If the early bird gets the worm, then the early student gets the bird. That’s the thinking as a small flock of Exonians board a bus as the sun begins to rise over campus.

The outing is one of many the group will take as part of BIO460: Ornithology, a course that emphasizes field identification of locally common species and habitats.

The morning’s itinerary includes multiple stops, starting with the town of Exeter’s water treatment center, adjacent to the Squamscott River, followed by a short, 10-mile ride to the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding marshes.

Seated in a line across a rock wall at North Hampton Beach State Park, the group of uppers and seniors scan the skies, binoculars pressed to their eyes. “How many new species have we seen today, seven, eight?” asks Instructor in Science Chris Matlack. “Ten!,” one student answers back. Matlack and his class are taking advantage of the migratory season, when the coastline becomes a highway for winged traffic. “We’re at the beginning of the spring migration, so we’ve had a whole bunch of duck species.”

Dozens of newly admitted students took a sneak peek at their future Thursday at the opening session of the Experience Exeter revisit program hosted by the Office of Admissions.

On two days this week and two more next week, the newest Exonians will visit classes, meet current students and faculty and tour campus. Whether the incoming students are already enrolled or still considering their options, Experience Exeter serves as a valuable resource for the Academy’s newest families.

“Congratulations. Congratulations!” Bill Leahy, Exeter’s dean of enrollment, told the families gathered in Thompson Field House. “I cannot begin to tell you how excited we are to see you.”

“As you go through your day today, I want you to take a moment to think about why you even applied to these schools,” Leahy said. “What was it that you were looking for? I want you to be looking for it all day.”

A student panel opened the day’s program by fielding questions from parents and students about how they came to choose Exeter and what their experience has been like.

“When I got accepted, the main driving factor for me was community,” said Kofi Annan-Brown ’26. “You’re becoming an individual and you want people around you to support you in that journey.”

Stacey Chen ’24, a three-year upper from Minneapolis, told the audience that because of the pandemic, she never had a chance to see campus before she arrived to begin her ninth-grade year. “My friends didn’t understand when I told them I was going. They were like ‘Are your parents sending you away to military school? Are you trouble? What did you do?’

“I wanted more. I wanted the opportunity to immerse myself in a community where students are passionate about what they do and want to meet other passionate people.”

Friday morning at assembly, the Exeter community was treated to remarks and a question-and-answer session with Ben Wilson, one of the nation’s pre-eminent environmental lawyers.

Wilson, recently retired from his law practice in Washington, D.C., grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and graduated from Dartmouth College and Harvard Law School. In 2012, he co-founded the African American General Counsel and Managing Partners Network. He is a former chairman of the Environmental Law Institute and he continues to teach law at Howard University School of Law.

“Throughout his career, Mr. Wilson was widely admired for his legal abilities and many professional accomplishments, but he was also widely admired by competitors and colleagues alike for his integrity, his goodwill and cheer,” Principal Bill Rawson said in introducing his longtime friend and associate.

Wilson’s full assembly address can be viewed here. Below is an excerpt of his remarks to Exeter:

You need not have me tell you that climate change is the defining issue of our time. It is the defining issue of your time. You need not be reminded of the rising temperatures predicted by 2050. You are aware of the raging fires and the record storms in the American West, the record temperatures in Europe this past summer, and the decline of the Arctic Sea ice and the glaciers. And you are also very much aware of the impact of the monsoon season in Asia and the hurricane season in the Gulf on the economy of those regions, you must be mindful the trans-boundary impact of environmental harm and the utterly devastating impact of war upon the environment and millions of people in Ukraine and the Middle East.

But I hope here at Exeter that you are aware that the problem within the problem of climate change is the issue of climate justice. There can be little doubt that the impact of climate change falls disproportionately on the poor and on people of color. And too seldom do those communities experience the benefits of adaptation, mitigation and climate investments. This need not be the case. Stated simply, we can no longer tolerate these ongoing injustices such as the water crisis in Flint and more recently in my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. To meet these challenges, our institutions and organizations need to evolve. I understand there are courses on the environment taught here at Exeter. At our Environmental Law Institute, we are showing growing support for environmental justice. And I applaud the efforts of EPA to establish a national office charged with an advancing environmental justice and civil rights to focus more attention and resources on underserved communities.

So, my question to you this morning is not whether these challenges exist, but does it matter to you if we seek to change them? As Dr. King suggested so many years ago, the measure of a man, or a woman, is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where she stands at times of challenge and controversy. So, my question to you this morning is where do you stand? Have you already thrown in the towel on your capacity to mitigate climate change? Are you no longer willing to think globally and act locally? Do you believe that injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere? Do you still believe in the rule of law? Are you willing to fight? I’m glad to consider these questions with you. I believe the answer to them is not blowing in the wind, as Bob Dylan would say. I believe there’s still time to make a difference on climate change and climate justice.

You see, I have to be able to look my grandson, he’s 2 years old, his name is Cameron. I have to look him in the eye when I answer his eventual question, “What did you do, grandpa, to address the great issues of your time, climate change and climate justice?” You see, in just a generation, we will all know our answer to these questions. Finally, and I’m near the end, if you wish to know why your answer is so important, please know that somewhere in the world today, this morning, perhaps in Accra, Berlin, Bombay, São Paulo, Shenzhen, Washington D.C., Exeter, New Hampshire, a young couple is traveling tomorrow, no, not tomorrow, this afternoon, to start a new life. Their car is packed to the gills. There is barely enough room to sit. A bouncing baby girl is buckled safely in her car seat. Can you see her?

So let us to resolve that by her 18th birthday, the companies that some of you will start, that you will lead, the boards on which you will sit as well as the governments you will lead, have kept their promises on climate change. Let us resolve that by 2050, we in fact have achieved a promised net positive impact on the environment. Let us commit to getting this work done with equity and justice in mind so that the benefits of our work are equally shared and the burdens are not disproportionately placed on the most vulnerable. You see, the world is watching. That little girl and her parents are counting on us. They and future generations are counting on us. They are counting on you. Thank you for your attention.

 

 

Ten Exonians have captured medals at the 2023 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, announced this week. The nation’s longest-running recognition program for teen writers and artists reported a large jump in student participation in its 100^th anniversary year, with over 100,000 teens from U.S. territories, Canada and every state in the nation submitted more than 300,000 works for consideration.

Among the some 2,000 works that were recognized with national medals, Andrew Yuan ’24 took home two golds and one silver medal in the writing category, including a gold medal for his poem “To Paraphrase Immigration,” excerpted here:

In Maine woods in oblivious childhood

Lewis Carroll taught me English words like

“Mustard,” “flamingo,” and “citrus”:

a misshapen gift for seven-year-old

biting his riotous Oriental tongue

he slithers back into remnants of his

identity. I was him—the textbook taught me

tenses well—like my brother was alive and I

I was busy learning a language before I learned

death.

Among the other winners were Lionel Hearon ’25, whose painting “Layla” won a gold medal in the art category. Amber Zou ’24 also captured gold for her poem “self-portrait as an ampersand,” as did Lianna Yang ’24 for her piece “Dear Color Blind Country.”

Since 1923, the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards have honored the nation’s most talented high school students for both their visual and written creations. Celebrated writers as varied as Sylvia Plath, John Updike, Joyce Carol Oates, Joyce Maynard ’71, Stephen King and Amanda Gorman all won Scholastic awards in their time, as did famed artists Andy Warhol and Richard Avedon, filmmakers Ken Burns and Richard Linklater and actors Robert Redford, John Lithgow and Lena Dunham.

A complete list of Exeter’s 2023 honorees:

• Joy Chi ’23, silver
• Leonardo Chung ’25, silver
• Lionel Hearon ’25, gold
• Anna Kim ’24, silver
• Sophie Ma ’24, silver
• Ariana Thornton ’24, silver
• Riya Tyagi ’24, silver
• Lianna Yang ’24, gold
• Andrew Yuan ’24 – two golds, one silver
• Amber Zou ’24, gold

In a tradition that’s become synonymous with the March break, Exeter’s spring travel programs once again hit the road for experiential learning opportunities. From backpacking in Utah to performing music in Puerto Rico and preseason athletics training in Florida, students fanned out across the country for enrichment opportunities away from campus.

Eleven Exonians traveled south to Alabama to participate in a civil rights-centric program for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Students toured national landmarks throughout the state and spent time at social justice activist and Exeter’s 2019 Bragdon Fellow Brian Stevenson’s Equal Justice Initiative.

Among the stops were tours of the 16th St. Baptist Church, Martin Luther King’s former residence, the Legacy Museum and the Southern Poverty Law Center.

“[We] felt a sense of reverence for the place where such important work was done and a sense of gratitude for the sacrifices made by King and his family,” said a combined reflection from Peter Lee ’26, Chaemin Lee ’26 and Abesolam Webb ’26 on their time spent at the King family home.

View more photos from trip below and on Instagram.

Students walk the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma.

The group poses for a photo in front of the Legacy Museum in Montgomery.

Students stop to sample southern treat Moon Pies.

Hear how from community members as they discuss how being connected with one dorm for your entire time at Exeter makes dorm living unique, inclusive and fun.

Dorm Head

Dorm heads develop a safe and welcoming living environment for their residents. They work closely with dorm faculty and student proctors to create dorm-based programming and plan activities for their students.

Ms. Soucy, McConnell Hall

“The way that our dorm team works together, and the different skills that each of us has, fits together like a puzzle and creates an environment that helps support our students.”

Proctor

A leadership position for seniors, proctors work with dorm heads and dorm faculty to plan activities. Proctors also provide guidance and advice for younger students in the dorm.

Tucker, Senior, Ewald Hall

“Every student benefits from a caring and welcoming dorm community. As a proctor, I do my best to create and further that spirit.”

Student Listener

Student listeners provide peer-based support within each dorm. They receive training on how to engage with dorm mates and the types of resources available should a student wish to continue the conversation with a professional.

Nataly, Upper, Wheelwright Hall

“I make an active effort to build relationships with my dormmates to create a home away from home for them. My dorm is my comfort spot on campus, and I want my dormmates to feel that way too.”

Dorm Fun

From the structured to the spontaneous, dorm fun comes in many forms. Whether it’s planned outings like ice skating in Portsmouth or a night in watching a movie with friends, there are plenty of ways to enjoy free time with dorm mates.

Masaki, Lower, Knight House

“Whether it’s trips to the beach, hanging out playing cards or just simply some alone time, there’s always a place for everyone. Anyone can fit in and there’s no real social pressure.”

Dorm = Family

Students remain in the same dorm for the duration of their time at Exeter. Younger students benefit from the presence of older students who have grown into leadership roles. As dorm affiliates, day students are encouraged to participate in residential life.

Ava, Prep, Wheelwright Hall

“When I first arrived at Exeter, older students in my dorm helped me get settled. They are so approachable and I always feel comfortable going to them for guidance.”

The Exeter girls varsity swim team pulled away from a talented, 12-team field to win the New England Division I Championship.

Big Red outpointed 11 rivals with an impressive 92.5 points separating them from the runner-up, Andover.

First place has been a familiar spot for girls swimming. In the 50 years of girls competing in the New England Prep School Swimming Association, Exeter has won at least a share of the New England title 17 times. This year marks Big Red’s first title since a trio of championships from 2010 to 2012.

Big Red boys swimming, who claimed fourth overall at the championships, continued a run of excellence of their own. The Exeter boys have posted a top-four finish in at least 31 of the past 32 seasons, dating back to 1991. The boys program has won 15 titles.

“I’m so proud of our team,” said girls head coach Nicole Benson. “What a remarkable team experience in what was a remarkable year. Many kudos to our seniors, Claire Fu ’23, Amy Benson ’23 and Nat Kpodonu ’23 for building a team and building a legacy, and for leaving our program better than when they arrived — a true mark of non sibi.”

Mena Boardman ’26 helped lead the way. The prep star set a school record in the 50 free with a time of 22.67 while also claiming first in the 100 free with a time of 50.37.

Brianna Cong ’25 claimed a New England title in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.97 while finishing second overall in the 100 backstroke, touching the wall at 55.52.

Audrey Zhang ’24 broke the oldest mark left on the Exeter record board when she finished the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.57, good enough for third place overall. The previous school record was set by Malindi Davies ’94 in 1993. Zhang also earned a third-place finish in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:07.26.

Big Red also proved to be a dominant force in relays, winning the 200 medley relay, 200 free relay and 400 free relay. The 400 free team of Sophie Phelps ’25, Cong, Amy Benson and Boardman shaved two seconds off their record-setting performance at Easterns and closed the meet with a school-best mark of 3:25.72.

Boardman, Zhang, Cong and Vedika Amin ’24 won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:45.01 in the first event of the day while Amin, Chloe Bosma ’26, Phelps, and Amy Benson teamed up to capture the 200 free relay with a time of 1:37.52.

On the boys side, Ethan Guo ’25 claimed a New England title in the 100 backstroke with a time of 49.80. Guo also finished second in the 200 free when he touched at 1:40.09.

After placing second in Saturday’s prelims, Henry Liu ’23 swam to a New England title in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 55.08.

Guo, Liu, Lang Gou ’25 and Rudd Day ’25 earned third place in the 200 medley relay, finishing at 1:33.32. The 200 free relay team of Day, Michael Yang ’24, Andrew Van De Water ’23 and Patrick McCann ’23 claimed fourth overall with a time of 1:25.59 while Guo, Van De Water, Liu, and Zach Quitkin ’23 swam to third in the 400 free relay.

 

Powered by a couple thousand of Exeter’s and Andover’s noisiest and most supportive students, families and alumni, the season-ending clash of Big Red and Blue on Saturday lived up to the rivalry’s long tradition.

Exeter picked up victories in boys varsity basketball, boys JV basketball, girls JV basketball, and girls JV hockey, while Andover outlasted Big Red in the other five contests on the day. 

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The boys varsity basketball game was one for the ages in a series more than a century old. Exeter grabbed control early and kept a three-point lead at the break. A back-and-forth affair throughout the second half saw the two teams exchange the lead several times in the final four minutes of regulation. Defense was the driver to overtime, as both Exeter and Andover made stops in the final minute to force an extra period knotted at 48-48. 

Exeter held a 51-50 lead with 90 seconds left in overtime when Mike Loughnane ‘23 found Tristan Zhang ‘25, who buried a clutch 3-pointer from the wing to extend the Big Red cushion to four points. It wouldn’t stick. Andover answered with its own 3-pointer and a pair of free throws to nose in front 55-54 wit 18 seconds left.

After a timeout, Loughnane drove to the hoop and drew a foul with under five seconds remaining and knocked down both free throws in front of the raucous crowd to give Exeter its lead back, 56-55. Andover’s heave at the buzzer failed to connect, and Big Red had its fifth straight victory in the season-ending series.

Loughnane hit five 3-pointers and was a perfect 6-for-6 at the free throw line on his way to a game-high 27 points. Fellow seniors Rollie Castineyra ‘23 and Aidan Burke ‘23, added 13 points and 10 points, respectively, for the hosts. 

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Girls varsity basketball nearly put together a comeback that would have lived famously in the annals of the rivalry. A sluggish start saw Big Red trail by 14 points at the end of the first quarter. Exeter woke up in the second and clawed their way back. Laurie Chung ’24 led the charge as she poured in all 10 of her points just before halftime, building Exeter some momentum. That energy carried into the second half as Exeter cut the Andover lead down to seven heading into the fourth quarter. Big Red continued to battle and brought themselves back to within two points when Stacy Chen ’24 connected for a layup through traffic with just 32 seconds to go. That was as close as Big Red would get, however, as Andover drained a free throw and played tough defense to close the game out, 42-39.

Jac Doucette ’23 powered the Exeter offense with a team-high 18 points. The two-year senior also connected for the 1,000^th point of her high school career.

On the ice, it was Andover girls varsity who broke a scoreless tie with three minutes remaining in the opening period on a power play when they buried a puck that careened off the cross bar and to the open side of the net to stake a 1-0 edge. The Blue took advantage of another power play opportunity early in the second to double up their lead, 2-0, and would hang on for the two-goal victory. Exeter senior Sami Smith ’23 was strong in net for Big Red against and Andover club that improved to 22-2-1.

On the boys side, the Red and Blue played a scoreless first period before Andover scored in the opening minute of the second to go up, 1-0. Big Red had an opportunity to even the game with an odd-man rush during a penalty kill, but the Andover netminder made an athletic save to his left to preserve a 1-0 lead. Andover was able to corral the puck and capitalize with a rush of its own to extend the lead to 2-0. The Blue would add another early in the third before scoring an empty-netter to seal a 4-0 victory.

In addition to the games, the crowd was treated to some sensational performances from Exeter dance groups POMS and ABS, while the Big Red Pep Band had the gym rocking, making the atmosphere inside Love Gym electric.

General Alumni Association President, Trustee and Awards Committee Chair Betsy Fleming ’86 has announced the selection of Richard S. Aaronian ’76, ’78, ’97 (Hon.); P’94, P’97 as this year’s recipient of the Founders’ Day Award.

Conceived by Principal Stephen G. Kurtz and established by the Trustees in 1976, the Founders’ Day Award is given annually by the GAA in recognition of exceptional service to the Academy. The legendary Hammy Bissell ’29 was given the first Founders’ Day Award, and an Academy who’s who has followed.

Aaronian joined the faculty in 1971 as an instructor in science. Named the Harlan Page Amen Professor of Science in 1999, he is credited with introducing ornithology and marine biology into Exeter’s science curriculum, along with a place-based field trip program. He has led educational travel programs for students and alumni in locations as far flung as Costa Rica and Plum Island, Massachusetts.

In addition to serving as dorm head for three dorms — Amen and Bancroft halls and Williams House — Aaronian coached boys JV hockey for 26 years and served as an assistant coach for JV baseball for 17 years. He was a member of numerous major committees and was Chair of the Science Department from 1991 to 1995.

When he retired in 2020, Aaronian was the Exeter faculty’s longest-serving member, having logged 49 years of devoted service. His exceptional teaching has also been recognized with the Rupert Radford Faculty Fellowship Award, the Brown Family Faculty Award and the George S. Heyer Award.

Aaronian will receive the Founders’ Day Award and speak during assembly May 19.