Connecting Students through the Middle School Advocates Program

Establishing peer-to-peer connections is definitely the Hamden Hall way, and our Middle School Advocates Program is one way bonds are cultivated between Middle and Upper School students. 

Under the advisement of Middle School Director Brian Christman and faculty members Allison Ehrenreich and David Sokoloff, the Middle School Advocates Program brings together a group of juniors and seniors who serve as mentors, role models, and friends to our Middle School student community. The advocates are chosen through an application and interview process. Throughout the year, the advocates help with tutoring and proctoring study halls, participate in projects and events such as Middle School Olympics, Eighth-grade celebration, offer speech writing workshops, assist faculty members with club offerings, and more.

The 2023-2024 Middle School Advocates include seniors Isabella Aldo, Annabel Beatty, Ethan Berman, Hailey Geppert, Agnes Haynes, Levi Johnson, Alexandra Matthews, Eli O’ Hearn, Rose Wei, and Joy Zhuo. The juniors include Tami Afolalu, Theodora Aslan, Chase Benivegna, Ella Bessoni, Atticus Bird, Helena Chaine, Eric Huang, Phillip Kim, Daniella Li, Sanjiv Persaud, Jacob Schonberger, Owen Swenson, and Frank Winters.

“I got involved in the Middle School Advocates Program because my time with my Middle School advocate was cut short due to the pandemic and the switch to online learning made for some unexpected challenges,” commented Tami. “I want to provide the support I didn't have during my own middle school experience and be there for the middle schoolers who might be going through similar struggles.”

The first interactive event of the year was Advocate Activities outdoors on Augur Field. All Middle School students, faculty and staff, and advocates gathered recently for a fun afternoon of different field games.

The Middle School Advocates Program was started in 1995 by former faculty members Sally Mixsell and Anne Richardson. It has long-served as a mentorship opportunity for Upper School students to bond and form connections with Middle School students.