A Wizard’s Path: Gianna Spindler

At Washingtonville High School, senior Gianna Spindler has immersed herself in experiences both on stage and in the classroom, combining a passion for theater with an interest in law.

Through musical productions, Mock Trial competitions and leadership roles across the school community, Gianna has learned how to stay composed under pressure, communicate confidently and balance a wide range of responsibilities. She currently serves as president of both Masque and Mime and the National Honor Society while also participating in multiple honor societies, Chamber Choir and BGTV.

“Theater and law actually overlap a lot more than people think,” Gianna said. “Mock Trial especially involves a lot of acting and thinking on your feet, and I think that’s why I love both of those things so much.”

Gianna has been involved in theater since she was 6 years old. What started as childhood singing performances in her living room eventually turned into starring roles on the Washingtonville High School stage. During her four years in Masque and Mime, she performed in productions including “Spelling Bee,” “Mamma Mia!,” “The Addams Family” and “Legally Blonde.”

As a sophomore, Gianna earned the lead role of Donna in “Mamma Mia!,” a moment she still considers one of her proudest accomplishments.

“I opened the cast list and thought they forgot my name,” she said. “Then I realized I was the first name on the list. I just couldn’t believe it.”

Gianna said earning that role at a young age pushed her to grow quickly, both as a performer and as a leader.
“I worked so hard to do the role justice,” she said. “There were a lot of people who wanted it, and I wanted to prove that I deserved the opportunity.”

That drive continued throughout high school, eventually leading to her senior-year role as Elle Woods in “Legally Blonde,” a character she immediately connected with because of her growing interest in law.

“I’ve always loved theater, but I also realized I really loved argumentative writing and public speaking,” she said. “Playing Elle Woods felt like combining the two things I care about most.”

Outside the auditorium, Gianna has spent the past four years competing in Mock Trial, serving as a defense attorney for the past two seasons. She credits the program with strengthening her confidence, public speaking skills and ability to think critically in high-pressure situations.

This year, Washingtonville’s Mock Trial team captured the county championship against Goshen after years of falling just short, an accomplishment Gianna described as especially meaningful because of how close the team had become.

“We were all constantly working together and helping each other,” she said. “Everyone really wanted to win, and we supported each other the entire time.”

Gianna’s interest in law first developed during a freshman year classroom project, when she was tasked with defending Genghis Khan during a mock trial activity in Global History class.

“I remember thinking, ‘How am I supposed to defend this person?’” she said. “But I loved figuring out how to find another side to the story and poke holes in the other argument.”

Gianna ultimately won the trial, and the experience sparked an interest that continued to grow throughout high school. She now plans to attend Virginia Tech to study communications on a pre-law track, with hopes of eventually attending law school. The major felt like a natural fit, she said, combining her interests in writing, public speaking, media production and storytelling.

Along with theater and Mock Trial, Gianna has remained active throughout the school community. As president of National Honor Society, she has helped organize events such as the Senior Citizen Prom and Senior Citizen Bingo, both of which continue to draw strong participation from local residents.

“It’s a great feeling to give back to the community and the people that came before us,” she said.

Gianna credits much of her work ethic and motivation to the women in her life, particularly her mother and grandmother.

“They’ve always done whatever it takes to reach their goals,” she said. “My mom especially always supported me in whatever I wanted to do, and she taught me that if you put the work in, you can get where you want to be.”

Looking ahead, Gianna said she is excited for the opportunity to step into a completely new environment and continue exploring her interests alongside other motivated students.

“I’m really looking forward to meeting new people and experiencing everything college has to offer,” she said. “I’m excited for all the new opportunities ahead.”