Meet Our Alums
The results of the GMS experience speak for themselves. Our graduates go on to become engineers and executive directors, teachers and therapists, innovation strategists and artists. No matter their high school or college choice, or where their careers take them, one thing remains true for a GMS graduate—they each define and design their own path, then pursue it courageously.
In their high schools, colleges, and beyond, our graduates embrace challenges with confidence, know and believe in themselves, and find success in their many endeavors.
Alum Voices
Julia Shapiro ’04
High School: Palo Alto High School
College: Whitman College' 12 B.A. Psychology, minor in Art
"I could express myself fully [at GMS]. I was so weird, and I still am!"
Vanessa Ibara ’04
High School: Eastside Preparatory
College: Mount Holyoke College '12 B.A. in Psychology and Early Childhood Education
"I was encouraged to ask questions and be a self-directed learner. Teachers were warm, empathetic, and extremely supportive."
Emily Laiterman ’06
High School: Los Gatos High School
College: Carnegie Mellon University '13 B.S. in Computer Science, minor in Linguistics
Emily remembers GMS as "a safe place to be whoever you want to be."
Paloma Raffle ’19
High School: Palo Alto High School
College: UC Berkeley '27 Applied Math & Cognitive Science
"GMS was the most 'homey' place that you can be at, which is one of the best gifts you can give to yourself during the sensitive and intense years of middle school!"
Emily Finke ’14
High School: Menlo School
College: Bard University '24 Master of Music
University of Miami '22 Bachelor of Music
University of Miami '22 Bachelor of Music
"My time at GMS played a big part in the person I am today. GMS was the first place I felt comfortable being myself and felt truly accepted by my peers and teachers."
Michelle Louie ’16
High School: Menlo School
College: Johns Hopkins University M.S. in Biotechnology
Middlebury College '24 B.A. in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
Middlebury College '24 B.A. in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry
“GMS gave me a nurturing environment for the pivotal years of middle school and helped me to succeed academically.”
Natasha Yen ’17
High School: Harker High School
College: Pitzer College '25 B.A. in Sociology & Environmental Analysis with Honors, minor in Asian American Studies
“My time at GMS has played an important role in developing my self-confidence and sense of social responsibility.”
Samaria Bernales ‘ 12
High School: Woodside High School
College: UC Merced '20 B.A. in Management, Business, & Economics, minor in Spanish
“I stand here as a testament to what GMS and The Bennett Scholars Program make possible. GMS gave me more than an education; it gave me friends, community, resilience, confidence, and direction.”
Madeline Cotton ’14
High School: Lakeside School
College: Carnegie Mellon University '23 BArch, Architecture
“In many ways, GMS laid the foundation for my career and adult life.”
Celeste Fenton ’13
High School: Pinewood School
College: University of Colorado Boulder '22 B.A. in History & B.F.A. in Technical Theatre/Theatre Design & Technology
“GMS proved to me that I don’t need to compromise my personality or interests to be successful.”
Emily Laiterman '06
Carnegie Mellon
Localization Project Manager, Apple
"GMS is a safe place to be whoever you want to be"
Localization Project Manager, Apple
"GMS is a safe place to be whoever you want to be"
Vanessa Ibara '04
Mount Holyoke College
Lead Teacher, The Primary School
"I was encouraged to ask questions and be a self-directed learner. Teachers were warm empathetic, and extremely supportive."
Lead Teacher, The Primary School
"I was encouraged to ask questions and be a self-directed learner. Teachers were warm empathetic, and extremely supportive."
Julia Shapiro '04
Whitman College
Guitarist, singer, songwriter
"I could express myself fully [at GMS].
Guitarist, singer, songwriter
"I could express myself fully [at GMS].
Emily Finke
Michelle Louie
Paloma Raffle
Carly Robison Class of 2010
Software Engineer at Waymo LLC
CalTech grad 2018
I'm a software engineer at Waymo on the Planning team, making autonomous cars happen. I'm also the Lead Mentor for a high school FIRST team, am living with my partner in Minneapolis where we regularly host Crafternoons, and I am an avid canyoneer, caver, whitewater kayaker, sailor, and backpacker.
GMS is the reason I'm a software engineer in Robotics today. The required computer science classes, along with the all-girls' environment, gave me the skills, curiosity, and confidence to propel me into this career and keep me in it. My GMS friends are lifelong cheerleaders -- we've known each other 15 years and still make pies together and show up to each others' weddings.”
CalTech grad 2018
I'm a software engineer at Waymo on the Planning team, making autonomous cars happen. I'm also the Lead Mentor for a high school FIRST team, am living with my partner in Minneapolis where we regularly host Crafternoons, and I am an avid canyoneer, caver, whitewater kayaker, sailor, and backpacker.
GMS is the reason I'm a software engineer in Robotics today. The required computer science classes, along with the all-girls' environment, gave me the skills, curiosity, and confidence to propel me into this career and keep me in it. My GMS friends are lifelong cheerleaders -- we've known each other 15 years and still make pies together and show up to each others' weddings.”
Madeline Cotton Class of 2014
Carnegie Mellon Architecture 2023
Lead Teacher, The Primary School
GMS nurtured and cemented in me a passion for knowledge and conviction to learn that has carried through my academic and professional life. My time at GMS reminds me of a quote from Frank Herbert's Dune: "[She] learned rapidly because [her] first training was in how to learn. And the first lesson of all was the basic trust that [she] could learn.”
Lead Teacher, The Primary School
GMS nurtured and cemented in me a passion for knowledge and conviction to learn that has carried through my academic and professional life. My time at GMS reminds me of a quote from Frank Herbert's Dune: "[She] learned rapidly because [her] first training was in how to learn. And the first lesson of all was the basic trust that [she] could learn.”
Hannah Schneider Class of 2015
Scripps Media Studies 2023
"To this day GMS shapes who I am as a thinker and how I want to be as a leader and community member. Specifically in a male dominated industry and one in which women and gender non- conforming individuals are still assumed to be fans rather than critical thinkers and are underrepresented in leadership roles. GMS has made me resilient and unafraid to assert my opinion and advocate for my expertise. It has influenced who I am as an empowered person who can contribute and push a team forward. ".
"To this day GMS shapes who I am as a thinker and how I want to be as a leader and community member. Specifically in a male dominated industry and one in which women and gender non- conforming individuals are still assumed to be fans rather than critical thinkers and are underrepresented in leadership roles. GMS has made me resilient and unafraid to assert my opinion and advocate for my expertise. It has influenced who I am as an empowered person who can contribute and push a team forward. ".
Maya Malavasi Class of 2016
Case Western Reserve CS 2025
"GMS gave me confidence to speak up in class and answer questions, and a love for learning! Also, GMS introduced me to CS for the first time, which ended up being my major - thanks for changing the course of my life!"
"GMS gave me confidence to speak up in class and answer questions, and a love for learning! Also, GMS introduced me to CS for the first time, which ended up being my major - thanks for changing the course of my life!"
Grazzia Bhatia Class of 2017
Georgetown Economics 2025
"GMS gave me the courage and the confidence to work for what I wanted and create my own reality. I came to GMS absolutely terrified of math and scared of failure. GMS gave me the skills to take on new challenges and embrace failure as a step to success. I would not be where I am today without those three years. I am very grateful to GMS for everything."
"GMS gave me the courage and the confidence to work for what I wanted and create my own reality. I came to GMS absolutely terrified of math and scared of failure. GMS gave me the skills to take on new challenges and embrace failure as a step to success. I would not be where I am today without those three years. I am very grateful to GMS for everything."
Our Alum Association is a network of over 1,000 graduates spanning 25 years. Join today!
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You can’t typecast a GMS girl because a GMS girl is every girl at her best.
Alum