Meet Kaleb a recent graduate from Phoenix Country Day

July 28, 2025

Meet Kaleb Gebresillasie who recently graduated from Phoenix Country Day School (PCDS) and is headed to attend Washington University in St. Louis, with a full merit scholarship. Kaleb shared his story with the Arizona Leadership Foundation community at our Corporate Champions Breakfast this past May. Read more about this extraordinary student’s educational journey and the role the Arizona Leadership Foundation has played in that.

From Kaleb:

My parents received their education in Ethiopia, so when we came to the U.S., they didn’t have experience navigating the American school system or the application process. But they always knew that education mattered and were determined to give my sister and me the best opportunities they could. My dad worked hard to manage the application and financial aid process and Mrs. Berg from PCDS supported us through every step and connected us with the Arizona Leadership Foundation. My younger sister, Rakeb, also attends PCDS through a scholarship from ALF and will be a freshman in the fall.

Before coming to Phoenix Country Day School, I attended four other schools. Each of the schools had their ups and downs, but I’ve enjoyed my time at PCDS the most. Here, I’ve felt that my teachers genuinely care about my learning and are more available when I need support. The school also offers a wide range of resources that have allowed me to explore my interests more deeply and take on challenges I wouldn’t have access to elsewhere. For example, during my senior year, via our “independent study” program, I designed a course with the support of a teacher who had taught me in two previous classes. The course examined how technological advancements have reshaped the perception and strategic role of nuclear weapons over time. It combined history, foreign policy, emerging technology, real-world case studies, and current international dynamics. It was one of the most engaging and challenging academic experiences I’ve had, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the support of my teacher.

I hope to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Business and Computer Science through WashU’s unique integrated degree program. As of now, my future goal is to start a venture capital firm that funds and supports smart founders in Africa with innovative ideas. Despite having the world’s youngest population and rapidly growing markets, Africa is often overlooked by global investors due to outdated perceptions and infrastructure challenges. Still, it’s increasingly clear that the next wave of global innovation and economic growth will come from the continent. To prepare for that, I hope to start my career in management consulting or investment banking, since that’s the typical path to venture capital as both jobs build key skills in strategy, finance, and operations.

Kaleb was involved in several different activities both in and out of school as well as academic related programs and received several honors and accolades. Here are a few of the things he was involved with throughout his time in high school.

• The Arizona Board of Education Student Advisory Pane – Kaleb was appointed as Chairman by the Executive Director of the State Board of Education, Kaleb lead a 10-member student advisory panel and together we represented 1.4 million Arizona K-12 students on educational policy matters.
• Research Assistant at Harvard University – Kaleb worked in the Department of Sociology of Harvard; he worked on collecting and analyzing historical and comparative data on punishment and policing worldwide.
• Wharton Global High School Investment Competition – Kaleb led a team of mock investors that managed a virtual investment portfolio of $100,000, developing strategies for risk management, diversification, and company/industry analysis (fake virtual currency).
• Bank of America Student Leader – Kaleb was one of the 4.5% chosen from a pool of 7,000 applicants. He was then matched to the Boys and Girls Club where for 7 weeks he helped teach programs and created an argumentation class. He also went on a trip to Washington, D.C., for leadership seminars with Bank of America executives and politicians.
• Speech and Debate Team – While at PCDS Kaleb participated in and served as captain of the team. He individually qualified for the prestigious Tournament of Champions in two debate events, ranking 5th speaker nationally in the Public Forum Debate.
• YoungArts Winner – Kaleb’s passion for creative writing led him to be recognized as the YoungArts Winners (one of the nation’s premier arts competitions with past winners including Amanda Gorman, Jon Batiste, and Timothée Chalamet). He won multiple Scholastic Gold Keys and have been published internationally among the work of MFA graduates and professors.

In his free time, he enjoys pickleball, listening to music, writing poetry, learning about new start-up companies and driving. He also had a job at One Stop Nutrition.

Jennifer Cherilla, Assistant Head of Upper School and Dean of Academics at Phoenix Country Day had this to say about Kaleb. “He brought warmth and positivity to our campus every day. His natural curiosity and enthusiasm enriched classroom discussions, and he consistently treated others with genuine care and respect. In his senior speech to our school community, he spoke thoughtfully about the impact of intentional kindness, something he modeled throughout his time at Phoenix Country Day School.”

In closing Kaleb told us this about his scholarship, “The Arizona Leadership Foundation scholarship has had a huge impact on my family. It made an excellent education financially possible and brought us peace of mind. It gave my parents the confidence that their hard work was leading somewhere, and it gave me the chance to focus fully on learning and growing.”

About Phoenix Country Day School:

Since 1961, Phoenix Country Day School has been the Valley’s only independent school serving students from Pre-K through Grade 12. PCDS’ mission is to prepare promising students to become responsible leaders and lifelong learners through an education that emphasizes intellectual engagement, independence, collaboration, creativity, and integrity. To find out more about PCDS visit: pcds.org