Three 2026 ConVal High School graduates will share their perspectives on adolescence and modern challenges during a Monadnock Summer Lyceum presentation at 11 a.m. Aug. 2 at the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church.
The panel will feature Peterborough residents Hadley Bates and Ava Cronin, along with Clara Wilsher of Francestown. The speakers will address topics including school safety, social media, online connections, and post-graduation expectations, reflecting a generational contrast with older audience members.
Bates, vice president of the ConVal National Honor Society, is an accomplished dancer, pianist, artist, and distance runner who plans to major in English or communications. Cronin, president of the National Honor Society, served in the mental health club, created a student Day of Service, and balanced two jobs during her senior year; she plans to study mechanical engineering. Wilsher, a youth ski instructor and volunteer, will play soccer at Smith College while majoring in child study and education.
Eric Bowman, a 1989 ConVal graduate who has taught history at the high school since 1997, will moderate the discussion. Bowman will collect and present written questions from the audience during the Q&A segment.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m., featuring pre-program classical music by 17-year-old twin sisters Melissa Goodrich on violin and Emily Goodrich on piano and organ.
Childcare will be available, and a reception with light refreshments will follow the presentation. The event is sponsored by RBC Wealth Management, with seasonal sponsorship from Microspec Corp. provided.