Every year, thousands of AACPS students graduate from our schools, ready to take the next step to pursue their passion and reach their goals. Then & Now turns the spotlight onto these alumni and asks: Where they are now? What inspired them to choose this path? And how did their experience in AACPS help them get here? Watch our Telly Award-winning series below and vbia AACPS YouTube Playlist!
Katie Wilhelm Smith, South River High School, Class of 1998
Fox45, National Geographic, and now TLC—Katie has spent her career sharing stories through video and television. That passion was ignited at South River High School, where she learned the writing skills to tell a story and was given the freedom to be herself on and off camera.
Wayne Shipley, Arundel High School, Class of 1962
Wayne’s lifelong love of the performing arts began on a high school dare. But over the course of his 30+ years as an English teacher in Anne Arundel County and, later, as an independent filmmaker, Wayne has shared his passion for literature and the arts to help his students—in and out of the classroom—find and follow their own visions for the future.
Maggie Leahy, Severna Park High School, Class of 2007
Maggie’s passion for helping others sparked long before high school, but it was at Severna Park that she learned how fundraising could help make that goal a reality. From organizing SPHS’ first Walk for Uganda to fundraising for a DC-based non-profit to prevent violence around the world, Maggie has spent her career using the skills she learned in school to follow her passion for helping others and do her part to make the world a better place.
Matthew Centrowitz, Broadneck High School, Class of 2007
Matthew started his journey to the Olympics as a Broadneck Bruin. With the support of a his coach, who fostered and encouraged Matt’s natural potential while at Broadneck, Matt has been able to follow his passion as a professional athlete. Hear his incredible journey to bring home a gold medal in 2016 and break the American record and the family that was behind him every step of the way.
Iris Crankfield, Southern High School, Class of 1994
After a negative experience in one of her high school classes, Iris Crankfield turned to the support of her principal and other teachers to share her ideas and help change the culture of her school. This experience fueled a passion for writing and teaching that has allowed her to inspire a new generations of change makers. Now, as an English teacher at South River High School, Iris helps her students see that they, too, have a voice and it deserves to be heard.
Mark Chang, Glen Burnie High School, Class of 1994
Mark Chang always had a heart for public service. With the support and encouragement of his teachers and classmates, Mark found his niche in Glen Burnie High School’s Student Government Association. Now, as a Maryland Delegate for District 32, Mark is able to continue following his passion for giving back to the community that gave so much to him.
Jordan Potter, Annapolis High School, Class of 2011
Jordan always knew he loved working on cars. So after two years in the Automotive Technology Program at CAT South and with the support of the AACPS Internship Program, he became an intern at Tiff’s Foreign Car Care, a specialty care shop that focuses on high-end vehicles, during his senior year of high school. Years later, Jordan is still at Tiff’s, now as the Service Manger & Mechanic and still loves what he does.
