Hotchkiss announces the third cohort of the MacArthur Fellowship. Created through the generosity of Andrew MacArthur P'23 in honor of his father, Bill MacArthur '59, the Fellowship funds an international gap year opportunity for recent alumni and graduating seniors. The MacArthur Fellowship is the only one of its kind among peer independent schools.

Fellows spend a year outside their home country engaged in a project that includes service, learning, internships, cultural immersion, and adventure. The Fellowship is designed to support ongoing growth and education by instilling competence in goal-setting, developing independence and confidence, enhancing problem-solving skills, fostering greater cultural competency, and helping Fellows gain a deeper understanding of what they want to learn in their post-secondary studies.

For the first time, this cohort comprises four Bearcats—three alumni and one senior.

Kira Ackerman ’22

Bowdoin College '26

Kira Ackerman ’22 will study rivers in Canada (St. Lawrence), the Netherlands (Rhine), Ghana (Volta), and Japan (Inagawa/Kushiro) to explore how river management approaches and obstacles reflect the lifestyles and values of the communities that depend on them. Her project is a confluence of her passions as a geoscientist and visual artist, and her love of the outdoors.

Angela Choi ’21

Northwestern University '26

Angela Choi ’21 will spend a year exploring the interface of health and environment before beginning her path toward medicine. She will begin her travels in São Paulo, studying how metals and particle pollutants are linked to dementia through pathological research, continue to the Andes, learning from rural community health workers, and finish in France, working with international health organizations and shadowing physicians.

Junsik Eom ’21

Cornell University '27

Junsik Eom ’21 will spend a year in Japan researching traditional handicraft through site visits and craft residencies. By observing how craftspeople understand their work, relationship with nature, and sense of purpose, the project explores how craft traditions offer alternative ways to find meaning in human labor in the age of AI. 

Asher Frankel ’26

Miles for Mental Health is a solo cycling expedition across Europe, from Norway to Portugal, raising awareness and funds for greater accessibility to youth mental health services. Through interviews with professional athletes, visits to mental health organizations, and community engagement across 13 countries, Asher Frankel ’26 will explore how other countries approach mental health care for young people. All funds raised will go through a restricted aid fund dedicated specifically to making counseling more accessible for those who can't afford it.