Carrollwood Day School Alumni Association

Congratulations to CDS alumnus Elias Earley ‘15 and his wife, Courtney, on the arrival of their beautiful daughter, Raena Marie! Born on June 23, 2026, we wish your family a lifetime of love, joy, and cherished memories.

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Before he was interviewing members of Congress or filming behind-the-scenes content from Capitol Hill, Walker Cook ‘17 was organizing voter registration drives and leading student initiatives at Carrollwood Day School. Those early experiences sparked a lifelong commitment to civic engagement that continues to shape his work today. Click the link to read more about Walker! https://www.cdspatriots.org/alumni-update-walker-cook-17

Congratulations to Jacob Chernin ’24 on an incredible showing at the 2026 Maccabiah Games! Representing Team USA, Jacob earned gold in the 4x400 relay, silver in the 4x100 relay, and bronze in the long jump at the Olympic-style event for Jewish athletes, which welcomed more than 5,000 athletes from 40 countries this year.

His brother, Devin Chernin ’21, was also there as part of the Team USA media team.

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Long before he was securing land, cultivating investment partnerships, and overseeing multifamily residential developments, Jarrod Smith ‘13 was navigating the rigorous IB curriculum at Carrollwood Day School. The confidence, work ethic, and curiosity he developed at CDS helped prepare him for an unexpected opportunity that would launch his career in commercial real estate. Click the link in our highlights to read more about Jarrod https://www.cdspatriots.org/alumni-update-jarrod-smith-13

Save the dates! Fall is packed with alumni events, and we can’t wait to see you. Mark your calendars now. More information for each event is coming soon!

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Before she was building predictive models for global organizations, optimizing consumer products at Capital One, or completing an accelerated master’s program at Columbia, Ati Saxena ‘19 was a CDS student learning how to lean into challenge, follow curiosity, and trust the mentors who pushed her beyond what felt comfortable. That combination of academic rigor, athletic commitment, and a deeply rooted sense of community continues to define the way she approaches every step of her journey today. Click the link to read more about Ati! https://www.cdspatriots.org/ati-saxena-19

Congratulations to CDS high school sweethearts Alexa (Gross) Slater ’22 and Gabe Slater ’22, who were married on June 5 at Oxford Exchange in Tampa. Adding to the special day, Alexa’s best friend and fellow CDS alumna, Sophia Lindin ’22, stood by her side as maid of honor. We wish Alexa and Gabe a lifetime of happiness as they begin this next chapter together!

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Jacob Wadler ’19 is crushing it as a SBA Senior Business Development Associate for Renasant Bank in Atlanta. But if you trace his steps backward from his current success, you’ll find a roadmap fueled by ambition, a relentless work ethic, and a network of Patriots who have been by his side every single step of the way. Click the link in to read more about Jacob! https://www.cdspatriots.org/cds-alumni-jacob-wadler-19

CDS has always been a close-knit community, but sometimes we're reminded just how far that community reaches.

When Brandon Cleveland '22 joined the Vegas Raiders, he was surprised to discover that one of the team's assistant strength and conditioning coaches was fellow CDS alumnus Deuce Gruden '12.

From CDS to the NFL, it's a reminder that no matter where life takes us, Patriot connections can show up in the most unexpected places. What a small world!

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Carrollwood Day School alumna Willow Albergo ’13 has turned her lifelong passion for movement into a career focused on wellness, coaching, and helping athletes and dancers perform at their best. Now working as a Pilates instructor and assistant college dance team coach, Willow continues to inspire others while carrying forward the values and community she first experienced at CDS. Click the link in our highlights “Spotlights” to read more about Willow! https://www.cdspatriots.org/cds-alumna-willow-albergo-13