Alumni Stories

Chanelle Hurst

  • Development Assistant, Liberty Property Trust
  • CHAD Class of 2007
  • California College of the Arts

What makes CHAD a special place? Why should someone want to attend CHAD?

CHAD allowed for exploration within and outside of traditional academic realms. You could explore your love for literature as well as your love for industrial design. This exploration gives students a sense of freedom in finding themselves and their passions.

What did you learn at CHAD that has proven most useful after graduation?

While attending CHAD, I learned that no matter my background, the creative world was accessible to me if I chose to go after what I wanted. Architecture as a career was something I never thought I could do because a traditional architect does not look like me. Although the minority representation in the field is still lacking, CHAD taught me to be comfortable with my discomfort, and claim my space in a field that I thought was once closed off to me.

Tell us about a specific experience you had at CHAD that was amazing. It might be a project you worked on, a positive relationship you had with a teacher, a field trip you took, or something else entirely.

My most memorable experience in CHAD was watching teachers stay late and break plans because I was interested in gaining a better understanding of the design process. Watching them explain CAD to me at 10pm as I worked on my senior project is something that will continue to stick with me and something I continue to pay forward to the next generation.

Quinta Brunson

  • CHAD Class of 2007
  • Attended Temple University

What makes CHAD a special place? Why should someone want to attend CHAD?

CHAD taught me to imagine. The staff and specially curated classes gave me a yearning for artistic value above all, and gave me an appreciation for detail. I believe that it is because of CHAD that i have such and appreciation for craft. At CHAD, I was given the confidence to pursue whatever artistic goal I had because the spirit of artistic expression was alive and well in every class, even math.

What did you learn at CHAD that has proven most useful after graduation?

I learned about many of my artistic heroes while at CHAD. I was acquainted with Frida Kahlo, Diego Rivera and many more. This is and continues to be useful because early on, I learned that artists break the mold. This is what I’ve done in my career.

Tell us about a specific experience you had at CHAD that was amazing. It might be a project you worked on, a positive relationship you had with a teacher, a field trip you took, or something else entirely.

My favorite teachers were in abundance and I think that’s amazing. Most high school students can’t say that. I am so grateful for the artistic knowledge of Ms. Casanas. Ms. O’Neal who believed in helping her students more than any teacher I’ve ever known. Mr. Vasquez who made sure we spoke Spanish fluently and saw the futures of his students brighter than we could see for ourselves. Mr. Connnor who believed that good character was more important than anything else in this world and Mr. Ruth who taught us that history was vital to our understanding of the present and future. I am so grateful for them all.

William Brostowicz

  • CHAD Class of 2009
  • Attended Philadelphia University (Jefferson)
  • Bachelor of Architecture (B. Arch)

What makes CHAD a special place? Why should someone want to attend CHAD?

CHAD was my first real experience in a studio setting. CHAD is a place that has an open mind and allows people to explore their creativity in a productive way and uses design thinking in all classes of the typical high school curriculum.

What did you learn at CHAD that has proven most useful after graduation?

CHAD taught me how to use programs such as the Adobe Suite and SketchUp that I still use at my office today. I also learned the importance of speaking my mind for something that I feel passion but also keep an open mind about things that I might not be comfortable with. I find this critical in my professional life when dealing with coworkers, clients, and communities we design for.

Tell us about a specific experience you had at CHAD that was amazing. It might be a project you worked on, a positive relationship you had with a teacher, a field trip you took, or something else entirely.

One of my favorite memories at CHAD was doing my senior project because it couldn’t have been done without the help of all the teachers I had at my time at CHAD. I was able to work on my urban planning concept before and after the typical school day and was able to really focus on my passion for architectural design. Everyone was able to focus on their passion during this time, so It was easy to be inspired by other design projects that weren’t necessarily architecture.

Tep Ros

  • CHAD Class of 2006
  • Attended Widener University & Saint Joseph’s University

What makes CHAD a special place? Why should someone want to attend CHAD?

While CHAD offers traditional academic courses, the built (pun intended) in design curriculum allow students to be creative and to critically think. Students receive hands-on, practical experiences through various design projects. This design curriculum is attractive for students and their families but also for teachers. CHAD is full of talented teachers/mentors who are compassionate and engaging in the classroom. The bond between students and teachers creates an enriched student-learning environment. There is a real sense of community at CHAD that you will not find at any other school in Philadelphia and perhaps in this country.

What did you learn at CHAD that has proven most useful after graduation?

The most valuable takeaway from my CHAD experience has to be the strength in my creativity. Not just creative in an artistic way but in every aspect of my thought process. I was inquisitive by nature but CHAD cultivated that way of learning. I was able find creative solutions to problems and challenge conformity, which ultimately led to my career path in the education field.

Tell us about a specific experience you had at CHAD that was amazing. It might be a project you worked on, a positive relationship you had with a teacher, a field trip you took, or something else entirely.

My favorite experience at CHAD was actually after school. Most students stayed after school to work diligently on their design projects. We were all committed and passionate about doing our best in order to showcase our projects in time for First Friday. It was an incredible feeling to be able to express myself and share it with classmates, friends, families, and teachers. It was also rewarding see how it came together at the end as people engaged in conversation over the many beautiful displays of student artwork.