Sarah Schoelkopf '92

Sarah Schoellkopf’s classmates call her a human Encyclopedia. She remembers everything. So it is no surprise that Sarah, class of ‘92, has a lot to say when asked what she remembers about her time at Poly. “I remember swimming, musicals, taking a photography class, being the dance captain for a play, water polo, writing for The Paw Print. I remember the Poly Pet and Hobby Show. I remember CIF championship games. Did you know I was the Poly Panther?” She lights up when remembering all of the experiences she had at Poly.

When asked about her favorite teachers, the list of Poly memories grows even longer. But Sarah is particularly grateful to the former Spanish teacher Laura Pendorf: “She changed my life. Her class was a launching pad for what would eventually become my career.” After college, Sarah attended UC Berkeley, where she earned a doctorate in Spanish and Portuguese, continuing her lifelong love of language.

Along with all of these Poly memories, Sarah has been a consistent supporter of Poly, making a gift each year since her graduation. She grew up seeing how involved her parents were with their school, and it just made sense to Sarah once she finished her education: “I’m involved because I’m grateful.” For Sarah, it’s as simple as that.

Sarah has also made provisions for Poly in her estate plan. “Education is costly, and I want kids to have access,” she explains. “I want Poly to have all types of diversity. We can’t live in a bubble. The world is too exciting and diverse. That’s why I put Poly in my estate plan.” We asked Sarah what she would say to other members of the Poly community who are thinking about including Poly in their legacy plans. “I hope they remember what an impact their education had on their life. Poly is a small school where everyone is allowed to participate in everything. That is a real gift.”