This summer, three of our own McCaskey High School students, Sabine Zimmerman, Aleyna Abraham, and Hasset Tesfaye-Desalgn, took part in a transformative two-week residential program at Dickinson College. The Knowledge for Freedom (KFF) seminar, now in its fifth year, gives rising seniors the chance to step into the world of higher education, explore big ideas, and begin charting their own futures.
The application process was highly selective, drawing interest from across Pennsylvania. In fact, this year was the most competitive yet, with just 15 students selected statewide. To be chosen speaks volumes about the talent and readiness of Sabine, Aleyna, and Hasset.
For two weeks in Carlisle, these McCaskey students lived in campus dorms and joined peers from across the region in a challenging three-hour daily course, “Knowledge for Freedom.” The seminar, led by Dickinson professors, including McCaskey alumnus Matthew Pinsker (Class of 1986), encouraged students to engage deeply with fundamental questions about democracy, freedom, and self-government. Using the history of abolition movements as a foundation, students examined how individuals and communities have fought to expand liberty and equality throughout history.
But the program didn’t stop at classroom study. Afternoons were filled with opportunities to meet college admissions professionals and administrators, who guided students through the complex process of preparing for higher education. Students also participated in field trips to places rich in historical and civic meaning: Harrisburg, Gettysburg, and Washington, D.C. These experiences connected their classroom discussions to real-world history and civic life, helping them see how the questions of the past continue to shape our present.
The Knowledge for Freedom program is designed to serve students from low-income or first-generation college backgrounds, ensuring that cost is never a barrier. All expenses, room, board, books, trips, and supplies, are covered. For many participants, including our McCaskey students, this was their very first taste of life on a college campus. In addition to the summer experience, students will continue to receive ongoing mentoring and support throughout their senior year, helping them prepare applications, understand financial aid, and take their next steps after graduation.
Sabine, Aleyna, and Hasset spoke about their experiences in this video interview, sharing how the program expanded their perspectives and gave them confidence as they begin the college application journey. Their words reflect what so many students take away from this unique opportunity a clearer sense of their own potential and the knowledge that higher education is within their reach.
We are proud of these students for stepping outside their comfort zones, embracing a rigorous academic challenge, and representing McCaskey with excellence. Their success is a reminder of what can happen when bright young minds are given the space, guidance, and encouragement to grow.
At the School District of Lancaster, we celebrate opportunities like the Knowledge for Freedom seminar, which align with our mission to prepare every student for a future full of possibilities. We can’t wait to see what Sabine, Aleyna, and Hasset will accomplish in their senior year and beyond.