Bennington Rising Connects College Mentors with Local Students for Science-Based Learning
On October 14, Bennington Rising–a collaboration between Bennington College, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center (SVMC), Southwest Vermont Supervisory Union (SVSU), and Mount Anthony Union High School–met at Bennington College's Commons to begin work on science-related mentorship and educational projects.
Bennington Rising brings first-year Bennington College students together with Mount Anthony Union High School students to form the basis for science-based educational projects, which the high schoolers will then teach at Bennington Elementary school. Class subjects may include artificial intelligence, environmental science, physics and mechanics, and more.
Bennington Rising grew out of a suggestion by Yasmine Fundi '25–who completed a Field Work Term internship at SVMC–to strengthen STEM education in the Bennington community at large. Fundi brought the idea to Barbara Alfano, associate dean for advising and First-Year Forum. Bennington College faculty members Blake Jones and Fortune Ononiwu also serve as advisors to the project.
Image: SVMC VISTA intern Audrey Kim, standing, and Bennington College faculty member in Chemistry Fortune Ononiwu, facing the camera, speak to one of the student teams. Photo by Mark Rondeau, Bennington Banner.