Updates from the Alumni Office

This winter and spring, the Alumni Office did what we love most by connecting with our community far and wide. From welcoming familiar faces back to campus (be sure to check out Spotted on Campus below) to hosting our regional gathering in Los Angeles, it has been a full and vibrant season. We are grateful to everyone who showed up with their Menlo pride. Here is a look back at how our alumni connected, celebrated, and kept the Menlo spirit thriving over the last few months.

Los Angeles Alumni Social

In March, more than 35 alumni gathered in Los Angeles for a high-energy evening of cross-generational connection. The lively gathering bridged decades of Menlo history, drawing attendees from classes ranging from 1964 all the way to 2025.

Longtime Upper School Director John Schafer joined the event, anchoring the night with Menlo warmth and campus updates. It was a memorable evening of familiar faces and new connections as well as a wonderful reminder that the Menlo community thrives far beyond the Bay Area.

Alumni from 1964 to 2025 catch up at the Southern California social in Los Angeles

Members of the Class of 2025 in Southern California

Spring Fling and Egg Hunt

Alumni and their families returned to campus in March for a sun-soaked morning at the beloved Spring Fling and Egg Hunt. The Upper School Quad was filled with smiling faces and nonstop energy as guests enjoyed bouncy houses, the “barnyard buddies” petting zoo, egg races, and colorful face painting. Craft stations, raffle prizes, and two egg hunts made it a perfect day of community and Menlo spirit!

Menlo spirit and smiling faces at the Alumni Spring Fling and Egg Hunt

Alumni Baseball Game

The Alumni Baseball Game brought generations of former players back to Silver Family Field for a morning of batting practice and a friendly scrimmage against the varsity team. It was wonderful to see our alums back on the diamond doing what they love. Go Knights!

Alumni and varsity players

Alumni Board End-of-Year Celebration

The Alumni Board remains a dedicated cornerstone of support for our Alumni community, and we are deeply grateful for the commitment and enthusiasm of our committee members.

As the year came to a close, we wanted to extend a heartfelt thank-you to Jon Lam ’11 and Romi Mahajan ’92 for their dedicated service on the Alumni Board. Looking ahead, we have welcomed five new board members to continue this important work: Emily (Sherwood) Abbasi ’07, Safia Abbasi ’07, Jamie Davidson ’02, Ryan Tai ’04, and Elliot Tight ’04.

The Alumni Board end-of-year celebration

Alumni

Spotted on Campus

It is always a highlight of our year to see familiar faces back on campus. Whether our alumni are returning to offer mentorship in the classroom, collaborate with faculty, or simply be present to reconnect with their alma mater, their presence is a constant reminder of the enduring strength of our community. We are deeply grateful to every graduate who made the trip back (virtually or in person) to share their time, wisdom, and energy with the next generation of Menlo students.

Our classrooms were enriched by alumni experts who brought real-world applications to life. Todd Hardie’s Anatomy class welcomed several alums. Connor O’Brien ’01 and his wife led a seminar on CPR for adults and infants, Emily Doll ’20 shared her professional journey as a pediatric ICU nurse, and Angel Callejas ’02 spoke with students about his work for Naveris, a molecular diagnostics company.

Connor O’Brien ’01 guest teaches CPR in Upper School anatomy class

Innovation remained at the forefront of other campus visits, as Jackson Wagner ’15 met with math teacher Randy Joss to discuss the evolving landscape of AI in education, while Lucas Vogel ’23 and Laikh Tewari ’18 joined Mr. Blick’s Advanced Topics in Computer Science class to offer their technical insights.

Menlo alumni also continue to give back meaningfully through experiential learning opportunities, in particular the “Shark Tank for Good” MTerm program, which challenges Menlo juniors to identify and propose solutions to local problems, all within less than two weeks. Melanie Goldberg ’25, Sophia Kittler ’02, Dave Finocchio ’01, Ruchi Mangtani ’25, Priya Nayak ’03, Henry Mishkin ’25, and Blythe Jack ’92 served as speakers, advisors, and judges for this year’s program, all under the dedicated planning and guidance of Mojan Movassate ’02.

Angel Callejas ’02 spoke with Todd Hardie’s anatomy class about his work in the medical field

Emily Doll ’20 and Upper School science teacher, Todd Hardie

Beyond the classroom, alumni provided essential guidance on personal growth and the transition beyond Menlo. Class of 2024 alumni Nathan Chan, Lizzie Freehill, Theo Sanders, Jake Abrams, Natalie Jinbo-Davis, and Makenna Olson participated in the annual Young Alumni Panel, hosted by Menlo MSPA and moderated by John Schafer, to talk about their college experience and how Menlo prepared them for it.

Class of 2024 MSPA Panelists

Chasen White ’11 spent time on campus speaking directly with the Class of 2026 as they prepared for their next chapters, highlighting the value of networking and encouraging students to build meaningful connections through Menlo Connect. Lindsay Montgomery ’13 returned to campus as a mental health advocate, sharing her experience living with a chronic mental illness and the holistic practices that support her well-being. She encouraged her audience to rethink how society views invisible illnesses and to extend greater understanding and support to those navigating them. Tyler Webster ’01 facilitated four leadership and character development workshops on campus, two for student-athletes on the Knights Leadership Council and two for coaches.

Finally, our School deeply appreciates it when alumni return just to say hello and reconnect with the place they once called home! Maxwell Coleman ’13, Sophia Davirro ’17, Kayla Zamanian ’19, Elaine Kaplan ’25, Alexandre Haddad Delaveau ’25, Karen Xin ’25, and Arman Shah ’25 returned to campus recently to see friendly faces among faculty and in the College Counseling and Alumni Offices. Even these informal visits enrich our campus life and strengthen our Menlo community!

WHAT'S NEXT

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend!

Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2026 is coming up! Join us Friday and Saturday, October 9-10, for a weekend of celebration. Alumni are invited to attend the Homecoming varsity football game (with an alumni tailgate beforehand!), the Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Reception, and—of course—the Reunion, featuring dinner, cocktails, and campus tours. Visit our Reunion 2026 website for more details and to purchase tickets.

Battle of the Classes—Our Seventh Year!

The annual Battle of the Classes competition returns and will be kicking off in October! Please keep an eye out for details. We hope you’ll join us in this spirited competition that supports financial aid at Menlo.

Alumni Games

Mark your calendars for the 2026 Alumni Games (basketball and soccer) on Friday, November 27! Keep an eye out for more information or reach out to alumni@menloschool.org with questions.