Alumni Stories
Our alumni go on to exciting careers and strive to make the world a better place. Here, they tell you, in their own words, how MicroSociety® changed their lives and helped shape their futures.
Janice Rodriguez
This alumna from Loving, New Mexico, now leads Ocotillo Elementary School in Carlsbad as principal, where she is championing the adoption of MicroSociety. Learn how Janice Rodriguez’s experiences as a MicroSociety citizen shaped her leadership journey and why she’s committed to bringing the model to her school.
Naderge Baptiste
As a child, Naderge Baptiste never imagined a future in law or international development—until MicroSociety opened her eyes to new possibilities. Her experience as a student lawyer gave her the confidence to pursue higher education, take bold risks, and build a career dedicated to making a difference.
Andrew Marshall
Andrew Marshall’s leadership journey began in MicroSociety as bank president and society president at Zavala Elementary in El Paso and continues today in his current role as VP of Operations at the Sewell Family of Companies in West Texas. He credits MicroSociety for instilling confidence, teamwork, and civic responsibility.
CJ Hayes
CJ Hayes, an alum of Garehime Elementary School in Las Vegas shares the challenges, triumphs, and lessons he learned as a young leader in his MicroSociety. As the elected mayor, he gained valuable leadership and collaboration skills, and was even mentored by the mayor of Las Vegas.
The Phamduy Family
Meet Theresa, Paul, Timothy, Anthony, and Catherine Phamduy, alumni of McDonough City Magnet School in Lowell, Mass. Inspired by their father’s passion for the arts, all engaged in creative jobs while at MicroSociety. Today, they all hold doctoral degrees in their respective fields.
Josue Berberena
Josue Berberena has been a salesman all his life, from selling pins to his MicroSociety classmates at City Magnet School in Lowell, Mass., to selling houses in his community as an adult. MicroSociety taught him valuable entrepreneurial skills that help him today, he says.
Sara Nelson
Sara Nelson discovered her life path young. Today, an elementary school media specialist, she fell in love with teaching elementary school when she, herself, was in elementary school! Back then, she worked as a MicroSociety assistant teacher at Chocachatti Elementary in Florida.
Jewel Hurt
From MicroSociety president at Huff Lane Micro Village Magnet Elementary School in Roanoke, Virginia, to student body president at James Madison University, Jewel Hurt is no stranger to leadership roles and responsibilities. But getting there wasn’t easy.
Stephane Tchety
As a 7th grade lawyer, Stephane Tchety defeated his best friend, Corey Boykins, in a court case that went down in McDonough City Magnet School history. Hear how Stephane, now a U.S. Marine Corps Staff Sergeant, did it—and get Corey’s side of the story below.
Mike Khader
Mike Khader’s first political position was MicroSociety president at School 19 in Yonkers, New York, now Eugenio Maria De Hostos Microsociety School. As an adult, he has served his community as president of the Yonkers City Council and a family lawyer.
Corey Boykins
From fighting fires in the courtroom, to fighting actual fires in the FDNY, Corey Boykins is no stranger to stressful situations. At McDonough City Magnet School in Lowell, Massachusetts, he learned all about communication, working with his peers, and being a role model.
Alina Ispas Montbriand
Alina Ispas Montbriand, an immigrant from Romania, began adjusting to American life by participating in MicroSociety at Woodrow Wilson Middle School in Philadelphia. There, she discovered she did not want to be a lawyer. Today, she has an exciting job at Google.
Brooke Cramberg
Brooke began developing people management skills as a 6th grader as a student at Thoreau Demonstration Academy, a MicroSociety middle school in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Those skills that have come in handy as an executive at tech giant Amazon.com.