WPS Alumni Return to Share Career Insights in Medicine and Aerospace Engineering

11/19/2025

Berlin, MD – Worcester Preparatory School welcomed back several distinguished alumni this November as part of its ongoing commitment to connecting students with real-world learning and post-graduate mentorship.

Riley Schoch ’22, who currently attends the University of Maryland and will begin studies at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Fall 2026, visited Worcester Prep on Friday, November 7. During his visit, Riley spoke with interested students about his experience at the University of Maryland, the medical school application process, and effective strategies for saving money throughout college and beyond. Students had the opportunity to hear directly about Riley’s successful journey into the medical field.

On Thursday, November 14, Worcester Prep hosted a presentation featuring RJ Smith ’11 and Walt Taraila ’07, two alumni working for the Virginia Spaceport Authority (VSA). RJ Smith serves as the Director of Project Management, and Walt Taraila served as the MARS Chief Engineer.

The VSA, which owns and operates the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS)—the largest commercial spaceport in the world—was highlighted during their presentation. MARS includes four launch pads, a Payload Processing Facility, a UAS runway, and state-of-the-art payload and vehicle integration facilities located at Wallops Island on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Students enjoyed an engaging conversation about RJ’s and Walt’s paths into aerospace engineering and the exciting opportunities available in a rapidly growing field right in our own backyard.

Founded in 1970, WPS is a private, independent Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 School, located in Berlin, Maryland. Approximately 500 students attend from Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. For more information about WPS, please visit www.worcesterprep.org or call 410.641.3575.

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Pictured in the front row from the left are VSA Director of Project Management RJ Smith (WPS Class of ’11), VSA Chief of Education and Intern Development Sidnee Mcgee, Isha Garg (Berlin, MD), Liam McAllister (Bishopville, MD), Max Griffin (Lewes, DE), Matthew Armstrong (Dagsboro, DE), Ben Holloway (Ocean City, MD), Ronen Poddar (Ocean Pines, MD), Caleb Walston (Salisbury, MD), Paxton Mault (Ocean City, MD), VSA MARS Chief Engineer Walt Taraila (WPS Class of ’07), and Jude Anthony (Frankford, DE). In the back row from the left are WPS teacher Mr. Paul Cyryca, Marina Farlow (Berlin, MD), Tyler Netting (Dagsboro, DE), Chase Thompson (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Beau Brittingham (Millsboro, DE), Jude Anthony (Frankford, DE), Gavin Mann (Bishopville, MD), and Jackson Griffin (Ocean City, MD).
Riley Schoch (WPS Class of ’22), who currently attends the University of Maryland and will begin studies at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Fall 2026, is pictured with a group of WPS students. Kneeling in the front, from the left are Emery Hammonds (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Giuliana Frabizzio (Bethany Beach, DE), Caroline Burbage (Berlin, MD), Madison Andrews (Ocean City, MD), Addy Wisniewski (Bishopville, MD), and Emma Nordstrom (Berlin, MD). Standing from the left are Sophia Nguyen (Dagsboro, DE), Nora Gorfinkel (Berlin, MD), Rani Yonker (Greenbackville, VA), Ben Rafinski (Berlin, MD), Harper Hertrich (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Darren Lockard (Ocean Pines, MD), Ruhi Chapla (Salisbury, MD), Wes Wisniewski (Bishopville, MD), Gabriella Damouni (Lewes, DE), Ayath Islam (Ocean City, MD), guest speaker Riley Schoch, Isha Garg (Berlin, MD), Elena Gjoni (Ocean City, MD), Elle Wilsey (Selbyville, DE), Kristie Carr (Lewes, DE), Ella Tull (Rehoboth Beach, DE), Keerat Pandher (Berlin, MD), WPS school nurse Anne Regan, and WPS teacher Dr. Katie Moreland.

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Worcester Preparatory School

508 South Main Street, Berlin, MD 21811

Phone: 410-641-3575 | Fax: 410-641-3586

Celebrating 50 years, WPS is an independent, college prep day school for Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 students. Located in Berlin, Maryland, the private school attracts an average of 500 students from Maryland, Delaware and Virginia.