Saluting Fall Term Accomplishments

At the fall term awards ceremony Nov. 29, Headmaster Bill Philip welcomed members of the school community back from the Thanksgiving break saying, “Personally, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, since it celebrates relationships and reminds us to be grateful.” He then recognized members of the school community for their work on the 125th anniversary, making school life easier during Storm Sandy and bringing to campus recent technological innovations related to teaching and learning. He also praised those who performed in the Parents’ Weekend concert and “The Imaginary Cuckold,” those who provided essential back-stage support, and those who participated in the campus presidential debate and the Friday Nights in Gund events. “Athletics, too, this term offered occasions which deserve recognition, many of which remain unheralded,” he added.
 

“Of course, Hovey Field was the site for many wonderful community events this past fall, highlighted by night games in girls’ and boys’ soccer as well as field hockey,” he continued. “I am always so inspired when so many members of our school community turnout to support classmates on our teams!”
 

In closing he said, “Let’s strive to draw inspiration from the spirit of this Thanksgiving and holiday season, to think of others more than ourselves, to commit each day to making someone else’s day a bit better for our presence and care, and to be grateful for all the blessings we enjoy in this special school community.”
 

Director of Studies Greg Marco and the deans presented the following academic awards:
 

Emma Alfeld, Paige Brackett, Grace Brentano, Mariah Davis, Katherine Deveaux, Erin Gorham, Rachel Halfon, Jack Horrigan, Wonjune Kang, Collin Lech, Emma Merlin, Margaret Poler
 

Susanna Baker, Lauren Boures, Eliza Christman, Hieu Do, Thomas Dudzik, Natrina Ebrahimi, MacKenzie Hawkes, Anne Mayer, Philippe Morin, Maria Naqvi, Madeleine Percival, Aaron Poston, Nicholas Rocco, Aaron Rubin, Katherine Savage, Unique Shakoor, David Swenson
 

Riley Bitterli, Thomas Casper, Anisch Chadalavada, Emily Clippinger, John Dowling, Mike Gao, Klara Lindstrom, Mae Mullen, Soon Park, Taite Puhala, Abigail Reed, Rosalie Wetzel
 

Julia Benson, Iris Dayton, Alexander Dunn, Bridget Gorham, Gregory Jarvis, Jane Lee, Hansong Li, Skyler McGeachy-Campbell, Molly Mullen, Shani Rosenstock, Morgan Rubin, Alastair Smith, Alemante Tedla, Noah Zempsky

Director of Athletics Tim Joncas and coaches presented the following fall athletic awards:
 

Named in honor of faculty member Richard P. Scott Berry, the Berry Awards recognize the player from each lower team who gave the best effort and demonstrated the best attitude throughout the season.

Second Boys’ Cross Country: Stephan Reyes

Second Field Hockey: Caitlin Pittorie

Third Field Hockey: Hadley Smith

Second Football: Charlie Niles

Second Boys’ Soccer: Alastair Smith

Third Boys’ Soccer: Ryan Seymour

Fourth Boys’ Soccer: Soon Park

Second Girls’ Soccer: Eugenia Naamon

Third Girls’ Soccer: Susie Carter
 

Most Improved Runner: Tommy Griffith

The Jones Most Valuable Runner: Aaron Rubin
 

Most Improved Runner: Dana Niland

The Wilbur Most Valuable Runner: Paige Capistran
 

Most Improved Player: Catherine Crawley

The Pitcairn Most Valuable Player: Eleni Tebano
 

The Hovey Most Improved Player: Jamie Moross

The Lynch Most Valuable Player: Yianni Gavalas

The Chapman Cup Most Valuable Defensive Player: Mark Ellis
 

The Wilbraham Most Improved Player: Pierce Cote

The 1956 Team Most Valuable Player: Christian Barral-Arteta
 

Most Improved Player: Ellie Deveaux

Most Valuable Player: Iris Dayton
 

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

Boys’ Cross Country: Travis Percy

Girls’ Cross Country: Molly Mullen

Field Hockey: Eleni Tabano

Football: Kevin Murray

Boys’ Soccer: Greg Jarvis

Girls’ Soccer: Sydney Daniels
 

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

Third Girls’ Field Hockey

Coaches: Joan Howard, Jane Toner

Captain: Hadley Smith
 

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

First Girls’ Soccer

Coaches: Farrell Gerges, Dick Adams

Captains: Iris Dayton, Sydney Daniels
 

Coaches: Mark de Kanter, Michele Hatchette, Maureen Lamb, Morgan Shipway

Captains: Morgan Rubin, Julia Benson, Molly Mullen

The fall team captains then introduced the first team captains-elect for next fall as:

Boys’ Cross Country: Travis Percy, Tommy Griffith

Girls’ Cross Country: Jolene Patrina, Mae Mullen

Field Hockey: Megan Walsh, Abby Reed

Football: Jamie Moross, Mike Natale, David Carter

Boys’ Soccer: John Pappas

Girls’ Soccer: Laura Moore, Ellie Deveaux
 

In the performing arts, Theater Director A-men Rasheed presented the Frances Laurel Hopkins Award, which is given to a student for outstanding contributions to the Westminster Dramat Association, to Charlie Beck.
 

The presidents of Dramat also introduced the newest members of Dramat, the student dramatic organization requiring 120 hours of service on at least two different Westminster productions, as Jewel Brown, Cara Dealy, John FitzPatrick and Ronald Yeung
 

The ceremony ended with a Culture Draw for four students and two faculty members to visit Hartford Nov. 30 to have dinner at Firebox and attend a performance of the Hartford Symphony.