By Ralph K. Spencer, D'Evelyn Education Foundation Board of Directors Every once in a while, I get the urge to conduct interviews with random D'Evelyn graduates so teachers, parents, administrators, and staff can find out where some of their former students are now and what they are doing with their lives AD - After D'Evelyn. I encourage parents to read this article if for no other reason than to reinforce your decision to send your children to our incredible school! If any of you know a D'Evelyn graduate whom you believe should grace the electronic pages of a future Jaguar Tracks newsletter, please provide the Jaguar Tracks editor with his/her name and contact information at [email protected]. At some point in the future, you may be pleasantly surprised! This article features Brynna Wilson, a 2004 D'Evelyn graduate. Brynna is a financial advisor with New York Life in the Denver area. JT: I know there were four children in the Wilson family. Did you all attend D'Evelyn? BW: Yes, we did. I was the youngest Wilson and Jamin, Parker, and Molly paved the way for me at D'Evelyn. JT: How did you cope with that experience considering that several of you were at D'Evelyn at the same time? BW: It was really a pretty cool situation. It became quite fun since Molly or Jamin would drive us to school every day in a big old van. Editor's Note: For those of you wondering, I did ask Brynna what name they had given the "big old van" but she could not recall! JT: How would you describe your D'Evelyn experience in one or two words? BW: Academically difficult! However, it was also very enjoyable because there were so many amazing people in my graduating class. JT: Can you recall a teacher who had an impact on your academic life at D'Evelyn or perhaps even beyond D'Evelyn? BW: I cannot name one specific teacher. I can recall that most teachers had an excellent command of their respective subjects. JT: Do you recall a D'Evelyn teacher whose class was a favorite of yours, primarily because of the teacher's personality/manner of teaching? BW: That would be my physics teacher, Mr. McKellips. He made physics interesting. He was a super animated teacher and had many interesting ways of explaining how things worked. His classes always contained a bit of humor, which made learning the subject matter easier than it would have been otherwise. JT: What is your fondest memory of D'Evelyn? BW: I played quite a few sports. I will never forget the camaraderie that existed among my team members, especially in basketball and volleyball. JT: Can you recall a classic story from your high school days that would generate some serious laughter at an upcoming D'Evelyn reunion? BW: I distinctly recall a prank that resulted in Mr. Baker's car ending up in front of the doors at the main entrance to the school. Coach Baker had left his Chevrolet Camaro in the school parking lot while he and the track team were in Pueblo for a multi-day track meet. Surprisingly, the pranksters somehow moved his car without the benefit of car keys. Very funny! JT: What, if anything, did you dislike about your D'Evelyn experience? BW: That is a very easy question - the homework I constantly had! JT: Do you keep in touch with any of your D'Evelyn friends? BW: I keep in touch with several of them who will no doubt remain my friends forever. JT: If you could be Principal for a Day at D'Evelyn in the next week or so, would you do anything out of the ordinary on that day given your experiences at the school? BW: I would allow all students twice the amount of time between passing periods! JT: What did you do following your D'Evelyn graduation? BW: I attended Bridgewater College in Bridgewater, VA for 2 years. I spent the next 2 years at the College of Charleston in, you guessed it, Charleston, SC, graduating with a business degree. I moved to Vail, CO and was a member of Mountain Safety for 5 years. I could ski free for over 100 days a year while serving in this capacity. I moved to Denver from Vail and for 2 years was the General Manager of the White Fence Farm, a Lakewood restaurant that had been owned by my family for many years. I then became a bicycle technician at REI in Denver and am now enjoying my position as a financial advisor with New York Life. JT: Many graduates say that college was easy given the curriculum and expectations they experienced at D'Evelyn. What is your opinion? BW: I completely agree with that statement! JT: Where do you see yourself in the next 10 years? BW: Living in Denver, working for New York Life, and enjoying a cabin in the mountains. JT: What are your hobbies and/or interests outside of work? BW: I like to read. As you may have guessed, I am an avid skier. I also play ice hockey, sometimes with the men but mostly as a substitute in women's leagues at the Apex Center in Arvada. JT: What would your fellow D'Evelyn graduates be surprised to learn about you? BW: I was selected as "Most Athletic" in our Senior Yearbook and I continue in that vein. JT: If you were asked to be the commencement speaker at a D'Evelyn graduation, what would be the title of your speech? BW: The title of my speech would be, You Are What Your Mindset Is! JT: What fun fact about you can you share with our readers? BW: I have a total of 4 nieces and nephews and adore them all! JT: Do you have any words of inspiration for today's D'Evelyn students, especially the seniors who will graduate this May? BW: It is imperative that you always be yourself, keep dreaming, and do what YOU want to do with your life! Comments are closed.
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The D'Evelyn Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation. The Board of Directors oversees the finances, legal issues and long-term strategic plans of the organization Archives
May 2023
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