Our Scholars

Aiden B

• Attending Portsmouth Abbey School (Portsmouth, Rhode Island) in Fall 2025

• Active duty Army family currently stationed in Alabama

• Recently moved from New York to Alabama; has changed schools eight times

• Loves football, lacrosse, History, and volunteering with his Dad’s battalion

• “I am interested in attending boarding school because …I want to experience what it’s like to truly belong. I want to form lasting friendships with classmates I see every day, not just for a short time. I want to be part of a team where we really get to know each other and work together toward shared goals. I want teachers who know me, who challenge me to think critically, and who push me to reach my full potential. Most of all, I want to build relationships within a school community that I can carry with me for the rest of my life—something I haven’t had the chance to do because of the frequent moves that come with military life.”

Kyleigh C

• Attending Tilton School (Tilton, New Hampshire) in Fall 2025

• Coast Guard family currently stationed in Hawaii; active duty mom currently deploying on USCG Cutter Midgett in the Pacific Area

• Has changed schools six times

• Interests include Science, Healthcare, Analytical Writing, Community Service, Softball and Volleyball

• “The military has exposed me to a lot of different places and a lot of different people, and I do think that’s a positive thing … I am thankful that I’ve been given the opportunities to see the country and not just one place. There are some downsides like moving, but I can adapt to the change and learn to appreciate the journey that got me there and what is to come from it.”

Charlotte D

• Attending Cate School (Carpenteria, California) in Fall 2025

• Active duty Army family currently stationed in Georgia

• Changed schools five times

• Activities include Girl Scouts, Musical Theater, Reading, Drawing, and Archery

• “I would say that having lived in so many places has caused me to appreciate the history of America and how much I owe to my country. Living in one of the original thirteen colonies, I can see the results of the settler’s hard work and dedication, and I appreciate what the early settlers put in to make this place truly great. The history of all those who struggled and then fought to make America better causes me to strive to be better because if they could achieve their dreams, why not me?”

Annabel H

• Currently enrolled at Madeira School (McLean, Virginia)

• Active duty Army family currently stationed in Alabama

• Recently moved from US Army Garrison Humphreys, South Korea

• Has moved eight times

• Activities include Musical Theater, Singing, Crochet, Guitar and Piano

• “[My] reason for attending boarding school is that it gives me stability through high school. I have lived in many places and attended several schools. Although my grades have always been good, moving from school to school so often does challenge me in ways that I think are not good for my education, and I seem to always miss out on friendships that non-military children have with their friends and classmates.”

Callen M

• Currently enrolled at Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Virginia)

• Active duty Coast Guard family currently stationed in California

• Has moved ten times

• Interests and activities include Baseball, Guitar, Violin, Bagpipes, Drums, Band, Color Guard, Chapel Staff, President’s Ambassador, Math, Social Studies, Reading

• “I enjoy meeting new people and experiencing new places but adjusting to different teaching styles made school frustrating at times. It felt like my progress was always being interrupted. I stayed positive and worked hard to learn as much as I could. Going to boarding school has helped me focus on academics and extracurricular activities. I am able to stay in one place the entire time. I have made closer friends than I ever have before.”

Abraham M

• Attending St. Andrew’s School (Dover, Delaware) in Fall 2025

• Active duty Air Force family

• Currently stationed at Dover, Delaware after recent move from Germany

• Has attended nine schools

• Played competitive Soccer in the US Olympic Development Program, in Europe; other activities include Drums, Community Service, and traveling

• “Compared to my civilian friends, I am not able to turn to one place or thing and say, ‘That’s where I’m from,’ or ‘This is my team.’ More importantly than not having roots or a home team, I face the challenge of having to re-prove myself with each new school and team tryout. Whether it is in the classroom or on the field, I work extra hard to create strong reputations and connections with every new group of people I meet. Hopefully, these skills will serve me well in boarding school.”

Aideen O

• Attending St. Andrew’s School (Middletown, Delaware) in Fall 2025

• Active duty Navy family; currently stationed in California

• Has endured her Active Duty father being gone during three long-term deployments at sea, and during a two-year tour of duty when he lived over 300 miles away

• Interests include Piano, Volleyball, Clarinet, History of World Wars, Basketball, Youth Ministry, and Community Service with the Marine Corps Relief Society

• “We always value our time together as a family. It’s also funny how the kids in my class are always used to having two parents around, so when I told them my dad was sometimes gone, they were shocked. Since my parents have been through a lot with the military, I am very proud of them.”

Darcy Q

• Attending Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg, Pennsylvania) in Fall 2025

• Active duty Army family currently stationed in Florida

• Has changed schools nine times

• Activities include Trumpet, Math League, Color Guard, Track, Architecture, and Advocacy

• “I want to be somewhere where I can lay a foundation and begin pursuing [my interests] to their furthest extents. Boarding school could be that place for me. To be able to work with the same coaches, teachers, and peers for more than a couple years would give me the opportunity to give something my all. Boarding school would provide me with enough stability to branch out and reach for the stars …”

Chip W

• Currently enrolled at Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia)

• Active duty Navy family currently stationed in Virginia; recently moved from Hawaii

• Has changed schools 7 times

• Interests include Rock Climbing, Cross Country, Track, Double Bass, Conmunity Service, Financial Investment

• “[I]t's fantastic to be in an atmosphere where you know you are surrounded by people who support you. It's wildly comforting to be able to know that I can finish high school in one place, and I am able to make friendships without knowing in the back of my mind they will fall apart when I move… I have learned to take full advantage of the opportunities that I am given, because I will never know when they may be taken away… I have come into Episcopal with this mindset, I am trying to take advantage of as many opportunities as I can … and I am very determined to make the most out of my time here.”

Pete W

• Attending Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia) in Fall 2025

• Active duty Navy family

• Currently stationed in Virginia; moved recently from Hawaii; born in Japan

• Interests include football, basketball, reading, biking, and mountain climbing

• “I have a veritable slew of reasons that I would like to attend boarding school. First and foremost, it would be great to have a stable life and root myself down somewhere for at least four years... I’ll always get to connect with my friends, get help from my teachers, and have a connections with my school that goes beyond just the academics.”

Malaya W

• Attending Episcopal High School (Alexandria, Virginia) in Fall 2025

• Active duty Air Force family

• Currently stationed in Kaiserslautern, Germany

• Has been stationed in Germany, Italy, South Korea, California (twice) and Japan

• Participates in theater, fencing, and Model United Nations

• “As a military child I am naturally more ambitious: having a parent in the military gives you a different perspective on the power of a single person. I watched how my dad has made changes in his environment, and gone above and beyond for his airmen since I was younger. Having parents who are natural role models and making changes inspires you to believe that you can as well.”

Taylor-Grace W

• Attending Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg, Pennsylvania) beginning Fall 2025

• Active duty Army family

• Currently stationed in Weisbaden, Germany

• Has changed schools 11 times

• Participates in Junior Reserve Officer Training (JROTC)

• Competitive swimmer, wrestler, and cross-country runner; set records in European Forces Swim League

• “Growing up in a military family has been a great experience. It often disguises itself as a normal way to live. As I got older it became apparent that there were differences of how I have grown up versus others. I think these differences have helped me shape my opinion of how I conduct myself as a young woman.”

Ella Q

• Attending The Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville, New Jersey) beginning Fall 2024

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Currently stationed at Fort Moore, Georgia

• Has changed schools six times

• Volunteers every Saturday at church, teaching grade school children song and dance

• Participates in art classes and gymnastics

• “Attending a new school is like going on an adventure in a book and finding my way through it. Being an active duty child has made a positive impact on my life as I am able to handle stress in a positive and constructive way and overcome obstacles to continue to an exciting and successful future . . . . I want to attend a boarding school . . . which will give me an opportunity for higher education with the structure and stability of a four year educational home.”

Isla B

• Attending St. Andrew’s School (Middletown, Delaware) beginning Fall 2024

• Active duty U.S. Navy family

• Currently stationed in Stuttgart, Germany

• Has changed schools eight times

• Participates in Red Cross Club, Math Honor Society (Mu Alpha Theta), English Honor Society, Feminist Club, Newspaper Club, cross country, soccer, and lacrosse

• Volunteers as a math tutor

• “Boarding school interests me because it could give me a consistent place to return to even if my family moves again before my graduation. I would like to finish high school with the assurance that my school will remain the same. That kind of stability is something that I have not experienced in a long time.”

Michael K

• Attending Cate School (Carpinteria, California) beginning Fall 2024

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Currently stationed near Crofton, Maryland

• Lived in eight states and changed schools five times

• Participates in Coding Club, Robotics Club, SeaPerch underwater robotics team, basketball, theater, tap and guitar

• Has volunteered at a dog sanctuary, participates in an annual Cystic Fibrosis Foundation walk, will help raise money for Special Olympics by participating in the Polar Bear Plunge, and volunteers in his community’s paper shredding project.

• “As part of a military family, I move frequently . . . I get anxious about whether the school will be a good fit for me, or if I will be able to make new friends. The move to Kansas was very difficult for me . . . I was upset knowing that everything was changing and that I could never return to my old life. When I got to Kansas . . . I focused on the positives [and] I made some great new friends. I think fondly of all the places I have lived in and know that moving has made me stronger.”

McKayla K

• Attending Cate School (Carpinteria, California) beginning Fall 2024

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Currently stationed near Crofton, Maryland

• Lived in eight states and changed schools five times

• Participates in competitive cheer, swimming, Run Club, Girls-In-Stem Day, tap dancing, theater, and SeaPerch underwater robotics team

• Volunteers at a dog sanctuary, Operation Christmas Child, her community’s paper shredding project; and a project to place flags on veterans graves.

• “I am resilient. . . . However, I have become cautious about building deep relationships and getting too close to people because I never know when I will have to move again. For that reason, I look forward to attending boarding school, where I can finally build lasting relationships with my peers without worrying about my family’s next move.”

Maggie D

• Attending Cate School (Carpinteria, California) beginning Fall 2024

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Currently stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas

• Has moved seven times

• Founded the Principal’s Club, where she is on the Recycling and Charity Committees; competes in fencing; coaches the Elementary School Chess Team; and plays guitar

• Volunteers as a Girl Scout, and is a registered and certified babysitter for the US Army Child and Youth Services

• “Throughout my journey . . . I have learned to be resilient and adaptable. I have also discovered the importance of gratitude. On the rollercoaster of life, there have been plenty of highs and lows, but the thrill of the ride always keeps me coming back for more adventures.”

Toby N

• Attends St. Andrew’s School (Middletown, Delaware)

• Active duty U.S. Navy family

• Currently stationed in Annapolis, Maryland

• Participates in football, baseball, orchestra, chamber music, and photography

• “I have been attending boarding school for the past two years and it has completely changed my life. It is completely different because you are always with your friends and teachers, so you get to know them outside of a learning setting. Living with and around friends really strengthen the bonds you build with each other.”

Jamie S

• Attends Tilton School (Tilton, New Hampshire)

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Currently stationed in Smith, Hawaii

• Competes in cross country; represented Tilton School at the American Math Competition; founded the Tilton School Mock Trial Team; participates in community service, theater, and studio arts

• “In two months at Tilton School, I have been supported beyond belief, and am deeply engaged and connected with the vibrant community and coursework presented to me. Living on campus has provided me with a continuous and contiguous education without changing teachers, locations, social circles, opportunities, and much more. I am able to fully dedicate myself to activities on campus with less fear that I will be preemptively uprooted from the connections that I have made.”

Sonia B

• Attending Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg, Pennsylvania) beginning Fall 2024

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Currently stationed in Tampa, Florida

• Has moved twice

• Participates in ice skating and National Junior Honor Society; volunteers at various nonprofits

• Volunteers as a Girl Scout, and is a registered and certified babysitter for the US Army Child and Youth Services

• “One thing about being a military child that has almost always stuck out to me is the fact that my friends have never had to look at the things around them and know that it's all temporary. I do, and I have. I have been scared to make solid connections with the people and environment around me because I know I will have to leave it all before I am ready to. I believe boarding school will provide me with experiences I wouldn't get elsewhere, and that it will give me more opportunities to succeed in the future.”

2022 Cohort

Lorelei P

• Attending Madeira School (McLean, Virginia) beginning Fall 2022

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Currently stationed in West Point, New York

• Has moved to five new locations, changing schools four times

• Competes in cross country, track and basketball

• Interested in History, STEM subjects, community service and flying

• “I admire my father’s service and all the work he has put into it. Even though it has made some things harder for my family, I know he is always working towards a good cause.”

Jael G

• Attending The Lawrenceville School (Princeton, New Jersey) beginning Fall 2022

• Active U. S. Army family

• Currently living in Mays Landing, New Jersey

• Member of Student Council and National Junior Honor Society

• Participates in soccer, karate, volleyball, track and field, choir and drama

• Does volunteer work through faith-based organizations and community service projects

• “I feel grateful for my parents military service and also greatly appreciate their sacrifice. Not only my dad’s service for the country but also my mom’s patience and willpower even when my dad is away. “

Henry S

• Attending Fountain Valley School (Colorado Springs, Colorado) beginning Fall 2022

• Currently stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia

• Active duty U.S. Army family

• Has moved to eight new homes, changing schools seven times

• Interested in technology, cybersecurity, history, and writing.

• Enjoys board games, video games, and reading dystopian fiction

• “I have attended nine different schools in the last twelve years… I don’t live in a place for longer than three years, and so never build a connection to them. It is difficult to attempt making new friends, as it often feels the energy required is too much for a temporary friendship… I am interested in attending boarding school because for at least a few years, I will be in a stable environment. If I stay in one place for my whole high school life, I might be able to make friends and keep them for a while.”

Amelon R

• Attending St. George’s School (Newport, Rhode Island) beginning Fall 2022

• Dual active duty U.S. Navy family

• Currently stationed in Norfolk, Virginia; moving to Japan

• Competes in national and international sailing events

• Interests include Marine Science, painting, traveling, field hockey, skiing, snow boarding and surfing

• “My parents will be stationed overseas during my Sophomore and Junior Years.  Orion introduced me to boarding schools I never thought to look at. Until last year, I never thought boarding school was an option for my family and me.  I was worried about changing schools twice in the middle of high school.  Instead, I found a place that feels like home with incredible challenges and support… I love challenges. I am looking forward being immersed in challenges academically, physically, and mentally.  This boarding school experience will prepare me for the rest of life.”

Harrison V

• Attended The Lawrenceville School (Princeton, New Jersey) beginning Fall 2022

• Active duty U. S. Air Force family

• Currently stationed in Japan

• Has moved and changed schools seven times

• Interests include History, Science, lacrosse, football and golf

• “It is difficult moving across the world every two years. Every move is a little different and some are harder than others. Leaving friends behind is one of the obvious hardships about moving and changing schools. But there are also these little ones too, like making new sports teams, changes in the academic curriculum, and adapting to a completely new school… Being a military child requires a lot of adapting to new situations. Boarding school will allow me to stabilize for the next three years and finish high school without having to move again. It will provide me with opportunities I don’t have right now while living overseas. Boarding school will also help me prepare to transition from high school to being independent and on my own in college.”

Jackson W

• Attended Fountain Valley School (Colorado Springs, CO) in Fall 2021

• Dual Active Duty Army Family

• Currently stationed in Northern Virginia, moving to Arizona

• Bibliophile, often reading 10 books per week

• Interests include Tae Kwon Do, Tennis, Golf, Cross-country, Book Club, Mathematics, Engineering

• “I’ve lived in many different places and the longest I have lived in a single place is four years, so it is hard to keep in touch with old friends. … A reward that I have experienced is being able to see the world and have wonderful and unique experiences in seventeen different countries and regions. … I am interested in attending boarding school because … I want to make friends, be challenged, get prepared for college and later life, and finally to be a part of the wonderful boarding school community.”