Traditions of Success
Putnam City West High School
Graduates talk about the difference Putnam City West made in their lives

		"I especially enjoyed and appreciated Putnam City's gifted and talented program and its dedication to providing honors and advanced placement courses. Because of the AP courses and concurrent enrollment I was able to take in high school, I began college with 18 hours of credit. This allowed me to skip several basic freshman classes and take more of the upper-level courses that interested me." —Sarah Swinney, Student, Baylor University Graduate of Putnam City West High School, 2005
		"I truly believe the foundation for my current and future success began in Putnam City. I have to give credit to the wonderful faculty and staff who taught me to dream big and encouraged me to never give up. My teachers helped me discover my talents and showed me how to maximize them to my full potential. Putnam City is a place of lifelong mentors and friends who will impact me for the rest of my life." —Michael Gilbert, Affiliate Relations Coordinator, MTV Networks, Santa Monica, CA Graduate of Putnam City West High School, 2002
		"My Putnam City education gave me a firm foundation for later college courses. In many instances my initial college science, history and English courses reiterated what I had already learned at Putnam City West. Putnam City also more broadly prepared me for life after school, giving me perspective on travels and living abroad. I credit an excellent public-school education for preparing me to better understand the world and continue learning as an adult. All told, I feel well-rounded, confident and capable to continue learning at home and on the world stage." —Valerie Densmore, postdoctoral fellow, Pain Management Research Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia, designs and conducts scientific research to investigate how spinal cord injury rearranges spinal cord and brainstem neuroanatomy so that normal sensations like touch become painful. Graduate of Putnam City West High School, 1992
		"Attending school in Putnam City was an all-American experience – a place with some wonderful teachers and a chance to not only gain knowledge, but also to grow socially and spiritually. It helped me establish academic, social, and spiritual foundations that are core to who I am today. These would include skills such as interpersonal communication and critical thinking, and values which have been paramount to my work in high tech and to being effective in today's global economy." —Sonny Vu, Chairman and Founder of AgaMatrix, a consumer medical device company in Salem, New Hampshire Graduate of Putnam City West High School, 1991
		"I was able to achieve a well-rounded educational experience that was challenging scholastically and also provided growth opportunities in athletics and fine arts. I had the opportunity to study with some very dedicated and inspirational teachers. My football coach taught me the important life lesson that a lot of work can be done in a short amount of time if you put your mind to it. My band teacher taught me the importance of intensity of effort and what it means to dedicate yourself fully to achieving a goal. My teachers inspired me to always reach beyond the familiar of what I know to be possible and strive for more." —Patrick Mohr, Strategist and Head of Quantitative Research for Citigroup Investment Research, Tokyo, Japan Graduate of Putnam City West High School, 1985
		"My experiences as a Putnam City student were extremely positive. I experienced great support and encouragement from my teachers throughout my years in Putnam City schools. My high school forensics teachers in particular equipped us to be lifelong learners and good citizens, all the while encouraging us to stretch our abilities and test our limits. The quality of teaching and learning in my honors courses, the breadth of extracurricular offerings, and opportunities for leadership all created an exciting and affirming learning environment and shaped my curiosity about the world." —Amy Northcutt, Deputy General Counsel, National Science Foundation Graduate of Putnam City West High School, 1978