Congratulations to the Class of 2023 Holt Adoptee Graduates!
It is with great joy we present the digital 2023 adoptee yearbook and send each graduate a printed keepsake. You are all special members of the extended Holt family and we wish each of you good luck in your new chapter.
On This Page:
High School Graduates
Belay Yacob Brummel
[Ethiopia]
PLANO, IL — Belay was in the National Honor Society, earned Academic All State Conference offensive football player of the year and served as team captain and quarterback. He plans to play football and study business at the University of California-Berkeley.
Brent Wood
[Thailand]
FOWLERVILLE, MI — Brent spent all four years of high school varsity bowling with All Conference. He will attend Cleary University, where he will major in business and continue on the bowling team.
Bronwen Bollinger
[China]
LITTLE ROCK, AR — Bronwen was captain of the women’s soccer team all four years of high school, as well as being a member of multiple honors societies and secretary of the National Art Honor Society. Bronwen plans to attend Hendrix College where she will continue to play women’s soccer and major in psychology and art.
Cassandra Stahl
[China]
HURON, SD — Cassandra was involved in band, choir, yearbook and the chapel team. She was also her high school’s track manager and soccer manager. Cassandra will attend a smaller college and intends to study something that combines math and creativity.
Cooper Irlmeier
[South Korea]
TEMPLETON, IA — Cooper was a stand-out athlete in football, track and varsity basketball. He was also involved in band and student council. Cooper will attend Iowa State University with an interest in kinesiology.
Courtney Neuendorf
[China]
WEST ALLIS, WI — Courtney was part of the National Honor Society, on the honor roll, a WIAA scholar athlete and a two-time state qualifier in diving. She was also a varsity athlete in gymnastics and tennis. Courtney plans to pursue a degree in kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Daniel Hess
[South Korea]
FAIRFAX, VA — Daniel loves going on mission trips, playing trombone, skiing and baseball. In high school, he played trombone and baritone in wind ensemble and marching band. He will attend James Madison University and major in accounting.
Deanna Chapman
[India]
GROVER BEACH, CA — Deanna was involved in student leadership and women’s ministry in high school. She is headed to Cuesta College to pursue early childhood education and obtain her teaching credential.
Eden Krebs
[South Korea]
BENTON, AR — Eden was involved in the National Honor Society in high school and also worked as the videographer for the football team. She plans to attend the University of Central Arkansas, where she will major in kinesiology and exercise science.
Jack Wofford
EUGENE, OR — Jack will attend Lane Community College after high school, and plans to transfer to the Oregon Institute of Technology to major in computer science.
Jaida Jing Savino
[China]
CENTERVILLE, OH — Jaida was involved in symphonic orchestra, youth orchestra, track and the Asian Student Union in high school. She plans to attend the University of Cincinnati-Ohio, where she will major in neuroscience.
Joseph Jerome
[China]
DEDHAM, MA — Joseph is a first-degree black belt in taekwondo. He competed in swim all four years in high school, where his relay teams qualified for sectional and state competitions. Joseph will attend the University of Massachusetts and major in computer science.
Jyothi Michaels
[India]
BREWSTER, MA — Jyothi participated in high school basketball, cross country and track. She will attend the University of Massachusetts in the fall and major in business.
Katelyn Wix
[South Korea]
BOWLING GREEN, KY — Katelyn was involved in choir and color guard during high school. She also enrolled in dual-course college classes. She graduated with honors, and plans to attend Western Kentucky University and major in business administration. After college, Katelyn wants to go to cosmetology school.
Kira Mothershed
[China]
WHEATON, IL — Kira was in the National Honors Society in high school, and competed in varsity track and cross country all four years. She has been accepted to the nursing program at Florida Southern College.
Madeline Kramer
[China]
LAKE OSWEGO, OR — Madeline was involved in the National Honor Society and the rowing team, and was active in her church community. She is headed to the University of San Diego to study biochemistry as a pre-medical student.
Makena Gonzales
[China]
CORONA, CA — Makena graduated high school with honors as well as earning an A.S. degree in social and behavioral sciences while completing her high school courses. She was head captain of the dance team and participated in Key Club, Pets & Vets club and Christian club. She will be attending California Baptist University as a pre-nursing major and will be on the university’s dance team.
Meghan Nelson
[China]
WESTBY, WI — Meghan is a member of the National Honor Society, Letterman’s Club and service club, and she is graduating with highest honors. She participated in cross country, basketball, and track and field all four years of high school. Meghan plans to attend Western Technical College and would like to become a physical therapy assistant.
Mimi Albano
[South Korea]
ACWORTH, GA — Mimi has been a competitive dancer for 12 years. She will be attending Berry College to major in pre-dental studies and then go on to dental and orthodontic school.
Samuel Tyler
[Vietnam]
SIKESTON, MO — Samuel was a standout on his high school wrestling team and is graduating high school with honors. He is planning to pursue a career in physical fitness.
Shristi Jotham
[India]
SPARTA, WI — Shristi works at Sparts Boys and Girls Club. She loves crafting, working on community projects and playing with her dogs. Shristi will attend Western Technical College for general studies, and she would like to become a sign language interpreter.
College Graduates
Abigail Carton
[China]
PORTLAND, OR — Abigail is graduating from Chapman University with a digital fine arts degree. She was vice president of the photography club and co-directed an animated short film, as well as taking professional freelance photos for Greek life and student portraits. Abigail plans to work in animation and visual effects on film and TV projects in Los Angeles.
Caroline Carton
[China]
PORTLAND, OR — Caroline is graduating summa cum laude from Chapman University with a double major in dance performance and psychology. She has had multiple opportunities to perform live in stage shows and appear in dance films. Caroline plans to pursue a professional career in dance and eventually join a dance company in Los Angeles.
Chayana Frahm
[Thailand]
COEUR D’ALENE, ID — Chayana is graduating from the Idaho School for the Deaf and Blind with a degree in general studies. She was involved in yearbook, track and volleyball, and worked as the manager of the basketball team.
Clare Harrell
[Thailand]
BILLERICA, MA — Clare is graduating from Perkins School for the Blind. Afterward, she plans to participate in a community day habilitation program through the Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Grace Pytynia-Hillier
[China]
PORTLAND, OR — Grace graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a double major in sociology and anthropology. She played on the women’s basketball team, scoring a career high of 21 points during the 2022-23 season. Grace plans to return for one more year of basketball.
Hailey Smallwood
[China]
LAKE WORTH, TN — Hailey graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in Chinese studies and a minor in business administration.
Hope Alaina Yi Agresti
[United States]
OAK RIDGE, NC — Hope is graduating from the University of North Carolina Greensboro with a major in biology and numerous awards for her scientific work. After graduation, she will be interning to help sea turtle conservation in Costa Rica before attending graduate school in marine biology.
Jariya Goerwitz
[Thailand]
NORTHFIELD, MN — Jariya graduated magna cum laude from Gustavus Adolphus College, where she majored in English with a minor in sociology. She was on the Dean’s List, received the Lawrence Owen prize for poetry, was a member of the international sociology honor society and served as copy editor of the Firethorne Literary Magazine. Jariya is looking forward to an internship at the Bellwether Media Publishing Company.
Joseph Fyfe
[South Korea]
BRICK, NJ — Joseph is graduating from Rowan University with a degree in art education. He was in the on-campus art club and taught children’s art classes.
Kaily Metz
[China]
MIDLAND, MI — Kaily graduated magna cum laude from the University of Michigan with a degree in engineering and computer science. She was involved in the society of women engineers and currently works as a software engineer.
Madeline Wix
[South Korea]
BOWLING GREEN, KY — Madeline graduated magna cum laude from the University of Kentucky with a degree in political science. She was involved in model UN and student government, as well as clerking for a local law firm. After college, she plans to attend law school.
Mia Lindsay
[China]
EUGENE, OR — Mia graduated magna cum laude from the University of Portland with a double degree in psychology and biology. She was involved in rowing, theater and leadership and worked as an organic chemistry research assistant. Next, Mia will be applying to medical school.
Morgan Goodelman Snipper
[China]
LAS VEGAS, NV — Morgan is graduating from Touro University Nevada with an undergraduate degree in biochemistry and a dual master’s in medical health sciences and physician assistant studies. She will work in emergency medicine as a physician’s assistant.
Myles Faulkner
[South Korea]
ROY, UT — Myles is graduating from Weber State University, where he majored in business. He will be going on to pursue a master’s degree in public health at American Public University.
Rachel Henze
[China]
ANKENY, IA — Rachel graduated magna cum laude from the University of Wisconsin–Stout. She was a member of the Honors College and majored in interior design. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Minnesota.
Thomas Eugene (TJ) Edmund, Jr.
[South Korea]
NATIONAL PARK, NJ — Thomas graduated from Rowan College of South Jersey, and he plans to continue on to Rowan University for a degree in communications. He received several President’s awards in arts and leadership, as well as being published multiple times in RCSJ publications.
Titra Staley
[Thailand]
ELSAH, IL — Titra is graduating from Principia College with a degree in education. She played softball for two years and worked as an assistant teacher.
Wasa Staley
[Thailand]
ATASCADERO, CA — Wasa is graduating from Principia College with a degree in education, concentrating in theory and practice. She intends to work in early childhood education within low-income communities and eventually go back to school for a degree in social work.