Ishea Johnson ’19: How Shipley Prepared Me for Academic Success at Princeton and Beyond
Shipley is truly outstanding in that it simultaneously provides its students with a rigorous, academically challenging curriculum while also fostering intellectual exploration and creativity.
As I think back on my time at Shipley, it is hard to pinpoint one specific aspect of my high school experience that best prepared me for academic life at Princeton. Rather, it was the fact that I was able to indulge my love of literature, explore the wonders of the sciences, try my hand at leadership as class president, and build camaraderie with fellow students across class years through crew and basketball that aided in my being a versatile and dynamic student.
I especially credit the network of Shipley faculty and staff who made Shipley a home and showed me the value of mentorship. Being a confident, self-directed learner is one skill that Shipley students learn throughout their time in school, a skill that proved invaluable as I conducted my independent thesis work as well as carried out smaller course projects and assignments.
Yet, while my diligence and scholarship helped me to produce work that led to my nomination to the scientific honor society Sigma Xi, my attainment of the award for outstanding thesis work in Molecular Biology, and the ultimate reception of my bachelor’s degree with honors, it was my love of learning, which I cultivated at Shipley, that made my academic endeavors gratifying and enjoyable.
—Ishea Johnson ’19 Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biology, Princeton University Attending Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
This year’s alumni exhibition features work from the Sky Paintingsseries by Shipley alum Peter Makela ’04 and will be on display in Speer Gallery from April 9 to May 5. Celebrate the fine arts at Shipley with an artist reception in Speer Gallery on Friday, May 3, 2024, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. The Alumni Artist Reception is part of Alumni Reunion Weekend and is open to family and friends of the Shipley community, we ask that you please register online or contact alumni@shipleyschool.org with any questions.
The son of a North Philly cop and South Philly educator, Shipley alumnus Robert "BJ" Glenn III ’07 demonstrated prowess as an athlete and as a student. Knowing the importance of a good education, BJ's parents enrolled him in Kindergarten at Shipley where he soon made his mark in class, and later on Shipley’s playing fields in lacrosse, baseball, and other sports. But it was at daily recess at age 6 when he discovered a sport that perfectly blended his budding speed and agility with a strong leg: soccer.
Just before graduating in 2020, Lexi Wojtelwicz reflected on her time at Shipley, writing, “Shipley is constantly presenting different ways to try something new…. There are so many ways to step out of your comfort zone, grow, and discover your passions while knowing you have the support of the whole community”. Now a senior at Penn State University, Lexi will be representing her Greek organization, Delta Gamma, in THON 2024. Lexi shares more about THON and her leadership role.
Princeton University graduate Ishea Johnson ’19 credits her Shipley teachers with creating an environment where she developed and thrived as an independent learner, contributing to her success in college. "Shipley is truly outstanding in that it simultaneously provides its students with a rigorous, academically challenging curriculum while also fostering intellectual exploration and creativity," she says.
Shipley All School President Henry Katz ’19, graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in May with a BA in Political Communication. This summer, he served as an intern at The White House in the Office of Scheduling and Advance, and has recently started a new position as a Political Strategist at Schoen Cooperman Research in New York City.
Carter Barnhart ’10 is the co-founder and CEO of Charlie Health, with the goal of providing high-quality, personalized mental health treatment to a broader population through a virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) that combines group, individual, and family therapy sessions delivered entirely online. In 2022, Carter was named to Inc. Magazine’s Female Founders 100 list for her work to rapidly grow Charlie Health.
When Helen “Honey” Beuf ’78 lost her daughter to suicide, she turned her grief into action. Working with a good friend who is a movie producer, Honey and her other daughter, Tess, decided to produce a documentary film called My Sister Liv. In making the film, Honey says she became aware of unmet needs of kids in learning about suicide prevention and mental health.
Shipley is lucky to have two of its own at the helm of a re-energized Alumni Engagement Office after a two-year hiatus from hosting regional and major events. Aly Mason ’07 took over the role of Director in September 2022, joining Assistant Director Ali Schwartz ’10 in the shared endeavor of connecting with alumni of all ages through robust alumni programming.
This beloved former French teacher and Admissions Director retired from Shipley in 2009 after 32 years of serving in various teaching and administrative roles. Having served on the Boards of Church Farm School and Benchmark School, Mr. Coleman is back at Shipley as a member of the Board of Trustees.
The Alumni Service Award is presented for outstanding volunteer service to The Shipley School by an alumna or alumnus as demonstrated by strong loyalty, exceptional contributions of time and effort, and personal commitment to the advancement of the School’s mission.
The Distinguished Alumni Award recognizes the outstanding achievement, the dedication, and the personal accomplishments of a Shipley alumna or alumnus in a particular field of endeavor, whether it be in a chosen profession, through formal volunteer activities unrelated to the school, or through a personal commitment to an issue, project, or cause.
The Shipley School Young Alumni Award recognizes a Shipley alumna or alumnus who has graduated within the preceding twenty years and demonstrates innovation, curiosity, and creativity in the pursuit of excellence in a particular field, whether it be in a profession, through formal volunteer activities unrelated to the School, or through a personal commitment to an issue, project, or cause.
The Shipley School Young Alumni Award recognizes a Shipley alumna or alumnus who has graduated within the preceding twenty years and demonstrates innovation, curiosity, and creativity in the pursuit of excellence in a particular field, whether it be in a profession, through formal volunteer activities unrelated to the School, or through a personal commitment to an issue, project, or cause.
The latest documentary film from director and producer Nancy Schwartzman ’93, Victim/Suspect will screen as an official selection of the 2023 Sundance Film Festival in the U.S. Documentary Competition. The documentary was produced in partnership with Motto Pictures and the Center for Investigative Reporting Studios as a Netflix original film.
Media executive and business builder Akinwole "Aki" Garrett '00 credits Shipley with providing a drive for excellence and the tools for achieving success, as well as an interest in serving the communities he's a part of. Luckily for Shipley, Aki gives back to the School in big ways, like serving as a member of the Board of Trustees and the Alumni Council.
Jenny Rieg Gellert ’99 attended Shipley for 12 years. While she was a student, she served as captain of the field hockey and lacrosse teams, was Yearbook Editor, and served on the social committee. After graduating from Trinity College, Jenny taught at schools in New York City and the Philadelphia suburbs for 13 years.
Members of the Class of 2022 share their reflections on their time at Shipley. Whether they were a lifer or only attended Shipley for a short time, the School’s impact is everlasting.
As founder and Chief Executive Officer of Keiki Capital, Dan Lichtenberg ’99 marries his technical and financial expertise with his passion for developing creative solutions to global problems—global warming and climate change, food and water insecurity, income and wealth inequality—and transforming data into actionable intelligence.
A firm believer that “talent is equally distributed, but opportunity is not,” Meghan Stevenson-Krausz ’08 has dedicated her young but impactful career to providing opportunity through impact investing to underrepresented people and financially underserved communities across the globe. Since October 2019, she has helped Inca Ventures invest $2 million in 17 companies based in the Andean region.
The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.