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A lot of students and alumni would say that they have found their home away from home at Kents Hill School. It’s true, the sense of community and family is unmatched, and that stands to reason as many actual siblings attend the school together! As we write this, three students from the same family are current Kents Hill students, two of which will graduate on June 5 and the third of which is a member of the Class of 2023. We are, of course, talking about the fabulous Feeneys! 

Em F. ’21, Delaney F. ’21, and Kaylee F. ’23 are each valuable members of our community and we are excited to feature them as they are as different as they are incredible.

Different Lives on The Hill

To begin with, their interests are highly varied, but luckily, there have been plenty of options for them to choose from over the years. 

Kaylee says it best, “Most of us have starkly different interests, which many people find interesting since we’re all related. One thing that’s different about me is that I love art and drawing, but none of my other siblings are interested in it as much as I am. We also all had different sports interests; my sister and I played Soccer and Track, while Em was more interested in Fencing and Horseback riding. I’m glad that we all found our own special talents and interests because it makes life more interesting to have variety in what people enjoy.”

Academically, Delaney prefers science and math, which sets her apart from her siblings. She says, “I’m interested in the sciences, so I’m the more math/science-focused sibling. I also like taking on leadership roles. We are all a little similar, but I think our interests and goals are all unique.”

Em points out that traditional team sports are more of a focus for Delaney and Kaylee. “I'm definitely not as athletic as they are. They are absolutely fierce when it comes to sports whereas I've just done my own thing. I like to think the thing that tends to stand out to people when they meet me and my siblings is my passion for my interests. I have a tendency to ‘deep dive’ on certain subjects (like the Franklin Expedition of 1845, for example) and I have a pretty good memory, which definitely helps when it comes to history.”

Delaney confirms the love for athletics that Em discussed and adds to it. She says, “I love playing soccer on the Turf, participating in student government, and eating with my friends in the Alfond Dining Commons.” 

Kaylee says, “I have a lot of interests at this school, because of how much Kents Hill lets you explore and experiment with different things, but I’d have to say my three favorite things are art, soccer, and writing. At Kents Hill, I’m able to extensively pursue all of these things, and it also opens me up to start thinking of possible career options from the things I enjoy.”

Accomplishments 

And those different interests have led to several serious accomplishments! For example, Kaylee says, “As a part of Green Team I helped revamp the recycling system across campus and design logos to use for that. I’ve also had other accomplishments, such as winning athletic and scholarly awards, helping out in community service activities around campus, and becoming part of the Student Council in past years.”

Delaney says, “Some of my big accomplishments were being elected class President my junior and senior years, being elected Girls Varsity Soccer captain for several years, joining Kents Hill’s chapter of the National Honor Society, and most recently accepting an appointment to the United States Naval Academy.”

Em chose to call out academics. “I think one of my major accomplishments at KH has to be my Independent Study of the Holocaust. A few weeks ago I put up a gallery exhibit in the Gruss-Bard Gallery in the Alfond Dining Commons that got a decent amount of attention. I was even asked to help teach two history classes on the Holocaust, using my gallery as a presentation (of sorts). I absolutely love being able to help teach others.” 

Space to Be Your Full Self

The youngest Feeney, Kaylee, feels she can be herself at Kents Hill without pressure or expectations set by her older siblings. She says, “I definitely feel like I can spread my wings and do my own thing here at Kents Hill, and that’s especially important to me since I’m one of three siblings at this school. I’ve been given opportunities to choose what my own interests are, and I don’t feel like I’m being tied down to reflect what my siblings have done in the past, which is a huge relief to me.” 

Delaney is happy to be able to offer her time and help to both of her siblings on campus. She says, “It is a great experience! Em and I are in the same grade, so we were always able to help each other out when we took the same classes. My little sister benefits from this because both of her older siblings can help her with her homework. Also, it’s so much fun to be on campus with my siblings and play on the same sports teams as them.” 

Those feelings are similar for Em. “It has been a blast to be at KH with my siblings. De and I are in the same grade (she's a year younger than I am though) so we've been together in our paths through high school for the most part. We even shared a few of the same classes each year! But our relationship has grown stronger due to that; asking each other for help with homework or simply hanging with our friends. It's also become a bit of a joke that if you have all three of us together (we have a younger sister, KK) in the same space, then there might be a hole ripped in the time-space continuum,” says Em.

Choosing Kents Hill School

One thing the three siblings can agree on unanimously is why they chose Kents Hill—it felt like family. Delaney says, “It was a family decision for Em and me to go to Kents Hill, but one of the reasons we landed on it was the ‘homey’ feeling that we felt while taking tours and meeting enrolled students. No other school had the same feeling of connectedness or welcoming that Kents Hill did. Also, the opportunities presented by Kents Hill were one of a kind, which attracted our parents. They were jealous that we could try classes like woodworking and ceramics in high school.” 

“I initially chose KHS because it felt so much like a family. Compared to the other schools we visited, it just felt more free and fun,” echos Em. 

Kaylee says, “I chose to come to Kents Hill because of many factors, but what struck me the most was the friendly and welcoming atmosphere. When I first came to Kents Hill on a guided tour, everyone was so nice and I could feel the connectedness of the community. That was one of the biggest reasons my parents decided to let us go here, and why my siblings and I still love it to this day.”

As we mentioned, on June 5, 2021, two of the Feeney family will join the ranks of Kents Hill’s alumni with Delaney off to the United States Naval Academy and Em bound for The University of Maine at Orono, but we have a sneaking suspicion we’ll see their faces a lot between home games, visits with former faculty members, reunions, and more. We are so happy to have had this trifecta on The Hill and wish each of them the best possible success in anything they choose to do! 

As the days tick down toward the end of the academic year, a different activity is ramping up! That’s right, it’s the time where the Student Life and Admissions teams begin working together to match students with their future roommates. 

Despite it being incredibly exciting, we know that there is a lot of anxiety associated with leaving home and living with someone you don’t know, so we thought it would be helpful to open up the lines of communication and explain just how much effort goes into finding that “right” roommate at Kents Hill School. 

Erica Chute, Dean of Community Life says, “We put together a strong, student-focused team of people and they take time to look at each student individually. The team considers students’ habits and interests and then matches them with somebody who has similar ones. Admissions is always a large part of this effort as they have such valuable input. Usually, they have met the students and their families already and know more about their backgrounds and individual stories.” 

She continues, “We also talk about all of the valuable information we gather from the surveys and strive to make the best choice for each student so they can be comfortable and have the best residential experience. Oftentimes the roommates that we match up choose to stay together for multiple years. It's more common than not.”

To illustrate this point, we have provided some (but not all) of the areas of interest/questions we ask new students to match them with their ideal housing option:

• How would you describe yourself (very shy, moderately shy, neutral, moderately outgoing, very outgoing, other)
   
• I am a neat person (rated 1-7 from strongly disagree to strongly agree)
   
• I would like to have friends visit my room (rated 1-7 from never to regularly)
   
• I prefer a quiet living area (rated 1-7 from strongly disagree to strongly agree)
   
• What temperature do you prefer to sleep in? (rated 1-7 from really cold to really warm)
   
• I am willing to share appliances, electronics, food, etc. with my roommate. (rated 1-7 from strongly disagree to strongly agree)
   
• Would you describe yourself as an early riser or night owl?
   
• Are you a heavy or light sleeper?
   
• How do you generally like to spend your time? (provided with a list of activity checkboxes)
   
• What types of music do you listen to? (provided with a list of genres)
   
• How often do you play video/computer games? (provided with a range of options)
   
• What are your top concerns about the habits/activities of your future roommate?
   
• How would you describe yourself in three words to a potential roommate?
   
• To which gender identity do you most identify?
   
• What kinds of activities or interests do you have outside of academics? 

In total, we ask around twenty qualifying questions alongside ones aimed at finding the right advisor match in the survey and, in conjunction with personal insights from those who know you best initially (generally the Admissions team), make a solid recommendation. 

Alison Lincoln-Rich, Dean of Enrollment Management and Director of Financial Aid explains, “Our team uses the information gathered from our interviews with students and their families to help with the roommate selection process. We know our new students the best and partner with Erica Chute to thoughtfully select roommates that we think will grow and flourish together.” 

We understand that striking out on your own can be scary, but know that an entire community has your back and there is a strong possibility that you will meet a great friend while living in the dorms. Plus! Dorm living is the perfect way to foster independence and friendship in advance of your college or postgraduate life. 
 

We want to start this piece by saying, we know that a Postgraduate Year isn’t the right choice for everyone and we wouldn’t dream of trying to push students into one. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has complicated a specific sector of student lives—the seniors. 

We can’t even imagine how it must have felt to have your expectations have to shift so dramatically at such a pivotal moment in your lives. That is why we are suggesting that some seniors who graduated during the height of the pandemic or are poised to complete their high school journey during the tail end of crisis may want to consider a Postgraduate Year. 

The Community 

The world spent their last year unable to touch each other. No hugs, limited athletics, a minimal amount of interaction with family...a Postgraduate Year could give that back. Another year to spend with friends and build a strong network before college. An additional opportunity to compete athletically...maybe even win a major championship! One last year to spend a balanced time between our campus home and home with your family. This could be the year you become your full self!

The Graduation You Wanted

Similar to the no-touching statement above, graduations were just not the same during this time. Many were virtual and others were severely capped. If the loss of your traditional graduation happened to you...you may want a do-over and there’s no shame in that.

An Even Stronger Resume

Our Postgraduate Year programming is robust. It makes the transition from high school to college much easier because much of it is based in real-world learning, even beyond what is offered in our standard 4D Academic Curriculum and project-based learning. 

To be more specific, you'll be one step ahead of other college applicants with the DIRIGO ("I Lead") leadership development program, weekly college counseling, and the opportunity to earn transferrable college credit in English, Physics, Chemistry, Music, and more.

Applied Experience Prior to College

During a Kents Hill Postgraduate Year students take five core courses, are able to compete in athletics, and participate in clubs and activities, but they also have multiple internship and experience opportunities built in that are centered around their specific interests. Those internships and experiences occur both on-campus and at local companies, so the perspectives offered are varied and interesting! It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Ready? 

Our Postgraduate Year option offers the perfect combination of personalized academics, immersive internship experience, and engaging cultural adventures. It is the ideal way to sharpen your knowledge, nurture your personal growth, and evaluate your goals before college. If you’re ready, why not submit an inquiry?