By Jennifer Falvey, Standard Correspondent
Like many Vermont students, Woodstock Union High School’s salutatorian, Spruce Bohen has an affirmed passion for the environment. The difference is that Bohen will be leaving the East Coast for a whole new perspective on the environment on the west coast. In the fall, she will study Environmental Policy and Justice at Occidental College in Los Angeles.
Bohen has some lofty goals. “If we want to slow down climate change we must ensure that developing countries are not developing to an unsustainable place,” she said.
Occidental College may be just the right place for a young American with big dreams. The 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama counts himself as one of Oxy’s alumni.
Occidental College places a strong emphasis on community service, but that comes naturally to Woodstock’s Spruce Bohen. Since the seventh grade, she has committed over 500 hours of service to the community through Save the World Kids. “Change the World Kids is a teen-run nonprofit in town focused on environmental and humanitarian efforts.” “When I go to Occidental College, I hope to introduce the Change the World Kid’s food justice mission of bringing fresh produce to local food shelves. This is why Community service is so valuable… successes in a tiny community like Woodstock can travel all the way to Los Angeles.”
“I have also been actively involved in Earth Beat, the environmental club at the high school, and this year I was Vice President this year of National Honor Society,” she said.
With all of that community service, it seems impossible that Bohen had time for anything else, but she also enjoyed Woodstock Union High School’s sports programs. “Through the years I was a part of soccer, cross country (serving as captain, senior year), Nordic skiing, hockey, and lacrosse,” she said.
But it was the team spirit of Lacrosse that she will remember most fondly. “My favorite sport was lacrosse because I loved being with the team. It’s a really awesome group of girls. And although I only started my freshman year, the team carried me through and helped me improve,” she said, adding, “I might do club lacrosse in college.”
After college, Bohen plans on seeing the world. “I want to go out and explore all that the world has to offer,” she said. After seeing the world, she looks forward to returning to Woodstock. “I can see myself living here again at some point when I’m older,” she said.
According to its website, Occidental College’s mission “is anchored by four cornerstones: excellence, equity, community and service which serve the College’s commitment to providing responsible leaders and citizens for our democratic society.”
This article first appeared in the May 25, 2017 edition of the Vermont Standard. For more featured senior profiles, pick up a copy of the Vermont Standard from March 18-June 2. The annual graduation special supplement with be published on June 8. (Newsstand Locations)
