Author Spotlight
Ben Bradley
A nepotism baby — usually someone in the Hollywood world, born into a family of famous parents that help them advance, such as Johnny Depp having influential children like Lily Rose Depp.
But nepotism babies are everywhere you look, even at East.
When most people think of the last name Leonard, they think of Associate Principal Dr. Susan Leonard, or senior varsity football player CJ Leonard. Coming in freshman year, now-junior Maggie Leoanrd was immediately greeted by warm waves and smiles by students and staff as she walked down the hall.
“I remember in middle school, when we were signing up for our classes,” Leonard said. “The ladies were like, ‘Can we take a picture with you and send it to your mom?’ I felt like a celebrity.”
While having her mom right down the hallway has its perks, Leonard says it can be weird having her always looking over her shoulder.
“When you’re complaining about a teacher to your parents, I can’t do that because she’s on the teacher’s side every time,” Leonard said.
Not many people can say their dad has been a well-loved art teacher for fifteen years at their school — but junior Ira Finkleston can. He grew up crawling on the art tables that most students learn to paint on.
“It’s pretty nice because most of my teachers have known me for a while,” Finkelston said. “Especially the ladies who work in the front office, they have known me since I was two.”
While most of Finkleston’s friends share funny stories from their class periods, he uses the popular classroom as somewhere to go during the school day to take a break.
“Overall, I think I benefit from [having my dad at school] because it makes me feel more comfortable here,” Finkleston said.
Growing up with four older siblings involved in everything from soccer, lacrosse and Columbia Brew, freshman Louisa Holzbeierlein has always had people to help give her advice.
Having an older sister still at East, senior Cate Holzbeierlien, makes it easier for her to go around school and into places like the coffee shop where all of the senior workers recognize her.
“It was really nice [during link crew orientation] because I already knew who my link leaders were,” Louisa said.
While most people struggle picking which classes they want to take when they first come in as a freshman, Holzbeierlein knew what she wanted and was even able to help her friends.
“One of my friends wanted to put Chemistry on their schedule for next year, but they were in the wrong math,” Holzbeierlein said. “I told them that they should take Algebra 2 first because that’s what my sister told me.”
Freshman Lila and Grant Kimmel are the youngest of the four Kimmel sibling clan. Having two older siblings, 2019 and 2022 East alumni Riley and Bo, the twins had a path set for them when they came through high school.
“My brother played soccer, swim, lacrosse and I’ve done all three,” Grant said. “Same with Lila. She was thinking about doing soccer, but she did swim because of Riley.”
Some teachers think Grant looks like his older brother, sparking easy conversations that wouldn’t have come naturally otherwise.
“If I didn’t have older siblings [when I came to East] I would have been a lot more intimidated,” Lila said. “It made me feel a lot more comfortable.”
Being the youngest of four brothers, no one was surprised when senior Emmerson Bihunik stepped onto the soccer field his freshman year. With all three brothers being star soccer players, he knew he wanted to continue the legacy.
Even before his first season, Bihuniak already knew most of the coaches after growing up watching in the stands for years as his brothers played on the team, including one who was a junior when he started.
“It would have been different not knowing the coaches,” Bihuniak said. “I probably would’ve had to prove myself a little bit harder. The coaches already knowing me and being pretty decent as a freshman made tryouts easier.”
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