Carson Pickett ‘12

Arguably St. Johns most successful professional athlete, Carson Pickett ‘12 has already traveled the world, played on three different professional soccer teams, and been featured in countless news stories. Being selected as the fourth overall draft pick in the National Women’s Soccer League in 2016 reflects Carson’s standing as one of the best female soccer players in the United States. And yet, with all that success, Carson remains a St. Johns girl at heart. 

William “Jack” Stephens ‘77

Often it takes years for alumni to reconnect with St. Johns. This was certainly the case with Jack, but once he and the School were reconnected, boy did he have a story to share. He describes his time at St. Johns as an escape from his life outside school. He built relationships with peers and teachers and worked hard to keep up with the demanding academics. Jack recalls Miss Edith Cowles who taught English and was his homeroom teacher senior year, “She was known as being tough, but I enjoyed being a storyteller and she made it a challenge.” 

Zhanee Anderson ‘16

Her experience at St. Johns wasn’t always the easiest journey, but Zhanee Anderson ‘16, known as Z, says she would do it all over again. Looking back, she says that transitioning to St. Johns from the public school system as a freshman was at times a challenge, but thanks to her soccer teammates, Coach Mike Pickett ‘83, and Coach Pat Rodifer, becoming a part of the St. Johns family was made much easier. She says the faculty and staff at St. Johns made the school feel like a family, and she appreciated the open-door policies that made new students like her feel welcome. What Z didn’t know during her freshman year at St. Johns was her next four years here would change the course of her career path. 

Hwang Marino '09

Determined to become one of the largest dental providers in Northeast Florida, Dr. Hwang Marino reflects on his time at St. Johns with great appreciation for a school that helped mold him into the well-rounded professional he is today. 

Blair Burke ‘10 

“St. Johns was a complete wake up call,” says Blair Burke ‘10 as she reflects on her early days at St. Johns as a new freshman. She remembers being challenged to change her mindset and think outside the box. For many people, changing the way you think about things can be overwhelming, but because of the St. Johns family environment, Blair says she was surrounded by positive influences that encouraged her to step outside her comfort zone. 

Jim Leano '89 

When Jim Leano came to St. Johns in first grade, he remembers looking over on the other side of the quad with wonder. He finished his St. Johns career as the Student Council President and made morning announcements alongside Headmaster Stephen Russey. He recalls St. Johns being a fun place to go to school with every student being on the same campus. He practiced analytical thinking, time management, and reading comprehension in a safe and fostering environment. 

James J. Townsend Jr. ‘75

When asked what word comes to mind when he reflects on his St. Johns experience, Jim Townsend ‘75 says nurturing. Jim remembers a safe place that was not exposed to social pressures. A place where a student can try anything without the fear of failure. A place where specific clubs, like the debate club, taught him how to be bold and confident, and those skills stayed with him when he debriefed former Presidents and Secretaries of Defense. 

Steven Harris ‘68

Steven Harris ‘68 knew at nine years old that he wanted to be an architect. He may have not known then how he was going to get there, but this intelligent and motivated alumnus took every opportunity he could to learn about the world around him. Today, he is an extremely successful architect and professor living in New York City who owns his own firm, Steven Harris Architects. Steven has been recognized all over the world for his outstanding residential architecture. He attributes his success to his attention to detail in the way people live, something that was first brought to his attention when he began at St. Johns as a sophomore.