He may have graduated in the 70s, but David is low-key the hippest person on campus. How do we know? Because we're right on track to hit our $30,000 end-of-day goal, and that means we crushed our check-point challenge! Watch him dap, dab, and dodge the negative aura in his Director of Admissions promotional video above! (And, yes, I know the original challenge was only 30-seconds, but, y'all, these clips were fire, so we decided to include them all)!

FSW Community,

As Giving Tuesday rolls on, it’s time to celebrate the incredible legacy of Friends School of Wilmington alumni. In this email, we’re spotlighting 30 Alumni Accomplishments—10 from each of our three decades. These stories remind us of the profound and lasting impact of an FSW education. From volunteering with nonprofits and advocating for social justice to excelling in medicine, the arts, and technology, our alumni are living proof of the values instilled here: curiosity, compassion, and a drive to make the world better. These achievements span the years, but they’re all connected by a shared foundation built at FSW.

Your Giving Tuesday gift helps ensure that future generations of students have the same opportunity to thrive, dream big, and leave their own remarkable mark on the world. Thank you for being part of this journey with us. Together, we’re celebrating the past, embracing the present, and building a bright future for FSW!

Ben Kastner ('98): Chief Blacksmith of Intracoastal Iron, Ben combines ancient coal forge techniques with contemporary designs to restore historical pieces and create custom works of art.

Caitlin Lamborne ('98): Senior Ebook Developer at Simon & Schuster in New York City, Caitlin has been at the forefront of creating and managing accessible digital book formats.

Joseph O'Neil ('98): A non-objective painter, Joseph explores the interplay of form, text, and memory. Based in Easton, PA, his work includes solo exhibitions like Lilacs at the Drey Gallery and curating community-driven art projects.

Matthew Spicer ('98): A PA-C specializing in cardiac and vascular surgery for Wilmington Health, Matthew holds a M.H.Sc. from George Washington University and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Georgia Tech. 

Misha Miller-Sisson ('99): An archaeologist specializing in material culture analysis and the embedded communicative structures in architecture, Misha is currently a Principal Investigator at Warm Springs Geo Visions in the Pacific Northwest.

Hal Cosec ('02): A seasoned producer with a diverse career spanning film and Broadway. He's currently the VP and Head of Theatrical Production at Minerva Productions. Credits include The Kids Are Alright, What Maisie Knew, Another Happy Day, and Broadway's Beautiful, Of Mice and Men, and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.

Taylor Kowalski ('02): Versatile actor known for his 14-episode run on Snowfall and his starring role in the thriller Last Straw, which premiered at the 2023 Cucalorus Film Festival.

Kyle Stenersen ('02): Co-founder of Humble Roots Farm, Kyle turned his passion for horticulture into a sustainable farming venture, providing fresh, local food to southeastern NC.

Chelsea Busch ('03): Nurse and co-owner of Lucky Lady Lice Removal, "Lice Queen" Chelsea brings medical expertise and compassionate care to help families navigate head lice with dignity and ease.

John Savard ('03): Wilmington native and co-founder of Wilmington Brewing Company & Wilmington Homebrew Supply, John turned his passion for homebrewing into a thriving, community-focused business.

Walker Bristol ('06): Clinical Chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Walker is a board-certified Humanist Chaplain passionate about creating spaces for compassionate care and supporting others through spiritual connection.

Mason Barnes ('08): Wilmington native and big wave surfing sensation, Mason turned his love of water into a full-time career. Known for his fearless rides at spots like Nazaré (Portugal), he’s become a rising star in the surfing world.

Christopher Green ('08): Writer, Chief Editor, and Co-Founder of Sequential Planet, Chris brings his passion for pop culture (spanning 122 days of anime watched) to insightful takes on comics, games, and television, and more.

Khyber Nasser ('10): Mechanical Engineer and Project Engineer at HICAPS, Inc., Khyber is a dedicated problem solver passionate clean energy manufacturing expert. 

Jay Batchler ('10): A portrait & headshot photographer and film editor specializing in episodic and feature films for networks like BET, Lifetime, and TV One. His previous photography campaigns included Coca-Cola, Bud Light, Hilton, and Marriott.

Jesse Berliner-Sachs ('11): Software Engineer at Facebook, Jesse combines a passion for computer science and political science to explore how data can drive meaningful decision-making in both people and technologies. 

Robinson Snider ('12): An Ole Miss alumni and current NC State graduate student, Robinson is a standout in cross country and track. A 2x All-Region Cross Country honoree and 2022 NCAA East Regional qualifier, he earned accolades like SEC Runner of the Week for his impressive performances on the course.

Lily Zukerman ('13): Student Support Specialist with Communities In Schools of Cape Fear, Lily provides daily, on-site support to middle schoolers, connecting high-need students with academic and SEL resources.

Christopher Zack ('14): Economist at the Bureau of Labor Statistics with a B.S. in Statistics from UNC, Chris Chris leverages metadata to analyze and inform economic trends and policies.

Caitlin Winkler ('14): A JMU graduate with a B.A. in Dance, Caitlin has performed with the Virginia Repertory Dance Company and American College Dance Association festival and is now in her third season with Emily Cargill & Dancers.

Caroline Yermal ('15): Development Coordinator at Healing Transitions and a Public Policy graduate from the University of Maryland, Caroline is dedicated to supporting recovery services for underserved communities.

Emma Brinkley ('16): At just 22, UNCW senior Emma Brinkley is the successful owner of A Little Twisted Pottery, a vibrant studio offering pottery, bookbinding, and glass fusion classes. Balancing her studies and business, Emma is making a prominent mark on Wilmington’s creative community.

Emiko Andrews ('16): A UNC graduate with a dual focus in History and Peace, War, and Defense, Emiko now serves as an AmeriCorps member at the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, championing migration, human rights, and civic engagement.

Nathan Peterson ('17): A video production and cinema studies student at Elon University, Nathan is gaining industry experience as a Development Intern at Highland Film Group, a leading independent film sales, financing, and production company known for its dynamic slate of action, thriller, and genre films.

Ryder Klein ('18): A junior Computer Science major at UNC, Ryder leads App Team Carolina's iOS Apprenticeship Team and works as a Full Stack Developer for Flywheel Technology, maintaining and advancing complex platforms with expertise in Vue, Laravel, SQL, and Swift.

Aiden Andrews ('20): A talented runner from Hoggard, Aiden will continue his athletic and academic journey at Savannah College of Art and Design in 2025. With impressive PRs of 16:28 in the 5K, 4:27 in the mile, and 1:58 in the 800m, he’s ready to make his mark on the collegiate stage.

Lauren Mass ('21): A Global Ambassador for the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), Lauren participated in the highly selective High School Summer Abroad programs in Tokyo (’23) and Kyoto (’24), excelling in language and cultural studies while representing the future of global leadership.

Minh Vu ('21): Crowned the 2024 Azalea Festival Princess, Minh embodies grace, leadership, and community spirit. As a proud representative of Wilmington, Minh is a powerful proponent of youth art initiatives and environmental activism.

Josiah Heyer ('22): After overcoming a life-threatening brain infection that left him temporarily paralyzed, Josiah made a miraculous recovery to become a 2X Bret Cooper All-American and now excels as a Defensive and Offensive Lineman on Hoggard's Varsity football team.

Quinn Schnurbusch ('23): A sophomore at Isaac Bear Early College High School known for supporting peers and bringing a positive attitude during academic challenges, Quinn earned StarNews's Student of the Week award with almost 12,000 votes in the community poll.

I don't know about y'all, but I've had the time of my life today! If you agree, let's get to $25,000 by 6:00 PM and we'll see four of our longtime faculty--Anna, Tracy, Amy, and Susan--deliver a lip sync concert worthy of a standing ovation!

Progress Check-In

Way to go, Stepping Stones Reef for hitting 100% participation in the Annual Fund! It's a race between 5th, 7th, 1st, 8th, and 4th to see who will clock in next! 

Our faculty believe deeply in the mission of the school and truly love each student for their most authentic self. How do we know? Because this year, 100% of our Board of Trustees, 100% of our administrative team, and 100% of our teachers have pledged or donated to the Annual Fund. Now THAT is how we celebrate 30 years of Friends!

Psst. Missed some of our earlier emails? Check out the these others 30s: