Our lineup of online events are open to all, as we aim to highlight the benefits of Waldorf education. For more on all happenings at The Denver Waldorf School, please refer to our school calendar.
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Alumni Panel
February 11, 2025 @ 2:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Join us in the music room or online Tuesday, February 11 at 2:30-3:30PM for a conversation with a panel of wonderful DWS Alumni who will share about their journeys post high school.
Watch on Zoom: https://zoom.us/j/94927461447?
Meeting ID: 949 2746 1447
Passcode: 617660
The panel will feature DWS Alumni:
Michael Coury-2007, Jake Smith-2014, Isabella Clark-2018, Julia Etkin-2019
Read their Bio’s below
Michael Coury- 2007
I attended the Denver Waldorf School from kindergarten (Parzival Shield) to high school, graduating high school in 2007 (almost 20 years ago, wow!). Betsy Doyle White was my class teacher from 1st-8th grade, and Annemarie Brown was our high school class advisor. After graduating, I attended the University of Denver, where I received a BA in International Studies and Russian. I stayed at DU a bit longer to earn my MA in International Studies.
After college, I worked briefly as a criminal intelligence analyst for the Colorado Department of Safety. In 2020, I moved to Maryland with my husband, where I now work as the Director of Communications for Maryland’s Office of Overdose Response, which is an office of the Maryland Department of Health. Our team works to promote collaboration between state and local agencies that implement programs related to substance use and overdose.
Julia Etkin- 2019
I attended the Denver Waldorf School from 1st grade, in Betsy Doyle White’s class, through 12th grade, graduating from DWS High School in 2019. I attended Union College in upstate NY and graduated Summa Cum Laude with my Bachelor’s degree in Science, Medicine, and Technology with Political Science and Law in 2023. I then completed my Postgraduate Fellowship at Yale School of Medicine. I am a Dean’s Scholar at Harvard Medical School, pursuing my Master of Science in Bioethics (MBE), and hold a research position at the Multi-Regional Clinical Trials Center of Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard.
“Attending the Denver Waldorf School from 1st through 12th grade cultivated my ability to think critically, approach challenges with creativity, and engage deeply with the interconnectedness of disciplines, namely science and government. This foundation continues to shape how I approach my studies and research today, as I explore the ethical and regulatory implications of drug development and healthcare delivery and policy at Harvard Medical School.”
Jake Smith- 2014
I graduated from the Denver Waldorf School in 2014 after attending K-12. Following graduation, I attended Colorado State University, where I earned a degree in Health and Exercise Science, graduating in 2018. Following my studies, I moved to Seattle to work as a personal trainer. While I enjoyed the role, I found myself seeking greater challenges and opportunities for growth. To transition into a more dynamic industry, I pursued a Master of Business Administration at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, while working full-time. I graduated in 2024. During this period, I began contracting at Microsoft as a Project Manager for the Go-to-Market and Strategic Planning team. After 1.5 years in that role, I was offered a full-time position as a Cybersecurity Sales Specialist at Microsoft, where I have now been for over a year.
“My time at Waldorf instilled valuable lessons that extend beyond academics—it taught me how to learn, adapt, and approach new challenges with curiosity and excitement.”
Isabella Clark- 2018
I began at the DWS at age 4 in Woodrose Kindergarten. Mrs. Vermouth was my teacher from grades 1-8 and I graduated from the high school in 2018. After graduation, I received an art scholarship to Southwestern University, and spent two semesters there before opting out to run my own art business. I spent two years discovering what kind of artist I wanted to be, starting out by painting pet portraits for friends. This was followed by many interesting projects from crosswalk murals, to bodypainting retreats, to logo design, all which landed me where I am today. I have settled into being a children’s book illustrator where I get to spend my time with the medium I love: watercolor. I am currently working with three authors, one of which I have partnered with long term, for 13 series and 39 books of mindfulness tools for children! The first book in the first series, called Courage finds his Calm, is being published this coming August by Morgan James Publishing!
“Through teaching me to think critically, Waldorf fostered problem-solving skills and a self-reliance within me that has made me resilient to life’s challenges and given me the strength to face anything life has thrown at me. However, I think the very best thing Waldorf gave to me was a loving and supportive community throughout my childhood that nurtured me into becoming a healthy adult.”
You can find us at Awakentheone.org.
You can find me on instagram at @izzyssketchbook and my website at isabellaclark.com