Words by Kim Vreeland
This fall, Will is headed to UCLA to study Psychobiology.
House Captain, School Mascot, and Senior Class President are just a fraction of the numerous leadership roles Will held during his 14-year journey at Academy at the Lakes that began in Junior Kindergarten.
The list of impressive achievements continues: Founder of the Media Club, Social Media Manager, National Honor Society Event and Communications Coordinator. Student Council representative, and School Ambassador. Will Pena gave generously to his Academy Community and will certainly leave his mark, creating the foundation for Academy’s strong culture and character.
Will’s leadership extended to athletics, competing in football, track and field, swim, volleyball, weightlifting, and earning the title as team captain for basketball. Also notable is his talent for performing. Will sang in the Men’s Chorus for 6 years, serving as Section Leader And Soloist, performed at Cabaret Night and performed in 11 All-School Musicals! He credits Academy’s tight-knit community for providing a setting where he could thrive, “Whether as Student Council Senior President, Varsity Basketball Captain, or Media Club Founder, I had the chance to explore my interests deeply, try new things without fear of judgment, and grow in a community that supported both my academics and my character.”
A recipient of the Presidential Gold Service Award, Will’s commitment to service is commendable. And while contributing to his community in every way possible, he was also dedicated to his academics. An AP Scholar with Honors, he consistently earned Head of School Honors. Special awards include a New York Times essay contest winner and the National College Board Hispanic Achievement Recognition Award.
Will made plenty of memories along the way – winning the chess tournament in Lower Division, his Gogurt exploding on the wall in the 3rd-grade classroom, Zoom Classes with Mrs. McCormick, basketball on Sunday mornings with Coach Brown, the Upper Division trip to New York, and Senior Sunrise.
Will reminisces, “Attending Academy and being part of a single community for my entire education has meant growing up with a deep sense of continuity, belonging, community, and shared history. It has created a strong foundation of relationships with teachers who’ve watched me grow from the curly towheaded blond kid with Harry Potter glasses to who I am today and with classmates who’ve become like family. I’ve experienced traditions that have shaped my perspective and identity – all providing the confidence to step outside of that as I go off to college in the fall.”
