalism. He says his elementary education at SGWS taught him how to collaborate. “It is such an incredible skill to be able to talk with people and critically engage with each person’s ideas—100% of my work is collaborative now so being able to communicate and collaborate along with thinking critically has been invaluable.”

The folks at NPR have worked before with Waldorf graduates and told Chris his attributes are true to what they have seen before in Waldorf students.

“Everywhere I go, more and more people have heard of Waldorf.  When I say in passing, oh I went to a Waldorf school, the typical response I hear is ‘that’s why I like you so much!’  It’s like it’s an explanation of why I am a good person.”

Emma Hunko-Hayneck, SGWS graduate and daughter of SGWS teacher Cate Hunko, had the opportunity to meet President Barack Obama in the Student Center at The Ohio State University.  Congratulations Emma!