Ethics Day Offers a Glimpse of What’s to Come

2/23/2026

In less than 100 days, Kimball Union Academy’s graduating Class of 2026 will leave the familiar confines of The Hilltop and face the prospects of new, often complex challenges. To support their transition, KUA hosts an annual Ethics Day, that affords students the opportunity to hear directly from alumni and parents about how they navigated an ethical dilemma they faced in their professional lives.

“Ethics Day offers students a glimpse into how to engage thoughtfully with others, wrestle with difficult decisions, and step into adulthood with integrity and confidence,” 12^th Grade Dean Angelica Pascual said of the annual event held as part of the school’s Grade Level Activity Day. “It’s an opportunity for seniors to engage directly with alums and explore the complexity of ethical decision-making beyond the classroom.”

This year’s speakers included working professionals ranging in fields from health care to finance to media, with each proposing real-world conundrums for students to consider. These dilemmas generated spirited debate on topics such as climate change and healthcare autonomy and encouraged productive dialogue among those with differing opinions.

And while the specific professions represented may vary year to year, Pascual said the intentionality lies in creating conversations that feel real and relevant.

“The goal is for students to understand that many of the decisions they will face in life are not clearly black-and-white,” Pascual explained. “Instead, they require discernment, courage, and a willingness to sit in the gray. Through hearing real stories of professional and personal dilemmas, seniors begin to recognize both the responsibility and the privilege that come with making principled choices.”

For Sarah ’26, who plans to pursue a career in nursing, the day was an opportunity to learn about ethical dilemmas often faced by health care professionals and contemplate how she’d handle similar situations.

“It forced me to think deeper and more thoughtfully than I normally do on a day-to-day basis and empathize with the imaginary patients while simultaneously keeping a professional tone to my ideas,” Sarah said. “For me, the value of ethics day and my takeaway was learning to make difficult decisions in difficult situations and how to adapt myself to those specific instances.”

Perhaps equally as important as the chance to thoughtfully discuss challenging ethical scenarios was the opportunity for graduating seniors to network with individuals with a shared KUA connection.

“Ethics Day creates meaningful space for seniors to connect and network with alums in an authentic way — asking questions, building relationships, and seeing tangible examples of life after KUA,” Pascual said.

This year’s presenters included:

Chet Clem ’00
Publisher, The UV Observer

Jessica Clem ’02
Pediatrician Neonatologist, Dartmouth Health

Shawn Dixon ’92, P’23, ’26
Owner/Creative Director, Clover Creative Group

Alyse Fife ’18
Clinical Research Coordinator, Massachusetts General Hospital

Nicole Gilbert ’02
Head of Exhibitions, Hood Museum of Art – Dartmouth College

Elli Goudzwaard ’00
Associate Director of Faculty Programs & Services, Dartmouth College

Miles Hancock ’11
Senior Associate, Timoneer Strategic Partners

Esme Juros ’17
Senior Designer, Context Architecture

Nicole Ledoux P’26
Chief Program Officer, Granite State Children’s Alliance

Michael McCarthy P’27, ’29
Principal, NewEdge Wealth

Kemper Pierce ’04
Partner, Altman Solon

Alison Schubert ’02
Farmstand Manager, Edgewater Farm
Residential Real Estate Agent, Cooper & Cooper Real Estate

Bill Southwick ’85
Educational Counselor, McMillan Education

David Warlick ’71
Owner and Independent Agent, DB Warlick Insurance

Tom Zappala ’83
Television Programming Executive

Back