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Gilmour’s multi-year VECTOR program connects students’ interests with coursework, mentorship and real-world experiences, giving them the freedom to explore passions, test possibilities and discover where those experiences might lead. Whether exploring a future career, developing a lifelong passion or discovering an unexpected path, VECTOR gives students the freedom to learn by doing. Ask a ninth grader what they want to be someday, and the answer often comes quickly.
Engineer. Doctor. Lawyer. Entrepreneur.
F our years later, after spending time in hospitals, law offices, engineering labs, nonprofit board meetings, art studios and community organizations, those same students tend to answer differently. Not because they're less certain, but because they've seen enough of the real world to understand what the work actually looks like. That kind of exploration is exactly what Gilmour’s VECTOR program is designed to foster. Rather than asking students to follow a prescribed path, VECTOR encourages them to build one of their own. Students select one of five areas of focus — Engineering & Design, Science & Medicine, Community Engagement & Law, Business & Entrepreneurship or Creativity & Personal Expression — pairing academic coursework with hands-on experiences, mentorship and independent exploration while building a portfolio that reflects their passions, growth and learning. Their journey culminates in a senior capstone project that showcases what they’ve discovered along the way.The destination matters, of course. But the process of getting there often matters more. “Students often arrive with an idea of what they want to explore, and VECTOR gives them the freedom to pursue those interests in meaningful ways,” says Betsy Tietjen, Gilmour's coordinator of experiential learning and VECTOR program director. “Sometimes that leads to a college major or career direction. Other times, it helps
Gilmour | FALL 2026
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