Reflections from IAA Seniors

Written by Sarah Wagner

As the Class of 2025 prepares to graduate from IAA and take the next steps in their journeys, the Interlochen Times asked graduating seniors and postgrads some questions reflecting on their time at the Academy.

What is your favorite Interlochen memory?

From longstanding traditions to spontaneous gatherings with friends, IAA students have made memories to last a lifetime.

Music majors had unforgettable experiences on tour. Lily Wodzisz shared that her favorite memory is the 2024 NYC chamber music tour, and Olivia Sexton highlighted the 2025 Carnegie Hall piano tour.

Students also have fond memories from performances. Mahir Laul, Theatre, said that his favorite memory is the opening night of Volpone. For Evan Whipple, Music, it was performing the Mendelssohn Octet in last year’s Festival.

Casual evenings spent hanging with friends are just as meaningful.

Alaine Garinger, Music, said her favorite memory is “celebrating a friend’s birthday in the DeRoy lobby with cake and card games.”

Sufia Rahman, Music, will always remember the “girls’ night in Meena [Karimi]’s dorm where [Meena] taught me to play the cello.”

Many seniors and postgrads presented a recital or thesis as a culmination of their artistic studies at IAA.

Katia Acosta-Mikulasek, Visual Arts, said her favorite memory is “the day of my senior thesis show. The exhibition was so much fun and my family flew out to come see it. I was so proud of what I was able to create for the show as well.”

What is your favorite spot on campus?

IAA’s peaceful campus in the woods of Northern Michigan is a sanctuary for students to immerse themselves in their art forms.

Sydney Richardson, Music, said her favorite spot on campus is “the picnic table out by the gazebo next to Dow [House]… the trees over there have TONS of birds!”

Students also love the red swing on the field by Dow House (Evan Whipple), Dottie’s Deck (Mahir Laul), and the Sun Decker (Rosie Curwood, Theatre).

Many students’ favorite spots on campus are related to their major. Alaine Garinger’s favorite spot is the Hemingway practice rooms. Kalea Hoffner, Dance, always feels at home in Studio 204 in the Dance Center.

For Clara Walker, Music, her favorite spot is not related to her major: “The Reed Room. (I don't play a reed instrument.)”

What is your favorite Interlochen tradition?

IAA has many school traditions that students look forward to each year. Among students’ favorite annual traditions are Halloweekend (Giselle Swann, Visual Arts), the Nutcracker ballet (Alaine Garinger), the holiday dinner (Clara Walker), Festival week (Sufia Rahman), and the senior/postgrad lock-in (Anni Lopez, Music).

There is one annual tradition that students mentioned over and over: “Street Beat is hard to top!” exclaimed Rosie Curwood.

For many students, it’s the smaller-scale traditions among friends that defined their Interlochen experience.

Sydney Richardson shared that her favorite IAA tradition is “post-studio [class] MoFro” with her fellow horn players.

Do you have any advice for future Academy students?

Attending IAA offers countless opportunities for immersing yourself in your art form, connecting with lifelong friends and mentors, and appreciating nature on campus. Graduating seniors and postgrads shared their advice for future students about how to make the most of their time at IAA.

Sydney Richardson said, “Take more pictures and enjoy the nature around you!”

Olivia Sexton advised to “take advantage of Interlochen’s beautiful campus and spend as much time as you can outside—taking a walk in the woods, sitting by the lake, or eating at Dottie’s Deck!”

Surviving the cold Michigan winters is a common concern, but Kalea Hoffner reminded students that “winters here are long, cold, and grey, but the sun will return eventually.”

Being at an arts boarding school offers the unique opportunity to see hundreds of performances each school year from peers, faculty, and guest artists.

Alaine Garinger encouraged IAA students to “go to as many recitals, events, and shows as you can!”

Tell us about a teacher who was special to you.

IAA’s caring, dedicated teachers make our school the exceptional place that it is. Graduating students shared some of the teachers who helped shape them into the artists and thinkers they are today. 

The relationships between students and their arts instructors are deep and transformative.

Giselle Swann shared that a teacher who is special to her is “Connor Fagan, my painting teacher, who has been like a second father and mentor since I came to Interlochen at 14.”

“Renée Skerik, my viola teacher, is special to me because she sets all of her students up for success by meeting their individual needs,” said Rose Skidmore, Music.

Mahir Laul, Maddie Pace, and Rosie Curwood all mentioned their Theatre teacher Gulshirin Dubash.

“She’s been so much more than a teacher to me. She’s my mentor, my family, and my friend. Her guidance has shaped not just my craft, but the person I’m becoming,” expressed Mahir Laul.

In addition to unwavering support and guidance from arts teachers, it is clear that students are deeply grateful for how their academic teachers have broadened their minds.

Sydney Richardson highlighted Mrs. Libby: “Her English classes gave me an outlet to express my thoughts and opinions. I was always excited to go to her classes.”

Evan Whipple said that math teacher Mrs. Merwin “always brightens my day and is the kindest teacher ever.”

Katia Acosta-Mikulasek thanked “Mr. Heldreth, the physics teacher. His classes are so much fun as well as being informative. I feel like I learn so much in the class by going down theoretical rabbit holes and talking about abstract concepts.”

Finally, Clara Walker gave an enthusiastic shout-out to her English teacher and her flute instructors: “TJ [Timothy Johnson]!!!! … He is such a good teacher and he made me CARE about English so much! I literally always did the reading for his class because it was so wonderful. Anthony Trionfo and Nancy Stagnitta of COURSE changed my life and taught me so many things.”

What is your proudest achievement while at the Academy?

At an arts boarding school, students’ accomplishments go beyond those of the average high schooler. The Interlochen Times asked graduating students about their proudest achievements while at IAA.

Maddie Pace’s proudest moment was playing Julie Jordan in Carousel, and for Lily Wodzisz, it was winning the Senior Division of the American Viola Society Competition.

Kalea Hoffner said, “My proudest achievement is receiving an English academic award at the end of my junior year. I am also proud that I danced Snow Queen in the 2024 Nutcracker.”

Rose Skidmore shared that her proudest accomplishment was “getting into colleges with great scholarships!”

Soph Stentz, Theatre, will always be proud of “getting my personal essay about tutoring a Ukrainian student through wartime, titled ‘Tethered by Love,’ published.”

What is one life lesson you learned while at the Academy?

At IAA, students learn invaluable lessons that will stay with them long after they walk across the stage.

When asked to share one life lesson she learned at IAA, Sydney Richardson said, “So many to choose from, but the one that sticks out is the value of having outlets outside of your art.”

Olivia Sexton remarked, “The friends that you make at Interlochen will be friends that you have for your entire life!”

Students also shared meaningful lessons about self-worth and learning in an intense artistic environment.

For Kalea Hoffner, an important lesson was, “The success of others does not diminish your own worth.”

Cloe Abner, Music, expressed, “I can’t be mad at myself for not knowing something. I need to ask questions and have patience with myself to figure it out.”

Mahir Laul’s biggest lesson was, “Discipline is more important than motivation—because when motivation fades (and it always does), the habits and structure you’ve built are what carry you forward.”

Finally, Soph Stentz shared a short and sweet life lesson: “People are everything.”

How are you feeling about graduating and leaving Interlochen?

Graduating from IAA comes with a whole host of feelings, from sadness about leaving high school behind to excitement about what comes next. The Interlochen Times asked graduating students to share how they’re feeling about graduating at the end of this week.

Katia Acosta-Mikulasek shared, “I am so excited to attend UCLA in the fall, but I know that I will miss Interlochen. As much as I like to complain about the little things, Interlochen has been one of the best experiences of my life. Both me as a person and my art have improved immensely while attending Interlochen. I can't wait to see what the future will hold for me, and Interlochen has really given me a leg up in experience and technical ability.”

“It’s a mix of excitement and sadness about graduating and leaving Interlochen. On one hand, I’m ready for the next chapter and everything I’ve worked toward. But on the other hand, Interlochen has been such a huge part of my growth—it’s hard to imagine not being surrounded by this kind of creativity and intensity every day,” commented Mahir Laul.

“I'm so excited for what's ahead and the freedom that college will allow, but I'm really going to miss the friends I've made,” remarked Lily Wodzisz.

Soph Stentz expressed that graduating from IAA is “bittersweet, but I feel really ready to move on. Interlochen prepared me well, and I know this place will always be my home and that I can always come back.”

Thank you to these graduating seniors and postgrads for sharing what makes IAA so special. Without a doubt, there is nowhere like Interlochen, and graduating students have countless memories, friendships, and pieces of wisdom that they will carry with them across the stage and for life.