Fortunately for Anthony Mahshigian, Class of 2013, The Woods Academy launched its first robotics team in 2010 while Anthony was in 6th grade, and it ignited a flame in him that helped launch his career at SpaceX.

Alumni Molly Shriver credits her time spent at Camp Shriver, her grandmother’s influence, and her education - both at The Woods and beyond - to a career committed to serving others. She is most certainly “leading a life of significance.”

The Woods Academy helps its students to become curious people, always eager to learn new things.

The Woods is such a deep part of who I am, and I cherish my memories of growing up in that school!

I feel incredibly blessed to have been part of The Woods community. During my time there, I gained confidence in myself and my ability to grow that I would not trade for the world. The people I met there had such a huge impact on my life and pushed me to grow more kind and compassionate every day.

Being in another elementary school makes me especially grateful for my time at The Woods.

The experiences and inspiration The Woods provided as a foundation for robotics were pivotal in establishing my passion in the field of engineering.

The Woods Academy was a supportive, nurturing environment that fostered our learning and growth and (supported the teachings of our parents).

The Woods community established such a strong connection between service and happiness.

My time at The Woods Academy and my Catholic high school instilled in me the desire to be a man for others.

The Woods Academy – with its commitment to Catholic teachings, its co-ed environment, a strong sense of community, and of course its Montessori preschool program – proved to be the perfect place for our family.

I do not think I would be the business person I am today without the part of me that was shaped at The Woods.

Since a young age, I have been fascinated by service and helping others. It was apparent early in school that this would be a passion that would grow with me into adulthood, but I never knew just how much it would grow. 

The Woods will always be my second home.

The Woods has always had a warm and homey community feeling and that is very important to our family.

The Woods was a pretty big part of the first 13 or so years of my life; the majority of my best friends, memories, and growth all came from The Woods.

The Woods Academy helped me to keep it all in perspective and never to forget the things that I had learned about the importance of education, giving back and my faith.

The Woods planted the seeds that would teach me to stand up for myself, to be my own advocate, to roll with the punches, to own up to my mistakes instead of trying to hide them. The list goes on but the one that stands out above all the rest – to take chances in life – was truly at the foundation of my Woods Academy experience.

I am a Woods lifer and a recent graduate of Stone Ridge. My experiences at both of these schools have taught me the importance of giving back, even if it is in a small way.

At Nyumbani Village, I had the pleasure of teaching a baby class as well as a class at Hotcourses Primary, which is the sister school of my alma mater, The Woods Academy. Because of this, visiting Nyumbani Village was an especially rewarding experience.

The sense of community, kindness, and passion for the students' well-being that the teachers bring to the classrooms is still at the core of what The Woods stands for and represents.

That is why I am grateful for The Woods. Not only for preparing me to do well in the world, but giving others and me the moral compass to know which way to go.