At KUA, It Takes a Village

Festivities began on the quad as the entire community placed their hands on ceremonial orange and black ribbons — a tradition which began during the Academy’s bicentennial year in 2013. Following the gesture, which symbolizes the deep ties among the campus community, participants processed into Flickinger Auditorium for the official opening of the school year.

This year, the community was asked to focus on togetherness and belonging, and create an environment where individuals support one another through both good and challenging times. Per KUA tradition, students were addressed by the winner of the Thomas M. Mikula Faculty Appreciation Award, which recognizes recipients’ exceptional service on behalf of students. The award was bestowed upon Dean of Students and Spanish Teacher Eric Russman P’20, ’24 at the conclusion of the previous academic year.

“As we start this new academic year, let’s be aware of one another,” Russman challenged students. “Not just those close to us, but all individuals in our community. Let’s take care of one another. Let’s know and be prepared to support those closest to us, and quite possibility, even those not in our immediate circle of friends. Let’s be bold and use our voice to call out or call in each other. And most importantly, let’s show up for one another — in the most minimal of moments and the most urgent and critical of times.”

Russman, in his 22^nd year on The Hilltop, shared a story from his earliest days on campus that emphasized the trust he immediately came to find in his new home. After saying goodbye to his then three-year-old daughter Kyra ’20 one fall morning, Russman began his trek across campus to the gym. Toward the end of his commute, however, he was shocked to hear the calls of a former faculty member who had intercepted Kyra as she was about to cross Main Street in her attempt to chase down her dad.

The faculty member, Cynthia Howe H’20, P’06, ’14 for whom the new Howe-Dewdney residence hall is named, quickly reunited Kyra with her dad, instilling a faith of community in Russman that hasn’t wavered in the years since.

“To this day, I continue to trust and know that there are so many people at KUA who will be there for me and my family, who will make us feel safe, seen, understood, and engaged,” Russman explained. “I hope everyone feels a similar assurance and I hope everyone, too, will accept that responsibility. I often hear that at KUA, it takes a village. It sure does. I can’t think of a better village to have spent all these years, and I am very much looking forward to another fresh start with so many familiar and new faces.”

Head of School Tyler Lewis P’28 implored students to reflect on the journeys that brought them to KUA and to visualize the academic year that lies ahead.