Holderness School
Encyclopedia
The Holderness School is a private
, coeducational college-preparatory school
in Holderness
, near Plymouth
, New Hampshire
in the United States
. The student body of 275 is drawn from 22 U.S.
states and 14 foreign countries. While Holderness operates primarily as a boarding school
, it also enrolls 50 day students. The Head of School (headmaster) is R. Phillip Peck, M.Ed. In the summer the campus is used as a site for various Gordon Research Conferences
.
, the school retains some links with the denomination, but now conducts ecumenical chapel services and welcomes applicants of all faiths.
In 2010 its Boys Varsity Soccer Team won the Class C NEPSAC title.
in Holderness overlooking the town of Plymouth, population about 6,000, and home of Plymouth State University
and Speare Memorial Hospital. Holderness is about 110 miles (177 km) north of Boston. Access to Interstate 93
is within sight of the campus.
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, coeducational college-preparatory school
University-preparatory school
A university-preparatory school or college-preparatory school is a secondary school, usually private, designed to prepare students for a college or university education...
in Holderness
Holderness, New Hampshire
Holderness is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 2,108 at the 2010 census. An agricultural and resort area, Holderness is home to the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center and is located on Squam Lake...
, near Plymouth
Plymouth, New Hampshire
Plymouth is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States, in the White Mountains Region. Plymouth is located at the convergence of the Pemigewasset and Baker rivers. The population was 6,990 at the 2010 census...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The student body of 275 is drawn from 22 U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
states and 14 foreign countries. While Holderness operates primarily as a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, it also enrolls 50 day students. The Head of School (headmaster) is R. Phillip Peck, M.Ed. In the summer the campus is used as a site for various Gordon Research Conferences
Gordon Research Conferences
Gordon Research Conferences are international scientific conferences organized by a non-profit organization of the same name. The conference topics cover frontier research in the biological, chemical, and physical sciences, and their related technologies. The conferences have been held since...
.
History
Founded in 1879 under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of New HampshireEpiscopal Diocese of New Hampshire
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire, a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America , covers the entire state of New Hampshire. It was originally part of the Diocese of Massachusetts, but became independent in 1841. The see city is Concord...
, the school retains some links with the denomination, but now conducts ecumenical chapel services and welcomes applicants of all faiths.
In 2010 its Boys Varsity Soccer Team won the Class C NEPSAC title.
Location
The school is on high ground on the east side of the Pemigewasset RiverPemigewasset River
The Pemigewasset River , known locally as "The Pemi", is a river in the state of New Hampshire, the United States. It is in length and drains approximately...
in Holderness overlooking the town of Plymouth, population about 6,000, and home of Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University
Plymouth State University, formerly Plymouth State College, is a regional comprehensive university located in Plymouth, New Hampshire and part of the University System of New Hampshire....
and Speare Memorial Hospital. Holderness is about 110 miles (177 km) north of Boston. Access to Interstate 93
Interstate 93
Interstate 93 is an Interstate Highway in the New England section of the United States. Its southern terminus is in Canton, Massachusetts, in the Boston metropolitan area, at Interstate 95; its northern terminus is near St. Johnsbury, Vermont, at Interstate 91...
is within sight of the campus.
Facilities
Holderness School's 600 acres (2.4 km²) of land contains academic buildings, an outdoor covered ice rink, eight playing fields, 10 tennis courts, and 10 kilometers of cross-country trails. In the past few years, the school has built a new library and health center, and installed wireless computer networking. The Weld dining hall was renovated during the summer of 2008, and now the school is considering an upgrade to its outdoor ice hockey rink.Special programs
The freshman class participates in Project Outreach, a community service project. Artward Bound offers sophomores a 10-day program of intensive study with professional artists in disciplines such as glass-blowing, blacksmithing, African dance, and stand-up comedy. The "Outback" program is a cornerstone of life at Holderness. In Outback, juniors trek several days in a winter expedition, keep a personal journal, and experience three days solo under protective gear. In a "Senior Project," students go off-campus for work and study approved by advisors. Winter Carnival intramural competitions create team works of winter art and performance.Job program
Another key aspect of Holderness School is its unique "Job Program." Every student is required to perform a campus job, whether it is washing dishes at breakfast, leading a dormitory, or raking leaves. Students are not paid for these activities, but do their jobs as community members. The Job Program brings community closer and develops well-rounded students.Notable alumni
- Charles Bass, New HampshireNew HampshireNew Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
congressman - Olin BrowneOlin BrowneOlin Douglas Browne is an American professional golfer who plays on the PGA Tour as well as the Champions Tour.Browne was born in Washington, D.C. He graduated from St. Albans School in 1977. He then went on to Occidental College in 1981. He turned professional in 1984. He lives in Hobe Sound,...
, pro golfer - Robert CreeleyRobert CreeleyRobert Creeley was an American poet and author of more than sixty books. He is usually associated with the Black Mountain poets, though his verse aesthetic diverged from that school's. He was close with Charles Olson, Robert Duncan, Allen Ginsberg, John Wieners and Ed Dorn. He served as the Samuel P...
, poet - Chris DavenportChris DavenportChris Davenport, of Aspen, Colorado, is considered one of the world's most accomplished big mountain skiers. He has been called "one of North America's top 25 skiers by Skiing Magazine" and is a "two-time extreme skiing world champion" -Background:...
, ski mountaineer and film star - Angel Del Villar II, the rapper Homeboy SandmanHomeboy Sandman-Personal:Homeboy Sandman grew up in New York City and attended boarding school at New Hampshire’s Holderness School . He received an undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and subsequently enrolled in law school at Hofstra University...
- Nat FaxonNat Faxon-Life and career:Faxon is a graduate of Holderness School and Hamilton College, he is best known for his appearances in comedic films such as Orange County , Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story , and several Broken Lizard films including Beerfest...
, actor and comedian - Jeremy FoleyJeremy FoleyJeremy N. Foley is an American university sports administrator and former college athlete. Foley is currently the athletic director for the Florida Gators Division I sports program of the University of Florida located in Gainesville, Florida...
, University of FloridaUniversity of FloridaThe University of Florida is an American public land-grant, sea-grant, and space-grant research university located on a campus in Gainesville, Florida. The university traces its historical origins to 1853, and has operated continuously on its present Gainesville campus since September 1906...
athletic director - Tyler HamiltonTyler HamiltonTyler Hamilton is a former American professional road bicycle racer and former Olympic gold medalist. Hamilton became a professional cyclist in 1995, and during the 1999, 2000 and 2001 Tour de France was a teammate of Lance Armstrong who won those races.Hamilton appeared at the 2000 Summer...
, professional racing cyclist - Jed Hoyer, General Manager of the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
- Steve Jones, a founder of Teton Gravity ResearchTeton Gravity ResearchTeton Gravity Research is an extreme sport production company based in Teton Village, Wyoming. They have been producing skiing, snowboarding and surfing films since 1996 and are best known for films like Tangerine Dream and Anomaly. The films focus on world-class athletes skiing, snowboarding,...
- Nikki KimballNikki KimballNikki Kimball is an American distance runner specializing in the Ultramarathon. She ran her first 100-mile race at the Western States 100 Mile Endurance Run in 2004, and was the female winner. She was the winning female at Western States again in 2005 and 2007, becoming only the third woman to win...
, ultramarathoner - Brett LungerBrett LungerRobert Brett Lunger is a former racecar driver from the United States. Lunger was educated in dancing schools in Wilmington, the Holderness School, and Princeton University. He dropped out of Princeton after three years to enlist for service in Vietnam. He was a political science major. At the...
, race car driver - Martynas PociusMartynas PociusMartynas Pocius is a Lithuanian professional basketball player, playing for Real Madrid in the Euroleague and Liga ACB. He is also a member of the Lithuanian national basketball team.-Early life and high school:...
, professional basketball player - Maggie ShnayersonMaggie ShnayersonMaggie Shnayerson is an American journalist and blogger. She was an editor at Gawker Media's flagship site, Gawker.com and has written for TIME magazine, the New York Sun, and the New York Post...
, journalist and blogger