BHS/HVS Alumni

Ron Cooper ’57 Visits Besant Hill School!

rellwood — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 22:32:00 +0000

Ron Cooper ’57 Visits Besant Hill School!

On February 5, we had the honor of welcoming Ron Cooper, Class of 1957—a celebrated artist, founder of Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, and vintage car enthusiast. His groundbreaking work has bridged art, culture, and tradition in extraordinary ways.

Our students were excited to learn about his inspiring creative journey, discovering how art is woven into everything we do—from painting to crafting mezcal. Ron’s visit was a powerful reminder that creativity knows no boundaries!

Thank you, Ron, for sharing your wisdom and passion with our community.

(Photo by Jojo D. ’26)

Nina Ward De Creeft visit

rellwood — Thu, 09 May 2024 20:31:47 +0000

Nina Ward De Creeft visit

Students Marabelle and Suki, alongside Development Director Michaela Peters, had the honor of visiting the legendary artist Nina Ward De Creeft in Santa Barbara! Nina, a Happy Valley School alumna from the class of 1952, mesmerized us with her lifelong dedication to animal-inspired art. At 91, she still crafts stunning ceramic sculptures and generously treated our students to an exclusive glimpse into her creative process.

Her fame extends across oceans, as she was recently featured in Subsequence: a semi-annual, bilingual publication, investigating a wide range of arts, crafts, and culture spanning generations, genders, and nationalities.

On our way home, she gave each student a small animal as a keepsake.

CEO Alex Smith connects with alumna Jana AlRaqam ’20

rellwood — Thu, 02 May 2024 17:25:19 +0000

CEO Alex Smith connects with alumna Jana AlRaqam ’20

Besant Hill School CEO Alex Smith connects with alumna Jana AlRaqam ’20 during his recent trip to London.

Photos from the 2024 Alumni Reunion

rellwood — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 18:20:23 +0000

Photos from the 2024 Alumni Reunion

1955 - 1966

Anne Thacher Bruce Walker and Claire Lewis

Board Members Kevin Wallace LInda Hardham Annie Saunders Derek Wood And Portia Johnson

Bob Schatz Phil Hayes Klaus and Helmut Krull

Brunch April 20 2024

Charlie joining from Boston with a video

Helmut Krull paying tribute to His Father

Class of 1999-2000: Lindsay Soleimani, Portia Johnson, Derek Woods, Annie Saunders, Noah Crowe

Kevin Wallace, Linda Hardham, Annie Saunders, (1999) Derek Woods, (2000) Portia Johnson

Klaus Paying tribute to his father, Dr. Krull

Lily Brown (2011), Lizzie Cornmwell (2007), and (HOS) Portia Johnson

Linda Hardham, Chair of Happy Valley Foundation

Lindsay Soleimani, Portia Johnson, Derek Woods, Noah Crowe

Mary Keith Osborne

Peter Chambliss and Bruce Walker

Portia paying tribute to Wendy Levin

Richard Robinson, former faculty (math and ultimate frisbee) from 1978-1985

Richard Robinson paying tribute to Dr. Krull

Tina Leslie paying tribute to Wendy Levin

Tony Guttman (1965) and Bruce Blomgren (1964)

Class of 1014 and trustee Tina Leslie

Rachael Vandeberg's amazing shoes

Alumni Visits

Kylie Berry — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 18:11:43 +0000

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.

Students visit Happy Valley 1950 graduate

rellwood — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 22:29:44 +0000

Students visit Happy Valley 1950 graduate

Recently, three of our students had the opportunity to visit Melvin Burckes, a 1950 graduate of Happy Valley School (HVS), at his retirement home in Ojai. Melvin holds a special place in the history of HVS, being the very first 9th grader to grace the school’s halls. His memories of Happy Valley School are a testament to the enduring impact the institution has had on countless lives.

Post-Happy Valley School, Melvin studied engineering at the University of Miami and later dedicated an impressive 13 years to military service. Climbing the ranks, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1978, with his service taking him to Korea and Vietnam. During our visit, Melvin captivated our students with stories of his life showcasing the rich tapestry of experiences that the school has woven for its alumni. His military honors and medals were proudly shared, each with a captivating story behind it, offering us a glimpse into the remarkable achievements of his dedicated service. The heartwarming time spent with Melvin was a true delight, and this encounter was made even sweeter by the cookies be brought for the students to share. His stories and experiences are a reminder of the school’s enduring legacy in the lives of its alumni.

Alum Highlights: Julia D.

rellwood — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 19:13:13 +0000

Alum Highlights: Julia D.

Congratulations to our German alumna, Julia Dinger who recently received her law degree! It seems like only yesterday she was spending a year with us at Besant Hill. Her advice to students? Enjoy every moment and be thankful for the amazing teachers who are so committed to their students’ success.

Alum Highlights: Sienna K. ’17 & Roman K. ‘15

rellwood — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 23:42:45 +0000

Alum Highlights: Sienna K. ’17 and Roman K. ‘15

Sienna K. ’17, followed in the footsteps of her sister and cousin, made unforgettable memories on the hill, including meeting her husband Roman K. ‘15 and lifelong friends. After receiving a culinary diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, Sienna is now pursuing her passion for Hospitality Management at Utah Valley University.

Alum Highlight: Felix W. ’16

rellwood — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 23:37:43 +0000

Alum Highlight: Felix W. ’16

Meet Felix W. ’16, who joined Besant Hill School all the way from Lagos, Nigeria! He holds cherished memories of representing the basketball team, engaging in dorm life, and embarking on weekend trips. With remarkable achievements in both academics and sports, Felix pursued a B.S. in Engineering in 2020 and is currently working towards a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Boise State University.

Alum Highlight: Michelle W. ‘15

rellwood — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 23:34:07 +0000

Alum Highlight: Michelle W. ’15

Meet Michelle W. ‘15, our alumni from Switzerland. She joined Besant Hill School when she studied abroad and made lifelong connections with amazing people from around the globe. After graduating from UNLV in 2019, she pursued her passion for event planning as a coordinator at Hyatt Regency in Zurich. And now, she’s taking a sabbatical of a lifetime, exploring the beauty of the Americas all the way from Alaska to Argentina! We’re proud of your adventures, Michelle, and can’t wait to see where they take you next!