From music and theater performances to visual art exhibitions, film screenings, and hands-on creative experiences, Viewpoint’s annual Arts Fest transformed campus into a vibrant celebration of artistic expression on Saturday, May 30.

Students, families, alumni, and community members gathered throughout the Middle and Upper School campus to experience the incredible range of artistic talent on display across all divisions. Held in conjunction with Alumni Day, this year’s Arts Fest welcomed a strong turnout of alumni, many of whom returned to reconnect with former classmates, teachers, and the arts programs that helped shape their Viewpoint experience.

One of the day’s most memorable moments took place during the Voices Now performance in the Ecolet. In a surprise tribute to the program’s legacy, current members of the ensemble invited “Voices Then” alumni in attendance to join them onstage for a heartfelt rendition of “Smile.”

Another beloved Arts Fest tradition took center stage in the Carlson Family Theater, where Viewpoint’s Primary and Lower School choirs joined Upper School choir students for a collaborative performance before a packed audience.

Throughout the day, visitors explored artwork created by students across all grade levels, attended screenings of student films and documentaries, enjoyed theater and dance performances, and participated in interactive experiences designed to inspire creativity. New additions this year included a collaborative all-school art installation at the Love of Learning Wall, custom button-making activities, and a live mural painting experience led by Middle School students.

“I am so excited about this year’s Arts Fest,” said Kristin Herkstroeter, Chair of the Music Department and organizer of the event. “The Arts continue to thrive at Viewpoint, and Arts Fest is a wonderful opportunity for our community to experience the breadth and vibrancy of our Arts Programs. It is a true celebration of our incredibly creative, talented, and hard-working students.”

By bringing together current students, alumni, families, and community members, Arts Fest 2026 showcased the lasting impact of the arts within the Viewpoint community.

When Moses Kimock ’29 was six years old, he watched gymnast John Orozco pursue his Olympic dream and thought, "I want to make it to the Olympics."

Years later, the Viewpoint freshman is taking a major step toward that goal.

Kimock recently competed at the USA Gymnastics Men's Development Program National Championships in Oklahoma, where he won the national title on rings and finished fifth in the all-around competition, earning a spot on the U.S. National Team.

"It was awesome," Kimock said. "I got to compete against people I've never competed against before and see a bunch of different skill levels."

For Kimock, the experience reinforced the importance of continuing to improve and challenge himself.

"Being the best in the region means nothing if you're not good enough to compete against everybody else in all the different regions," he said. "That really motivates me to get better and train harder."

Gymnastics has been a part of Kimock's life since he was three years old. What started as a way to channel his energy quickly became a passion. Today, he trains four hours a day after school before heading home to complete homework.

However, his journey has not been without challenges. Over the years, Kimock has battled multiple injuries, experiences that taught him the importance of listening to his body and prioritizing recovery.

"When I was younger, I would always push through pain," he said. "Once I started having bigger injuries, I realized I needed to take a step back. Recovery is more important than people think."

Despite the demands of balancing school, training, and recovery, Kimock remains focused on the dream that first inspired him to pursue gymnastics.

“My goal is to make it to the Olympic trials in 2028,” he said.

Looking ahead, Kimock hopes to continue his gymnastics career at the collegiate level. For now, his priority is staying healthy, continuing to improve, and making the most of the opportunities that lie ahead.

For Megan Shaw ’26, theatre has been a constant throughout her Viewpoint journey. A dedicated performer in Choir, Voices Now, and Theatre, Shaw will continue her artistic and academic journey this fall at Wagner College, where she plans to study Theatre Education.

Shaw's love of theatre began at a young age, and one of her earliest Viewpoint memories helped inspire her connection to the stage. As a child, she visited backstage during an Upper School production and joined the cast for warmups.

"Being a part of that group, just for those five minutes, meant so much to me," Shaw said. "It's one of the main reasons why I signed up to do my first musical at Viewpoint in Sixth Grade."

Since then, Shaw has appeared in every Viewpoint musical, including productions staged during the pandemic. This year, she took on the lead role of Cady Heron in Mean Girls.

"Playing Cady in Mean Girls was honestly a dream come true," Shaw said. "It was surreal getting the opportunity to play her as my final role at Viewpoint."

While performing has been a significant part of her journey, Shaw's experiences working with younger students helped her discover another passion: teaching.

"The thing I love most about teaching kids how to perform isn't teaching them the song lyrics or blocking," Shaw said. "It's helping them gain the confidence to perform in front of people."

This year, Shaw worked alongside Mrs. Dietsch and Mrs. Roskowinski on the Middle School production of Matilda, an experience that reinforced her desire to become an educator.

"Getting to know each student on not only an artistic level but a personal level showed me how much of an impact I can make on students' lives," Shaw said.

Shaw credits both Mrs. Roskowinski and Mrs. Dietsch with helping shape her journey as an artist and future educator.

"They've both been my teachers since Sixth Grade and have always been so supportive and encouraging," Shaw said. "Not only are they incredible teachers, but they are also incredible people. Their continuous hard work inspires me every day."

Looking ahead, Shaw hopes to use theatre as a way to help young people build confidence and find their voices.

"When I was younger, I used to be really shy, and theatre is what ultimately broke me out of my shell," Shaw said. "I want to give kids that same feeling I got when I stepped on a stage as a kid."

Members of the Class of 2026 have earned a wide range of scholarships and academic honors from colleges and universities across the country and internationally, recognizing their achievements in academics, leadership, the arts, athletics, and service.

Among this year’s recipients are students selected for nationally competitive programs such as the Morehead-Cain Foundation Scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the The Posse Foundation Scholarship at Pepperdine University.

The Morehead-Cain Scholarship recognizes students who demonstrate leadership, character, scholarship, and physical vigor through a highly selective application and interview process. The Posse Scholarship identifies students with strong leadership potential through a nomination and multi-stage selection process designed to connect cohorts of students with partner universities across the country.

Several students also earned scholarships through highly competitive programs, including the Tisch Artistic Scholarship at New York University and the M.E.T. Founders Award at University of California, Berkeley.

“These scholarships reflect not only our students’ academic achievements, but also their leadership, creativity, and character they have demonstrated during their time at Viewpoint,” said Tanaz Nourian, Associate Director of College Counseling. “We are so proud to see them recognized by colleges and universities across the country for the impact they have made both inside and outside the classroom.”

While many students won scholarships that they ultimately will not use, below is a list of this year’s seniors who are using scholarships at schools they are attending:

• Joseph Abdou — University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Morehead-Cain Scholarship
• Marley Blumel — Emerson College, Aspire Scholarship
• Sydney Coen — High Point University, Presidential Award and Faculty Scholarship
• Ben Earley — University of Colorado Boulder, Chancellor’s Achievement Scholarship
• Julia Jett — IE University, IE Academic Excellence Award
• Derek Kessler — Chapman University, Dean’s Scholarship
• Luna Kuhn — New York University, Tisch Artistic Scholarship
• Anna Lee — Colgate University, Athletic Scholarship
• Noah Oduwole — Sarah Lawrence College, Presidential Scholarship
• Emjay Peck — Washington University in St. Louis, WashU Scholarships 
• Prianna Pierce — Suffolk University, University Achievement Grant
• Sebastian Safahi — University of Miami, Canes Achievement Scholarship
• Avi Shah — University of California, Berkeley, M.E.T. Founders Award
• Megan Shaw — Wagner College, Presidential Scholarship
• Collin Steelberg — University of Oregon, Summit Scholarship
• Sebastian Yanez — Pepperdine University, Posse Scholarship

Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship recipients on this exciting achievement and milestone in their educational journeys.