Leadership in Action: Students, Faculty and Alumni
Preview of Campus Improvements
Update on VA at Mount Snow
Dear Friends,
What an amazing start to the school year this has been! The summer was busy with campus renovations, and we were so happy to reveal our new fitness center, restored historic classrooms in Fuller, and new art and videography spaces in Alumni Hall to our students, faculty, and families. Their feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and we once again thank Steve ‘57 and Tom ‘59 Richardson for their generous gift that made these improvements possible. You can see the remarkable changes in our photo spread on pages eight and nine. Several projects are still planned, including new furniture for the classrooms (on order) and drainage work around some of the buildings.
At a time of change and volatility in the world, it feels so good to welcome students from many countries, and to gather a geographically diverse community on our hilltop! We believe the diversity in our student body helps break down barriers, and it enables students to learn from each other. Community values are present in at least one of our Core Beliefs, which includes the principle that “each member of the VA community has worth and dignity and is viewed as an asset.” One of our four strategic plan pillars also identifies the value of “community.” This issue of the Vermont Academy Way gives you a snapshot of our 2024-25 student community, and I am sure you will find it interesting.
In addition to welcoming international students to our community, we also offer global experiences for our VA community that include our satellite campus in Madrid, Vermont Academy at Liceo Europeo. We also have service-based trips over March break to destinations such as Tanzania and Ecuador. Faculty members too have opportunities to study and learn abroad, and this past summer, Humanities faculty member, Charles Butler, traveled overseas for some professional development connected to his graduate studies. You may remember Charles Butler from his profile in the late spring 2021 issue of Vermont Academy Way, and we are thrilled to re-introduce him here. Charles studied at Oxford over the summer as part of the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program at the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth College. He shares on page 6, some of what he learned, and what he hopes to bring to his history students this year.
Also included in this issue is information about our Vermont Academy Student Association (VASA) leaders who are looking to make a difference for this year’s student community, and updates on our Vermont Academy at Mount Snow program that, with new director Ben Gardner, will be making an impact on the slopes.
The spirit in the air at VA this fall is electric and we are grateful to have you join us in that excitement. As esteemed former faculty member Bob Harrington P’87, ‘91, GP’18, ‘21 taught us to say with pride, “Go VA!”
Warmly,
Jennifer L. Zaccara Head of School
Welcome ‘24-‘25 Wildcats!
We are excited to welcome an amazing cohort of students to Vermont Academy for the 2024-2025 academic year. Our admissions office has many criteria when evaluating applications, some academic, but others – perhaps more importantly – based on character including respect for community, curiosity, and kindness. These characteristics enable our students to engage positively with each other and with our exceptional faculty, and ultimately, make a positive impact locally and globally.
Some details about our students:
• We opened with 230 students, an increase from 208 in ‘23/‘24 and 191 in ‘22/‘23.
• Our 9th grade class has 37 students, reflecting our goal to balance class sizes.
• 155 boarding students; 75 day students.
• Our 62 international students hail from countries including Japan, Thailand, Greece, Spain, Mexico, and China.
• Our domestic students come from 40 states.
• The gender balance is roughly 60% boys and 40% girls.
• Nearly 55% receive need-based financial aid (thanks to many generous donors), which helps ensure that all deserving mission-appropriate students have the opportunity to succeed at VA.
We are grateful to our Admissions staff for all their hard work in recruiting these stellar students, to our alumni and friends who recommend good candidates, and to our families, who entrust us to deliver a quality educational experience to their children.
Know someone who might like VA? Visit our website to learn more about our Open House on October 26.
Meet the VASA Team.
The Vermont Academy Student Association (VASA) leadership team is composed of three student government representatives who work together on behalf of the student body and the Vermont Academy community at large. This year, the team includes Co-Presidents Ruby Besson ‘25 and Cole Robinson ’25, and Treasurer Darlene Tashobya ’25. We asked the team to share what motivated them to join VASA, their plans for the year, and why the VA community is so special to them.
Ruby, Darlene, and Cole participate in Convocation.
Ruby shared, “ When I first arrived at Vermont Academy during my freshman year, our student leaders, specifically VASA, inspired me. I saw how much they listened to the student body and dedicated time to each community member and I knew I wanted to participate.” Cole was inspired by the leadership of both of his brothers, Myles ‘21 and Ian ‘22, while they attended Vermont Academy. According to Cole, “It became my dream to become a student leader just like them.” Darlene believes “in being part of the change you want to see in a community. From my first day here, I told my advisor it was my goal. I believe that you have to be a part of the change you want to see, and admire people that take the extra step to make themselves uncomfortable and put themselves out there for what they believe in.”
The VASA team would like to achieve several goals. “First off, we would like to develop more student-involved fundraising for our teams, clubs, and performers. However, we plan to fundraise alongside other schools to assist those in need around us. We also plan to give plenty of fun activities to the seniors like senior sunrise and senior movie night.”
Why is VA special? According to the team “Vermont Academy welcomes everyone with open arms and encourages them to be the best they can be. Advisors are constantly checking on their advisees, teachers are just a text away, and students form bonds for life that will always make the Vermont Academy community special.”
We wish the 2024-25 leadership team the best of luck as they work to achieve their goals for this year.
Spotlight on a Class — Entrepreneurship
Vermont Academy is excited to offer its students a unique elective –Entrepreneurship. Open to juniors, seniors, and post-graduate students, the year-long, hands-on course in business and entrepreneurship helps students ideate, develop, and iterate a product or service start-up.
Vermont Academy has a long history of encouraging students to think outside the box: independence and ingenuity are two of our strategic plan pillars. Successful entrepreneurs rely heavily on these skills as they navigate the business world.
This year’s course is taught by Sarah Natvig, Vermont Academy’s assistant dean of students. Prior to joining VA, she spent decades in hospitality management with many years running her own business. Sarah is excited to share with her 15 students the processes of developing a business concept, testing, adapting, and improving it. She plans on working closely with local businesses in the surrounding communities as well as incorporating VA alumni entrepreneurs and business experts as volunteer coaches and mentors. Over the years, VA has hosted alumni entrepreneurs including Ariana Beauregard ‘12, Corina Belle-Isle ‘80, Casey Cota ‘89, James Hams ‘06, Noah Shanok ‘93, and Hillary Talbot ‘04.
Sarah adds, “One of the key components of the class is that just like the real world, students experience mistakes, take risks and learn to pivot. I expect the students to finish the course with a completed business model, as well as future communications and funding plans, and I expect to see some of their ideas turn into real businesses in the future.”
Sarah in her entrepreneurial role as chef
Summer Professional Development Sparks Personal Growth for VA History Professor
In the March 2021 issue of The Vermont Academy Way, we introduced VA history faculty Charles Butler. Charles was recommended by alumnus Dr. Robert Watts ‘73 to be the first Vermont Academy faculty member to participate in the Master of Arts in Liberal Studies (MALS) program at Dartmouth College. Charles recently returned from a MALS professional development opportunity at Exeter College at Oxford University (England) and we are thrilled to share some insight into his personal and professional journey.
Oxford University’s International Summer Schools offer intensive, three-week programs where students attend daily lectures followed by small group seminars comprised of students from across the globe. Charles’ options for study included English Literature; History, Politics and Society; and Creative Writing. For Charles, who through the course of the MALS program had become intrigued with historical fiction, the choice was easy: creative writing.
Charles shared that the guidance provided throughout the three weeks was meaningful in developing his abilities as a writer. The daily seminars by visiting lecturers helped him hone his writing skills and better understand the rules for historical fiction, his primary area of interest.
Upon his return to Vermont, Charles dove right into his thesis – a published short story that he worked to develop into the beginnings of a novel. Charles adds, “My summer study at Exeter College gave me the confidence to say for the first time, ‘I am a writer’ and I hope to share that journey with my Vermont Academy students this academic year and into the future.
If you are interested in reading some of Charles’ writings, you can find his short story here: https://bit.ly/last laughcb. Vermont Academy congratulates Charles on his successful completion of this competitive program.
Charles Butler
Why I Give to the Vermont Academy Annual Fund
“I am so grateful to have VA as an option for my daughter. One way I can show that gratitude is by making a yearly gift to the Annual Fund. My gift is put to use immediately, as it supports the daily experience of VA students in the same year I donate. I want to make sure that VA continues to provide my daughter, and future students with the personalized, human-centered learning experience that it is today.”
— Alejandra Pallais P’27
“I arrived at VA for my final two years of high school, kicking and screaming; however, those years had a profound impact on my life. New and lasting friendships were made; educational, athletic and extracurricular challenges and opportunities were experienced. The possibility of attending Williams College appeared on the horizon and was realized. My continued support of the VA Annual Fund is an expression of my deep and lasting gratitude.”
— George Welles ‘53
“Why do we continue to support Vermont Academy? Our children, Taylor ‘20 and Mia ‘22, are on their respective ways. So why give? We want to do what we can to ensure that current students continue to have an opportunity to grow and develop the way Taylor and Mia did at VA. “We donate so Vermont Academy can continue to provide that extraordinary learning and growing experience for current and future students. Please join us!”
— Marty and Vaughan Hennum P’20, P’22
We invite you to join our community of Wildcat donors! The Annual Fund covers approximately 15% of the Academy’s operating budget, playing a critical role in supporting the people, places, and programs that make VA special. You can make your gift online at www.vermontacademy.org/giving or send a check using the enclosed envelope.
Renovation Projects: Before . . .
An exciting part of the start of school this year was the unveiling of the many renovated spaces made possible by the generous philanthropy of Steve ‘57 and Tom ‘59 Richardson. The goal of the renovations was to enhance student learning experiences while also allowing the school to respond to enrollment growth and remain competitive in the marketplace.
Our returning students and faculty have been amazed by the transformation and we look forward to showcasing the spaces to family and alumni during our Family Weekend and Old Home Days in October.
A Vermont Academy Mystery
The Vermont Academy Advancement Office staff love hearing from alumni – their stories of Vermont Academy’s past, both recent and long term, warm our hearts. In addition to Reunion and other organized events, people just stop by Davis House or call to check in. Recently, we received a phone call from Anne Zononi that outlined a mystery and we were happy to help solve it.
The current owners of Anne’s grandparents (and great grandparents) home found an oil portrait of a handsome young man hidden in an obscure place in the home’s attic. They gave it to the Whately Historical Society, who then asked Anne to help identify the gentleman. Marked with the date February 23, there were no other clues as to the identity of this gentleman. Anne suspected that it could be her grandfather Morris R. Dwight, who had attended Vermont Academy. She was hoping we could shed some light.
She shared that Morris was born in 1910. The Advancement Office keeps an archive of old yearbooks, so Director of Advancement Tonia Fleming P’18 took on the challenge of perusing them to see if she could find a photo of Morris. 1926…no. 1927…no. 1928…jackpot! Not only was there a photo of Morris ‘28, but he had written a personal message to a fellow “waiter” for one of VA’s traditions that continues today, the formal meal.
It turns out that Morris was “always ready to give a lift, lend a helping hand, or do a good turn for the other fellow” and in the Class Will of 1928, he chose to leave a pair of “Seven League Boots” to Brute Glynn.
Tonia sent the photo to Anne who unfortunately did not think that the portrait was that of Morris.
The two images are included here. What do you think? Is the mystery solved?
Update on Vermont Academy at Mount Snow
As we celebrate the one year anniversary of the Mount Snow Academy acquisition, we took a moment to catch up with Director Ben Gardner to hear about his exciting plans for this coming season and beyond.
Ben joined Vermont Academy at Mount Snow (VA at Mount Snow) in mid-July, although he admits that development of his vision for the venture began even before he arrived in Saxtons River. Ben’s professional experience at Telluride Mountain School, combined with his master’s degree in educational psychology from the University of Colorado-Denver, spurred his recognition that the most important asset at VA at Mount Snow is its ability to provide a high quality, college preparatory education while also supporting the development of athletes in “gravity-fed action sports” such as snowboarding, alpine and freestyle skiing. Often, these goals are mutually exclusive, but this is not the case at VA at Mount Snow.
Last year, Vermont Academy worked hard to align the Dover campus faculty with Vermont Academy’s 148 years of educational excellence. The majority of the experienced faculty will return this winter. In addition, Daniel Tuite is joining the staff as the director of residential and student life. Daniel will bring his own curriculum to VA at Mount Snow. This curriculum will focus on student well-being and is built on a rotation of study hall, trampoline/skateboard practice, and traditional dry land training each night.
On the slopes, Peter Stokloza continues as Alpine Program Director, with Nick Falbo directing the Snowboard Program, and Sam Marino directing Freeskiing. Ben notes, “I am truly excited to have such a strong team of directors. Collectively these coaches have produced phenomenal student-athletes that have found success in national and international competitions.”
Looking forward, Ben has plans to introduce some unique “block programming” for 8th grade Jump Start students, which would allow them to study a topic in depth, while also keeping up with their other studies. Additionally, Ben and Vermont Academy leadership are finding ways to use the Dover campus yearround for other sports or intensive studies.
Coming up in November, VA at Mount Snow athletes will attend ski and snowboard camp for 8 days at the world class Hintertux Glacier Austria. The camp will focus on building a technical foundation of the basics in both slalom and grand slalom, freeskiing, drill courses, and gated training venues.
Want to learn more about VA at Mount Snow? Mark your calendars for their open house, which will be occurring on October 12-13. Ben is happy to answer your questions about the program at bgardner@vermontacademy.org.
