Aaron Chuang ’92

We were happy to see Aaron Chuang (’92) stop in this morning.  He currently lives in Toronto and owns a car dealership.  In this photo you can see him with BHS technology director and alumni (also ’92) Richard Ellwood.

Sienna Johnson ‘17 and Roman Kovtun ’15

We were thrilled to welcome back alumni Sienna Johnson ’17 and Roman Kovtun ’15 to Besant Hill School! These two made unforgettable memories on the hill, including meeting each other while they were students. They have now been married for two years and live in Nashville, Tennessee.

Since their time at Besant Hill, Sienna and Roman have been busy pursuing their passions. After receiving a culinary diploma from the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, Sienna is now a private chef. Roman is completing his medical residency at Vanderbilt University.

It was a joy to catch up with Sienna and Roman, and we’re proud of their accomplishments. They truly embody the spirit of Besant Hill School, and we’re honored to have played a part in their journey.

 

Alumni Visits – Krull Family

Despite the Coronavirus, Alumnus Helmut Krull ’88 braved air travel from Colorado to California. Along with stopping in to see former classmate Jennifer Marenstein Johnson ’87, he headed to Ojai to deliver a very special gift to Director of Development and Alumni Relations Kathy Zotnowski – 12 carousels with 50-70 slides each for the rebuilding of the archives lost during the Thomas Fire. They spent some socially distanced time together reminiscing about Helmut’s entire family’s years at Happy Valley. His father, Dr. Edward Krull was the science and German teacher; his mother Margaret was the school chef; and his older brother Klaus was a classmate, graduating in 1986. Currently, Helmut is a surgical nurse living with his wife and 3 sons (ages 7 to 15) in Centennial, CO. Helmut fondly remembers both his Spanish class and the head of the music program (and Ojai music legend), Seabury Gould. Helmut hired Seabury to play at his wedding along with former music faculty member Eddie Guffman. We thank Helmut for his service on the front lines during the pandemic, and both Helmut and Dr. Krull for the gift to the archives.

Raymond and Peggy Bauhaus Neutra

Not too long ago we had the pleasure of welcoming back two of our alumni, Raymond Neutra and Peggy Bauhaus Neutra. The couple graduated from Happy Valley School in 1957 and 1956, and it was an honor to have them return to their roots. They were joined by their Ojai hosts, Will Thomas, a musician and music producer, and Professor Chris Hacker, former chair of Production Design at ArtCenter College of Design. The group explored the campus and shared their experiences with students. Professor Hacker offered portfolio preparation tips, and students interested in music production were invited to visit Will’s production studio in Ojai. The visit was an exciting opportunity for our current students to learn from and connect with individuals who have built successful careers.