College Essay Workshop - Public
For rising seniors (open to the public)*: St. Luke’s is pleased to offer a session of our popular College Essay Workshop to rising seniors enrolled at other schools in the community. The program is designed to help students craft the strongest possible college essays by providing focused instruction on both the Common App personal statement and supplemental essays.
Across the workshop's three days, members of the SLS College Counseling team and Upper School faculty will guide students through a series of brainstorming and outlining activities, combining meaningful self-reflection with story development and structure. There will be group work, one-to-one interactions, and the opportunity to work with each instructor.
*Note: While space in this workshop is limited, we are happy to assist students interested in potentially working with current and former members of the SLS faculty who provide individualized college essay support.
Please contact summer@stlukesct.org with questions regarding the workshop.
Across the workshop's three days, members of the SLS College Counseling team and Upper School faculty will guide students through a series of brainstorming and outlining activities, combining meaningful self-reflection with story development and structure. There will be group work, one-to-one interactions, and the opportunity to work with each instructor.
*Note: While space in this workshop is limited, we are happy to assist students interested in potentially working with current and former members of the SLS faculty who provide individualized college essay support.
Please contact summer@stlukesct.org with questions regarding the workshop.
Instructors:
Abby Bielski Abbott
Sonia Bell
Frank Henson
Alec Lebris
Hunter Martin
Stephen Vehslage
Abby Bielski Abbott
Sonia Bell
Frank Henson
Alec Lebris
Hunter Martin
Stephen Vehslage
Stefanie Veneruso
June 23-25, 2025
Open to the public
12:30 - 3:30pm
COST: $425
St. Luke’s College Essay Workshop Faculty
Abby Bielski Abbott
Abby Bielski Abbott is the Assistant Head of Upper School and is a member of the History Department. Ms. Abbott is also one of the lead teachers in the Summer Writing Workshop and directs the August Institute for New Teachers. Prior to joining the St. Luke’s Faculty, Ms. Abbott was the History Department Chair at the American Overseas School of Rome, Italy. She holds a B.A. in History and Political Science from the University of Michigan and a Masters Degree in Counter Terrorism from Norwich University.
Sonia Bell
Sonia Bell is Director of College Counseling and a member of the English faculty at St. Luke’s School. She holds a B.A. in English from Spelman College, an M.L.A. from Johns Hopkins University, and completed the coursework and comprehensive exams toward a doctorate in linguistics at the University of Georgia. Ms. Bell has also served as Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD.
Frank “Bubba” Henson
Frank “Bubba” Henson taught middle and upper school English at St. Luke’s from 2008 to 2019. He currently works for an education fund in Florida, developing early intervention literacy programs. During his tenure at SLS, Mr Henson was the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award, the Edward R. Scovner Excellent in Teaching Award, and the Arthur Selkowitz Excellent in Teaching Award. Prior to working at St. Luke’s, Mr. Henson worked for MTV Networks. He holds a B.A. in English from Ohio Wesleyan University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing in Poetry from Columbia University.
Alec Lebris
Alec LeBris is a member of the science faculty at St. Luke’s School and also serves as the 11th Grade Dean. He currently teaches Chemistry, Honors Chemistry, Honors Organic Chemistry, and acts as co-advisor to our STEM Scholars program. Prior to working at St. Luke's, Mr. LeBris was a high yield bond analyst at Chase Securities in Manhattan. He holds an A.B. in Biochemistry and Psychology from Bowdoin College and an M.S. in Chemistry from the University of Rhode Island where his research focused on physical organic chemistry.
Hunter Martin
Hunter Martin is a member of the faculty at St. Luke’s School, where he teaches Honors Modern World History and Advanced European History, and interdisciplinary senior electives. He leads St. Luke’s Summer Program and assists seniors with their college essays during the school year. Mr. Martin holds a Ph.D. in History from the University of Wisconsin, where his scholarship focused on the intellectual traditions and cultural politics of Europe during the twentieth century.
Stephen Vehslage
Stephen Vehslage is Associate Director of College Counseling at St. Luke's School, where he also teaches Advanced History electives in US Government & Politics. Before arriving at St. Luke's, Mr. Vehslage was a long-time member of the faculty at New Canaan High School. He holds a B.A. in English from Princeton University and a law degree from New York University School of Law. In addition, Mr. Vehslage is a graduate of the Teacher Preparation Program at Yale University, where he completed a course of studies in secondary education.
Stefanie Veneruso
Stefanie Veneruso is the Assistant Director of College Counseling at St. Luke’s School, where she also serves as an advisor and co-leads the Student Alumni Committee. She holds a B.A. in English from Villanova University and recently holds a certificate in college advising from Teachers College, Columbia University. Before working in college counseling, Stefanie worked in the St. Luke's Development Office for 10 years.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 40 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
