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.
A proud Wilmington native, TyLisa currently serves as the audience engagement producer at the Poynter Institute, helping to shape the future of media through connection, clarity, and purpose.
Over the past decade, TyLisa’s bylines have appeared in Carnegie Magazine, the Tampa Bay Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Dallas Morning News, The Points Guy, and PublicSource. Her work explores powerful stories about education, equity, and everyday life—and her voice has reached listeners through guest appearances on WHYY, WESA 90.5, and CityCast Pittsburgh.
During the 2025 Alumni Awards celebration, TyLisa accepted her honor with deep gratitude and reflection, sharing how WFS shaped her path. "One of the most powerful lessons I learned here as a girl is that you must let your life speak," she said. "It empowers me to walk in my truth and to stand firm on my values."
She encouraged students and alumni alike to "be bold with grace," to live their values every day, and to keep showing up for their communities. "When you let your life speak," she said, "there is no dream too big. You are limitless."
Middle school students participated in the Workable Peace curriculum from the Consensus Building Institute, where they built skills to navigate conflict with empathy, respect, and confidence.
During Identity Fest, members of the Middle School Alliance and Affinity groups hosted student-created activities to share with their peers. Seven different affinity and alliance groups were represented and hosted activities.
Director of College Guidance Kathleen Martin recently represented WFS at the Potomac Chesapeake College Admissions Counseling Annual Conference, which had 400+ attendees.
WFS students celebrated Earth Day last week. Lower school students took part in a plastic-free lunch, while middle school students explored sustainability through thoughtful discussions and activities in their family groups.
After their luncheon in the library, seniors held a noise parade, celebrating their last day of school before heading off to Senior Exploration and IB exams. The day ended with their final school-day Meeting for Worship, a time for gathered silence and reflection.
The Spring Concert Series continued with an outstanding upper school instrumental concert, featuring our Jazz Band and Symphonic Band in the Friends Theater.
The end-of-year senior traditions have begun, with the Class of 2026 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!
IB Art and Visual Arts Major students welcomed friends and family to the opening of their exhibition, showcasing works from the portfolios they have developed over the past two years.
The WFS Spring Concert Series began with a fantastic middle and upper school choral concert on Tuesday evening, featuring performances from our 6th Grade Choir, 7th & 8th Grade Choir, Chorale, and Chamber Singers.
7th-grade Chinese students explored the history of kites in China before heading outside to practice flying them. With the campus in full spring bloom, flying kites in the beautiful surroundings was refreshing for the students.
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.