Through the remarkable leadership of the Class of 1974 and additional South Kent donors, every dollar awarded unlocked a 2:1 match. Now, with $428,000 already raised, the Class of 1974 has set a powerful standard of commitment to this program鈥檚 success.

Rooted in South Kent鈥檚 Trinity of Values, Simplicity of Life, Self-Reliance, and Directness of Purpose, Cardinal Strong is designed to equip students with the emotional intelligence, coping strategies, and leadership skills necessary to navigate the increasing pressures of modern adolescence. As outlined in the School鈥檚 grant proposal, the program provides structured emotional resilience education for students in grades 9鈥�12, alongside faculty training, media literacy instruction, alternative wellness experiences, and expanded access to counseling support.

鈥淎t South Kent, we believe resilience is not incidental. It must be taught, modeled, and practiced,鈥� said Brian D. Sullivan, Head of School. 鈥淭he Edward E. Ford Foundation鈥檚 investment affirms that preparing young men for life requires more than academic rigor. It requires intentional formation through emotional literacy, healthy masculinity, and the courage to seek help when needed. We are profoundly grateful to the Class of 1974 and our alumni community for stepping forward to ensure this work moves forward at full strength.鈥�

With this funding, Cardinal Strong will expand key partnerships with organizations that provide structured programming in emotional resilience, stress management, and leadership development. The grant will also support media literacy training to help students navigate digital stress and misinformation, faculty professional development in mental health awareness, guest speakers and workshops, and access to consulting clinical neuropsychological support for students who may otherwise lack resources.

The initiative aligns directly with South Kent鈥檚 core competency framework, particularly its emphasis on Emotional Resilience, defined by the School as the ability to manage adversity, regulate emotions, and maintain a positive and disciplined outlook in the face of challenges.

The Edward E. Ford Foundation, long recognized for strengthening independent schools nationwide, selected Cardinal Strong as a program that advances student well-being in a proactive and sustainable manner. South Kent plans to deploy the funds over the next four years to build infrastructure, provide professional development, refine assessment tools, and position Cardinal Strong for long-term endowment support.

Beyond establishing the endowed fund for Cardinal Strong, this initiative will equip every South Kent student with structured resilience training, expand alternative wellness programming, integrate digital literacy into the curriculum, and ensure that no student is denied access to counseling resources because of financial constraints.
鈥淭he Class of 1974 understood immediately that this is not simply a program, it is a true commitment to the formation of young men,鈥� Sullivan added. 鈥淭heir leadership inspired others to join them. Cardinal Strong is a community-wide investment in character, health, and purpose.鈥�

As South Kent enters its second century, Cardinal Strong reflects the School鈥檚 enduring mission: to prepare young men to succeed in college and thrive as thoughtful, engaged citizens in an increasingly complex world.

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Caleb Ockman 鈥�21 arrived at 淫人色欲社 as a 14-year-old freshman with a clear goal: to pursue high-level soccer in the United States while earning a strong academic foundation. Four years later, he graduated as a scholar, a linguist, a leader鈥攁nd now, just a few years beyond the Hillside, a Fulbright finalist bound for Turkey.

鈥淚t started with soccer,鈥� Caleb recalls. 鈥淚 came to South Kent thanks to Owen Finberg, who helped me understand that this was the place where I could do both鈥攄evelop as a player and as a student. That was the original goal: play for a top prep team and eventually play in college.鈥�

Caleb committed to Williams College in the summer before his senior year, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. He entered Williams as a recruit for the varsity soccer team, intending to double major in French and political science. But like so many transformative stories, his path quickly evolved.

鈥淭he coach who recruited me left before I arrived,鈥� Caleb says. 鈥淭he new coach had a different style, and it just didn鈥檛 click. D3 athletics are intense, but they鈥檙e not supposed to be your whole life. I made a tough decision to step away from the team.鈥�

What followed was a flourishing of intellectual curiosity. 鈥淥nce I left the team, I had time and space to explore,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 joined the student newspaper and a foreign affairs journal. I started sailing鈥攕omething I鈥檇 never done before鈥攁nd became a tutor in Russian. I started taking courses that challenged me in entirely new ways.鈥�

Caleb鈥檚 interest in Russian wasn鈥檛 entirely new. As a child traveling with his parents, Caleb lived in Bulgaria, Ukraine, Serbia, and Kenya where he had early exposure to Slavic languages and Eastern European culture. That

background shaped his decision to double major in history and Russian while still completing coursework in French and political science.

South Kent played a crucial role in helping Caleb hone his academic focus. He credits Father Steve Klots with pushing him to think more deeply and engage more fully with his studies. 鈥淗e was instrumental in helping me find purpose in the classroom,鈥� he says. 鈥淎t South Kent, you鈥檙e never just a number. People see something in you and help bring it out.鈥�

That ethos鈥攐f seeing potential and investing in it鈥攃arried Caleb through his time at Williams and into the wider world. In the spring of his junior year, he studied abroad in Kazakhstan through Middlebury鈥檚 rigorous Russian immersion program, taking university courses entirely in Russian and pledging not to speak any other language during his stay.

One of those courses鈥攁 class on the international relations of Central Asia鈥攚ould profoundly shape Caleb鈥檚 academic and professional direction.

鈥淲e studied the region鈥檚 geopolitics, from the fall of the Soviet Union to the present, and the role of players like Turkey,

China, and Russia,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hat course made me realize I wanted to pursue a career in foreign policy鈥攁nd that to understand Eurasia, you can鈥檛 just know Russian. You need to understand Turkey.鈥�

That realization sparked his Fulbright application: a proposal to study in Turkey, deepen his understanding of Turkish language and culture, and explore Turkey鈥檚 unique geopolitical position as a bridge between East and West.

The application process was long and uncertain. Caleb applied in the fall of his senior year and waited months for a decision鈥攆irst as a semifinalist, then as an alternate, and finally, in late May, as a confirmed Fulbright finalist.

Now preparing for his year in Turkey, Caleb is weighing placement offers from two universities in Istanbul. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a good problem to have,鈥� he laughs. 鈥淏oth programs are excellent. I鈥檓 choosing between different course offerings, housing options, and how far I鈥檒l be from the city center. But either way, I鈥檒l be immersed in a region I care deeply about.鈥�

Though his path began with soccer, it has expanded into a world of diplomacy, cultural fluency, and global citizenship. Caleb

co-founded Williams鈥� first campus foreign policy group鈥攁 student-run think tank of sorts that hosts weekly discussion sessions, produces research, and mentors undergraduates interested in policy careers. The group grew from a handful of students to over 45 by his graduation.

Looking ahead, Caleb is exploring opportunities with think tanks and government agencies in Washington, D.C., including roles in foreign policy analysis. He鈥檚 also considering graduate study in law or international relations, though he鈥檚 quick to point out that practical experience will come first.

鈥淚 want to work. I want to be in the field鈥攚hether it鈥檚 through the State Department, a federal agency, or a policy institute,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 care deeply about this region because I grew up there. I鈥檝e seen the challenges people face, especially in Ukraine, where I lived for part of my childhood. If I can contribute to a better future for that part of the world, that鈥檚 what I want to do.鈥�

From the quiet calm of the Hillside to the complexity of Central Asia, Caleb Ockman鈥檚 journey is a testament to what South Kent strives to instill in every boy: resilience, curiosity, and a sense of purpose. As he steps into his Fulbright year, he carries with him the values that shaped him鈥攁nd a clear vision for the difference he hopes to make.

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The week, which embraces 鈥渉ands-on, minds-on鈥漧earning, is designed as a transformative program that takes students beyond the classroom and into immersive learning experiences that spark curiosity, build self-reliance, and bring energy to the long New England winter.

Learning Beyond the Classroom
This year鈥檚 Experiential Learning Week continued to emphasize South Kent鈥檚 commitment to engaged, purpose-driven learning. Students selected from a wide range of courses, each crafted to ignite curiosity and encourage hands-on participation. All South Kent employees, not just faculty, were invited to teach courses, which meant that students were exposed to an array of professional talent and diverse skills.

Some of the standout offerings included:
Tapas: A Regional Tour of Hispanic Cuisine 鈥� Students explored the flavors of Spain, Chile, Uruguay, and Puerto Rico, learning the culinary techniques behind these vibrant dishes.
Carpentry Workshop 鈥� Students learned the basics of carpentry including how to frame walls and hang sheetrock, gaining real-world construction experience.
Introduction to Stage Combat 鈥� Hands-on training in choreographed fight scenes, including swordplay and hand-to-hand combat techniques, culminating in an end-of-week performance.
Bitcoin Unlocked 鈥� A deep dive into the history, technology, and future of Bitcoin, including the Lightning Network and the potential of decentralized finance.
Acting, Communication, and Media Techniques for Scholar-Athletes 鈥� Students learned improv techniques and practiced on-camera interviewing, learning how to speak with confidence in media settings.
Dungeons & Dragons: Side Quests & Stranger Things 鈥� Students embraced team-building, creativity, and strategic thinking through immersive role-playing adventures.
Spaces for God 鈥� Students explored diverse religious traditions, including a visit to the Buddha Ariyamettaram Temple in Morris, learning about spirituality across different cultures.
Paper Planes: Flight School 101 鈥� Students experimented with airplane designs, testing lift, flight distance, and aerodynamics to see which designs performed best.
Troutbeck Symposium 鈥� A research-based course where students examined local history and artifacts, preparing for a presentation at a prestigious historical symposium.

One student shared, 鈥淚 never thought I鈥檇 get to do something like stage combat at school. It was so cool learning how actors perform fight scenes safely and make it look real!鈥�

Another student in the Exploring the Litchfield Hills Through Hiking course reflected, 鈥淚鈥檝e lived in this area for years, but had never really appreciated these trails. The hikes challenged us physically, but they also gave us a chance to slow down and enjoy nature.鈥�

Evening Activities & Community Building
Beyond the daytime courses, Experiential Learning Week included exciting evening activities that brought students together for fun, teamwork, and competition.

Some highlights included:
6v6 Intramural Tournament 鈥� A week-long, high-energy competition that had students competing for ultimate bragging rights.
鈥淐hopped鈥� Cooking Challenge 鈥� Inspired by the TV show, students faced off in North Campus鈥檚 kitchen, culminating in the Tournament of Champions on Friday.
Esports Tournament 鈥� Students battled it out in competitive gaming showdowns, showcasing strategy, reflexes, and teamwork.
DIY Pizza-Making Night 鈥� A fun, relaxed evening where students designed and baked their own pizzas from scratch.
Gaming Night 鈥� An evening filled with board and card games, strategy, and friendly competition.

The winner of 鈥淐hopped Challenge鈥� was Ricards Dimants 鈥�25, with a solo effort dish of Latvian inspired flavors, which featured such mystery ingredients as canned chicken, cream cheese, ginger, zucchini, and kumquats.

One student who participated in the 鈥淐hopped Challenge鈥� championship shared, 鈥淚 learned so much about cooking under pressure, but more than that, it was fun to work as a team and get creative with ingredients!鈥�

Final Reflections
As Experiential Learning Week 2025 comes to a close, the students and faculty are already reflecting on how this unique week continues to shape South Kent鈥檚 approach to learning. The opportunity to apply knowledge in real-world settings, embrace new challenges, and collaborate with peers has left a lasting impact.

Jesse Brennan, Dean of Mastery Learning & Curricular Innovation, summed it up best:
鈥淓xperiential Learning Week is about more than just trying something new鈥攊t鈥檚 about stepping outside of comfort zones, discovering self-reliance, and building a sense of purpose in learning. Seeing our students grow, collaborate, and thrive this week has been truly inspiring.鈥�

淫人色欲社 is already looking forward to next year鈥檚 Experiential Learning Week, which will continue to expand opportunities for students to explore, create, and connect with the world around them.

Enjoy the of this year鈥檚 photos!

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