Lake Forest Academy students have the opportunity to attend the 12th Annual Josh Rothenstein Young Alumni Networking Night on February 19.
The event put on by the Advancement Department is one incredibly unique to LFA. It began in 2015, then was renamed for Josh Aaron Rothenstein ‘05 in 2020, debuting as the Josh Rothenstein Young Alumni Networking Night on March 4, 2020. Rothenstein was a sophomore at LFA when he was tragically struck and killed by a car on October 7, 2002. The event exists in his name to carry on his spirit for entrepreneurship, his kind deeds and depth of character known to his loved ones.
Young Alumni Networking Night brings together alumni professionals and current LFA students to discuss career opportunities and high school and college advice. Its low-stress environment to talk with people who have been shaped by this school in a similar way current students experience allows students to build meaningful relationships and valuable connections.
The event will run from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., featuring a roundtable style discussion. Upon arrival, each student will be assigned a table where one alumnus sits, ready to discuss careers and experiences. After three minutes, the tables rotate, giving students an opportunity to meet each alumnus. Once the timed rounds end, the rest of the event allows students to approach the alumni who caught their attention and have deeper conversations.
The panelists for the 2026 event have diverse careers, ranging from engineering, economics, medicine and more. The lineup is the following: Scott Fuller ‘12, Curie Smith Purmal ‘15, Andrew Ryder ‘17, Alina Moreno ‘18, Mason Schilling ‘18, Sydney Olinger ‘19, Colin Wil ‘19, Sarah Eisendrath ‘20 and Kalina Honczarenko ‘20.
Young Alumni Networking Night offers the opportunity to gain real-world insights and explore potential career pathways, a night highly beneficial to students. Previous attendees have received internships and mentorship opportunities that have jump started their careers.
The event is open to students of all grades, no matter their progress in deciding a career. For freshman and sophomores who attend the event and may not have their mind set on a specific career or college pathway, Dianys Padró Pagán, Director of Alumni Engagement, recommends that these students attend to begin to pursue their interests and receive advice on what classes to take and teachers they recommend connecting with. “They don’t need to have a perfect idea of what they want to do,” Pagán said, “but it can help those wheels get going.”
Cookies, lemonade and water will be available to all attendees at the event. Typically, around 90 students attend each year.
Though the word “networking” may sound intimidating to students, the event offers incredible opportunities in a relaxed environment where students can connect with alumni to talk about their experiences beyond LFA and talk to people shaped by this same school.
“I thought it was a wonderful experience,” Jeff Zavelsky ‘26 shared. Zavelsky attended last year’s event, where a campus-wide blackout turned the event into a unique, candlelit and informative discussion space.
Alumni in attendance are selected based on their demonstrated and continued commitment and connection to LFA. At alumni events, these professionals are selected as passionate former LFA students who have a lot to offer for the classes of 2026 to 2029.