Tyrie Jenkins ’73 is a pioneer in eye care as she was the first person to perform LASIK in Hawaii.
How did you choose to start your business?
I am currently the proud owner of a successful ophthalmology practice in Hawaii. I moved here in 1989 after having trained at a prestigious ophthalmology residency in the east coast. I built my practice around making sure my adopted home - the most isolated landmass in the world - had access to the latest technology in eye care. This business model was not only successful but most rewarding. I was the first person to perform LASIK surgery in 1987 and more recently, was the first to perform laser assisted cataract surgery.
What are your current interests and passions?
While still working full time, I am taking a bit more time off. I am lucky to be passionate about taking care of my patients but am lucky to have other interests. I am enjoying being a grandmother. I spend free time hiking, traveling and golfing.
How has WFS impacted you since graduation?
Since I graduated from Wilmington Friends, I actually joined a Quaker meeting and call myself a Quaker. I continue to embrace Quaker values of integrity, equality, community, stewardship of the earth and peace. Friends School's commitment to educational excellence has made me value life long learning.
What are your favorite WFS memories?
As preteen, I have to admit, I loved school so much I used to walk to Friends at the end of the summer before the school opened. I would sneak into the front door (it was open ) and walked through the silent hall and smell the newly waxed floors! Other great experiences, were non academic - chorus with Violet Richman and band with Mr. Guest. I remember vividly, those beautiful fall days on the hockey field. My best friend is still Pam Hoopes who I met in kindergarten!
Tyrie Lee Jenkins ’73 started at Wilmington Friend School at age 4. She can still remember all the names of her teachers in grades K - 6 and her best friend is still her first friend she met in Kindergarten! Her mother was also a Wilmington Friends School graduate. Elizabeth Miller Jenkins ’51 still lives on the Augustine Cut-Off in the home where Ty would walk to school from. After graduating from Friends, she attended Mount Holyoke College and then Jefferson Medical College. After a medical internship in Wilmington, she completed her medical training in Ophthalmology at Will’s Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. After a stint in Memphis, Tennessee, she moved to Honolulu in 1989. She started her current practice and is one of the businest eye surgeons in Hawaii. Being the first person in Hawaii to perform LASIK as well as Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery, she is a pioneer in eyecare. She and husband have 4 children and 2 grandchildren. Hobbies include hiking, golfing and traveling. The second-act? As her current practice winds down, she is hoping to participate in some medical missions and spend more time with the grandkids.
Thank you to all the WFS community members who came out to Charcoal Pit on Wednesday night to try Coach T’s “Quaker Shake” on his birthday and celebrate our 2025 State Champion Field Hockey Team!
During recess, 1st-grade students worked together on our Natural Playground to design and build their very own see-saw using fallen branches and logs. With teamwork, problem-solving, and plenty of creativity, they transformed natural materials into a working structure—all through hands-on learning and exploratory play.
It was another excellent fall for WFS athletics. Our student-athletes competed with purpose, resilience, and school pride across every field, course, and court. We’re incredibly proud of their hard work and grateful to the fans who cheered them on.
The Quaker Cares Club brought energy and encouragement to campus with a Wellness Smoothie Bike for our Middle and Upper School students! By hopping on the bike and pedaling fast, students blended their own healthy, delicious smoothies—a fun reminder that taking care of yourself matters, especially during high-stress times.
Wilmington Friends School middle school student-athletes wrapped up a successful fall season marked by growth, teamwork, and competitive spirit across cross country, field hockey, football, soccer, and volleyball.
A huge thank you to all of our alumni who came out on November 29 for wrestling, basketball, and volleyball! It was wonderful to see teammates reconnect, compete, and cheer each other on across all three games. Go Blue!
Shoutout to our amazing third graders, whose hard work on the Basket Brigade food drive helped bring the Lower School’s total to 624 pounds of food donated to the Food Bank of Delaware! Their compassion and commitment to assisting others embody the very best of our WFS community.
A beloved holiday tradition at WFS is our sixth grade pie bake for Wilmington's Sunday Breakfast Mission. Students lovingly peel, slice, prepare, box, and finally deliver 40 apple pies for those in our greater community.
Statement of Nondiscrimination as to Student Enrollment
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.