BELLAIRE • MEMORIAL • RIVER OAKS • TANGLEWOOD • WEST UNIVERSITY

Peddling for Insight

By Oliver Oldham, The Kinkaid School, School Buzz Reporter | October 19, 2023

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Dr. Hardie taking a rest during a long days trek. (Photo: Shannon Hardie).

Over the summer, Dr. Shannon Hardie, an Upper School dean and teacher at Kinkaid, participated in the annual "Tour d'Admission." Dr. Hardie had last participated in the "Tour d'Admission" in 2019 but, due to COVID restrictions, was unable to participate again until this summer.

Over the course of twelve days, she toured a total of seven Northeastern schools: The University of Maine, Maine Maritime Academy, Colby College, Bates College, Bowdoin College, Maine College of Art and Design, and the University of New Hampshire, all by bike.

According to Dr. Hardie, "typical rides were forty to sixty miles per day," and by the end of the trip, she had covered a total of four hundred and four miles! Dr. Hardie enjoyed getting to know the area and visiting these smaller liberal arts colleges, none of which she had ever been to before.

As an Upper School dean and college counselor, Dr. Hardie said, "This trip was both hugely valuable for my professional life and a fantastic opportunity for personal growth." By touring these schools, Dr. Hardie strengthened her understanding of small Northeastern liberal arts colleges, enabling her to provide the best advice to any of her students interested in attending such colleges.

Upon completing her trip, Dr. Hardie remarked, "It's tough to convince Texans to venture all the way up to Maine for college, but if you're interested in a small liberal arts college with countless outdoor opportunities - ranging from rock climbing to hiking to cross-country skiing - give Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin a look! Also, the two flagship universities (Maine and New Hampshire) are smaller in size than our flagships, at around 10-12K, and are trying hard to recruit Texans. Because of this, there are a lot of great scholarship opportunities. And, like every school in the region, year-round outdoor opportunities abound! Finally, if 2D or 3D art is your passion, don't forget about Maine College of Art and Design; or, if spending time on the sea is what drives you, you'll graduate from Maine Maritime with a nearly 100% guarantee of a lucrative position on the water!"

Dr. Hardie concluded by saying, "Every hill, every bruise, and every 20 mph headwind was worth it," for an experience she will never forget.