Welcome back to 'Once An Owl, Always An Owl'. In our very first episode, we introduced you to three outstanding graduates from FAUHS Jupiter in partnership with the Max Planck Academy: Kate Maier, Aiden Eagle, and Seth Goldin. Embarking on their academic adventures to Carnegie Mellon, Yale, and FAU Wilkes Honors College, they represented the bright future of FAUHS alumni. Now, 30 episodes and a year later, we're excited to catch up with them. Where are they now? What paths have they forged? And what does the future hold for these brilliant young minds? Join us as we delve into the continued journey of Kate, Aiden, and Seth, and celebrate the ongoing legacy of FAUHS grads. Tune in to discover the inspiring stories of growth, achievement, and the endless possibilities that await our FAUHS community.

As a freshman, Kisa Modewala started her journey at Florida Atlantic University High School in August 2013. She graduated from FAUHS and FAU in May 2017. Then in May 2020, she was recognized as the youngest George Washington University Law School graduate at 20. She is currently a licensed attorney in New York. In Fall 2020, she was accepted into the White House Internship Program and worked in the Office of White House Counsel. She was also selected to be part of the Securities and Exchange Commission Student Honors Program in the Spring of 2019 and a law clerk for the Department of Justice in Fall of 2018.

Our first Platinum sponsor Jon Cipyak is a great supporter of our K-12 programs and an alum of Florida Atlantic University, where he earned a Masters's in Educational Leadership. Jon joined Builders Plus in 1997 and has progressed to the position of CEO. Jon is involved in all project aspects to personally ensure client satisfaction with each project. His diverse experience provides valuable insight for integrating management, accounting, and human resource plans. He is critical to the company's continued strategic development and operations management.

His unwavering support showed significant benefits for the K-12 school and programs as he built an area to support our SeaPerch test pool, purchased new drones for the team who participated in nationals in Denver, served as a School Advisory Board member, and donated Chromebook bags which are just a few ways Jon and Builders Plus have supported the school. In addition, he coaches a girl's flag football team through a city league.

 
Joining him are his two children, Savannah and JV, who are currently in 4th and 6th grade. An avid Dolphin fan, JV has had so much fun joining the flag football and cross-country teams.
Savannah has developed her love of STEM through many opportunities offered at ADHUS. She went to states for the science fair and traveled to Denver, where her drone team won 3rd at nationals, and recently was inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Learn more about Builder's Plus at www.builderplus.com

Dr. Pamela Steiger, D.M.D. is a Board Certified Orthodontic Specialist who performs the most advanced treatment techniques in her state-of-the-art Orthodontics facility. She is an expert in braces and Invisalign to have the most aesthetic and functional results. She truly cares about every patient and treats them like a part of her own family. She provides the best possible Orthodontic care in the most comfortable environment. Her desire to help people in this more personalized setting led to "The Smile Boutique" — a unique location for the best Orthodontics experience. She hopes you feel at home in her beautiful office, designed to make you feel like you are anywhere but a dental office. Joining her today is Savanna Griek, who attended A.D. Henderson University School from Kindergarten to eighth grade. She not only works for Dr. Pam but is also a patient.

In January 2021, Dr. Herbst, Superintendent, was thrilled to share an update regarding our school's Let's Build This Together capital campaign. The $54 million fundraising goal to transform the school campus into a state-of-the-art educational facility was well within reach. $35 million in private and public funding was secured. Due to the support and generosity of our donors, legislators, families, and community members, they would break ground on a new K-8 school building and our first-ever athletic complex. The building was opened in August 2022 to a very excited faculty, staff, students, and families. 

Ryan Britton works at Florida Atlantic University in the Office of Government Relations. Ryan works tirelessly to promote and reinforce FAU as a valued and trusted partner; to advocate for the university at all government jurisdictional levels; and to facilitate partnerships with businesses, economic development, and non-profit organizations. Ryan is a great supporter of the K-12 Lab Schools at FAU. 

Joey Katz, 24, started at FAUHS in 2012, Graduated from HS in 2016, and just one semester later graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor's in Political Science and a Minor in History. Currently a Legislative Aide in the Office of State Representative Toby Overdorf.

Joseph Guzzi, 21, is a political science major set to graduate in the spring of 2024. Currently, An intern in Representative Toby Overdorf's office will assist throughout the spring legislative session in Tallahassee.

Dr. Carly Polin proudly serves Boca Raton's residents with thoughtful, personalized general and cosmetic dentistry. She combines the latest technology with compassionate dental care to help patients of all ages achieve healthy, beautiful smiles. Dr. Polin is a member of the American Dental Association, the Academy of General Dentistry, and ITI, a global association of professions in implant dentistry. She's an active member of the Florida Dental Association and the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. In 2019 was awarded the Palm Beach Illustrated Top Dentist Award for cosmetic dentistry.

Dr. Carly enjoys spending time with her family, husband, and two daughters in her free time. With her today is one of her adorable daughters Vianna who loves to swim and play soccer, and also ski since she just learned in Vail, Colorado. She wants to be a dentist, just like her mommy.  

In 2018, entrepreneur Daniel Cane made a $1 million gift to establish The Cane Institute for Advanced Technologies at A.D. Henderson University School & FAU High School. The Institute's integrated approach to solving society's most challenging problems engages the best and brightest students, faculty, and resources to explore today's most complex challenges in cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles, robotics, virtual reality, augmented reality, automation, and artificial intelligence.

Daniel is a trustee of Florida Atlantic University, the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, and a Cornell University Council member. He is the CEO and co-founder of South Florida-based Modernizing Medicine, Founded in 2010, transforming healthcare by placing doctors and patients at the center of care through an intelligent, specialty-specific cloud platform. Daniel has a Bachelor's in Applied Economics from Cornell University, where he co-founded Blackboard Inc., raised over one million dollars in venture capital, and, in 2004, helped take the company public on the NASDAQ in 2011, and was sold for over one billion dollars.   

Allan Phipps is the K-12 District STEM Coordinator and Director of The Cane Institute. During his tenure as an educator, he has experienced what most only dream about, such as being an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, attending the National Science Foundation as a practitioner informing policy, and speaking at the White House during an Environmental Education Summit.  

Mark Zagha is an FAU High sophomore pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering or biology with a minor in math. To date, one of his most significant accomplishments was winning the best presentation award for the MATE regional competition in the 7th grade. Mark enjoys helping others as a Learning Assistant at Florida Atlantic University in Calculus 1 and is a volunteer at Learn To Be. This online 1:1 program helps kids from underserved communities by connecting them with exceptional tutors like Mark online for free.

Undergraduate research has been shown to increase student retention and achievement. Many people think that research primarily happens in STEM fields, but what about non-STEM topics? Students interested in the arts and humanities, too, can benefit from undergraduate research experiences as much as STEM students! Dr. Tricia Meredith, Director of Research at FAU Lab Schools, heard our students' needs and created opportunities for my guests here today and many who have followed in the path they forged. Two are currently in the program; Jaimie Yap, 17, a senior, will graduate from FAU with a degree in Biochemistry in the spring of 2024. Asna Nayani is a junior in high school and college with a double major in political science and sociology and is the president of the University's Undergraduate Law Journal. Caralin Branscum, who just turned 24, started at FAUHS in 2013 as a 9th grader; she graduated from FAUHS in 2017 with B.A. in Criminology/Criminal Justice & Sociology in 2018 M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice 2019. Then started in a doctoral program in 2020. She is a third-year doctoral student in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. These three students have all conducted research in their major fields, making exciting and essential discoveries and opening doors to new professional opportunities.