Once a Scot, Always a Scot: Being a Legacy at Saint Andrew's

*As seen in the December 2025 edition of the Bagpiper. Written by Chloe Strollo ’26.

Walking through the banyan trees and across the engraving of graduation years and names on the pathway leading to the chapel, generations of families share the same halls, laughter, and especially the same traditions that make the Saint Andrew’s campus feel like their second home. 

For students like senior Isabelle Wallach, junior Sienna Besner, and freshman Callie Jennings, being a legacy means much more than having their parents’ names in an old Saint Andrew’s yearbook. It's about continuing a story rooted in community and pride. 

The Wallach Family at the annual Legacy Breakfast hosted at the Saint Andrew's House, 2025.

For Isabelle Wallach, carrying on her mother’s legacy feels “really cool and special,” knowing that once she was her age walking through the same halls and eating lunch in Mariani. 

“It's special just knowing she once went to school here,” Wallach said. 

Her mom, Lauren Wallach '97, now both an alumna and parent working at the school as the Director of Parent and Alumni Engagement in the Advancement Office, feels the same pride, multiplied by three.

“I am so proud to have three children here who attend my alma mater. Watching them celebrate the same traditions is incredible," Ms. Wallach said. 

Ms. Wallach remembers a time when students had to “dress up more formally” each day, but she also sees the same “dedication and care from the faculty” that defined her own years. 

Her advice to her kids echoes her own experience.

“Work hard and have fun. Take advantage of every benefit of this amazing SA experience while you're here as a student and then as alums,” she said. 

For Isabelle Wallach, this legacy is deeply personal. 

“Being a legacy means honoring the past while making your own mark. It's like carrying forward your family's story and adding your own chapter to it,” she said. 

The Besners pose together on the back deck of the Saint Andrew's House. 

For junior Sienna Besner, the most powerful part of being a legacy is when she literally walks in her mother’s footsteps over her name carved into the concrete pathways. 

“Whenever I walk by her name etched into the concrete, I feel proud to know I am continuing her legacy,” she said. 

Her mother, Suzette Besner '92, shares the pride with her daughter every day. 

“I’m proud that my girls can go to the same school as I did and be considered legacies. I love knowing that they are experiencing the same wonderful environments as I did,” Ms. Besner said. 

Ms. Besner’s advice to her daughter Sienna and all students at SA includes, “Enjoy high school because it goes by fast. You'll always look back with fondness. Balance academics, athletics, and social life. Saint Andrew’s provides an immersive experience in all aspects of mind, body, and spirit."  

Jason Jennings '93, with his children, Jaxon '32 and Callie '29, at the annual Legacy Breakfast hosted at the Saint Andrew's House, 2025.

For freshman and legacy Callie Jennings, she grew up surrounded by stories of her dad’s and uncle’s basketball days. 

“I hear all the time from my dad and uncles about their basketball stories and all of their shenanigans with Johnny O. Also, homecoming is a big family gathering; it’s really fun,” Callie said. 

For Callie’s dad, Jason Jennings '93, watching his children join the same community feels “fantastic.” 

“I never would have imagined they'd attend my high school alma mater. It's such a cool thing as an alum and a parent,” he said. 

Mr. Jennings'  top memories of Saint Andrew’s reflect its spirit of kindness and mentorship. 

“In my freshman year, I was sitting at lunch with a couple of other freshmen, and a senior decided to sit down with us to eat his lunch.  He asked us how we were doing, and if we needed to talk about anything to let him know. That senior was David Rutherford '90.” 

Rutherford now also has two daughters, Blair Rutherford '29 and Heather Rutherford '31, attending Saint Andrew’s.  

Across these legacy families, one message repeats: Saint Andrew’s isn't just a school, it's a lifelong community. 

As Ms. Wallach puts it, “The friends I made at SA continue to be my closest friends today. This is a community for life.”