February 19 marked the 12th Lake Forest Academy Annual Josh Rothstein Young Alumni Networking Night (YANN). This yearly event is incredibly unique to the academy, providing students with the opportunity to network and engage with alumni of LFA, but more importantly, professionals in their field. It’s a chance to discuss any questions students may have about the future – whether it is regarding high school, or college and beyond, YANN allows students to build meaningful connections with individuals who have been shaped by the same one-of-a-kind environment.
The event is dedicated to Josh Rothstein ‘05, who was a sophomore at LFA when he was tragically struck by a car and passed away on Oct. 7, 2002. After 17 years of a lecture series in his honor, the Josh Rothstein Young Alumni-Student Networking Night debuted on March 4, 2020, at LFA.
Organized this year by Dianys Padró Pagán, YANN brought together nine alumni professionals. Their fields of expertise included banking, consulting, environmental/sustainability, private equity, medicine, software engineering, experiential education and management. This wide variety of professionals gives most students someone to talk to about their plans, or could give some insight into something they have never considered before. However, some feedback from the community was that last year’s panelists came from fields more appealing to LFA students, resonating with more of the student body.
YANN features a rapid-fire discussion section at the beginning of the night, before opening it up for students to engage with panelists they are most interested in speaking with. Each student is assigned to a table with one alumnus, and after a three-minute discussion, everyone rotates to the next table.
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 on a career. For freshmen 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 they attend to begin to pursue their interests and receive advice on what classes to take and teachers to connect with. “They don’t need to have a perfect idea of what they want to do,” Padró Pagán said, “but it can help those wheels get going.”
“It was a fascinating opportunity to learn more about what you are going to specialize in your life and also to be able to talk to specialists in your field,” Maxim Grinberg ‘26 said.