Our Stories

At The Academy, we love seeing students take their learning beyond The Loft and into the real world. That’s exactly what Xinyi Zhang did when she transformed a personal conversation into an impactful, multicultural board game called Sea My Culture.

In a digital age where interactions often feel fleeting, how do we truly connect with ourselves and others in more intentional ways? IDEA360: 500 Friends but No One to Play With is a new course we’re offering this spring, that explores this question and more. It’s designed to help students reimagine their relationships by exploring how play and experimentation can transform the way we engage with the world.

This past January, Christina Hnatov, Academy Experience and Curriculum Designer, and TLS Alum and friend of the Academy, Gerald Suarez, embarked on a two-week experiential learning adventure through Barcelona and Madrid, Spain. Their mission?

As a Peer Innovation Coach and student-initiated course instructor, Clark helped peers unlock the power of design thinking across disciplines. From teaching user experience and biomimicry to embracing empathy and rapid iteration, his journey through The Academy cultivated a mindset rooted in curiosity, collaboration, and lifelong learning. Describing it as a "Magic Grow" spell, Clark credits the experience with sparking a passion for creative problem-solving that continues to shape his career and personal evolution.

Founded by Wesley Hornpetrie, Regenerate! Orchestra of DMV invites people of all backgrounds—regardless of musical training—to co-create inclusive concert experiences. Inspired by a sister chapter in Michigan, R!O centers human connection and community participation, asking, “What if we rebuilt the orchestra with empathy at its core?” Through collaborations with local arts partners and institutions like the National Orchestral Institute + Festival, R!O is transforming the future of orchestral performance—one welcoming note at a time.