Ava Vyas ’26 didn’t arrive at Harley with instant enthusiasm. Starting in Grade 9, she remembers feeling uncertain. She was starting in a new school and she wasn’t sure where she fit in because “everyone already knew each other.” But that feeling didn’t last long and within the first month, she was feeling good.
She quickly learned that it’s easy to make friends when you get involved. Joining the swim team—where she is now captain her senior year—opened the first door. Softball followed. Then came SOCA, the Student of Color Association, where Ava found both community and purpose, and ultimately, this year, stepping into the role of president. She became involved in Upper School Student Council and by Grade 11, she was elected class secretary, and now, as a Grade 12 student, she serves as vice president of her class. What once felt unfamiliar quickly became a place where she was deeply connected.
Some of Ava’s most meaningful experiences happened outside the classroom. A turning point came during Grade 10, when she and a small group of students attended the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) St. Louis alongside Jonathan Ntheketha (Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 2021-present) and Danielle Walters (Assistant Director for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, 2020-present). Surrounded by a group of thoughtful, engaged peers, Ava began to find her footing. The experience brought the group even closer.
That sense of connection continued through other class trips—Outdoor Ed in Grade 10, New York City in Grade 11, and Atlanta earlier this year. Each trip deepened bonds and helped shape the identity of her class.
In the classroom, one teacher in particular left a lasting impression: Dr. Rhianna Gordon (History, 2023-present). Teaching Ava in both Grades 10 and 11, including APUSH (AP US History), Dr. Gordon inspired her. Ava shared, “If you’re interested in something, she pushes you to explore it.” For example, after a conversation about conspiracy theories, Dr. Gordon turned the idea into a course—just two trimesters later. Ava shares that Dr. Gordon is not just a great teacher, but she great to talk with about history, about life, anything.
Now, as graduation approaches, Ava finds herself caught between excitement and reflection. “It’s stressful,” she admits. “There’s so much coming up. I’m sad to leave this community, but I’m also really excited.”
Next fall, she’ll attend Michigan State University, where she plans to study history on a pre-law track. Her goal is to pursue a path rooted in public service and make a meaningful impact on her community.
That desire to serve is already evident. Alongside her academic and extracurricular commitments, Ava runs her own photography business, Photographs with Ava, and founded an initiative called Frame It Forward. The idea is simple but powerful. She provides affordable senior photos so that every student can have access to something that often feels out of reach.
“Everyone deserves to have those photos,” she says. “They shouldn’t be so expensive.”
For her senior capstone, Ava turned her attention to the past. Inspired by an old letter she discovered at the Lucky Flea (a local market filled with “vintage vendors”) that she and Dr. Gordon translated, and an interest in digital humanities, she began exploring the Harley School’s archives.
After taking an introductory Digital Humanities course through Harvard, she dove into Harley’s archives with a new perspective. Her project now focuses on comparing the past and present—what has changed at Harley, and what has remained the same. She’s uncovered prom photos from 1975, snapshots of holiday celebrations, and glimpses of student life from decades ago.
Though she originally hoped to build a full website, time has shifted her plans. Instead, she’s organizing her findings into a digital archive and preparing a presentation to share her work—ensuring these pieces of history are preserved and accessible.
Her discoveries have even shaped the present. After uncovering the history of Harley class rings, Ava helped revive the tradition for her own class, drawing on 1970s designs to reimagine them for the 100th graduating class. She hopes it becomes a tradition future classes continue.
Across leadership, service, and creative work, Ava has distinguished herself not simply by participating, but by building community, preserving its stories, and making it more inclusive for others.
She’s also contributing to the Alumni Office’s 100 Stories project and, as a final senior project, is creating a video capturing her class in this moment—documenting memories that will soon become part of Harley’s archives themselves.
