Achievements Recognized at Spring Awards Ceremony

Headmaster Graham Cole began the Spring Awards Ceremony on May 29 by offering warm congratulations to the Class of 2010 and to their parents and families. He then cited some of the highlights of the term including Mountain Day, the spring dance, One Acts, Cabaret, the Spring Arts Festival, the MS Walk and the achievements of athletic teams. “In all, a very successful term,” he said. “I am pleased and proud of you.”

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Academic Awards

Director of Studies Greg Marco presented the following academic awards to the Sixth Form:

Summus

Vlad Bok, Kathryn Brady, Anne Cervas, Kip Denoyer, Brook Geremew, Alex Gioia, Isabelle Hill, Sean Kelley, Jeanne Kim, Maddie King, Tiffany Liu, Riana MacKenzie, Suchi Mandavilli, Ben Mandell, Kristen Maxwell, Maddie McPhee, Brian McQuillan, Tammie Moopenn, Francheska Munoz, Sara Nolan, Charlotte O’Herron, Colby O’Neil, Tanakrit Rungrojchaiporn, Kingsley Schroeder, Bronwyn Shortly, Emily Snoddon, Clare Ulrich, Margaret Wyatt, Martha Zamora

Athletic Awards

Director of Athletics Dennis Daly presented the spring athletic awards beginning with the Berry Awards, named in honor of faculty member Richard P. Scott Berry. These awards recognize the player from each lower team who gave the best effort and demonstrated the best attitude throughout the season.

Second Baseball: Aaron Ugalde

Second Golf: Xavier Morin

Second Boys' Lacrosse: Sumner Miller

Third Boys' Lacrosse: Gavin Durham and Greg Jarvis

Second Girls' Lacrosse: Emily Snoddon

Third Girls' Lacrosse: Bridget Gorham

Second Softball: Alli Devins

Second Boys' Tennis: Nick Ehrhardt

Third Boys’ Tennis: Peter Tang

Second Girls' Tennis: Catharina Conzlmann and Lulu Spalding

Second Boys’ Track: Jake Medina

He also announced the following First Team Awards:

First Baseball:

Michelini Most Improved Player: Ryan Viola

Lea Most Valuable Player: Mack Lauzon

Golf:

Most Improved Golfer: Max O’Connor

Most Valuable Golfer: Will Smith

First Boys' Lacrosse:

Hovey Ground Ball Award: Kevin Boyle

Class of 1981 Most Improved Player: Brad Woodruff

Hovey Most Valuable Player: Win Hotchkiss

First Girls' Lacrosse:

Ground Ball Award: Gaby Christman

Most Improved Player: Rachel Kennedy

Kurtz Most Valuable Player: Gaby Christman

First Softball:

Most Improved Player: Rachel Farrel

Most Valuable Player: Amanda Boulier and Brittany Sutton

First Boys’ Tennis:

Most Improved Player: Robbie Hamblett

Davenport Most Valuable Player: Joe Kos

First Girls’ Tennis:

Most Improved Player: Clare Ulrich and Stephanie Werner

Most Valuable Player: Olivia Frank

Boys’ Track:

Most Improved Trackster: Emmet Shipway

Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Eric Wainman

Girls’ Track:

Most Improved Trackster: Karin Yosida

Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Vanessa Larracuente

The Stephen Harris Squibb Bowl awards, which honor the athlete from each first team who demonstrated the greatest sportsmanship and consistent effort, were presented to:

Baseball: Sean Kelley

Golf: Will Smith

Boys’ Lacrosse: Stephen Seymour

Girls’ Lacrosse: Paige Decker and Margaret Miller

Softball: Corrine Werner

Boys’ Tennis: Eddie McCormick

Girls’ Tennis: Sara Nolan

Boys’ Track: Chris Sailor

Girls’ Track: Kathryn Brady

The Hopley-Jackson Award, which is given to the Westminster lower team with the best season, was presented to:

Second Boys’ Tennis

Coach: Peter Doucette

Captain: Jake Bolton

The 2010 spring Frederick D. Houghton Award, which is given to the Westminster team with the best season, was presented to:

First Girls’ Softball

Coaches: Mitch Overbye, Whitney Roe and Lee Zalinger

Captains: Amanda Boulier, Sara Ugalde and Corinne Werner

The Brian T. Bruyette Senior Athlete Award was presented to Corinne Werner and Will Smith.

Spring first team captains then introduced the captains-elect for next spring as:

Golf: Harry Richards

Girls’ Lacrosse: Gaby Christman

Boys’ Lacrosse: Nick Thompson, Taylor Paul, Burt McGillivray, Brad Woodruff

Softball: Rachel Farrel, Carmen MacDonald, Brittany Sutton, Amanda Boulier

Boys’ Tennis: Tim Welles and Robbie Hamblett

Girls’ Tennis: Carolyn Zimmer, Margaret Berry and Chessy diGaloma

Baseball: Matt Leach and Tucker Brumley

Boys’ Track: Chris Sailor

Girls’ Track: Vanessa Larracuente

Next, individuals were recognized for service and volunteerism and for accomplishments in other areas of school activity that warranted special praise.

Admissions

Director of Admissions Jon Deveaux presented the Ganzenmuller-Buckey Award, given annually to the student who has contributed the most to the Admissions Office over the year, to Cris Gomez.

Performing Arts

Theater Director Rob Lazar presented the Frances Laurel Hopkins Award to Jake Benedict.

The newest members of Dramat, the student dramatic organization requiring 120 hours of service on at least two different Westminster productions, were announced as Brendan Sullivan and Gwen Pastor.

The newest member of the Williams Hill Players, requiring a total of 500 hours of work on Westminster Dramatic Association productions was announced as Kathryn Griffith.

The Dramat presidents for next year were announced as Corey Smith, Kathryn Griffith, Jake Benedict and Andrew Marco.

WALKS Essay

Betsy Heckman, head of the History Department, recognized Kathryn Griffith and Brook Geremew as finalists in the WALKS constitutional essay contest. They were first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively. WALKS is a consortium of five local independent schools which work closely together to provide opportunities for deserving young people in the greater Hartford area.

Barnes Service Award

Based on her extraordinary commitment to community service, Anne Cervas was named Westminster’s winner of the WALKS Barnes Service Award. Annually, WALKS recognizes a student at each of the five members schools who has made significant contributions to social service in the community.

2010 National Merit Scholarship Program

Headmaster Cole recognized Anne Cervas and Suchi Mandavilli for being named Finalists in the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program. Anne was among the 2,500 distinguished high school students selected to win a National Merit Scholarship from a talent pool of more than 15,000 Finalists.

Veteran Tennis Coach Recognized

Headmaster Cole announced the naming of one of the tennis courts in the school’s tennis complex for faculty member Peter Briggs ’71, who coached Westminster tennis for 28 years and “was the dean of New England tennis in every respect.” After thanking Peter for his devotion to the tennis program, Westminster players and the school, Headmaster Cole said “generations of players, coaches, parents and spectators will have Peter’s name before them as a reminder of what the best in secondary school tennis is all about.” Peter was presented with a plate “as a symbol of our gratitude and respect.”

Headmaster's Awards

Headmaster Cole presented the Headmaster's Awards, which are given at the conclusion of each trimester to individuals in the Westminster community who have contributed to or enriched the life of the school in some special or significant way during the term, with particular emphasis on service, leadership and citizenship. The award comes in the form of a pin.

Carol Kirsch, who serves as office manager, and Diana Evans, the headmaster’s assistant, were honored for their “warmth, friendliness, helpfulness, cheerfulness, loyalty, goodwill and hard work that make such a difference for Westminster.”

Tyler Mink ’11, who served as a volunteer coordinator and student committee member for the MS Walk, was honored for his hard work and dedication, which “were a major factor in making the MS Walk a successful event for Westminster and the larger community.”

Kathleen Devaney, who is stepping away from coaching First Girls’ Lacrosse the past 12 years, was recognized for “her devotion to and care of her players and her sport, her inspiring leadership, her intensity for the team.”

Chris Sailor ’11 was recognized for “being a crowned New England champion” in the triple jump and commended for “other important contributions to our school’s life as a musician and a poet.”

First Softball coaches Mitch Overbye, Lee Zalinger and Whitney Roe, and captains Amanda Boulier, Sara Ugalde and Corinne Werner were honored for winning three New England Championships in a row, four Founders League Championships in a row and achieving a record of 64-3 over the last four years.