Our alumni network at Breakwater is a large one, extending through over sixty years and thousands of students!

Students leave Breakwater as independent thinkers, compassionate world citizens, and curious lifelong learners who possess the academic and interpersonal skills they need to succeed wherever their choices and circumstances take them. They are the holders of Breakwater’s stories; their past experiences with the school can lend perspective to our current triumphs and challenges.

Alumni are lifetime members of the Breakwater community and are encouraged to stay connected by attending school year events, volunteering on campus (alumni should complete the volunteer form below!), becoming members of the Breakwater Youth Corps, attending alumni events, and more. We have even had some alumni return as teachers in our School and Enrichment Center!

Beyond the Breakwater, 8th grade graduates attend a variety of local independent and public schools. See where some of our recent graduating students have attended high school:
Baxter Academy for Technology and Science
Portland High School
Deering High School
Cheverus High School
Thornton Academy
Casco Bay High School
South Portland High School
The New School
The Maine School of Science and Mathematics
North Yarmouth Academy
Yarmouth High School

What are you studying in college?

I am studying Mechanical Engineering and am graduating from the Honors College.

-What are some things you do as part of that major?

I do a lot of projects inside and outside of class. Currently I am working on building a large fixed-wing vertical take off and landing drone for my senior Capstone Design class. This is the culminating project for Mechanical Engineers and is a year long group project where we design something from the ground up. As part of my Honors Thesis I am working with a professor and classmate to design an exoskeleton that a person can wear to assist with their arm mobility. This is the culminating project for the Honors College. Outside of class, I am doing a lot with 3D-printing and learning about how useful it can be for engineers. It can be used to make fun models or as a tool for engineering design.  

-How did your experience at Breakwater give you skills or passions for your work now?

My experiences at Breakwater are similar to my experiences that I have now in college. The biggest thing that Breakwater gave me was the ability to develop a passion on my own that I could pursue independently of class. Breakwater centers itself around the individual student and what they want to get out of their time at school. Although I didn’t know it at the time, the independence and trust that I had from my teachers allowed me to learn more about the subjects that I was studying. Now, I have independence in my college engineering projects and feel confident to tackle the challenges because of the skills I developed at Breakwater.

-What were 3 things (projects/assignments/trips/etc) you did at Breakwater that influenced you and/or led you to your major?

For me, the science challenges with Sari, my fifth grade Leap Project, and my eight-grade suspension bridge for capstone are some of the best examples of times that I could really explore my passion for engineering. These projects were all things that I got to explore deeply over a longer period of time and really figure out what interested me about them. I didn’t know that all these projects would lead me to engineering, but I realized that I was pulled towards things that I could research, build, and make come to life.

-Tell us about your robotic arm. (Did you get chosen to present??)

For my Honors Thesis in my senior year of college I am building a robotic exoskeleton for upper arm mobility and rehabilitation. This is a device that a person can wear on their shoulder and elbow that will help them move their arm to complete daily tasks. This device would be used for rehabilitation and training a person’s arm after an event such as a stroke. It is meant to give freedom back to someone who might otherwise need a caretaker to look over them. I am using 3D-printing extensively to prototype a mechanical design that will be lightweight and easy to use but provide enough assistive power to do tasks such as reaching and eating. I am in the process of writing a research paper that I will submit to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and find out if I will present my research later in the year.

-What do you hope to be doing in 10 years?

It is always hard to say what I would like to be doing in the future as my interests develop with experience. Right now, I would love to be working in the aerospace or automotive industry designing high performance components for airplanes or cars. After graduation from college, I will be working at Pratt and Whitney designing and manufacturing airplane engines. I will get to experience the aerospace industry and am looking forward to learning about what is out there.

Are you an alumni interested in visiting/volunteering for a day?

We love having Alumni come back to Breakwater to visit and volunteer. So that we can plan ahead and arrange your visit, please complete your request at least 10 days prior to your intended visit day. Maggie, Maddy, or Amy will contact you after they receive the form to let you know the details of your visit/volunteer day.