Meet Our Student Tour Guides

Zoie Calora

I have been going to Catlin since preschool and currently am a junior. My favorite classes so far have been English and Math. I love playing basketball at Catlin and enjoy piano, painting, and doing calligraphy outside of school. I have an older sister who graduated from Catlin last year. My family enjoys trying different restaurants together and one of our favorites is Din Tai Fung. We also like going to the Philippines to see our relatives.

Adrian Cisowski

Hello! My name is Adrian Cisowski, and I am currently a junior here at Catlin. When I joined Catlin as a freshmen, my interests were mainly focused around the athletic sides, through the soccer and golf teams, but over the past year I have taken to the volunteering opportunities here instead. Through Catlin, I have had the opportunities to help my peers with math, help middle schoolers with any homework questions they had, and even worked through the entire summer at Catlin summer camps.

Jordan Devlin

I joined the Catlin community in 6th grade and I am currently in 10th grade. Inside the Catlin community, I participate in the drama program, along with being a leader of the game club my Freshman year. My favorite subjects are English and Drama. Outside of school, I am a gymnast, and I coach gymnastics as well. I love to read and write, and I also enjoy singing and listening to music.

Chip Downes-Le Guin

Hello! I joined Catlin in 7th grade, and am currently entering my sophomore year. I am a part of Catlin's basketball and theater programs. This year I’m also starting the BLS student assistant program. Outside of school, I like to cook, play card games at my local game store, and hike. My favorite subjects are English and math.

Tyler George

I joined Catlin in kindergarten, moved to Amsterdam for 1st and 2nd grade, and then returned in 3rd grade and am now a sophomore. I compete in Track & Field and Mock Trial. My other interests include Post 58, a local mountaineering organization; piano, listening to music; working out and exercising; and spending time with friends and family. My favorite subjects in school are math and Spanish. I have two brothers who just graduated from Catlin, so I can offer insight into other Catlin activities like student government, soccer, basketball, golf, and baseball. My favorite things about Catlin include the small class sizes and challenging academics.

Gaia Gonzalez

I first came to Catlin when I was in 7th grade, and I am now a junior. I love language-learning and the sciences, and some things I do for fun are penpalling and journaling. I transferred to Catlin from an American School in Brazil, and I lived in Colombia before that. Other than what I previously mentioned, I also love listening to music and hanging out with my friends!

Bristol Hager

I came to Catlin as a kindergartener and will be entering my junior year this fall. Some of my favorite subjects are theater tech and English. At Catlin, I have participated in the theater program as well as the sports program. Outside of Catlin, I dance at Classical Ballet Academy where I take ballet.

Brittney Haldorsen

I joined Catlin in 7th grade and am now a sophomore. I know what it's like to be a new student. Even after being in the Middle School I was still quite nervous to transition to Upper School, but I quickly realized there was nothing to fear and that all my teachers and the older kids made my experience very smooth. I have been playing volleyball and basketball since I was in elementary school so I continued to play at Catlin, and the pre-seasons of both sports really helped me get to know the older students. I also participated for the first year in our tennis team, which is quite strong, and last season we were undefeated.

Colette Hyde

I came to Catlin in 7th grade, and I am now a senior. My favorite subject is science, and I have enjoyed taking unique classes at Catlin such as Honors Molecular Biology and Genetics. I play volleyball and tennis, and help to lead the GIRLS Rock club, which aims to involve more female and non-binary elementary students in science. Outside of school, I volunteer at a hospital and love to windsurf! I really enjoy meeting new people and showing them my favorite aspects of Catlin Gabel!

Owen Jones

I came to Catlin in 9th grade from Northwest Academy. My favorite subjects are English and history, and I also play for the Catlin soccer and track teams. Another hobby of mine is ultimate frisbee. I also participated in the Catlin Gabel jazz band for a year.

Elise Kim

I am a sophomore who came to Catlin as a 9th grader from Gilkey International MS. I was quite nervous coming to Catlin but I quickly realized I had nothing to fear because from the very beginning I was greeted with open arms. I enjoy playing soccer, basketball, and tennis for Catlin and playing club soccer for FC Portland. My favorite subjects include English, French and social studies. I am part of the Asian Affinity Club, the Girls Rock Club, and Healing Hands. Some of my other hobbies include story writing, reading, baking, and volunteering for Blanchet House! As a student ambassador, I have made it my personal goal to make sure incoming high schoolers feel just as included and welcomed as I felt.

Maxim Kim

I started at Catlin in 6th grade and since then I've developed a love for comp. sci., math, and science. I’m half Korean and Chinese and co-lead a club that honors Asian culture. I’m also the school’s secretary, a player for the soccer and baseball team, and a member of various other clubs. In my free time, I like reading, playing video games, and occasionally making video games and writing stories. My older brother graduated here and my younger sister and I will soon follow, so I’m really excited to show new students what I’ve experienced while I can.

Tai Leong

I joined Catlin Gabel as a very shy 7th grader from a large public school, and I am now a senior! Coming from a very medicine-oriented family, I have an inclination towards health care and I have taken most of Catlin Gabel’s science courses. I am also a member of the Asian Affinity Club and SOLVE. Outside of school, I am a very competitive tennis player. I’ve grown and learned a lot throughout my Catlin career as a direct result of the very welcoming environment. I do also have some perspective as to how it compares to larger private schools as well as public schools through my own experiences and those of my friends.

Riddhi Mahajan

I joined Catlin in 7th grade after moving from Virginia, and I am now a sophomore. I have moved around quite a bit so I have experience being a new kid. One thing that surprised me about Catlin was how genuinely kind and helpful everybody was. The tight knit community is definitely something I really appreciate. I’m on the tennis team, in Morning Choir, co-lead the DESI affinity group, and have taken part in theater productions. Outside of school, I spend time doing arts and crafts, learning Indian classical singing, and volunteering at the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. My favorite subjects include math, Spanish, science, and art. I’m happy to share my experiences and knowledge of the school with you!

Elsa McDermott

I started at Catlin as a 6th grader and am now a senior. Throughout my time in the Upper School I have loved all my classes, but have been especially interested in science and English. At Catlin, I play volleyball and tennis, as well as participate in the Booster Club and Feminism Club. Off campus, I play club volleyball. In my free time, I like to hike, read, and spend time with my friends!

Mazli Mehr

I entered Catlin Gabel in kindergarten and am now a senior. At Catlin, I love that we are able to take classes that interest us personally. For example, I took Evolutionary Biology and Climate Change last year. I run a program in which I invite students on the autism spectrum from the Program for Intellectual Empowerment to Catlin to interact with our students. We play games, volunteer in the Portland community, and build relationships with one another. Outside of school, I have been doing aerial arts (like silks and trapeze) since fourth grade, which I’m very passionate about!

Nadya Poisac-Nguyen

I entered Catlin in 6th grade and am currently a senior. Out of the many activities and sports Catlin has to offer, I’m involved with the volleyball team, track team, and the school musical. I also co-lead Healing Hands, our blood drive club, and outside of Catlin I volunteer with the Red Cross at blood drives, as well. Out of all the unique classes here some of my favorites I’ve taken are photography, kinesiology, and French!

George Pritchard

My first year at Catlin was in 6th grade, and I’m now entering my senior year. I have enjoyed a variety of classes at Catlin, and my favorites include Dialogue for Democracy, which is a journalism class, as well as history and photography. Outside of the classroom, I love playing sports, primarily soccer and baseball which I am the captain of both. I am also one of our class presidents and co-lead CommuniCare, which is a fundraising club. Off campus, I love hanging out with my friends, traveling with my family, and playing with my pets.

Raul Rendon Benitez

I have attended Catlin since sixth grade. I play soccer both at Catlin and for club. Playing soccer at Catlin has showed me very different aspects of the game, which is one of the reasons I love playing here. Balancing school and soccer has always been a challenge, but teachers here are very supportive. Apart from soccer at Catlin, I take part in the Hispanic affinity group and investment club, which have both been great.

Donnie Reuther

I started at Catlin Gabel in preschool, and I am now a Junior. Some of my favorite classes are science, English, and theater tech. Outside of school work, I lead the Catlin Gabel Quiz Bowl team, enjoy stage managing in the theater department, and am a member of the Asian Affinity group. Outside of school, I enjoy playing D&D, reading, playing video games, and spending time with my dogs. I also enjoy traveling, and I do outreach work in underfunded communities both in Portland and in the Philippines.

Jonah Reznick

I came to Catlin in sixth grade and now am a sophomore. I am a part of Catlin’s soccer and baseball teams, and I play club soccer. I've also been involved in Communicare, a club that works to raise money for student chosen organizations through organized fundraisers. I’m also a member of the Investment Club where we learn about how to manage our money and plan for our futures. This year, I will be teaching some personal finance classes to middle school students. Although all of the extracurricular activities at Catlin are amazing, what I think makes Catlin a special place is the teachers. I cannot stress enough how much the teachers at Catlin are each student’s best resource and are genuinely happy to help and guide.

Ben Rosenfeld

I’m a senior and have been at Catlin Gabel since preschool. The classes that I enjoy the most are computer science, Spanish, and math. My favorite extracurriculars are robotics, tutoring, and serving as Catlin’s Student Body President. I also enjoy playing on the soccer, basketball, tennis, and cross country teams for Catlin. In my free time, I like to read, play violin, and ski.

Alyssa Sanchez

I enrolled at Catlin Gabel as a ninth grader from St. Matthew Catholic School. Learning new concepts has always been enjoyable at Catlin, and my favorite subject is English. I participate in club swimming, and I’m happy to say I’m a member of the Catlin swim team. Freshman year, I joined robotics with no prior knowledge and am currently a part of the mechanical department. I also work as a lifeguard and meeting new people and helping children is the best part of my job. Outside of school, I enjoy reading and spending time with my friends and family.

Niah Sei

I enrolled at Catlin in the 4th grade, and I’m now a senior. Throughout my time at Catlin, my favorite classes have been math, history, photography, and honors portfolio. I play basketball and was one of the freshman class presidents. I am currently the leader of the affinity group TRIBE, which stands for The Real Inseparable Black Experience, co-leader of the club POC Voiced Heard, co-leader of the Booster Club, which supports school spirit, and the Student Inclusivity Coordinator. Outside of school, I work at summer camps and babysit. I enjoy traveling, photography, binging movies/tv shows, and spending time with friends and family.

Sana Shah

I joined Catlin in 6th grade from Oregon Episcopal School and am a sophomore. At Catlin, I participate in the Robotics team as a software manager, in a club called Communicare which fundraises thousands of dollars each year to donate to various nonprofits, and am a co-leader of the DESI affinity group. I enjoy STEM, playing piano, various forms of art (such as dance and watercolor), being in the outdoors, reading, and spending time with family/friends. I love Catlin for the freedom and opportunities that are given, and the close community.

Emma Shields

I came to Catlin Gabel in sixth grade and am now a junior. I love all of my classes, but especially enjoy science and English! I've played volleyball for Catlin Gabel since sixth grade and am also the co-leader of Portland Babies with Books! Last summer, I worked as a teacher’s assistant at Portland Montessori Collaborative and will be interning at Westside Pediatrics starting in November. In my free time, I enjoyed spending time with my friends and family, reading, sewing, and playing with my dogs!

Milo Stout

I am a junior this year, and I came to Catlin in kindergarten. I am involved with sports at Catlin; I play soccer for both club and school, as well as basketball for school. I am also a member of a couple clubs at Catlin, such as EAT (environmental action team), Investment Club, and Healing Hands, and I hope to start my own club this year that volunteers with a nonprofit organization called HOPE. I enjoy STEM classes, and some of my favorite classes have been science, and computer science. In my free time, I love to play sports, be in nature, hike, listen to music, and spend time with friends and family.

Aditi Subramaniam

I joined Catlin in 8th grade after moving from California and am now a sophomore. I joined Catlin during Covid and what stood out was the welcoming community and the support despite being online. It only got better after we were in person. I co-lead the DESI Affinity and another club called From Reading to Leading, where we read to young kids and provide them with books to help narrow the reading disparity. Outside of school, I am on a youth committee for Multnomah County, and I’m a rower. I also love to cook/bake, read, play and listen to music, and spend time with my family and friends! My favorite subjects are English and history. I am happy to share my experiences!

Colin Turner

I came to Catlin Gabel as a 6th grader from a nearby Portland Public School. I am now a senior and have been really enjoying learning classical piano and learning about politics and the humanities. I have been a JV soccer player, but most of my extracurriculars revolve around politics and music. One of my favorite experiences at Catlin has been forming a music ensemble with my friends last year and winning districts and going to state. Outside of school, I really enjoy skiing and playing with my dog.

Eva Vu-Stern

I am a junior who came to Catlin in 6th grade after attending my neighborhood public school. I really appreciate all the opportunities to explore what I’m interested in and how the student-to-teacher ratio really encourages self-advocacy. Some of my favorite classes are arts, sciences, and English. I am also heavily involved in school sports. I’m co-captain of the cross country team, and on the tennis and track and field teams, and hopefully I will also join the swim team! I am also excited to be co-leading the Upper and Middle School Environmental Action Team and the Asian Affinity group. Outside of school, I play piano and do a lot of drawing!

Willa Whalen Stewart

I came to Catlin Gabel as a new student in ninth grade from Arbor School. I am now a senior and enjoy all of my classes, especially science and English. I play varsity soccer and JV tennis but also play year-round club soccer for Portland City United. In my free time, I enjoy getting outside with my family, watersports, and baking. I look forward to showing you around campus!

Andrew Xu

I joined Catlin in high school and am going into my junior year. At Catlin, I enjoy taking the Palma Seminar, as well as the many science classes our school has to offer. Outside of school, I fence competitively, practicing every weekday. In my free time, I love to sleep. Sleeping is my passion, and I guess astronomy, too. Feel free to ask me any questions that you have about Catlin!

Liza Yoshida

I joined Catlin Gabel in 8th grade, during the Covid pandemic. I’m currently a sophomore, and the time I’ve spent in Catlin in-person and online has been amazing. I participate in a number of clubs including Robotics and Mock Trial, and I particularly enjoy science. In my free time, I like to practice art and practice my Japanese. I love Catlin for all the opportunities it gives you, and I’m so excited for you to learn more about our school!

Charlie Ziehl

I came to Catlin in eighth grade, and now I’m in my senior year. The classes that I enjoy the most are math courses and science electives. During my time in the Upper School, I’ve played soccer, tennis, and participated in track and field. Outside of school, I work a part-time job in a restaurant. In my free time, I like to listen to music, play guitar, and exercise. I look forward to welcoming you into our community here at Catlin!