Community of Learners

✔ National Merit Scholar

✔ U.S. Presidential Scholar

✔ Valedictorian

✔ Perfect SAT score

When it comes to student success in Boca Raton in 2021, there was no comparison to Elizabeth “Elle” Buckley who achieved the highest of accolades during her Upper School academic career at Grandview. The honors she’s received are impressive, ranging from a perfect SAT score in 2020 to becoming a National Merit and U.S. Presidential Scholarship finalist in 2021.

Buckley, Grandview’s 2021 Valedictorian, spoke at the Senior Commencement Ceremony in May 2021 and emphasized her deep commitment to advancing the causes of justice, democracy, and liberty. Her personal interests always aligned with advocacy, being a two-time alumni of the ACLU Advocacy Institute, co-founder of Grandview’s Activism Club and interning with Florida Senator Lori Berman for several years. 

Senator Berman called Buckley, “a remarkable young lady who is intelligent, kind, caring and extraordinarily gifted. Her wisdom and maturity are immeasurable, but her compassion for others and deep desire to bring good to this world is what truly set her apart from her peers.”

As a finalist for both the National Merit Scholarship and U.S. Presidential Scholarship in 2021, Buckley was chosen based on her accomplishments in many areas; academic and artistic success, leadership (Buckley is currently Grandview’s SGA President) and involvement in school and the community. 

For the U.S. Presidential Scholarship, Buckley was one of only 33 semi-finalists chosen in the state of Florida. There are 625 in total this year across the nation. 

Grandview’s Head of School, Jacqueline Westerfield said,”Elle has been an incredible student at our school since she was a very young child, but as impressive as her academic accomplishments are, her greatest gift is pairing them with a truly extraordinary character.”

In 2018, Dominique and her family moved from her home country of Nicaragua and began her journey as a student at Grandview (8th Grade). That same year she started learning the piano, which has now blossomed into a life-long passion. Grandview has provided her with a home away from home to help nurture lasting friendships and further broaden her perspectives on the world. 

What are you most proud of?

I’m most proud of my development as a person. Someone who’s kind. Grandview has given me the opportunity to stand out both academically and artistically. Artistically, Grandview has given me a stage and an audience, which has helped me grow as a pianist. I never feel like I have to question my ability here."

Blake created the website CoronaFinds.com with the intent of assisting families with locating essential supplies during the initial peak of the Coronavirus pandemic. Blake won a "PandEMMY" (Georgia's Pandemic Hero) for the service his site provided to the community. Blake has developed several websites and apps over the last several years.

What is your advice for younger students?

"I recommend Middle School students take high school classes as it will help you find a mentor in a Upper School student."

VIDEO INTERVIEW

Julien has always communicated his passion for the ocean and marine sciences. Most recently, Julien has been working with ForEco, a small local organization looking to improve the environment. Through the help of this organization, Julien helped create an Eco Rotary committee through Rotaract. Currently, Julien’s committee is developing project ideas that will have a long-term positive impact on the environment in our local community. They are looking into the possibility of designing sustainable architecture as well as projects to improve the water quality of waterways leading to the ocean.

What is your advice for younger students?

"Take every opportunity that is given to you and take full advantage of it."

VIDEO INTERVIEW

Michael has been an advocate and member of the The Immune Deficiency Foundation (IDF) Teen Council for years. He volunteers his time as a mentor to younger members, advocates through virtual advocacy days & IDF Walks. Additionally, he has spoken on Capitol Hill for patient rights and continued access to care for immune-compromised patients, including advocating for HR 2507, Newborn Screening Saves Lives. Currently, Michael is scheduled to attend the IDF National Conference as a Teen Advocate & youth leader.

What does service mean to you?

"Service is something I believe everyone can do. If I can influence someone to help someone else, then I love that."

VIDEO INTERVIEW

Natalia has been an active volunteer with the Boca Raton Police Department since 2016. Her volunteerism has provided opportunities to participate in ride-alongs, active shooting scenarios, and professional shadows in different departments. Natalia is a member of the Police Explorers Program where she currently holds the title of Alpha Squad Sergeant.

What are your future plans?

"I will be attending American University, which is very close to the Department of Homeland Security. I am so excited about a future in law enforcement!"

Thea started her own business over a year ago with the intention of incorporating her passion for art with fashion. She began creating custom denim jackets featuring mystical creatures, animals with accent pieces (crowns, necklaces, etc.). Thea identified a branch of fashion that was evolving and she began researching it and mixed acrylic and fabric paint to create the designs. She sells them through Instagram, takes custom orders and creates all original designs. Her brand is focused on selling one-of-a-kind items.

What is your advice for younger students?

"No matter how hard or how much you want to accomplish, all you have to focus on is moving forward. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress."

Andrew and his dad are the founders of Sole Relief, a non-profit started in 2015 with the mission of collecting gently used sneakers and distributing them to third-world countries around the world. Over the last year, they collected and distributed over 10,000 sneakers.

What is the most important thing you learned at Grandview?

"The most important thing I learned at Grandview is to be a respectful person, to treat everyone equally and to be kind. These are definitely things I can take with me moving forward."

VIDEO INTERVIEW

Megan is the president and founder of the Boca Raton chapter of PERIOD. Megan is committed to ending period poverty through service, education and advocacy. Megan and the Boca Raton chapter have distributed over 50,000 pads and tampons to over a dozen local non-profits.

How has Grandview helped you explore your passions?

"The summer before my freshman year, I had the opportunity to join the First Robotics competition team, The Dirty Mechanics. I am now co-captain and love competing with other teams across the world. Grandview has really encouraged me to pursue my passions for both STEM and advocacy."

VIDEO INTERVIEW

A 2022 graduate from Yale University, Tasman Rosenfeld majored in Earth and Planetary Sciences with a concentration in Paleontology and Geobiology. His research broadly concerns the evolution, diversity, and conservation of amphibians and reptiles.

Projects during his college career included:

• The discovery and description of several new frog species from Ecuador
• Triple oxygen isotope signatures in living and extant turtles for paleo ecological reconstruction
• Physiological adaptations of a unique tide pool-breeding population of salamanders in Maine
• Identifying patterns in the evolution of acoustic communication in animals
• A survey of dental allometry in lizards and snakes

Rosenfeld has also remained active in conservation action through advocacy work on the board of the Florida Wildlife Federation, lobbying for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act as the Florida Team Captain with the Utah Wilderness Coalition, and through exploring themes of animality and collection ethics with his music and photography.

After graduation, Rosenfeld plans to take a year off from academia to pursue conservation work in the US and Ecuador before starting a PhD in evolutionary biology.

"Being able to be close personally with our school's headmaster and with all of my subject teachers and the fact that they were so invested personally in my well being, similar to the ways parents are invested in their kids, was priceless," said Hunter Davis '18.

A 2022 graduate of Yale NUS College in Singapore, he studied economics and global affairs. 

Following his studies at The University of Miami '10, Matthew Wallach moved to Los Angeles, CA to pursue a career in the film industry. 

"My love for digitally manipulating images started at Grandview in art class and was fully realized with my work in 2015's crime thriller Sicario," said Wallach.

Some of his more recent work can be seen in the movies La La Land, Hail, Caesar! and Blade Runner 2049.

A 2018 graduate of Oklahoma University, Vionese Pierre-Louis was a recipient of Academic All-Big 12 First Team honors her senior year. A standout student-athlete, she is pursuing becoming a doctor.

"I studied abroad in Haiti and working with the children reminded me of how inspiring it was to work and learn alongside the Early Childhood and Lower School students at Grandview," Pierre-Louis said .

After graduating with a political science degree from George Washington University '17, Jonathan Adams accepted the position of Deputy Finance Director for Josh Gottheimer for Congress in Washington DC.

"I like that I am making a difference in the political landscape. My advice to current GPS students is to follow your passion despite insurmountable hurdles and to stay true to your character," said Adams.

*All statements are my own and not an endorsement of my employer*