Bleed Green Alumni Newsletter: Winter 2025
December 16, 2025
Bleed Green Alumni Newsletter
December 2025
Greetings Tarrier Alumni!
I cannot believe that the end of the calendar year is upon us. One of my highlights from this season was having the opportunity to meet with so many of you during Homecoming & Alumni Weekend! Your energy is infectious and it makes me excited for what the future holds. Thank you for all the ways you have continued to show up: The phone calls, the emails, the in-person meetings. I love hearing from you and learning more about the ways that Charles Wright Academy has impacted your experiences. It’s inspiring!
You may have noticed that our Instagram and Facebook accounts are active again! We hope that you will give us a follow as we will begin posting more about upcoming events and spotlighting YOU! You should have also received the newest edition of TIES in the mail. If you didn’t and believe you should be, it may mean that we do not have up-to-date contact information for you. Be sure to update your contact information or you can always email alumni@charleswright.org and a member of our team can make the updates on your behalf.
Lastly, this edition of the Bleed Green Alumni Newsletter will provide recaps on our fall events, celebrate our Tarrier athletes & alumni for their performance on the court and field, and highlight upcoming alumni events! I am sending my well wishes to you and your families this holiday season and looking forward to connecting with you in the new year!
Warmly,
De’Andre Jones, M.Ed.
Director of Development & Alumni Relations
alumni@charleswright.org
Message from the Head of School
Dear Charles Wright Alumni,
It has been a joy to see and meet so many of you this fall. I want to offer my deep gratitude for the many ways you participate in and support our community. Whether it’s a gift of your time, talent, or resources, we see the positive impact it has on the lives of our students.
An Anonymous (Alumni ’64, Parent ’91, ’94, Trustee/Past Trustee) donor will give $500 when 100 alumni make a gift to the Fund for CWA. 70 of you have already answered the call and we sincerely appreciate your support. Because of your gifts, we are able to continue delivering an excellent experience for all our students. As a community, we have so much to be grateful for this season and many ways to keep growing. Thank you for being part of the journey and know that we appreciate for your partnership.
Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday break filled with rest, connection, and moments that remind you of what matters most.
Warmly,
Rachel Rippl
Head of School
rrippl@charleswright.org
Show Your Support as a Tarrier Alum!
We invite you to make your best gift today in support of CWA. The Fund for CWA is our annual giving campaign that supports everything from experiential education and professional development to athletics and financial aid. In short: it ensures that CWA continues to offer an exceptional education, every single day.
This year, we’re inviting 100 alumni to make a gift of any size. Whether you give $5 or $500, your participation shows that our Tarrier alumni believe in the power of a CWA education.
If CWA shaped your journey, this is your chance to shape someone else’s. Make your best gift today at the link below!
CWA Alumni News
Alumni of the Year Nominations are now OPEN!
The Charles Wright Academy Alumni of the Year Award honors a distinguished graduate of Charles Wright Academy who has made significant contributions to their community, work, family, and the CWA Community. This award recognizes an alumnus or alumna who exemplifies the values of leadership, integrity, and service that Charles Wright instills in its students. The recipient is someone whose accomplishments reflect the school’s mission to inspire active, joyful learning.
Award Criteria:
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Outstanding Achievements: The nominee should have demonstrated exceptional accomplishments in their field, whether it be professional, artistic, academic, or philanthropic.
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Service and Community Impact: The nominee must have shown a commitment to serving their community, whether through volunteer work and or supporting programs through time, expertise, and or donations.
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Exemplary Leadership: The nominee should have demonstrated leadership skills, inspiring and empowering others to achieve their potential or make a positive difference in their community or profession.
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Connection to Charles Wright Academy: While not mandatory, a strong connection to Charles Wright Academy—whether through continued involvement with the school or embodying the school’s values in their personal or professional life—is highly encouraged.
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Character and Integrity: The nominee should be someone who demonstrates a high standard of personal integrity and ethical behavior, reflecting the core values of Charles Wright Academy.
You can submit a nomination for a peer or yourself today using the button below!
Class of ’25 Alumni Spotlight
Henry Zhang ’25, Brandon Bennett ’25, and Darnell Njunge ’25 check out their college pennants while visiting campus. Our grads represent CWA near and far!
Ben Bortel ’25 was named to D3football.com’s Team of the Week for Special Teams after a strong performance in Grinnell College’s win over Lawrence on Saturday, November 8. Bortel broke the school record for kicking points in a game with 13 as the Pioneers rolled over Lawrence 63-6. He kicked seven extra points, fifth all-time at GC, and was 2-for-2 on field goals, connecting from 46 and 41 yards. The 46-yarder is the sixth-longest in program history. On Monday, November 10, Ben was also recognized as the Midwest Conference Performer of the Week for Special Teams! Congratulations, Ben! We are so proud of you!
2025 CWA Homecoming & Alumni Weekend Highlights
What would a Homecoming in the Pacific Northwest be without a little rain? That didn’t stop our Tarrier community from showing up and enjoying the various activities throughout the weekend. On Friday, we hosted competitions in both Volleyball and Football. We also brought back the Alumni Tent, had food trucks, and the Family Association opened the Spirit Store and hosted a Spirit Booth!
Additionally, we inducted the following alumni into the Athletic Hall of Fame for their performance, contributions, and impact on Tarrier athletics.
Philip & Teddy Grenley ’15
In addition to being stellar student leaders in and outside of the classroom. Philip & Teddy Grenley made history as the first ever four-peat of the state boys doubles tennis title! You can learn more about their experience at Charles Wright Academy through this Video interview with KING 5 TV News!
Vanessa Davis ’14
A standout multi-sport athlete, Vanessa competed in four varsity sports—volleyball, basketball, softball, and track & field—earning numerous honors along the way. A two-time team captain in both volleyball and basketball, she was named CWA’s Most Outstanding Athlete in 2014 and received multiple All-Nisqually League selections, including First Team honors in volleyball and basketball. On the court, she averaged a double-double for her career, posting 14 points and 11 rebounds per game, and was recognized as Defensive Player of the Year and a Coaches Award recipient. She also participated in the 2014 All-State West All-Star Game, earned a nomination for Tacoma Athletic Commission Athlete of the Year, and received the Sandra Overmire Minnerly Award. Her athletic journey continued at the collegiate level, where she played basketball at the University of Rochester.
Zachary Sokolik ’03
Attending Charles Wright Academy from kindergarten to senior year, Zachary was a talented multi-sport athlete, excelling in baseball, football, and basketball. On the diamond, he earned 1A/2A All-State honors, was named to the Tacoma News Tribune All-Area Baseball Team, and received Athlete of the Week recognition, while posting a remarkable .614 batting average his senior year and driving in nine runs in a single game. He was also a three-time All-League First Baseman. On the gridiron, he was a two-time All-League Offensive Lineman. On the court, he was a member of the historic 2003 Emerald City League Championship basketball team—the first in CWA history to advance to the state tournament. Off the field, he served as Student Body President.
Alumni Pub Night Highlights
Thank you to everyone who joined us for this year’s Alumni Pub Night! It was wonderful to see alumni reconnect with one another and faculty. Your presence and enthusiasm made the evening a success, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to celebrate our alumni and the lasting connections that make our Tarrier community so special. Unable to make it to this year’s event? No worries! We hope to see you at our upcoming Tarrier Tour events in Seattle and Bellevue in the new year!
These are just a few examples of how our Tarriers are staying connected! We’d love to have our Tarrier alumni come back to campus and hear about what you have been up to over the years.
If you have a story that you want featured in the next edition of Bleed Green, please feel free to submit it to alumni@charleswright.org or to submit a class note later in the email and a member of our team will be sure to follow up with you.
Tarrier Athletics Spotlight
Alec P. ’29 had an incredible season, bringing home the District Champion title at the WIAA Boys Tennis 1A Nisqually League West Central District 3 Tournament! All season long, Alec has shown remarkable dominance as our No. 1 singles player, defeating top competitors from 1A, 2A, and even 4A programs. His dedication, skill, and sportsmanship have truly set him apart. Your hard work has paid off, Alec, and we couldn’t be prouder!
Upcoming Events
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Please join family and friends for a memorial service honoring the life and legacy of Mrs. Phyllis Kriese. The memorial service for will be held at 11:00 a.m. at All Saints Church in Puyallup, WA. Information regarding a future Celebration of Life at the Charles Wright Academy campus will be announced in the coming weeks.
January & February 2026
Calling all Tarriers! The Development & Alumni Relations team will be hitting the road this year and embarking on our 2025-2026 Regional Tarrier Tour! We hope you will consider joining us!
Email alumni@charleswright.org if you would like to assist with organizing a Tarrier Tour visit in a city near you. We’d love to partner with you!
SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, March 21, 2026
Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need roads; we need community, curiosity, and a little philanthropic magic. The 2026 Spirit Auction is revving up the DeLorean for a night of high-voltage celebration at the LeMay Car Museum (Tacoma), where every bid helps fuel the future of joyful learning at Charles Wright Academy! From the silent and live auctions to the raffle and Dessert Dash, this isn’t just any event, it’s a time-traveling tribute to honoring CWA’s traditions, empowering our students, and driving us into the future!
Early Bird Tickets go on sale January 9th!
That’s all for this edition of the Bleed Green Alumni Newsletter. Below you can find some of the ways to remain engaged with CWA:
Update Your Contact Information
The CWA Alumni community welcomes you! Please complete this brief questionnaire to help us ensure we have up-to-date contact information for you in our system. Once a Tarrier, Always a Tarrier!
Keep up to date with your fellow alumni by submitting a Class Note! Class Notes are shared annually in CWA’s TIES Magazine.
Sincerely,
The CWA Development & Alumni Relations Team