Donovan Aldridge ’18 began pursuing his MA in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Delaware last fall.
“Make yourself known in everything that you do. It’s very easy to get ‘lost in the numbers’ at a large university, so it is important that your professors are able to put a face to the name and that you make an honest impression. These connections that you make with professors, advisors, and coaches can last a lifetime and can open up new opportunities that you never knew existed or help you achieve experiences that you have always dreamed of . . . I am able to do what I love in a way that I never thought was possible because of these professors, advisors and coaches.”
This past Winter, Donovan Aldridge ’18 graduated from the University of Delaware in three and a half years with his degree in Spanish Studies. Donovan, a University of Delaware Community Engagement Fellow, certainly made the most of his time in Newark as he was a reporter and photographer for the student-run newspaper, a member of the Sigma Delta Pi (National Hispanic Honor Society), and served as a practice player for the University of Delaware women’s basketball team. Prior to his time at Delaware, Donovan was a proud member of the WFS community. While at WFS, Donovan was a three-sport athlete (XC, basketball, track and field), a member of various clubs (African-American Affinity and Science Olympiad), and served on the prom committee.
After graduation, Donovan continued to build on his journalism experience and began working as a Visual Journalist Intern for Delaware Online. In this role, he worked closely with different reporters to help them tell their stories through his photography (and some of his photos made the front-page of the paper!). He also spent time pursuing his own photo essay stories, allowing him to conduct interviews and continue to perfect his craft as a photographer.
When asked to reflect on his experience, Donovan states, “I realized my motivation to share photos was driven by a desire to tell stories, connect with people on a global scale, and bring awareness to the environment and disenfranchised communities. I love journalism and photojournalism because it forces you to go outside. You get away from the TV and experience the world as it is; in its raw and unfiltered state. You get the chance to meet extraordinary people with interesting stories that you normally wouldn’t be aware of.”
This fall, Donovan began pursuing his MA in Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Delaware.
First Grade Grub Hub is open for business! After visiting the Sunday Breakfast Mission last week, WFS first graders were inspired to create their own restaurant to support the community pantry.
Seventh grade Chinese students visited Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library to learn more about its Chinese wallpaper and book collection, helping the students gain valuable insight into Chinese history and culture.
WFS Middle and Upper School Learning Resources Coordinator Stella Mask recently presented to a packed house at the MCRC@ADVIS (Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools) DEIJB Conference.
Congratulations to sophomores Easton Martinenza, Teagan Grubb, and Decker Reitemeyer for earning spots in this summer's prestigious Delaware Governor's School for Excellence (DGSE) Program.
WFS 6th and 7th graders recently traveled in their service groups to different locations: the Delaware Food Bank; Faithful Friends Animal Society; Guardian Angels Daycare; Rockland Place Assisted Living; the Materials Resource Center in Ephrata, Pennsylvania; and Alapocas State Park.
The end-of-year senior traditions have begun, with the Class of 2025 signing the Senior Scroll and receiving their WFS laundry bag. This tradition has been a part of the senior class spring for more than 25 years!
Congratulations to our IB Art and Visual Arts Major students, who welcomed friends and family to the opening of their exhibition, showcasing works from the portfolios they have developed over the past two years.
From St. Louis to Boston, our College Guidance team is on the move! Director Kathleen Martin connected over lunch with Aaron Hockstein ’24 and Devin Wallace ’24 at Washington University in St. Louis, and with Nick Winchell ’24 at Hampden-Sydney College, while Associate Director Rose Gnade caught up with Alex Saville ’21 at Gettysburg College. We love seeing our alumni and supporting our current students on their college journeys!
The WFS Model UN Club, accompanied by faculty advisor Nick Childers, recently sent a delegation of four students to the Tower Hill Model UN Conference.
WFS Lower School assistant and associate teachers participated in a professional development retreat at Pendle Hill last week, focused on deepening instructional practice and strengthening team collaboration.
Last night, WFS honored the Class of 2025 International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates during the annual Celebration of Scholarship. Each student delivered a 3–5 minute presentation reflecting on their growth through the program’s core components: Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay. The evening highlighted the depth of thought, dedication, and inquiry that define the IB experience at Wilmington Friends School.
Megan Hegenbarth’s Quakerism class took a mindful journey into Alapocas Woods with middle school Spanish teacher Laura Pardo ’90, who studied forest immersion on her sabbatical earlier this year. Guided sensory exercises—listening to rustling leaves, feeling tree bark, noticing the movement of water—helped students support their well‑being by connecting with the present moment, their natural surroundings, and themselves.
Congratulations to our community members who shared their talents at this week's Informal Concert! This concert is designed to showcase the talent of our students, parents, and faculty in an informal, yet serious, chamber concert or recital format.
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.