The journey into the world of anthropology started at an unexpected place for Class of 2023 alumna, Vienna Vipond. Engaging activities, a stimulating classroom environment, and a memorable hands-on experience with an archaeological dig in Grade 7 sparked lifelong passions for Vienna, who found herself excavating real-life archaeological sites in the Balkans last summer.

When Vienna was in Grade 7, she had the pleasure of being in Ms. McNeil’s Humanities class. “It was my first experience of studying ancient history and I found it really fascinating,” says Vienna. “Ms. McNeil’s entire room was decked out with different artifacts, all these things that she's collected over her career, and I thought it was really cool to be able to see something that could have been used ages ago,” she recalls. “I think her passion for archaeology was certainly displayed by even just walking into her classroom.” Vienna’s most memorable moments in Ms. McNeil’s classroom included learning about Ötzi the Iceman (a 5,300-year-old mummy discovered in the Alps) and a particular assignment in the winter of her Grade 7 year, where she had to craft a tool without using modern technology. Later in the school year, the highlight for Vienna was the ‘Grade 7 Dig’.

“Each student had a little square and a buddy that they dug out the square with. We would take a trowel and scrape layer by layer, and if we found something in situ (which means in place), we had to take a picture and then take all the sand that we dug up and take a sieve and make sure we didn't miss anything. It was that meticulous process that was really interesting to me,” explains Vienna. “I knew that I wanted to go and see what it would be like on a dig ever since Grade 7,” she says.

Now studying at UCLA, Vienna is actively pursuing her passion for anthropology. Last summer, she had the opportunity to participate in an excavation at the Stobi site in North Macedonia, where she unearthed artifacts from the Late Roman Empire (3rd-7th Century).

“This was an extension of the Roman Empire that was a bustling city for a few centuries before it eventually died out,” Vienna explains. “You can see the story of that represented in the artifacts that we were finding. For example, one of the excavators found a bunch of gold coins that were originally hidden underneath the floor of a house—that was likely because raiders were coming in, so they had to hide all their coins.”

While the experience was incredibly rewarding, Vienna quickly realized the challenges of fieldwork. “I remember Ms. McNeil talking about the conditions on one of the digs she was on, with sand blowing everywhere. I didn't quite value that until I was actually in the field, and I said to myself, ‘Wow, this is not glamorous whatsoever.’”

Despite the harsh conditions, Vienna was fascinated by the way she could connect history to the items she was excavating, bringing the past to life through tangible discoveries.

Vienna recognizes that Southridge prepared her well for post-secondary life. “The conditioning of what it's like to be a student at an academically rigorous school was definitely helpful,” she says. In addition, she credits Southridge’s Harkness method in helping her build essential conversational skills, which she found valuable in talking to professionals, professors, supervisors and other students on the dig.

“It’s all about group work, which I definitely underestimated. We might all be digging our own 10-metre square, but in the end, the whole site has to be excavated, and there’s somebody who’s digging up a different piece of the story,” reflects Vienna.

Beyond archaeology, Vienna has become deeply involved in UCLA’s anthropology department. She serves as the academic advisor for the Undergraduate Anthropological Association and is preparing to apply for the Lemelson Anthropological Honors Program.

“Hopefully next year I'll apply to the Lemelson program at UCLA. It’s an anthropology-specific honors program where they give you funding to basically research whatever you'd like and write a thesis on it in your senior year,” she shares. Vienna’s interests in both science and anthropology are now leading her in an interesting direction. “I think I’d do my thesis on the evolutionary psychology part of bioanthropology.”

Despite her clear passion, Vienna’s academic journey has not been without its challenges. “It was definitely a challenge going from such a small community to a very large one. I considered transferring my first year because of that,” she admits. However, she found ways to make UCLA feel smaller by joining clubs, Greek life, and getting a job at the school newspaper. “If you told me a year ago that I could walk anywhere on campus and see at least one person I know, I would have been shocked. Having that sense of community is really helpful because I loved that about Southridge—I knew everyone in my classes.”

As she continues her studies, Vienna is grateful for the foundation Southridge provided. “I look back on my time at Southridge so fondly, and I think that I learned a lot there,” she says.

Vienna also remembers classes like Chemistry 11 Honors and AP Chemistry—not for the content, but for the challenge they presented. “I find it so rewarding to do something really challenging and then look back at the end of the year and think, ‘Wow, I feel like I understand so much more.’ That’s what I strive to accomplish in my classes here at UCLA as well.”

For current Southridge students considering their future paths, Vienna offers this advice: “When you pick your school, pick somewhere where you're proud to be. The school spirit here at UCLA is amazing. My professors always remind us that we go to the number one public institution in the country [United States], and that enthusiasm transmits to the students. It means a lot to be in an environment where people are excited to be there.”

Reflecting on how a simple Grade 7 sandpit dig led to real-world archaeological fieldwork, Vienna’s journey serves as a powerful reminder to let passions evolve. What began as a childhood curiosity has transformed into a hands-on exploration of history. Vienna’s dedication to her pursuing her passion is truly inspiring, demonstrating how early interests, when nurtured, can grow into meaningful academic pursuits.

“Ms. McNeil was my introduction to studying anthropology, and that has carried with me for years,” she says. Vienna’s unwavering commitment to uncovering the past is a testament to the power of lifelong learning and the impact of great educators in shaping the futures of our alumni.

Contributed by Marissa May, Advancement
Originally Published in Spirit Magazine - Spring 2025