Palmer Trinity School

GABRIELLA CEPEDA '17 traveled to Jefferson City, Missouri, to testify before lawmakers in opposition to SB72 and SB58, two proposed bills related to immigration policies that could signifi- cantly impact immigrant communities in the state. During the testimony, Gabriella shared concerns about the potential consequences of these bills and listened to others who also spoke on the issue. Despite initial nerves, the experience underscored the importance of civic engage- ment and the role individuals can play in the legislative process. This opportunity provided a firsthand look at how policies are debated and highlighted the power of community voices in shaping discussions at the state level. TIAGO RACHELSON '17 lives in New York City and works in Citi's Community Investing & Development organization. He enjoys traveling, writing, reading, and spending time with friends while always exploring new hobbies. This summer, he's looking forward to an adventure in Norway and Scotland. JONATHAN BENITEZ '17 recently graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine. WILLOW D'ALEMBERTE '18 graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder and worked for several years as a junior architect with Behar Font & Partners, a firm with over 30 years of experience in Coral Gables. Recently, she was promoted to Director of Marketing and Business Develop- ment. Willow now leads the charge at a firm that works on a variety of projects, including mixed-use developments, casinos, hotels, airports, schools, banks, car dealer- ships, and much more. She is always open to connect- ing with others, so feel free to reach out if you're interested in learning more about the firm's work. ELIZABETH VALLEJO '18 is excited to begin a new chapter this August as she starts her Master's in The Internet of Things and Applied AI at Florida International University. After spending the past six years in San Francisco, she looks forward to returning to her hometown of Miami and being closer to family. ELIZABETH "LIZZY" ARRITOLA '18 earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Miami School of Law this past May. She will be working at a commercial litigation firm in Coral Gables starting this fall. In February 2025, Lizzy got engaged, making this year an especially memorable one. ANDREW SHODELL '19 recently completed his M.S. in Strategic Communication at Columbia University, where he advanced his passion for political communications. Without realizing it, he was set on this path by the outstanding PTS English Department. This journey led him to serve as an intern at the White House and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Much of his passion for politics stems from the Bob Graham Center for Public Service at the University of Florida, where he discovered the importance of "learning by doing," in the words of the former Florida Governor. At the nonpartisan center, Andrew worked to increase civic engagement in Florida and wrote speeches for both Graham and UF's president. W IL L O W D 'A L E MB E R T E ' 18 A NDR E W S HODEL L ' 1 9 T I A G O R A C HE L S O N ' 1 7 64 PALMERTRINITY.ORG A L U M N I N E W S

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