Jay Barbanel, ‘07

“I loved playing sports at CH-CH and wanted to play lacrosse in college. One day, my coach took me aside and told me that while playing college sports might not be realistic, I had a lot of talent in the arts. This is one of the strengths of CHCH; the teachers really get to know each of the students and want them to succeed.” Guided by his coach’s advice, Jay enrolled at the Ringling College of Art and Design, and today he works as a photo producer and finisher in the fashion industry in New York. Recalling his CH-CH experience, Jay commented, “I had the most loving and caring teachers. In my arts classes, my teachers would never criticize my work but ask me how I could make it better. With a flexible curriculum and the freedom to experiment, I moved from working on art projects to making my own art.”