All Ways, A Saxon

2014 Saxon graduate, Kelly Burdick Parsell, is in the spotlight this week. Kelly's Saxon years were full of volleyball, DECA, softball, the Rowdy Dowds, and so much more. After graduating, Kelly played softball at the University of Washington where she and her team made the college world series twice, finishing 2nd in 2018. She then earned her masters at Pacific University and now teaches Spec...

Today's spotlight is on 2021 Saxon Graduate, Annie Flood. Annie’s Saxon years were full of her involvement in leadership, ASL, Spanish, Volleyball, Tennis, Choir, and as a DLC student aide. She especially remembers those leadership classes, the Covid senior sunrise, and being in the rowdy crowds for football and basketball games. After graduating, Annie went to Linfield University - where she...

2020 South Salem graduate, Sangato Letisi is in the spotlight this week. Sangato’s years as a Saxon were full of football and wrestling, playing with his brother Samiu, rocking at the Color Wars assembly, serving as the sophomore class president, side quests for Chef, promoting SPAM and positivity, and making all the lifelong friends he has. After graduating, Gato then went to Western Oregon Unive...

2019 Saxon graduate, Maya Merrill is in the spotlight this week. Maya’s years at South were full of choir, swim, and water polo! She was the French Honor Society president, a member of our Environmental Club, Leadership crew, DECA, and even ran track. After graduating, Maya spent a year teaching English in France, she earned the Presidential Scholarship to attend the University of Oregon Clark Hon...

2017 Graduate, Kyle Martz, is in the spotlight this week. Kyle's years as a Saxon were full of basketball, football, and baseball memories, as well as IB, Leadership, and so much more. Since graduating, Kyle attended Willamette University where he played football and studied Environmental Science and Media and Communications. Kyle has hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, completed the Great Divide m...

2002 Saxon graduate, Scott Collins is in the spotlight this week. Scott currently serves the Salem community as a real estate agent. His years at South were full of sporting events and connecting with friends that last to this day. He shares about his time at OSU, living in Nebraska and Colorado as his wife went through medical school, raising three kids as a stay at home dad, and the importance o...

2005 Saxon graduate, Brian Pecor is in this week's spotlight. Brian currently serves as the Associate VP of Development for the Duke University Health System. He shares about living and working in five different states, raising over $100 million for research and healthcare delivery, working for the OSU National Champion Baseball Team and the OSU Women's Basketball team that made it to the Final Fo...

D1 volleyball player, Air Force Academy Cadet, future pilot, and 2023 Saxon graduate, Brooksie Isham, is in the spotlight this week. Brooksie shares her journey through not one, but two boot camps, combat training, and learning how to fly.

1984 Graduate, Scott Greenwood-Meinert, is in the spotlight this week. Scott was an academic and athletic all-start in his time at South and again at Stanford as a Division 1 collegiate athlete. In this episode, he shares about his favorite Saxon memories, his triumphs and injuries at Stanford, the tragic and heartbreaking death of his fiancé while in law school, and how that propelled him to star...

Pro baseball player, national champion D1 coach, father of 4, husband, 2001 Saxon grad, and now private instructor, Andy Jenkins is in the spotlight this week. Jenkins shares his journey from the Saxon halls, through JUCO baseball, to leading the Oregon State baseball team to the World Series as a player and later as an assistant coach to their 3rd championship. He emphasizes the importance of put...

2007 Saxon Graduate, Anna Ernst is in the spotlight this week. Mother of 4, wife to Kenneth, daughter and sister to fellow Saxon grads, collegiate athlete, Christ-follower, and an OBGYN nurse, Anna shares her journey from growing up in Salem, to playing collegiate soccer, to serving as a missionary and traveling the world, to now using those experiences working as an RN at Salem Hospital. Anna sha...

2023 Saxon graduate, Cole Duncan Miller, is a collegiate athlete, world traveler, scholarship recipient, leader, and more. In this episode, Cole shares his journey from high school to college, discussing his experiences in the IB program, DECA, and running x-country and track. He reflects on the importance of community and mentorship at South and how these experiences shaped his leadership skills....

QB1, college athlete, semi-pro football player, head baseball coach, and 2019 Saxon graduate, Elijah Enomoto-Haole is in the spotlight this week. In this episode, Elijah shares about his transition out of collegiate athletics into public education, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and personal growth for his players over simply achieving wins. He reflects on the impact of his own coaches a...

In honor of Veterans Day, this weeks spotlight is (again) on 2014 Saxon graduate, Rachal Meza Rojas. This is a repost of Rachal's conversation with us back in 2024 and spotlights her time as a Saxon, years serving as a nurse in the military, and her advice to fellow Saxons. Join Saucetown Properties, Bickler Dentistry, and the Saxon Success Fund in celebrating Rachal and all of our graduate Ve...

Author, speaker, consultant, father, husband and more, 1983 graduate, Eric Scofield shares his experiences growing up in South Salem, his memories of his Saxon years, involvement with Young Life, and the impact of mentorship on his life. He discusses the importance of legacy, encouragement, and support for students, as well as his transition from education to nonprofit work. Eric also shares insig...

2021 Saxon Graduate, Evan Thomas is in the spotlight this week! Evan reflects on his journey from high school to pursuing a career in mental health counseling. He shares his life as a Saxon, the impact of community and grief support, and the importance of mental health awareness. Evan emphasizes the need for self-compassion and personal agency in navigating life's challenges, and he discusses...

2019 Saxon graduate, Kristen Derting is in the spotlight this week. Kristen's a 7-time NCAA Division 1 All-American and current assistant coach for the University of Nebraska's Rifle Team. She's training for the 2028 US Olympic team after just finishing her Master's in Hospitality Management from Ole Miss University.

1981 South Salem Graduate, Scott Edmiston shares his journey from being a Saxon to serving in the Naval Academy as a Nuclear Engineer on a submarine and ultimately, building a career in financial services. In this episode, he reflects on his years at South, the importance of community service, and his involvement now in grief support initiatives.

2019 Graduate, Kundai Kapurura is back! Now graduated with a degree from the University of Oregon in Product Design, Kundai shares about her journey of finding her own individual self, winning a venture capital competition, designing WNBA apparel with New Balance, working for Columbia Sportswear, and being a mentor at the Soho House, Portland. This episode brought to us in part through support fro...

2017 Graduate, Tristan Orozco shares his journey from being a student to taking a new role in the district's Student Services Department. He goes deep into his journey with mental health - including a new app he's built to support others and their emotional well-being. He emphasizes the significance of connection and support in mental health, the impact of Unified programs in our school, a...

The Saxon Success Fund, Bickler Dentistry , and Saucetown Properties present 2001 Graduate, Alex Casebeer . On this episode, Alex shares his journey from high school to a successful career running one of Salem's most storied and successful businesses. He reflects on his Saxon years filled with sports, music, and community involvement, all while emphasizing his love for South Salem High School...

In this last episode of season 2, 1995 Saxon graduate, JoyAnna Forsythe is in the spotlight. JA's years as a Saxon cover 4 as a student and many more as a teacher. In her years as a student, JA participated in Colorguard, Drama, Choir, and our art classes. As a teacher, she's one of the most respected and admired staff members at South. She's a Crystal Apple winner, a mother of 2 futur...

2002 Saxon graduate, Tessa Petrin McIlraith is in the spotlight this week. Tessa is a school nurse, advocate, keynote speaker, mother, business owner and published author. She's the winner of the 2021 Washington School Nurse of the Year award and just published her first book, Beyond the Sidelines. Tessa shares about her dedication and advocacy related to youth sports and how she juggles all the h...

2019 Saxon graduate, Lucas Clark is in the spotlight this week. Lucas is currently on staff here at South, teaching history and hopes to one day coach as well. He shares about what (and who) pulled him out of his darkest times as a high schooler and how his golf game is improving every week.

2019 Saxon grad, Eric Lungu is in the spotlight this week. Eric's a phenomenal human being and teacher here at South. He's wrapping up his first school year and excited to go explore the world this summer.