One of Northwood’s most unique and creative academic offerings, which began in the 2023-2024 school year, is the Peak Pathways Program. It requires students to design an entire course and create their own curriculum/learning space based on something they are passionate about. Ms. Stacy Prime, director of the Peak Pathways program, is excited about the many interesting projects in the works. For example, Jacob Brunton ‘24 is learning Croatian so that he can have a conversation with his grandmother in Croatia, and he is creating an itinerary for his family to revisit her homeland. Two other students in the program were happy to share the progress and direction of their projects.
Michael Peluso ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
Michael Peluso ‘25 said that he is working on a Pathway in the sports recruiting industry to start his own agency someday. “I want to better understand the relationship between hockey players’ advancement and the need for an agent or advisor as players grow up,” Peluso said. “I want to be an agent or an advisor, and this work will help me understand the process better, like what agents must do and how they build connections. Then I want to start to network myself to make these connections and build a network I can keep for the future. Pathways stresses making real-,world connections so I’m going to try to focus on that this year and just getting my knowledge from those who have done this for years in the industry,” Peluso added.
Loélie Lachapelle ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
Loélie Lachapelle ’26 is diving into the creative area of interior design by making mood boards and developing a portfolio for her future. She shared her vision for her Pathway, which sounds very ambitious. “For my project, I was looking at my 25 ideas and I realized that I could do every one of them into one single project,” Lachapelle said. “I will be working on creating my own interior design portfolio, which I’m very passionate about. Interior design has always been a huge interest of mine, and this project is the perfect chance for me to explore that interest while learning new things about the field. Throughout this process, I’ll be working on different design projects where I’ll dive into things like color theory, furniture placement, and lighting. I want to understand not only how to make a space look good but also how to make it functional and comfortable for the people who use it. I plan on coming with a new design every week or so,” she added.
Lachapelle’s Peak Pathway will allow her to explore her interest in interior design. “I’ll experiment with different design styles, from minimalistic to more creative and bold approaches, which will help me figure out my own style as a designer,” Lachapelle said. “I’ll also be working on practical skills like creating mood boards, drafting floor plans, and learning how to communicate design ideas clearly. As I move through each project, I’ll reflect on what I’ve learned and improve my designs based on new concepts and techniques. I realize that to improve, I need to look beyond just my own ideas, so I’ll be reaching out to industry resources and learning from professionals. I’ll be consulting with a real-world expert from my hometown, who will provide valuable guidance and help me refine my designs. With her input, I plan to elevate my portfolio to a professional level, ensuring it is as polished and complete as I can make it. This project is important to me because it combines my passion for interior design with the opportunity to learn and grow in a field I am excited to pursue in the future,” she said.
As the 68 students enrolled in Pathways classes wrap up the term, we look forward to seeing the evidence of their hard work through a final product and/or performance.
