Cullman Scholars Prepare for Summer Experiences
Kimball Union Academy selected nine students to receive a Cullman Scholarship for the upcoming 2026-2027 academic year.
Considered among KUA’s highest honors, the Cullman Scholarship Program was established in 1983 with a gift from Hugh Cullman ’42 and supports students in off-campus study opportunities. The Cullman Scholarship Selection Committee selected nine students to pursue opportunities that develop leadership skills, global and environmental awareness, and service to others.
“Reviewing this year’s submissions was an inspiring testament to our students’ dedication,” said Assistant Head of School Angela Yang-Handy P’27, a member of the committee. “While every applicant demonstrated remarkable effort, the selected recipients distinguished themselves through the exceptional depth of their proposals, a clear-eyed commitment to their personal goals, and a compelling vision for how their experiences will enrich the KUA community long after they return.”
Students who are in their sophomore or junior years and in good academic and disciplinary standing are eligible to apply. Once accepted, scholarship recipients embark on their Cullman experience over summer break and report back to the campus community during All-School Meetings the following fall.
The 2026-2027 Cullman Scholarship recipients include:
Aerin ’27 — Invisible Sustainability: Architecture with Equity
Aerin will blend her interests in architecture, ecological ethics, and social justice in a multi-part Cullman experience. Aerin will attend the embARC Design Academy at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design to develop a foundation in architecture and sustainable urban design. She will then travel to Seoul, Korea to work with the Gild-dong Community Welfare Center, which provides financial aid, free meals and health care to low-income citizens. Finally, Aerin will work with a non-profit organization in South Korea that focuses on improving housing conditions for those living in undesirable settings.
Aerin will blend her interests in architecture, ecological ethics, and social justice in a multi-part Cullman experience. Aerin will attend the embARC Design Academy at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design to develop a foundation in architecture and sustainable urban design. She will then travel to Seoul, Korea to work with the Gild-dong Community Welfare Center, which provides financial aid, free meals and health care to low-income citizens. Finally, Aerin will work with a non-profit organization in South Korea that focuses on improving housing conditions for those living in undesirable settings.
“I hope to show my fellow KUA students what it means to step out of your comfort zone, transforming theory into action, and traverse the ups and downs of a truly personal real-world project,” Aerin said.
Flynn ’27 — Human Disturbance and Biodiversity: An Independent Research Study of Butterflies and Moths
Flynn will engage in an independent research study that will combine his interests in butterflies, moths, and the influence of humans on biodiversity, conservation, and scientific research. He will work in Shenzhen, China on a mentor-guided project facilitated by Pioneer Academy. Through his role as a KUA eco-representative, Flynn intends to find practical applications of lessons learned during his Cullman experience to implement on The Hilltop.
Flynn will engage in an independent research study that will combine his interests in butterflies, moths, and the influence of humans on biodiversity, conservation, and scientific research. He will work in Shenzhen, China on a mentor-guided project facilitated by Pioneer Academy. Through his role as a KUA eco-representative, Flynn intends to find practical applications of lessons learned during his Cullman experience to implement on The Hilltop.
“The motivation and belief I hold for this research is that human disturbance is a manageable problem with data-directed sustainability, and I hope to make a meaningful connection of situating local biodiversity within global ecological stressors,” Flynn said.
George ’27 — Conservation Studies at Dartmouth College and UC Santa Barbra
George will explore his interests in ecology, sustainability, and scientific research as a participant in the Research Mentorship Program at UC Santa Barbara. As part of the program, George will be paired with a faculty mentor and engage in college-level research and hands-on lab experimentation. In addition, he will intern at the Tumber-Dávila Lab at Dartmouth College to assist with studies on forest root systems, the impact of climate and forest fragmentation, and climate change.
George will explore his interests in ecology, sustainability, and scientific research as a participant in the Research Mentorship Program at UC Santa Barbara. As part of the program, George will be paired with a faculty mentor and engage in college-level research and hands-on lab experimentation. In addition, he will intern at the Tumber-Dávila Lab at Dartmouth College to assist with studies on forest root systems, the impact of climate and forest fragmentation, and climate change.
“It’s become quite clear to me that climate change cannot be solved with just half-hearted activism or hopeful policymaking,” George said. “I want to study the mechanisms behind ecological systems to address clime change’s systemic causes.”
Iris ’27 — Artistically Riding Towards a Sustainable Future
Iris will blend her interests in motorcycles, art, sustainability, and community service. First, Iris will attend the Maine College of Art and Design where she will take classes to further develop her artistic skills in a variety of visual art forms. The, she will research the sustainability-focused Creative Reuse Movement and travel by motorcycle to visit creative reuse organizations in Maine, Rhode Island, New York, and Vermont. Iris will culminate her experience by constructing a donation box to collect surplus art and craft supplies which she will donate to rePlay Arts, a creative reuse store in the Upper Valley.
Iris will blend her interests in motorcycles, art, sustainability, and community service. First, Iris will attend the Maine College of Art and Design where she will take classes to further develop her artistic skills in a variety of visual art forms. The, she will research the sustainability-focused Creative Reuse Movement and travel by motorcycle to visit creative reuse organizations in Maine, Rhode Island, New York, and Vermont. Iris will culminate her experience by constructing a donation box to collect surplus art and craft supplies which she will donate to rePlay Arts, a creative reuse store in the Upper Valley.
“My project bridges the complex issues of the global waste problem, sustainability, the arts, and community service and involvement,” Iris said. “I hope my project will raise awareness in our community around these issues.”
Katie ’27 — Representation of Neurodiversity in Children's Literature
Katie will combine her love of writing and literature, her passion for teaching children, and her advocacy for neurodiversity and special education in an impassioned Cullman experience. First, Katie will travel to Memphis, Tenn., to enroll in a summer academy course at Rhodes College called, “Crafting Stories: Writing Fiction and Nonfiction Narratives.” She will then attend the Publishing and Editing Institute at Susquehanna University to learn the basics of editing, publishing, and marketing books. Katie hopes to publish a book using the skills gained during her experience, while continuing her advocacy surrounding neurodivergence at KUA.
Katie will combine her love of writing and literature, her passion for teaching children, and her advocacy for neurodiversity and special education in an impassioned Cullman experience. First, Katie will travel to Memphis, Tenn., to enroll in a summer academy course at Rhodes College called, “Crafting Stories: Writing Fiction and Nonfiction Narratives.” She will then attend the Publishing and Editing Institute at Susquehanna University to learn the basics of editing, publishing, and marketing books. Katie hopes to publish a book using the skills gained during her experience, while continuing her advocacy surrounding neurodivergence at KUA.
“Beyond KUA, I hope to become an early childhood special education teacher, so this program will jumpstart my career and give me more knowledge on the complex minds of children,” Karie said.
Kristin ’27 — Introduction to Med-School
Kristin will explore her interest in the medical field as a potential future career path by attending a pre-college medical-school program at Tufts University. Kristin will attend lectures given by experts in medicine and participate in hands-on laboratory work with likeminded peers from around the world. Later, Kristin will serve as an intern at a pediatrician’s office local to her Massachusetts home where she plans to comfort nervous children during appointments. Through this experience, Kristin hopes to learn how to successfully engage with younger generations in a medical setting.
Kristin will explore her interest in the medical field as a potential future career path by attending a pre-college medical-school program at Tufts University. Kristin will attend lectures given by experts in medicine and participate in hands-on laboratory work with likeminded peers from around the world. Later, Kristin will serve as an intern at a pediatrician’s office local to her Massachusetts home where she plans to comfort nervous children during appointments. Through this experience, Kristin hopes to learn how to successfully engage with younger generations in a medical setting.
“The feeling I get after putting a smile on someone else’s face is so encouraging and something I want to be able to do for the rest of my life,” Kristin said. “This experience will prepare me well for future academics and my desired profession.”
Wes ’27 — Equation Games, Coding, and Game Jam
Wes will combine his interests in math, computer science, data visualization, and gaming, with a unique experience focused on designing educational games. Wes will spend his summer in Shanghai, China, where he will learn the fundamentals of game design and participate in a Game Jam, a competition where participants build video games from scratch in a limited amount of time. Wes hopes to inspire future KUA students to develop educational learning tools and games to make learning even more enjoyable.
Wes will combine his interests in math, computer science, data visualization, and gaming, with a unique experience focused on designing educational games. Wes will spend his summer in Shanghai, China, where he will learn the fundamentals of game design and participate in a Game Jam, a competition where participants build video games from scratch in a limited amount of time. Wes hopes to inspire future KUA students to develop educational learning tools and games to make learning even more enjoyable.
“If more people begin to recognize the support that educational games can provide, it would prompt the creation of even more practical, meaningful games,” Wes said.
West ’28 — Korean Cultural Education
West will travel to Seoul, South Korea, to participate in a meaningful program that connects them to their Korean heritage and identity through history, art, culture, and language classes. West will spend four weeks living with a host family, experiencing the culture first-hand. West hopes this experience will heighten their understanding of how cultural traditions impact lives, and allow them to serve as a cultural bridge, not only among family members, but also locally, and beyond.
West will travel to Seoul, South Korea, to participate in a meaningful program that connects them to their Korean heritage and identity through history, art, culture, and language classes. West will spend four weeks living with a host family, experiencing the culture first-hand. West hopes this experience will heighten their understanding of how cultural traditions impact lives, and allow them to serve as a cultural bridge, not only among family members, but also locally, and beyond.
“I believe than in order for me to be a good citizen of the world, I need to understand how different disciplines interact in order for a culture to thrive,” West said. “Then, I need to understand how cultures interact with each other in order for the world to thrive.”
Wonjun ’27 — Asian-American Journalism
Wonjun intends to explore “advocacy journalism” as a means of combining his love of storytelling, politics, ethics, technology, and data. Wonjun will begin his experience by attending the Asian American Journalists Association’s JCamp program in Minnesota, before traveling to South Korea to take part in a research internship with Gallup Korea, a renowned analytics and consulting firm known for its public-opinion polling. Through these experiences, Wonjun hopes to enhance his ability to base future work in advocacy journalism on credible data rather than opinion.
“I will apply lessons learned to help create more inclusive spaces where students feel represented and heard,” Wonjun said. “This includes facilitating discussions, supporting student-led initiatives, and encouraging storytelling as a form of leadership.”Wonjun intends to explore “advocacy journalism” as a means of combining his love of storytelling, politics, ethics, technology, and data. Wonjun will begin his experience by attending the Asian American Journalists Association’s JCamp program in Minnesota, before traveling to South Korea to take part in a research internship with Gallup Korea, a renowned analytics and consulting firm known for its public-opinion polling. Through these experiences, Wonjun hopes to enhance his ability to base future work in advocacy journalism on credible data rather than opinion.
