This July, we welcomed our fifth group of rising high school seniors to Dickinson’s campus to take part in the Knowledge for Freedom Seminar. Throughout the two-week program, students developed their understanding of American democracy and history, preparing them to tackle the challenges of both civic leadership and college courses. Below are a few pictures that capture the students’ experience this summer.

Students standing around Lincoln statue

The 2025 group

In the Classroom

Students sitting n a classroom

Students started every day by examining texts from 250 years of American history and hearing context from our faculty

Four girls looking forward

Always ready to learn

The Showdown: Bringing the Lincoln-Douglass Debates to Life

 

Getting to Know Dickinson and Carlisle

Girl speaks to audience in front of stone building

Olivia, one of our undergrad tutors, explains the college’s history on the Dickinson and Slavery tour

Students standing outside listening to a man talk

Learning about some of Carlisle’s Revolutionary War history

Students sitting on benches inside listening to a man speak

Learning about the effects of the Fugitive Slave Act in the Old Cumberland County Courthouse

Forging Friendships

Students singing in front of a TV

Students relaxed in the evening with karaoke, including a lot of “Hamilton”

Girl blowing bubbles

Hasset relaxing with bubbles during one of our evening activities

People sitting on benches eating ice cram

Tasting different flavors during one of our Massey’s runs

 

Field Trips

Cumberland County Historical Society
Students pointing to mural

Pointing out the Carlisle Mural

Students standing in front of wall with photos

Learning about CCHS’s different exhibits

 

Girl holding kitchen utensil

Ada creating her own exhibit

Harrisburg
Seven students sitting in a row

The group in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chambers

Students looking at ornate architecture

Looking around the Capitol Rotunda

Two students standing in between two statues of people suits and hats

Students standing in front of a statue of a man in a nineteenth century hat and coat.

Students stood around “A Gathering at the Crossroads” monument, representing the ties between the people fighting for equality yesterday and today.

Gettysburg
Five boys walking in front of a monument
People standing in front of statue of a man on a horse

Learning about General Mead

Students standing with field in the background

At Little Round Top

Students standing in front of a large painting of a battle

Looking at the Cyclorama of the battle

Girl reading a marker with a field in front of her

Students were always reading…

Washington, D.C.
Large group standing in front of Washington Monument and reflecting pool

All smiles at the Washington Monument

 

Students standing in front of statue of a woman and two children

Visiting the Mary McLeod Bethune Statue

Meet the Summer 2025 Staff

Seven people standing around a statue of Abe Lincoln

This year’s staff included three undergraduate tutors (Olivia, Andrew, and Sarah R.), two graduate teaching assistants (Sarah M. and Henry), and Professors Pinsker, Wingert, and Mealy (not pictured).