Each summer, Beaver students take their learning outside the classroom through the Hiatt Summer Fellowship, a program that provides financial support for students to explore meaningful leadership and civic engagement opportunities with nonprofit organizations and summer programs. The fellowship, which is open to both Upper and Middle School students, encourages initiative, independence, and exploration, providing students with new skills and real-world experiences.
Around 100 students participated in the program during 2025. From diving into medicine with Harvard MEDScience to exploring how surfing can build a more inclusive world with Gnome Surf Therapy, each individualized opportunity allowed students to develop new leadership skills, build confidence, explore future career paths, make change in local communities, and even make a global impact.
Through this experience, my empathy and awareness of my privilege have grown, and I know that working for this program has changed me as a person.
Marly Coleman ‘29
Hiatt Summer Fellows discovered their ability to lead and adapt to new situations. For Charlie Scott ‘27, who volunteered at NuVu, the experience came with a learning curve; “I learned the skills that are required for teaching: patience, classroom management, conflict resolution, leadership, and empathy.” Ruby Nielsen ’27 partnered with Move Up Global to raise funds for early learning centers in Rwanda. The fundraising process was a challenging one, requiring Ruby to pivot after a social media campaign she piloted did not result in donations; “although it was difficult to overcome the failure of my campaign, it taught me the importance of resilience and of iterating to find a new way to achieve my goals.” After launching an email campaign, Ruby ended up raising $3,500 for the cause.
With each Fellowship experience came a different set of new skills to develop. Jake Exantus ’30 attended the Play by Play Sports Broadcasting program, gaining new insights into commentary, sports analysis, and audience engagement. Marli Forrester ‘29 attended The Formation Conference at Trinity University in Washington DC, where she found ways to boost her confidence in public settings. “I participated in an elevator pitch presentation on Day 3,” Marli mentions. “I was nervous at first but with the knowledge that everyone would be doing it, I had fun and I feel more comfortable talking about myself.”
For some students, the Hiatt Summer Fellowship was an opportunity to explore career paths of interest. Sarina Nahata ’26 got hands-on at Boston University’s Social Learning Lab, overseeing data collection and deepening her interest in developmental psychology. Kaili Griffin ’27, eager to explore medicine, spent the summer at Winchester Hospital. “Volunteering at the hospital gave me a closer look at how a healthcare setting operates and helped me better understand the daily responsibilities of medical professionals,” she says. “This experience strengthened my desire to work in medicine and showed me that I’m comfortable and capable in patient-focused environments.”
This summer, I confirmed that I want to pursue a career in the medical field.
Kaili Griffin ‘27
When deciding whether or not to apply for the Hiatt Summer Fellowship program, students are encouraged to consider what they care about most within their communities. Many students take this thinking and turn it into action. Maya Feinberg ‘29 volunteered with Horizons at Dedham Country Day, making an impact on countless children throughout the summer. When Max Hogan ‘28 decided he wanted to leverage his love for tennis to better his community, he was relentless in his pursuit of volunteering with Tenacity’s summer tennis and reading program.
I gained confidence in working with young people, learned the importance of preparation and flexibility, and found a sense of purpose in combining community service with a sport I love: tennis!
Max Hogan ‘28
Several Fellows set their sights on locations across the world such as Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Nepal. Gibran Ashai ‘26 and Caroline Agola ‘26 led “Solar for Syria,” an effort to bring solar power to schools in Ruhaybah, Syria. The work involved sourcing materials, fundraising, and even managing a team on the ground. “With the completion of our pilot school we have given nearly 1,000 students the opportunity to access learning materials that require reliable electricity,” Gibran mentions.
Whether volunteering locally, pursuing a passion project, or tackling challenges across the globe, students end their Hiatt Summer Fellowship experiences with new skills, deeper empathy, and a clearer sense of what matters to them. The fellowship not only allows Beaver students to explore their interests and future career paths, it also empowers them to make meaningful contributions to their communities. For many students, the impact of the program leaves a lasting impression that extends far beyond their time at Beaver, shaping both who they are and who they hope to become.