Dunn School News

Students Build Houses on Humanitarian Trip to Guatemala

2012-02-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

Ten students spent last week's break building houses for two impoverished families in Guatemala. Constru Casa, the organization that hosted the students, added photos to their Facebook page of the work that was done on the two houses.

One of the homes the students worked on was for a family of 13 that was living in a shack with two rooms, no running water and no restroom (pictured at right). They will now have a house with three bedrooms, a bathroom and a kitchen.

Kaycie Rupp, the volunteer coordinator for Constru Casa, thanked the Dunn students for their "contribution to change the lives of some of the poorestGuatemalan families by helping them build their new home. It is so wonderful tosee such a great partnership between the Rotary Club and Dunn School!"

Even if you don't have a Facebook account, you can see all of the photos from their week of building at the Constru Casa Facebook Page.

Wyatt Krutsch Returns to the Santa Barbara Film Festival

2012-02-17T08:26:00.000-08:00

Dunn School Junior Wyatt Krutsch is no stranger to the Santa Barbara Film Festival. Last year his screenplay was one of ten chosen for the 10-10-10 student filmmaker competition. With a meager budget and just ten days to shoot, writers are matched with student directors and challenged by their film-industry mentors to make their work even better than they thought it could be.

Last year Krutsch's script was brought to life by Santa Barbara High School student Tate Larrick. Although Krutsch did not win first place for his screenplay, Larrick's film went on to win the top prize for student directors.

This year's entry had nearly an identical fate to last year's. Students were instructed to write a comedy. Krutsch was paired with Aaron Dalton and once again, although Krutsch didn't win first place, the movie made from his script, did.

The 10-minute version may have won the accolades, but student filmmaker Aaron Dalton decided to release an eleven-minute director's cut which is embedded below.

Family Weekend: A 10-10-10 Film from Aaron Dalton on Vimeo.

Related Stories:
Sophomore Wyatt Krutsch's Award-winning Movie
Wyatt Krutsch's Screenplay Becomes Student Film
Dunn Sophomore a Film Festival Finalist

Varsity Boy's Basketball in Santa Barbara News-Press

2012-02-13T10:44:00.000-08:00

Dunn School's Varsity Boys' Basketball team may have lost their final game of the season, but Coach Catherine Henrey had some great things to say about her team in this article from the Santa Barbara News-Press. Download the article as a .pdf

Former Dunn School Coach joins Rona Barrett Foundation Board

2012-02-03T09:50:00.000-08:00

Former Dunn School administrator and coach, Robert Jurgensen, has joined the board of the Rona Barrett Foundation. Dunn's alumni golf tournament, The Jurgensen Golf Classic, is named after him. The tournament is played every year during Alumni Weekend. News of his recent appointment was announced in both the Santa Ynez Valley News and the Santa Ynez Valley Journal.

Jurgensen joins Rona Barrett Foundation Board

Staff Report

Robert Jurgensen has become a board member for The Rona Barrett Foundation.

Jurgensen was with Jurgensen's Grocery Company for 20 years, serving as president in the early 1970s, overseeing 26 retail grocery stores. He then served as business manager and director of development at Dunn School in Los Olivos.

While at Dunn School, Jurgensen coached baseball and tennis and started both the girls' varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams.

Read more at syvnews.com or syvjournal.com

Girls' Soccer Team Ties with Cate

2012-01-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

Presidio Sports ran a short article on the January 25 girls' soccer game played here at Dunn School. Though she was not named in the article, Captain Areli Diosdado scored all three goals for the Earwigs. The game ended with a tie, 3-3.

Read more at presidiosports.com

Sailing the USS Constitution

2012-01-27T15:33:00.000-08:00

Head of School Mike Beck will be giving a lecture on being commander of the USS Constitution, a vessel that hadn’t sailed under its own power since 1881 until he took command in 1995 and sailed it in 1997. Beck will speak about his experiences in the Munger Theatre at the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum on Thursday, February 16.

Visit sbmm.org for more information.

Dunn graduate Zoë Carter's White House Internship

2012-01-23T10:09:00.000-08:00

Dunn graduate Zoë Carter '05 spent four months interning in the office of First Lady Michelle Obama. Her story was featured in the Santa Ynez Valley News and the Santa Ynez Valley Journal.

January 19, 2012

Dunn graduate thrilled to get White House internship

By Julian J. Ramos / Staff Writer

Zoë Carter of Los Olivos expected hard work and long hours as an intern at the White House, and that’s what she got.

Despite the time commitment of the unpaid position, the 2005 Dunn School graduate said her four-month-long stint at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue is the best and most exhausting thing she’s ever done.

“It was better than anything I could have ever expected, but I know all the hard work will pay off later,” she said.

Continue reading at syvnews.com

January 19, 2012
White House wonders
by SaraLloyd Truax, Staff Writer
Diagnosed with ADD, one can imagine the placating smiles, from adults ignorant of the power of inspiration, when that not-so-long-ago little girl announced her intention to work at the White House.
“I didn’t realize it would happen so quickly,” says Zoe Carter.

Just back from her internship in the Office of the First Lady, Carter took no time to give back to the community she grew up in, giving three talks in two days to local youth about her experience.

“When I was in 7th grade, I forced my parents to sit down and watch West Wing with me,” Carter told a group of 8th grade students at Los Olivos Elementary School. She knew back then what she wanted to do with her life – a small part of it, anyway.

“I’m still trying to decide what I want to do when I grow up,” she told the quizzical students with a smile when asked “What’s next?” It is the same question Carter tries to focus students on with respect to their own futures. What’s next is not something that is necessarily limited by how hard one finds school to be, she says.

“School isn’t easy for everyone,” she explains, noting how important it is to give it your best. Her attention-deficit disorder required Carter to figure out ways of learning and working that would result in her being successful. Just keep trying, she tells students.

Continue reading at syvjournal.com

SAT Prep Class Offered at Dunn

2012-01-19T12:16:00.000-08:00

The Princeton Review will be offering SAT prep classes at Dunn School from February - April. The cost is $499 for 18 hours of instruction. This timing works well for taking the SAT in May.

Please sign up directly with the Princeton Review. This is NOT a Dunn School class. They're just using our campus. Please call the Princeton Review if you have any questions.

Commemorating MLK

2012-01-17T11:16:00.000-08:00

(top) Students compare notes during the

Debunk Biases exercise during MLK Day presentations.

(above) Watching a video about the MLK

statue in Washington, D.C.

While many public schools were closed for Martin Luther King Day, students at Dunn spent the afternoon learning about tolerance and freedom of speech. Jessie Brumfiel’s history class, Social Movements in American History, studies the American Civil Rights Movement in the first semester. On Monday, the class made a presentation to the entire student body in the Nancy Luton Jackson Barn.

Kim Pham read a personal essay on what Martin Luther King Day means to him, then Maggie Hernandez read a biography of MLK’s life. The rest of the students in the class performed a skit that re-enacted a lunch counter sit-in led by college student activists in Nashville, TN in 1961.

“Our class was inspired by the courage of MLK and thousands of activists,” says Brumfiel, “including many college students, who embraced nonviolent protest, risked jail and violence, and stood up for civil rights in America for all citizens.”

After the skit, students rotated through five stations around campus for additional activities. In the Bomb Shelter, the Amnesty International Club did a presentation on Prisoners of Conscience--people who have been imprisoned and/or persecuted for the non-violent expression of their beliefs. The students showed a brief video about Yodok prison, a prison for political prisoners on North Korea where some prisoners are held in 4x4x4 foot cells. Students built replica cells and club members were “imprisoned” during the presentation. After an introduction from Claire Connors, various club members read the name, location and reason for imprisonment of several current prisoners of conscience. The presentation closed with a description of Nobel Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi of Burma who was released from house arrest in November of 2010.

In the School House, Matt Yaki talked about the cost of war and how many humanitarian efforts could be supported with that money. In Collins Library, Ryan Bowden, Callie Martin and Nancy Yaki discussed the controversies surrounding the Martin Luther King, Jr. statue that was unveiled in the Mall in Washington, D.C. King is the only non-president represented there. Susie Childs and Tommy Tessier had students sit back to back in the gym with a person they didn’t know well for an activity called Debunk Biases. Students answered questions for the other person based on what they thought they knew about that person. Many students were surprised to find they didn’t know each other as well as they thought they did, which led to discussions on tolerance and respecting differences in others.

Finally, in the Fireside Room, Gene Vachon and Catherine Henrey addressed freedom of speech and whether it was right or wrong to force a student at the University of Massachusetts to remove the Neo-Nazi message he posted online. Dunn students weighed in with perspectives from Egypt, Thailand and China and discussed how those opinions differ from the United States.

Dunn Middle School says Goodbye to Linda Smith

2012-01-12T13:30:00.000-08:00

Students at the middle school had a going away party for Linda Smith on Monday that included a "flash mob" dance performance.

This video is courtesy of DMS parent Tracy Angel.

The Santa Ynez Valley News ran an article about Smith's new position with the Solvang Chamber of Commerce.

January 10, 2012

New Chamber Leader is Familiar Face

Staff Report

Linda Smith, an administrator and educator at Dunn School in Los Olivos, will be introduced next week as the new executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce.

Smith is well-known around the Santa Ynez Valley from her work at Dunn as well as from a decade of teaching sixth- through eighth-graders at Santa Ynez Elementary School. She also owned her own business and worked in marketing before becoming a teacher, noted Lana Clark, one of the chamber’s incoming co-presidents.

“Linda is a very visionary individual and has an exceptional leadership history,” said Clark, who also cited Smith’s creativity, optimism, and budgeting and computer skills.

Continue reading at syvnews.com

Dunn Middle School Open House

2012-01-10T13:15:00.000-08:00

This Saturday, January 14, is open house for Dunn Middle School. If you or someone you know has a child entering 6th, 7th or 8th grade, this is a chance to visit the campus, talk to students and find out more about the honors level curriculum, unique enrichment and outdoor education.

Please RSVP to 686-4823 or cyoung@dunnschool.org

First Win for Earwig Basketball

2011-12-16T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Dunn Earwigs were featured in the Santa Ynez Valley News after their win over the Orcutt Academy Spartans. The same article appeared in the Santa Maria Times.

December 13, 2011

Lee helps Earwigs Roll

By Chris Aguirre / Sports Writer

The Dunn Earwigs earned their first win of the season with a 65-60 victory over the Orcutt Academy Spartans Wednesday night on Orcutt Academy’s home court at Lakeview Junior High School.

Robert Lee led the Earwigs with his 23 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, to help his team get the win. Continue reading at syvnews.com or at santamariatimes.com

Dunn Graduate Named Athlete of the Week

2011-12-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

Dunn graduate Kasey Rose '09 was recently named Female Student-Athlete of the Week by the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

December 8, 2011

Rose earns honor

By SYVJ Staff

Kasey Rose of Los Olivos was recently named Female Student-Athlete of the Week by the nine-school Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) for her stellar performance during the year-end SCIAC Volleyball Championship. Continue reading at syvjournal.com

Dunn Graduate Nyoul Tong featured on PBS

2011-12-05T11:44:00.000-08:00

Dunn graduate Nyoul Tong '10, a sophomore at Duke University, spent the summer in South Sudan, overseeing progress on the school being built by his nonprofit organization, SELFSudan (Student Education for Liberty Foundation), which he founded while still a student at Dunn School. He was recently featured on the PBS NewsHour Extra.

December 2, 2011
South Sudanese Student Heads Home to Build Schools

As a child, Nyoul Tong fled a civil war in his home country of Sudan and became a refugee. His family fled to Egypt, where he got the opportunity to go to high school in the U.S. Today, he studies at Duke University and has founded the organization SELF Sudan - a nonprofit dedicated to building schools and building community partnerships in the newly founded country of South Sudan. NewsHour Extra spoke with Nyoul about his organization, the work he's doing and the future of South Sudan. Continue reading at pbs.org

Dunn graduate Yoky Matsuoka Featured in Wired Magazine

2011-10-28T09:17:00.000-07:00

Dunn graduate Yoky Matsuoka '90 was recently featured in the October issue of Wired magazine, after being hand-picked by Tony Fadell, former VP of Apple's iPod and iPhone division, to assist with his new startup company, the Nest Learning Thermometer. Read the full article at wired.com. Read the section on Yoky here.

Visit the Alumni News section to see how other Dunn alums are making headlines.

Dunn Students Receive National Honors

2011-10-14T12:19:00.000-07:00

Two Dunn seniors have received national recognition for their academic accomplishments. Morgan Sinclaire was named a Commended Student for the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program and YouBin Maeng received recognition from the Center for Future Global Leaders. You can read more at the Santa Ynez Valley News.

October 11, 2011

Education in Brief

National Merit commends students

Midland School senior Anna Paris-Behr and Dunn School senior Morgan Sinclaire have been named Commended Students in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Commended students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Maeng receives special recognition

Dunn School senior YouBin Maeng has received a special recognition for her performance in the Lexicon Challenge by the Center for Future Global Leaders (CFGL). Continue reading at syvnews.com

Dunn Quarterback featured in SYV News

2011-09-27T10:45:00.000-07:00

The Santa Ynez Valley News posted an article about Dunn's new quarterback and the Earwig's prospects for football this year.

September 22, 2011

Earwigs ready to kick off 2011 with new QB, different look

By Chris Aguirre/Sports Writer

When Dunn School’s head coach Phil Martin leads his team onto the football field for the first time in 2011, he hopes this version of the Earwigs will be a lot stronger in one crucial area when they take on the Maricopa Indians Friday. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Dunn's Day of Caring

2011-09-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

Social responsibility is an important part of life at Dunn School. With the Day of Caring, several students put the words into action with a cleanup at Sunny Fields Park in Solvang. The Santa Ynez Journal highlighted their efforts.

September 22, 2011

Sharing the care

By SaraLloyd Truax, Staff Writer

Some good ideas ought to be copied, and so that’s what they did. Dunn School created their own “Day of Caring” on Sept. 17. Modeled after the United Way ‘s 20th Day of Caring, Dunn students spent their morning cleaning up Refugio Beach, clearing a trail at Sedgwick Reserve, and working at Sunny Fields Park, before setting down for a picnic and enjoying the park themselves. Continue reading at syvjournal.com

Michael Tetteh '08 plays against Manchester United

2011-07-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dunn School graduate Michael Tetteh '08, a rookie with the Seattle Sounders, is featured in a Santa Barbara Independent article about his team's match against Manchester United.

July 27, 2011

Playing Footy

Manchester United Puts on a Bloody Good Show Against Seattle Sounders

by JOHN ZANT

Seattle boasts the professional counterpart to UCSB’s “Soccer Heaven” (aka Harder Stadium, the country’s most lively venue for college soccer). The Seattle Sounders have set Major League Soccer (MLS) attendance records the last two years—an average of 36,173 in 2010—and last Wednesday, July 20, the upper levels at CenturyLink Field were opened up to accommodate a throng of 67,052 for a friendly match between the Sounders and English Premier League powerhouse Manchester United. Continue reading at independent.com

Dunn Graduate Aidan Terry wins Scholarship

2011-06-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

Dunn graduate Aidan Terry '11 wins a first place scholarship from the Artists Guild of the Santa Ynez Valley. This writeup on all the winners appeared in the Santa Ynez Valley News.

June 16, 2011

Artists Guild awards art scholarships to students

Staff Report

The Artists Guild of the Santa Ynez Valley has awarded scholarships to Aidan Terry of Santa Ynez, first place; Spencer Mitchell of Solvang, second place; and Page Pagaling of Santa Ynez, third place.

The scholarships recognize achievements in the visual arts and will help defray students’ expenses at a college, university or art school. Continue reading at syvnews.com

The End of the Dunn Earwigs Record-Setting Baseball Season

2011-06-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

After a record setting season, the Dunn Earwigs baseball team loses their semi-final match up against the Aztec Eagles. Highlights from their final games are in this Santa Ynez Valley News article.

June 2, 2011

Dunn bows out in Div. 7 baseball semifinals

Staff report

The Dunn Earwigs baseball season came to an end in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 semifinals Tuesday against Inglewood’s Animo Leadership Aztec Eagles at Dunn’s Los Olivos campus. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Dunn Earwigs bring home the League Trophy

2011-06-17T10:02:00.000-07:00

Dunn's baseball team clinches the Condor league championship and makes it to the CIF semi-finals for the first time in school history.

June 16, 2011

AS SEASONS GO, THIS WAS A HOME RUN

By SaraLloyd Truax, Staff Writer

With a young team it’s hard to know what to expect, but what ended up happening was beyond any of their expectations.

“This is the most well-rounded team I’ve coached in terms of talent, leadership and team dynamics,” says Aaron Dorlarque, coach of the Dunn Earwigs who were not only the Condor league champions, but made it all the way to the CIF baseball semi-finals. Continue reading at syvjournal.com

CIF Division 4 playoff for Earwig Tennis

2011-06-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

Dunn School's tennis matchup against Paramount is the highlight of this story in the Santa Maria Times.

June 1, 2011

Earwigs just couldn’t get over the hump

By Kenny Cress / Sports Writer / kcress@santamariatimes.com

Paramount boys tennis coach Curtis Mu said early Friday evening that his guys had just done the same thing that they had done in their league matches.

Eight sets in the Paramount-Dunn tennis match at Dunn went to 7-5 or 6-4. The visiting Pirates won six of those and came away with a 12-6 win in a second-round CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoff match.

Pirates singles players Eddie Rosas, at number two, and Joshua Echevarria, at number three, both pulled out two 6-4 set wins. Paramount shook off a three-set sweep by Dunn’s Ohm Sirimongkolkasem and Jacob Bronfman at number two doubles.

“They’re a school of 4,500 students, we’re a school of 180, and it is really exciting that we were able to give it a good fight,” said Earwigs coach Andy Graham after his team wound up 10-3. Dunn finished second behind Cate in the Condor League. Continue reading at santamariatimes.com

Earwigs lose to Aztec Eagles

2011-06-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

The Santa Maria Times covered the last game of Earwig baseball for this season.

June 1, 2011

Earwigs grounded by Aztec Eagles

By Brad Memberto / Sports Writer

Leading 3-1 going into the sixth inning, the Animo Leadership Aztec Eagles exploded for nine runs then added six more in the seventh to defeat the Dunn School Earwigs 18-4 in a CIF Southern Section Division 7 semifinal, played at Dunn in Los Olivos Tuesday afternoon.

With the loss, the Earwigs ended their most successful baseball season in the school’s history. Dunn finished at 17-4, the most wins in a season. And their trip into the semis was their farthest run.

“This is the kind of team you have to be able to beat to compete for a CIF title so they understand that,” said Dunn head coach Aaron Dorlarque. “I don’t feel like we lost that game, (Animo Leadership) won that ball game.” Continue reading at santamariatimes.com

Dunn Earwigs Fight for a Spot in Semifinals

2011-05-31T11:24:00.000-07:00

The inspiring rise of Dunn's Earwig baseball team is highlighted in this Santa Maria Times article.

May 30, 2011

Dunn makes first-ever appearance in semifinals

By Joe Bailey / Sports Writer

The Division 7 CIF Southern Section baseball playoffs are usually filled with teams from tiny schools.

However, it is hard to find a student body smaller than that of the Dunn School’s.

The tiny charter school in the hills of Los Olivos has an official enrollment of 156. The actual total may vary depending on to whom you talk.

Still, the Dunn Earwigs have fought off teams from school’s with student bodies five times its size in these playoffs.

That will be the case once again today at Dunn when the Earwigs take on Inglewood’s Animo Leadership Aztec Eagles (20-5) in the Division 7 semifinals. Continue reading at santamariatimes.com

Dunn Student Rides in "Race of Truth"

2011-05-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

A bad case of stomach flu keeps Dunn freshman Matthew Honeyman from riding in the Race of Truth. But another Dunn freshman, Bryce McKibbin, fills in for him. The Santa Ynez Valley News shares their story.

May 26, 2011

Young rider’s plans take a sudden turn

By Glenn Wallace/Staff Writer

Matthew Honeyman was so excited to ride in the amateur “Race of Truth” time trial during the Amgen Tour of California that he trained for months and raised more than $1,300.

New to serious cycling at 14 years old, Matthew was ready to ride the same course, in front of the same fans, that the professionals would ride Friday in Solvang.

Two days before the big race, however, Matthew was suffering through a bad case of stomach flu. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Earwig Baseball on Channel 12 News

2011-05-25T11:52:00.000-07:00

Dunn students Joe Eisaguirre and Ryan Layton were featured in this CBS 12 broadcast about the Earwig baseball team's season. Watch the video at KCOY.com

Earwigs win first CIF playoff Game

2011-05-23T11:36:00.000-07:00

According to this article in the Santa Maria Times, switching to aluminum bats brings another decisive win for Earwig baseball.

May 20, 2011

Earwigs put aluminum to good use, throttle Dragons

Dunn School scores 10 in first inning

By Brad Memberto / Sports Writer

After playing in the all-wood bat Condor League, in which they went undefeated at 10-0, the Dunn School Earwigs were really enjoying practicing with the aluminum bats that were required for the CIF playoffs.

The practice really paid off.

Taking advantage of nine errors by the Delphi Academy Dragons, the Earwigs got the big hits when they needed them, as they pounded out 16 hits and cruised to a 19-3 CIF Southern Section, Division 7 first round game Friday afternoon on Dunn’s campus in Los Olivos. Continue reading at santamariatimes.com

Dunn Freshman Prepares for "Race of Truth"

2011-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Dunn freshman Matthew Honeyman is profiled by the Santa Ynez Valley News as he makes final preparations for the Amgen Tour of California "Race of Truth." The same article also ran in the Santa Maria Times.

May 19, 2011

Solvang teen ready for ‘Race of Truth’

By Julian J. Ramos/Staff Writer

Matthew Honeyman is just 14 years old, but he’s ready to prove he can handle the “Race of Truth.”

He will be one of about 40 amateur riders taking on the 15-mile time-trial route Friday in Solvang before the world’s top professionals begin the sixth stage of the Amgen Tour of California. Continue reading at syvnews.com or santamariatimes.com

Investment Professional Speaks to Dunn Students

2011-05-06T11:49:00.000-07:00

Investment strategies catch the attention not only of Dunn School students, but the Santa Ynez Valley News, as well.

May 5, 2011

Students hear about investment strategies

Staff Report

Investment Club members at Dunn School hosted Tim Bliss, a parent of two Dunn School alumni as well as a school trustee emeritus and managing partner at the Investment Group of Santa Barbara on April 17 for a two-hour presentation on investing.

Bliss, a guest lecturer at the Stanford Business School for more than 25 years, spoke about the necessary disciplines of a successful investor and identified investment opportunities. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Earwig Sports Roundup

2011-04-29T11:58:00.000-07:00

Boys tennis, golf and baseball are highlighted at the bottom of this Santa Maria Times article.

Boys Golf

Dunn 224, Santa Ynez 230

Dunn got the best of this Santa Ynez Valley non-league rivalry match at the par 36 Alisal River Ranch Course.

Continue reading at santamariatimes.com

Dunn Students and Teachers Volunteer with Rotary Club

2011-04-08T12:31:00.000-07:00

A group of Dunn School students and teachers helped the Los Olivos Rotary Club distribute shoes and build homes for families in Guatemala. The Santa Ynez Valley News ran this article about their outreach efforts.

April 5, 2011

Rotarians touch lives in Guatemala

Staff Report

Families in Guatemala have new homes and new shoes thanks to members of the Los Olivos Rotary Club.

Over the course of two weeks from late February to early March, Rotarians and other local volunteers, including Dunn School students, built concrete block homes while others gave out shoes as rewards for people who completed a health, dental or vision exam. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Former Dunn Teacher Receives Woman of the Year Award

2011-04-04T12:16:00.000-07:00

The Valley Foundation and the Santa Ynez Valley News named former Dunn French teacher, Gabi Robbins (parent '94), Woman of the Year for her inspirational contributions to the Santa Ynez Valley. Her husband and fellow Dunn teacher Peter Robbins received the same honor in 2006.

March 31, 2011

Valley’s most giving, inspirational honored

By Julian J. Ramos/Staff Writer

The Santa Ynez Valley’s most beautiful assets, its generous and inspiring residents, were celebrated Saturday night at the 15th annual Man and Woman of the Year Awards Banquet at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott.

John Crowell and Gabi Robbins were recognized by The Valley Foundation and the Santa Ynez Valley News as man and woman of the year for their contributions to the Valley. Continue reading at syvnews.com

A No-Hitter for Joe Eissaguirre

2011-03-25T12:47:00.000-07:00

Senior Joe Eissaguirre pitched a no-hitter in the Dunn Earwigs' March 16 baseball game. His accomplishment earned him a write-up in the Santa Ynez Valley Journal.

March 24, 2011

NO-HITTER, NO KIDDING

By SaraLloyd Truax, Staff Writer

In the big leagues, a no-hitter is a big story. High school is no different.

On March 16, Joe Eissaguirre stepped on the pitcher’s mound. Facing the opponent on their turf, he readied himself and then began to throw.

“I wasn’t at my best the first three or four innings. I gave up six walks,” says the Dunn School student. “Then Dorlarque came out to talk to me and calmed me down.” Aaron Dorlarque is his coach. “I finished the game with only one more walk.” Continue reading at syvjournal.com

Dunn Students and Teachers Volunteer in Guatemala

2011-03-25T12:39:00.000-07:00

The Santa Ynez Valley News ran an article on the Dunn School students and teachers that spent their winter break helping impoverished families in Guatemala. The same article also appeared in the Santa Maria Times.

March 22, 2011

Dunn students build homes, friendships

By Julian J. Ramos / Staff Writer

A group of Dunn School students did more than just build homes in Central America during their winter break last month.

They learned from the people of Guatemala, among the most impoverished in the Americas, that they are not poor people, as they have hearts to love and lots of generosity.

The 10 high school students who went on the trip are known on the Los Olivos campus as the “Antiqua Ten,” named after a city in the central highlands of Guatemala.

Each of them said the 10-day visit was life-changing and they’d do it again. Continue reading at syvnews.com or at santamariatimes.com

Earwig Sports Highlights

2011-03-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

Highlights from baseball, golf and tennis as reported in the Santa Ynez Valley News.

March 22, 2011

Sports Briefs

Dunn pitcher throws no-hitter

On Wednesday, the baseball team defeated Ojai Valley 6-0, in a Condor League matchup. Senior pitcher Joe Eisaguirre pitched no-hitter and struck out 17 for the win, played in Ojai. The two teams will meet again at Dunn this afternoon.

Also on Wednesday, the golf team, which is the defending league champions defeated Laguna Blanca by 28 strokes at the Alisal River Course in Solvang. The Earwigs travelled to Montecito Friday to take on Carpinteria. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Former Dunn French Teacher Named Woman of the Year

2011-03-18T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Santa Ynez Valley News honors former Dunn School French teacher Gabrielle Robbins by naming her Woman of the Year.

March 17, 2011

Woman of year looks at bigger picture

By Dave Bemis/Managing Editor

Gabi Robbins is the Santa Ynez Valley’s woman of the year, but she’s a citizen of the entire world.

“I am truly blessed in my life,” she said. “The way to express gratitude is to share, and I like to share with more than just my immediate community.

“I would never want to give up doing things in the Valley,” she said, ... “but I also find it necessary to go beyond the Valley.” Continue reading at syvnews.com

Earwig Tennis

2011-03-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

Dunn School's tennis team holds on to an early lead in non-league match-ups, led by number 1 singles player Brandon Yau. The Santa Ynez Valley News covered the games.

March 17, 2011

Hot start sparks Dunn to win

By Brad Memberto/Sports Writer bmemberto@syvnews.com

Lompoc boys tennis coach Loretta Jensen knew her team was going to face a pair of powerhouse teams Thursday and Friday in non-league games against Santa Ynez and Dunn.

But her hope was that her team would be able to learn what it takes to play at that level.

Dunn jumped out early, winning all six sets in the first round and defeated Lompoc 13-5 in the non-league tilt played at Dunn in Los Olivos Friday afternoon. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Dunn Freshman Rides the Amgen Route

2011-02-25T10:26:00.000-08:00

The Santa Ynez Valley Journal profiled Dunn Freshman Matthew Honeyman after he rides the route as part of Amgen's Tour of California.

February 24, 2011

OVER YOUR SHOULDER, FRESHMAN MAY BE GAINING

By SaraLloyd Truax, Staff Writer

When his parents took the training wheels off their four-year-old’s bike because he didn’t need them anymore, they had no idea only 10 years later he’d dangle his toes into the cool waters of professional bike racing.

Inspired by the visit of a professional racing team to his Solvang Elementary School, the seed to give racing a try was planted in Matthew Honeyman’s head. When the Amgen Tour signed on to return to Solvang this year, the 14-year-old Dunn freshman decided to go for it. Continue reading at syvjournal.com

Sophomore Wyatt Krutsch's Award-winning Movie

2011-02-25T09:18:00.000-08:00

Sophomore Wyatt Krutsch wrote the screenplay for the winning student film in the "10-10-10" competition, part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival.

February 24, 2011

Local student wrote winning film

A 15-year-old student at Dunn School can now say that he’s an award-winning screenwriter.

The film made from sophomore Wayne Krutsch’s screenplay won the “10-10-10” competition during the 26th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which ran from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Related Stories:
Wyatt Krutsch's Screenplay Becomes Student Film
Dunn Sophomore a Film Festival Finalist
Wyatt Krutsch Returns to the Santa Barbara Film Festival

DMS Volleyball Champions

2011-02-04T10:12:00.000-08:00

Dunn Middle School's volleyball team came back from 3rd place to win the tournament. The Santa Ynez Valley Journal ran a short article about the final games.

February 3, 2011

TO THE VICTORS: WELL DUNN

By SYVJ Staff

Dunn Middle School won the 2011 Volleyball Championship of the Santa Ynez Valley Middle School Sports League. Beginning the tournament in 3rd place, the Earwigs beat Los Olivos and Jonata before going up against Solvang. Continue reading at syvjournal.com

Wyatt Krutsch's Screenplay Becomes Student Film

2011-02-04T09:29:00.000-08:00

Dunn School sophomore Wyatt Krutsch is a finalist in the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's 10-10-10 competition. He script will be made into a film by a Santa Barbara High School student. Their story was covered by The Santa Barbara Independent.

February 2, 2011

10-10-10: Tate Larrick and Wyatt Krutsch

Santa Barbara High and Dunn School Combine Forces for SBIFF Competition

by Avery Hardy

Tate Larrick is skinny as a rail, tan as a Mediterranean, and likes making movies. The Santa Barbara High School senior is a part of the Multimedia Arts & Design Academy — boot camp for kids who like messing around with cameras and computers — and made it this year to the finals of the SBIFF’s 10-10-10 competition.

Larrick got matched with a script written by Wyatt Krutsch of Dunn School, who penned a story about a suicidal author reuniting with his lost love and best friends from high school. Considering that one of their props is a noose, Larrick seemed nothing short of upbeat and happy on the set. Continue reading at independent. com

Related Stories:
Dunn Sophomore a Film Festival Finalist
Sophomore Wyatt Krutsch's Award-winning Movie
Wyatt Krutsch Returns to the Santa Barbara Film Festival

Dunn Earwigs Score a win in Soccer

2010-12-18T10:13:00.000-08:00

Senior Joie Coxon leads the Earwigs to a win in girls soccer and the Santa Ynez Valley News posted this article about it.

December 14, 2010

Coxon’s hat-trick leads Earwigs past Spartans

By Kenny Cress / Sports Writer

The first 12 minutes of this girls soccer game were scoreless. During the 13th, Dunn midfielder Joie Coxon got her big day rolling.

Coxon broke past Orcutt Academy’s defense, took Tashi Richter Valdes’ pass and popped the ball into the net for the first of her three goals Wednesday. The Earwigs started their season with a

6-1 win over Orcutt Academy, a third-year program in its first varsity campaign, at Orcutt Community Park.

“I was very happy with how the game went for us,” said Coxon, a Santa Ynez resident who is in her senior year at the Los Olivos-based boarding school. Read more at syvnews.com

Dunn Sophomore a Film Festival Finalist

2010-12-10T09:47:00.000-08:00

Sophomore Wyatt Krutsch was named a finalist in the 10-10-10 competition, part of the Santa Barbara International Film Festival. He was profiled in the Santa Ynez Valley News.

December 7, 2010

Movies hold teen in their clutches

By Raiza Canelon / Staff Writer

Even though he is only a high school sophomore, Wyatt Krutsch has known from a young age that his life’s calling is to be a filmmaker — and he’s on his way already.

The 15-year-old student at Dunn School has been selected as a finalist in the 10-10-10 Student Screenwriting Competition during the 26th Santa Barbara International Film Festival, which runs from Jan. 27 to Feb. 6. Continue reading at syvnews.com

Related Stories:
Sophomore Wyatt Krutsch's Award-winning Movie
Wyatt Krutsch's Screenplay Becomes Student Film
Wyatt Krutsch Returns to the Santa Barbara Film Festival

Dunn Music Director Releases Holiday CD

2010-11-30T10:03:00.000-08:00

The Santa Ynez Valley News had this write-up about Dunn School's Music Teacher Matt Yaki.

November 30, 2010

Dunn music director releases holiday CD

Staff Report

Matt Yaki, the music director at Dunn Upper School, has released a compilation of Christmas and holiday music titled “Open Up Your Presence.”

Yaki calls it a somewhat non-traditional holiday album that features six original songs and three Christmas standards, though the classics “are rather non-standard in their treatment.”

Yaki began writing and recording these songs about 12 years ago when he lived in Alaska.

“When I was remixing the tracks recently, I could actually hear the wind and the rain hitting our little studio in the woods,” he said. Read more at syvnews.com

Dunn Senior Flies Solo to Alaska

2010-10-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

Senior Joe Eisaguirre spent part of his summer taking a solo flight to Alaska. The Santa Ynez Valley News and the Santa Maria Times ran this article about his extraordinary adventure.

October 5, 2010

Local teen makes a big summer trip

by Raiza Canelon / Staff Writer

Joe Eisaguirre flew north for the summer in a big way — the 17-year-old from Los Olivos piloted a plane to Alaska by himself.

He wanted more thrills and adventure out of his summer vacation than going to a theme park, he said, so he hopped into his family’s 1959 Piper PA-18 Super Cub single-engine plane and spent a week charting his way to Alaska.

“I felt like I wanted to do something more, so I came up with flying to Alaska by myself. I have been interested in flying my whole life, and always wanted to take a bigger trip on my own. I just got my pilot’s license at the beginning of the year so it seemed like the right time to go,” he said.

Eisaguirre, a senior at Dunn School, has been around planes his entire life because his dad, Lew Eisaguirre, has been a pilot for about 30 years. The family has a house in Alaska and regularly flies north. Read more at syvnews.com