Have you ever wondered how your life will be affected by your time at Fieldston once you finish school? Jamie Propp, Fieldston alum from the class of 1988, was a gifted guitarist in a jazz band under the leadership of Randy Wanless, a multi-instrumentalist from the American heartland. As director of the Fieldston jazz program at the time, Wanless hugely affected Propp’s interest in music and Propp “Wanted to be a part of anything Randy taught or conducted. He made Jazz and Cabaret (talent nights) the hippest thing on campus” Propp believes that “There was a really strong gravitational force around [Wanless],” and that “he had a real impact on a lot of students’ lives and in general the arts at Fieldston.” That influence has lasted for decades and it has also had a humanitarian dimension. In fact, many of Wanless’s student have been affected in the same way – a phenomena Fieldston cultivates – throughout the years, and find themselves drawn to pursuing good on a local and global scale. In a funny way, this alumni profile is also the profile of a band that continues to work together.
Propp started at Fieldston Upper in ninth grade. Throughout his four years at Fieldston, Propp was the captain of the swim team, played in Fieldston jazz ensembles and the orchestra for various theatrical performances such as “Grease” and “West Side Story”. Propp also noted that he contributed to “all of the extracurriculars around performing arts.” Two of Propp’s favorite classes were English and Economics, with Mr. Montera. After college, Jamie Propp stayed in New York and went on to contribute to projects that tie in closely with the values of the Fieldston community. According to Montera, “Propp helped to give street musicians and subway performers legitimacy in the eyes of New Yorkers and the authorities, at a time when those buskers were disdained. His work showcased them and helped to create a more hassle free environment. I think of him, often, in helping folks on the margins come into their own as artists and as people.”
Propp kept in touch with Wanless over the years as Randy taught his way through the American International School System, collected art, and fully embraced his passions as a musicologist in Rio de Janeiro, Nairobi, La Paz, Bucharest, and Tokyo. In 2016, Wanless reached out to Propp and other Fieldston students and faculty to ask for their help with an important fundraising campaign regarding one of his students, Kaihan Rahimi.
Rahimi studied at the International School in Kabul, Afghanistan until it was shut down due to the dangerous conditions caused by Taliban terrorist attacks. When the International School was closed, Rahimi came to the United States and attended a boarding school in Wisconsin where he was taught by Wanless. Rahimi was musical, athletic and could have very easily passed for a Fieldston student. Propp said, “[Wanless] found [Rahimi] to be exceptional.”
Wanless reached out to Propp, Michael Kaplan ‘90 and Jonathan Teller ’86 to assist him in supplementing Rahimi’s scholarship to Lake Forest College. That led to a broader support network involving Fieldston graduates and teachers from the 1980s and early 1990s. Now, Rahimi is a senior at Lake Forest College, thanks to Wanless and Propp’s efforts to cover Rahimi’s additional college expenses. Propp said, “My, and most others’ involvement was inspired by[Wanless’s] involvement. We saw how much it meant to [Wanless] and wanted to rally the whole Fieldston community to help Kaihan, as we had met him, shared meals with him, had become friends with him; he really deserved our help. Wanless basically became Rahimi’s college advisor in high school and helped him secure nearly a full scholarship to Lake Forest College.”
Rahimi dreams of going to law school, as his long-term goal is to become an immigration lawyer. Fieldston community members have been working to continue to help Rahimi with his educational journey by hosting more fundraising events and raising awareness for Wanless’s mission via their website and GoFundMe page. Regular updates are also sent to donors regarding Rahimi’s grades as a straight A student and his extracurricular activities.
Additional fundraising was also necessary in the fall of 2021 when the Taliban invaded Kabul and Afghanistan collapsed as The United States withdrew. Most of Rahimi’s family resided in
Kabul. This fundraiser was a success, as many members of the Fieldston community were eager to support Rahimi’s family. In total, 60 former students who attended Fieldston from 1982 to 1992 and eight teachers (including Bob Montera, Arthur Whitman, Joe Algrant and Lynne Harwell) contributed to support Rahimi. Thankfully, Rahimi’s family has since been airlifted to the Air Force base Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.
Propp engages in many other ventures besides fundraising. For example, eight years ago Propp started Techmenity, a company that designs smart apartments and smart buildings. Techmenity works to make smart technology efficient, manageable and sustainable. Propp is also a father with a daughter applying to college, another in preschool, and an infant. In the little free time he has, Propp does yoga and photography. Additionally, Propp is a founding member of Tamid, a modern Jewish community in lower Manhattan.
One of Propp’s main takeaways from this entire experience is the idea that one special teacher can stay with you your entire life. Even 33 years after graduating from Fieldston, Propp is still extremely connected to the community. Propp through his business supports fundraising efforts that are focused on promoting STEM education for middle school girls and eliminating technological obstacles for older adults who want to better their skills using technology to stay relevant.
Propp seeks to bridge the decades and inspire current Fieldston students to participate in and support Kaihan’s journey. You can visit www.sponsorkaihan.org or email him directly at jamie@techmenity.com
Jamie Propp
Kaihan Rahimi
