By Miriam Pallant, Upper School Teacher
On June 9, just two days after the Commencement exercises for the class of 2025 concluded, 25 members of the classes of 2026 through 2029 walked through the schoolhouse doors for the inaugural Tower Hill Summer Leadership Institute.
The morning was a gray one, apropos for the melancholy that sometimes arises for classmates and educators upon bidding farewell to a group of remarkable graduates. The bittersweet nostalgia was quickly replaced, however, by the excitement and potential that filled THE Hub as the Institute participants introduced themselves, sharing their names and their rising grade years. Everyone in the room shared a special spark of joy at the introductions of the rising ninth graders just embarking upon their Upper School journeys and the rising seniors, ready now to step into a new set of leadership responsibilities.
During the first of five days together, students worked in groups to establish a set of norms for their time in the Institute. They agreed to “remain open to innovation from other people, bring energy and create a welcoming and involved environment, and reflect on how [these] ideals will be applied and be involved in field trips.”
Each subsequent day followed a unique schedule, leveraging on and off-campus experiences to help students identify their already existing leadership abilities and add new skills to their toolkits. Opportunities for and expectations of self-reflection, collaboration and communication remained constant themes throughout the entirety of the experience.
Institute participants demonstrated their commitment to their established agreements throughout the week. They listened eagerly as Ms. Baker shared thoughts on public speaking, emphasizing the importance of developing a unique writer’s voice, practicing extensively and honoring an audience. Leadership Institute participants and co-leaders were also fortunate to hear remarks from Nick Mead, a gold medalist in rowing at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Mead emphasized the importance of discipline, bravery and clear communication in the context of teamwork and decision making. He also guided students in some friendly competition on the rowing machines in the Carpenter Field House. Just a few minutes from Tower Hill, Summer Institute participants were fortunate to sit in the boardroom at DuPont with Lori Koch, the company’s CEO. She spoke about the intricacies of leading an international organization and guiding a team to meet the complex needs of a company known globally for its remarkable innovation. On the final day of the Institute, Aaron Bass shared his journey of becoming CEO and Head of Eastside Charter School, highlighting the importance of philanthropy, community and commitment to education.
Although in different contexts, messaging about the importance of taking productive risks, prioritizing community and relationships, and taking time to appreciate successes and learn from challenges resonated clearly throughout the week. The culminating activities of the workshop indicated that students had indeed internalized these notions as they each delivered a speech on a topic of personal importance and presented extensive feedback and suggestions for future iterations of the Institute.
The first Summer Institute served as a wonderful indicator that Tower Hill boasts an engaged community of leaders and scholars throughout the full calendar year. We look forward to building upon this wonderful momentum in the 2026 Summer Institute.
