Wyoming Seminary

In September, 1844, in the rural village of Kingston, 14 girls and 17 boys became the first Wyoming Seminary students. The new school was one of America's first co-educational boarding schools. Founded by Methodist leaders, but welcoming all denominations, Wyoming Seminary educated young men and women from northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New York. Following the Civil War, the school grew significantly, adding a commercial department to prepare students for employment in the region's mining, banking and manufacturing concerns. Its college preparatory program readied young men and women for success at leading colleges and the new comprehensive universities that emerged in the late 19th century. In the 20th century, improved travel brought more students from across the country and around the world, and the borough of Kingston grew up around the school. A 1951 merger with the Wilkes-Barre Day School allowed Wyoming Seminary to establish a continuous program for students from pre-kindergarten through postgraduate levels. Throughout its history, Wyoming Seminary has benefited from strong, committed leaders; in more than 160 years it has had only 11 presidents. Its current president, Dr. Kip P. Nygren, took office in 2007 after serving the head of the Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering at the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y....