KUA Viewbook

E XCELLENCE AND I NNOVATI O N Since

1813

LIVE TO

LEARN

MAKE A

LEAD BY

EXAMPLE

DIFFERENCE

greetings F RO M T H E H I L LTO P

Kimball Union Academy’s commitment to excellence and innovation begins with active learning across the curriculum, intentionally designed, whether in the classroom, on the stage, on the field, in the houses, or through community service. We are passionately committed to learning here—students as well as teachers—day by day, year by year. When it comes to learning, there is no one answer or one path, just as there is no one way that KUA will make a difference in your life.

At KUA our students define the school, as opposed to the school defining our students. We are not a school in which you have to fit in to make a difference, or a school where you have to stand out to be counted. Our goal is to help you understand who you are, where you want to go, and challenge you to be even better at YOUR chosen pursuits than you imagined possible.

We have a certain practical country unpretentiousness at KUA that is very grounding. Yet few schools in the country have made a deeper commitment to innovative educational practices and providing teachers and students with the technology to free them to learn in new ways.

We are a hard-working, fun-loving school where everyone pitches in for the betterment of others. If you ask a KUA student or faculty member, most will say the close relationships we have with one another is the real gateway to learning and growth. The deep personal connections we make with one another here, and the strength of the community in this gorgeous setting, is part of The Hilltop’s lasting legacy.

While words, pictures, and technology can give you a glimpse of the amazing learning environment we have here at KUA, there is truly only one way to understand what Kimball Union can do for you. We sincerely hope you’ll join us for a visit to our beautiful campus.

LIVE TO LEARN The Kimball Union faculty encourages students to move beyond their comfort zones, whether that means diving deeper into areas of strengths, or taking new steps to explore subjects previously unknown.

Within a traditional college preparatory curriculum, KUA students find that small classes that average 12 students, superior advising, and first-class faculty engage them in academic lessons in a way no previous educational experience has. Rich and diverse course offerings lay the groundwork for students to become lifelong learners who are intellectually curious and creative in their approach.

“

KUA is all about, expanding your horizons and coming into the person that you were meant to be.

That’s what

—Abby Rosen, Sophomore

”

TEACHER, One of our faculty members recently described her role as “inspiring excellence 24/7.� What she meant was that KUA offers the best of what an independent boarding school can offer, with dedicated faculty who are not just teachers during the day. They are mentors, friends, dormitory parents, coaches, and advisors who develop deep and lasting bonds with our students. They have a unique opportunity to discover the best attributes of every student, and help our students grow beyond what they imagined possible. It all starts in the classroom, where you discover what it means to be taught by someone who has dedicated him or herself not only to teaching, but to being a lifelong learner.

“

W herever you go here,

whatever you do, you can expect there will be people

holding

you up, and shouting your name. KUA has given me opportunities and experiences I never dreamed of having.

—Sarah Porter, Sophomore

”

MENTOR, FRIEND

BY THE NUMBERS

6:1 RATIO 8A YEAR 13 12 305 26 FOUNDED IN 1813 22TEAMS 9–1 2 1300 STUDENT TO

FACULTY

ENSEMBLES

MILES FROM DARTMOUTH COLLEGE

PROCTORS

INTERSCHOLASTIC

PG AND GRADES

STUDENTS I S O U R AV E R A G E

CLASS SIZE

STUDENTS

A C R E

CAMPUS

70% 6 FACULTY OF OUR

LIVE ON CAMPUS

27%

INTERNATIONAL

STUDENTS

WINTER SPORTS

BASKETBALL, ICE H O C K E Y, A L P I N E SKIING, NORDIC SKIING, FREESTYLE SKIING, SNOWBOARDING

FA C U LT Y 47 FULL-TIME

70%

OF OUR

FACULTY HOLD ADVANCED DEGREES

385 T H E AT E R S E A T S

19

AP CLASSES AND HONORS

LEVEL COURSES

IN ALL

DISCIPLINES

LATIN 路 FRENCH 路 SPANIS

immersed I N L A N G U A G E A N D C U LT U R E

From our unique partnership with neighboring Dartmouth College’s Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures, KUA has adapted the world-famous Rassias Method™ to electrify the classroom and actively engage students in language acquisition. Students are placed center stage as they encounter lifelike situations and become familiar with the language and culture they are studying. Fast-paced drills and the creativity and enthusiasm of our faculty accelerate language learning while making acquisition of a second (or third, or fourth) language an unforgettable experience.

“

learning another language is a contact sport, At KUA

but there are no spectators and no sidelines.

Our students are

actively speaking,

using their new languages from their

first day in the classroom. �Scribner Fauver,

Director of the World Languages Program

”

SH · MANDARIN CHINESE

INNOVATIVE Today, technology provides a launching point for innovative instruction and a transformative educational experience. At KUA that begins with SMART Boards in every classroom and the KUA 1-to-1 Laptop Program that puts a laptop in every student’s hands. Utilizing cutting-edge technology gives faculty and students the freedom to be creative and move beyond the traditional walls and constraints of “old school” education. We strive to make our classrooms more interactive, and empower students to play an active role in their education. We see the impact of this every day—whether it’s guiding students as they use Twitter to follow up-tothe-minute, first-person accounts of a revolution unfolding half a world away, or watching them win the Massachusetts FIRST Tech Challenge Championships as part of our STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) Program.

“1-to-1 Laptop

Initiatives like KUA’s

Program level the playing field for all students, and liberate teachers to explore

potential of technology to bring the

students deeper into the educational process. �David Weidman,

”

Dean of Faculty and Academic Affairs

EDUCATION

SMALL SCHOOL FOR A

big world While KUA draws students from across the globe—18 countries

at most recent count—above and beyond all else, we are a small school where one-to-one connections form the building blocks of relationships that last a lifetime. Every student, no matter the language first spoken or the background they bring with them, becomes an integral piece of the web of student life here, forging lasting connections. It is these relationships that give students the support and strength to spread their wings and move beyond what they previously thought possible. And they do spread those wings.

Just as students come here from around the world, our students use KUA as a launching pad for their own explorations: from an exchange program with the Woodstock School in the Indian Himalayas to the Cullman Scholars program that allows students to chart their own path abroad to support their academic and social interests.

“Believe it or not I never wanted to attend private school. But coming to Kimball Union and making incredible new friends from all over the globe has opened my eyes to the world around me, and what I could become in that world.”

—Rebecca DeTurk, Sophomore

“My roommate and I came from completely different backgrounds but that is just one of the great things about KUA, you have the chance to bond with someone who is so different and then you just learn so much from each other.”

—Phil Boucher, Senior

RESIDENTIAL Living with your peers, as well as your teachers, strengthens your relationships within the community. From our smaller houses to our larger dorms, residential life is guided by faculty members who live with the students, who welcome our students into their extended family. Student proctors facilitate house-based discussions in the evening to help peers gain a better understanding of what it means to be an active member of our community. In and out of the dorms, The Hilltop buzzes with activities outside the classrooms. Depending on the day or time of year, you might spend your extra-curricular hours at a dance, in a talent show, playing broom hockey, taking part in winter carnival, or just hanging out with friends at the bonfire. On the weekends, group trips go farther afield, whether to go shopping or attend a concert, catch a soccer game at Dartmouth, see a movie, or go skiing at a nearby ski area.

LIFE

SUPPORT AND From Freshman Choices to our senior “Culmination� program, KUA weaves academic and social support seamlessly into student life. It starts with Choices, an integrated academic and social program designed to give students the tools they need to make a successful transition to Kimball Union and provide them with lifelong learning skills.

Academic topics range from organization and time management to productive study habits and higher-order approaches to learning. The social program emphasizes strategies for healthy decision making and the development of personal awareness, from well being and social interactions to online etiquette and safety. Faculty and peer mentors lead sessions in which students use the analytic and problem-solving techniques they already posses to develop and utilize the skills they’ll need at KUA and in the next stages of their lives.

COLLABORATION the learning center KUA’s Learning Center provides structured academic support programs tailored to students with a wide variety of learning styles. Using a strengthbased approach, our experienced Learning Center faculty guide students to develop individual strategies to become more effective learners equipped to tackle a deep and broad college preparatory curriculum.

Students actively and collaboratively engage in their own learning, improving study habits, developing organizational skills, and building the confidence needed to conquer academic challenges at Kimball Union and beyond. Drawing on the rich educational resources in the Upper Valley and Dartmouth community, the Learning Center staff calls upon our extensive network of faculty and professional tutors to work with students individually and in small groups, helping every student succeed.

Recent KUA graduates have attended the following schools, among others: Boston College • Colby College •Endicott College • Dartmouth College • Denison College • Kenyon College

• Harvard University • Middlebury College • New York University • Northeastern University • Princeton University • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute • Scripps College • St. Andrews University • St. Lawrence University •Tufts University • University of Vermont • University of New Hampshire • Yale University

college ADVISING “

I think the foundation of our college

counseling success is in the relationships we build, between our students and faculty, as well as between KUA and each college.

We take full advantage of the opportunities to

get

to know our students better, and in turn challenge them to understand themselves. They know us and they trust us. W hen you know and trust the person helping you navigate the college admissions maze, a process that starts with concerns and fears becomes

a journey of discovery. �Chris Cheney,

Director of College Advising

9TH GRADE

”

11TH GRADE

In our Freshman Choices program, we first address the college mystery. We encourage students to ponder what characteristics they would want their students to have if they were an admissions dean.

Junior year is an opportunity to prepare for leadership within the school, begin visiting colleges, and to ask and answer the question, “How can I best serve my community and my friends?”

10TH GRADE

12TH GRADE

Sophomores focus on self-awareness, conduct a personal academic inventory, and take PSATs. “Where am I now, and where would I like to be when I graduate?”

Seniors choose the place they can make a difference here at KUA, and step into leadership roles. Conferring closely with their teachers, mentors, and advisors, they execute a college admissions plan.

“

I know that I am

one student out

of hundreds of people that make a day on

‘The Hilltop’ work. Yet I feel as though I have a large part to play.

—Matt Donovan, Sophomore

”

LEAD BY One of the most valuable assets of being a part the KUA family is the opportunity to take on leadership roles—in the classroom, on the playing fields, in the theater, in student government, or in almost any pursuit that matches a student’s interest. KUA students learn quickly that when they are passionate about something, they have an immediate opportunity to make a difference and shape the world around them. Discovering and nurturing that innate capacity to lead requires the support of peers and mentors, to both challenge and support.

EXAMPLE forging leaders At KUA, student proctors act as leaders and role models for the community, working in the residence halls and representing day and international students. Every junior or senior is eligible to be a candidate and the roster of student proctors draws from the spectrum of students we have here at Kimball Union. While the role they play on campus is crucial to promoting a healthy learning environment and mentoring their peers, in the day-to-day fulfillment of their duties our proctors find out what it truly means to be a leader, developing skills that serve them well beyond their time on The Hilltop.

engaged I N E N V I RO N M E N TA L SUSTA I N A B I L I T Y Our Environmental Education courses challenge students to utilize critical-thinking skills in laboratory work, research, public speaking, and writing. As a community, we model our values in all areas of school life. From specific studies in ecology, natural resource management, and marine biology, to cross-disciplinary courses in English and history, environmental sustainability is woven into the academic fabric of the school.

Our focal point is the E.E. Just Center, which is named after eminent African American cell biologist and Kimball Union Academy graduate, Ernest Everett Just, Class of 1903. The E.E. Just Center houses an environmental lab, classroom, and greenhouse. Outside, our campus offers an ideal setting for fieldwork with interpretive trails and outdoor classrooms, which include our 800-acre Snow Mountain wilderness reserve, as well as the surrounding woodlands, fields, mountains, and waterways.

“Using what I have learned in the classroom in the “real world” opened my eyes to the impact that I can make to the community around me.”

—Charlotte Herbert, Senior

MAKE A We encourage our students to explore the many benefits of giving back to the community. You’ll find KUA students on the local fire brigade, volunteering at local soup kitchens, tutoring at the local elementary school, serving as peer tutors, helping with recycling efforts and other campus jobs, working at the annual Red Cross Blood drive, participating in Relay for Life, and much more.

It’s when students return to campus, years after graduation, and tell of their sustained commitment to make a difference, that we know the seeds planted here can grow so much larger.

“My favorite part of KUA is definitely the community—how we treat each other, respect each other, and learn together —that is something I don’t think you can find anywhere else.”

—Isaac Dayno, Senior

DIFFERENCE

season A SPECIAL

There is no more beautiful sight than the campus after a snowstorm.

Every year the first rumor of snow keeps people up at night, and every

classroom buzzes with anticipation. Soon, the snow begins to fall, first in giant flakes that land and then melt in your hand. Most veterans of New England winters can barely contain their excitement to ski, sled, or shred on the white that will cover the ground soon. But the lucky ones are the newcomers for whom this is the first real taste of winter, who get to discover the magic of the season for the first time.

Whether you enjoy sledding or building a snow fort, playing hockey in Akerstrom Ice Arena, or skiing at a nearby ski resort, winter at KUA is special. Cross-country ski trails meander across The Hilltop, and the best downhill skiing and snowboarding in New Hampshire and Vermont is just a short ride away. Our ski teams practice at Mount Sunapee, and compete around the state, but students also find great skiing and riding at other nearby areas, including Okemo, Killington, Waterville Valley, Sugarbush, and Mad River Glen.

NURTURING The Flickinger Arts Center is a beautiful, expansive facility used for both the visual and performing arts, from pottery and theater to band and dance.

Flickinger’s light-filled studios also house the Taylor Gallery, which exhibits the works of our many talented students as well as hosts gallery openings and exhibits of artists from around the world. At KUA art is serious fun, engaging novices through advanced students in the act of creation.

Whether arts represent your future, your escape, or your opportunity to step outside the everyday and re-examine your world, KUA provides the canvas for you to share your vision. Our goal is to give our students a knowledge and appreciation for aesthetics, history, and criticism while providing a platform to each student find his or her own unique ways to communicate, whether it’s on a piano, a canvas, or the stage.

CREATIVITY

WILDCAT Whether your goal is to play ice hockey, soccer, or lacrosse at the Division I level; ski race in Eastern USSA events; or experience a sport such as tennis or Nordic skiing for the first time, the experienced coaching staff at KUA will help you learn and progress as they share their deep passion for sports. If you are looking for the opportunity to stoke your competitive fires and leave your mark as a member of one of our 22 interscholastic teams, or seek to build your skills in a lifetime sport, there is place for you here. Beyond the amazing coaching, what sets KUA apart are facilities more on the level of typical colleges than our secondary-school peers. The Whittemore Athletic Center houses the Akerstrom Ice Arena, with a full complement of locker rooms, equipment, and training facilities. Nine playing fields, including Pope Field, our artificial turf field lit for night play, support our fall and spring programs. Our new multi-purpose indoor training facility features a state-of-the-art turf field, providing a weatherproof alternative for practices year-round. The KUA Fitness Center is open all day, every day, where you can build a personalized program of fitness and strength training into your weekly routine.

“How exactly did they get 23 boys of all different ages—from many different countries who speak different languages—not only to play the same sport with each other, but to form a winning team?”

—Ian Gregory-Davis, Sophomore

ATHLETICS

OUR BACKYARD Kimball Union Academy sits on the crest of a stunning hilltop in the middle of a 1,300-acre campus, but we also enjoy the benefits of a micropolitan area that combines the most appealing aspects of rural and urban life. While micropolitan may be a fancy US Census word, it aptly describes the combination of unspoiled wilderness and a true country setting, with many of the cultural and intellectual advantages of a city that we are privileged to enjoy.

True’s Brook winds down from the hill to the nearby Connecticut River, which divides New Hampshire from Vermont. Known as the Upper Valley, our region encompasses the best of the two states. From beautiful, historic main streets in towns like Woodstock, Vermont, to river’s edge farms in Plainfield, New Hampshire, it’s the picture postcard that New England artists like our one-time neighbor Maxfield Parish would paint. Just up the road, Dartmouth College and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center provide the intellectual and technological inspirations for vibrant communities on both sides of the river. There’s something amazing every season, and it’s easy to see why thousands of people from all over the world visit these hills in the fall for leaf peeping, and in the winter to enjoy fantastic ski areas in New Hampshire and Vermont that are only a short drive away.

Dartmouth

O U R I N S P I R AT I O N A L NEIGHBOR Kimball Union Academy’s close ties with Dartmouth College offer students a world of opportunities. A short trip up the road can lead to a seminar with a Dartmouth professor in the Special Collections at Rauner Library, a world-premiere dance performance from Pilobolus at the renowned Hopkins Center, or an opportunity to cheer on recent KUA grads at Dartmouth soccer and hockey games. Of course having an abundance of Dartmouth graduates among our faculty serves to reinforce what an unparalleled resource the Big Green is for KUA students.

BOSTON

2 hours

NYC

91

VT

4.5 hours

89

MANCHESTER

75 minutes

93

HARTFORD

Killington Woodstock

2.5 hours

Dartmouth

SPRINGFIELD

Okemo

2 hours

Sunapee 91

Manchester

NH

NY

93

DARTMOUTH/ HANOVER 20 minutes

WOODSTOCK

30 minutes

KILLINGTON MA

Boston

SUNAPEE

35 minutes

Springfield Hartford

1 hour

RI

OKEMO

45 minutes

CT

NYC

• Local and Regional Airports • Amtrak Service • Dartmouth Coach—Direct Bus Service to Boston and New York

OUR MISSION Kimball Union Academy prepares students for the challenges of tomorrow’s world by inspiring academic mastery, creativity, responsibility, and leadership.

Our core community values are: • Respect for oneself and others • Commitment to honesty and the highest ethical standards • Concern for the environment

PO Box 188 ● Meriden, New Hampshire ● 03770-0188 Phone 603.469.2100 ● Fax 603.469.2041

Find out more at www.kua.org

ADMISSIONS

ACADEMICS

AT H L E T I C S

A R T S