“I will miss my Northwood family the most when I graduate this year. This year is my 4^th year at Northwood School, and I have been on the ski team for all my time here. My favorite part of the ski team is the family I’ve found through my teammates, and I plan to keep in touch with my best friends after I graduate this year.

“My time at Northwood has made me more confident in myself and my academic skills, and it has gifted me with my best friends for life. Northwood has given me a strong support system that I will lean on as I go through college and my life.

“My favorite class this year at Northwood is Advanced STEM Research. I am researching athletic differences between skiers, soccer players, and hockey players at Northwood School. I will be conducting this project with my great friend, Cara Dempsey ‘25.

“After I leave Northwood, I hope to attend either Boston University or the University of New Hampshire next year. I want to study fashion and business at either school I end up at. After college, I want to live in Boston, start my own brand, and keep in touch with everyone I’ve met at Northwood.”

As told to Sydney Kuder ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I ski race here at Northwood. In my free time, I like to go to hockey games, run around the lake, and go into town with my friends. I live in the suburbs of New York City, so going to school in a small town is nice because I have so many things that are close and accessible.

“I like being at a boarding school. It’s not a new experience for me because I did winter term three years in a row with NYSEF before coming here. While at home during breaks, I love to hang out with family and friends. I have a dog named Maggie, and I love her.

“I would like to go to college to study biomedical engineering. I also want to ski Division 3 in college.

“My favorite part of Northwood is hanging out with my friends here. It’s fun having all the boys in my room, having a good time, and hanging out.

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“My favorite part of my life so far is being here at Northwood and being a part of such a great community and culture. I worked hard to get here and because of that hard work I was able to put myself in a situation where I can get better every day and surround myself with like-minded people who also strive to get better and smarter every day. I have put myself in a place where I will have opportunities to get to the places I want to be.

“Next year, I want to play junior hockey. I don’t have a specific spot yet, but somewhere that will prepare me to play division one hockey, which is the ultimate end goal. I want to do this for myself, but I also do this for my brother, my family, my loved ones, and the people who care for me and give everything to me.

“I chose Northwood because of the environment, culture, and history that this program and school has built over the years. I’ve also seen great players come out of here and everyone always has awesome stories to tell. It seemed like a great fit for me

“Northwood has already had an unbelievable impact on me in the one year I’ve been here. I’ve made lots of friendships and done things I never thought I would be able to do. I have seen places I didn’t expect to see and experienced a lot of things that many people don’t get to experience.”

As told to Michael Peluso ’25. Photo provided.

“One of my favorite hobbies is road biking around town. Whenever I go out biking, I usually try to find some new roads that I haven’t been to before. This is important to me not only because I love having good navigational skills but also because I am a first responder. It’s important to be able to map places in your head within your department’s district. When I’m not biking, I simply enjoy exploring, getting to meet new people, and helping out tourists with directions.

“From a young age, I’ve always been a people person, and I have always wanted to help people. When I attended Saint Agnes school, the local fire department came for fire prevention week. During this week, fire departments visit schools all around the country and educate the public about fire safety and what to do in emergency situations. Typically, a representative from the fire department gears up in their protective equipment. After the presentation, I was instantly moved.

“I spent the next few years helping with the Lake Placid volunteer fire department. A couple years later I spoke a few times with the Chief at the time and told him I was interested in becoming a member and that’s when I learned of a junior firefighter program.  There I could become a member and begin training, attend meetings, events and much more. Once I turned sixteen, I submitted my application and after a long time of waiting I was voted in by the village board! Ever since, I have enjoyed being a junior member/RAM (restricted active member) of the department.

“I have met so many people and have learned so much and just love doing it! Now it’s going to be something I do in college and then finding my home department sometime after that is the goal!”

As told to Jess Schoch ’25. Photo provided.

“It’s kind of a funny story, but even before Noah Kahn released the song ‘You’re Gonna Go Far’ it has always been something that my mom has said to me my whole life. When she was proud of me, when she was happy for me, when I was sad, and when I left home. ‘You’re Gonna Go Far.’ Taking that and living by it every single day and consistently remembering that I have so much around me. From my family, my community, and knowing that I have pushed myself to this point. I have made so many friends and so many lifelong relationships that I hope to keep in every step I take. Even if it is uncomfortable, it is something that is going to make me a stronger person every single day.

“I love the mountains, I always have. Being from Missoula, Montana it was easy to come here because it felt so much like home. I did not really want to live anywhere near a city so choosing Northwood because of its location was an easy decision. I joined Northwood two years ago, and I can honestly say it’s been one of my best decisions. I came here to pursue a higher level of hockey out of state, but I fell in love with everything about the school. Especially how everyone knows everyone, you have so much support in all aspects. Even with new kids every year, the community of this school is something no one takes for granted.

“After Northwood, I will continue my hockey career at the Division 1 level at Long Island University and major in Biology or become a veterinarian. Everything I have gone through to get to this point has allowed me to continue to work for my dreams.”

As told to Sophia DeAnzeris ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“One of my favorite activities at Northwood is hiking Cobble Hill. I try to make time for it during both sunrise and sunset, which gives me a chance to see and appreciate the natural beauty that surrounds the campus. The morning air and the quiet moments as the sun rises give a nice start to the day, and the sunsets bring a sense of calm and closure to the day. Doing these hikes has become very important in my experience here.

“I first discovered Northwood School through a family friend who knew Mr. McCauley, and that connection led me to want to see what the school had to offer. As I learned more about the school, I realized it could be a good fit for me, and so far, it has been. My time here has been great in so many ways, from academics to outdoor adventures, and I’ve enjoyed every bit of it.

“Something most people don’t know about me is that I spent a month and a half volunteering at a boys’ orphanage in Peru. I’m originally from Quebec, and even though I think I’ve adapted well to life at Northwood, there have been a few things I’ve had to adjust to. Back home, I had more flexibility in managing my time, but here, the structure is a bit different. Study hall, co-curriculars, and set gym times are all built into the schedule, which doesn’t leave as much room for free time or creating my own routine. While it was a bit challenging at first, I’ve started to appreciate the structure and consistency it brings.”

As told to Griffin Beam ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“My favorite holiday is May 4^th because I love Star Wars. My favorite movie is, of course, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. My favorite book is probably Slaughterhouse 5. If I could not take a class again, it would be Physics because it is really hard. My favorite faculty dog is Ziggy [Director of Ski Operations Raychel West’s dog].

“Coming to Northwood was the first time I was ever away from home.  I was a little scared, but I was excited. I am from Ellenburg Center, which is about an hour north of Lake Placid, and I had never really been away from home. One day, my parents asked me if I wanted to try boarding school. I didn’t know that the school would be a sports school, and when I got here, I was like, I’m not a part of the ski team, the soccer team, or the hockey team. But then I found NOC (Northwood Outing Club) [now called Northwood Adventure Sports Program]. My first year was the first formal year of NOC, and I’ve been here since the beginning. I had camped and skied before but wasn’t into any of the more extreme outing sports.

“I am part of the Robotics Team and the Leadership Team. I do a lot of biking, skiing, camping, rock climbing, and kayaking during my free time. This year I am getting my EMT certification as a part of Peak Pathways. There is a lot more independent stuff than there was when I first got here. I have really enjoyed the Peak Pathways program. This year I am doing woodworking and building a canoe at the Hub.

“I am content with the four years I’ve spent at Northwood, and I think that it has put me in a better position to go throughout the world. Also, it helped me find my love for the outdoors. I encourage people to try NOC and get in the outdoors.”

As told to Jack Kroll ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.