That small group of pioneering students weathered many changes in curriculum, staffing, and philosophy during their 4 years with us, as TEA navigated our way to the High School program we enjoy today. Across the many versions of our High School, the most important things have always held steady: our commitment to trusting that young people can design and drive their own education, that they can learn to embrace and thrive in the chaos present in the real world, and that authentic and meaningful relationships among peers and with teachers can have a lasting positive impact. We have now welcomed 73 students into our alumni community and we are thrilled to report that they are thriving in a variety of settings – from top universities like Stanford and Georgetown to exciting careers in Environmental Engineering and Real Estate Law, to successful entrepreneurs and members of the US Ski team.
We invite you to check back frequently for all the latest news about upcoming events for alumni and alumni parents, to read the latest Alumni spotlights, and to see how our remarkable graduates are making a positive impact on the world.
We recently caught up with TEA alumna Olivia Mason. Olivia graduated from TEA in 2022 after entering the school as a freshman in 2018. She is now in her third year at UC Irvine and tells us about TEA’s lasting impact on who she is and how she navigates life.
As has become tradition, TEA Alumni gathered alongside the soon-to-be Alumni for a breakfast gathering during the final week of school. This year everyone gathered in Kings Beach. Talk about a blast from the past!
Giana set off in fall of ‘20 for Chapman University, excited to study health sciences with a minor in Nutrition. However, her journey to her bachelor's degree (expected June 2024) was not a straight line and she definitely exhibited TEA character traits of advocacy, perseverance and responsibility in order to pursue her passion. We recently caught up with her and are excited to share the following Q&A.
Mitchell Martin graduated from TEA in 2017 with just 5 other students, all of whom were true pioneers. They were our first! Our first high school students, our first students on the Martis Campus, our first students to get into college after embarking on our “non-traditional” path, and our first ALUMNI.
Jeffrey Miller (Class of 2018) joined Tahoe Expedition Academy as a 9th grader. He was one of a handful of truly brave souls who enrolled in our extremely new High School program. His time at TEA saw many structural pivots. We weren’t just adjusting altitude and improving wing designs back then, we were deciding whether to be a helicopter, a glider or a jet. Despite the challenges presented by our “continuous iterations”, Jeffrey was drawn to TEA because of our I.A.P. program, then called the Independent Adventure Program, which allowed him to pursue his love for ski racing with academic support.
Class of 2021 graduate, Johan Sotelo is making quite a name for himself at Stanford University. Just a Junior, he delivered the Convocation student address to thousands of incoming Stanford students, during which he expressed empathy for new students and the mixture of emotions many are feeling in their first days at Stanford. Johan’s words certainly resonate with all of us at TEA! “Lean into the unfamiliar. Welcome the challenge. Embrace the uncertainty. And know that in doing so, you’re not only crafting your own unique Stanford narrative but also embarking on a journey of personal growth.”
Representatives from TEA’s 2018 and 2022 graduating classes graciously agreed to answer parent and student questions on a wide range of topics including how their experience/s at TEA have impacted their success in college and work. They talked about times when the “adventure” chose them, the impact of working directly with experts, the advantages and challenges of smaller class sizes, and what they think TEA students and parents should know about the “unexpected” benefits of a TEA education.
We are excited to help our alumni connect with current and past members of our CommuniTEA, whether for an informational interview, reference, or career support.
Request to join HERE.
Our TEA Alumni Panel is a beloved annual event where participants hear directly from our former students. Each year representatives from multiple graduating classes answer parent and student questions on a wide range of topics including how their experience/s at TEA have impacted their success in college and work. They talk about times when they were pushed outside of their comfort zones and what they learned about themselves from that experience, the impact of working directly with experts, the advantages and challenges of smaller class sizes, and what they think TEA students and parents should know about the “unexpected” benefits of a TEA education. To view previous Alumni Panels, see the links below:
Where are TEA students going to college? What support is available to TEA students and TEA Alumni as they navigate life after TEA?
Our HS College and Career counseling has been designed with all students in mind. Our goal is to assist all families and students in post high school planning. The majority of students will apply directly to four year institutions, but some students might choose to take a GAP year, go straight to work or start at community college. We are able to provide individualized attention to students through their time at TEA to prepare for life after high school, whatever their chosen path.
To learn more about our College and Career program, CLICK HERE.
To view our most recent College Profile, CLICK HERE.
TEA’s Millennium Scholarship Program was designed by our Student Council in 2019 after we received an initial gift of $25,000 from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. The scholarship program was founded on the premise that young people should have the opportunity to continue their education beyond High School, regardless of financial capacity, and that when supported they can make a significant and important difference in the world. In the spring of 2021, we received an additional $100,000 gift from the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County in support of the program and we will now be able to continue offering scholarships to our graduating seniors for several more years.
Class of 2024: Nico Bolen and Aiden Carpenter
Class of 2023: Aidan Robin, Celeste Robin and Elia Schreiber
Class of 2022: Bella Auerbach and Diego Martinez
Class of 2021: Johan Sotelo and Brennan Berg
Class of 2020: Gianna Putnam and Henrik Rogers
We are truly grateful for the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County’s generosity and beyond thrilled to be able to support the academic dreams of our students.
Looking to connect with a former classmate? Need a copy of your transcript? Want to revisit some of your experiences at TEA? We have got you covered!
Every year, we create Tahoe Expedition Academy’s Annual Report to reflect for ourselves and our community the accomplishments and impact in ALL we do. It also helps us in sharing with others our mission and our daily attempts to live up to the values we set forth twelve years ago. This report summarizes and celebrates the previous year's programmatic accomplishments, as well as addressing the budgetary and operational aspects behind the day to day running of the School. In our report, we strive to highlight the voices of our students, parents, staff, contributors, and graduates because we believe that these groups of CommuniTEA members best express the importance and significance of our program.
Filmmaker Beck Marshall (TEA Class of 2021) produced this 23 minute documentary during his senior year at Tahoe Expedition Academy. The story takes a look back at TEA's first 10 years of existence through the eyes of Beck, who has been a student since the beginning. This a real, raw, and very true story of TEA’s trials and tribulations over the years.
Keep up with TEA by having a bi-weekly email newsletter delivered directly to your inbox. Keep up to date on current student projects, upcoming TEA events and much more.
Do you need a copy of your transcript or diploma? No problem, we have got you covered. .
We are building out our TEA Alumni directory! But first, we need to ensure we are collecting everyone's up-to-date contact information.