Alumna Associate Producer on Sherlock Holmes

Lauren Meek '94 is the Associate Producer of the recently released film version of Sherlock Holmes. Directed by Guy Ritchie, the movie stars Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes and Jude Law as Watson. Lauren has also worked on the films RocknRolla and Revolver.

Alumna Creates Magic at Disney

Kim Roberson '85 works as a writer and story board artist at Walt Disney Studios for the cartoon Phineas and Ferb. Click here to watch the video!

Alumna Brings Bubble Tea to Campus

Jessica Hightower '05 has brought bubble tea, mochi ice cream, and lots of smiles to Santa Catalina Upper School students.

After graduation, Jessica attended Harvard University where she majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology. There she met her business partner, Mike, and they both became addicted to bubble tea. Originally from Taiwan, bubble tea is a shaken, tea-based drink with milk, sugar, flavoring, and tapioca pearls at the bottom.

Jessica and Mike wanted to take time off before graduate school and decided to bring their favorite drink to the Monterey Peninsula. They opened their own business, tea.zing, LLC, and purchased a van known as the Bubble Tea Truck. They sell their products at farmer's markets, athletic competitions, special events, and at Santa Catalina, where a portion of the proceeds are donated to the financial aid fund.

"Santa Catalina was a wonderful home to me throughout high school and the teachers and administration have continued to be incredibly supportive," said Jessica. "I'm grateful to be able to give back to Catalina and help give other girls a chance to be part of the incredible Santa Catalina community." Thank you, Jessica, and we wish you much success with your new business!

Tennis Team Wins Awards

This season was exceptional for the Santa Catalina tennis team. Freshmen Annie Haueter and Tamsen Forrest are the MTAL Doubles winners and will represent our league at the Central Coast Section playoffs in Las Gatos on October 23-24, 2009. The duo won in straight sets to beat number one seed Stevenson School. Both Annie and Tamson are second generation Santa Catalina tennis players. Their mothers, Cynthia Willoughby Haueter '76 and tennis coach Julie Yurkovich Forrest '78, played on the same team while at Santa Catalina.

Elizabeth Clark and Eliza Harbert defeated second seed Carmel to take third place, and Alyssa Doughtery won the Elgie Bellizio Sportmanship award. This award is voted on by MTAL coaches and acknowledges a true ambassador of the sport both on and off the court.

"As a coach and a parent, it was so exciting to be part of a team that worked so hard and so joyfully. This team embodies a legacy of team spirit," said Coach Forrest. "Congratulations!"

Alumna and Husband Compete in Ironman

 

 

Susan Smith Nixon '87 and her husband, Jason, competed in the Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii on October 10, 2009. Originally a challenge between a group of Navy Seals, the Ironman is now one of the most recognized endurance events in the world and consists of a 2.4 mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run.

Susan's time was 14:12:24 and Jason came in at 11:54:12, both well ahead of the 17-hour cutoff. This is Susan's second time completing the race, and her husband's ninth time.

Married for 12 years, Jason and Susan met at a triathlon. Their daughter, Audrey, has attended Summer at Santa Catalina for the past two years. "It was like I was on a cloud," said Susan. "I was so tired coming down Palani but I knew I was going to finish at that point. It was so amazing to see Jason and Audrey waiting for me at the finish line." Congratulations!

Alumna Wins Collegiate Volleyball Honors

 

Senior co-captain Brogie Helgeson '06 led Tufts University's volleyball team offense during a 5-0 week and earned the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Week honor on September 28, 2009.

The Tufts Athletic Department announced that in a single match at Brandeis on Tuesday and four matches during the MIT Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Brogie had 55 kills in 17 sets for a 3.24 average. With only 11 errors during the week, she finished with a .278 hitting percentage. Her four service aces were second most on the team in the five matches, and her contributions on defense included 49 digs (2.88) and four block assists.

Brogie, a 5'11" outside hitter, was named Most Valuable Player of the MIT Invitational, which Tufts won for the second straight year. In the semi-finals on Saturday against Connecticut College, she had 15 kills and only two errors for a .325 percentage. She added 10 digs defensively. During the Jumbos' three-set win over Williams in the final, Helgeson accumulated 10 kills and two errors in 32 attempts (.250) and added 11 digs.

Alumna Produces Film on Financial Collapse

Leslie Cockburn '70 has released her new feature documentary, American Casino, on the financial meltdown in the United States. She began work on the film in January 2008 when she and her husband and co-producer, Andrew, recognized the signs of a potentially devastating financial collapse.

 

 

American Casino brings to light the subprime mortgage scandal that caused the failure of the U.S. financial system. The film follows the players - from Wall Street executives to the teacher in Baltimore who just lost his home - and exposes the devastating consequences that affect all of us.

Leslie is a producer, director, and writer who has covered some of the most intriguing, and dangerous, stories of our time. Her past credits include co-producer of The Peacemaker starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman, and author of Looking for Trouble: One Woman, Six Wars and a Revolution. After graduating from Santa Catalina, Leslie earned a bachelors degree from Yale University and a masters from the University of London.

Alumna Becomes New Director of Admission

Jamie Buffington Browne '85 is the new Director of Admission. An alumna of Lower School and Upper School, as both a day student and as a boarder, Jamie looks at her new role as an opportunity to give back to the school community.

As an alumna, parent, active school volunteer, and professional (her past positions include Business Planning Analyst for Levi Strauss and Nutrition Health Educator), she holds her experience at Santa Catalina in the highest regard.

"It was here that I truly discovered the core of who I am," she says. "Doing my best was always supported." She remembers Mrs. Lotz as a Middle School teacher who encouraged her to look at herself in a different way. She also credits Santa Catalina for offering her a heightened awareness of people's realities other than her own.

Jamie is eager to offer students that same opportunity. She says, "I want to give to each girl what was given to me."