Alumni Spotlight
Jake Heindel '08
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.
ACDS is proud of our alumni and their accomplishments. Below are a few more alumni spotlights that show just a small sample of the exciting paths they forged after graduating from ACDS. Please contact us to share your ACDS alumni story.
More Alumni Spotlights...
![Dr. Amelia Hanney '14]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1781740089/almaden/ruzmilnpzvst5svrmp6q/AmeliaHanney.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1781740089/almaden/ruzmilnpzvst5svrmp6q/AmeliaHanney.png","width":342}])
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.
![Veronica Eldredge '08]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1775491880/ydboudfqfpe8rx2ojrx8/JulietteJorgenson16.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1775491880/ydboudfqfpe8rx2ojrx8/JulietteJorgenson16.jpg","width":341}])
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.
![Veronica Eldredge '08]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1764352418/almaden/vp4hxsn3db25lwbikiaw/VeronicaEldredge08.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1764352418/almaden/vp4hxsn3db25lwbikiaw/VeronicaEldredge08.jpg","width":512}])
Veronica Eldredge ’08 is a perfect example of how creativity, compassion, and community spirit can combine to shape a meaningful career and life. Currently residing in San Jose, Veronica serves as the Community Engagement Specialist at the Mexican Heritage Plaza, where she leads art classes, helps coordinate signature cultural events, and guides visitors through immersive tours. Her artwork has been published on various book and magazine covers and exhibited locally in the Bay Area.
Veronica’s educational journey after ACDS started at Notre Dame San Jose, where she graduated from high school in 2012. She then earned her BA in Humanities from Seattle University in 2016, focusing on Community Art and completing double minors in Women’s Studies and Studio Art. These academic experiences built the foundation for her passion for creative expression and advocacy, driving her mission to make art accessible and meaningful in her community. Veronica’s work is a testament to the power of art in fostering connection and celebrating heritage.
![Emily Spikes Alumni Spotlight]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1750444519/almaden/fybcom3budhfjb5cd92y/EmilySpikesAlumni1.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1750444519/almaden/fybcom3budhfjb5cd92y/EmilySpikesAlumni1.jpg","width":341}])
Emily Spikes ’17 attended ACDS from Begindergarten through 8th grade. Upon graduation from Leland High School she enrolled at Portland State University where she obtained a BFA Art Practice degree. She also earned a Certificate in Graphic Design from UC Berkeley.
Emily is hoping to build a career in publishing and book illustration — combining her love of storytelling, drawing, and design. At present she is continuing her Marketing and Design internship at ACDS with Cathy Shin. Emily states, “Being able to contribute to the ACDS community in a creative way has been a full-circle moment, and I’m so thankful for the opportunity to give back.”
![Tim and Catie Weston]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1741281631/almaden/i6gylkz6tp3fwosavbjr/TimandCatieWeston.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1741281631/almaden/i6gylkz6tp3fwosavbjr/TimandCatieWeston.jpg","width":384}])
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.”
![Amiya Bansal 2021]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1731529288/almaden/qmi7ryzov887qardqtdm/AmiyaBansal21.png","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1731529288/almaden/qmi7ryzov887qardqtdm/AmiyaBansal21.png","width":512}])
Amiya Bansal ‘21 started her high school career planning to focus on STEM classes, but she soon found her calling working with public policy and local government. By the end of her freshman year in June 2022 she was serving as both the District 6 Youth Commissioner for the City of San Jose and was working as an intern for Matt Mahan’s campaign for Mayor of San Jose, where she worked on his communication team. After the election, she then worked as a summer intern in the Office of the Mayor where her work focused on homelessness, transportation and public safety.