Sycamore School Alumni

Alex Cheng, Sycamore Class of 2022, delivers the Alumni Graduation Speech

Alex Cheng, a Sycamore “lifer” from the Class of 2022, attended Sycamore from EC-1 through 8th Grade. A recent graduate of Park Tudor School, he is an AP Scholar with Distinction, a recipient of the National Merit Scholarship, a four-time Gold Medalist on the National Spanish Exam, and a semifinalist in the U.S. Presidential ScholarProgram.

This fall, he will attend Duke University, where he plans to study Chemistry and Spanish on the pre-med track.

The following is an excerpt from Alex’s speech to the Sycamore Class of 2026:

“Four years ago, I was sitting exactly where you are now. I remember thinking high school felt huge. Suddenly I would encounter larger hallways, new faces, things called AP tests, more independence, constant pressure, and this feeling that everyone else already had some kind of amazing life plan except me. What I realized pretty quickly is that almost nobody actually has everything figured out. High school is really just four years of slowly learning more about who you are, what matters to you, and the kind of person you want to become…

…Remember where you came from and the people who helped you get here. Embrace what makes you different. Move through life with kindness and quiet confidence. And never be afraid to lean on others along the way. Wherever your journey takes you, I hope you carry these qualities with you.” (Alex Cheng, Class of 2022)

Spanning the country and beyond:

The Sycamore Class of 2022's college destinations are taking them as far Northwest as University of Oregon, as far Southeast as University of Tampa, as far to the Southwest as University of Texas, as far East as Boston College and also to Oxford and Cambridge.

No matter where the graduates attend, they will make their respective campus a better place.

Among them are 14 National Merit Scholarship Finalists; 6 Commended Scholars; 6 Presidential Scholarship Candidates; an Indiana Academic All-Star and a Coca-Cola Scholar. There are far too many individual high school awards to mention.

Congratulations, former Eagles! It's time to take flight!

Sycamore welcomed back three alumnae for the 11th annual Alumni Speaker Series. Dr. Alison Klenk '90 presented: "Face Forward: A Skin Story"; Kara Findley Gladish '02 asked the audience "What Do You Want to BE?"; and Tess Eggeson '24 gave a TESS Talk entitled: "Unmuted: How Sycamore Helped Me Find My Voice."

The graduates presented first to the Middle School students in the afternoon and then in the evening, following a social gathering, to a group of alumni, former and current staff, and parents.

Each of the presentations centered around what Sycamore has done for them and the impact it has had on their lives. Yes, that is certainly true, but Sycamore thanks these alumnae for all they have done for Sycamore.

Sycamore School won the "Indy's Best Things" award for the third consecutive year, voted "Best Summer Camp" and "Best After-School Program" for 2023, 2024, and 2025!

Winter Homecoming 2025:
Question: What's a great way to spend a December afternoon the week before final exams when you're in high school?
Answer: Attend the Winter Homecoming to see your former classmates and teachers and to cheer the 5th Grade Boys' Basketball Team on to victory!

Congratulations to your alma mater! Eagles soar!

Sycamore Receives $6,000,000 Lilly Endowment Grant
Sycamore received notification that Lilly Endowment will award the school $6,000,000 through its Marion County K-12 Private Schools Initiative. Sycamore is one of 15 competitive grants being awarded to private schools across the county through the third and final phase of the initiative, designed to help strengthen the academic achievement of students and improve their prospects for success after high school.

With the grant, Sycamore will further develop the school’s social-emotional learning (SEL) program as well as support for twice-exceptional or “2e” students, expanding services for those with additional exceptionalities to improve the academic success of all students.

Phase 3 funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. will enable Sycamore to act on a thoughtful, impactful five-year plan developed by the Sycamore Board and senior staff. The plan calls for construction of a learning resource wing featuring a gross motor room, collaborative workspaces, and a learning resource office. A dynamic new outdoor space will foster nature-based, multi-sensory learning. Renovation of existing space will establish a dedicated learning resource room for middle school students.

Funding will also enable Sycamore to grow our SEL programming and our specialized services for 2e students. We will hire additional learning resource staff, expand summer hours for our resource staff, systematize professional development in SEL and 2e education for current faculty, and provide additional compensation for experienced “master” teachers to help lead these efforts.

While achievement of Sycamore students is our primary goal, an exciting secondary outcome of this grant will be the creation of a nationally recognized Center of Excellence in Gifted Education. We will create a senior administrative leadership position to oversee staff, direct the Center of Excellence, and promote it externally.

“We are passionate about social-emotional learning, knowing it is essential for the future success of all of our gifted students. We are also deeply committed to serving our twice-exceptional students.” John Huber, Head of Sycamore School, says. “This extraordinary grant from Lilly Endowment is the largest single gift in the history of our school. It will allow us to serve both the Sycamore community and the broader gifted education landscape for decades to come. Our Center of Excellence will be a hub of innovation, serving Sycamore students, the 70+ gifted independent schools nationwide, and others seeking to adopt best practices for gifted learners.”

Shaan Mishra, Class of 2017, won on Jeopardy Friday evening. He will compete again Monday, October 27.
Read the exciting story below.

https://youarecurrent.com/2025/10/24/carmel-native-mishra-comes-from-behind-to-become-jeopardy-champion/

The Legend Returned: Dr. Nyle Kardatzke, former Head of School from 1993-2006, came back for a campus visit yesterday. Several other retired staff members and those of us who are still here reconnected and enjoyed a tour, showing him the all the changes to the facility. Famous for his bow tie and his clown nose, Dr. K is also known for his leadership, which enabled Sycamore to grow into one of the nation's leading independent schools for gifted students. It was an honor to have him back in our halls again.

Presenting the Sycamore Class of 2021 at the annual Senior Send-Off.

Thanks to everyone who joined us for the annual Alumni Speaker Series on Friday. Many past parents, staff members, and grads were at Sycamore for a terrific night with our speakers and their presentations:
Jeff Karpicke '94 / "What Will You Remember About Sycamore?"
Lindsay Hearn '02 / "All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten…and Theatre"
Elizabeth Emhardt '04 / "The Unlikely Anesthesiologist- Why Curiosity and Passion Matter"
Here's a pic of past staff with all three speakers!