Theme: Open Doors

With our theme of “Open Doors,” we seek to:

Gain a better understanding of how different events in one’s life can lead to new opportunities, even if those opportunities are not immediately evident.
See how our actions can give others the ability to see and learn about new thing.
Gain interest or insight in a new arena and begin to understand things from a different perspective.
Grow in appreciation for what others have done for us and others.
Get inspired by the fact that there are many amazing people are in our community.
Be reminded that we are all capable and strong enough to overcome enormous challenges.
Gain a new perspective about how we can “open doors” for others and ourselves.

Santa Catalina School
1500 Mark Thomas Drive
Monterey, California, 93940
United States

Christian Reilly

Educator and Marine Ecologist

Christian Reilly is the Director of Santa Catalina School’s Marine Ecology Research Program. Besides teaching marine science, he is a SCUBA instructor and Instructor for Diving Rescue and First Aid for Professional Divers and is a volunteer at the Pacific Grove Hyperbaric Chamber, which treats victims of dive injuries and carbon monoxide poisoning. Dr. Reilly holds a B.S. from The Evergreen State College, an M.A. from Bodton University, and a Ph.D. from Stanford University. He has a Whitely Fellowship for authors at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Lab as well as teacher fellowship from the Northwest Association for Biomedical Research.

Dorothy Denning

Cyber terrorism specialist, computer science researcher, author and distinguished professor

Dorothy E. Denning is Distinguished Professor of Defense Analysis at the Naval Postgraduate School. Prior to coming to NPS, she taught at Purdue University and Dorothy-Denning-Feb2013-headGeorgetown University, and worked in research labs at SRI International and Digital Equipment Corporation. Her teaching and research have focused on cyber security and cyber conflict. Dr. Denning is author of Information Warfare and Security and has testified before the U.S. Congress on encryption policy and cyber terrorism. She has received numerous awards and was inducted into the inaugural class of the National Cyber Security Hall of Fame.

Gail McWilliams

Author, Motivational Speaker

Gail McWilliams is a seasoned speaker, author, and national radio host who engages her audiences with challenge, humor and life-changing inspiration. Her courageous and gripping story of gradually losing her eyesight while having her children is the backdrop to her life-message of vision that sees no limits. Gail says, “In my darkest hour vision was birthed, and when you have vision you can see in the darkest places of life.” She is humorous, challenging, and unforgettable. Gail exudes hope, vision, and the ability to see beyond any obstacle.

Jordan Gersh

Near-Death Experience Survivor

Jordan Gersh, a Santa Catalina School student from Redwood City, has faced numerous challenges in her life, including surviving a near-death experience while undergoing a routine surgical procedure last year Through each and every challenge, Jordan has seen a new door open to her, allowing her to become a better person. Jordan finds great meaning in the words of Robert H. Schuller, “Tough times never last, tough people do!”

Kelly Coleman

Global Water Crisis Activist

Kelly Coleman is the executive director and co-founder of Save the Rain, a nonprofit organization committed to serving the victims of the Global Water Crisis. For the past decade, Save the Rain has helped bring clean drinking water to over a quarter of a million people in East Africa. With a deep belief in sustainability and abundance, Kelly works to empower students and service groups around the country.

Lisa Abramson

Maternal Mental Health advocate and entrepreneur

Lisa is an entrepreneur and co-founder of Mindfulness Based Achievement (MBA) who has dedicated her life to inspiring others to achieve success in an entirely new way. Her corporate and individual programs teach high leaders how to "Lean In" without burning out. Her MBA curriculum has been taught to hundreds of women and men, as well as at Google, The Stanford Graduate School of Business, LinkedIn, StubHub!, Airbnb, Goldman Sachs, Schwab, YouTube, BrightRoll, Castlight Health, Bain & Co. and many others. Lisa graduated Magna cum laude from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN and lives in San Francisco with her husband and daughter.

Michael Vollstedt

Heart Transplant Recipient

After suffering a serious heart attack which led to numerous heart surgeries over the course of twenty years, Michael Vollstedt was given a new lease on life when he received a new heart thanks to the miracle of heart transplant. With the utmost positivity and enthusiasm, Michael shares his ideas about the meaning of life and death, and who the hero is in his life. Michael grew up in Montana, attended Santa Clara University and lives on the Monterey Peninsula with his wife of over 24 years (an alumna of Santa Catalina School); they have three children.