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Winner of the Wuersten Award for the Class of 2025

By Penn Kessler ‘25
The Wuersten Award is presented to the sixth grade student who has written the most insightful composition on the subject “What The John Thomas Dye School Means to Me.”

The compositions are written at school by any sixth grader who would like the opportunity to reflect on their years at JTD. They are presented anonymously to the faculty who read and vote on their favorite. The award is presented at graduation and the essay is read as part of the ceremony.

Dr. Helmut Wuersten, whose son, Eric, attended JTD, established the award many years ago. During a severe rainstorm, Eric and a group of fellow students worked all day to save the front driveway, which was in danger of being washed away. Dr. Wuersten saw this act as a true expression of the deep feelings these students had for their school and desired to honor a member of the graduating class who could best articulate those feelings.

The following essay was written by Wuersten Award Winner, Penn Kessler ‘25
A seed

I was 4 years old when my two brothers started their first year at JTD. I remember picking them up from the bus stop, seeing the older kids walk off in the white and navy uniforms, smiling with their friends and thinking, “I can’t wait to be there.” Now in 6th grade, I’ve reflected on my time at our school on the hill and I’ve seen how much I’ve changed and grown, almost like a plant. You don’t just plant a seed and it magically grows. You need nurturing soil to support the growth. It takes time to turn into a plant. The little seed needs water and sunlight, all tools to shape the seed into what it will become later. This is how I would describe JTD.

I was so unbelievably scared on my first day of Kindergarten that it took both of my brothers and my mom to drag me out of the front door. In the car, I was whining to my brothers, but they just smiled and told me to wait, that I would have lots of fun.  The first thing I saw when I got out of the car was the bright sun, almost casting a spell over the campus. I was walked into my class, introduced to my teachers, and the journey started. I had such an unbelievable time in kindergarten, but the moment I always think back to was the light gleaming off the campus. I knew that my time at this school would be magical. I was a seed, planted into soil, absorbing things that would help me grow.

Third grade was the middle period of my time at school; still young, but getting old enough to really take everything in academically and socially. This was the time where I felt that my friendships were really solidified, and I knew the people that would support me – the ones I wanted to be around. I remember that we would always be called, “The Leaders of Lower School” and I really took that into my heart, that I had experience and could use that to help kids of younger ages getting acclimated to school. I was a little plant, head poking out of the ground, finally seeing the light with my own eyes.

Now in 6th grade, I’ve seen what a wonderful journey it’s been. Reflecting on the time I’ve had, I can really take everything in. I’ve been so lucky to have a wonderful, loving community to help me learn and grow. Supported by friends, challenged to do my personal best by teachers. Every experience that I’ve gone through has shaped me into the person I am today and will continue to be. I am fully sprouted, a plant spreading more seeds, trying to make an impact on the people around me.  Although my journey at JTD may be over, the bigger picture has just begun, and I will take what has made me unique and proud to the next stage of my life, because not everyone has had the same support and growth as I did. Not everyone can say that they were a Greyhound, but I can, and I know that I would not be where I am today without this school. JTD has developed my plant. Now, It’s time to turn that plant into a garden.

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The John Thomas Dye School


11414 Chalon Road
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Phone: (310) 476-2811
The John Thomas Dye School admits students of any race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other school-administered programs.

Located In Los Angeles, CA, John Thomas Dye is an independent school for grades K-6. Students benefit from a challenging academic program, fine arts, competitive athletics, and a wide selection of extracurricular activities.