One Performance Center to Rule Them All

Big things are happening in the lower level of Ordway Hall. A space previously under-utilized for storage and most recently home to ski- and snowboard-building classes will be transformed into a state-of-the-art facility for many of Gould’s outdoor activities, including a new home base for the On-Snow program.

The new (and yet-to-be-named) Performance Center will bring Gould’s high-performance outdoor activities under the same roof. Teams like Mountain Biking, Cycling, Nordic Skiing, Alpine Skiing, Snowboarding, Ski Cross, and all Freestyle disciplines will now have a common space on campus to work closely together, as well as tune and store gear.

The new location will bring ski, snowboard, and bike coaches into the heart of the community, and will create a vibrant hub of activity on campus.

A significant part of a student athlete’s training comes down to well-taken care of gear and equipment that will perform as well and consistently as they do. That will all happen in the Performance Center. Speedworks, Sunday River’s dedicated tuning facility, and the top-of-the-line Wintersteiger tuning machine will be relocated here. Other features of the new space will include:

• bike cleaning stations,
• five downdraft tuning benches,
• state of the art Wintersteiger storage for skis, snowboards, and boots,
• a lounge for pre- & post-training talks,
• and the Ski- & Snowboard Building classroom.

The Kailey Competition Center is still the slopeside home of Gould at Sunday River, but the Performance Center is where it all starts. Students and coaches will start their day and depart from here each morning as they head to the mountain with a common purpose. One considerable challenge at the mountain is space. The new Performance Center will feature state-of-the-art Wintersteiger ski, snowboard, and boot storage that are efficient and will allow programs to better utilize the space at the Comp. Center.

Gould athletes have been reaching great heights for many years on the slopes of Sunday River and the trails of Pine Hill, but until now, you might not see or feel the connection to those programs on campus. The Performance Center will demonstrate Gould’s strong commitment to these high-performance pursuits and will put the hard work of our students and coaches on display for all to see.

Are Your Passions Supported?

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We are pleased to announce that Stephanie Williams Montgomery, J.D., has accepted the position of Gould’s Director of Diversity, Equity and Belonging, beginning August 22. Ms. Montgomery has long been a part of the Gould family, first as a parent of Juliana Montgomery, Class of 2000, and later serving as a member of our Board of Trustees from 2010-2019.

Head of School, Tao Smith shares, “We are thrilled to welcome Stephanie Montgomery to our team at Gould and look forward with great enthusiasm to adding her talent, skill, wisdom, and deep ties to our school. I, personally, am excited to work alongside and learn from her, as Ms. Montgomery helps guide us toward building a better, more equitable, and inclusive community.”

Ms. Montgomery is a lifelong human rights advocate, dedicated to the intersection of human rights activism, diversity and inclusion advocacy, and utilizing “language” to break through cultural barriers. She holds a B.A. in German Language & Literature from The George Washington University in Washington D.C. and a Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law with an International Law Concentration. She has also served as an adjunct professor at the University of Washington (Tacoma campus), and Drexel University.

Born in Virginia during the era of Jim Crow segregation, she credits her parents with teaching and instilling the value of human dignity and respect for every person’s inherent worth. As the daughter of a US Army officer, Ms. Montgomery has lived, studied, and worked across the country and abroad, always with a passion for immersing herself in the communities and cultures in which she resides. 

Ms. Montgomery is relocating from Portland, Oregon. She has been involved and partnered with a myriad of organizations, including the Society for Intercultural Education Training & Research, the Portland Art Museum, World Oregon, the Oregon Historical Society, Kids at Hope, and The Links Incorporated.

Over the past year, Ms. Montgomery provided instrumental mentorship in Gould’s Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, which—in part—led to a call for this leadership role. We are thrilled that she is joining us in this inaugural position. “My goals and aspirations are to center Gould in the local, regional, and global community where there is true relational value between the students, employees, Sunday River, Bethel, and the world. Transformation happens when people come together and build authentic relationships that empower each other.” 

Ms. Montgomery brings compassionate activism and mentoring to the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging position. She will be advising Gould’s senior leadership in equitable operations as well as promoting diversity and belonging throughout Gould’s community, present, and past.

Contributed by Brooke Libby & Maggie Davis

The post Stephanie Montgomery, P’00 Accepts DEI Director Position at Gould appeared first on Gould Academy.

Things to bring and things to leave at home for new students

You will all be arriving here in no time and we can’t wait! I am sure shopping is at the top of the list…clothes, room items, and decorations!

As you pack for school, remember you are sharing space, and it is limited. Your roommate? We are determining that now, and it is so exciting. You will meet them on Registration Day!

Your room? Each room has a closet, dresser, desk and chair, and a bed.

The Community Guide will provide you with more information. Here are a few things to start thinking of as you get ready to come to Gould:

What to Bring

• A desk light
• A power strip, or two!
• Twin mattress cover
• Alarm
• Pillows
• Blankets/quilt
• Towels
• Laundry bag
• Shower basket (to keep shower items together)
• Twin sheets (2 sets)

What not to Bring

• Refrigerators
• Microwaves
• Hot pots
• Heating appliances
• Electric blankets
• Sub-woofers
• Decorative lights (Christmas string/icicle lights, spotlights, LED strip lights)
• Nails and thumbtacks are not allowed in the walls
• Candles

Some room organization tips:

• Look for plastic containers designed for under-bed storage
• Small sets of plastic drawers make great bedside tables/organizers
• Multi-pocketed shoe holders to hang over a door are great, too

Classroom Dress Code

DOs:

Tops

• Blouses
• Collared shirts
• Turtlenecks (mock and regular)
• Henleys
• Gould sweatshirts
• Knit sweaters
• Fleeces

Bottoms

• Pants/slacks (khakis, jeans, corduroys, dress slacks, Carhartts)
• Skirts (mid-thigh or longer in length)
• Dresses (mid-thigh or longer in length)
• Shorts (5-inch inseam minimum)

Shoes

• Dress shoes
• Sneakers
• Boots
• Leather/dress sandals

Outerwear

• Gould sweatshirts
• Fleeces
• Down coats
• Raincoats

DON’Ts:

Tops

• T-shirts (unless worn as an undershirt)
• Shirts that reveal skin of the torso (back, midriff, side, and lower chest), including tank tops, halter-tops, and off-the-shoulder tops
• Non-Gould Sweatshirts
• Outerwear jackets and coats within the classroom

Bottoms

• Sweatpants
• Yoga Pants
• Leggings/Jeggings (leggings may be worn only if a skirt or dress of the correct length is worn over them)
• Pajama bottoms
• Athletic apparel

Shoes

• Plastic flip-flops
• Athletic sandals
• Shower sandals

Formal Dinner Dress Code

DOs

• dresses (mid-thigh or longer in length)
• blouses, dress slacks/khakis or skirts (mid-thigh or longer in length)
• collared shirts/dress shirts, tie (optional)*, coat, dress slacks/khakis
• dress shoes preferred
• traditional formal wear from other cultures

DON’Ts:

• any article of clothing that reveals skin of the torso (lower back, lower chest, midriff, side) including tank tops, halter tops, and off the shoulder tops
• rompers or shorts (even when worn with formal shoes and knee socks)
• dresses and skirts that do not reach mid-thigh
• any shoe that does not meet the expectations of classroom dress

Students who arrive at a formal gathering not in formal dress will be sent back to the dorm or to their locker to change.

Laundry

• Washers and dryers are available for students to do their own laundry.

Lastly, I am sure you have many more questions for us! Feel free to email any questions you may have to admissions@gouldacademy.org.

See you soon and happy shopping!

The post New Student Information: What to Bring appeared first on Gould Academy.

We are pleased to announce that Dereck Treadwell will become the new director of Mountain Biking (MTB) and Road Cycling at Gould.

Dereck “Tread” Treadwell comes to Gould via Old Town, Maine with over 17 years of full-time coaching experience. He is above all, a student and teacher of the sport of cycling.

Over the past 15 years, Tread has trained NCAA qualifiers, a Pan Am Games Cross Country Cycling (XCO) Bronze Medalist, top Leadville 100 finishers, and ITU Duathlon World Championships athletes.

“The greater Bethel area is fast becoming a peddler’s destination—we have great mountain biking and gravel trails and a fast-developing enduro trail network nearby at Mt. Abram,” says Gould Athletic Director Bob Harkins. “Having Tread sign on to lead our program is a testament to Gould’s commitment to building a world-class program right here in western Maine.”

Prior to arriving at Gould, Tread was the Head Cross Country Coach at Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY. While at Hartwick, he was responsible for starting the Cycling and Triathlon teams. The culmination of this included seven athletes representing the USA at the ITU World Championships.

Since 2013 Tread has owned and operated Treadwell Training as well as the MTB team Dr. Naylor-Treadwell Training Racing. Most recently he finished a stint as an assistant coach with the Cross Country and Track and Field Team at the University of Maine, in Orono.

Tread graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University Of Maine in 1998. At UMaine, he was a highly decorated student-athlete. He was a 2008 Inductee in the UMaine Athletics Hall of Fame. At UMaine, Tread was an NCAA Division I All-American, a holder of 8 school records, and a 1996 1500m Olympic Trials Finalist. A former Maine State 800m record holder, and Old Town High School Athletic Hall of Fame member, Tread also grew up racing and riding mountain bikes. Tread is a Cat 1 road cyclist and a UCI Elite MTB Racer. He was the 2019 NUE Marathon National Series runner-up, has several wins and podium finishes in top XC Marathon races, as well a two-time top finisher at Mt. Washington Newton’s Revenge Hill Climb.

“I am extremely excited about the opportunity to be part of the Gould Community. At Gould, we have the resources, committed positive staff, and the environment to create an amazing cycling culture. My vision is to continue the work of those before to build Gould into a powerhouse for Cross Country, Enduro, and Gravel Racing” 

The post Treadwell to lead Mountain Biking & Road Cycling at Gould appeared first on Gould Academy.

Looking for some interesting summer reading? This year’s book awards are particularly interesting. You may be aware of the books given as prizes at the Underclass Awards ceremony each year, but did you know that Gould also has a Scholar Shelf?

The Scholar Shelf recognizes student curiosity, inquiry, and scholarship by honoring students with a chosen title that enhances the library collection and amplifies an important school-wide initiative. This year’s theme is diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

Each academic department discusses the names of students who readily engage in the classroom and consistently add value to the learning environment. The names are shared with the librarian, who targets a collection focus area to enhance while honoring the interests of the student. All Scholar Shelf books are part of the permanent library collection, and the student is recognized with a nameplate in the book. 

Here are this year’s honorees:

HUMANITIES

• Charlotte Lambert ’24 – The Purpose of Power: HOW WE COME TOGETHER WHEN WE FALL APART by Alicia Garza
  
• Nolan Raymond ’23 – Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What We See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt
  
• Alex Hamadeh ’22 – Trace: Memory, History, Race, and the American Landscape by Lauret Savoy
• Leah Ohms ’21 – Say Her Name by Francisco Goldman
• Hannah Grohman ’24 – Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
• Oliver Barrett ’23 – Bury the Chains: Prophets and Rebels in the Fight to Free an Empire’s Slaves by Adam Hochschild
• Noah Goldman ’22 – Black and British: A Forgotten History by David Olusoga
• Henry Melnik ’21 – Fax From Sarajevo by Joe Kubert

STEM

• Lily Winch/Cate Caggiano ’23 – The Code Breaker: Jennifer Doudna, Gene Editing, and the Future of the Human Race by Walter Isaacson
  
• Gar Jacky Tse ’22 – The Universe Speaks in Numbers: How Modern Math Reveals Nature’s Deepest Secrets by Graham Farmelo
  
• Tracy He ’22 – Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction by Michelle Nijhuis
  
• Allie Waugh ’22 – CRISPR: A Powerful Way to Change DNA by Yolanda Ridge, Alex Boersma
  
• Alex Hamadeh ’22 – How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need by Bill Gates
  
• Thomas Hall ’21 – Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps, and the 10th Dimension by Michio Kaku
  
• Kate Saidy ’21 – The Disordered Cosmos: A Journey into Dark Matter, Spacetime, and Dreams Deferred by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein

SENIOR FOUR POINT

• Runzhe Yao ’21 – Buzz, Sting, Bite: Why We Need Insects by Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson

WORLD LANGUAGES

• Reid Johnston ’23 – Les Fourmis by Bernard Werber
  
• Noah Goldman ’22 – Le Jour des Fourmis by Bernard Werber
  
• Annabelle Forsley ’21 – La Révolution des Fourmis by Bernard Werber
  
• Yusuke Ohga ’21 – Clash!: How to Thrive in a Multicultural World by Hazel Rose Markus, Alana Conner
  
• Abby LaRochelle ’24 – Big Sister, Little Sister, Red Sister: Three Women at the Heart of Twentieth-Century China by Jung Chang
  
• Lexi Ordway ’21 – Poems: A Bilingual Anthology by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz
  
• Utah Bean ’21– Yoruba from Cuba: Selected Poems of Nicolás Guillén

ARTS

• Madison Papianou ’22 – Carolina Clay by Leonard Todd
  
• Ava Mastroianni ’21 – Resistance: A Songwriter’s Story of Hope, Change, and Courage by Tori Amos

The post Scholar Shelf Awards appeared first on Gould Academy.

Lily Hall ’22 and Caroline Siekman ’22 proudly display their book awards at the student reception.

Academic Book Prizes Awarded

On Sunday we celebrated our underclassmen and their accomplishments over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year. Guest speaker Kenzi Clark ’13 gave the address.

It has been a great year for all of our students, and the evening was a tribute to their hard work and impact on the Gould community. Here are this year’s honorees:

RENSSELAER AWARD – Peyton Meader

Recognizes the accomplishments of outstanding students of science and mathematics.  It is awarded in some 1,000 selected secondary schools in the country to the Junior with the highest combined average in science and mathematics

BAUSCH AND LOMB SCIENCE AWARD – Peyton Hadfield

Awarded to a top member of the Junior Class “in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and superior intellectual promise in the field of science.”

DARTMOUTH ALUMNI CLUB BOOK AWARD – Peyton Meader

Given to an outstanding member of the Junior Class who ranks in the top ten percent of the class; demonstrates strong character; has made a positive contribution to the school community and is a candidate for admission to a competitive college or university.

ST. LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD – Zachary Schmolka

In recognition of the value that the St. Lawrence Community places on service to others, this award is in recognition of the achievements of high school juniors who have displayed a significant commitment to community service.

SMITH COLLEGE BOOK AWARD – Hannah McMillan

The Smith College Club of Maine wishes to recognize the achievements of students at our school by presenting the Smith Book Award to an outstanding female junior who exemplifies the academic achievement, leadership qualities, and concern for others that characterize the thousands of women who have graduated from Smith College.

Hannah McMillan ’22 with her Brooke Libby celebrates her book award from Smith College

BRANDEIS BOOK AWARD FOR SOCIAL ACTION & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT – Hannah McMillan

Awarded by Brandeis University and given in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and commitment to the community.

PRINCETON ALUMNI ASSOCIATION OF MAINE BOOK AWARD — Peyton Meader

The Princeton Book Award recognizes and celebrates students who demonstrate skill and character, students who demonstrate academic excellence, and students who are engaged members of their school and/or the wider community. Award winners are also those who have demonstrated kindness in their personal and academic lives and who, in these unprecedented times, have taken on the challenges presented this past year and excelled.

CAROLYN S. WOLLEN AWARD — Lily Hall

An award created by Headmaster Emeritus and Mrs. William P. Clough III in honor of Trustee Emerita Carolyn S. Wollen.  Carolyn served on the Board of Trustees at Gould Academy from May 1985 to May 2007.  This award honors a Gould Academy sophomore girl who reveals leadership potential through personal example and engages fully in school life. Carolyn Wollen personified these qualities as a Gould Academy Trustee.

EDMOND J. VACHON AWARD – Hannah McMillan

An award created by Gould Academy in honor of Headmaster Emeritus Edmond J. Vachon.  Mr. Vachon joined the Gould faculty in September 1940, became Senior Master in 1941, Associate Headmaster in 1954, and Headmaster in 1959.  He also served on the Gould Board of Trustees from 1961 until his retirement as Headmaster in June of 1967.  The award is given to that member of the Junior Class who exemplifies outstanding contribution to the school and achievement in the community.

Academic Department Awards

English 

• freshman – Emma Lenoel Quang
• sophomore – Silas Summers
• junior – Peyton Meader

History

• freshman – Allison Nevens
• sophomore – Reid Johnson
• junior – Gar “Jacky” Tse & Peyton Hadfield

Mathematics

• freshman – Joseph Herlihy 
• sophomore – Yeon-woo “Daniel” Shin 
• junior – Caroline Siekman 

Science

• freshmen – Hannah Grohman
• sophomore – Yujie “Jacky” Yang
• junior – Zhihuang “Walter” Cheng
• Innovator’s Award (underclass) – Evanthia Stasinos
• Computer Science Underclass Christopher Pyle

Music

• Vocal-junior – Caroline Siekman
• Instrumental-junior – Bochao ‘Robert’ Xu

Theatre

• junior – Kyra Shankar

Art

• freshman – Jacqui Ordway
• sophomore – Catherine Caggiano
• junior – Casper Daigle

World Languages

• French – underclass – Emma Lenoel Quang
• Spanish – junior – Zachary Schmolka
• Mandarin – junior –  Gar “Jacky” Tse

FRENCH NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTEES:

• Finn Dolan
• Aurelio ‘Leo’ Flores
• Noah Goldman
• Reid Johnston
• Eric Lee
• Emma Lenoel Quang
• Dante Maravell
• Samuel Sherwood
• Ronald Tomen
  

SPANISH NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY INDUCTEES:

• Oliver Barrett
• Madisyn Bean
• Henry Blair
• Ethan Bouchard
• Jenna Burnett
• Liam Fagan
• Hannah Goodbody
• Peyton Hadfield
• Haley Hessinger
• Henry Horschman
• Madeleine Lindquist
• Sofia Machado
• Burke MacLeay
• Keara Medeiros
• Caleb Mitchell
• Molly Naples
• Nolan Raymond
• Caroline Siekman
• Hannah Smick
• Brianna Schnorrbusch
• Adeline Smith
• Evanthia Stasinos

Congratulations to all!

The post Underclass Awards 2021 appeared first on Gould Academy.

Tyler joins Mikey Lacroix, class of 2016, on the US Snowboardcross Team.

Preparing for an Olympic Bid

Gould Academy Junior Tyler Hamel, Class of 2022, is one of the latest additions to the US Snowboard Team. Announced earlier today in Park City, Utah, Hamel will join the US Snowboard Development Group for Snowboardcross (SBX) and take the next step in what he hopes will be a bid for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, Italy.

Tyler joins Mikey Lacroix, class of 2016, on the US Snowboardcross Team.

“I couldn’t be happier to be joining the US Snowboard Team. This is something that I’ve dreamed of since my first USASA competition when I was 7. I would never have expected it to happen so soon at just 16, but this is just the beginning and I can’t wait to see where this opportunity takes me and my career,” says Hamel.

Hamel, along with his younger brother Mason, Class of ’24, joined the Gould Academy Competition Program at Sunday River in 2013 and earned his first USASA National Championship in 2014 in Slalom at the age of nine. In 2018 Hamel won the USASA National Championship in BX. Tyler missed the 2019 USASA National Championships with a broken leg. In fact, Tyler is no stranger to injury having sustained a broken bone in each season until 2019-20, his rookie season as a FIS racer. In that season, Hamel ended up as the 5th highest ranked FIS JR (age 15-20) in the USA and qualified for the FIS Junior World Championships in St. Lary, France. That event was canceled due to the pandemic.

“Tyler has persevered through seemingly endless injuries and a global pandemic to earn this US team nomination. We’re so proud of him and excited for him to wear the USA shield!”

—KC GANDEE, HEAD SNOWBOARD COACH

Hole Shot Tour

Hamel completed a Covid-challenged 2021 campaign of regional USASA races with three Hole Shot Tour FIS events at Copper, CO. Hamel raced the best in the USA placing 3rd in a talented field in the first two events. On the final day of racing, the US National Championship, Hamel qualified 1st in time trials and did not look back, winning every heat of head-to-head racing and claiming the top step of the podium and the FIS US National Championship.

“Tyler has persevered through seemingly endless injuries and a global pandemic to earn this US team nomination. He has trusted his coaches, worked tirelessly at all aspects of his snowboarding and fitness, and constantly challenged himself to do better. We’re so proud of him and excited for him to wear the USA shield,” commented Gould Snowboard Program Director KC Gandee.

Up next for Hamel:

Summer training camps with the US Snowboard Team in  Mt Hood, OR before the upcoming North American Cup season as he continues to develop as an elite athlete.

“There is something special happening at Gould Academy. If you’re looking to race SX or SBX, then you NEED to check them out.”

JAYSON PARE P’23

Connect with Gould today!

The post Hamel Named to US Snowboard SBX Development Team appeared first on Gould Academy.

Girls Lacrosse coach Anna Yamada and her assistant coach, her father, Kaz.

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Daughter-Father Coaching Duo

Snowboard coach Anna Yamada stayed on this spring to coach the girls’ lacrosse team. 

In addition to her expertise on the slopes, Yamada has also played lacrosse since she was in 6th grade, played varsity all four years in high school and was a team captain her sophomore through senior years. She was on the Rhode Island national lacrosse team four years in a row and an Under-Armor All American Select for her junior and senior years.

Getting lots of shots on goal during practice

Saturday’s birthday boy, Kaz Yamada

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Wizard with the Stick & Crispy with the Rock?

Discover What You Can Do at Gould

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As the country watched, breathlessly waiting for the jury’s decision on whether or not George Floyd was “murdered” by a police officer, it felt as though the immediate future of our country hung in the balance. A mountain of historical evidence exists to prove that our system of justice and accountability does not work when it comes to abuse of power and police brutality. Our brothers and sisters of color can attest to centuries of this abuse, brought to national consciousness and attention by stories such as the 1964 murders of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner, and here again with George Floyd. And, yet for these few examples of justice served, there are countless others that bear witness, but are unresolved: Daunte Wright, Rayshard Brooks, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, Atatiana Jefferson, Stephon Clarke, Botham Jean, Philando Castile, Alton Sterling, Freddie Gray, Eric Garner, Akai Gurley, Tamir Rice, Michael Brown, Tanisha Anderson, Travon Martin – the list goes on.

Because of the courage and presence of thought by a teenager with a cell phone, the trial of Derek Chauvin in the killing of George Floyd presented an opportunity to prove history wrong.

When the guilty verdict was read, we felt the country breathe again in collective relief; yet, there is no joy or justice in this moment. This verdict was about accountability, not justice. There is simply the recognition that, while we have gained a foothold in this mountainous climb toward justice, much work remains. 

As individuals, as a community, as an institution, we must respond to this moment by continuing to demand accountability from our government and our police. We must continue to reflect on what we stand for in order to climb toward the mountaintop of justice. We must examine the very narrative we create about our own journey. We must identify the causes of inequity that we perpetuate until the systemic barriers to equity that persist in all of our institutions are removed.

It is important to acknowledge that despite this verdict, even having to process this tragedy has been traumatic, especially for people of color. The fact remains that George Floyd should still be alive; he should be able to watch his daughter grow up. As we hold space for his family, his loved ones, we also hold space for our students and community members who are grieving while feeling some semblance of relief.

• We would like to offer space to process.
• We urge you to find a trusted adult, friend, or health professional for support.
• We welcome open, honest, dialogue, specifically from our students, to process emotions and to use their voices to create lasting change. 

As Dr. King once said, “Let us not rest until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Peace,

Tao Smith

Learn more about DEI initiatives at Gould

The post Moving Beyond Accountability appeared first on Gould Academy.

Students gather at the steps of Hanscom Hall for a climate justice walkout on Earth Day

Calls for Climate Justice

Hannah McMillan ’22 implores her classmates to take action in the climate crisis

On the steps of Hanscom Hall, on a cold, blustery day with a dusting of April snow on the ground, Eliza Skillings ’21, Ella Raymond ’21, Hannah McMillan ’22, and Natsuka Kusumoto ’23 made an appeal to the Gould community to address the climate crisis. Here are Hannah’s remarks:

We are all children, and I find it unforgivable that this crisis is being ignored to the extent where we are having to fight for our own future. I am sick of the greed, the apathy, and the hypocrisy that we are faced with, in our own society. In the past, there have been a few environmental movements like this one, however, they all failed to create the lasting systemic change we needed. They were all focused on the environmental aspect of the movement and not the huge social justice part. Climate magnifies and worsens current problems present in our society, making it a more complex issue of inequality and climate violence. The “Global South”—a term used to describe developing and third-world countries—are the first to feel the impacts of climate change, and yet they didn’t do much to create it. After the Paris Climate Accord discussions, it was released in an Oxfam report that the richest 10 percent of people produce over 50 percent of all emissions, while the poorest produce less than 10 percent.

Eliza Skillings ’21 & Nolan Raymond ’23 join the rallying cries for climate justice

“I’m standing here today with a fire in my soul to maintain the momentum and integrity of this movement. Social and climate justice are the defining battles of our generation—with a little Covid on top. This time around, I hope we will achieve tangible, systemic change, altering our collective futures for the better.”

 —Hannah McMillan ’22

Putting the habitability of the planet at risk is short-sighted and irresponsible. Our planet is dying at the hands of the elite while the humans who already have so little to begin with are having everything taken from them.

Science teacher Kristen Drew supporting strong student voices

I’m standing here today with a fire in my soul to maintain the momentum and integrity of this movement. Social and climate justice are the defining battles of our generation—with a little Covid on top. This time around, I hope we will achieve tangible, systemic change, altering our collective futures for the better.

Sir David Attenborough once said, “We need to rediscover how to be sustainable and move from being apart from nature to becoming a part OF nature once again.”

But as of right now, we are failing our descendants. The world is heading for a 3.2-degree Celsius global temperature rise, which will bring more mass extinctions and large parts of the planet will be uninhabitable. Poor air quality, hunger, drought, floods, displacement, and public health crises like the one we’re living through right now, have seriously affected all of humanity, though it is especially bad in the Global South.

There have already been hundreds of thousands of deaths as a result of climate change. WE are failing, and I might even go further to say that we have already failed. What do you think our descendants will think of us? We are essentially going to hand them an uninhabitable planet. It’s not fair. Our leaders are standing by while we are all well aware of what is coming down the line. I am here today, trying to be a good ancestor to future generations and calling for immediate actions on the social issues that prevail in our society and play a significant role in the fight for climate justice. I am determined to be on the right side of history.

Ready to make a difference?

Find Out What You Can Do at Gould!

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