18 minute read
Cheshire Academy’s Young Alumni Trailblazers
A CEO Leads with His Mop
Ben Watson ’04
I have very fond memories of Cheshire Academy. From the faculty to my classmates, it was an extremely positive experience for me. After a challenging first few years of high school, Cheshire offered me an opportunity to grow as a young adult and prepare myself for the next steps of my scholastic career. I will always consider myself to be very lucky to be a member of the CA community, and am particularly grateful to several members of the faculty and staff for their unwavering support and love when I needed it most.
After CA, I spent a year at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania. I took a year off from college (much to the chagrin of my parents!) after that year and then finished my degree at Northeastern University in Boston. Cheshire prepared me to handle the academic and social dynamics of college, especially around balancing my studying with my personal time, which I find to be one of the most beneficial aspects of boarding school. This preparation has carried over into my professional life, and has helped me navigate the challenges that come with managing a startup company with a young family.
As the CEO of Hawkin Dynamics, my job requires focus, attention to detail (not my strong suit), and team management skills. I’ve never thought of myself as much of a leader, but my time serving as a captain on the football and track teams at CA taught me that the best leaders lead through example. On and off the field, I always tried to exemplify hard work and determination, two qualities that are essential in the business world. At our company, I still do many tasks that could be performed by other employees, but I believe my staff and colleagues recognize that if the CEO is willing to clean the floors and paint the walls, then there’s no excuse when they’re called upon to “roll up their sleeves” for the company. I try to maintain this team-first attitude because I want all of our employees to take pride in their work, and to help keep us focused on the larger goals we’ve set for ourselves.
Hawkin Dynamics has been fortunate enough to achieve several milestones over the past several years. The process of growing from a two-person business to a multi-national company with customers around the world has been deeply rewarding for me, but even more rewarding is being able to see the genuine enthusiasm and excitement from my team after they land a new client or receive positive feedback from a customer. These moments have been the best experiences of my professional career. My goal is to grow our company the right way, and to compensate and reward our employees above all else. I’m not as interested in raising as much money as possible, or getting personal recognition, so much as I am interested in doing things the right way, with a strong focus on fair pay, benefits, and offering our team the ability to grow professionally. I’m proud to state that we offer a minimum hourly wage of $22/hour, even for student interns. In the startup world, I have learned that it can be easy to fall for the potential big payday and tempting to take shortcuts. We’ve managed to avoid this pitfall and have focused on organic and steady growth, and so far, it’s working out for us. I’d be lying to suggest I know where we’ll be in five years, but I know that with the right people around us, the sky’s the limit.
I’m a strong believer in offering opportunities to students who want them. The opportunities I received at Cheshire Academy continue to play a transformative role in my life today, and that is why I stay connected to the school as an alumnus. It is through philanthropic support from alumni that we will ensure CA’s ability to offer lifechanging opportunities for its students and faculty.
A Social Change Leader Rooted in CA’s Mission
Michelle Hughes ’11
As I take a moment to reflect on my professional career and the different milestones that brought me to where I am today, I can’t help but acknowledge that my journey is rooted in the leadership seeds I began to cultivate during my time as a student at Cheshire Academy. Whether captaining the varsity softball team, serving as junior class president, or auditioning for the lead role in the winter musical, I was gaining the skills I continue to utilize to maximize my impact as a leader.
The platforms were different, of course; I don’t spend nearly as much time these days picking out team ribbons, or deciding on the best place to host prom, or singing the lyrics to “13: The Musical” on the way to sushi after rehearsal. But the decisions I make today are rooted in these experiences that shaped me as an involved leader within the Cheshire Academy community that I once called home.
Since graduating from Cheshire Academy in 2011, I have earned two post-secondary degrees from Haverford College and New York University, managed a hog farm in Pennsylvania, and been hired as the equity and organizational change director at the National Young Farmers Coalition, where I currently work. Within the broader mission of Young Farmers—to shift power to young and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color farmers—we work alongside the federal government to combat the structural barriers we face to farming successfully. In my role, I work in partnership with leaders in the larger movement for social justice in agriculture to provide equitable systems that strengthen our operations, programming, and evaluation efforts sector-wide.
My work has taught me that it’s important to stay connected to communities that shaped our past experiences and history because they hold the keys to a more equitable future. It is because of this lesson that I am passionate about remaining involved in the Cheshire Academy community as an alumna, and welcome the opportunity to be a resource for current students as they begin to form their own roots on campus.
The Spirit of Initiative
Tian (Andrew) Qin ’15
My overall experience at Cheshire Academy was memorable, to say the least. I arrived on campus when I was 15 years old, and each lesson learned from that point on has had a great impact on my professional and personal journey. An example of this was my successful pursuit of the IB Diploma at CA—although it was challenging at times, it taught me the importance of taking initiative in ensuring your own success and provided me with the necessary skills to overcome future obstacles. I began to apply this ‘take the initiative’ spirit to all areas of my life while I was at CA, and I saw firsthand the positive influence we can have on our communities. After I graduated in 2015, I kept this spirit throughout my college career at Bentley University, and still hold onto it today.
While my professional responsibilities continue to demand more and more of my time, I credit my commitment to never giving up on my passion project to what I learned at Cheshire Academy. I fell in love with cars at a young age, and am the guy that always finds a way to discuss cars at the dinner table, at work, or just about anywhere you can imagine. In the summer of 2018, I decided to turn my passion for cars into my very own YouTube channel, “What We Drive.” My videos review cars from different dealers, manufacturers, private sellers, and owners. I also share useful tips for car owners that can help them save money; for example, how to replace the brakes on their cars to avoid unnecessary costs. In just over three years, “What We Drive” has resulted in over 4,000 subscribers on YouTube, with over 500,000 views in total. Since the moment I created this channel, I told myself not to give up, and I didn’t, which is something of which I am very proud.
When I am not filming YouTube videos, I serve as the manager of corporate finance and accounting for the United States branch at Softtrans Supply Chain Management. My immediate goal is to establish standardized operating processes that can be easily duplicated and scaled. As the company's business expands, work has to be streamlined and systemized, as new employees are bound to be hired and in need of training. My long-term goal is to escalate to the financial market and gain experience and network in finance, and eventually enter academia to become a professor. CA has shown me the power of education and mentorship, and I believe the greatest way to implement positive change in the world is through teaching. I hope to be in a position where I can help our younger generations become thoughtful and inspired decision makers.
Thanks to Cheshire Academy, some of my fondest memories began when I was 15 years old. From participating in CATs, Orchestra, and the Black Box Theatre, these moments introduced me to lifelong mentors and friends. It is important that we, as alumni, stay connected and continue to support the school, so that the values and global perspectives we gained during our time as high school students can be shared by the current students of the CA community today.
A CA Mentor in the Making
Kelly Ryan ’15
I have nothing but fond memories when I look back at my time at Cheshire Academy. From winning the NEPSAC Class C Volleyball Championship my senior year, to participating in mock trial that challenged me to go beyond my comfort zone, I will always be grateful for what I gained as a member of a diverse and inclusive community. The opportunity to form relationships and learn from people that came to CA from different cities and countries was transformative in how I look at the world today.
I initially attended college in North Carolina after graduating from CA but, after two years, I transferred to Boston University. This change gave me a chance to attend several CA alumni events in the Boston area and encouraged me to pursue professional networking opportunities with fellow alumni. Fortunately, my involvement with the alumni network resulted in several mentors that helped me navigate different internships and to ultimately finding a full-time position after college. I quickly realized that there are two special communities at CA, the first being the on-campus community with students and faculty, and the second being our vast alumni community spread out all across the globe.
As a banking analyst with J.P. Morgan, a crucial part of my job is the ability to problem solve and to be resourceful. My time in mock trial at CA working in a team to articulate meaningful responses to complex issues helped build the foundation and confidence I need to be successful in my career. My immediate goal is to become a leader in the finance industry, and to be a mentor for interns and newer analysts within the company. Over the next few years, I will do whatever it takes to work toward a promotion and begin managing my own clients. My next step is to go back to school to earn my MBA and continue to utilize the CA alumni network to find the right program for me. I am excited for what’s to come!
Cheshire Academy will always be a part of me, and that is why I believe it is so important to continue to support a place that has done so much for me as a student, and as an alumna. I look forward to future opportunities where I can “pay it back” as a mentor to new CA graduates and welcome them into the alumni network.
More than A Water Bottle
Jeffrey Allen ’17
I could not be more grateful for my experience at Cheshire Academy. The close-knit community and strong sense of camaraderie amongst the students is something that I still miss to this day. I recently visited CA to see a group of friends, teachers, and coaches and instantly felt like I was back home. While I have so many unforgettable moments during my time on campus, our senior night comeback win against Trinity-Pawling School is certainly at the top. It solidified an incredible basketball season, highlighted by an undefeated home record. Go Cats!
After I graduated from Cheshire in 2017, I went on to attend Connecticut College where I earned my B.A. in economics and played on the men’s basketball team. The lessons learned, along with the collective support I received at Cheshire Academy, provided me with everything I needed to pursue a successful college career. To me, CA was college before college. Whether it was the one-on-one meetings with teachers, weekly college counseling sessions, study hall, or 6 a.m. lifting and conditioning, I felt like I was completely prepared the second I stepped foot on a college campus. The rigorous course load, combined with the athletic commitments I endured at CA, were in some ways more challenging than my college schedule. Yet, the commitment and mentorship by the faculty and staff propelled me to places I didn’t think were possible.
Cheshire Academy played a huge role in shaping me into the person I am today and, as a result, sent me down a path that ultimately led to me joining the startup team at Luma. From a young age, I have always been a believer in the importance of pursuing a career that you are passionate about, which is why having the opportunity to work with a group of people that are inspired to change the world has truly been a life-changing experience for me. Our team is known for reinventing the water bottle by utilizing UV light technology for self-cleaning and water purifying purposes. In my role of strategic partnerships, I am responsible for educating potential partners on the part of our mission that makes us more than a “water bottle company.” The end goal for us is to provide pure drinking water to as many people across the world as possible, all through sustainable means. Our team will innovate the way people access and consume drinking water, and help eliminate the need for single-use plastic water bottles.
As a young alumnus, I am so excited to stay connected to the Cheshire Academy community and to support a place that was transformative in ensuring my personal growth and success. From giving up lunch period to do extra math problems with Mr. Marshall, to going to Mrs. Quantick’s house for cookies and essay revisions, it’s the people that make Cheshire Academy so special, and why I will always consider it my second home.
Mr. Robotics
Kyle Ryan ’17
My experience at Cheshire Academy was exactly what I needed. The commitment provided by faculty and staff to the students is something that I will always remember and for which I will always be grateful. Being in smaller classrooms and feeling comfortable enough to form insightful discussions with your teachers created a supportive environment that not only helped me succeed academically, but personally as well.
While I enjoyed a lot of the courses offered to me during my time at CA, I remember feeling especially inspired in my various math classes. This helped me to lean into my passion for research and technology, and led me to pursue a bachelor’s of science degree in information systems from Marist College. Something I will always remember is presenting my first abstract at a conference during my senior year of my undergraduate degree.
My immediate goals are to publish research about automated decision making and robotics to top conferences, and prepare myself to enter a Ph.D. computer science program. I believe the greatest impact I can have on the world is to continue to innovate, to stay on my current path toward becoming a research scientist, and to bring people new knowledge and applications of technology.
The transformative support and resources that were available to me during my time at Cheshire Academy proved to be the foundation I needed to be successful today. It is because of this that I will always stay connected and continue to support the community as an alumnus, so that I can help ensure that the future students of CA have the same opportunities that I did.
Never Stop Learning
Veronika Cibulkova ’18
Coming from the Czech Republic, I arrived at Cheshire Academy excited for the fortunate opportunity to improve my English, and to receive an international education. After my first few days on campus, I quickly realized that my time spent at CA would impact my life well beyond the classroom. CA taught me a lot about independence, while coincidingly encouraging me to pursue new and diverse experiences within the community. The chance to meet people from all different backgrounds and cultures helped me to expand my perspective and the way I look at the world today. I appreciated the balance between challenging myself academically and learning time management skills through elective extracurricular activities held every afternoon. This, I believe, has helped me find the right work-life balance as I continue to advance my academic and professional career.
Motivated by the endless resources on campus, the support of my teachers, and my peers, I became highly proactive in striving to be a better version of myself every day. I never wanted to stop learning. The IB and AP courses offered at CA allowed me to pursue my interests in science and mathematics.
After graduating in 2018, I went on to study at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands. I combined my major studies of biomedicine, pre-medical science, and cognitive neuroscience with a minor in psychology. As part of my bachelor thesis on the topic of cognitive functioning after epilepsy surgery, I contributed to a clinical trial at the University Medical Center Utrecht by comparing neuropsychological data of high-frequency oscillations (HFOs) and epileptiform spikes of epilepsy surgery patients. Thanks to this experience, I will start an M.Sc. in translational neuroscience at Würzburg University in Germany, an elite master program focused on biomedical and therapeutic neuroscience and neurology. As I look to the future, I hope to earn my Ph.D., and follow my path as a patient-centered researcher.
Cheshire Academy made me curious and eager to discover new information. As a young alumna, I look forward to staying connected to the place that shaped and supported many of the qualities that helped me get to where I am today. I hope I can be a mentor for the new international students that arrive to campus each year, and share the valuable lessons I learned as a member of the community.
