Hilltop

CAMPUS LIFE Set in Stone

If you look closely as you meander through campus, you will discover beautiful and smooth, hand-painted stones tucked at the edges of paths, near the steps of buildings, or sometimes in the most unexpected nooks and crannies of inside spaces. Each fall, students in the humanities course, “The Search for Meaning,” paint these mandala stones during a unit on Buddhism. When Tibetan Buddhist monks complete sand mandalas, an essential final step is to wipe the sand away and destroy the creation, putting the emphasis on the journey rather than the final product. Throughout the year, the mandala stones rest on the classroom windowsill, witness to the class’s journey. When the year ends, students each choose a sacred place to leave their stone where weather and time naturally test their permanence.

1. Colby Boyce ’24

Elva’s Bell is rung after every win, so I have chosen this spot for my love of sports and winning, as well as the great memories with my team it brings back.

2. Daniel Heroux ’23

I will be putting my stone by the stairs next to the hockey rink. My best and worst memories have mostly happened there. The beauty of a great win or grand loss are what make it so special.

3. Elvin Stowell ’23

I will leave my mandala stone in the small, grassy area outside the eastern wall of the weight room, near the downstairs door to enter the gym and locker rooms. This location looks out over the meadow toward the Grantham range, a beautiful view I consider one of the best on campus.

4. Freya Liu ’23

I am in my room, looking at the leaves dancing with the wind. Sun is bright, wind is comfortable, and everything is perfect. There are bowls I made and tarot cards I like to draw when I am feeling misery. I seem to understand why I pick my room as my sacred place.

5. Isabel Brozen ’24

The theater tech shop has always been a place of legends in my mind. The stories, work, stress, and laughter of generations of tech students live in its walls. I am not the only student to feel this is a sacred place. Every year, when we clean and sweep away the sawdust, we find mandala stones from past years, students consecrating this place in their own minds like I do.

6. Jacob Kettwig ’23

I will be leaving my mandala stone with the rocks and pebbles outside the front entrance of Akerstrom Arena. Hockey is what planted my roots here at KUA and the bond with the people in that locker room was really something special. We went on to do great things together throughout the season.

7. Jai White ’23

I will give my stone to Ms. Lord. She is by far the most influential person to me on this campus. Ms. Lord makes my day every time I see her, and she has been a major reason why I enjoy being at KUA. In my three years here, I took only one course with her, anthropology—the most enjoyable class I’ve ever taken.

8. Kylie Donovan ’23

I have decided the farm is the perfect place for me to put my mandala stone. I am choosing the farm—in front of the red shed— because so many special memories have happened there all through my time at KUA.

9. Madisun Lacasse ’23

My sacred place is in front of the Meriden Congregational Church’s “Black Lives Matter” sign. I picked this place because the sign is representative of me because I am African American and knowing that they care about the “Black Lives Matter” culture really puts a smile on my face.

10. Tatum Rivers ’23

I will leave my stone by the big tree on the grass area between Dexter-Richards and the church. I love the spot as it has a great view of the sunset. When I spend time there, there are rarely other people around and it feels very peaceful. I love just lying in the grass while looking at the trees, sky, and the birds that fly by.

11. Tom Huang ’23

I am writing this in Doe Dining, and this is the place I will put my stone. This place gives me a sense of relaxation. I spend the most time with my friends here and in front of those friends I don’t need to put on a mask, I can just be myself.

12. Will Kramer ’23

I will be leaving my stone down by Janie’s Bench near Chellis Pond, overlooking Pope Field and the scenery behind it. My stone can sit and enjoy the nice summer weather while waiting for autumn leaves to fall as new and returning kids trot onto Pope Field in September.