Windward Alumni
Are you a Windward alum and want to share an update?
Staying connected
About Our Programs
Windward loves highlighting its incredible alumni, whether it’s inviting them to engage with the community, spotlighting them with updates and articles in our community magazine, The Compass, or welcoming them to inspire our middle school students through Dream Big. The Windward School provides value to alumni through various initiatives, groups, opportunities, and events throughout each school year. Windward alumni participate in networking opportunities, are invited to speak on panels and at lectures, mentor current students, and connect with peers at Homecoming, senior night, and the Windward Fund alumni fundraiser. Read on to learn more about programs designed specifically for alumni of The Windward School.
Your Dreams Are Your Future
Dream Big
Brought to you annually by the Windward Parents Association and Windward Alumni Office, Dream Big: Your Dreams Are Your Future program began in 2011. Each year Dream Big features prominent, inspirational speakers who share their stories about overcoming obstacles and going on to achieve their dreams. The goal of the program is to engage Windward middle school students and our extended community in an encouraging, interactive event as a reminder that having a language-based learning disability need not hold anyone back from a lifetime of achievement.
2026 Featured Speaker
Mitchell Katz '19
Mitchell Katz attended The Windward School from fourth through eighth grade, where he developed a love for coding and an understanding of how things work. He then attended Rye Country Day School, where he graduated in 2019 with 31 college credits completed. Mitch went on to attend Lehigh University, where he dual majored in Computer Science and Business while also running his own business.
In high school, Mitch produced software modifications (“mods”) for popular games such as Minecraft under his brand Sk1er. He then worked to find a way to monetize this work for himself and others, turning his hobby into a business. In college, Mitch formed a partnership with Spark Universe to expand his vision and, as CEO, brought Essential to millions of gamers.
In January 2024, Mitch stepped down as CEO and became an advisor at Essential, while remaining on the board. As of July 2025, Mitch completely stepped down from his roles and sold his portion of his company to his business partners at Spark Universe. After the sale, he wanted to give a portion back to organizations and causes that impacted him. He immediately thought of Windward as his education here was “pivotal” in his life trajectory.
Mitch is currently considering his next steps with a move to San Francisco on the horizon for this year. He is excited about emerging opportunities in the field of artificial intelligence, particularly applications within consumer software, where he has spent most of his career thus far.
If you are interested in becoming a Dream Big presenter, please email us at alumni@thewindwardschool.org
Questions? Reach out to alumni@thewindwardschool.org