Bleed Green Alumni News – Summer 2025
June 24, 2025
Message from the Director of Development and Alumni Relations
Dear Tarrier Alumni,
Sam and Nathalie Brown founded Charles Wright Academy in 1957 on Peach Acres. In the spring of 1964, our first graduating class, all 14 of them, assembled in the Brick Gym for their commencement ceremony. As we reflect on over 60 years of graduating classes of Tarriers, we are filled with pride and gratitude for the incredible community that has emerged from Charles Wright Academy. Last week, I had the honor of hosting the Alumni Induction Ceremony. During this event, I gave remarks to the 34 new alumni from the Class of 2025 and officially welcomed them to the Tarrier alumni community. This remarkable class has definitely left their mark on our campus, and I quoted a few lyrics from the song “For Good” from the musical Wicked.
“Who can say if I’ve been changed for the better? But
Because I knew you
I have been changed for good”
The last year has reinforced that we are an incredibly resilient community that’s strongest when we show up and care for one another no matter how challenging things can get. Whether it was through community or athletic events, fundraising initiatives for the Fund for CWA, sharing insights during our alumni panels, or celebrating our newest Tarrier Alumni – this year has truly been something special. My heart is full as I think about the stories and memories you’ve shared about your time at CWA, the campus tours we’ve taken, and the 1:1 conversations we’ve shared – whether it was here in Tacoma or coast-to-coast, I’m so proud to serve all 3,300 of you. WE here at Charles Wright Academy have been changed for good because of all of you and I look forward to what we will continue to accomplish together in the future.
As we look ahead, I personally want to thank Henry Cheney for his service and partnership as our Alumni Relations Manager over the last year. Though serving in a part-time capacity this academic year, he has played an instrumental role in reinvigorating our Alumni Relations program – both on a regional and national scale. Effective July 1, Henry will be returning to full-time status in Athletics continuing in his role as Assistant Athletic Director for Youth Sports. I have no doubt that Henry will continue to be a great collaborator as both a colleague and as an active Tarrier alum in the years to come!
This will be the last Bleed Green for the summer, but we will kick off our new season in September. I look forward to reconnecting with you then!
Sincerely,
De’Andre Jones, M. Ed.
Director of Development and Alumni Relations
A Letter from the Alumni Relations Manager
All,
Working with the Charles Wright alumni has been the highlight of my career here at CWA. This year we hosted a little under 30 alumni events and the common theme we heard was that “CWA is a special place.”. I am inspired by our alumni’s passion, generosity, and eagerness to stay connected to CWA. I was always proud to be a Tarrier Alum, but after getting to know and connect with so many of you over this past year, I couldn’t be more proud of our alumni community. I am excited for what is to come for CWA and its alumni, and even though I am stepping back into athletics full time, I am confident in the future of the school’s continued efforts to support alumni.
This edition of Bleed Green includes a recap of our spring season featuring the official announcement of our 2025 Alumni of the Year award recipient: Aukeem Ballard ‘07, updates on fundraising, events, and our spring athletics. We are also pleased to share our 2025-2026 Alumni Relations events calendar with you! Be sure to save the dates!
The CWA Alumni Webpage is updated and the summer edition of TIES will be hitting your mailboxes in August so be on the lookout. Speaking of TIES… we are still collecting class notes for the summer issue and want to share your updates, accomplishments, and celebrations. Have you recently moved to a new city, grown your family, or experienced a career shift? Do you have a great photo from a gathering with fellow Tarriers? Share your good news by filling out the class notes form.
In Partnership,
Henry Cheney ’16, MBA
Alumni Relations Manager
Announcing our 2025 Alumni of the Year: Aukeem Ballard ’07
It is with great pleasure that we announce our 2025 Alumni of the Year Award recipient: Aukeem Ballard ‘07. Aukeem’s impact has been felt both during his time at CWA as well as throughout the many communities he has been part of since graduating from Charles Wright Academy. He is a Tarrier through and through, and fun fact, he was the one who coined the iconic phrase “Once a Tarrier, Always a Tarrier!” We had the honor of welcoming Aukeem back to campus in May to receive his award during the Founders’ Day All-School Assembly. He also sat down with us for an interview to share some of his personal reflections, which you can watch here.
When examining our Portrait of a Tarrier, Aukeem embodies every quality that we hope our alumni carry into the world. He was the first Sheridan Scholarship recipient to graduate from Charles Wright Academy, and he beams with pride when reflecting on the impact that the Sheridan Scholarship has had on his life as a young man from Hilltop and the access that it created to support his educational pursuits later in life. Aukeem is an educator, administrator, a consultant, a youth mentor, a community culture & climate leader, and a lifelong learner. We look forward to the long-term impact he will have on future generations in the Bay Area in the years to come.
Please join us in congratulating Aukeem for this honor! Once a Tarrier, Always a Tarrier! Aukeem is happy to connect with fellow Tarriers and can be contacted via LinkedIn.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Dear Charles Wright Academy Alumni,
It was such a joy to celebrate the Class of 2025 as they walked across the stage on Saturday, June 7 to receive their diplomas. This moment represented the culmination of years of determination, curiosity, and unwavering commitment to each other and our school community.
If you would like more information on where the Class of 2025 is headed, click here to access the infographic showcasing their diverse paths. The range of their future endeavors highlights our “Wright Fit” approach and preparation provided by a Charles Wright education.
The Class of 2025 will forever be remembered for their impressive achievements in academics, athletics, and the visual and performing arts. It has truly been an honor to support these students through their journey to finding their best college fit, and I know they are in good hands as they join a strong CWA Alumni tradition.
In partnership,
Talia Pole
Director of College Counseling
Spring 2025 Recap
The Fund for CWA, Spirit Auction 2025: A Charles Wright Masquerade, & Fund-A-Need
It has been an amazing year of fundraising here at Charles Wright Academy! We set high goals, and despite having a relatively newer team and navigating transitions in leadership, we have exceeded all of our fundraising goals for the year. For the Fund for CWA (formerly the Annual Fund), we have raised over $437,000 with a fundraising goal of $400,000. We hosted our Spirit Auction in April with the goal of raising $350,000, and we ended the night with $451,000. Additionally, we secured a record-breaking $123,000 in sponsorships, and we also raised $180,000 for our Fund-A-Need: Fostering Community Spaces.
The Return of Founders’ Day!
In May, we hosted the return of a beloved tradition, Founders’ Day! We hosted an array of events throughout the day, awarded the Alumni of the Year Award, and the Family Association presented the Inspirational Faculty Award to Jenn Kolbo P’25, P’27 (Lower School First Grade Teacher). We also welcomed back to campus over 30 members of the Society of Elders and celebrated their contributions and service during an afternoon reception.
Class of 2000 Reunion
On June 3rd, we welcomed the Class of 2000 back to campus to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their graduation. The first part of the reunion was spent in community enjoying lunch and taking a tour of campus. In the evening, they gathered in the Phyllis Kriese Commons at the Upper School and enjoyed food and beverages, reviewed old photos, yearbooks, and watched senior skits. Additionally, they had an opportunity to connect with faculty, including: Wes Wesby, Bill White, Candi Anderson, Bob Gordon, Dave Adams, David & Julie Kangas, John Forier, Heidi Huckins, and former Headmaster Rob Camner.
Class of 1980 Reunion
On June 7th, the Class of 1980 hosted a reunion at the VFW McKinley in Tacoma.
“The Great Tarrier Harrier” Cross Country Reunion
On June 14, 2025, former CWA faculty and Coaches, Adam Auter & Ryan Johnson coordinated “The Great Tarrier Harrier” Cross Country Reunion on the Charles Wright Academy Campus. During the reunion, our alumni and their families completed a 5K around campus!
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 Highlights and Notes
High School Girls Golf Finishes 3rd in State!: The future is very bright for CWA golf as the team was led by three 8th graders (Elle L. ‘29, Maya G. ‘29, Madisen H. ‘29), who look to continue to build off the momentum created this season! The upper school boys golf team had a strong season, who had two students competing at the state tournament (Tyler K. ‘26, Emilio N. ‘29) and were led by junior Tyler K. ‘26, who landed on the Nisqually League Second team.
Upper School Track had two students who made it to the 1A state track tournament; Andrew W. ‘25 and Ella G. ‘27 finished 5th in state for the 1A high jump!
Boys Upper School Soccer: The boys soccer team had another solid season, which was led by longtime teacher and coach, Dave Adams (DA), and was assisted by his son, a proud graduate of CWA, Danny Adams ‘20 (DA JR). Also on the coaching staff was another proud Tarrier Alum, Matthew Saffari ‘22.
Academy Baseball Finishes 3rd in State: For the first time since the early 1980’s, the Academy baseball team reached the states final four tournament. It was a historic season, with the team winning the Nisqually League, District 3 Championships, the regional championship, and the 3rd place game in the final four, and lastly the team was awarded the Nisqually League Sportsmanship award. The coaching staff has two Tarrier Alums on the staff, head coach Henry Cheney ‘16, and assistant coach Colin Reynolds ‘13.
Tarrier Alumni Baseball Gathering
Pictured: Hiatt Purcell ‘16, August Perry Jones ‘17, Alex Meadowcroft ‘18, Dave Pim ‘83, Russ Schmidtke ‘81, Dave Derby ‘83, Mark Meadowcroft ‘84, Mike Haertl ‘77, Dave Meadowcroft ‘84, Greg Hersey ‘81, Jack Hersey ‘80, Jim Fields, Brad Cheney ‘77, Andrew Cheney ‘12, Michael Tucci ‘18.
Save the Dates: 2025-2026 CWA Alumni Relations Events Calendar
July 2025 | Regional Tarrier Tour: Philadelphia, PA
This summer, we are coming to Philadelphia to reconnect with our Alumni! We plan on going in-depth about the promising future of Charles Wright Academy in the coming year, along with listening to your experiences during and after your time with CWA. More information to come, so stay tuned!
Friday, October 24 & Saturday, October 25, 2025 | Homecoming and Alumni Weekend
Throw on your green and white and join us for an unforgettable weekend of Homecoming and the return of Alumni Weekend! Whether you graduated five years ago or 45 years ago, Homecoming is a great opportunity to return to your alma mater and reconnect with classmates and some of your favorite faculty. Join us on Friday to celebrate the accomplishments of our alumni while enjoying some festive music and delicious food, and then finish off the night around the warm bonfire while cheering our Tarrier athletes on to victory! Then on Saturday, we will have a brunch to kick off our Alumni Weekend festivities with remarks from both the Head of School and the Director of Development & Alumni Relations. We’ll offer campus tours before breaking off into some clustered class reunions across campus.
Wednesday, November 26, 2025 | Alumni Pub Night
It’s time to come together for our annual Alumni Pub Night! Let’s reconnect, share stories, and create new memories. Join us at Narrows Brewing, owned by CWA Alum, Parker Rush ’12! We’ll have the Pacific Taproom reserved just for us, and your first drink is on the house! Don’t miss out on this chance to catch up with your fellow alumni and faculty, and we look forward to seeing you there! Must be 21+ to attend.
Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | Online Giving Day
It’s Giving Tuesday! Make your best gift to the Fund for CWA as part of our online giving day to help us reach our fundraising goals for the year!
Saturday, March 21, 2026 | CWA Spirit Auction
The CWA Spirit Auction is a lively and highly anticipated event held every year to support CWA’s programs and initiatives. The auction brings together the school community, including parents, alumni, faculty, and friends, in an evening filled with excitement and camaraderie. The event features an online, silent, and live auction with a variety of unique items and experiences up for bid including student art pieces! Stay tuned for the official theme reveal later this year!
Friday, April 17, 2026 | Founders’ Day
Join us for this beloved tradition! We will be offering a community breakfast, hosting an all-school assembly where we will present our Alumni of the Year and Inspirational Faculty Awards and honor our Society of Elders, followed by cake and an afternoon reception! We hope you will consider joining us as we celebrate the incredible achievements of our Charles Wright Community.