Daniel Joseph ’02 serves as the Special Effects and Illusions Development Principal at Walt Disney Imagineering.
“WFS taught me about teamwork and compassion when working on assignments and projects with multiple students. This was helpful in college and continues to be in the design world as it’s all about negotiation and teamwork!”
Daniel Joseph ’02 graduated from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia in 2006 with his B.S. in Industrial Design. Over the past 16 years, he has served as the Special Effects and Illusions Development Principal at Walt Disney Imagineering. In this role, he creates the “How did they do that?!?” moments in all 12 world-wide Disney theme parks, hotels, and cruise ships. He chose this career as an Imagineer because, as Daniel puts it, “It was everything I stood for; Magic, wonder, and optimism.” Always asking questions like “What if?” and “Why does it have to be the old way?” has served Daniel well in his career as he was most recently recognized for his excellent work by the US Patent Office as a “Top Inventor in the Arts” at Invention-Con 2022 in August. When reflecting on what he loves most about his day-to-day life in the workplace, Daniel states, “I love invention and magic. To have a career where one’s role is to literally create happiness and inspiration for people on vacation is not something I take lightly. Going out into the parks and seeing young children look at something I helped to create is an emotional and blissful experience.”
Prior to his time at The University of the Arts, Daniel was a WFS student for five years. The leader of the Muse Club while attending WFS, Daniel speaks fondly of his years on School Road because of teachers like Cynthia Stan Mellow, who helped foster his imaginative spirit in her art studio and Bill Bickley, who was a “true, inspiring force” in the classroom. He also developed incredible relationships with his peers, stating, “WFS gave me a social group and friendships that are still my strongest. They are important to me, like a family. The tight community of WFS was the only way this could have happened, and these people are still my closest friends even 20 years after graduation.”
His advice for the Class of 2023? “Cherish this time, being able to be knee deep in the WFS community of friends and teachers everyday is a fleeting gift, and one that doesn't have to end. Keep up your friendships and these folks won't ever be that far.”
During Earth Day at WFS, preschoolers worked on beautifying their playground and fourth graders picked up trash around the athletic facilities. We thank these students for their stewardship!
The lower school recently received soil from WasteWell, a local company that collects the lower school's compost. Students used the soil to re-pot classroom plants and will also contribute soil to the school garden!
Before the Class of 2024 heads off on their senior explorations next week, they attend a series of seminars ("Senior Seminars") aimed at giving them tools for adulthood.
The WFS Model UN Club, accompanied by faculty advisor Nick Childers, recently sent a delegation of five students to the inaugural Tower Hill Model UN Conference.
Upper school environmental science students built model carbon capture algae farms as part of their study of climate change mitigation. They developed ways to measure algae growth using microscopes and a spectrophotometer.
Congratulations to our community members who performed at last night'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.
Wilmington Friends School hosted its second 275th Anniversary Webinar series on Monday, April 8, titled “Leadership, Teamwork, and Quaker Values from the World of Sports."
Congratulations to eighth graders Maya Dobson, Lindsey Forman, Cooper Miller, Victor Montejo, Levi Sawdon, and Sofia Velastegui-Fratticci who contributed to IMAZINE 2023, the annual Delaware Libraries teen literary and artistic magazine! Click here to check it out.
Congratulations to the cast and crew of the upper school play, Radium Girls! This fast-paced ensemble piece featured 14 student actors playing multiple roles to create more than 30 characters. Bravo!
WFS welcomed Drew Smith, the Executive Director of Friends Council on Education, to campus to lead a discussion among our community members titled “275 Years of Quaker Education: What's it all about? Quakerism 101 for Parents.”
Each year, 3rd grade students utilize computer-aided design software (CAD) to replicate a renowned landmark from the various states that they are studying in Social Studies
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.