The Lab School of Washington

Highlighting Lab's Newest Alumni, the Class of 2026!

Thomas brings a positive attitude and a willingness to try new things wherever he goes. Thomas has grown into a wonderful community member eager to support his classmates while developing his own leadership skills. Thomas became an Eye to Eye mentor in tenth grade and served as Lab’s Chapter Co-Leader during both his junior and senior years. He shared his athletic skills with us through his participation on the track & field, cross country and golf teams. He even showcased his talents on the stage through his participation in multiple theater productions. Thomas was recently recognized with the Yvette Shepard Community Builder Award for his leadership and meaningful investment in the Upper School community over the last four years. Outside of school, Thomas enjoys sailing. After multiple years as a camper, Thomas became a sailing instructor last summer. Thomas has always enjoyed gardening and designing. He will study architecture at Catholic University in the fall.

Highlighting Lab's Newest Alumni, the Class of 2026!

MacGregor is a friendly community member who is eager to connect with his peers and support staffulty each day. MacGregor was a four-year member of the Lab soccer team who was elected captain in his senior season and helped the team to win the conference championship. MacGregor loves to play video games and has an interest in video game design. He explored this interest through his senior thesis titled, “How Artificial Intelligence is Changing Gaming.” MacGregor completed his junior year internship with the Lab Technology Department supporting the tech team. MacGregor also enjoyed developing his skills in digital photography and film. He won an award for one of his photographs in the Nora School Photography Festival last year. MacGregor plans to take a gap year and wants to return to Lab to be an assistant coach for the Lab soccer team this fall.

Highlighting Lab's Newest Alumni, the Class of 2026!

Wahtar is a caring, charismatic, and independent student who recognizes the value of building relationships with those in his community. Wahtar has well-developed people skills. Each school day, he arrives with a ready smile and warm “good morning,” ready for the day. He consistently asks others how they are doing and really stops to listen to the response. This year, Wahtar traveled with Lab to Spain and Portugal. His curiosity and eagerness to learn were apparent as he connected with and asked questions of the various tour guides. Wahtar served as the manager for the varsity boys basketball team this season. He demonstrated his strong sense of responsibility in his dedication to supporting the team. Wahtar was a valued member of the Eastern Motors team during his junior year internship. This experience influenced his goals for his future studies. Wahtar plans to pursue a degree in automotive technology.

Highlighting Lab's Newest Alumni, the Class of 2026!

Roe consistently balances xir investment in creating a positive community for xir peers with a commitment to xir own academic progress and personal goals. Roe’s strong advocacy skills for both xirself and xir peers had a positive impact on our school and community at large. For example, Roe led both the Alterhuman Club and the Gardening Club, showing xir compassion for people and the planet. Outside of Lab, volunteer work is important to Roe who has enjoyed volunteering with the Northern Virginia Bird Alliance and SMYAL, a non-profit organization that supports and empowers LGBTQ+ youth. Roe also loves working with animals. Xe completed xir junior year internship at Crumbs and Whiskers Kitten and Cat Cafe and is a sought-after dog and cat sitter in xir own neighborhood. Roe plans to complete prerequisite courses next year at Northern Virginia Community College with the goal of then completing the Animal Care and Training program at Moorpark College in California.

Highlighting Lab's Newest Alumni, the Class of 2026!

Adrian distinguished himself through his participation in the arts. Adrian discovered his love of theater in the Upper School through his Rehearsal and Performance class. Not only was he a star on the stage, but he also became a leader in the theater, even writing and directing for the “7 Days of Plays” productions in the spring. Adrian also shared with the Lab community his ability to tell stories through film by documenting our school trips to Georgia, Alabama, New Orleans, and Puerto Rico. He completed his junior year internship with DC Media Academy. Through this opportunity, Adrian continued to expand his knowledge of and appreciation for digital storytelling. Adrian shared his spirit and commitment to our community by leading the Spirit Club, performing as our mascot, Jimmy the Dragon, and serving as Student Government president. Adrian will continue his studies at Towson University in the fall.

Roy Schwartz, Axios co-founder and Axios HQ CEO, gave the commencement speech at Lab for the Class of 2026. He spoke about the upsides of his own learning differences and how the world needs people who think differently. The speech was recently adapted for a special edition of the Axios Finish Line newsletter - take a look!

Be different: Dyslexia's superhuman upsides For years, I only saw the downside of having dyslexia.

– Hey Lab Alumni! Have you shared a personal/professional update for the fall LINK? Email [email protected] or click the link in the comments

Highlighting Lab's Newest Alumni, the Class of 2026!

Willem is known for his kindness towards the Lab community. Willem rode his bike to school each day, and multiple times each year he independently picked up doughnuts for his teachers. Willem also developed connections with our Facilities Team and enjoyed supporting the afternoon dismissal process whenever possible. Additionally, Willem worked with young students at Lab, volunteering both in our after-school program and as an Eye to Eye mentor. Willem shared his passion for aviation and photography throughout his time in the Upper School. He completed his junior year internship at Reagan National Airport at the Traveler’s Aid Desk. His senior thesis focused on manufacturing pressures and the future of air traffic safety. Willem can regularly be found with his camera, taking pictures of the planes flying towards National Airport or of the howler monkeys in Costa Rica. He earned honorable mention for one of his photographs in the Nora School Photography Festival. Willem will study aeronautical science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Highlighting Lab's Newest Alumni, the Class of 2026!

Will has wonderfully embodied the ability to both show up authentically as himself each day and contribute to the Lab community with care and gratitude. He is a curious, self-motivated student who has taken full advantage of his Lab experience. In the classroom, Will is well-rounded, excelling in math, sciences, the humanities, and the arts. He served on Student Government and attended both the HOBY student leadership program and the NAIS Close Up Student Leadership Summit in junior year. As a senior, Will served as Chapter Co-Leader of the Eye to Eye mentoring program. It should surprise no one that Will organized a full-on punk rock concert on the Upper School patio for his senior thesis applied project. Music has played a formative role in his Lab experience, and he has grown into a talented drummer. Will plans to study mechanical engineering at The University of Vermont in the fall. He hopes to build rollercoasters in the future.

The Summer Project, Lab’s summer program for our older students has been hard at work developing a dinosaur “zuseum” that brings to life this summer’s theme of Fossils and Fantasy. The exhibit featured scale-model dinosaurs, a fossil digging site, and many eager students excited to discuss what they have learned. It was an excellent way to close out another successful summer at Lab!