Kim Holzer '93

Kim Holzer '93

What are you currently doing?
Presently, I am commuting between Virginia and Bermuda as I finish up my Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences at University of Virginia (UVA) on “The Interactive Effects of Herbivory and Nutrient Pollution on Seagrass Communities in Bermuda.” During the summer and fall I gather data (underwater) and then return to UVA to process samples, analyze data and write-up my findings. In the snowy months, you’ll find me on the slopes teaching skiing over the weekends.

Where did you go after Pine Cobble – high school, college and beyond?

From Concord Academy to The Mountain School, Bates College to University of Otago (New Zealand), University of Virginia to Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (Bermuda), I have studied both domestically and abroad. It’s hard to say what the future holds, perhaps a teaching job at a college/university, a research job with a government agency, or an environmental consulting position.

How did your experience at Pine Cobble School affect the choices you have made since graduation?

I was spoiled at Pine Cobble by the creative and often non-traditional approach to learning. I remember reading aloud passages about the conditions aboard slave ships of the 1800’s while crammed beneath my desk chair to simulate “tight quarters.” We wrote to pen pals in France to practice our French. A Pine Cobble tradition, in 5^th grade I gave a talk to my classmates in character (Susan B. Anthony) as part of our lesson on biographies. Our days were also rich with extracurricular activities, including musicals, community outreach and athletics. In short, Pine Cobble set a high standard and informed my future decisions to seek out other creative learning environments that were also student-centered and authentic (i.e. not straight from a book).

Give us two of your fondest Pine Cobble memories.

(1) My first trips to another country (Canada) and another continent (Europe) were alongside my Pine Cobble classmates. I still remember the jitter bugs in my stomach as I boarded the plane to France and the excitement of moving from rural landscape to seascape to the big cities, PARIS and LONDON. What a thrill! All along the way, we indulged in brie on fresh French bread and kiwi fruits topped with whipped cream from a can.

(2) I loved hitting the ski slopes on half-days during the winter!