20th Anniversary | OHS
A Look Back at the Past 20 Years!
Stanford OHS is entering its 20th year. Take a walk down memory lane.
Expansion to Middle School
In 2009, Stanford OHS opened its virtual doors to students in grades 7 & 8 with courses in Science and English specifically designed for intellectually adventurous middle school students. These courses bring topics often reserved for
Summer Trips
Though traditional field trips are nearly impossible in our online setting, summer trips to destinations like Rome, London, The Galapagos Islands, and Tokyo, give students the opportunity to meet in person, gain field experience, and
Pixel Pairing
Harrison Siders (2020) & Briones Bedell (2021
met in 2018 while on a trip to visit Harvard University and to attend the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues in New York City. Their connection was forged with the help of
Instructor Spotlight: Ted Alper
Ted Alper has been at OHS from the beginning. He notes, “Even today, getting your high school degree from an online school is a little unusual, but back then it was REALLY unheard of, and students and families who were willing to try
Key Courses: DFRL
Democracy, Freedom and Rule of Law, or DFRL, ranks as one of the most memorable OHS courses among current students and alumni. Its popularity is legendary, and for good reason; it was the first course taught on the very first day of
Clubs and Societies
Clubs and societies offer a place for students to connect over shared interests outside of the classroom. OHS currently has 40 clubs and over 100 student-led societies ranging in themes from Fiber Arts to Neuroscience, Travel and
From Skype to Pronto
Skype served as a connection point– a virtual hallway or cafeteria–where students and instructors could chat informally between classes. Though the school transitioned away from Skype and toward our new communication channel, Pronto
Our Beginning
Stanford Online High School was founded at Stanford University in 2006 with a gift from the Malone Family Foundation, becoming one of the nation’s first independent online schools. Central to our mission was creating an academically
First Graduating Class
In June 2007, Stanford Online High School celebrated its first graduating class. The ceremony was lighthearted and included clown noses with regalia. "At the very first graduation ceremony, I was surprised to be awarded a pink boa for
The Evolution of Pixel
SOHS's mascot Pixel was created during the 2007-08 school year. The Pixel was an off-the-cuff idea from Maya Lewis ('09) and drawn by Jesse Selover ('11). The original digital drawing was a little rough, but it did have that winning
Don't Stop Believin'!
At the very first school prom in 2010, Stanford OHS alum David Sell asked the DJ to play Journey's mega-hit "Don't Stop Believin'" to close out the dance. The crowd went wild! A new tradition was born, and since then, each school dance
Enduring Friendships
How many Pixels do you see? We always love to see Pixels getting together long after graduation. Meeting up for a hike are OHS alums Cherry Ng, Anisha Oomen, Ian Husler, Daniel Sutkowski, Zach Shuster, David Shuster, and Benjamin
First Summer@Stanford
In July 2007, the first Summer@Stanford consisted of only six students in a physics lab on the Stanford University campus, but they were a lively bunch. As OHS Physics Instructor Gary Oas remembers, "David Sell, who later got a Ph.D
Pixel Pairing
An integral part of Stanford OHS’s mission is to foster lasting connections among members of the school community. Not only have Pixel alumni maintained friendships across geographic boundaries, but we have several married couples who
Then and Now: Homecoming
On the weekend of November 20-21, 2010, seven OHSers and their families traveled to a meetup at MIT Splash, most meeting each other in person for the first time. Their meetup is memorialized in a pixelated picture from a 2011 OHSPA
Alumni Reflections: Quintessential OHS
The Online School Experience
See what makes Stanford OHS so special! Our alumni describe the unique experience of attending an online school and reflect on the enduring friendships they made along the way.
Alumni Reflections: Memorable Instruction
The Classes
We have a robust course catalog. Check out which classes and ideas have stuck with our alumni long after their days as students at OHS!
Global Alumni Network
Pixels Around the World!
Check out where our alumni currently reside. Are we missing your location? Click the link below to update your information and stay in touch with the Pixel alumni community.
Keep in Touch!
Class Notes
Christopher Wolfram, Class of 2017
Christopher Wolfram, Stanford OHS Class of 2017, is in his second year of a Ph.D.program in Computer Science at the University of Chicago. Prior to enrolling in this program, Wolfram earned a Bachelor’s Degree at Brown University and worked in software development.
Emma Dreispiel Juan, Class of 2021
Emma Dreispiel Juan, Stanford OHS Class of 2021, is entering her first year of a Ph.D. program in Chemical Engineering at Northwestern University.
Hector Hamilton, Class of 2009
Hector G. D. Hamilton, Stanford OHS Class of 2009, had artwork selected for an exhibition at the Royal Scottish Academy from May 3- June 8, 2025.
Marc Soong, Class of 2020
Marc Soong, Stanford OHS Class of 2020 will earn a Master’s Degree in Statistics from Stanford University this year. He will continue his Stanford studies as a Ph.D. student in Biostatistics.
Ethan Wacker, Class of 2020
Ethan Wacker, Stanford OHS Class of 2020 earned a bachelor’s degree from Vanderbilt University in 2024. Wacker is currently working as a Real Estate Private Equity Analyst in Los Angeles.
Matthew Stanco, Class of 2022
Matthew Stanco, Stanford OHS Class of 2022 received the 2025 Barry Scholarship to attend Oxford University in pursuit of a Master of Philosophy.
Alina Zhong, Class of 2023
Alina Zhong, Stanford OHS Class of 2023 recently published a research paper, “Unprecedented Times: Anorexia Nervosa in the Digital Pandemic Age,” in Rice University’s undergraduate science research journal, Catalyst. Zhong wrote the paper as a student in Dr. Failor’s Advanced Topics in Biological Research class at Stanford OHS.
Finn Boyle, Class of 2022
Finn Boyle, Stanford OHS Class of 2022 is a rising senior at Cornell University where he is studying Cognitive Science. Boyle is also the captain of the Big Red men’s track team where he runs middle distance events.
Thornton Blease, Class of 2011
Thornton Blease, Stanford OHS Class of 2011, earned an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School. In 2023 and 2024, Blease received gold and silver awards from the Royal Palm Literary Awards.
Oscar Boyle, Class of 2025
Oscar Boyle, Stanford OHS Class of 2025 recently graduated from the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill, Massachusetts and will attend Trinity College Dublin in the fall to study Philosophy Politics & Economics and play collegiate soccer.
Ben Gollin, Class of 2018
Ben Gollin, Stanford OHS Class of 2018, graduated from Columbia University in 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science. For the last two years, Gollin has worked as a paralegal for the Manhattan District Attorney, and he will matriculate at Columbia Law School in the fall.