Beth Rubin–Class of 2004

As of now, Beth Rubin is completing many tasks. Besides finishing the required clinical coursework needed to get her master’s degree she is also studying for a national board exam, planning her wedding, and applying for jobs.

Rubin seems to love her busy lifestyle because while attending U. City she was a part of the Art Club, field hockey team, soccer team, mock trial, spring musical, National Honor Society, and the Young Scientists Program.

Not only has U. City given Rubin an education, it also helped her to appreciate the opportunity she has to succeed which has helped with her career.

“UCHS provided me with an excellent foundation of writing and critical-thinking skills which prepared me well for college and my professional life,” said Rubin. “Additionally, the heterogeneity of U-City’s community and the diversity of people’s experiences to which I was exposed have made me a better professional in the health care field.”

Charlie Levinson–Class of 2007

Charlie Levinson is back at the University of Miami to continue on, to get his master’s degree.

“Now, I’m going to back to school to get my master’s degree in community and social change,” said Levinson. “I decided to pursue this degree because I’m passionate about helping others and I wanted to go to the next level and do more.”

Before going back to school, Levinson was a part of College Bound St. Louis, a nonprofit organization that helps students get to college.

“I want to be the person that does the behind the scenes process and planning; working at College Bound revived that in me,” said Levinson.

Although Levinson is off to bigger and better things, he still remembers his time at U.City.

“When I was at U.City [it] was different because I was focused on myself, but when I became a college coach I realized that I had to focus on others.”

Christina Johnson–Class of 2005

Since her graduation, Christina Johnson has attended Brown University and furthered her education at Tufts Medical School where she currently attends.

Johnson’s experience at U. City helped her discover that she wanted more than education out of school. While attending U. City, Johnson participated in many activities such as water polo, wrestling, band, and soccer.  She also took part in U. City’s annual blood drive, spring musical and fall play.

“U. City challenged and allowed me to explore all of my interests, both in academics and in extracurricular,” said Johnson.  “I felt that my experience in high school was truly rich, and that when I went to college I had experienced more than just doing homework.”

Johnson also appreciates the many people and cultures she was exposed to.

“The diversity of U. City was unmatched by either my college or medical school, and I feel privileged to have worked with so many people that took different directions with their lives.”

Claire Santoro–Class of 2005

Holly Kathryn Mueller is currently in her first semester at the Vanderbilt Divinity School in Nashville and is working on her Master of Divinity degree.

Santoro graduated in 2005 and was active in field hockey, soccer, mock trial, the musical, fall play and National Honor Society. She went on to attend Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. While at Brown, she majored in economics and environmental studies.

Santoro’s degree paved the way for her current career as an environmental consultant in Boston, Massachusetts. As an environmental consultant, Santoro has the opportunity to work on many projects with a variety different clients. She has done projects for the United Nations Development Program, United States Fish and Wildlife, and the World Bank.

When Santoro is not working as an environmental consultant, she spends her time teaching herself how to sail.

Holly Catherine Mueller–Class of 2005

Right out of high school Mueller attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and earned a B.A. in the creative working and a minor in French.

While at U. City, Mueller played water polo and swam for the swim team. She was also an active member of National Honor Society, and was the president her senior year.  U. City high school taught Mueller to value race, diversity, religion, various upbringings of her peers, and to learn from her classmates. Mueller is now living in Tennessee.

Kara Kirchherr–Class of 2003

Kirchherr recalls fondly her time at U. City not too long ago under the administration of Dr. Bender. “I loved high school,” she said.

Times weren’t altogether too different. “I was in the art club for a few years, mock trial, field hockey… I was always in the chorus of the musical,” Kirchherr remembers. Some of her favorite teachers still remain, such as Mr. Calloway. Other aspects of the school are different. “The tradition used to be that every school dance had to end at Steak & Shake,” Kirchherr said, Just past Big Bend and Manchester.” Additionally, “this was back in whatever-day,” so when the Gay-Straight Alliance started up, “there was some drama over it. It was a pretty big deal.”

Since her graduation, Kirchherr attained a degree in history, thanks in part to U. City’s training. “When I finally got to take AP classes, I felt they really prepared me for college,” she recalls. “I always liked history, but Mrs. Meyer’s was the first class that proved history could be interesting and not just a bunch of facts and dates.

“Mr. Calloway also “really encouraged my writing.” Kirchherr works at the U. City Children’s Center and recently hiked 30 miles in a single day for CureSearch, a program that seeks to help children suffering from cancer.

Kirchherr remembers a simple fact about U. City that still remains today. “There might have been groups, but it was never very clique-y … you had nerds who were friends with the dance people … we all just kind of mingled.”