The Class of 2020 had the challenge of Zoom classes and making online videos during Covid… hence, Covideos!

Juliet Piper sings the graduation song, “Friends Forever,” during a Friday Delight on Zoom.

The following video was recorded in February 2020, about two weeks before the WHO declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak a global pandemic on March 11, 2020.

We’re excited to share the accomplishments of several alumni! Click here to read the Winter 2026 issue.

To say Zion Otaño (Class of 2018) is a busy achiever would be an understatement. Currently in his second year at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, he’s majoring in Hotel Admin at the prestigious Nolan School. Zion’s on the Dean’s Advisory Board and Dean’s List, and he also works as a cook at Taverna Banfi, the world-famous Statler Hotel restaurant (Cornell’s on-campus hotel). If that weren’t enough, he’s also the president of his fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon!

Zion said the highlight of this semester was having the honor of creating and executing a four-course dinner for the Dean of the Hotel School (Kate Walsh) and distinguished Cornell alumnus and industry leader (Alan Rosen) who co-owns the  Junior’s restaurant chain known for their outstanding cheesecake.

(above) Zion with Alan Rosen, who said he enjoyed Zion’s strawberry cheesecake. Bold move, Zion, to serve the Junior’s man cheesecake!

The event, called “The Dean’s Dinner” at the hotel school, is a long-standing tradition and an exciting opportunity that gave Zion creative freedom to develop his own French-inspired menu.

(above) The dinner entree… Chicken roulade with potato puree, a chicken demi-glace, and wild roasted mushrooms.

(above) The lunch entree… Seared duck breast with a duck leg confit, roasted turnips, and blackberry gastrique.

Zion said that preparation is key to making a four-course meal like this. It was especially challenging because he was the only one who knew how to execute his vision, whereas in a restaurant, he said, “You’re making the same meals each day and there’s a system everyone is following.”

He described the opportunity to cook for such luminaries as “epic,” and he said, “I am so lucky to be able to share my skills and knowledge with incredible hospitality leaders and my peers.”

Fun Fact: The kindergarteners at Los Encinos School are given a writing prompt for the yearbook each year to describe their dream job. Five-year-old Zion wrote, “I want to be a pizza maker,” then added a drawing of a “pizza kitchen.” He’s been a foodie all this time!

What better way to end this piece than with dessert? See Zion’s deconstructed strawberry cheesecake below.

You can follow Zion on Instagram @zionotano or @chefzion_.

The Class of 2020 is no stranger to twins. Along with the year’s matching numbers “2020,” there’s also the two Pollack brothers, Harrison and Oliver. Plus, they have a band with a name that evokes even more doubling…Dilly Dilly.

We sent them 11 questions, naturally, via email. Here are their thoughtful responses.

1. Where do you go to school now, and what are your favorite subjects?

Harry: I’m currently at The Buckley School. My favorite subjects are probably math and film.

Oliver: I’m a senior at Buckley as well. My favorite class this year is filmmaking; we get to create several films leading up to a large-scale final project. I really enjoy having that creative flexibility in my academics.

2. When you think of LES today, what are your strongest memories or favorite traditions?

Harry: I immediately think of the gorgeous oak tree. It feels nostalgic to see it still there—it’s seen so many generations of students. I remember playing tag around it, kicking the wood chips, or playing “imaginary doctor” with my friends.

Oliver: I pass LES often because it’s next to my house. Beyond the campus, I think of the community. Our class only had 24 kids, so we were incredibly close to each other and our teachers. I actually remember my elementary teachers much better than my high school ones!

3. Was being a twin at LES a positive experience or a challenge? Has that dynamic changed?

Harry: It was very positive and made us closer. We figured things out and did homework together. It’ll be weird to be separated for college, but I know we’ll be fine.

Oliver: It was definitely positive. We were usually split up in class, which helped our independence grow. While our relationship hasn’t changed, our interests and passions have taken different courses since elementary school as we’ve gotten older.

4. How did your band, Dilly Dilly, get started? Who is in the lineup?

Harry: In 6th grade, Taj (our singer) joined our grade, and we all became friends. We realized we all played the exact instruments needed to start a band: me on guitar, Ollie on bass, Sam on drums, and Taj. It felt like fate.

Oliver: We started with a program called Join The Band, which helped us learn covers. By freshman and sophomore year of high school, we outgrew the program and moved into the garage of our newest member, Oliver Copeland (guitar). That’s where we really started writing.

5. Do you write your own songs or mostly play covers?

Oliver: We’ve been writing our own music for almost two years now and have about seven or eight original songs. We still play covers occasionally, but we make sure to put our own “musical footprint” on them.

Harry: Playing only covers got boring after a while. Now we prioritize our own music, though we use covers to accompany the originals.

6. What are your favorite songs to play?

Harry: I wrote a song called “Crossroads,” and it’s my favorite. The chords are fast and the beat makes you want to jump; there’s no weak part.

Oliver: I agree on “Crossroads,” and I also love “Heart Attack.” They have more energy than our other songs and really get the crowds hyped.

(below) Watch Oliver and Harry’s graduation speeches from sixth grade — June 26, 2020 — pre-recorded for a pandemic-friendly online graduation ceremony. Harry even mentions Dilly Dilly at the 1:38 mark.

7. How did you land on the name Dilly Dilly?

Harry: Originally, we wanted to name the band Harry Harry. Unsurprisingly, no one else wanted that! We liked the double-word idea, and I remembered the old Budweiser “Dilly Dilly” ad.

Oliver: It was a spur-of-the-moment decision. We’ve thought about changing it because of trademark stuff, but we haven’t found anything better yet.

8. Do you have any upcoming gigs or recording plans?

Oliver: We’re planning to organize a house show with other local LA bands in the coming months.

Harry: We are also focused on recording our first EP. We’re heading into the studio in February and are super excited to finally get our music on Spotify and other platforms. We’re even trying to plan a show where we play on a roof!

9. Are you planning on making a career out of music?

Oliver: I don’t think so. We want to release our music before we head to college, but I want to pursue things like environmental science or filmmaking. Music will always be in my life, though.

Harry: If it goes somewhere, great—but the most important thing is having fun in the garage with our friends. I’m interested in film and entrepreneurship. Our drummer, Sam, is the one most likely to go pro; he has perfect pitch and is applying to college for drumming.

10. What advice would you give to your Kindergarten self?

Oliver: Keep doing what you love and don’t listen to anyone telling you otherwise. If you follow your passions, you will succeed.

Harry: Lean into experiences and take opportunities. LES gives you a head start for life. Most importantly: have fun. Time really does fly.

11. What’s next for you?

Harry: I’m waiting to hear back from college applications. The future feels unknown, but I’ll make the most of it—and maybe even start another band.

Oliver: I’m finding out where I’ll spend my next four years. I hope the band stays active during college, and that we can come back together to become an even better band in the future.

You can follow Dilly Dilly on Instagram @dillydillyband

(above) Dilly Dilly rocking at the Woodshed and fundraising for the Voices in Tune Foundation. Nearly all the members are Class of 2020 alumni (right to left): Oliver Pollack (Bass), Harry Pollack (Guitar), Taj Troyan (Lead singer), Sam Rather (Drums), and new member Oliver Copeland (Guitar).

Remember the Holiday Workshops?

Our goal is to publish the Alumni Newsletter tri-annually (September, January, and March). Click here to read the Fall 2025 issue!