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Lelyn Scurlark '14: Building Dreams, Inspiring the Next Generation
Lelyn Scurlark still remembers the question that changed everything.
Riding in the car as a kid, he looked out at rows of identical houses and asked his dad: "Why do they all look the same?"
When he learned architects designed buildings, Lelyn knew exactly what he wanted to become—someone who could change that.
Today: Senior project engineer in construction management
The journey: His childhood architecture dream evolved into engineering as his love for math and science deepened through middle and high school. But the core stayed the same: building things that matter.
The Westerly impact: "It was where I first proved to myself that I could achieve difficult things. As an adult, these have been essential pieces in my success."
Full-Circle Moment
This winter, Lelyn watched his younger brother Leighton—a current Westerly student—complete the iconic Egg Drop Challenge.
"I could not be more proud of him," Lelyn shares. "There's no better feeling than seeing something you worked on perform even better than you imagined."
The project reminded him of his own Westerly days. In art class, his teacher encouraged him to create a project in PowerPoint—his comfort zone—rather than traditional media.
"That project was the most fun I had in art class," he recalls. "Problem-solving and teamwork have been so important in my career. I can credit Westerly for shaping my focus on those two things."
In one sentence, Lelyn's Westerly experience:
"It gave me a head start in understanding the importance of relationships and accountability for my own success."
As our first Campus Connections feature, we are excited to spotlight Noah Jiménez (Class of 2021), one of our 8th grade graduates who is now a freshman in college in Oregon — stepping into independence with confidence, curiosity, and heart.
When Noah reflects on his time at Westerly, music rises to the top.
He was given the freedom to choose his instrument, knowing that progress — not perfection — was the goal. When he first picked up the trumpet, he admits he “wasn’t that good.” But what mattered was the effort. The consistency. The willingness to improve.
That mindset — growth over perfection — built resilience.
Under the guidance of Ms. Geiser, music became a place of both challenge and encouragement. Her belief in her students inspired Noah to continue singing in choir for all four years of high school. What began in the Westerly music room became a sustained commitment — and a confidence that carried forward.
Choir taught him to listen deeply. To blend. To understand how his contribution affected the whole. If one person rushed or drifted off key, everyone felt it. That awareness shaped how he now approaches college discussions, internships, and professional environments — attentive, collaborative, prepared.
At Westerly, Noah also stepped onto a different kind of stage — performing a cultural dance alongside his family. Standing in front of his peers and representing his heritage required courage. It affirmed something lasting: his culture and his story belonged here. That sense of belonging continues to ground him.
Through a Westerly connection, Noah was introduced to Nguyen Law right here in Long Beach. What began as early exposure turned into four consecutive years of high school internships. Each year brought deeper mentorship, expanded responsibility, and growing clarity about his future in the legal field. Now, even as a college student in Oregon, he continues that relationship through a paid internship with the same firm — a testament to consistency, trust, and community.
Yet what he values most in hindsight is the balance.
College has brought academic rigor and high expectations — and he feels prepared. But he’s especially grateful that his years at Westerly were shaped by more than academics alone. Leaning into the arts, committing to music, and performing publicly gave him a creative lens he now sees as essential.
“The balance really matters,” he shared. “Focusing on more than just academics helped me become a more complete learner.”
Music strengthened his discipline. The arts strengthened his creativity. Performance strengthened his confidence. Community strengthened his social awareness.
Together, they shaped him into a balanced learner — someone who thrives not only in lecture halls, but in relationships.
At the center of it all is his love of learning. Bigger classrooms and more complex material don’t overwhelm him — they energize him. Curiosity has enhanced every chapter, from rehearsals to internships to campus life.
And his connection to Westerly remains strong.
Noah regularly returns to campus to volunteer at events and to serve on the high school alumni panel, sharing his experiences with current Wildcats as they consider their next chapter. He is eager to stay engaged whenever opportunities arise — a living reminder that community doesn’t end at graduation.
From trumpet practice to four years of choir, from cultural performances to Nguyen Law in Long Beach, from lecture halls in Oregon back to campus panels at Westerly, the thread remains constant:
Community nurtured him.
Curiosity drives him.
Connection sustains him.
Alex Jackson '03: Leadership in Business & Board Service
Alex recently completed the prestigious USC Food Industry Management and Executive Program—calling it “the most transformative four months of my career.”
Her Westerly connection:
13th year on Westerly's Board of Trustees,
Board Chair since 2023
Produce management at Frieda’s Branded Produce
Pictured: Alex and her family on her wedding day
Personal Milestone: Alex also got married last summer!
