Achievements Recognized at Spring Awards Ceremony

Headmaster Bill Philip began the Spring Awards Ceremony on May 28 by congratulating members of the Class of 2011, their parents, families and friends, and talking about how quickly the year had passed. “It feels as if yesterday Sixth Formers were hosting the new day-student picnic and greeting newcomers at the top of Williams Hill for the start of the fall term,” he said. “We have enjoyed another very successful year.”

He then cited some of the highlights of the spring term including the Spring Performing Arts Concert, Cabaret, attendance at regional musical festivals, a Rock Ensemble performance, Chris Sailor’s Sixth Form Recital, One Acts, the work of visual artists, Diversity Day, the MS Walk, the John Hay Society Dance Marathon, Friday Night Readings and the Westminster Lecture Series event. He also talked about the spring’s many athletic achievements saying they “capped an extraordinary year for our teams, featuring multiple Founders League and New England championships, the most championships won in a single year in Westminster School history.

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

Leigh Baldwin, Margaret Berry, Casey Breese, Brian Calderon, Katherine Cheng, Andrea Cross, Francesca di Galoma, Nora Edmonds, Bridget Eklund, Caitlin Fabbri, Rachel Farrel, Kathryn Griffith, Sophie Harris, Kathryn Hill, Claire Hodson, Warat Khaewratana, Sooyoung Kim, Hannah Leathers, Jacob Lee, Carmen MacDonald, Nicholas Mahany, Andrew Marco, Louise Marenakos, Mallory Mason, Jessica Mercier, Elliot Nygard, Sarah Ogden, Stephanie Piperno, Marguerite Prescod, Emily Schwartz, Brendan Sullivan, Brittany Sutton, Bradley Taber, Eric Wainman, Stephanie Werner

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: John Dowling and Mike McNally

Second Golf: Miguel Castello

Second Boys’ Lacrosse: Preston Miller

Third Boys’ Lacrosse: Dietrich Ryan

Second Girls’ Lacrosse: Marissa Mason

Third Girls’ Lacrosse: Emily Mell

Second Softball: Sam Boures

Second Boys’ Tennis: Andrew Bell

Third Boys’ Tennis: Dan Roberts

Second Girls’ Tennis: Christi DeSimone and Brittany Swanson

Second Boys’ Track: Will Sprenker

Second Girls’ Track: Mary Anderson

He also announced the following First Team Awards:

First Baseball:

Michelini Most Improved Player: Brad Gioia

Lea Most Valuable Player: Nick Finn

Golf:

Most Improved Golfer: David Hallisey

Most Valuable Golfer: Jack Rubino

First Boys' Lacrosse:

Hovey Ground Ball Award: Brad Woodruff

Class of 1981 Most Improved Player: Alec Dunn

Hovey Most Valuable Player: Gordon Santry

First Girls’ Lacrosse:

Ground Ball Award: Gaby Christman

Most Improved Player: Meaghan O’Herron

Kurtz Most Valuable Player: Gaby Christman

First Softball:

Most Improved Player: Sydney Danniels

Most Valuable Player: Carmen MacDonald and Brittany Sutton

First Boys’ Tennis:

Most Improved Player: Chris Conzelmann

Davenport Most Valuable Player: Andrew Fu

First Girls’ Tennis:

Most Improved Player: Hannah Leathers

Most Valuable Player: Katherine Kelter and Carolyn Zimmer

Boys’ Track:

Most Improved Trackster: Myles Marshall and Emmet Shipway

Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Chris Sailor

Girls’ Track:

Most Improved Trackster: Brooke Brazer

Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Casey Breese

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: Matt Leach

Golf: Eliza Breed

Boys’ Lacrosse: Brad Woodruff

Girls’ Lacrosse: Whitney Powel

Softball: Alli Devins

Boys’ Tennis: Tim Welles

Girls’ Tennis: Margaret Berry

Boys’ Track: Eric Wainman

Girls’ Track: Vanessa Larracuente

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

Second Girls’ Tennis

Coach: Joyce Wilson

Captains: Ellie Baker, Natalie Bierdron and Christi DeSimone

The 2011 spring Frederick D. Houghton Award, which is given to the Westminster team with the best season, was presented to three teams:

First Girls’ Softball

Coaches: Mitch Overbye, Whitney Roe and Lee Zalinger

Captains: Amanda Boulier, Rachel Farrel, Carmen MacDonald and Brittany Sutton

First Girls’ Tennis

Coach: David Werner

Captains: Margaret Berry, Chessy di Galoma and Carolyn Zimmer

First Boys’ Lacrosse

Coaches: Peter Newman and Todd Eckerson

Captains: Burt McGillivray, Taylor Paul, Nick Thompson and Brad Woodruff

The Brian T. Bruyette Senior Athlete Award, which was presented the following day at commencement, was given to:

Amanda Boulier

Brad Woodruff

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

Golf: Nathalie Filler and Jack Rubino

Girls’ Lacrosse: Rachel Kennedy, Brooke Heron and Meaghan O’Herron

Boys’ Lacrosse: Ryan Cholnoky, Andy Dines and Gordon Santry

Softball: Sydney Daniels and Alli Devins

Boys’ Tennis: Sandro Giacometti and Cam Kurtz

Girls’ Tennis: Libby Kelter and Kathleen Gudas

Baseball: Jeff Smolens, Aaron Ugalde and Nick Finn

Boys’ Track: Emmet Shipway and Marquez Cummings

Girls’ Track: TBD

Next, individuals were recognized for accomplishments in other areas of school activity.

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 Tyler Mink.

Theater Director A-men Rasheed presented the Frances Laurel Hopkins Award to Jake Benedict.

The new co-presidents of Dramat, the student dramatic organization requiring 120 hours of service on at least two different Westminster productions, were announced as Sam Boures and Gwen Pastor. The newest members are Madison Caan, Randy Doyle and Tessa Tookes.

The newest members of the Williams Hill Players, requiring a total of 500 hours of work on Westminster Dramatic Association productions, were announced as Sam Boures and Corey Smith.

Betsy Heckman, head of the History Department, recognized Kathleen Gudas and Amory Beldock as finalists in the WALKS constitutional essay contest. 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.

English teacher Bryan Tawney announced the winner of the Brian Ford Writing Prize as Ellie Baker.

Based on her extraordinary commitment to community service, Kathryn Griffith 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.

Headmaster Philip recognized Hannah Ford for being named a National Merit Scholarship Award winner and Jacob Lee as a National Merit Scholarship Finalist in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program.