On Saturday, Sept. 28, a delegation of HIES students and faculty members returned from a ten-day trip to Colombia for the 2024 Round Square International Conference. Beckett Culbertson '26, Myles Jackson '26, Jameson Kardian '26, Upper School science teacher Michael Aleman and director of human resources Lisa McFarland set out on a pre-conference adventure with students from Germany and South Africa. They hiked to 12,000-year-old cave art, swam with the famous Amazonian pink dolphins and explored the colorful "Crystal River." Returning to Bogota, they joined over 900 students from around the world to participate in the conference, themed “Blooming from the Past,” where students explored the biodiversity, geology, history and culture of Colombia.
Students had a chance to stay with host families, participate in service activities, including building chicken coops and planting trees, learn how to weave wool and make cheese and hike and zip line through the Andes mountains. They heard from several keynote speakers who helped to to create lasting connections, share diverse perspectives and encourage the development of young leaders. The group returned to The 805 with fantastic memories and new friendships with students from across the globe.