Karl Anderson (at left) works with classmates in a small group session during seminar for the program America Abroad. Anderson spent a large part of his junior year abroad studying food culture in Trinidad and Tobago. — Shauna Bittle photo

Karl Anderson came here as a freshman after several years in a private East Coast boarding school. That school required a jacket and tie, and followed a formal model of education in which students were expected to listen quietly and ask questions rarely. Karl craved a different experience. In seeking a college, he asked his guidance counselor: “What is the exact opposite of this place?” The counselor recommended Evergreen.

In our conversation with Karl, we learned that the quality which drew him to Evergreen was the sense of community he observed during his visit as a prospective student. He noted that students here have each other to turn to as collaborators; and the opportunity to develop relationships with faculty who encourage and feed intellectual curiosity. Those relationships culminate in evaluations that go beyond a letter grade system to give a sense of the Evergreen student’s passions, abilities and character.

Over the past few years, we’ve gotten used to seeing Karl daily, working hard on a class project or leading tours as a Student Ambassador with the Admissions office. His love for Evergreen is evident in how he talks about this school; and we’re sure he must have single-handedly recruited several dozen students in the past few years. We are happy to help share his perspective with a wider audience online. Please, get to know Karl Anderson: