Graduate Highlights
Guiding students to live
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Lives of Purpose
Gould’s mission is to guide students to become flexible, creative thinkers with the courage and capacity to positively impact the world.
These characteristics and Gould’s core values of kindness and curiosity are prominently instilled in our graduates. We're fortunate to share some of their stories here.
List of 20 news stories.
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Announcing Gould Academy’s Class of 2025 Valedictorian & Salutatorian!
Please join us in celebrating two remarkable scholars whose hard work, curiosity, and love of learning have earned them top honors.👏 Valedictorian: Nahom Abatenah
👏 Salutatorian: Lucas BarstowBen Kamilewicz, Dean of Academics, shared:
"These achievements are not won in the moment, but represent a steadfast commitment day after day, year after year to the pursuit of knowledge and academic excellence. And to do this, these two have had to be grounded in and motivated by the joy of learning and all the wonder it brings."From early mornings in class to late nights filled with ideas and determination, Nahom and Lucas have shown what’s possible when learning is fueled by joy. Here’s to big dreams, bold steps, and bright futures ahead! -
Gould's "Coolest Club," Polar Bears, Dives Head-First into Spring
On April 18th, as the early-morning sun began to rise over the pine trees, a spirited group of students and faculty gathered along the Songo Pond shore in Bethel — dressed in swimsuits, board shorts & water shoes — to revive one of Gould's most beloved spring traditions: the Polar Bears Club.Led by Gould's energetic and passionate Director of Experiential Learning, Chris Hayward, a group of 54 students and faculty laughed as they marched into the frigid 38°F lake water and dunked their heads, meeting the requirement of the experience, and then returned to campus in time to get dressed and head to all-school assembly.The first of several polar plunges, Gould's "Coolest Club" will visit new lakes, rivers, and streams twice each week until the end of the year, with only those who complete the entire journey earning the coveted "Ice Cube" accolade at the end-of-year awards ceremony.It’s cold. It’s early. And it’s one of the most unforgettable ways the Gould community comes together each spring, forming a special bond both our students, faculty — and their families — will cherish forever. Check out the video on Instagram -
Becoming Net-Positive : Climate Action Visionary & Gould Alumni, Phil Coupe ’86 Headlines Earth Day Celebration
Gould Academy students & faculty kicked off this year’s Earth Day celebration with an inspiring visit from Gould Alumni, climate action leader and co-founder of Revision Energy, Phil Coupe ’86. A nationally recognized advocate for renewable energy and climate resilience, Phil addressed students and faculty in Bingham Hall Auditorium with a message that was both inspiring and empowering. He spoke about his life’s work transforming fossil fuel–based economies and societies into solar-powered, sustainable communities — and the responsibility that today’s young people have to shape an equitable future for all.Read More -
A Senior Four Point Story: Skateboarding Will Take You Places
Read MoreOlivia Stracuzzi ’25 has been skateboarding since she was seven. She knew about Olympic skateboarder Amelia Brodka and all about Exposure Skate, the world’s largest women’s skate competition, but didn’t know the connection between the two and Gould. When she set out to plan her Senior Four Point project, she discovered how powerful the Gould network can be.
A 2008 graduate of Gould, Amelia started the Exposure skate event and her non-profit of the same name in 2012, aimed at empowering female, trans, and nonbinary skateboarders and introducing others to the sport. The event has grown exponentially over the last decade, attracting support from skate legends like Tony Hawk and Steve Caballero while raising funds and awareness for survivors of domestic violence. -
National Geographic Storyteller Ronan Donovan ’01 Visits Gould
Read MoreGould’s corner of the natural world connects you to the wider world.Gould welcomed guest speaker National Geographic Storytelling Fellow Ronan Donovan ’01 to Bingham Auditorium. Ronan shared his story of growing up in Norwich, Vermont, his time at Gould, his journey to becoming a National Geographic photographer and filmmaker, and how he became a champion for the reintroduction of wolves in North America, with a backdrop of his stunning and expressive photography and film work. -
Phil Coupe ’86 Envisions a Brighter Future
Phil Coupe and his colleagues at ReVision Energy are on a mission to save the planet. It’s a lofty goal that he finds somewhat intimidating, but spend some time with Phil, and you get the sense that he is the right person for the job.Read More -
Gould Academy Student Votes for the First Time
On November 5th, Fiona, a senior at Gould Academy, experienced the excitement of casting her first vote in Bethel. Originally from Virginia, Fiona planned ahead, making careful arrangements to ensure she could register and vote in Maine, where she’s been attending school since ninth grade. Voting here, she explained, was a way to connect more deeply with her Maine community and have a say in decisions that affect her everyday life.Read More -
An Outside Chance - Lauren Jacobs ’03, PhD
In the spring of the year Lauren Jacobs taught physical education at the K-8 Cave Hill School in rural Eastbrook, Maine; she took her eighth-grade students canoeing on nearby Scammon Pond. The loons and ducks had returned and shared a bright and sunny day with the students. The goal was simply to get the kids out on the water. They learned a few basic skills and paddling techniques, but the exercise was designed to gain comfort and build experience while having fun and making memories. But Lauren was surprised by the kids’ reaction to the activity.Read More -
Exciting Strategic Plan for Gould Academy's Future
As we approach the start of the new school year, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news about the future of Gould Academy. At the end of June 2024, our Board of Trustees approved a new and innovative Strategic Plan. This plan represents two years of thorough investigation, brainstorming, feedback, and design. It also builds upon our recently updated Mission, Vision, and Values, setting the stage for Gould to lead confidently into the next decade.You can find a link to the new Strategic Plan and Portrait of a Graduate here.This Strategic Plan is designed primarily as a roadmap, with clearly defined initiatives that will be supported by dedicated working groups and task forces. It acknowledges the ever-accelerating pace of change in today’s world and builds on Gould’s inherent strengths while fostering the curiosity and creativity necessary to adapt and incorporate new learning modalities. Our mission statement encapsulates our educational goals: “Gould Academy guides students to be creative, courageous, and resilient and to lead lives of fulfillment and purpose.”In tandem with our recently completed Portrait of a Graduate, this plan will provide valuable resources and inspiration for our faculty and staff. We’ll be using both documents at the Opening of School meetings and throughout the year to guide our professional development and curricular design.We are excited about the future and look forward to implementing these initiatives to continue preparing our students for the modern world. -
Environmental Science Class Unveils New Potting Bench
Read MoreThe Environmental Science Spring '24 class, guided by Jeremy Nellis P’25 and Sarah Kamilewicz, constructed a potting bench, which is now available for all gardening enthusiasts in the community. This initiative encourages seasoned gardeners and novices to engage in gardening activities on campus. -
Celebrating the Gould Class of 2024
The Class of 2024 is nearing the end of their time at Gould, and we’re excited to highlight their outcomes. Fifty-four students submitted 470 applications to 223 colleges. Next year, they will be scattered across 19 states and five countries. Seven students were accepted to their early decision schools, six are committed collegiate athletes, and four received full-ride scholarships. Among them are a National Merit Scholar, a member of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team, four jacketed ski patrollers, and one certified EMT. These achievements reflect the hard work and diverse talents of the group.Read More -
Senior Four Point Documentary Sets its Sights on Ski Patrol
Read MoreEvery year, Gould twelfth graders complete a Senior Four Point project that culminates their learning at Gould. Students find creative ways to express themselves, travel the world, and complete service projects as part of this work. Discovering that they are capable of great things is at the heart of every step of the Four Point Program, and this special capstone project is no exception. Learning to collaborate with others, overcome obstacles, and see a project through to completion are all part of the assignment. -
Ten Years of War in Ukraine
Friday at all-school assembly, Polly ’24 and Artur ’24 gave a grim and powerful presentation on the ten years of war in Ukraine, their home country.Read More -
Tuesday Night Rail Jam - Shred for Sleds
This past Tuesday night, the Gould community gathered on the upper field after a formal dinner to witness the spectacle and glory of a rail jam. Over thirty freeskiers, snowboarders (and even a couple of Nordic and alpine athletes) participated in the contest, with all entry fees benefitting the local Mahoosuc Kids Association in the form of the highly coveted Zipfy Sleds.Read More -
Artur Savchii ’24—Math Olympian Hopes to One Day Help Rebuild Ukraine
Artur Savchii ’24 has done something unprecedented at Gould. He qualified for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME) based on his score on the American Mathematics Contest 12 (AMC 12). In this next phase of testing, Artur can qualify for The United States of America Mathematical Olympiad, which precedes the International Mathematics Olympiad. To put this in perspective, currently, Artur is one of the top 3,000 math students in the country, and that's just the beginning of his accomplishments.Read More -
Nathan Pare ’23 is at the highest level of Snowboard Cross (SBX), competing in the World Cup SBX Tour
Nathan Pare ’23 is at the highest level of Snowboard Cross (SBX), competing in the World Cup SBX Tour this season as a member of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team.You can support him on his quest to reach the Winter Olympics at his fundraiser on Saturday, January 6 at The Bethel Resort & Suites. Check out this link for more details. Let's go, Nate! -
Gould Alum Peyton Meader ’22 on MIT All-Indigenous Rocket Launch Team
Peyton Meader ’22 is a member of Massachusetts Institute of Technology's (MIT) first all-Indigenous Rocket Team in Cambridge, MA, where she is a second-year chemical engineering student. The team, Doya, recently placed second in the First Nations Launch international student competition with a blast that reached a height of 1,290 meters.Read More -
Breaking the Stigma: Catie Caggiano’s Four Point Project on Addiction Treatment
Catie Caggiano knew she wanted her senior four point project to center on the healthcare industry but didn’t know which field or where to start. She didn’t know any doctors or health care providers but knew she wanted to focus on patient care and giving back.Read More -
Chris Pyle '23 Takes Second Place in Bill Taylor Essay Contest, Advocates for Internet Equality
The Camden Conference has announced this year's Bill Taylor Essay Contest Winners. Representing Gould, Chris Pyle '23 earned second place for his essay, “Assessing Internet Inequality in the US.”Read More -
Connecting Through Environmental Science: A Senior Four Point Story
During his tenth-grade year, Eli Shifrin ’23 was fly fishing in the Webb River in Weld, Maine, and witnessed a lot of pollution. It got him thinking about native brook trout and how this pollution might affect their habitat and water quality. He was taking Research Methods in Science with Peter Southam then and made water quality the focus of his research. He discovered how the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW) monitors rivers, and he learned about Edmund Muskie, the Clean Water Act of 1972, and the restoration of the Androscoggin River during his research. This planted the seed for his Senior Four Point project, three years in the making.Read More
Independent High School for Boys and Girls | Grades 9-12, Postgraduate and Winter Term for Grades 7-8 | Boarding School in the Mountains of Maine
Gould Academy guides students to be creative, courageous and resilient and to lead lives of fulfillment and purpose.
Gould Academy guides students to be creative, courageous and resilient and to lead lives of fulfillment and purpose.
