Written by Monica VanDerWeide, ’95
Parents Dan and Rae Anne of Illinois had admired Hillsdale College and Hillsdale Academy from afar for many years, learning about the schools through friends and from reading Imprimis. They wistfully thought about sending their two sons there, even visiting Hillsdale Academy as a prospective family, but with no openings available at the time, they resumed their long-distance admiration. Then last summer, Hillsdale Academy called—two openings were available! With little time to spare before the start of the school year, Dan and Rae Anne moved their family from suburban Chicago to rural Michigan.
“The transition has been far better than we ever could have imagined,” Dan said. “We have only gained from the experience. We have even turned the commute (nearly an hour) to and from school into an opportunity. We enjoy the beauty of the drive and use the time to communicate and bond with each other.”
As for the boys, they gained a welcoming, cohesive, highly engaged student body and a caring faculty and staff. “Our sons played baseball all their lives and gave that up to come to the Academy,” Dan said. “But they have gained three new sports they never thought they would play—soccer, basketball, and track—as well as great new teammates and coaches.”
Dan and Rae Anne have developed friendships with other Hillsdale Academy parents who share a common attitude. “There’s an intention to spend as much time with your kids as possible while they’re young,” Dan said. “That time goes by so quickly.” To that end, Dan and Rae Anne volunteer at the school when able and enjoy supporting their sons and their teammates at athletic competitions.
Rae Anne encourages other families considering Hillsdale Academy who may live a significant distance from the school to think about the positive long-term impact of such an education: “If you embrace the philosophy of classical education, and if you’re concerned about public education, this is a very worthy sacrifice to make for your family,” she said. “Not many schools offer the support, culture, and community of Hillsdale Academy. It’s been a fantastic experience for us.”
Monica VanDerWeide is Director of Marketing Content for Hillsdale College. She graduated from Hillsdale in 1995 with a degree in English and German.
Published in September 2024
