The High Point Legacy: Mosey Nuccio Dunn (Class of ’98)

Welcome to “ The High Point Legacy: Alumni Spotlight,” a series celebrating the lives of Pasadena’s High Point Academy graduates. Alumni will share their journeys, showcasing the transformative impact High Point Academy’s nurturing environment has made on their lives. Each story will provide insights into the values and opportunities that define the HPA experience.

Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of HPA alumni, revealing the essence of what makes High Point Academy exceptional.  For more information about HPA, please click here.

“As I walk around campus with my children, I am reminded of how much fun it was to be young and feel so connected to the people around me.”

My Brief Bio—

I was born and raised in Pasadena.  I attended High Point Academy along with my two siblings, Scott and Lynn. After graduating from High Point in the 8^th grade, I went to LaSalle High School. From there I studied science at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.  While in college I decided to pursue a career in medicine, so I attended USC for medical school and then did my residency in Emergency Medicine in North Carolina.

My husband and I moved back to Pasadena to be close to family in 2013, and I currently work as a physician in the Emergency Department at Huntington Hospital. We have three children, ages 9, 7, and 4 years old.  My two daughters are students at High Point in 3^rd and 1^st grade.  I have really enjoyed seeing them flourish in the same school where I have many fond memories.

My High Point Experience—

I attended High Point from Kindergarten through 8^th grade.  It was so special for me because my siblings were there too and because I made so many great friends.  Many of the students also went to LaSalle after graduating, so I essentially grew up with this small group of kids. I can still remember the names of their siblings and parents and even what cars picked them up at carline!

There was no formal 20-year reunion, but my High Point class organized our own.  We met at Margaritas in Pasadena and had a fun night catching up and reminiscing.  It was hilarious that even after 20 years, we all could recall several of the songs taught to us by Mrs. Brune. We lamented having to square dance during P.E. (so embarrassing) and joked about doing the bunny hop for the Peter Rabbit Play in 1^st grade.

It is these wonderful memories that make me look back fondly at my time at HPA.  As I walk around campus with my children, I am reminded of how much fun it was to be young and feel so connected to the people around me. While the school has changed, the sense of community stays the same.

My Personal Observations and Reflections—

My favorite teacher was Mr. Shafer, the junior high science teacher in those days.  He would take us to Eaton Canyon Nature Center to look for specimens and talk about wildlife. I remember him being very funny, and he always had the most creative lesson plans.

One fond memory for me was in 6^th grade when we did “Business Town.”  I made these little bean bag frogs.  They were very popular, so I would spend hours sewing every day after school.  It was so fun to see them all over the school—on teachers’ desks and in my friends’ backpacks.  I felt such a sense of accomplishment over running my own business and learned how much hard work it takes to run a business.  My mom still has one of the frogs on her living room shelf.

I went to LaSalle for high school.  I remember it being an easy transition since many students from my High Point class went there as well.  We were all well prepared.  I placed out of freshman math and Spanish, so I was able to take some classes with the sophomores, which was exciting and challenging.

High Point did a wonderful job preparing us for academia and beyond, but it also provided a nurturing environment where I made friends that I still spend time with to this day. Most importantly, we all felt safe to enjoy being kids and to grow into well-rounded teenagers.