Congratulations to Junia Janvier ’19, who was recently honored with Sophia Academy's Women of Wisdom (WOW) Award! This award recognizes remarkable women who exemplify Sophia Academy's social justice mission and core values of courage, responsibility, respect, and peace. Ms. Janvier, who graduated from the academy in 2015, said the event was a full-circle moment. "I was a Wheeler senior when I attended this gala in 2019 as a Sophia Academy alum speaker, so to be awarded five years later felt surreal," she shared.

Ms. Janvier said the special moment was made possible thanks, in part, to the support of her family and friends, including Wheeler Director of Unity & Diversity Princess Bomba P’16, P’18 and Head of Upper School Neeltje Henneman, who attended the event. "They [Ms. Bomba and Ms. Henneman] were part of my support system at Wheeler and encouraged me to pursue my passions and challenge myself academically and personally. Ms. Bomba played a huge role in my family’s decision to commit to Wheeler, especially as we navigated our first independent school experience." Ms. Janvier also remembered how critical Ms. Henneman's guidance was as she pursued academic and extracurricular interests at Wheeler. "With her guidance and support, I was empowered to take AP Environmental Science and Honors Math, and I pushed myself out of my shell to go after a Student Senate role. It's incredibly special to me to see and experience the many ways the Wheeler community continues to pour into me years later.”