I was surprised to learn this summer that I had been nominated as one of Ladue Horton Watkins High School’s “Distinguished Alumni” for my work as a performing artist and circus researcher. I was even more surprised a few weeks later, when I found out that I was chosen to be a recipient of this award!

I grew up in St Louis, Missouri — moving to the Ladue school district from our old home in Los Angeles — when I was entering my Sophomore year of high school. It was there that I continued my Spanish language education, adding to it German, graphic design, and (of course!) where I started the school’s juggling club.

It hadn’t been since 2005, when I graduated, that I’d set foot back on campus, and boy has it changed. No longer a the state-of-the-art 1950s school building, it’s essentially been converted into a college campus. Jealous that these kids have a library with a JStor subscription (and, hey, the new Home Ec rooms are pretty incredible, too!)

As part of the event, I was invited to give a short speech and share some juggling on stage as well. If you’d like to hear the story of my first talent show in highschool, there’s a video below!

“Recent Ladue Schools and Ladue Education Foundation and Alumni Association events honored the current year’s 29 Distinguished Alumni finalists, who stood out among over 90 nominations by demonstrating extraordinary accomplishment and leadership in their fields as well as commitment to their communities.”

– Ladue News