What DO students do after they leave St. Francis?
Chelsea Carlson
St. Francis ‘05
Phillips Andover Academy '09
“The environment that the faculty and students created at St. Francis made me more independent, disciplined, motivated, and creative, all traits that have allowed me to succeed at a place like Andover.”
Since her time as a student at St. Francis, Chelsea Carlson ‘05 has continued to make a name for herself as both an exceptional student and a musician. Currently excelling in her classes at Phillips Academy Andover in Massachusetts, she has become an accomplished Harpist. Chelsea plays harp in both the Phillips Academy Symphony Orchestra and the Phillips Academy Harp Ensemble. Chelsea’s main academic interest is writing and, in particular, poetry. At St. Francis she won the President’s Award for Academic Excellence and the Claiborne Scholarship, and was a member of the Louisville Youth Orchestra. As an eighth grader, Chelsea won the Poetry.Com competition with her work, “I Stand.”
Of her St. Francis experience Chelsea writes, “There are so many wonderful qualities about St. Francis that I don’t even know where to begin…I will always remember the faculty and how wonderful and kind they were; they were definitely among the best teachers I have had. They were always excited to teach and I never felt like I was being forced to learn certain materials, but rather invited and encouraged to explore the topic.”
Stuart Young
St. Francis ‘94
St. Francis Highschool '98
B.A. Emory University ‘02
Presently: Harvard Law School
Founder, Diversity City
A summa cum laude graduate of Emory University, Stuart traveled to England to obtain his Masters Degree in Information Systems. While in London, Stuart worked as a researcher for members of Parliament. He also worked as a junior television producer at the British Broadcasting Corporation. Currently, Stuart serves on the Executive Board of the Harvard European Law Association and plans to return to London to pursue a career in International corporate law. Of his St. Francis experience Stuart writes that “The open environment and small student-teacher ratio provided me with an excellent educational foundation…My teachers at St. Francis encouraged my creativity and natural self-expression.”
Amy Zegart
St. Francis ‘81
A.B. Harvard College ‘89
Ph.D. Stanford University ‘96
Assistant Professor, UCLA School of Public Affairs
“St. Francis was the most exciting and demanding academic experience of my Life, rivaled only by having to defend my doctoral dissertation before my advisor, Condi Rice. I only wish that you could move farther West!”
Author, scholar, life member of the prestigious Council on Foreign Relations, wife and mother, Amy Zegart remembers her days at St. Francis with affection:
“St. Francis was an extraordinary experience for me. Learning was much more than memorizing facts and equations. It was about relishing the process of discovery and engaging in the world. I didn’t just read about ancient Greece. I got to write my own Greek play and act it out.”
In 2003, Amy was awarded Public Policy Professor of the Year for excellence in teaching. She has been featured by The National Journal as one of the ten most influential experts in intelligence reform. Amy worked on the Clinton Administration's National Security Council staff in 1993, served as a foreign policy advisor to the Bush-Cheney 2000 presidential campaign, and has testified before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Most recently in September of 2007, Amy released her second book, Spying Blind: The CIA, the FBI, and the Origins of 9/11, through Princeton Press.
John Clay Stites
St. Francis ‘79
B.A. University of Virginia ‘87
M.B.A. Portland State University
Founder and CEO, Autodemo
Drawn to technology early on, J.C. worked for a photographic book publisher and multimedia company before starting his own business, Autodemo. The leading developer of software and website flash demos, Autodemo counts among its clients Microsoft, Bank of America, EBay, Mapquest, and Forbes.com.
J.C. and his wife, Charlotte, are the parents of Harrison ’14 and Elizabeth ’15. He is also actively involved in local civic issues and a co-founder of “8664.org”.
Of his student experience, J.C. writes, “St. Francis allowed me to think differently. I’m dyslexic, so I didn’t have a choice. St. Francis is a nurturing school that fosters creativity and logic at the same time, and I was never discouraged because I did things differently. The positive climate at St. Francis gave me the confidence to try to reach my potential…There is so much energy and excitement at St. Francis, and that allowed me to explore things at a rate that suited me. Looking back, I love the fact that it’s a different kind of school. I enjoy telling people that there weren’t any walls and we used to play games with our teachers. St. Francis made the experience of learning fun.”
Robin Norman Thomas
St. Francis ‘79
Kentucky Country Day ‘83
B.A., Georgetown University ’87 (cum laude)
J.D., Northwestern University School of Law ‘91
Managing Editor, Personnel Policy Service, Inc.
Apart from her professional commitments, Robin is an active volunteer. She has tutored at-risk children, helped direct an enrichment program for children in government housing, and assisted in the placement of foster children. Of her student experience at St. Francis, Robin writes, “Beyond the curriculum basics, St. Francis taught me independent, critical, and creative thinking; respect for my peers and elders; compassion for others; appreciation for art and music in daily life; and to excel at my own pace, however fast or slow that might be.”
Robin and her husband are the parents of Robert ’14.
