On April 30, the Kent School community came together for Move in Memory—a day dedicated to honoring the lives of Michael Wright ’81, a beloved coach and faculty member, and Owen Trivell ’25, a well-loved student who passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Rooted in remembrance and wellness, the event invited students, faculty, and staff to reflect, connect, and move in their memory.

The day began with a community gathering, where students and faculty shared memories and paid tribute to both individuals. Several community members offered heartfelt reflections, recalling the lasting influence Owen and Coach Wright had on Kent. The service was also livestreamed to ensure all members of the community could take part.

After the memorial, students participated in an hour of movement, choosing from over 30 activities designed to promote wellness and reflection. Options ranged from hikes at Kent Falls and Macedonia Brook to yoga, ultimate frisbee, collage-making, trail running, and more—encouraging students to try something new and connect with different members of the community.

“Wellness is not just about the physical,” said Wellness Director Annie Kearney, who helped lead the planning. “We wanted this day to represent many aspects of wellness—physical, emotional, social, spiritual—and to give students the opportunity to engage in meaningful ways.”

The event was intentionally designed to encourage new experiences and connections. “We structured the day so that ideally, you would sign up for something you have never done before,” Kearney explained. “By taking the ‘blind’ approach to signups, students would be with a new faculty member and community members they had never met.”

Student organizers Dana B. ’25 and Tripp C. ’25 helped shape the vision for the day alongside Kearney. For Dana, helping to organize an event that honored loved ones while supporting emotional and physical well-being was deeply meaningful. “It was a great honor to be a part of an event like this,” she said. “Kent has never done an event like Move in Memory, and it was amazing to honor both Owen and Mr. Wright in this way.”

Tripp spoke about the importance of celebrating those they had lost and the shared effort that brought the day to life. “When we first came up with the idea of honoring Owen and Coach Wright, it was a no-brainer to do it the way we did—by having people speak about how such impactful individuals shaped the Kent community,” he said. “It was a day the Kent community won’t forget for a long time, and we were so grateful to have shared it with everyone here.”

Dana also emphasized empathy and shared support in the healing process. “I think the event made people realize that they are not alone,” she said. “Everyone is grieving something, and everyone has lost something. As a community, it is our job to uplift one another and be empathetic.”

Whether hiking, dancing, creating, or simply walking the campus trails, the Kent community spent the day moving with purpose, honoring Owen and Coach Wright while coming together in support, connection, and care.