Many Paths to Excellence
Cathy and Lizzy McDermott '08, both former nationally ranked fencers, "chose to try blades we could pull through the water"
Exeter students come from all over the world, bringing talents and interests that blossom during their high school years. Below are profiles of a few of the students who have found their personal path to excellence at Exeter.
Cathy and Lizzy McDermott '08 (shown above), Texas
"We chose to try blades we could pull through the water."
Cathy and Lizzy turned down spots on the Junior National Fencing Team to attend Exeter, where they took up rowing. During the summer of 2007 they traveled with Exeter's girls first eight to England, where they won their class at the Reading Regatta and competed, but did not prevail, at Henley. The girls will spend the winter 2008 term in Ireland as part of Exeter's program at Ballytobin, a Camphill community for the severely disabled run by Exonian Patrick Lydon '68 and his wife.
Check out some of the activities that make the McDermott sisters' days special:
Girls V I Crew
HIS 425: Europe 1890-1945 with Mr. Herney
Term at Ballytobin Community in Ireland (2008)
Bio 361: Marine Biology with Mr. Aaronian
Sean Beckett '08 and Felipe Ochoa-Virijevik '09, New York and Colombia
"I chose a chess partner from the other America."
Inspired by campus chess master and fellow Williams House resident Ludwig Holmstron, Sean and Felipe play at least two 5-minute games each evening. For Sean, this has provided an opportunity to re-learn a game he hadn't played since childhood. For Felipe, playing chess has been one way to make friends at his new school.
Here are some of Sean's Exeter highlights:
Humor editor, The Exonian
Ultimate Frisbee fanatic
Student Listener, Williams House
MAT 650: Selected Topics in Mathematics with Mr. Mallinson
Felipe's days are studded with culture, language and sports:
JV Soccer
Math Club with Mr. Feng
Film buff & lover of puns
GER 110: Elementary German with Mr. Schieber
Alison Rittershaus '08, Maine
"I chose to read Plautus in Latin, and to spend a year in Italy."
Alison was inspired to study Latin when she took a course on the history of Colonial America and decided to emulate the founding fathers. She loves the language and finds Plautus' "Menaechme" laugh-out-loud funny. During 2006-07, Alison forged close bonds with her Italian host family, which delighted in demonstrating the opposite table manners to those described in the book of Italian etiquette she'd brought with her.
Alison's days reflect her tremendously varied interests:
Latin 510: Advanced Latin Readings with Mr. Morante
School Year Abroad in Italy (2006-07)
American History Buff & Reenactor
DRAMAT Board
Mainstage Play: "Arcadia"
Matt Dean '09, New Hampshire
"I chose to play music that I arranged."
Matt, who is an accomplished pianist, has always enjoyed singing in groups but did not discover his talent for arranging music, which he does for three campus a capella groups, until coming to Exeter. He arranges using a piano and his laptop with software that generates sheet music. The Exeteras are in high demand during "Secret Santa & Angeling" season on campus.
Here are some of the activities that make Matt's days special:
Leader, The Exeteras (male a capella group)
Founder, The Post-It Notes (coed a capella)
JV Soccer
Concert Choir & Piano lessons
CHE 319: Accelerated Intro Chemistry with Mr. Leger
Interested in learning more?
Read more profiles of students who have found their path to excellence at Exeter…
View a short film of some of these students: Many Paths to Excellence…
