Giving Impact on the Boys

Jon Bolena

Students and faculty have been treated to Jon’s musical talents all year — he has been the primary organist in chapel, a job usually filled by Wallace Hornaday. But Wallace recognized Jon’s passion, watched him work hard to master the instrument, and graciously gave up his seat so that Jon could share his talents with the community. In addition to all that he does at Woodberry, Jon (again with Wallace’s help) set out to earn a diploma of associate from the Royal College of Organists (RCO). He spent two years preparing for the exam, which tests music theory and historical analysis as well as keyboard skills. He passed, and Jon is currently the only high school student in the United States to hold such a diploma from RCO. Next year, he will be the inaugural organ scholar at Saint Thomas 5th Avenue, an Episcopal church in New York City.

Jaden Ferguson

Through a lot of hard work, determination, and willingness to explore his creative interests, Jaden has cultivated his identity at Woodberry as a young man with extraordinary leadership, vocal, and athletic talent. Some highlights of Jaden’s remarkable senior year include his mentorship of young Tigers as a member of our Peer Leadership Council, a standout soloist in the Dozen, and some tremendous athletic accomplishments. His leadership helped the football team bounce back from a slow start early in their season to finish with a thrilling win in The Game, and he was named to the All-Prep team at wide receiver. In the winter, he was captain of the indoor track team and earned MVP honors at the Prep League and state championships. Over spring break, when most students were relaxing, Jaden was competing in the Nike Indoor Nationals in New York City, where he made it to the finals in the long jump. And this spring at states, in his last meet for Woodberry, he won three gold medals and a silver and was named MVP of the meet. Jaden will be on both the football and track teams at Lehigh University next year.

Mike Guevara Miranda

When Mike first came to Woodberry, he wasn’t convinced he would stay very long. He was enrolled at the American School in Mexico City and had been taking online classes because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Not a fan of remote learning, Mike transferred to Woodberry as a fourth former so he could take classes in person. Much to his surprise, he had a great year. Mike was mature and confident from the first day he stepped on campus, and at Woodberry he found a place that was special to him. Mike’s leadership potential was immediately obvious, so it came as no surprise when he was named a prefect going into his sixth-form year. He also achieved an even greater accomplishment, being voted senior prefect by his peers, the first international student to be named to that position in the long history of the school. Mike is a staple on student admission panels because he represents Woodberry so well. He will attend Rice University next year.

Lucas Osada

Lucas holds the distinction of being the first boy admitted in his admission class, and the last boy to sign on. He comes from an athletic family (his sister is a strong swimmer), and having the opportunity to excel as a kicker and punter on the football team was a high priority for him. When he began at Woodberry, the academics came easy to him, which led to an increasingly challenging workload. However, an injury forced him to scale back so he could find a balance between taking care of himself physically while also challenging himself in the classroom. Along the way, he learned how to make choices based on what he values. His dedication to being the best he can be resulted in a number of college offers. Ultimately, Lucas chose The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill because it is both an excellent college and the football program will let him compete for a spot as both a kicker and a punter.

Harrison Smith

Harrison arrived at Woodberry as a third former from Charlotte, North Carolina. As with many young Woodberry boys, Harrison was smart but disorganized, and his first year got off to a rocky start. He started to turn the corner toward the end of his freshman year, finding success in math and science and slowly making up ground in English and history. It didn’t take long before initial concerns about him not doing well academically turned into concerns that he was pushing himself too hard. It was not uncommon to see Harrison working on a white board alone after class, solving math problems. By the time he was in the fifth form, he was doing so well that he realized he could be a candidate for some great colleges, and he ended up applying to Washington & Lee early decision, a college he was drawn to because he felt like a majority of the students there were serious about academics. During his time at Woodberry, Harrison discovered some unique interests, such as founding the lyrical analysis club, where participants dissect the lyrics to well-known songs. For his Senior Distinction project, Harrison built a stunning electric guitar.

Nate Stein

Ask anyone who has ever taught or coached Nate, and they are likely to tell you he is extraordinary in every way. Nate has been on top of everything since the day he first arrived at Woodberry. As a freshman, he was eager to get involved in any way he could, and he quickly proved that he was capable of handling a massive workload. Originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, Nate’s uncle is a Woodberry alum, which set him on a path to becoming a Tiger. Always a strong student, Nate’s biggest area of growth has come through his position as a prefect, where he has been a role model to underformers. He served as editor-in-chief of The Oracle, member of The Talon staff, and member of the Dozen. Nate has also been a steady force on the swim team, including as one of the members of the back-to-back state champion 200 medley relay. Nate’s accomplishments put him in the enviable position of having several options for college. Ultimately, he decided he will attend Yale University next fall.