November 10, 2025
When I started at Mounds Park Academy in eighth grade, I was uncertain about how I’d fit into a community that had already been together for years. Rather than making me feel like an outsider, the small class sizes and welcoming peers helped me settle in and find my place. I quickly came to know everyone, and everyone knew me.
MPA gave me more than just a sense of belonging. From analyzing diverse perspectives to tackling problems across disciplines, MPA’s curriculum taught me to approach challenges creatively and think critically. Ms. Conway’s constitutional law class ignited my interest in conducting legal research and structuring arguments years before I knew I wanted to attend law school.
Even today, I’m continuing to discover the value of the foundation MPA helped me build.
Since graduating, I’ve enjoyed watching MPA grow and invest in what matters. The renovated library, the teaching kitchen, and the thoughtfully designed spaces for students at every level reflect MPA’s continued commitment to excellence. I am excited that current students have even more opportunities than I did. MPA hasn’t just maintained its commitment to creativity, academic excellence, and inclusive community but strengthened those commitments in ways that prepare students for a world I couldn’t have imagined.
Seeing where my classmates have gone has been inspiring. From artists to physicians, educators to entrepreneurs, scientists to Olympic athletes, we’ve pursued different paths while carrying forward what MPA gave us. Staying connected to that community has been meaningful for me. I serve on the alumni board, helping to connect alumni with one another and with current students. Through annual giving, I join others in sustaining the programs that make MPA distinctive today.
There are many ways to give back to a school that has done so much for us. The further I get from my time there, the more I recognize how truly special MPA is. I’m thankful for those whose investments in MPA made my experience possible. I’m honored to give back and proud of what MPA continues to build. Whether you spent one year at MPA or attended from PreK through graduation, I hope you’ll reflect on how the school touched your life. Please join me in supporting MPA’s Fall Campaign because every gift shapes tomorrow.
