By Victoria Thor, Middle School Art Specialist
As a longtime art teacher at Smith Jewish Academy (formerly HMJDS), I’m fortunate to stay connected with alumni — often in unexpected and deeply meaningful ways. One recent morning, I opened my email to find a message from Wesley Besikof, an alum, sent via LinkedIn. Attached was a photo of a drawing he had just completed while studying abroad: a beautifully rendered two-point perspective of a Roman city block. I couldn’t help but tear up.
Wesley and his best friend Charlie Fieldman were students in my third-grade art class, where they first learned how to draw in one-point perspective. To see that foundation carried forward — years later, halfway across the world — was profoundly moving. Moments like these remind teachers why we do this work. To be remembered by former students and to see how their creativity and curiosity continue to grow truly swells the heart.
Wesley has clearly kept Smith Jewish Academy close. He recently returned to campus for our senior graduation walk and spoke to a gathering of alumni, parents, and faculty — sharing his journey and reflecting on the impact of his time here. Our alumni stay connected in many ways: through LinkedIn messages, school visits, and notes that arrive just when you least expect them.
Wesley has always had a lev tov — a good heart — and I’m grateful to still know him. A 2023 graduate of Hopkins High School, Wesley is now a business student at UW–Madison, studying marketing with certificates in international business and science communication, and currently spending a semester abroad in Rome. Watching our alumni grow into thoughtful, engaged young adults is one of the greatest joys of teaching — and Wesley’s journey is a beautiful example of that pride.