The Bolles Department of College Counseling energized the Bolles Class of 2026 during the first full day of Camp College, an all-day program designed to guide seniors as they navigate the college application process.

Held on August 28 on the Bolles Upper School San Jose Campus, this immersive experience marked the first of two Camp College sessions, with the second and final day scheduled for later this fall.

The day began in Cain Gym, where seniors were warmly greeted by Director of College Counseling Daphne Vagenas and Assistant Directors of College Counseling Danielle Leach, Dari Pedines, Genna Petriccione and Matthew Wilmer. Students were organized into color-themed groups—pink, green, orange, blue and red—aligning with their college counselors for the day’s activities.

The morning kicked off with a values exercise that fostered a sense of community and shared purpose, setting a reflective tone for the day. Bolles President and Head of School Tyler Hodges, Associate Head of School Andrew Forrester and Upper School Head Moya Marks were among the many faculty and staff who joined to help facilitate the activity.

Seniors then broke into small groups to meet with their individual college counselors, work on their Common App essays and activities lists and enjoy a fun round of college mascot charades. A picnic-style lunch on the River Campus afterward gave students a chance to connect as a class and reflect on the morning’s experiences.

In the afternoon, students participated in breakout sessions focused on self-reported transcripts and supplemental essays and were surprised with heartfelt notes of encouragement from Bolles fifth graders! The day concluded back in Cain Gym with a gratitude activity, where seniors wrote thank-you notes to the teachers who had written their letters of recommendation. View more photos from Camp College in our online gallery. #BollesClassOf2026