St. Paul Academy and Summit School Alumni/ae

Who remembers this kiln and all of the fun projects that came out of it?

Some amazing achievements in scientific research from one of SPA’s newest alumni!

💡From SPA to ISEF and beyond! 💡

In May, Evan Morris '26 presented his project in cellular and molecular biology at ISEF, the world's largest and most prestigious youth science competition. His project, SILENCE, is "the first low-cost sonogenetic platform to rapidly optimize neuromodulatory therapies in vivo." In Evan's words? He's trying to identify and access the ideal simulation settings faster in an effort to help patients with epilepsy or other disorders faster.

🔬 Evan won first place in his category along with the Mary Sue Coleman Award for Life Science Innovation and Impact. But Evan's research isn't just an academic or professional pursuit — it's personal. He got interested in neurodegenerative diseases after observing people in his personal life struggling. He said that his goal is to "center the brain in what I do and find practical applications for applying our understanding of neuroscience."

The excitement doesn't stop there. Evan will travel to Washington D.C. this month to present at the National STEM Festival (one of just 55 people from across the country, and the only Minnesotan to boot). He also won the Dudley R. Herschbach SIYSS award, which is an all-expenses-paid trip to the Nobel Conference in Sweden. You can learn more about Evan's project here: https://www.societyforscience.org/blog/regeneron-isef-2026-grand-awards/

Congratulations, Evan! We can't wait to see what you accomplish.

Photo Credit: Lisa Fryklund/Licensed by Society for Science

It's Commencement Week! This morning, seniors gathered for graduation rehearsal and the traditional college t-shirt class photo. Congratulations to the Class of 2026!

The smiling faces of the Class of 2026! We're officially Commencement (and college!) ready. 🎓

Spartans on the Road: San Francisco!

St. Paul Academy and Summit School and host Cack Ferrell Wilhelm '02 welcomed several Bay Area alumni/ae and friends at a reception last week in San Francisco. Head of School Dr. Luis Ottley provided an update on the school, we had some vintage athletics jerseys to give away, and guests connected and enjoyed a beautiful evening with wonderful views of the Bay Bridge as the backdrop. See more photos on our SmugMug: https://stpaulacademy.smugmug.com/AlumniaeandAdvancement/2026-San-Francisco-Regional-Reception

We are looking forward to getting back on the road next year to see even more alumni/ae in different cities! Where should we go next?

Spartans Give Day was a success! A big thank you goes out to our alumni/ae community which made up 44% of the donors for the day. Your continued support of St. Paul Academy and Summit School is greatly appreciated and a valuable part in maintaining the programs and resources that make the SPA experience so special for our students. Thank you!

Go Spartans! We hit our goal of 200 donors and have unlocked an additional $5,000 in matching funds from St. Paul Academy and Summit School Trustee, Sarah Pennie Thompson '03! Let's keep this momentum going and see if we can get up to 250 donors by the end of the night to make the most out of this day!

Make your gift here: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/StPaulAcademyandSummitSchool/spartans-give-day-2026

💡Inspiring Alumni/ae💡

Anthony Chen '21 visited the Advanced Science Research and Advanced Technology Projects classes this week to talk about his research journey, which started in ASR at SPA. He continued that work through his pre-med undergraduate degree at Stanford University and is now working in a lab at the University of Minnesota before starting medical school next fall.

SPA students had a chance to ask questions as Anthony discussed his path in science. Says Anthony, “No skill learned goes to waste. Explore new interests, double down on what you like, and success fill follow your passion!”

Thanks for visiting, Anthony! 💙💛

There is still time to register for next week's reception in San Francisco!

​Join host Cack Ferrell Wilhelm '02 and Head of School Dr. Luis Ottley for a reception at Waterbar on the Embarcadero. Catch up with fellow Spartan community members, hear the latest news from the school, and enjoy great food and refreshments while taking in beautiful views of the Bay Bridge!

When: Tuesday, April 28 - 6:00-8:00PM PDT
Where: Waterbar, 399 The Embarcadero, San Francisco
Registration: There is no cost to attend but registration is requested. Appetizers and refreshments will be served.​ Register here: https://www.spa.edu/alumni/events/2026-san-francisco-regional-alumniae-reception

Robert Goff ’88, Vice Chairman of Gurr Johns, was the featured speaker at the SPA Alumni/ae Council Speaker Series program, The Private View: An Insider's Perspective on Art & Advisory, last Tuesday, April 7. Guided by Ann Ruhr Pifer ’83, the lively discussion explored Robert's career in managing galleries, working with artists, and journalism. A number of questions from the audience provided Robert and Ann with the opportunity to share their insight and expertise on various topics, including the role of AI in the art world and advice for artists seeking more visibility. It was wonderful to see so many alumni/ae, current parents, faculty members (past and present), and other community members at this final Speaker Series event of the school year!

Photos from the event can be found here:
https://stpaulacademy.smugmug.com/AlumniaeandAdvancement/2026-Alumniae-Council-April-Speaker-Series

A video of the program can be found here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ig3Ywg35HWvajK_jjC9WjNDDSq92SoSs/view?ts=69d66d76