Ranney Alumni Come Back ‘Home”

Thomas Wolfe once said you can’t go home again. But for the almost 40 Ranney alumni who participated in the 7th Annual College Alumni Day on January 7, coming back home to their alma mater was effortless as they easily reconnected with familiar teachers and old friends, while also offering sage wisdom and advice to future Ranney graduates.

Ranney alumni began the day in traditional fashion by answering questions from current junior and senior Ranney students eager to know about college life, the selection process and how to prepare for college. The alumni panel consisted of nine graduates from the Classes of 2009 and 2006 who represented a wide range of colleges and universities throughout the United States. In a lively and candid discussion held in the DLC, alumni related their own personal experiences and anecdotes about life today as a college student and their transition from high school to college. Sophie Wilkus ’09, was asked why she chose to attend Pitzer College in California. To much laughter, Wilkus admitted, “The California weather sold me right away.” Adding that college is all about balancing your work ahead of time, Wilkus acknowledged “Ranney really prepared me for keeping up with college deadlines.” Ian Bamberger ‘09, who now attends Rutgers University, also drew laughter after commenting on why he chose Rutgers. “I wanted a college that was a lot bigger than Ranney,” he joked. Katie Adams ‘09, now a freshman at the University of Notre Dame, cautioned the college workload is dramatically different than that of high school. “Staying on top of everything is the most important thing you can do,” she said. All agreed that their Ranney education helped them to tackle the rigors and challenges of college life.

But what about extracurricular activities? Current Ranney students were anxious to know how Ranney alumni spend their free time outside the classroom. For Elizabeth Natoli ’09, who is currently attending Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, getting involved in community service activities and joining a sorority has helped to balance her college experience. Dana Cohen ’09, now enrolled at New York University, agrees. While a Ranney student, she was a member of the ESTA (Environmental Students Taking Action) Club and is continuing her participation in environmental issues as a member of the Earth Matters! Environmental Club.

After a relaxed luncheon in Panther Hall, several alumni met with 8th graders in the DLC while other alumni visited several 5th grade classrooms. During the 8th grade panel discussion, students were grateful for the opportunity to hear Ranney graduates Phyllis Thangaraj ’07, now attending Yale University, Lauren Hoffman ’09, now a student at Barnard College, and Elizabeth Natoli speak about life after Ranney School. Middle School students peppered the panelists with a multitude of questions that ranged from what courses you need to take for medical school to how to get along with your college roommate.

Judging by the warm and enthusiastic responses of Ranney students, teachers and administration on College Alumni Day, Ranney alumni can rest assured that they will always be able to “come back home” any time they wish.

For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.