Students here are accustomed to engulfing ourselves in the “Kent Bubble,” too caught up in the fast-paced boarding-school life to contemplate the effect of the outside world on each one of us. However, recent events have greatly impacted Kent students, especially regarding travel.
On March 22, 2026, an Air Canada Express jet crashed into a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, instantly killing the two pilots. This tragic accident coincided with the end of Spring Break, though, thankfully, no Kent students were on the plane in question. Nonetheless, many returning to New York from vacation had their flights canceled or delayed. Mr. Shafer, Dean of Students, said the majority of people on a travel shuttle were affected, as they were originally scheduled to return from LaGuardia to Kent School after the crash. Recent TSA strikes also resulted in long lines at airport security checks, mostly affecting students on domestic flights.
Additionally, broad international policies have troubled Kent students over the past year. Ms. Brown-Butler, Director of Equity and Inclusion, said Kent started preparing contingency plans starting April/early May of 2025 in order to respond to a significant shift in the visa application and approval process.
In late May/early June of 2025, the US State Department stopped releasing F-1 student VISA appointment slots in many countries; thus, some new students who had yet to acquire their VISAs couldn’t arrange interviews at their local embassies. Ms. Brown-Butler hosted webinars for international families about “tips and tricks” to help them adjusts. Two weeks before school resumed, five or six students were still waiting for a visa appointment, while one student didn’t arrive on campus until a month after school started. Still, Kent actively accommodated them by providing access to Canvas and connecting them to their advisor, K-POP leader and Dorm SC, etc.
Despite these difficulties, the international community at Kent remains supportive, vibrant, and unique. Students grow increasingly aware of global issues, learning to stay safe and react to unexpected situations.
