It was a time of laughter and some tears; of celebration and lots of gratitude. As the Principia Upper School gathered at Ridgway Auditorium this May to commemorate the Class of 2025, students, faculty, family, and friends looked enthusiastically forward while also holding a sentimental spot for the memories made.
News
The din of challenges, boundaries, and constraints dissipates when recent Upper School graduate Natalie Ochieng (US’25) enters a room. Despite navigating language barriers, cultural differences, and personal trials, Ochieng has emerged from her years of Upper School with quiet strength and a powerful sense of accomplishment.
Students in the School Radio Quest leveled-up this spring as their classroom extended beyond Principia School’s 360-acre campus and into the world of professional broadcasting.
This year, not only were five Principia student pieces accepted to the prestigious and highly competitive St. Louis Young Artist Showcase, but one piece in particular received special recognition.
March MATHness: Principia School leveraged learning tool IXL to create a math tournament that was a win-win.
Recent graduates from the Class of 2025 step boldly into the future, embodying the spirit of Principia with curiosity, courage, and confidence. Whether through athletics, academics, the arts, or leadership, these new grads have made the most of every opportunity and continue their journeys with purpose, possibility, and a readiness for whatever comes next.
At Principia, the end of another year is more than a string of exciting events. It’s a joining of hands from the past and present. And amidst all the activity and the reminiscence, Principians of all ages learn that, while things may change from year to year, the heart of Principia remains the same.
Built by students for students, the recent Entrepreneurship Panel was a powerful springboard for student organization, creativity, career readiness, and real-world experience.
This year, the annual student-planned International Public Affairs Conference (IPAC) added an unofficial letter to its initialism: “D” for discussion. The topic of this year’s conference—Feminism: The Role We All Have to Play—delved into the nuances of gender equality.
Holt Gallery was transformed into a global buffet for Principia College’s Taste of the World celebration. Organized as part of the Whole World Festival, the flavorful debut brought together over 150 students, faculty, Upper School visitors, and neighbors from nearby Elsah—all eager to savor an afternoon of international foods, dance, music, and meaning.
Alumni News
Courage was the word of the day at Principia College’s Commencement and Principia School’s Graduation ceremony in May 2025, with School graduation speaker Travis Thomas and College Commencement Speaker Janessa Gans Wilder.
At a recent Principia Lifelong Learning (PLL) webinar in May, over 300 participants gathered on Zoom to hear from Principia College Incoming Interim Dean of Academics and former Chair of the History Department, Dr. Peter van Lidth de Jeude (C’04).
As Chief Animal Conservation Officer of the Palm Beach Zoo and Conservation Society, Renee Bumpus does technically “work at the zoo,” although a more accurate job description might include researcher, cultural translator, veterinary assistant, land management liaison, international policy advisor, and Emmy-winning documentarian.
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