Year of Graduation: '16

Shuting Zhang

Shuting Zhang is an international alum who graduated from Derryfield in 2016. She went on to the University of Toronto and graduated with a BS in computer science. While in school, Zhang worked for a year as an intern at FormHero as a junior JavaScript developer. She graduated from the University of Toronto in June of 2021 and has since been working in software development. Zhang remembers her time at Derryfield fondly and spoke highly of her host family whom she connects with every year at Christmas time. She said that while the culture shock of coming to high school in America was challenging, Derryfield and her host family worked hard to help her adapt. Zhang noted that Derryfield taught her how to solve problems and to overcome challenges.

Charlotte Leyden

Charlotte Leyden graduated from Derryfield in 2016 and set her sights on the west. She went on to graduate from Montana State University with a degree in Agricultural Economics. During her time in Montana, she worked at many different ranches, finished her schooling early and met her boyfriend. After she graduated she and her boyfriend moved to Colorado. Last fall was full of amazing experiences for Leyden. She rode her horse 100 miles down the Colorado Trail alongside a group of other women riders. They camped overnight under the stars and rode 25 miles during the day. She then was presented with an opportunity to work for Centennial Livestock Auction Company as a ranch hand. Leyden currently runs livestock and also works in the sale barn where livestock are auctioned on a daily basis to about 400 people. She really enjoys the fast pace and welcoming atmosphere. During her time at Derryfield Leyden became passionate about the Spanish language, fueled by her much admired teacher Judy Reynolds. Leyden is finding her facility with Spanish to be extremely important in her job, as the majority of the customers speak Spanish fluently. Leyden loves what she does and adores that her job is based in the outdoors. She is very grateful to Steven Mathes, her former Derryfield teacher, who encouraged her to pursue her dreams.

“Derryfield pushed me to be my own person and helped me in finding out who I am. Derryfield admired my authenticity which led me to pursue a career in which others admire it as well.” – Charlotte Leyden ‘16

Luke Chapdelaine

Luke Chapdelaine graduated from Derryfield in 2016 and pursued his interest in science. He went on to attend the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, earning his masters’ degree a few months later. His masters thesis paper topic was on the change of blood flow through an artery when the artery is clogged. He used simulations as well as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to measure the blood’s movement. Chapdelaine is working toward getting his thesis paper published publicly, but for now it is currently published at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s library. Earlier this year, he started to work as a mechanical engineer for the Waters Corporation. Waters Corporation is a lab and experimentation company and many biotech and pharmaceutical companies use Waters Corporation’s products and studies. Chapdelaine’s focus is higher performance liquid chromatography, a technique in analytical chemistry that breaks down liquids and deciphers what elements the liquid contains. Waters Corporation had a part in helping both Pfizer and Moderna with the recent COVID-19 vaccine. Chapdelaine is very excited for this new chapter of his life and can’t wait to see what the world of science holds for him.

“Derryfield was where I learned to challenge myself. It bestowed in me a motivation to never give up and to commit. Derryfield really set the groundwork for me to be able to push through any difficulty that comes my way.” – Luke Chapdelaine ‘16.

Phil Tatro

Upon graduating from Derryfield in 2016, Phil Tatro was looking forward to a college experience that would show him what he didn’t know he was missing. Phil found this enlightenment of sorts at Pace University in New York City, where he studied arts and entertainment management. Tatro remembers the transition from small town New Hampshire to the Big Apple as transformational. As the bustle of NYC opened the world for Phil, he found himself doing an internship in a non-partisan government think tank. Recalling a love for history while at DS with Mr. Berk, Tatro decided to continue his deep dive into government and public affairs. Currently, he is interning at the United Nations doing work in publications and public information. Some of his current projects include a sustainable development book club for students in countries like Brazil, Portugal, and Japan; marketing for the UN; and sustainable practices within the publishing industry. He will attend Indiana University in the fall of 2021 to pursue a masters in Public Affairs.

“Derryfield curriculum allowed me the space to try small portions of everything because of how caring and engaged the whole community was. Those later manifested into things that were much more significant in my life” – Phil Tatro ‘16