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April 2024

Long Spring Weekend Reminders

Long Spring Weekend will be here before we know it! Students may leave after their last commitment on Friday, April 26. Please note that the class day ends at 3:40 p.m. and that some teams will have games on Friday, April 26, Saturday, April 27, and/or Sunday, April 28. If that is the case, students should remain on campus until after their games.

Students are expected to return by 10 p.m. Monday, April 29.

If your student is planning to leave campus for Long Spring Weekend, please submit an absence request no later than 4 p.m. on Thursday, April 25.

Note: Bus reservations, to/from New York City only, have closed. Contact Laurie Grusauski to inquire about late reservation availability.

Family Survey: We Value Your Input!

As noted in an email sent to all families on April 12, Hotchkiss is beginning an accreditation process with the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). NEASC requires that all schools undertake a self-study every ten years to maintain accreditation. Hotchkiss last took part in this process in 2015.

As parents and guardians, you are important members of the Hotchkiss community. If you haven't done so already, we encourage you to complete a short survey created by NEASC. Your responses will be collected and collated directly by NEASC, not by the School, and the data will be provided to Hotchkiss in aggregate form only.

Click here for further information and to take the survey.

Please note, all survey responses must be submitted by April 26.

Graduation 2024

We look forward to celebrating the Class of 2024 on Thursday, May 30 and Friday, May 31. Please click here for more information about the 2024 Graduation. Lodging arrangements should be made early as the local hotels and inns fill up very quickly. For all other graduation-related inquiries, please contact Lisa Brown at (860) 435-3188.

From Senior Class Dean Kinyette Henderson

Click here to access an important letter to the families of the Class of 2024. It includes additional information about the Senior Dance and Graduation events.

André Swanston '99: Graduation Speaker

Hotchkiss is thrilled to announce André Swanston '99 as the 2024 Commencement speaker.

As a former Division 1 collegiate track athlete, Swanston's "need for speed" has transcended the sport to now describe his ability to quickly scale his own entrepreneurial ventures or those in which he invests. Born in the Bronx, Swanston's first venture was an event promotion and production company, Full Eclipse, that he founded as a junior in college. At the age of 23, he opened one of New England's largest nightclubs and by 28, Swanston moved on to private wealth management at JP Morgan Chase & Co., becoming one of the youngest vice presidents of investments in the company. Bit by the entrepreneurial bug again at 31, Swanston invested a great deal of his own money, lined up several investors, and exited the investment world to launch Tru Optik. Tru Optik was one of the most relied upon providers of data and identity across Connected TV, streaming audio, and gaming at the time of its 2020 acquisition by TransUnion. This catapulted Swanston into one of the top 10 largest acquisitions for any Black American CEO and founder, at 39, making him the youngest person on the list.

Swanston has received awards for his accomplishments with Tru Optik and was appointed by Governor Ned Lamont to the Board of Connecticut Innovations responsible for the state's venture fund to promote economic development and innovation. Additionally, Swanston is an active investor in minority and women-owned businesses and, with his wife, generously donates to education and community-based initiatives throughout the country.

Swanston graduated with a B.A. in economics from the University of Connecticut where he pledged Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He resides in Connecticut with his wife and their two children.

Mischianza Memo: Senior Portraits and Congratulatory Ads Due April 30

The deadline for Class of 2024 portraits and congratulatory ads is now April 30.

Each member of the Class of 2024 receives a complimentary copy of the yearbook.

Upper mids, lower mids, and preps (or seniors/PGs who want a second copy) may order directly from our publisher.

Visit the Mischianza webpage for links and info.

Important Family Announcements

From the Deans' Office: The 2024-25 Rooming Preferences Survey

Read an important letter from Associate Dean of Student Life Amanda McClure P'18,'22 on how families can best support their students as they complete the rooming preferences survey this spring.

2024 Summer Move-Out

Plan ahead! Families are responsible for removing all student items from campus at the end of the school year. Your student may have arrived in the fall with one car load, only to discover there is now more to bring home in the spring! Read about the UPS Store's storage, packing, and shipping services available at the end of the academic year.

You may also wish to consider using the return trip from a weekend visit to campus as an opportunity to bring a load of student belongings home. Seniors, in particular, will not want to spend the hours after graduation packing and cleaning!

End-of-Year Bus Transportation

Buses to Bradley, LaGuardia, and JFK Airports will be offered on Wednesday, June 5 at noon.

Reservations will be available May 7-21 by completing a registration form, which will be emailed to students. Reservations are required, and cancellations after May 21 are non-refundable. After the May 21 reservation deadline, late requests will be processed only if seats are available, and a late fee of $5 will be assessed.

Click here for the Transportation Schedule.

Please contact Laurie Grusauski if you have transportation questions.

2024-25 Tuition Refund Insurance

The Tuition Refund Insurance Plan (“The Plan”) will be offered again for the 2024-25 school year. Enrollment in this plan is mandatory for domestic families signing up for the two-installment or 10-month payment plan. Domestic and international families who sign up for the single payment option will have the option to opt in or out of The Plan while completing the enrollment contract. If full payment is not received by June 1, 2024, families will automatically be enrolled in The Plan. The cost of The Plan is 1% of the net tuition. Click here for additional details.

Should you have any questions, please email studentaccounts@hotchkiss.org.

2024-25 Health Forms Due July 1

Attention all returning families! The Health Center staff requests your assistance in completing the required health forms by July 1. Click here for more information.

The College Corner

As spring blossoms, the College Advising Office is abuzz with activity as we navigate through various stages of the colleges admissions process tailored to the different classes. For our seniors who are yet to finalize their college decisions, the month of April holds significant importance as they weigh their options and make their final choices before the May 1 National College Decision Day. Engaging in admitted student programming and conversations with current college students will provide invaluable insights to help our seniors select the best-fit institution for their talents and aspirations in the upcoming fall semester.

Throughout the remainder of the academic year, our upper mids will continue to receive personalized guidance through regular one-on-one sessions and small cohort meetings with their assigned college advisors. These interactions primarily focus on cultivating a well-rounded list of colleges and preparing students for the intricacies of the college application process. On Wednesday, April 17, Hotchkiss hosted its annual Spring College Fair, and welcomed admissions representatives from over 80 colleges and universities. This event offered upper mids a unique opportunity to explore a diverse array of institutions and engage directly with admissions officers to gain deeper insights and clarify any queries they may have about prospective colleges.

For lower-mid families, on Monday, May 6 at 6:30 p.m. via Zoom, we will host Adam Ingersoll, founder and principal of Compass Education Group, for "Navigating College Admission Tests." This informative session will focus on the changing testing landscape and offer advice for an effective and efficient standardized testing plan. Register here.