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THE HILL NEWS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2026!

By AYAAN REGE ’26 & AVERY COHEN ’26

SGA CO-PRESIDENTS

There’s a moment that happens at the end of every Hill year when campus begins to feel different. The Quad grows quieter. Dorm rooms slowly empty. 6th formers start taking pictures of places they passed every day without ever thinking twice about them. Suddenly, the routines that once felt ordinary begin to feel meaningful because you realize they are ending.

And somehow, after four years of imagining what this moment would feel like, we are here.

When we first stepped into our roles as SGA co-presidents, we talked a lot about what we wanted this year to be. We wanted school spirit to feel contagious. We wanted students to feel heard. We wanted people to laugh more, participate more, and feel more connected to this community that has given all of us so much. More than anything, we wanted to help create a school year that people would genuinely remember.

Looking back now, we can confidently say: we did it.

Not because every plan worked perfectly. Not because every initiative went exactly as expected. But because this year felt alive.

It felt alive during Lawrenceville Week, when campus transformed into something electric and the entire community rallied behind one another with unmatched pride. It felt alive during spirit events, advisory competitions, chapel talks, performances, games under the lights, and ordinary weekday lunches that somehow turned into memories we’ll carry forever. It felt alive in the student section, in the dorms late at night, in classrooms where discussions lasted after the bell, and in moments that reminded us why Hill is unlike anywhere else.

One of the greatest privileges of serving as co-presidents has been getting a front-row seat to the people who make this place extraordinary. The students who lead quietly without needing recognition. The teachers who stay long after class to help someone struggling. The coaches, advisers, dorm parents, dining hall workers, maintenance staff, and administrators who pour themselves into this community every single day. Hill is not special because of its buildings or traditions alone. It is special because of the people who choose, every day, to care deeply about this place and about each other.

This year also reminded us that community is built through participation. Some of the most memorable moments came from students simply deciding to show up: showing up to games, showing up to support their friends, showing up to events they normally wouldn’t attend, showing up for conversations that mattered. School spirit has never really been about decorations or themes—it’s about investment. It’s about choosing to contribute something to the community instead of just passing through it.

And this year, you all did exactly that.

A Year in Recap: 6th form year

A selection of photos on and off campus from the 25-26 school year selected by the editorial team

As 6th formers preparing to graduate, we’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on what Hill has taught us. When we arrived here as 3rd formers, many of us believed success at Hill meant checking boxes: making teams, earning titles, building résumés, collecting accomplishments. While those things can certainly matter, we eventually realized the most important parts of this experience cannot really be measured: the friendships that changed us, the people who believed in us before we believed in ourselves, the conversations we still think about months later, the moments of failure that quietly shaped our resilience, and the communities that made us feel known.

Those are the things that endure.

With gratitude,

Avery Cohen & Ayaan Rege SGA Co-Presidents

VERBA VOLANT, SCRIPTA MANENT

From Hill to Tufts: track athletes Latham and Ansu get ready for another four years together

Latham ’26, writing about Ansu ’26: If I tried to tell the story of my Hill career without Josh Ansu, it would feel incomplete. So much of my time at Hill has been spent beside him, whether we were pretending to work in

the library, staying late after practice, or driving to New York for meets that once felt bigger than us. On a campus that felt so foreign to me, Josh felt familiar. He reminded me of home in a way I could not fully explain yet, but somehow immediately trusted. Josh never had to try hard to bring people

in; he just had a way of making you feel like you already belonged.

I remember one of the first times we talked was on the first day of 4th form year during C period. Josh and I joked about our old schools: the people we knew and how strange it was that we both ended up at Hill. During our free period, we would sit in the library with our laptops open, pretending to do homework while talking about music, experiences from home, and jokes that definitely weren’t that funny to anyone but us. Before Josh was my teammate, he was one of the first people who made me feel like I could be myself.

That friendship followed on the track, where he became someone I could count on. I had only picked up jumping that year, and most days I felt like I was learning long jump alone. Josh was new too, but in contrast to what I struggled to grasp, he never felt the need to hide. He tried, he messed

up, laughed, and tried again. Watching him made me realize confidence was never something I had to fake, but I had the privilege to build. By 5th form year, training with Josh became one of the biggest parts of my life at Hill. With Coach Fischer’s help, we stayed after practice, trained over breaks, and went to New York for meets we knew would humble us. Josh and I never had the perfect plan. Most times, it was the two of us, trying to get better, believing that if we kept showing up, the work would eventually become something. It did! Coincidentally, our success always seemed to happen side by side, literally on the same days; these moments meant so much more because they were shared. For Josh and me, they were not just marks or golden names on an old wooden board. They carried every late practice, every extra rep, and the quiet way Josh kept pushing me forward when I needed it most.

When Tufts first came into my recruiting process, Josh was the one who immediately saw something in it. I gave him Coach Ben’s information, and slowly, the idea of competing together in college became real. On my official visit, when Coach Ben asked me about Josh on the way back to the airport, I remember looking up and laughing because I didn’t exactly know where to begin.

Josh is one of my best friends at Hill. He is the kind of person who listens to me when I need it the most, pushes me when I’m tired, and reminds me, without making a big speech out of it, that I’m more than capable. That’s the kind of teammate he is. He shows up for people, always. When I think about going to Tufts, I still get nervous about the big step up, but I also know I’m not walking in it alone. Of everything Hill gave me, I’m especially grateful it gave me a teammate like Josh.

Ansu ’26, writing about Latham ’26: I remember first meeting Harper at the new student orientation at the start of the 2023-2024 school year. We were both new 4th formers, and we bonded over the fact that we both did track. At this point in my life, track and field was nothing but another extracurricular to me, as I had quit it at my old high school and was only planning to pick it back up because of the co-curricular requirement at Hill. Little did I know that she would be one of the main factors that pushed track and field into the foreground of my life.

Harper was someone I looked up to, on and off the track. She always has this vibrant energy behind everything she does, which I appreciate on days when I’m not feeling the best. But, on the contrary, she’s also extremely driven and focused, being able to lock in when the moment calls

for it. Even before we did track and field together, since I only did it during the spring term of my fourth form year here, she managed to wiggle her way into my life by being a friendly face around campus. Once I actually found myself at practices in the spring, I very quickly found how much Harper cared about not only the sport itself, but also the people around her. She always hypes people up at practice or during meets, checks up on people when they’re not doing the best, and is always a source of positive energy for anyone, no matter what.

She’s also one of the main reasons I became serious about track. She invited me to go to a more competitive track meet in New York at The Nike Track & Field Center at the infamous Armory even waking up early and driving the whole way there and back. We would attend one or two more of these track meets, bonding over long conversations about random things and good music as well. She

would always walk away from these meets with a medal, which is nothing but a testament to how incredibly talented a track athlete she is.

Harper’s main event is the long jump. Because jumps are my main events too, we often practice together. Seeing her work incredibly hard in practice is the driving force I often need to push myself harder, too. She’s always asking our favorite coach, Coach Fischer, “Can I do one more short approach?” or “Can I please do one more rep?” even after an incredibly heavy and difficult day of practice. That incredible drive and determination are what push me daily, and I truly wouldn’t be half the athlete I am today without someone like Harper pushing me along.

Through the treacherous “Jumpers Delight” workouts that Coach Fischer would put us through, to the terrible sled-push and weighted vest workouts we’d do over the summer in preparation for Nation-

als, we’ve gone through and done so much together.

I’ve seen Harper shatter incredible long jump records and perform amazing feats, and I’ve also seen her hobble around the track on crutches after breaking her foot doing A-Skips No matter what the girl does, she always has a giddy smile on her face that can brighten anyone’s day. Unlike most people, I

have the privilege of being able to call her my teammate for four more years at Tufts University. She’s also one of the main reasons I’m going there as well, as she connected me with their jumping coach. I’m so happy that she’s been not only an amazing teammate, but also one of my best friends for these past three years, and I can’t wait for the next four at Tufts with her.

STAFF WRITER

By HARPER LATHAM ’26

STAFF WRITER

By JOSH ANSU ’26

PHOTO BY ELLA ROSS ’26

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL PIXEVETY

SATIRE: Open your wallet because Hill tithes never sever

By GRIFFIN HOPPER ’26

STAFF WRITER

Most quotes and policies are fictional. Facts marked with an asterisk are drawn directly from public record. The author regrets that several of them sound made up.

The Hill School announced Monday the introduction of a mandatory alumni tithe, requiring all graduates to surrender 10% of their gross income to the school in perpetuity. Administrators called the policy “a long-overdue formalization of what alumni already owe.”

“We have always believed in the formation of the whole person,” said an alumni spokesperson, speaking beneath the stained glass window of the Hill logo in the Alumni Chapel. Built in 1904, the Chapel was the first alumni gift, an act the school describes as the moment that “began the history of giving back to The Hill.”* It has been vigorously continuing that history ever since.

The school noted that The Hill Fund, its existing annual alumni donation drive, already

generates 10% of the school’s operating budget.* Asked whether the tithe had therefore been in effect for years, the alumni office said the question was “spiritually unproductive.”

The tithe will be collected automatically via a payment processor called GivingBack™, developed in partnership with the school’s advancement office, which manages approximately $225 million, roughly $425,000 per enrolled student.* Peer institutions Deerfield ($532 million), Lawrenceville ($460 million), and Choate ($444 million) were unavailable for comment, though their endowment figures were.*

Alumni will be sorted into giving tiers. Those earning under $60,000 annually will be recognized as Friends of the Hill. Those earning over $500,000 will be invited into the existing 1851 Society. Named for the school’s founding year rather than any divine authority, the distinction has begun to blur, entitling them to naming rights over campus features. Available dedications include a bench in the steam tunnels and a plaque in the Wendell bathroom, both starting at $12,000.

The school projects that the 100% alumni participation will close the endowment gap within 40 years. Current participation in The Hill Fund stands at just over 20%.*

Central to the rollout is the preexisting Alumni Ambassador program, which the school describes as “the highest honor a graduating class can bestow upon one of its own.” Each spring, the 6th form class votes to elect an ambassador: a democratic exercise that results, without the voters fully appreciating it, in appointing someone to spend the next several years asking those same voters for money. The position is unpaid. It is also, technically, paid for: Ambassadors are asked to remain dues-paying members of the alumni community while organizing it.*

The tithe grants all alumni access to the Hill Alumni Network™, marketed under the slogan “Hill ties never sever.” The network is a LinkedIn group with 340 members, last active in 2019, and a PDF alumni directory that bounces approximately 60% of the time. Its primary documented function is for ambassadors to contact alumni to discuss

giving. The network, in other words, exists mainly to sustain the network.

Hill alumnus Oliver Stone ‘64, reached for comment, said he had hated the school, called it monastic, and described the food as horrible.* It is unclear whether he participates in The Hill Fund. Reaction among seniors was mixed, though many expressed something close to relief.

“Honestly? Good,” said Nat Diamond ‘26, who asked not to be named. “At least now they’re just taking it. Call it a tithe, set

up a direct deposit, and leave me alone. No need to guilt me on a Sunday afternoon for it.”

Several classmates nodded; one of whom had just been elected Alumni Ambassador.

The school emphasized that the tithe is separate from voluntary donations, though still expected on top of it. The Hill School’s motto is “Whatsoever things are true.” The school did not respond to questions about whether this applied to its fundraising materials.

Hoffman and McConney reflect on their time as form advisers to the Class of 2026

By MICHELLE LAWRENCE

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

From 3rd form year to now, 6th form advisers, David Hoffman ’01 and Laura McConney, have been there to witness the tremendous growth of the class of 2026. Hoffman describes this growth as “night and day different”, referencing the first major email he sent regarding inappropriate behavior in chapel in September 2022 and the growth in maturity of the form since that time.

Form meetings regarding behavior continued to be a common occurrence throughout the year, most notably the meeting in the chapel towards the end of the year where McConney “laid

into us the way that we were carrying ourselves as a group.” But instead of shutting off following the meeting, McConney noted that the class of 2026 recognized that it was a wake-up call and since then.

“People have been thoughtful and changed in so many ways,” McConney said. “People are genuinely nice to each other and able to have conversations with anyone, who is not necessarily a friend, and it isn’t weird.”

“We have so many just good kids in this class,” Hoffman added. With 158 members of the graduating class and thus 158 different personalities, Hoffman mentioned how the class of 2026 is “special group of kids from a

Editors-in-Chief

Elizabeth Zhang ’26

Ethan Ryu ’26

Ambrose Cole ’26

Shinyu Zhang ’27, Ryan Qiu ‘26, Ethan Luo ‘26

Michelle Lawrence ’26, Ryan Qiu ’26 Taylor Timbrook ’26

Adam Yao ’26

Arkadi Bindar ’26

Richard Liu ’26

Max Yang ’27

Lilian Cheng ’27

Staff Writers & Staff Contributers Josh Ansu ’26, Martina Chai ’27, Avery Cohen ’26, Griffin Hopper ’26, Harper Latham ’26, Ayaan Rege ’26

Faculty Advisers Alec Swartz, Nancy Body

community standpoint, caring standpoint, intentionality standpoint,” also pointing out that the class is full of many strong leaders. Hoffman particularly felt that the class has truly embodied the sentiment of “leadership goes far beyond titles.”

“The depth and quality of student leadership in our class is quite rare,” McConney said. “Kids have listened to feedback and responded, tried to embody characteristics of people they look up to.”

As leaders, the class of 2026 has also been teachers to their form advisers.

“I feel like I’ve learned how to relish in the joy that others are experiencing,” McConney said. Her favorite things to do are to watch the 6th formers enjoy something, whether this is spikeball on the quad or formal events. The class helped her learn “how to find joy in the small things a little bit more often” and to not take life so seriously all the time.

For Hoffman, this year, he celebrated his 25th anniversary since graduation. Hoffman felt that this anniversary helped him forge a special bond with the Class of 2026.

“Going through this and living here with kids, going through life together with them, really creates such a strong connection because you’re not just living with them, but sharing experiences with them,” Hoffman said.

As such, the most memorable moments for both McConney and Hoffman have been with the entire form, at most notably the 5th form whitewater rafting trip and overnight 6th form retreat. Hoffman recounted that “my fun usually comes at the expense of

others,” referring to the segment of the whitewater rafting trip where the wrestling team along with Hoffman took everyone else’s buckets and dumped water on them.

McConney’s favorite memories go farther back, citing returning 4th formers not leaving new 4th formers to be by themselves during the 4th form retreat to Dorney Park.

With the 175th Commencement Exercises upon us, McConney and Hoffman prepare to leave the class that they’ve led together for 4 years. McConney urges the class of 2026 to “con-

tinue to cultivate relationships that are made here, continue to care about others around you.” Though things won’t be the same, she reminds the form that the relationships don’t have to end. Finally, Hoffman, too, has his own parting words for the graduating class.

“Life’s hard, but ultimately it’s your life and when you take ownership of it, you’ll like certain things,” Hoffman said. “You’re the only one that can change it and there’s power in that. Don’t depend on others for your happiness.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF HILL PIXEVETY

ILLUSTRATION BY MARTINA CHAI ’27

Ryan Qiu

CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

After my time with The Hill News and with Hill comes to an end, I should share some things with our readers in this final issue.

Firstly, Thank you all. Thank you to everyone who has picked up our paper and flipped through it, even if only for seconds, even if you hadn’t read even an article. In my opinion, a school newspaper only matters if people are willing to meet it halfway. It needs writers and editors, but it also needs readers. Seeing someone notice the paper after hours of editing articles, layouts, and illustrations—hours spent on fixing something very minute—has always been my purpose in these four years of contributing.

I started working on The Hill News in my 4th form year through the afternoon activity. My first article was about the local nuclear plant, which was a wonderfully strange first assignment because it made me feel like a serious journalist while also reminding me that I was only starting out. The paper taught me its first lesson here: to try things before you have a very polished reason for trying them. I did not know, when I started, that the paper would become so important to me. Most meaningful things at Hill require your exploration. Slowly, something as random as this multimedia assignment became part of how I presented

myself to others, and how I’ve understood my role at Hill.

After serving as the features editor during my 5th form year, I was chosen as Editor-in-Chief for my 6th, where I served a somewhat unconventional role. Along with editing writing, I spent a lot of time editing layouts, making art, and developing strong opinions about little thing that don’t seem like they matter. It may sound abstract, but small things matter. A sentence, for instance, can be bettered by a single word, just as an additional margin can make an entire layout flow coherently. That said, small things can also become a trap. At some point, you have to stop adjusting the margin and send the issue to print. This is true of newspapers, and probably of life, though life probably runs more smoothly than inDesign.

My last piece of advice is to make things with other people. Writing and art can often seem like solitary tasks, partly because of our impressions of writers and artists. Editing, layout, and newspaper work can ruin that loneliness. They force your ideas into contact with other people’s taste, their timing, their stubborn beliefs, and their unique brilliance. Our final drafts have never been what one person imagined.

Never be afraid to try something new: thank you to journalism for changing my life

Having been involved with the Hill News since 3rd form year, it is bittersweet thinking about how this is the last thing that I’ll write for The Hill News. While I don’t fully remember how I found out about Hill News, I do know that one day I reached out to one of the editors-in-chief that year, and the next thing I knew, I was working on my first Hill News article.

I first discovered journalism during the summer of 2020 when I attended a virtual summer camp founded by a few parents from my old school in Maryland. One of the teachers at the camp and her high-school age daughter who was on the newspaper staff at her school brought the idea of starting a newspaper to myself and the other campers, and that fall we produced our first issue of The Compass. I served as the culture section editor during the 2020-2021 school year and throughout my year with The Compass, not only did I learn the unique style of journalism writing but also saw my writing and editing skills improve tremendously and previously established relationships blossom.

Coming to Hill, I knew that I wanted to continue to be involved with journalism because of my positive experience with The Compass and my newly formed passion. I also thought that it would have been a good way to make new friends as I didn’t know anyone who was also entering Hill that year. Progressing from staff writer my 3rd form year, to Campus News section editor for my 4th and 5th form years, and now editor-in-chief, I have learned about all the aspects of the newspaper production process that are integral to creating a good, captivating school newspaper.

I’m especially grateful for my time spent as co-editor-in-chief this year. Not only was I able to meet new writers and editors who share my passion for journalism and continue to develop pre-existing relationships but also had the opportunity to serve as co-chair of the election committee. Through this

role, I learned more about the inner workings of the SGA, gained additional experience conducting interviews, and moderated two debates. Though I’d known most of the SGA co-presidential election and rising 6th form representative candidates from previous activities, there were some I didn’t know, and I truly enjoyed getting to work with and hear more about them. Thank you to my fellow co-chair, Richard Liu ‘26, and other Election Committee members for such a wonderful experience.

As my time with Hill News comes to a close, I think about how none of these experiences would have been possible if I hadn’t applied to be a section editor for The Compass in middle school. Similar to how I stepped out of my comfort zone 3rd form year to try XC as I mentioned in my chapel talk earlier this year, I took a leap of faith and entered the arena of journalism: something I’d never studied or even heard about beforehand. As you continue to be exposed to new environments and opportunities, I encourage you to explore them open-mindedly.

Before I close, I’d like to thank those who have been instrumental in my journey this year. Thank you to my fellow Editor-in-Chief, Ryan Qiu ‘26 for being an amazing partner and for always working diligently on the layout even with extremely quick turnaround times after I edited all the articles. Thank you to our amazing editorial team and staff writers for their hard work and our faculty advisor, Alec Swartz ‘13 for his guidance.

Finally, I’d like to thank you, Hill Community, for your unwavering support of The Hill News. While this year saw some delays, I am grateful for your attentiveness to all the articles we published, both in print and online. I’m positive that The Hill News is in good hands with our 2026-2027 Co-Editorsin-Chief, Max Yang ‘27 and Michael Pham ‘27. Thank you again and I wish everyone the best!

CO-EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

RYAN QIU ’26

MICHELLE LAWRENCE’26

PHOTO BY RICHARD LIU ’26

PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE LAWRENCE ’26

Letter from Features Editor Ambrose Cole

By AMBROSE COLE ’26

FEATURES EDITOR

Well, it looks like my time with the Hill News and at Hill is coming to an end. With that said, it’s probably right that I add something to this final issue I’ve had the honor to be a part of and impart a little message for readers.

First of all, thank you. Whether this is the first issue you’ve picked up or if you’ve been a consistent reader over the years, the people who read the Hill News are what make the work we do possible. Also, my fleeting passion for journalism is fed only by the validation of seeing people pick up the paper during the school day.

Secondly, reflecting on my time with the Hill News, I’ve found a number of roles that have allowed me to experience journalism from each step of the process. As a wideeyed staff writer, I raised my hand high in the sky at the first article that interested me during each budget meeting, which usually didn’t take long at all. I combed through article shell notes, conducted interviews with faculty and external professionals, and wrote way-too-long articles that ended up being cut to about half their length. As off-campus editor, I continued to pursue the section I found my home in, advocating for balanced perspectives and synthesizing info from my too-often news reading into stories to work with writers

on. This year, as features editor, I sought to combine my off-campus experience with inventive ideas to cross section boundaries.

Getting the chance to write, read, and edit articles about topics I may be incredibly interested in or overwhelmingly bored by has given me a unique chance to view the world through a new lens. The Hill News has given me so much over the years, but more than anything, the chance to put something out there for people to enjoy has been by far the most meaningful. As a 4th former desperately seeking to make an impact on Hill early, I struggled in various areas to find my platform and move people. Joining the Hill News as a staff writer immediately gave me that opportunity, along with levels of trust from the editors I had never received before.

As such, I cannot recommend more that any Hill student interested in journalism, our school, or just conveying ideas to people take on writing an article for THN. You never know if that single article will begin a journey of empowerment, leadership, and fulfilling impact that might just sweep you away and have you spending your Thursday nights drafting story shells for the next generation after you.

Letter from Arts & Leisure Editor Richard Liu

By RICHARD LIU ’26

I remember my first contact with The Hill News being this Junior Prize Day article that the Co-Editor-inChief at the time, Jason Zhou ’23, asked me to write. I was a 3rd former, and I remember nothing about that article, but I could still find it if I looked it up on the website. I do have the distinct recollection that, at the time, I was becoming a part of something much bigger than myself and the opinion article I was writing.

My second interaction with Hill News came in collaboration with my friend Adam Yao ’26. As a writer, I had always been interested in sharing student writing through platforms at the school. What better place than the school newspaper? I had a conversation with Adam, who was the section editor for arts & leisure at the time. Just like that: the literature panel in Arts and Leisure was born. I began asking fellow student writers for their work. The submitted and featured panels would range from introspective prose on conflicted friendships to lighthearted poetry about afternoon tea. I was especially proud of this dynamic range of styles that the panel shared. The scale, specifically the simultaneous vastness and proximity of Hill News’ topics, was one of my favorite parts about it.

I remember I was also a staff illustrator for pieces in arts and leisure. I

EDITOR

was off at the Disney trip for choir, and my section editor desperately needed me to illustrate a visual for a song for the Valentine’s Day issue. I spent around four hours painting a detailed rendition of “Everything I Know About Love” by Laufey. To my surprise, when I paged through the issue that came out two weeks later, the piece that I had pulled an all-nighter to paint was featured at a microscopic 1x2 inches next to a massive minimalist piece that covered half the page. I am still bitter about that.

Then I became the Section Editor for Arts and Leisure. I’ve been invested in the arts my entire life. Perhaps it’s because all the girls I’ve ever liked have been artsy, but it’s given me ample experience to bring the artistic vision I’ve always seen to the Hill News. I included that same dynamic range of the literature panel into the entire section, moving from topics such as Bruno Mars’ gambling addiction to the discrepancy of animation between studios. It was truly an inspiring and learning experience, but most importantly, I had the privilege of working on the newspaper with some of my closest friends. Ryan, my roommate, was the editor-in-chief, and so many of my other friends were section editors. It truly felt like we were shaping the core of The Hill News together.

ARTS & LEISURE

PHOTO BY RYAN QIU ’26