A Grade 5 Summit Experience

More than 100 pieces of donated soccer equipment. Cross-divisional collaboration. A student-designed experience that connected Lower School learners with Upper School athletes through a shared sense of purpose; this is what’s possible when students are empowered to lead.

For Finn Douglas, a Grade 5 learner, the inspiration for his Summit experience began with a simple idea. After watching a fellow Mustang organize a charity baseball game the year before, Finn saw an opportunity to design something of his own, this time centered around the sport he loves.

“When it came to Summit this year, I knew I wanted to create a soccer charity match,” he said.

What started as an idea quickly evolved into a thoughtfully planned real-world experience. Finn invited fourth-grade students to participate, along with fellow Grade 5 Summit collaborators Lion Durden, Oliver Martinez, Weezy Garges, Addie Burda, Mason Evans, and Ashwin Meleth, on the condition that each player donate at least one piece of soccer equipment.

The response was immediate and generous. Nearly 20 students joined, bringing cleats, soccer balls, and shin guards, totaling more than 100 items to give back to the community.

The Grade 5 Summit is a culminating experience in which learners design and implement projects rooted in their passions. Through research, expert interviews, fieldwork, and reflective storytelling, students engage in meaningful problem-solving that extends far beyond the classroom.

For Finn, that process opened the door to an unexpected and powerful connection.

After interviewing Coach Howard, an MVXpert (Mount Vernon’s network of expert partners), Finn was encouraged to think bigger, which led to a collaboration with the Upper School girls’ varsity soccer team and its team captain, Elizabeth Hall. What began as a conversation about pregame routines and nutrition quickly transformed into a shared experience on the field.

“A lot of the time, the varsity team is so focused on performance that we forget to just have fun,” Elizabeth shared. “This experience reminded us why we started playing in the first place. It brought us back to the joy of the game.”

In that moment, Finn’s work extended beyond its original scope, creating a ripple effect across divisions. Younger students experienced the excitement of teamwork and giving back, while varsity athletes rediscovered a sense of play and perspective.

Through the process, Finn developed skills in leadership, organization, and creative problem-solving, learning firsthand what it means to take an idea from concept to impact.

“I learned a lot preparing and putting everything together,” he said. “If you have an idea, stick with it. Even when it’s challenging, just keep going.”

Reflecting on the intentional design of the Summit experience, Head of Lower School Molly Hudson emphasized the deeper purpose behind the work:

“We began the year by summiting Kennesaw Mountain together, and now our students are reaching a different kind of summit. Through projects like this, they discover how their passions—when paired with research, curiosity, and action—can create meaningful impact in the world around them. Most importantly, they begin to understand that their ideas matter and that they have the ability to make a lasting difference.”

The Grade 5 Summit experience is more than a single project; it’s a reflection of what happens when learning is amplified through real-world application and meaningful connections. By designing with purpose, engaging with experts, and collaborating across communities, students don’t just complete assignments; they create impact.

Even the simplest idea can grow into something greater: a catalyst for connection, a platform for generosity, and a powerful reminder that joy and purpose often go hand in hand.