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The LeBuhn Siblings Head to Harvard
H
by Stephanie Watson
Harvard Here They Come
PADUCAH TILGHMAN GRADUATES BEN AND KATE LEBUHN ARE HEADING TO THE IVY LEAGUE
FOR MOST OF US, THE WORDS IVY League conjure images of ivy-covered facades, curious students huddled in cozy libraries, lively debates among tree-lined quads, and generations of prestigious alum. With a history that reaches back to 1636 as the first institute of higher learning in our country— and an acceptance rate of a mere four percent—Harvard University is arguably the best-known and most competitive of this league. With lists of graduates that include United States presidents, Nobel Laureates, and numerous researchers and academics who have changed the world, it’s no surprise that Harvard is such an American icon. But for the LeBuhn siblings, Harvard represents much more than status or even participating in the continuation of a prestigious history. For Kate and Ben, attending Harvard offers a higher calling: the pursuit of knowledge and learning for its own sake. “Harvard appealed to us because it really is a scholarly place where we can explore academically while meeting new people and experiencing a whole new environment,” Ben explains. “It’s exciting to see the opportunities we’ll have to take courses that truly interest us while still preparing for a career.” The siblings, who are just 16 months apart in age, knew attending Harvard would be a goal for them at an early age.
Kate and Ben LeBuhn’s interest in Harvard started when they attended their mother’s class reunion as elementary school students. The historic structures and hive of academic activity captured their imagination, igniting a spark that would drive their academic careers. Kate, who is 18 and graduated from Paducah Tilghman High School in May 2022, refers to Harvard as her “reach school,” but one
BEN AND KATE LEBUHN
look at her resume would indicate that this reach wasn’t much of a stretch. Along with maintaining a GPA that allowed her to graduate second in her class and a list of accolades that impress, a wide variety of extra curriculars made her a well-rounded candidate when it came time to apply. From soccer, dance, and tennis to banjo, cello, and hand bells, it seems there isn’t much that Kate can’t do. As a UNESCO Global Youth Orchestra Delegate, she travelled to Incheon, South Korea to play in an orchestra alongside youth groups from UNESCO cities across the world, and she has served as a youth community leader in several capacities including Rotary Interact, Youth LEAD, and Sustainability Club. She has been awarded AP Scholar with Honors, Kentucky Governor’s Scholar, and PTHS Class of 2022 Distinguished Student. Ben, who is 19 and graduated in May of 2021 from Paducah Tilghman, also excels in in sports, academics, music, and leadership. He’s played football, tennis, and golf, and participated in band, mock trial, national Honors Society, the academic team, and various other clubs. He has been awarded AP Scholar with Honors. After graduating, Ben was accepted to Harvard but decided to take a gap year before attending. Last fall, he volunteered with the nonprofit Living Lands and Waters, living on a barge on the Ohio River while participating in river cleanup efforts. In January of 2022, Ben left work on the river to intern in the United States Senate, immersing himself in the political world and gaining first-hand experience with the interworking of government. While the siblings will be Public Memorial Hall at Harvard University in Boston entering as freshmen together, their housing placements have put them on opposite ends of the campus, allowing them to be there for one another while also building their own experiences. Ben, who hopes to study history and literature, is considering law school after graduation, but he isn’t restricting himself just yet. “I think there are a lot of careers that the study of history could prepare me for,” he notes. “I plan to use my time in college figuring out exactly what that is.” Kate is hoping to eventually explore the medical field, possibly even following in her father’s footsteps as an infectious disease specialist, but she’s not planning to go strictly pre-med. Kate plans to pursue a history of science concentration, which pairs the study of anthropology with global health while also allowing her to complete pre-med requirements. The pair also plans to continue their tradition of exploring both sports and the arts. Ben hopes to join club tennis and Kate is looking into the Harvard dance company. They also hope to form a bluegrass jam band— Kate plays the banjo and Ben plays the mandolin—to replace the one they currently play in with their parents.
So how do parents raise not one, but two children who make it to Harvard? According to the siblings, it’s all about providing a village of support and encouraging lots of reading. “Our parents and grandparents always encouraged us to do our best,” Kate says. “When there is a core group of people that want to see you succeed, it makes it a lot easier to do the work it takes to get there.” “They also always encouraged us to read a lot of books when we were young,” Ben adds. “I think that really created an early love of learning for us.” Outside of their family support system, both Kate and Ben believe they can credit their experiences in the Paducah Public School system for much of their success. Both completed numerous advanced placement classes at Tilghman and participated in an array of academic and extracurricular activities that helped them to grow in diverse ways. “I feel so prepared for college from my time at Tilghman,” Ben says. “From the teachers, to AP course offerings, to the extracurricular opportunities, I felt just as prepared and just as competitive as any other student applying. I can’t think of another high school in the country I would have rather attended or another city where I would have preferred to grow up.”
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