Full ride to Yale continues student’s journey

Kayla Hansen’s life changed forever when she woke up one morning four years ago and decided that she wanted to go to private school.

Hansen was 13 and shared a home with her mother, Dawn, in Sacramento, Calif. Hansen has never known her father.

Without her mother’s knowledge, Hansen began researching East Coast boarding schools, including the Miller School of Albemarle, and filled out all of the application and financial aid forms herself.

Hansen was admitted to Miller with financial aid to cover her tuition costs. She then faced the tough task of breaking the news to her mother.

“My mother didn’t know what to say and she didn’t talk to me for a few days,” Hansen said. “She was reluctant to let me go, since I am her only child, but after she thought about it she realized it was the best thing for me. And she sacrificed to pay for the plane ticket.”

Upon arrival in Virginia, Hansen experienced significant culture shock.

“California is very different from Virginia,” she said. “I hadn’t seen so many trees in one area before.”

Southern politeness was also new for Hansen.

“In Charlottesville, people say, ‘Oh, excuse me, are you OK?’ if they bump into you,” she said. “I wasn’t used to that.”

When she first saw the Miller School, Hansen immediately knew she would like the place.

“It kind of looks like Hogwarts and for a 13-year-old, Hogwarts is the place to be,” she said, referring to the setting of the Harry Potter series.

Hansen’s biggest suitcase when she came to Miller was full of books.

“My mother started to teach me to read when I was 2 and I’ve been hooked ever since,” she said.

Kathie Cason, director of student life at the Miller School, has known Hansen since the day she arrived.

“She was really focused and really intense,” Cason said. “But during her time here, she has learned to loosen up a bit and have some fun. She’s really developed into a delightful young lady.”

Over the past four years, Hansen has become the definition of an involved student.

She holds various positions, including head resident assistant of the girls dormitory, senior class representative, president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter and student chair of the discipline board. She is also a volleyball and tennis player and a coach for the writing center.

This year, Hansen took six AP classes, and she is the valedictorian of the 40-member senior class that graduates today.

“Many students who participate in that many activities would not be able to give each of them a full effort,” said Hugh Meagher, director of college counseling at the Miller School. “But Kayla makes it look easy. In my 30 years in education, I have not known a student who handles so many different tasks so effectively.”

Earlier this year, Hansen was awarded the $10,000 Emily Couric scholarship, which is given annually to a female student in the Charlottesville area who has demonstrated leadership in her school and community.

Hansen will attend Yale University next year on full scholarship. She also was offered full rides to Harvard University, Dartmouth College, New York University, Wellesley College and the University of Virginia.

Hansen will be the first in her family to go to college.

“It’s very surreal,” she said. “Sometimes I don’t believe this has all actually happened. I’m very proud of myself and am excited for what’s to come.”