Upper School

The seventh annual STEM Colloquium showcased years of research from senior class recipients of the STEM Distinction, recognizing the students' passion, determination, perseverance, and achievement. Ben Persily ’23, Gouri Krishnan ’23, Yuriy Sandmeier ’23, Clare Liao ’23, and Eli Lowe ’23 discussed their capstone projects, many of which were completed through King School’s Advanced Science Program for Independent Research and Engineering (ASPIRE). Following the student presentations, Director of Science Research Dr. Victoria Schulman announced the winners of the Upper School Science Fair, which was held on May 10.

King School is thrilled to announce that Ben Persily ’23 won the prestigious National Merit $2500 Scholarship. The award is the culmination of two years of competition; winners were announced on Wednesday, May 10. Over 1.5 million students from about 21,000 high schools entered the competition, which began in October 2021 when high school juniors took the Preliminary SAT (PSAT.) The highest-scoring participants in each state, representing less than 1% of the nation’s high school seniors, were named semifinalists. For Connecticut, that meant earning a PSAT score of 1470 or higher, with 1520 being perfect.

The creativity and ingenuity of King School’s students were evident at this year's Upper School Science Fair. The annual event, now in its seventh year, showcased work from the entire Grade 9 class as well as students in Grades 10-12 enrolled in the Science Research elective class and all ASPIRE students.

Culminating a years of research and self-discovery in the arts, nine senior advanced art students presented capstone projects at two Art Colloquia in the Performing Arts Center at King School in late April. The presentations result from the school’s O.P.E.N project experience: Original, Personal, Experiential, and Novel, with the advanced students spending an entire year exploring a theme of their choosing. Students used different mediums to explore topics including the environment, human behavior, geology, and technology creating work that reflect their interests or experiences.

A heartwarming testament to the commitment and dedication of King School faculty and staff, the inaugural Platinum Circle Dinner honored current and former employees who have given 20 or more years of service to the school.

Students, faculty, and staff enjoyed a Day of Action hosted by the Gender and Sexuality Awareness Club (GSA) in King’s Upper School. Community members gathered during the FLEX period for activities and speeches focused on promoting acceptance and a greater understanding of issues relevant to trans youth. 

Upper school student and ASPIRE scientist Yuriy Sandmeier ’23 has created a combination therapy to treat tuberculosis (TB) infections, and, until this breakthrough, the disease was resistant to drug treatments. His accomplishment recently earned top marks at the Connecticut Science & Engineering Fair, and the story behind the research is as powerful as the breakthroughs he is generating.

Eight members of the King community attended the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) Commission on Diversity’s Student Diversity Leadership Conference on April 2 at Hopkins School. The event brought independent schools across the state together to foster cross-cultural understanding and take action to improve the school communities regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion.

The Class of 2023 welcomed 22 alumni representing many industries, including law, education, technology, finance, performing arts, athletics, and more, to campus for Career Day on Monday. After an introduction in the Performing Arts Center, students convened in small groups for open discussion with the alumni. The annual event provided the soon-to-be graduates with valuable insight into life after King, including personal and professional advice for living a fulfilling life.