Alumni News Detail
Ashley Chompre ’20
When Ashley Chompre ’20 returned to campus to speak with the upper school STEMinists Club, she described the curiosity-driven path that led her from WFS to her current role as a software engineer at Netflix.
Drawn to math and science from an early age, she pushed herself in the IB program at WFS and excelled as a state champion swimmer. She noted that Friends gave her the critical-thinking skills that helped her stay open to new possibilities, even when her path shifted.
At Duke University, Ashley began on the pre-med track, but an introductory computer science course during her first year sparked a new interest. She found the problem-solving nature of computer science energizing and continued taking courses. By junior year, she committed fully to computer science.
Ashley graduated from Duke in 2024 after completing research, on-campus internships, an internship with Workday’s data platform team, and a semester studying abroad in Madrid. She approached the competitive job search with discipline, treating interview prep like a class. After graduation, Ashley moved to California to join Netflix, where her team works on systems that support the “playback” experience for streaming.
Throughout her visit to WFS, Ashley emphasized following one’s curiosity, encouraging students to take a range of introductory courses when they arrive at college, and pursuing internships that provide real-world experience. Ashley also spoke about navigating a male-dominated field and the importance of building community, encouraging students to seek out similar networks. She shared that the habits of questioning, exploring, and thinking deeply, first nurtured at Friends, continued to guide her long after graduation.
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Ashley Chompre ’20
When Ashley Chompre ’20 returned to campus to speak with the upper school STEMinists Club, she described the curiosity-driven path that led her from WFS to her current role as a software engineer at Netflix.Read More -
Bruce P. Baganz ’69
Earlier this year, WFS honored Bruce P. Baganz ’69 as the Distinguished Alumnus of the Year, recognizing his lifelong dedication to learning, leadership, and the arts.Read More -
TyLisa C. Johnson ’13
Award-winning journalist and poet TyLisa C. Johnson ’13 was recently recognized with the 2025 Wilmington Friends School Distinguished Alumni Award for her exceptional contributions to journalism, community storytelling, and social impact.Read More -
Nathaniel Huxtable ’22
“Wilmington Friends School prepared me to get the job done. Whatever task it may be, I am not afraid to take it on and give it my fullest effort. The worst you can do is learn. My WFS education also instilled the Quaker values such as integrity and stewardship through example and engagement, both in the classroom and in the community. I also learned the importance of asking questions not only to learn but to challenge others to do the right thing regardless of what it looks like.”Read More -
Lauren Kerrigan ’13
“It’s the Quaker ‘I to I’ philosophy that I hold so dearly to my heart, that helped prepare me for life after high school. It taught me to approach every person as an equal — to truly listen, understand, and connect without judgment. Its foundation is deep rooted in relationships and respect and it has helped prepare me for a career in Veterinary Medicine.”Read More -
Laura Wolf ’07
“I believe in empowering students and educators alike by fostering collaboration, self-advocacy, and inclusive practices that help every individual reach their fullest potential. WFS laid the foundation for my philosophy of inclusion and collaboration, and I’ll always be grateful for that.”Read More -
Barbara Bovbjerg ’68
“Watch the faculty, not just the ones in your best subjects! And, of course, the staff. They all have something to teach you, regardless of their position at the school.”Read More -
Jesse Miller ’14
“WFS taught me how to work through interpersonal issues starting in Pre-K. Those lessons have stayed with me and shaped how I handle challenges in every setting since.”Read More -
Arlene Spezzaferro ’93
“I attended WFS from Pre-K until graduation, and respect for all people was a central tenant to my education. It frames how I see the world, build relationships, and this inclusive mindset has helped me be successful in so many parts of my life.”Read More -
Willow Pearson Trimbach ’88
“Cultivation of sitting in silence, listening to the voices of spirit within and around me, through meeting for worship. This foundational contemplative practice, which led me to Buddhism, Integral Spirituality and beyond, is the basis of my music, psychotherapy, and teaching.”Read More -
Miles Katzen ’16
“Wilmington Friends School provided me with the foundation for understanding what a community truly is. My teachers, coaches, and classmates helped me learn that a community is not necessarily a physical space but a feeling where everyone is valued and has a sense of belonging. Most importantly, my time at Friends formed my core belief that there is light in everyone and that every human being deserves to live a life of dignity.”Read More -
Osi Chukwuocha ’22
“I believe my time at WFS prepared me for success at CWRU both academically and athletically. Academically, the high rigor of WFS courses like AP Physics gave me a great foundation coming into CWRU. However, I think the most effective tool I learned from WFS was building relationships with teachers. Building relationships with teachers at CWRU has helped me monumentally with assignments and exams.”Read More -
Manny Adebi ’20
Read More“My experience at Wilmington Friends School set me up for success by providing challenging coursework that required critical thinking. Learning how I learned and figuring out a process that worked for me was one of the most important things because regardless of what you want to major in or what sport you want to play at a higher level, you will need to learn the information and how to apply it when it is necessary. Friends helped me facilitate my learning process, and I’ve continued to adapt and improve it based on the situation.” -
Jocelyn Nathan ’23 Wins the National Championship!
Congratulations to Jocelyn Nathan ‘23 and the Penn State University women’s volleyball team on winning the National Championship! In their 3-1 victory over the University of Louisville this afternoon, Nathan recorded a career-high ten digs.Read More
Jocelyn is pictured with her parents, Len and Lynne, and sisters, Dani ‘19 (bottom left) and Alyssa ‘17.
Great work, Jocelyn! -
Madeline Rowland ’23
Read More“My experience at Wilmington Friends School taught me the importance of time management, resilience, and community. Academically, the rigorous curriculum helped me develop my critical thinking skills, intellectual curiosity, and the habits to handle complex material, all of which have equipped me with the tools to excel at Williams.” -
Philip Montigney ’07
“I always mention Wilmington Friends as having an incredible influence in my life as preparation not only for college but well beyond. Acceptance and curiosity in understanding sound simple enough, but as I get older, I realize the world would benefit greatly if more people were taught those lessons at a young age.”Read More -
Zach Williams ’02
“There’s no need to be modest about your ambitions or your hopes. If there is something that you want to do or something that you want to see happen in the world, move toward it one little step at a time, and you can be a part of how things change.”Read More -
Josh Galperin ’00
On the latest episode of the Quaker Matters Podcast, hosted by Piper Roskovensky ’26, Josh Galperin ’00 discusses what it’s like to work in environmental law, what he enjoys most about teaching law, and shares advice to students who are interested in pursuing a career in law.Read More
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Preschool - 12th Grade
302.576.2900 | info@wilmingtonfriends.org
Preschool - 12th Grade
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Wilmington Friends School admits students of any race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students of these schools. Wilmington Friends School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, national and ethnic origin in administration of their educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.
