We are proud to share with you Park Academy’s Class of 2018!
In alphabetical order:
Thalia Hastings
Having a passion for fashion, Lia’s favorite subject at Park Academy would be art, where she has learned new techniques and approaches to creating new designs. Lia will be pursuing a career in the fashion industry. She has been dreaming of becoming a fashion designer before she could even talk. Known at Park Academy for her exquisite and keen eye for style, Lia has had an important role in decorating and event planning, from the classroom to our annual prom party. Lia’s artistic talents have appeared on posters and programs for school throughout her four years at Park Academy. You may have seen her evening gown project on display in the front hall. She is part of a student design team working on a Zen garden that will be installed at Park Academy. She is currently taking a color theory class at the Art Institute of Portland where she will be attending full time in their Apparel Design Program. She plans to take Marketing and French classes at PCC as well. After completion of her degree and development of her portfolio, which she has initiated here at Park Academy, she hopes to continue on to the Parsons School of Design in New York City. She hopes to one day be living and working in Milan, Italy, designing gowns that will be worn on the red carpet or shown on display at museums.
Favorite Quote: “What you wear is how you present yourself to the world, especially
Chris Needham
Chris has really enjoyed his history and literature classes here at Park Academy, appreciating learning to see problems from multiple perspectives. He has also enjoyed robotics, sign language and the variety of activities and sports in
Henry Pope
At Park Academy for eight years, Henry holds the honor of being the longest enrolled student at Park Academy! As the school has grown, he has enjoyed the addition of one or two teachers each year because, as he says, “it is always good to meet new people and see new faces.” Henry is a guy with a big heart, as evidenced daily when he works as a teacher assistant with the lower school PE class. The kids really look up to him, in more ways than one!
As many know, Henry has a passion for nice cars and the Boston Celtics basketball team. He has a wealth of information and statistics on both subjects that he can share at the drop of a hat! While at Park Academy, Henry has enjoyed art and geography, and gained a deeper understanding of poetry. He has performed with the high school band and is an avid tennis player.
Henry is enjoying his first class this spring term at Clackamas Community College, where he will be attending full time in the fall in the Auto Body Repair program. He is currently working at a tire center and has learned an important lesson about what it takes to be a business owner. As his boss says “you have to be patient with other people and they have to be patient with you.” His dream is to one day have his own Auto Detailing business and a nice car—or a fleet of cars (“it could happen”)!
Favorite quote, Larry Bird, formerly with the Boston Celtics: “Push yourself again and again; don’t give an inch until the buzzer sounds”.
Joe Serban
Being a small, personalized school, Joe describes Park Academy as providing a good transition from the one-on-one environment of his home schooling experience. He has enjoyed his Careers Class, working closely with Mr. Devers and sharing a mutually jovial relationship. Joe has also enjoyed culinary arts and leadership. Joe is preparing for a tough last week of final exams but appreciates the preparation time and assistive technology that is available.
Joe has been an avid fencer since he was 8 years old and saw the sport at the Beijing Olympics on TV. He has been involved in fencing ever since, the last five years on a rigorous five days a week practice schedule with tournaments on the weekend. Fencing has taught him the discipline of mind, body and behavior: exercising patience and demonstrating respect for every opponent. His efforts resulted in his going to Nationals five times and participating in the Junior Olympics 3 separate times in Kansas, Cleveland and Memphis. He is undecided about the role fencing plays in the future but, as he says, “I’ll carry the lessons it has taught me for the rest of my life.”
This summer, Joe will be taking a vacation in southern California and getting his driver’s license. In the fall, he will be attending Portland Community College studying Fire Protection Technology. He will go on a ride along with the Lake Oswego Fire Department soon. Joe intends to be a firefighter and live in the Portland area.
Malachi Simnitt
Malachi has enjoyed his time at Park Academy and, in particular, the whole social atmosphere because people are friendly and nice here. As he describes it, being a smaller school, enables everybody to know each other and get along. He has learned so much through his high school years–his favorite subject has been science, and especially enjoys biology and chemistry.
Malachi has had quite an exceptional spring: He recently earned his Eagle Scout Award with troop A71. His Eagle project involved sewing 80 sleeping pads and conducting a dog food drive, filling the storage room at the Oregon Dog Rescue, a no-kill shelter in Tualatin.
He helped to plan, decorate and attended Park Academy Prom Party, “A Roaring Good Time” with a 1920’s theme. He played Chino in the Park Academy production of “West Side Story”. Malachi most recently finished first in state with his rugby team, The Beaverton Barbarians. He has been a member of this club team all through high school, garnering a state play-off spot all fours years, taking first place in the state of Oregon three times!
Malachi will be attending Portland Community College in the fall with The Oregon Promise Scholarship. He will be working on his general requirements and exploring his options for a career in the medical field.
Favorite Quote, Mahatma
Alexander Skirvin
Alex is finishing up his third year at Park Academy and his third term at Portland Community College!
Alex has had a busy senior year and is immersed in his transition to “life after high school”. He carries a solid schedule of classes at Park Academy and has enjoyed videography, robotics
Alex has been employed for several years, currently holds a position as
Jack Zaninovich
Jack really enjoys and appreciates the teachers at Park Academy. They have supported him through academic and personal challenges.
Jack will be attending OIT (Oregon Institute of Technology) in the fall where he plans to major in computer science. He looks forward to exploring his career options and determining his career goal. He is excited to attend one of the Northwest’s top polytechnic universities and looks forward to an engaging environment, closely aligned with the needs of tomorrow. Jack is interested in learning a world language and will be studying Japanese this summer at Portland Community College’s Sylvania campus.
A highlight of Jack’s high school years was his work last summer with the Northwest Youth Corps. A hard worker, Jack enjoyed his experience living and working as part of a team in the Wenatchee National Forest in Washington. The impact on Jack was profound and as he describes: “The experience made me realize I value the planet I live on.”
Jack’s favorite quote, by Albert Camus:
“Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend”.
Stay in touch Graduates! We cannot wait to see what the future has in store for each and everyone of you. Congratulations to our new Park Academy alumni!