KENT—Students from South Kent School recently attended the Connecticut Housing Conference at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford as part of their class entitled, “An Introduction to the Analysis of Public Policy.”
The special class is part of the Syracuse University Project Advance (SUPA) program, which is one of the nation’s leading dual enrollment programs offering college-level classes in select high schools across the country.
South Kent School was the first independent boarding school to partner with SUPA over a decade ago.
Through the advanced course, South Kent Students gain first-hand insight into real-world policy-making issues, such as affordable housing.
The trip was a key component of their experiential learning curriculum, which emphasizes critical thinking, research and hands-on learning.
The Public Policy class, led by faculty member Kevin Benz, focuses on identifying societal challenges and formulating potential solutions.
Throughout the course, students engage in in-depth research, interview industry professionals, and participate in discussions about policy development.
The conference allowed them to put their classroom learning into practice, offering a unique opportunity to hear from policymakers, including Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno and Governor Ned Lamont.
Austin Michaud, one of the students who helped organize the trip, described the experience as “incredible,” noting that meeting officials he had previously interviewed brought the class to life.
“The conference was directly beneficial to my project and provided a wealth of information that will help me create my own policy,” he added.
Daniel Ragsdale also highlighted the value of the experience.
“Although my issue isn’t directly related to housing, I learned a lot about how government and non-government entities collaborate to improve communities,” he said.
For many of the students, it was their first exposure to a professional conference, and it left a lasting impression.
“Talking to the governor was definitely a highlight. It was great to hear his words of encouragement, and the whole event gave me a broader perspective on affordable housing solutions,” said Francis Dunham.
“The trip is just one example of how South Kent School fosters a high-quality academic experience by integrating experiential learning opportunities into its curriculum,” said Brian D. Sullivan, Head of School.
“By attending the conference, students were able to deepen their understanding of public policy and witness real-world applications of the skills they are developing in the classroom,” he said.
According to Mr. Benz, as the class enters its final weeks, students will continue to apply the insights gained from the conference to their own policy projects, focusing on creating feasible and impactful solutions to societal problems.
All the students are members of the Class of 2025.
