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Dr. Amelia Hanney ’14 attended ACDS from kindergarten through eighth grade before continuing her education at Leland High School, graduating in 2018. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the Pacific in 2021 and went on to receive her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in 2024.  

Dr. Hanney and her fiancé purchased a dental practice in January. She is a member of both the California Dental Association and the American Dental Association and currently serves on the board of directors for the Redwood Empire Dental Society.

When asked about her proudest accomplishment, Dr. Hanney highlights the opportunity to care for and educate her patients. "One of my greatest accomplishments has been becoming a dentist and having the opportunity to serve my community through healthcare. I love educating patients about their oral health and helping them feel confident in their smiles. It is incredibly rewarding to know that I can make a positive impact on someone's life every day."

She shares that one especially meaningful opportunity was traveling to Jamaica on a dental mission trip, where she provided free dental care and taught students about the importance of oral health. "Experiences like these remind me why I chose this profession and how fortunate I am to do work that I truly love."

Outside of dentistry, Amelia enjoys volunteering, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Over the past five years, she has had the opportunity to visit 15 countries and participate in a variety of cultures, a lifelong goal of hers.

This September, she will be getting married, marking another exciting chapter in her life. Amelia and her fiancé, Brandon, also share a two-year-old miniature long-haired dachshund named Willow, who keeps them entertained and is often along for their adventures.

Amelia credits ACDS with providing the foundation for many of the skills she relies on today. "ACDS instilled the creativity, curiosity, and work ethic that provided the foundation for my career in dentistry. Looking back, I can see how many of the skills I use every day began developing during my years there." She especially remembers art classes with Mrs. Wilkus, whose encouragement helped develop the attention to detail and fine motor skills essential to dentistry. "I still have the clay octopus fountain I made in one of her classes displayed in my garden today."

ACDS also offered other opportunities that helped her grow in significant ways. "The physical education program and playing volleyball taught me teamwork, perseverance, and a lifelong appreciation for staying active. Another highlight was participating in the drama program with Mrs. McGinnis and Mrs. Curtis, which inspired creativity, self-confidence, and a love of theater, music, and dance." She credits these opportunities with helping her develop skills and interests that continue to influence her life.

When asked about her favorite ACDS traditions, Amelia reflects that the library always felt like home to her, so some of her favorite traditions included the Birthday Book Squad and the book fairs. She loved seeing the library transformed into imaginative worlds inspired by books and stories. She notes that “Whether it was a Roald Dahl-themed exhibit or an underwater adventure, those experiences encouraged creativity and fueled my love of reading. Looking back, they played an important role in developing my lifelong curiosity and passion for learning.” She also fondly remembers EDGE Day adventures and the many class trips organized throughout the years, which created lasting memories and a strong sense of community. 

Some of her most meaningful memories at ACDS involve family. During a summer production of The Wizard of Oz, her older sister played Dorothy while she took on the role of the Mayor of Munchkinland. “At the time, it felt like a very big responsibility, and I loved being part of the production alongside my sister.” She also fondly remembers watching her younger brother perform What Makes You Beautiful by One Direction during ASSETS. “Looking back, those small moments and shared experiences with my siblings make up some of my favorite memories from ACDS.”

Amelia’s family supported her at ACDS in other ways as well. Her father, Chris Wardner, served as her physical education teacher, volleyball coach, and speech and debate coach. "Through him, I learned the value of teamwork, perseverance, confidence, and public speaking—skills that continue to help me in my career today."

She also credits Ms. Williams as an important mentor. “The library was one of my favorite places on campus, and she was always someone I could turn to for advice, encouragement, and guidance.” Her kindness and mentorship left a lasting impression and played a meaningful role in her time at ACDS.. 

For current students and younger alumni, her advice is simple: "Don't be afraid to try new things, even if they feel challenging or outside your comfort zone. Some of the most important opportunities in my life came from taking chances and believing in myself before I felt completely ready."

Reflecting on her journey from ACDS student to dentist and practice owner, Amelia remains grateful for the people, opportunities, and experiences that helped shape her future.

"Every child has unique strengths, interests, and talents, and ACDS does an exceptional job of helping students develop confidence in those gifts. Looking back, I am incredibly grateful for the education and experiences I gained during my time there, and I believe they provided a strong foundation for my future success."

Catie Weston ’06 attended ACDS from kindergarten through 8th grade and is a member of the class of 2006. Upon graduation from Notre Dame High School, she next enrolled at the University of Puget Sound where she obtained a BA in Psychology and a Masters in Teaching.

According to Catie, the moments that have meant the most to her professionally “are the ones in which a student who has always struggled in math tells me that I have helped shift their perception of math to be more positive.”

ACDS has had an impact on Catie’s career in a marvelous way! She shares, “I loved my experience at ACDS. My memories of my childhood there are filled with feelings of safety, joy, big learning, and support from adults. In my current work at ACDS (Assistant Head of Middle School), my motivation comes from trying to provide a similar experience for today’s students. I have high expectations of what an ACDS education looks like, and I am always striving to create that for our current students.”

A favorite ACDS tradition for Catie was the school play. She stated that she didn’t think she would have participated in theater had it not been part of the curriculum. Because everyone participated, so did she, and she loved it! She added, “One year, the teachers did a play for us, and it was so cool!”

A favorite memory for Catie was pulling up to campus with her class as they returned from a week-long field trip. She also loved Star Lab and expressed gratitude that Mrs. Johnson and Mr. DeMoss brought it back to the school.

Catie shares that the most meaningful relationships to her at ACDS were with her teachers. “Mrs. Hubbard shared her love of math with me, and I eventually taught math in the same classroom in which I learned from her. I still remember the day that she told us how embarrassing her ‘Dear Aunt Sally’ was and asked us to ‘Please Excuse’ her (referring to PEMDAS–an acronym for the order of operations). I’ll admit that I believed she actually did have an aunt named Sally for a minute there.” 

Mrs. Edmunson taught us how to diagram sentences, and I now understand what she meant when she explained how diagramming a sentence would help you be successful in life. When I failed a test for the first time, Mrs. Gulati patiently taught me that I actually do need to study for Science. Ms. Hurt once tried to teach us two weeks worth of content in one lesson, and it worked!” Catie concluded with this powerful statement, “My ACDS teachers taught me how to be a teacher more than any Masters degree or teaching credential.”

When asked what advice she would give to future alumni or current students, Catie responded, “You have so many wonderful opportunities at ACDS. Take them! You never know what you might find interesting. It’s a special place!”

Catie is a much beloved teacher and administrator who greatly enriches the ACDS community with her dedication and leadership.

After graduating from Leland High School in 2012, Jake Heindel '08 completed a bachelor's degree in Film Production at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. As a Video Producer for the San Jose Sharks, Jakes says that one of his most significant accomplishments is "making the opening hype videos that play on the big screen before the players take the ice." They are an impactful way to energize the crowd before the game starts. If you're a Sharks fan, you've probably enjoyed one of his four opening hype videos. His favorite is the Stealth Jersey open video from the 2021-2022 season. 

Jake attended ACDS from Junior K to 8th grade, so he has a lot of favorite traditions, but he shared that he really enjoyed and looked forward to the annual class trips. The trips to Yosemite in 6th grade and Catalina in 7th grade were his favorites because they were fantastic learning experiences and opportunities to bond with classmates.

A favorite story was one from his 5th-grade French class when he had difficulty paying attention, which, he says, "wasn't uncommon for me at that age." He got the whole class laughing, including Mme. Furniss, by parading around the classroom with his legs through the arm holes of his school sweatshirt. "Needless to say," he continued, "my antics derailed the rest of the class."

The ACDS teachers have had a profound impact on Jake's development. Some of the standouts have been. Mrs. Soohoo, Mrs. Edmunson, Mrs. Curtis, Mrs. Wilkus, Coach D (Demetrus), and Coach Wardner. Jake says they taught him "how a teacher can be more than an instructor or mentor. They could also be a friend. And that's definitely stuck with me throughout my life."  

ACDS has influenced who Jake is today. He acknowledges that he learned how to treat others with respect, the importance of learning, how learning can be fun, and how to be proud of his accomplishments while proud of others for their successes. "[ACDS] taught me teamwork. It taught me to be creative and to explore new passions."

When asked what advice he would give future alums, Jake suggests trying as many different subjects as possible. Take advantage of the variety of classes offered, especially the middle school electives. He adds that the teaching structure gave him the "creative freedom to pursue a topic I was interested in and present it in a way that fit my creative interests. Because of this, I feel like I became a really well-rounded student in a lot of different areas," which helps with life skills in the adult world.

Juliette Jorgenson ’16 attended ACDS from first through eighth grade. After graduating from Saint Francis High School, she enrolled at Chapman University, where she earned a Bachelors of Arts in Integrated Educational Studies with a minor in Nutrition. She also earned a Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition from University of The Pacific.

Juliette recently passed her board exam to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) and is excited to begin a career focused on addressing chronic disease at its root. She is particularly interested in improving nutrition literacy and supporting preventative care.

In her role as a dietitian, she works with a digital health start-up called F-U Cancer, which provides nutrition, physical activity, and mental health education, along with resources and community for patients and caregivers impacted by cancer. She also hosts the F-U Cancer Podcast, where she shares evidence-based information, personal stories, and a range of topics for clinicians, patients, caregivers, survivors, and advocates.

Juliette serves as the dietitian for Vivante on the Coast, a luxury assisted living and memory care facility. Her connection to this organization began years ago when she worked as both an undergraduate and graduate research assistant under her former professor and now colleague, Dr. Nasira Burkholder-Cooley, through the Vitality Program. The program focuses on improving physical, nutritional, cognitive, and mental wellness among seniors, making it especially meaningful to now return in a professional role.

Alongside her work in dietetics, Juliette has been a Pilates instructor and personal trainer for the past six years. Teaching continues to be an important part of her life, and she enjoys combining her background in fitness with her work in nutrition. She currently teaches strength classes at Salty Fitness Studio and leads Mat Pilates classes at Match Pilates and Focus Athletics in Irvine, California. She has also taught special events such as Yogalates on the Beach and Pilates Sculpt at Fashion Island.

Juliette is currently in the process of accepting a position at her dream hospital and feels fortunate to have the support of her parents, friends, mentors, professors, and colleagues along the way. Her day-to-day life includes a mix of different interests, part-time roles, and clients, which keeps things both busy and fulfilling. Clinically, she hopes to specialize in Medical Nutrition Therapy for oncology, gastrointestinal, and pediatric populations. Outside of work, she enjoys surfing on the weekends with her boyfriend and close friends, trying new recipes, and sharing her interest in food and fitness on social media.

When reflecting on her time at ACDS, Juliette is grateful for the experiences that helped shape who she is today. One experience that stands out is the Speech and Debate elective with Coach Wardner. At the time, she didn’t realize how impactful it would be, but it helped build confidence speaking in front of others. Those skills later carried over into giving a TEDx talk at Saint Francis on protecting coral reefs, leading large fitness classes and events, and now hosting a podcast.

The ACDS Music and Theater program also played an important role in her growth. The school’s mission of “discovering the gifts in every child” reflects her experience, as it was at ACDS where she first discovered her interest in music. This led to performing in choirs, singing the national anthem for the San Jose Earthquakes and at school sporting events, and later joining the worship team at her church in Orange County.

More broadly, the ACDS community left a lasting impression. The encouragement from teachers and classmates created an environment where she felt supported and motivated. Looking back, it’s clear how valuable that experience was at such a young age.

Some favorite memories include traditions like Pumpkin Carving Night, the Halloween Parade, the Thanksgiving Feast, and DEAR Day, moments that are still cherished today.

There are also plenty of humorous memories. One that stands out is when her dad, Dr. J, would occasionally make school-wide announcements and include a very cheesy joke. One in particular stuck: “What do you call a fairy who hasn’t taken a bath in three weeks?” followed by, “Stinkerbell.” Her classmates would turn to look at her during the pause, while her dad laughed at his own joke. At the time it was embarrassing, but now it’s a favorite memory.

The relationships built at ACDS continue to be meaningful. She remains in touch with several classmates, including her best friend Megan Pombo ’16, whom she has known since fourth grade. She also keeps in touch with some of her “little buddies,” a reminder of those early school years.

Several teachers had a lasting impact as well. Her first-grade teacher, Mrs. Vanessa (Makinster) Galante ’99, has remained a mentor, friend, and role model over the years. During her senior year of high school, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she joined her virtual Pilates classes over Zoom, an experience that helped inspire her to pursue teaching Pilates. Mrs. Turnbull is another teacher who made a lasting impression, always making her feel supported and capable as a student.

Juliette is grateful for her time at ACDS and for the community, experiences, and lessons that continue to shape her today.