MCDS Career Day Inspires

Healthcare, Business Panels Showcase Perseverance

By Oliver Koziol, Eleanor Moyers, Elsa Lee, Tommy Hicks, Emmett Mead, Quinn Koehler, Madeleine Rude, Coco Michels, Savanna Sanders, Lilly Thornburgh, and Regina Bronk

Jan 18, 2026

Photo By Bonnie Manley

Daniel Maston, Kurt Swanson, Kate Arnold and Christina Engen present at Career Day.

High school students explored careers ranging from entrepreneurship to engineering during Madison Country Day School’s annual Career Day on Jan. 7.

Each student attended three panel discussions with professionals from various fields. These panels included healthcare, law, research and academia, military service and venture capital investments.

World Language Department Chair Ana Banomera moderated a panel with three female doctors. “They expressed a lot of emotion in their story, and they were very clear about how human it is to take a path that is not straight,” Banomera said. “I think that was very inspiring to students.”

Eliz ’29 and Enayah ’29 also enjoyed the panel with the doctors and military professionals, while Presley ’29 was intrigued by law and academia.

Venture capitalist Rafael Corrales captured the attention of many business-minded students. He spoke about his early investments in Instacart and about what it was like to be his own manager.

“Success doesn’t come overnight,” Rowan ’29 said. Corrales showed him that persistence is key. Ranvir ’28 agreed, noting that he learned that becoming successful was about putting in hard work early in life.

Milan ’27 was inspired as well. “I want to be like that guy,” he said, adding that Corrales had “mad aura.”

“Career Day is an evolving opportunity,” Banomera said. She believed that this year’s career day format was better than previous years.

Anne Braus, Kelly-Lavin and Jasmine-Craige present at Career Day.
(Photo By Bonnie Manley)

Students had suggestions for further improvement in the future:

“I know a lot of my friends were hoping there would be theater, modeling or acting careers,” Ruby ’28 said.

Others believe that allowing students to choose their own panel, rather than having the groups preassigned, would have enhanced their experience as well.

“There wasn’t lots of room to decide what panels you wanted to see,” Milan said.

Students were assigned to three of seven panels: Clinical Health Care & Medicine, Healthcare at the Intersection of Law, Research & Academia. Technology, Engineering & Innovation, Business, Finance & Entrepreneurship, Engineering & Applied Research, Science, Academia & Creative Arts and Law, Media & Communications.

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About the Contributors

Oliver Koziol, Editor-in-Chief

Oliver Koziol ’29 is in his fifth year at MCDS. He is the founding Editor-in-Chief of The Prairie Hawk Press. After attending the University of Iowa Summer Journalism camp, Koziol aims to launch the newspaper online and in print, while still getting good grades. Outside of the newspaper, he enjoys playing soccer. If Koziol were a candy, he would be Milk Duds!

Eleanor Moyers, Editor-in-Chief

Eleanor Moyers ’29 is in her seventh year at MCDS. She is the founding Editior-in-Chief of The Prairie Hawk Press. Moyers believes it is important for the opinions of the school community to be heard, while also providing students, faculty and staff with credible news. Moyers has a passion for writing, specifically about current events and opinion pieces. She has attended both the University of Iowa Summer Journalism program and The Harvard Independent Journalism seminar. In addition, Moyers performs piano and voice, and is a member of the volleyball team. If she were a candy, she would be Skittles!

Elsa Lee, Reporter/Sports Editor

Elsa Lee ’29 is in her first year at MCDS. She joined the newspaper because she loves writing and hopes to improve her journalism skills. Her other interests include cross country, track and field, basketball and Model UN. If Lee were a candy, she would be Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups!

Tommy Hicks, Reporter

Tommy Hicks ’29 is in his fifth year at MCDS. Hicks joined the newspaper because he thought it would be a cool experience. His hobbies include playing volleyball and cooking, and his goal is to get good grades this year. If Hicks were a candy, he would be 3 Musketeers!

Emmett Mead, Games Editor

Emmett Mead ’29 is in his fifth year at MCDS. He joined the newspaper because he’s interested in learning about journalism and wants to see the newspaper succeed. By the end of the year, he wants the newspaper to have at least five games that readers are able to play online. Mead enjoys running cross country and track and field, placing 17th among all freshman in Wisconsin. If he were a candy, he would be Snickers!

Quinn Koehler, Web Designer

Quinn Koehler ’28 is in her ninth year at MCDS. She joined the newspaper because she is passionate about visual storytelling and online design impact. She enjoys scrapbooking, crocheting, reading and participating in musical theater both in and outside of school. Her goal this year is to win a Jerry Award for her performance in “Urinetown: The Musical.” If Koehler were a candy, she would be a bubblegum Dum Dum!

Madeleine Rude, Managing Editor

Madeleine Rude ’29 is in her sixth year at MCDS. Rude joined The Prairie Hawk Press as a founding reporter and editor to gain more writing experience and because she thought it would be a lot of fun! Outside of school, Rude enjoys playing volleyball, horseback riding and exploring her artistic side. If she were a candy, she would be Skittles!

Coco Michels, Web Designer

Coco Michels ’28 is in her second year at MCDS. She joined the newspaper to share her photography skills and learn website design. After school, Michels enjoys reading, baking, participating in the school musical and Model UN. Michels wants to get good grades in math and biology this year. If Michels were a candy, she would be watermelon Sour Patch Kids!

Savanna Sanders, Reporter/Web Designer

Savanna Sanders ’28 is in her fifth year at MCDS. She’s adding newspaper to her long list of extracurriculars, which include basketball, theater, singing, art, and Model UN. Her main goal for this school year is to get good grades in biology and environmental science. If Sanders were a candy, she would be jelly beans!

Lilly Thornburgh, Managing Editor

Lilly Thornburgh ’29 is in her 11th year at MCDS. She enjoys writing and joined the newspaper as a founding managing editor. She also participates in dance and theater and is going to run track in the spring. She’s aiming to stay organized and manage her time well, while participating in extracurriculars and maintaining steady grades. If Thornburgh were a candy, she would be Sour Patch Kids!

Regina Bronk, Features Editor/Photo Collector

Regina Bronk ’29 is in her first year at MCDS. She joined the newspaper because it sounded like a fun experience. Outside of school, she dances ballet and hopes to join the intermediate pointe class next year. She is also in the Wisconsin Youth Symphony Orchestra, where she plays violin and plans to audition for the higher orchestra next year. In addition, Bronk performs in musical theater and competitive swimming. If Bronk were a candy, she would be Airheads!