Leo Levitin-Shilman

“Come to the library! Please, I wanna play chess” is something virtually all of Leo Levitin-Shilman‘s friends — or anyone in his proximity — have heard sometime during the second semester of his senior year. Indeed, his passion for chess is fascinating. However, what is equally intriguing is that Leo lives life much like how he plays the game: staying patient, looking carefully for the best moves, and using his mistakes to not only become stronger but also to help his friends learn as well. In his last year of wrestling at Webb, despite being a busy captain and representing the team, Leo spent much of his time coaching younger athletes. He sometimes told others, “I like wrestling because it’s like boxing but more chill.” His humble and nonchalant attitude is appreciated by everyone around him, from his classmates in AdvSt Fascism — his favorite Webb class — to the “siblings” he guides as a peer advisor. After saying goodbye to his friends and SoCal’s warm climate, Leo will move on to Concordia University in Montreal, hoping to continue working out, playing video games, and watching Seinfeld all while pursuing his interest in political science, linguistics, and of course, chess.