Yarmouth, Maine, November 5, 2021: North Yarmouth Academy (NYA) is launching a new character and leadership initiative made possible by an anonymous $400,000 donation. The aim is to use NYA’s community values as a compass for students to develop skills and reflect on citizenship, leadership, and volunteerism as a means of encouraging growth and resilience. The program will also focus on building confidence, courage, empathy, and an appreciation for social responsibility. NYA’s core community values are: Respect, Honesty, Perseverance, Compassion, and Responsibility.
NYA has hired Betsy Tomlinson to lead this program, and she will provide the over-arching strategy for the Academy’s leadership, service, and community engagement activities. She most recently served as Director of Communications at Alford Lake Camp, an all-girls summer camp in Hope, Maine. She also spent many years at Loomis Chaffee, an independent school in Windsor, Connecticut, in positions including international student programs, residence life, off-campus programs, admissions, and information technology.
“The parents of two alumni donated the funds for this program in gratitude for the inspiring work of the NYA faculty who already do so much work to build a strong community where character matters,” said Tomlinson. “This new program will allow the school to be even more intentional in creating events and programs that inspire students to be the best versions of themselves and to become leaders who recognize the importance of giving back. I’m excited to work with the whole school community to focus on character and leadership education.”
“We are thrilled to have someone with Betsy’s experience leading the NYA Character and Leadership Program,” said NYA Head of School Ben Jackson. “She has worked with students on many different levels, including independent schools. I look forward to her leadership of this program.”
North Yarmouth Academy is an independent, college preparatory, coeducational school for toddlers to post graduate students with an enrollment of over 375 students. Since 1814, NYA has fostered integrity, character, and intellect in its students. For more information, please contact NYA at 207-847-5423 or information@nya.org.
