Wyoming Seminary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wyoming Seminary |
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View of Wyoming Seminary's campus from above
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| Address | |
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201 North Sprague Avenue
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United States
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| Coordinates | 41°15′48″N 75°53′54″W / 41.26333°N 75.89833°W |
| Information | |
| Type | Independent boarding school |
| Motto | Latin: Verum, pulchrum, bonum (Truth, beauty, and goodness) |
| Religious affiliation(s) | Christianity |
| Denomination | Methodism |
| Established | 1844 |
| CEEB code | 392040 |
| Head of school | Martin J. Mooney |
| Nickname | Knights |
| Annual tuition | $29,900 |
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Wyoming Seminary
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| Location | Sprague Ave., Kingston, Pennsylvania |
| Area | 1.2 acres (0.49 ha) |
| Built | 1853 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th-century revival, classical revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002291 |
| Added to NRHP | August 6, 1979 |
Wyoming Seminary is a special school that helps students get ready for college. It was started way back in 1844. The school is located in the Wyoming Valley in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
Wyoming Seminary has two main parts:
- The Lower School is for younger students, from preschool up to eighth grade. It is in a town called Forty Fort.
- The Upper School is for older students, from ninth grade through a special "postgraduate" year. This campus is in Kingston.
The school is often called "Sem" by people nearby. It is a boarding school, which means some Upper School students live on campus. About one-third of the Upper School students live at the school.
Contents
History of Wyoming Seminary
Wyoming Seminary has a long and interesting history. It started as a small school and grew into a well-known college prep school.
How Sem Began (1844–1892)
Leaders of the Methodist Church started Wyoming Seminary in 1844. A person named Rev. George Peck helped make it happen. The first president was Rueben Nelson. In its first year, 138 students joined, an equal number of boys and girls.
Back then, Kingston was a small farming village. The school grew its own food and raised animals. As the town became more industrial, the school also grew. It added a business program and a strong college preparation program. Even though it is connected to the United Methodist Church, students from all religions are welcome.
Growth and Changes (1892–1967)
Wyoming Seminary became a very important school during the time of Levi Sprague. He was a graduate of the school and became its president for 50 years! He was involved with the school for most of his life. The Upper School campus has a street named Sprague Avenue. The main building, Sprague Hall, is also named after him.
In 1892, the Wyoming Seminary football team played in the world's first nighttime football game. They played against Mansfield University. The game ended early because the lights were not bright enough. Neither team scored.
The school continued to grow in the early 1900s. From 1917 to 1919, parts of the campus were used to train American soldiers during World War I. By the 1950s, Sem added the "Lower School" for younger students. In 1951, Sem joined with the Wilkes-Barre Day School. This made it the only independent school in the area for students from nursery school through high school. In 1998, the Lower School added a program for 3-year-olds.
Recent History of Sem
In 1990, Dr. H. Jeremy Packard became the school's tenth president. Under his leadership, the school continued to improve. They added more academic classes, arts programs, sports, and new technology. For example, Klassner Field was built in 2006 for field hockey and lacrosse. The school also bought a former bank building. It became the Great Hall, now used by the wrestling team.
Sprague Hall, the main building for classes and offices, was updated in 1999. It got a new, modern wing. The Lower School also saw changes, like a new wing for fourth and fifth graders.
Wyoming Seminary temporarily closed both schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. They started reopening in phases for the 2020-2021 school year. In 2023, Martin Mooney became the school's 15th president.
School Leadership
The current president of Wyoming Seminary is Martin Mooney. He started his role in May 2023. The head of the school's board is William E. Sordoni. Rachel Bartron is the Dean of the Upper School.
What Students Learn
Wyoming Seminary helps many students get into good colleges. About 98% of students who graduate from Sem also graduate from college.
The average class size at the Upper School is 14 students. The Upper School offers many different courses. There are 39 classes in math and science. There are 76 classes in subjects like history and English. In total, the Upper School has over 160 courses. This includes 25 Advanced Placement (AP) classes. AP classes are college-level courses that can earn students college credit.
Every year, Wyoming Seminary welcomes over 80 international students. They come from more than 20 different countries. Students also come from 15 different states across the U.S.
Fun Activities and Sports
Many students at the Upper School enjoy the performing arts. Almost 300 students are involved in music, theater, or dance. Also, 86% of students play at least one sport.
School Campus
Wyoming Seminary has two campuses: the Lower School and the Upper School.
The Upper School campus has many buildings. These buildings are for students who attend during the day and those who live there. Sprague Hall is the main building for classes. Nesbitt Hall is a science center. The Back Campus is a popular place for students to hang out. The "SNOOK" (Sem Nook) is also there. The Pettebone-Dickson Student Center has sports facilities and offices.
There are several places for students who live on campus. Older boys live in Carpenter Hall. Older girls live in Swetland, Fleck, and Darte Halls. Most first-year students and postgraduate students live in these buildings.
The Buckingham Performing Arts Center was built in 1975. It has classrooms and an auditorium. The Kirby Center for the Performing Arts was added in 2014. The Stettler Learning and Resource Center holds the admissions office and the Kirby Library. The Great Hall is a separate building mainly used for sports, especially wrestling. A walkway connects it to the main campus.
The Lower School is mostly in one building. It also has a special learning center for toddlers.
Campus Buildings and Updates
Many of the Upper School's old buildings are important. Since 1979, they have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their historical value.
Since 2006, parts of the Upper School campus have been updated. The outside of the dorms (Swetland, Darte, and Fleck Halls) were renovated. The Kirby Library was updated. A new third floor was added to Sprague Hall. New sports fields were built, like Klassner Field for field hockey and lacrosse. The O. Charles Lull Tennis Center was also built. The first floor of the Lower School was also redone.
In 2013, Nesbitt Memorial Stadium was updated. It now has two turf fields for football, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, baseball, and softball. It also has new locker rooms and a new grandstand. The Kirby Center for Creative Arts was finished in 2014. It supports the school's music, theater, and dance programs.
Famous People Who Attended Sem
Many notable people have attended Wyoming Seminary. Here are a few:
- Beau Bartlett, a talented wrestler.
- Kennedy Blades, an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling.
- Frank Carlucci, who served as the United States Secretary of Defense (a top government job) for President Ronald Reagan.
- Howard Gardner, a famous psychologist known for his idea of "multiple intelligences."
- Dan Harris, a Hollywood director and screenwriter.
- Robert Wood Johnson I, who founded the well-known company Johnson and Johnson.
- W.S. Merwin, a U.S. Poet Laureate (a very important poet).
- Lauren Powley, a member of the U.S. women's national field hockey team who competed in the 2008 Olympics.
- Sukanya Roy, who won the 84th Scripps National Spelling Bee.
- Joe Torsella, who was the Treasurer of Pennsylvania.
Notable Teachers at Sem
- Cecilia Galante, an author.
