Alumnus Kent Bicknell ’65 Addresses Community at 192nd Convocation

Kent Bicknell ’65 grew up the son of the Athletic Director at New Hampton School, but spent a considerable amount of time buried in books, a passion that led him to find inspiration in authors like Thoreau and Emerson, as well as various Hindu scribes. Bicknell—Headmaster of the Sant Bani School in Sanbornton — ignited the passions of New Hampton students on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, as the Keynote Speaker at the School’s 192nd Convocation exercises.

"Too often education takes a straight cut ditch out of a meandering brook," said Bicknell, quoting Thoreau.

Bicknell stressed that New Hampton School allowed him to become the student he wanted to be, and allowed him to think independently and discover a passion. It led to a successful stint at Yale as an undergraduate and influenced him in his determination to become an educator.

An independent scholar interested in the New England Transcendentalists and their interest in Eastern Wisdom Traditions, Bicknell challenged students to engage and involve themselves in the life and activities of the school, but also take pause to consider what is going on in their own minds.

“Build moments of reflection into our lives,” Bicknell said.

Student Body President Ryder Arsenault ’13, who like Bicknell grew up on campus, and Head of School Andrew Menke also offered remarks. Five new students were inducted into the Cum Laude Society:Jason Mark Alexander ’13, Ryder James Arsenault ’13, Jae Hoon Jang ’13, Duyen Thuy Luu, ’13 Emily Amanda Moulton ’13.