Students Reflect on Summer Experiences

Katt G. ’27 Made a Difference with Leadership Summer Programs & Camps

Continuing a passion for scouting that has been “part of my life for as long as I can remember,” senior Katt G. participated in the Camp Rock Enon Scout Camp program as a Senior Youth Leader at National Youth Leadership Training in Winchester, VA, and then as a member of staff at Camp Powhatan for the remainder of the summer. At the National Youth Leadership Training, she helped guide challenging and rewarding programs focused on communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and leadership skills for participants aged 14 to 18 years old. “It was rewarding to encourage other Scouts to become more confident and capable leaders,” she said. Her hard work and dedication paid off, as she was selected from nearly 100 staff members as Staff Member of the Week during Week 4! “Receiving that recognition meant a lot to me. It made me proud to know that my hard work, leadership, and commitment to helping others had made a positive impact.” At Camp Powhatan as a staff member, Katt helped teach programs around American Indian culture, basketry, woodcarving, sometimes called “finger carving,” and chess. “What I enjoyed most was being able to teach people by doing things I love.”

Katt reflected on both of her experiences: “Overall, my summer at Camp Powhatan and Rock Enon was a meaningful experience because it allowed me to do something I love, help others, meet new people, and continue growing as a leader through Scouting.”
 

Felicia K. ’27 Traveled to Israel with Young Judea 

Senior Felicia K. spent part of her summer traveling throughout Israel with Young Judea’s Gesher Israel program for several weeks, learning about Israel’s history, culture, nature, and people. “Being in Israel gave me a much deeper understanding of my Jewish heritage and allowed me to connect what I had learned through Jewish Studies with the places, history, and people I experienced firsthand,” shared Felicia. “I also learned a great deal about the cultural differences among Israel's regions and gained a deeper appreciation for the country's diversity. Most importantly, I was able to see both the beauty of Israel and the strength and resilience of its communities at this time.” Felicia’s adventures hiking, swimming, snorkeling, and more took her to important historical and cultural sites. Through her travels with other teens on the trip and a variety of guest speaker opportunities, she heard from people with diverse cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs. From volunteering in several communities to swimming in the Dead Sea and more, her experiences were amazing; however, she said, “the relationships we built, the perspectives we heard, and the communities we helped are what I will remember most.”

Felicia reflected on her experiences: “I came home with a stronger connection to my Jewish identity, a greater appreciation for Israel and its people, and a better understanding of how important it is to embrace where I come from. More than anything, I am proud that I allowed myself to be open to new experiences, perspectives, and connections that I will carry with me for years to come.”
 

Cadey P. ’28 Attended Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine Summer Program

Junior Cadey P. attended the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine (WFIRM) Summer Research Exposure Program (SREP) Regenerative Medicine Academy, where she learned about regenerative medicine and some of the research being done in the field. While doing hands-on activities, she got to explore a new area of the sciences. “I got to see how things we learn in science classes are actually used in medical research,” she said. “I especially enjoyed learning about tissue scaffolding and bioprinting and how engineering and biology work together. For one project, my group researched laser-assisted bioprinting and created a poster about how it works, what it could be used for, and some of the challenges researchers are still trying to solve."

Cadey reflected on her experience: “I’m most proud of how much I learned in such a short amount of time. A lot of the topics were completely new to me, but by the end I could understand them well enough to work on projects and explain them to other people. The experience also made me even more interested in regenerative medicine and other areas of science.”
 

Peyton R. ’29 Completed Aviation Programs with Embry-Riddle and Smithsonian

Sophomore Peyton R. attended two programs, the Boeing High School Scholars Program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum Aviation Explorers Camp at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. At Embry-Riddle, she heard from speakers and had hands-on experiences. “One of the professors gave us a five-hour lecture on aerodynamics, physics, and engines for planes and was very willing to help us with our design challenge. To me, his passion and love for aviation was meaningful,” she shared. At the Smithsonian program, she had the opportunity to learn about different careers in aviation. “It changed my perspective on what I want to do in aviation because there are so many careers that aren’t just being a pilot or an engineer — there are lawyers, managers, content creators, and so many others.”

Peyton reflected on what she’s most proud of from her experiences: “ My team’s design challenge building a remote-controlled plane — we placed third!” and “flying a Cessna 182 turbo engine!”