Belonging at Parker

As the school year draws to a close, the Francis Parker School community looks forward to celebrating the Class of 2026. This year, we are honored to welcome a group of thoughtful and inspiring speakers who will help mark this milestone for the graduating class. From Commencement to our Affinity Group celebrations, these individuals bring a range of perspectives, experiences, and stories that reflect the values of our community.

In the sections below, you'll find biographies of our 2026 Commencement and Affinity Group speakers. Each has been invited to share words of reflection and encouragement as our graduates prepare to take their next steps beyond Parker.

Commencement Speaker

Dr. Mary Taylor currently serves as the Associate Chief Diversity Officer for Outreach and Success at San Diego State University. In her role as Associate Chief Diversity Officer, she serves on the Student Affairs and Campus Diversity Leadership Team and oversees a portfolio of campus units and programs focused on student service and success as well as institutional equity and belonging.

Prior to this role, Mary served as the Executive Director of the Center for Educational Partnerships Outreach and Success and has over 20 years of student services experience. She is passionate about student access, equity, and success and is an advocate for asset-based research and practice approaches for all students.

In the non-profit sector, Mary serves on a number of boards for organizations working to close gaps in access and equity for our local students. She has also served as the Director of Reality Changers’ College Apps Academy Program and as the Interim Executive Director of the Elementary Institute of Science. In 2014, she was the recipient of the San Diego Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award for her work in creating and developing the College Apps Academy Program at RealityChangers and was a Janet Chrispeels Doctoral Fellow in Educational Leadership at UCSD in recognition of her work increasing access for underserved students and families. Most recently, Mary has been recognized by Women We Admire as one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of San Diego as well as one of the Top 50 Women Chief Diversity Officers of 2025. 

As a scholar, Mary has a research agenda focused on educational equity and access for marginalized and underserved students, Black student success in higher education, college access, success and completion, and non-profit collaboration with educational institutions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCSD, her Master’s degree in Student Affairs from SDSU, a certificate in College Admissions Advising from UCLA, and her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the UCSD/CSUSM Joint Doctoral Program (research topic: Black Student Success in Higher Education: An Asset-Based Examination of Individual and Institutional Factors).

Dr. Taylor is a former Parker parent (Jonathan Taylor ’16), former Parent Association President, and former member of the Parker Board of Trustees where she chaired both the Governance and Diversity Board committees. She currently serves on the Horizons San Diego (formerly Horizons at Francis Parker) Board of Directors.

APIDA Alumni Speaker

Liana Ching '06 graduated from the University of Southern California as the Class of 2010 valedictorian with a B.S. in chemical engineering, before going on to earn an M.S. in environmental engineering from Stanford in 2011, and an MBA in business administration from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business in 2019. During college, Liana was an active member of Engineers Without Borders, the Society of Women Engineers, a Viterbi Student Ambassador, and on USC's women's club soccer team.  

Liana spent the first part of her career in various engineering roles for Intel Corporation in the Bay Area, before moving back to the L.A. area with her husband and two children to work for Apple as an NPI Readiness Program Manager. Recently, she accepted a position with Mattel, which her kids think is the coolest job in the world. Liana has also worked as a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, helping to build houses for families in need, and served on the Board of Directors for the social services start-up Johego. 

Lavender Alumni Speaker

Alexis Arington '17 loves helping people achieve their homeownership goals! A San Diego native, Alexis graduated Magna Cum Laude from American University before discovering her passion as a mortgage loan officer, helping people achieve their homeownership dreams. She has been recognized with The Five Star Rising Star Award every year since becoming licensed, a testament to her dedication and client-first approach.

Alexis is active in the LGBTQ+ Real Estate Alliance and San Diego LGBTQ+ community, runs social media for Metro Caravan, and is a member of San Diego Rotaract. She recently spoke at the San Diego LGBT Alliance's 3rd Annual Real Estate Symposium alongside some of the brightest leaders in our industry. Aly was proud to represent the mortgage industry, sharing insights on condo challenges, the future of interest rates, and creative strategies to make homeownership more affordable in San Diego. Even more meaningful was representing our LGBTQ+ community in a space that's breaking barriers and sparking real conversations about the future of housing.

Alexis interned for Congressman Scott Peters during her senior year of college and also spent a year as a concierge at Lone Mountain Ranch in beautiful Montana, where her family also owns an American Wagyu Cattle Ranch. When she's not helping clients, you'll likely find her at a San Diego dog beach or out on the water with her energetic German Shorthaired Pointer, Finn.

Pan African Alumni Speaker

Sydney Thomas '06 is a systems thinker, a trailblazer, and a doer. She is a social justice advocate and lives by Parker's value "no limit to better." After graduating from Parker, Sydney earned a BA in Public Policy Studies from Duke University, then an MBA from UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business. She is currently the founder and general partner of Symphonic Capital, a firm that invests in companies that close gaps in health and wealth for overlooked communities. She believes in and is a megaphone for people's dreams, helping them build from a vision, and she does so with conviction and the belief that people and their companies can impact society. 

She never slows down, wears many hats, and is a podcaster with a megaphone for founders who build companies for real people in the real world. She has drafted federal legislation, negotiated multi-million dollar contracts, and received a full-ride scholarship to her business school of choice. She is a conscientious citizen, multifaceted and broad-minded. She is a change-maker on a mission, constructing a pathway for something fundamentally different and untapped. 

Sydney is also a member of the Oakland Museum of California and Project Include, and an investment committee member for Acumen and a venture partner for The House Fund.

SPEAK Alumni Speaker

Jesus Jimenez Santos '13 came to Parker as a ninth grader from Nativity Prep School and graduated proudly as a member of the Class of 2013. In addition to excelling academically, Jesus built on his love for music by learning to play the violin really, really well.

Jesus journeyed through the world of classical music, played solo concerts in California and Mexico, taught workshops, and even formed his own mariachi band. After graduating from Parker, Jesus went on to earn a degree in Instrumental Performance from Point Loma Nazarene University, and one in Computer Science from CSU San Marcos.

Jesus landed a job as a software engineer before taking a leap of faith to pursue his passion project by making a monumental move to Japan. There he acquired the business moves he had always aspired to accomplish. Returning home to San Diego, Jesus conceptualized and is CEO of Innovative Internet Creations I.I.C, a digital agency that specializes in web development, creative design, and professional online solutions for businesses. Recently, Jesus developed an educational platform called Block to Bytes, which is a coding program that offers hands-on workshops for students to learn coding in an immersive environment. He partnered this program to a number of local agencies, to include San Diego Unified School District, the Boys and Girls Club of SD, Fleet Science Center and various YMCA locations throughout the county.   

Between classes and long study sessions across Parker’s campuses, students might notice bubbles drifting through the air, a therapy dog wagging its tail, or classmates gathered around a table with Play-Doh. It may look like just play, but behind it is a thoughtful effort to benefit student well-being.

“Wellness Wednesdays” is an initiative designed by the Student Health and Wellness team to strengthen relationships between students and the counseling team while also breaking down the stigma that can come with asking for support. At its core is a simple idea–students are more likely to reach out when they recognize the people who are there to help. 

“The wellness team is for everybody,” said Head of Student Support and Wellness Dr. Megan Storey Hallam.

Throughout April and into Mental Health Awareness Month, the program will introduce activities and resources that build practical skills and encourage balance. From study sprints that emphasize the importance of intentional breaks to collaborations with the tech and education teams that highlight accessible wellness tools. 

These Wellness Wednesdays are also a reminder that wellness doesn’t have to be serious all the time. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as taking a breath or playing with friends.  

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Upcoming 2025-2026 Upper School Wellness Wednesday events:

April 15, 2026 – Spring is in the Air: April is a reminder that growth is a process. Some days feel bright and steady. Others feel cloudy and heavy. Both are part of becoming who you are.

We will focus on the importance of self-care by encouraging students to think about how they can be kind to themselves during the busy school year and with their various commitments. We will ask them to write down their ideas for self-care, and in return, they will receive a self-care item of their choice (which will be fun giveaways!).

May 6, 2026 – Reset and Refocus: Use Play-Doh to decompress, refocus, and reshape your stress into something more manageable. Small moments of pause can make a big difference.
We will provide Play-Doh to help alleviate stress during AP exams this year.

June 3, 2026 – Cool Down for Summer: Cool off with a refreshing popsicle at our Wellness Wednesday table! It’s a great way to take a breather, enjoy the moment, and celebrate the upcoming summer. 

We will give out popsicles to encourage taking breaks, enjoying the moment, cherishing time with friends, and preparing for summer. We will ask students to share how they plan to restore their energy over the summer. 

Upcoming 2025-2026 Middle School Wellness Wednesday events:

At the Middle School level, Wellness Wednesdays are already making a meaningful impact through student-led efforts. As part of the Francis Barkers Therapy Dog Club, students work alongside their advisor to plan and facilitate monthly Wellness Wednesday activities, often joined by Miso Soup, the Middle School’s therapy dog. 

April 15, 2026 – Bubbles & Breathing: The Barkers will educate students about mindful breathing and will hand out bubbles for students to practice deep exhales. 

May 13, 2026 – Celebrating Teachers: We will celebrate teachers by having students write a message of appreciation on a card that the Barker students will wrap and deliver to teachers. 

June 3, 2026 – Rainbow Club: The Barkers will partner with the Rainbow Club to celebrate Pride Month. Miso will be a "pride puppy," and we're coloring his fur in rainbow colors to celebrate the event. 

2025-2026 Lower School Wellness Wednesday events:
At Lower School, students participated in a Wellness Wednesday before Winter Break, where they made snowflakes to hang around campus. This exercise highlighted the uniqueness of each snowflake, just as we, as individuals, each have special things about us to celebrate: a favorite hobby or skill, our heritage, the languages we speak, or things that matter to us. Once the students cut out their snowflakes, they wrote or drew something on them that made them unique.

In addition to Wellness Wednesday, the Lower School community garden acts as both a service project for the Parker community and a hands-on haven for wellness and social-emotional learning. Supported by the student-led Green Team, every grade level participates in planting and composting. Daily garden care routines—including watering, tending, and carefully looping pea tendrils through the trellis—teach students responsibility and self-management. At the same time, collaborative planting builds essential teamwork and a shared sense of purpose.

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Wellness Wednesdays and other student wellness activities reinforce that well-being is not something separate from the school day, but an essential part of it. We appreciate our Student Health and Wellness team taking the time to plan these events across Divisions, along with the other critical services they offer students daily. 

 

This past trimester, individual Lancers and student organizations traveled beyond our campuses to participate in competitions spanning from the STEM disciplines to the dramatic arts. Many of our students received special awards and recognition at these events for their hard work. Continue reading below to see where our students competed and the accolades they received.

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California State Thespian Festival

Last month, 22 Upper School Drama Club members represented Parker at the California State Thespian Festival, showcasing their incredible craft and artistry. These students were accompanied and guided by Parker instructors Ryan Olson, Soren Carey, Ryan Griggs, and Joey Kurz. Competing with over 1,700 top theater students statewide, many of our thespians received special recognition for their artistic achievements.

First Place Winners:

Short Live Action Film (Tie)
Ike Von Behren, Class of 2027 (“Squibley”), also received Judges' Choice

2-Person Scene (Tie)
Graham Kroonen, Class of 2027, and Ike Von Behren (“Lend Me A Tenor”)
Sienna Buttaro, Class of 2028, and Sarah Dago, Class of 2026 (“Baby with the Bathwater”)

1st Place (tie), Musical Theater Solo (Tie)
Lila Kisch, Class of 2029 ("Beyond My Wildest Dreams" from “The Little Mermaid”)

Makeup Design
Benjamin Rupani, Class of 2028 (“She Kills Monsters”)

Second Place Winners:

Stage Management
Sarah Dago (“Matilda the Musical”)

Superior Ratings:

2-Person Scene
Ava Cherry, Class of 2028, and Clare Makely, Class of 2028 (“Antigone”)
Elliot Carson, Class of 2028, and Amelia Upasani, Class of 2028 (“Rabbit Hole”)

Monologue
Alexis Vann, Class of 2026 (“Pretty Theft”)
Danni Ziegler, Class of 2026 (“Laughing Wild”)

Duet Musical Theater
Graham Kroonen and Charlotte Ramers, Class of 2026 ("Fine" from “Ordinary Days”)

Mainstage & Festival Finale

Four of our students were invited to perform or present on the Mainstage in front of 1,800 festival attendees. Lila Kisch danced in the festival’s opening number, "Another Day of Sun." During the student presentations, Ike Von Behren showcased his film "Squibley”, and Graham Kroonen and Charlotte Ramers performed their song "Fine.”

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Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair

We celebrate two Parker students who participated and received special recognition at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. These students conducted independent research on an issue of interest and designed original projects. Then they presented their work and findings to judges with field-level expertise. 

Valente Azevado, Class of 2030

Valente designed and produced a robotic hand that responds to voice commands. As a result of his hard work, the Fair awarded him first place in the junior division in Engineering: Electrical, Mechanical, and Robotics. He also received the Special Award from the Armed Forces Communication Electronics Association. In addition to qualifying for the California Science and Engineering Fair, Valente was also a nominee for the Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge.

 

Shounak Ray Chaudhuri, Class of 2026

Shounak made advancements towards implementing autonomous vehicle platforms in emerging global markets such as India. Shounak’s dedicated research efforts earned him a spot as a finalist for the International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix. In addition to being a runner-up for the Grand Award, Shounak qualified for the California Science and Engineering Fair.

 

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USC Model UN

22 members of Parker’s Model UN team participated in USC’s Model UN Conference on February 28 and March 1. Our student delegates researched, competed, and debated over a wide range of global issues in specialized committees alongside other high school attendees.

We offer our congratulations to these students who received recognition at this year’s conference: 

Exemplary Research: Mirabelle Egilmez, Class of 2028

Exemplary Research: Jayati Babla, Class of 2028

Verbal Commendation: Josephine Choy, Class of 2026

Honorable Mention: Gabriella Price, Class of 2027

Outstanding Delegate: Cassia Cromwell, Class of 2027

Under the guidance of mentor Morgan Shekter and chaperone support from Chelsea Blanco and Rachel Krause, these students exemplified the finest qualities of Parker through their professionalism and kindness.

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We hope you join us in congratulating these students for their amazing hard work and extraordinary dedication. We are happy for their successes and look forward to what they do next!