News

Education, Research and Innovation at The Island School

Read on for program highlights, research results, all-star alumni, sustainable living ideas, and more.

Patrick Lamontagne Alumni Spotlight

Feb 2, 2023

Patrick Lamontagne F08 has held many different roles over the years as a member of The Island School community – student, alumni, educator, advisor, director, and friend. His Island School…

Alumni Spotlight: Tia Peterson

Jul 6, 2022

There are many opportunities that set an Island School Semester apart from a traditional school, but one of the most remarkable things is the real-world research students conduct alongside our team of research scientists through the Cape Eleuthera Institute.

Island School Alumni Work Together on UVM Rescue Team

Feb 1, 2018

Libby Schwab, F’14, and Kyle Titsworth, S’12, on duty together for UVM Rescue.  Libby and Kyle, Island School Alumni and University of Vermont students, have ended up working on the same…

IS Alumna, Kyra Hall, Speaks at Conference About the Future of Education

Jan 30, 2018

Kyra Hall, F’16, and another keynote speaker at IgniteSTEM. Our own Kyra Hall, F’16, presented her Island School research as a keynote speaker at a conference at Princeton University called…

Ellie Corbett, SP’15, Interns with Dr. Edith Widder

Ellie Corbett’s last jump off High Rock during Spring 2015. Growing up on the coast, Ellie, SP ’15, knew she loved the ocean long before going to The Island School.…

This Holiday Season, Think Tiny

Dec 26, 2016

Santa Clara’s rEvolve House.  George Giannos, Fall 2010 Alumnus, took what he learned at The Island School and built on it. This fall, with a team of engineering students at…

Alumni Spotlight: Carter Brown (Sp ’09)

Our bus came up a short hill, rounded the last corner and before us was a sign marking the entrance. The Island School! As we crunched and bounced down the…

Alumni Spotlight: Devin Gilmartin (F’14) and Tegan Maxey

If you have been following this blog for a while, you may remember back in May when we published a piece about Fall 2014 alum Devin Gilmartin and his 2020…

Alumni Spotlight: Maddie Hawk (SP ’10)

Maddie Hawk from the Spring 2010 Island School recently graduated from DePauw University with a double major in English (literature) and film studies. She was a member of Phi Beta…

Alumni Spotlight: Ginny Laurita (F’15)

May 19, 2016

As an alum from the most recently completed Island School semester, Fall 2015, Ginny Laurita has already begun to make her mark in the wider world through service. For Ginny…

Alumni Spotlight: Max Porter (F’14)

May 13, 2016

Max Porter of the Fall 2014 semester has been busy since returning home. He has joined a well-known and successful robotics team as the all-important operator of the robot and…

Congratulations Cristin McDermott!

May 7, 2016

  Cristin McDermott of the Spring 2002 Island School semester completed the Pittsburgh half marathon Sunday, May 1st alongside Ed, her father! Cristin credits The Island School for sparking her…

Alumni Spotlight: Nick Pibl & Caroline McClatchy (Su’14)

Apr 28, 2016

Neither Nick Pibl nor Caroline McClatchy were part of the Aquaponics research group during their Summer 2014 semester, but both had an interest in sustainable technology. When they returned home,…

Congratulations Nat Davenport! (Sp’15)

Apr 25, 2016

Nathaniel (Nat) Davenport from the Spring 2015 semester has been having a killer swimming season. Earlier this month Nat won two Division 2 state titles and was on a relay…

Alumni Spotlight: Noelle Anderson (Sp’13)

Apr 22, 2016

“When a piece of art has to be more than interesting, has to be more than beautiful, the challenge really increases. When art has to stand for something, aiming to…

Alumni Spotlight: Christopher Teufel (F’13)

Apr 12, 2016

What do aquaponics and type-2 diabetes research have in common? Curiously enough it turns out that The Island School is the common link! Christopher Teufel attended The Island School in…

Alumni Spotlight: Andrieka Burrows (F’15)

Andrieka Burrows is the very first Island School student to present at the annual Bahamas Natural History Conference (BNHC) CEI and The Island School were well-represented at the regional 2016…

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: EMILY JENKINS & MEREDITH HOWE (Su’14)

Apr 6, 2016

Meredith Howe and Emily Jenkins from the Summer 2014 semester returned home to their sending schools with a goal to reduce the daily amount of plastic that they consumed. This…

Alumni Spotlight: Catherine Argyrople (Sp’14)

Mar 30, 2016

Catherine Argyrople from the Spring 2014 semester has recently exceeded all of her expectations when it comes to creating a business from scratch. We caught up with her to learn…

Alumni Spotlight: Anna Carrol (Sp’09)

Mar 22, 2016

The Island School recently had a chance to catch up with Anna Carrol from the Spring 2009 semester. She has moved out west to join a Military Veterans rehabilitation program…

Alumni Spotlight: Greg Henkes (Sp’03)

Mar 14, 2016

From left to right: David Green, Greg Henkes and Chris Maxey at a Board meeting in the Hamill residence We recently had a chance to catch up with Greg Henkes,…

Alumni Spotlight: Francesca Forrestal (F’99)

Mar 5, 2016

Recently, Francesca Forrestal of the F’99 semester became part of a very select group of Island School Alumni because she graduated from the University of Miami with a Ph.D. from…

Alumni Spotlight: Nicole McCallum (F’12)

Feb 22, 2016

Nicole McCallum (back row, second from the right) is from the Fall 2012 semester at The Island School and she has recently returned from a service trip to Tamale, Ghana.…

IS BESS students talk ponds at conferences

Christian McIntosh, a BESS scholar and a Fall 15 Inland Ponds Research Class student, recently presented the group’s work at the Abaco Science Alliance Conference.  This conference is a biannual event hosted by…

Alumni Spotlight: Spencer Elliot (Sp’09)

Feb 15, 2016

Spencer Elliot (pictured right) has been busy since he attended the Spring 2009 semester of The Island School. Spencer enrolled at Michigan State University and played football there through the…

Alumni Spotlight Gap Year Edition: Phoebe Colvin-Oehmig (F’15)

Feb 8, 2016

A first for the Alumni Spotlight column, Phoebe Colvin-Oehmig recently returned home after attending the Fall 2015 Gap Year program at The Island School. She graduated from Waynflete in Portland,…

Alumni Spotlight: Krissy Truesdale (F’13)

Dec 30, 2015

Island School Alumna Krissy Truesdale (pictured right) from the F’13 Island School semester has been working tirelessly to bring solar power to the East Coast since before her time on…

Alumni Spotlight Drew Ginsberg (Su’15)

Dec 22, 2015

Island School alum Drew Ginsberg (pictured left) of the recently graduated Summer 2015 semester has been working to make a difference in extraordinary ways in his community. Through his family’s…

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT: MARGAUX BURNHAM (F’10)

Dec 14, 2015

Margaux Burnham, an alumna from the Fall 2010 semester is currently a junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She has recently completed a semester abroad with the SEA Semester…

Abby Gordon S’14 Returns as a Communications Intern

Sep 17, 2015

Looking back on my time as an Island School student, the question everyone asked was “will it be hard to leave this place and go back home?”  Although I met…

IS Alumni Back on the Cape this Summer

We want to welcome back all of The Island School alumni who have returned to Cape Eleuthera and giving back this summer!   This summer, Griffin Hunt (F’11) is working…

Alumni Spotlight: Katie Romanov (F’05) and Emma Payne (S’10)

Jun 11, 2015

Island School connections are everywhere! We recently heard from Fall 2005 IS alumna Katie Romanov and Spring 2010 alumna Emma Payne who are working together on an incredible project–to bring a…

Alumni Spotlight: Carter Brown (S’09)!

Apr 22, 2015

Congratulations to Spring 2009 alumnus Carter Brown on his impressive finish at The Seneca7 Relay Race this past weekend in Geneva, NY. He and his other 6 teammates, team “Fish…

Alumni Spotlight: Hunter Foote (F’10)!

Apr 8, 2015

Fall 2010 Island School alumna, Hunter Foote, is launching her own media company called Laurel and wanted the opportunity to share her endeavor with The Island School alumni community. Laurel was…

Alumni Spotlight: Margot Werner (Su’13)!

Mar 13, 2015

Earlier this week, Chicago Blackhawk players, staff and members of the greater Illinois hockey community gathered together at the 28th Annual High School Scholarship Awards Luncheon to honor the three high…

Alumnus James Murray (F’11) Returns to the Cape as an Intern

Feb 2, 2015

“Just over three years ago I was rumbling along in a van on my way from Rock Sound to The Island School, clutching my backpack tightly and wondering what I had…

Alumni Spotlight: Francis Joyce (F’07)

Jan 21, 2015

Francis Joyce attended The Island School in Fall 2007 and went on to continue his studies at Bowdoin College, graduating in May 2013. Since then, he has been working in…

Alumni Spotlight: Will Cembalest (S’14)!

Oct 27, 2014

It is a difficult decision to choose to stray from the typical high school path and attend The Island School for a semester. It is especially difficult when you are a top-performing…

Alumni Spotlight: Krissy Taft (S’09)!

Oct 22, 2014

Krissy Taft, a Spring 2009 Island School alumna, is in her final semester at Middlebury College and has been very focused on senior thesis, which concerns the efficient use of…

Alumni Spotlight: Danny Goldman (S’13)

Oct 1, 2014

About a year ago, The Lawrenceville Island School Club set out to fundraise enough money to purchase a solar suitcase from We Care Solar. We Care Solar is a nonprofit…

Alumni Spotlight: Scott Voigt (S’14)

Sep 19, 2014

Alumnus Scott Voigt was so inspired by the active lifestyle he led during his Spring 2014 semester at The Island School that he signed up to participate in a Half…

Alumni Spotlight: Krissy Truesdale (F’13)!

Jun 19, 2014

Fall 2013 alumna Krissy Truesdale had an impressive resume even before she attended The Island School this year, having started her own charity, Solar for Our Superheroes. Since returning home…

Follow Up on Alumni Spotlight: Jenny Sherman (F’08)!

May 12, 2014

A few weeks ago, we shared with you the story of a Fall 2008 alumna, Jenny Sherman, who was chosen from countless entries to speak at Duke University’s Commencement Ceremony.…

Faculty Alumni Spotlight: Nathan Weathington!

May 8, 2014

Many of our Island School alumni had the privilege of being taught by former faculty member Nathan Weathington (Fall 2001-Spring 2005). Nathan taught math class, but I’m sure many of…

Alumni Spotlight: Jenny Sherman (F’08)

Apr 22, 2014

Fall 2008 alumna, Jenny Sherman, has been selected to deliver the student speech at Duke University’s commencement ceremony next month. She was chosen from 30 graduate and undergraduate students who…

Alumni Spotlight: Hanna Koch (F’06)

Dec 4, 2013

Fall 2006 alumna, Hanna Koch recently launched a new business venture called Philanshopit, an online storefront committed to selling products from partners who “have a clear social impact statement in their…

IS Alumnus Releases Debut Album

Oct 17, 2013

Fall 2010 alumnus, Will Overman, recently released his debut album, “Son”, available on iTunes (https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/son/id725616876?ign-mpt=uo%3D4) and cdbaby. Will has an impressive resume both within the music world, having opened for the…

Smith Marks (F’06) Visits IS While Working in the Exumas

Sep 13, 2013

Last week, Fall 2006 alumnus, Smith Marks, graced The Island School campus with his presence. Smith, who graduated from University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill, is now studying architectural technology…

Alumni Spotlight: Marcus Spallek (S’99)

Sep 9, 2013

Marcus Spallek met Chris Maxey as a student at The Lawrenceville School when Marcus joined the wrestling team as a sophomore in 1997. Marcus was one of the 21 pioneer…

Alumni Spotlight: Tessa Tracy (F’11)!

Jun 6, 2013

Fall 2011 alumna, Tessa Tracy, returned to her high school, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, after her semester and needed a way to channel her Island School energy before she…

Get on the Bus!

Apr 25, 2013

On Friday April 5th, Fall 2012 alumna Cate Ellison participated in “Get on the Bus”, an event organized by Amnesty International. She travelled from Boston to New York City to…

Alumni Spotlight: Justin Drazin (F’05)!

Mar 1, 2013

Island School alumnus of Fall 2005, Justin Drazin, recently published his first children’s book called “Albert and the Amazing Pillow Monsters”. On why he wanted to begin writing children’s books,…

Alumni Spotlight: Mina Bartovics (S’01)!

Jan 31, 2013

Island School alumna, Mina Bartovics (S’01) recently began a 6-month adventure in India! As she travels around, she will be teaching science to women and children, as well as working…

Alumni Spotlight: Will Overman (F’10)!

Jan 2, 2013

Fall 2010 alum Will Overman recently conquered a huge feat. He hiked the entire, 2,200-mile Appalachian Trial, which runs from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. Will…

Alumni Spotlight: Dominique Keefe (S’07)!

Dec 19, 2012

We love hearing from our alumni, especially when they fill us in on all the interesting things they are doing in their lives post-Island School! Dominique Keefe, alumna of Spring…

Alumni Spotlight: Katie Romanov F05!

Feb 8, 2012

After leading Middlebury’s Solar Decathalon team to an impressive fourth place finish in 2011, Katie Romanov (F05) is now in the running to be America’s Next Eco-Star, a contest sponsored…

Alumni Spotlight: Ami Adams S11!

Oct 28, 2011

Congratulations to Spring 2011 alumna, Ami Adams who was named Agriscience Student of the Year Runner Up at the 84th National FFA Convention! She was awarded this honor based on…

Alumni Spotlight–Matt (S08) and Will (S06) McCalpin

Nov 10, 2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p32wsTK1vm8&feature=player_embedded Check out alumni brothers Matt and Will McCalpin, members of Princeton’s elite all-male a cappella group the Tigertones, singing the national anthem at the San Diego Chargers home game…

Alumni Spotlight!–Jephta Sullivan

Jun 14, 2010

Check out this story about New York Harbor School’s oyster project on NY1 news, featuring IS Alum Jephta Sullivan (F07)!