Aeva (Schrambach) Lanphere `17 is an estate attorney whose work is rooted in accompaniment, trust, and care—values shaped during her years at Gonzaga Prep. Through sports, Search, and relationships with teachers and mentors, she learned the importance of belonging, faith, and using her gifts in service of others.
 
When Aeva (Schrambach) Lanphere `17 takes on a case as an estate lawyer, the lessons, mentors, experiences, friendships, and support from her years as a Bullpup are always close by. The work she does—walking with families through moments of transition, loss, and hope—calls on values first voiced and practiced during her time at Gonzaga Prep.

Today, Aeva is a wife, an attorney, and a small-business owner who approaches her life with clarity and purpose. She describes her marriage as the most meaningful part of her life, and she and her husband are intentionally building community through their local church and friendships both near and far. Professionally, she practices estate planning, a field that requires both technical skill and deep humanity. “I find meaning in my work,” she says, “but also in realizing that productivity is not my life’s highest purpose.”

As a first-generation lawyer, Aeva’s path carried both pride and loneliness. “Each step I took beyond my undergraduate degree was new and unfamiliar,” she says, “and required me to reach out to others for help.”

One early source of guidance has been Superior Court Judge Annette Plese `82, a fellow Gonzaga Prep alum, whose advice and encouragement proved grounding. This year, Aeva was sworn into the Washington State Bar before Judge Plese—a moment made even more meaningful through years of mentorship. “It was surreal,” she says, and a reminder of how powerful accompaniment can be.

That understanding of accompaniment took shape years earlier, when Aeva arrived at Gonzaga Prep from Coeur d’Alene without built-in friendships. It didn’t stay that way for long. “Fall soccer introduced me to some of my closest friends.” Teammates became friends, and friends became a community. Through soccer, basketball, track, debate, and Ancilla, Prep offered something formative: belonging to teams and a school larger than herself. “I absolutely loved my time at Prep,” Aeva reflects. “It was the first place where I really started dreaming about the kind of life I wanted. I always felt cared about as a young woman—by teachers, coaches, and the community.”

At Prep, Aeva discovered her competitive nature and the satisfaction that comes from persistent effort. “I learned to dream and expand my horizons,” she says, “but also that no goal is worthwhile if it isn’t experienced alongside friends and family.”

A pivotal moment came during her junior year at Search. There, Aeva realized that the most fulfilling parts of life are rooted in her relationship with God and her relationships with others. Raised in a non-denominational Christian tradition, she encountered a deeper understanding of her individual faith through Jesuit education and the Catholic faith community at Prep. “Search helped me feel deeply seen,” she says. “It gave me confidence knowing how deeply cared for and loved I was.”

Teachers and coaches left lasting impressions, and Jennifer Christopher stands out. “Through the way she lived her life, Aeva says she showed that emotion and empathy are strengths. “She carried herself with joy and wore her heart on her sleeve,” Aeva says. “She modeled kindness, intelligence, and femininity in a beautiful way—and I still think of it often.”

Another lesson that continues to guide Aeva came from Christian Birrer’s English class. He taught students the importance of using what they have been blessed with to bless others. “I carry that small lesson with me as I walk through life,” Aeva says, “thinking of all the mentors who have supported me, and wanting to do the same.”

That desire to give back shapes how Aeva looks toward Gonzaga Prep today. She hopes to offer younger women, especially those considering legal careers, the kind of guidance and encouragement she once received. “Having a connection, a cheerleader, someone who shares information you may not even know you need yet—that made all the difference for me,” she says.

One moment from her Prep years remains especially close to her heart. As a member of the Class of 2017 alongside Ella McKiernan, Aeva remembers the day classmates skipped school simply to be together before Ella began cancer treatment. “We didn’t know what to say or do. We just wanted to spend time together.” Ella’s commencement speech, urging the entire auditorium to persevere, continues to resonate. “She was full of grit and intention. Her impact continues on.”

Looking back on 50 years of co-education at Gonzaga Prep, Aeva sees clearly what that legacy made possible in her own life. Without a co-ed Prep, she believes her life would be missing essential friendships, her husband, and the confidence that comes from being fully known and supported.