11th Annual Gala for Gryphons Sees Incredible Generosity from ERA Community

Your Ideas, Your Legacy! Join the Crew.

Picture this: alumni-run, alumni-approved! The mission? To brainstorm fun ways to bring our diverse community together, throw great events, and spread the alumni love far and wide.

But hold up – we need the creativity and energy of you, the ERA alumni! How would you like to contribute to our alumni newsletter, be the brains behind event planning, or an MVP for alumni outreach? Want to be a part of the magic but craving some familiar company? Grab a friend and join the crew!

We have the following Alumni Association Opportunities:

📰 Editor of Alumni Newsletter

🎉 Alumni Event Planning Team

🤝 Alumni Association Membership Support

Let’s make memories, spread good vibes, and build a community that's as awesome and diverse as you all are.

We can't wait to hear from you!

For questions, updates, feedback about anything within this newsletter:

Contact Allison Brady at abrady@eagleridgeacademy.org or Kelly Schiffman at kschiffman@eagleridgeacademy.org.

Alumni Class Notes

Your Updates Here!

Spotlight on Alumni

From ERA to Biotech: Fiona Kaster ‘17 embraces a balance of science and creativity.

Text by Allison Brady

Fiona shared, “ERA impacted my college experience a lot, especially because I intentionally chose a small college because of what I liked about ERA. I was also able to balance my science and creative sides in college just like I got to do at ERA, which was extremely important to me. I even met my partner through improv, which I never would have done if not for ERA’s improv club.”

After college, Fiona delved into the intricacies of xenotransplant immunology at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Department of Surgery. Specializing in cell culture, her work involved cultivating non-human primate bone marrow cells, contributing to the study of transplanting non-human organs into humans. The culmination of two

years of dedication resulted in a breakthrough, marking a significant milestone in her professional journey.

Though she enjoyed her work for the U of M, Fiona’s career journey continued with a shift to the biotechnology sector, where she has found fulfillment as a Quality Associate for cell culture, where she ensures the cultures produced are the highest quality possible for use in research. The intricate and detail-oriented nature of her work allowed her to leverage skills in new and exciting ways, adding another layer to her evolving career path.

Beyond the realm of work, Fiona has a diverse set of interests. A sci-fi enthusiast, she authored a manuscript for a novel and is currently delving into the creation of another. Her passion for wildlife biology and native turtle conservation manifested through volunteer work with the Minnesota Herpetological Society and ongoing contributions at the Como Zoo.

Looking ahead, she envisions a future that embraces a multitude of passions. Fiona is contemplating graduate school, but the specifics remain uncertain, given her various interests. She’s hoping to publish her novels and participate in theater, where she is looking to navigate a path back to the stage—an ambition momentarily paused by the challenges of the pandemic.

Voices

Celebrating 20 years of ERA: School Founders and Leaders

As alumni, you may remember one of Eagle Ridge’s most joyous traditions–the annual Door Decorating Contest. This year, the theme of the contest was Celebrating 20 years of ERA. Our newest School of Grammar class, Classical Enrichment in which students learn to use their voice through speaking and writing, took this opportunity to interview some people who have been key to the past twenty years. Students wrote thoughtful questions and invited many in for interviews. Because there is little else that can speak to the last twenty years as well as the voices of all the stakeholders that have been part of it, here are a few of the gems that came from the interviews. We hope you enjoy them as much as we did! We are so thankful for each contribution of all that have been part of the last twenty years of Eagle Ridge Academy!

School Founders (interviews conducted via email exchange)

Why did you want to make ERA Classical?

We decided on a classical education because we believed it is the best method for teaching students how to learn and think. Students get to read the best books, study the best works of art and music, and learn about the most important events in history as well as study the sciences and how our amazing world works.

- Cindy Ripple, Founder

There was a feeling that students needed to have a solid foundation in the basic tenets of education which could be found in the classics.

- Ken Greener, Founder

What rules did you start the school with? Why did you choose these rules?

I think the most important rule was having the students wear uniforms. We chose this rule to put the focus on learning and so students would be known and appreciated for their character, not their clothes.

- Cindy Ripple, Founder

What are the most important things you wanted all students to know? Education is a gift. Get as much out of it as you can and keep learning your whole life!

- Cindy Ripple, Founder

School Leaders (interview conducted in-person)

What do you think Eagle Ridge does well?

I think there are so many things Eagle Ridge does well. We get a chance to learn from other schools and other schools love to learn from us. They see Eagle Ridge as a really good school. I think a lot of it has to do with the students who choose to come here. I think the teachers here are the best teachers. My daughter is in first grade at Eagle Ridge too and I wouldn’t choose to send her anywhere else.

- Susan Bloomgren, Director of Academics

I think there are a lot of things Eagle Ridge does well, but I’ll just talk about a couple. First thing I think we do well is we care for students. I think your teachers really care for you and that’s important. Number two, we take education very seriously.

- Jason Ulbrich, Executive Director

What do you want the future to be like for Eagle Ridge?

It would be a dream of mine if all kids that started in Kindergarten chose to graduate because I believe that what we do here is best if kids stay here the whole time.

- Susan Bloomgren, Director of Academics

Here’s the future–it’s not so much for Eagle Ridge as an organization, but for you as an individual. There are three main things I want students to have. Number one, I want you to be able to self-govern. That means you’re able to be in charge of yourself–your behavior and your decisions…The other thing is that you’re going to learn more after you leave school if you love learning. I want you to love learning…Lastly, I want everyone here to be a leader. I want you to lead companies, schools, I want you to lead your family, because then you make a difference in this world.

- Jason Ulbrich, Executive Director

What is your favorite thing about working here?

My favorite thing about working here is that I get to have schole with people I care about, people I enjoy spending my time with. We get to have rigorous conversation and debate and discourse, and we get to dream about what to do next. (After students were surprised that he said he daydreamed:) Yes we do, we dream. But here’s the difference between a daydream and a vision. A vision–you make things happen. A daydream, you just dream about it all day and you never make it happen. A vision is when you make it happen and I get to work with a team where we get things done.

- Jason Ulbrich, Executive Director

Teachers who have been at Eagle Ridge for 20 years

(interview conducted in-person)

What are some great things the school has done in twenty years?

I think that the greatest things that the school has done has been to help form some great people. So all the many graduates we’ve had since 2008, I think that is our greatest accomplishment.

- Lisa Johnson, Art Teacher

…I think one of the great things we do for our students is teaching them how to work through really hard things and how to work through really challenging schoolwork….

- Erin Johnson, School of Rhetoric Principal

What are the most important things you want all your students to know?

That they are loved and that they are important.

-Ms. Tillotson, Librarian

I think the most important thing in a Classical school is I want students to know how to be their best selves, to develop scholarly habits, and to go on and be the best people they can be–people of virtue, knowing how to discern truth, beauty, and goodness.

-Lisa Johnson, Art Teacher

Parents of current students (interview conducted via online form)

What do you like about your child going to ERA?

The focus in on learning and character development.

The belief in each child to excel and the values that these future leaders will need.

Can you please tell us something your child learned you thought was fabulous?

Respect, responsibility, and leadership.

My first grader was not interested in reading but right now he’s motivated and his love of reading has been awakened. He is eager to learn more now.

How might CIPHER help your child in the future?

I think CIPHER will help my child in the future because these characteristics will allow them to be natural leaders, think critically, and be grateful for the truth and beauty in their lives.

I think these are foundational pillars that are very important for them to understand, apply, and take pride not just as a student but also as a citizen.

For all information about Eagle Ridge Academy, please visit www.eagleridgeacademy.org.