Alumni Tee Off for CSS Athletics

Shout out to our amazing alumni who joined the CSS Booster Club's First Annual CSS Cup on September 23 as part of Alumni Weekend! Joey Chavez '17, Kate Griffin '20, Hayden Hocate '20, and Leggatt Kerek '20 represented alumni on the course at this charity golf tournament benefitting CSS Athletics. Please join us for more Alumni Weekend events happening this weekend!

Celebrating the 2025 Founders' Day Honoree

We are delighted to announce that Judy Von Ahlefeldt, affectionately known as "Mrs. Von," has been selected as the 2025 Founders' Day honoree! Judy was a dedicated CSS science teacher from 1971 to 1979, and she has since made significant contributions to our community, including the publication of the "Black Forest News" weekly newsletter and her insightful book, "Thunder, Sun and Snow: A History of Colorado's Black Forest." Her unwavering passion for education, conservation, and the art of storytelling, particularly in the wake of personal loss during the Black Forest fire, serves as a beacon of inspiration for everyone fortunate enough to know her.

We will celebrate Judy's accomplishments and legacy at the Founders' Day Celebration on Monday, September 29, 2025, at 8 a.m. in the Louisa Performing Arts Center (LPAC). Additionally, Judy will join us for the Alumni Reception on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Trianon, where we can all come together to honor her incredible impact on our community.

Alumnus Patrick Shearn '80 Brings Dynamic Skynet Installation to Green Mountain Falls

Don’t miss alumnus Patrick Shearn’s striking installation "Off the Beaten Path" in Green Mountain Falls, Colorado, on view through October 19, 2025. A CSS Class of 1980 graduate, Patrick is a freelance visual effects artist and creator of large-scale outdoor works. Featured in this year’s Green Box Arts Festival, the piece spans Gazebo Lake. Shearn, creative director of Poetic Kinetics, was inducted into CSS’s Arts Hall of Fame in 2012.

Suspended above the lake, "Off the Beaten Path" is an expansive aerial sculpture that responds to wind, light, and its surroundings, creating a constantly shifting experience. Crafted from ultra-lightweight, responsive kite fabric, it reflects in the water and transforms throughout the day, inviting viewers to explore from multiple perspectives.

Part of Patrick’s Skynet Series, the work is temporal, porous, and alive—monumental in scale yet ephemeral in effect. As he explains, “Viewers complete this kind of work because every moment is a unique experience… It becomes a conversation between structure, flow, reflection, as well as your perspective right now.” Designed specifically for Green Mountain Falls, the installation embodies the town’s serene yet vibrant energy.

Be sure to check out Patrick's installation during Alumni Reunion Weekend!

Patrick is pictured on the left with Erik Playe, CSS Director of College Counseling, and Mr. Playe's wife.

Inspired by Family, Fueled by Passion: Payton Malone ’19 Steps Into Dentistry

Dentistry has always carried a personal spark for Payton Malone '19. As a child, she admired her grandfather’s work as a dentist, though at first it was the fish tank in his waiting room that caught her eye and made her think, "This seems cool." Over time, she came to see the profession not only as a blend of science, technology, and artistry, but also as a calling rooted in compassion and service.

That passion deepened during her years at The Colorado Springs School. For her senior Capstone project, Payton shadowed three local dentists: a general dentist, a pediatric dentist, and an orthodontist. The experience cemented her decision to pursue dentistry as a career.

“I’ve learned so many different things,” she said during her Capstone. “I think it’s more exciting than I thought it would be. I’ve learned a lot about what daily life looks like. Some days are really fast, and some days are slow.”

After graduating from Emory University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a minor in Art History, Payton worked for two years as a dental assistant at Monument Dentists and Orthodontists in Colorado. There, she became the “right-hand gal” to Dr. Katarina Dasbach, who not only sharpened Payton’s technical skills but also modeled what it means to treat every patient with dignity, kindness, and individualized care.

"My long-term goal," Payton said, "is to become a dentist who not only provides excellent clinical care but also creates a welcoming environment for patients who may feel anxious." 

This summer, Payton began her journey toward a Doctor of Dental Medicine degree at A.T. Still University – Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health. Dr. Dasbach and Payton's family, including the grandfather who inspired her career path, proudly attended her White Coat Ceremony in July.

Looking ahead, Payton hopes to build long-lasting patient relationships, give back through community service, and continue to grow her skills. While she hasn’t yet decided whether to specialize, she is drawn to prosthodontics or orthodontics and hopes one day to mentor future dental students.

“I am excited to create long-lasting relationships with patients and impact their overall health,” she said. “Oral health reflects the rest of the body, often linked to heart health, diabetes, and pregnancy. I want to provide excellent care while also educating and supporting my community.”

Sam Johnson ’20 Turns a Lifelong Passion into a Profession

The Colorado Springs School set Sam Johnson '20 on a journey that would lead him to a career in music. From his first solo at age four to conducting the Upper School band, the guidance of CSS mentors helped shape his skills and his love for teaching and performing.

This fall, Sam began as Instrumental Music Director at Hartford Union High School in Hartford, Wisconsin, leading the symphonic band, jazz band, and orchestra, teaching private lessons, overseeing adaptive music, directing marching and pep bands, and teaching a recording/producing class. He's pictured with some of his students.

Sam, a CSS lifer who began in preschool, reflects that the school—and particularly Band Director Brent Moorhead—shaped his path as a music educator.

"It's largely because of Mr. Mo that I became an instrumental director in the first place," Sam said. "He invested in me and allowed me to explore a lot of things musically—like when I conducted the band my senior year. I couldn't have done it without him, and I am so grateful."

Mr. Moorhead, who was Sam's band teacher during his entire CSS journey, sensed early on that Sam was musically driven, bringing "curiosity, high energy, focus, and passion" to every rehearsal and performance. His presence, Mr. Moorhead recalled, inspired peers to work harder.

"Sam enjoys sharing his passion and knowledge of music with others and then watching as they discover the beauty and power of this art form," Mr. Moorhead said. "He inspired all of us, and I am certain he will have that same impact on his band students, parents, and colleagues."

As fellow directors, Mr. Moorhead still values exchanging ideas with Sam and seeing the excitement in his eyes. "His students and school are lucky to have him," he said, "and I feel blessed to know Sam and to know that CSS was part of his journey."

Sam also credits other CSS teachers, including John Longo and Amy Miller, for supporting his musical pursuits outside the classroom. His mother, Melissa Hafter, adds that several additional teachers played a key role in shaping her son's growth and love for music.

"I can certainly say that the Arts Department at CSS made a huge and lasting impact on my son, starting when he was first on stage at age 4, singing a solo," she said. "Kris Warner, Sandy Bray, Hans Wolfe, and Brent all made a difference in his life ... They helped him handle disappointment as well as pursue dreams. They helped him see a potential grown-up Sam that spreads joy and the arts, and that is who he has become."

Mr. Moorhead encouraged Sam to participate in the Youth Symphony and the Lamont School of Music summer program at the University of Denver and gave him the opportunity to conduct during the winter Upper School band concert in 2019 during his senior year.

Sam went on to conduct throughout college, take private lessons in Vienna, and now leads multiple ensembles. He graduated in 2024 from Lawrence University with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education.

His current school has expressed interest in having him lead travel experiences with student musicians—drawing on his Experience-Centered Seminars (ECSs) at CSS, a three-week immersion that allowed him to explore areas of personal passion, such as Tall Ships, a 10-day voyage through the U.S. Virgin Islands aboard a schooner, and language immersion in Granada, Spain. 

"My goal as a music educator is to instill a love and appreciation for music," Sam said. "Even if my students don't pursue music as a career, I want them to feel comfortable trying new things without fear and to take risks in a safe space."

From CSS to the professional stage, Sam is carrying forward the mentorship, creativity, and passion that launched his journey, shaping the next generation of musicians.

He also encourages current CSS students to take initiative, recalling his own experience asking Mr. Mo to conduct the band: "Even if you think a teacher might say no, it's worth asking. The reward is certainly higher than the risk."

Click here to view Sam conducting the Lawrence University Symphonic Band in 2023.

Autumn Crow '20 Featured on CBS News

Alumna Autumn Crow ’20 was featured on CBS News this summer for her work as a deckhand and educator with World Ocean School—a passion sparked by her Tall Ships Experience-Centered Seminar at CSS. “If I had never been on the Tall Ships ECS in 2019, I likely never would have discovered the world of tall ship sailing that I now work in full time,” she said.

Host Your Next Event at The Colorado Springs School

CSS offers campus facility rentals to alumni. The beautiful campus setting at the base of the Rocky Mountains offers a stunning backdrop for your next event. Our campus can be used in a variety of ways, including weddings, performing arts, corporate events, meetings, and athletics.

Contact Events Manager Cathie Ludden at (719) 434-3508 or cludden@css.org.