Lowell Whiteman School

“We learned about Lowell Whiteman School (we were living in Craig, Colorado at the time) from a friend of my parents – he’s a judge who recommended the school. We were initially looking at a school in Colorado Springs . But our friend said, “You ought to check out LWS, it’s right here (near Craig) and it’s a GREAT school.” I went to the web site (in 2005) and from the first moment I saw it, I thought I have to go to this school.

The school was just like the web site – it gave great insight on what school life is here.”

Dennis Kinder, class of 2009, was looking for better academics and the outdoor program was a bonus. His favorite part, he says, are the shorter academic days in winter “cause you get to ski or snowboard after school is over. I don’t mind the homework at night. I can get my work done.

“I really like the teachers and the small class sizes; you get personal attention if you need it. The teachers are great and really personable. They’re always ready to help you.

I actually really like camping – it’s one of many surprises I had because I didn’t realize there was going to be real camping. I thought it as all going to be car camping. I love to climb, too, and I get to do some of that here. I love the foreign travel program, too – that was really fun. And after school activities in the fall were great.”

Dennis had to leave his friends at his old school behind but said, “It was really easy to make new friends here because most of the kids you can relate to, they all like to ski or snowboard, travel, and you just find similarities in everyone.”

Dennis has big plans for his life – he is very interested in the Air Force Academy and becoming a pilot so grades are really important. He plans to put all four years into the Lowell Whiteman School because he wants that really strong academic foundation. The Academy will be hard, he says. If he doesn’t become a pilot as planned, Dennis also has interest in Diplomacy. Again, more schooling will be needed. “But I’ll be ready,” he says.