Spring Awards Ceremony

Headmaster Bill Philip welcomed everyone to the spring term awards ceremony May 24 by saying, “Let me begin with my warm congratulations to the Class of 2013 and to your parents, families and friends. The past four years seem to have flown by and suddenly here we are at your Commencement Weekend.” He then cited accomplishments by students, faculty and staff during the spring term related to the 125th anniversary celebration, the visual and performing arts, The Martlet, the chapel program, community service, Westminster Crossroads Learning Program, the MS Walk, Classics Day and “Friday Nights in Gund.” He also recognized a number of individual achievements including faculty member Joyce Wilson’s 20-year coaching career.
 
Academic Awards
Greg Marco, holder of the John Sherwin Jr. ’57 and W. Graham Cole Jr. Chair and director of studies, presented the following academic awards to the Sixth Form:
 
Summus
Charles Beck, Julia Benson, Vincenzo Gisonti, Bridget Gorham, Jane Lee, Hansong Li, Skyler McGeachy-Campbell, Molly Mullen, Dana Niland, Caitlin Pooley, Shani Rosenstock, Morgan Rubin, Alastair Smith, Noah Zempsky

Athletic Awards
Director of Athletics Tim Joncas 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: Leo Aber
    Second Golf: Will Swanson
    Second Boys’ Lacrosse: Drew Poling
    Third Boys’ Lacrosse: Duncan Kellogg
    Second Girls’ Lacrosse: Emily Mell, Cricket di Galoma
    Third Girls’ Lacrosse: Alyssa DiMaria
    Second Softball: Nia Francis, Haley Schopp
    Second Boys’ Tennis: Max Eklund
    Second Girls’ Tennis: Mimi Connelly, Annie Lacey
    Third Co-ed Tennis: Ryan Fox
    Second Girls’ Track: Jolene Patrina
    Second Boys’ Track: Tommy Griffith
    
He also announced the following First Team Awards:
First Baseball:
    Michelini Most Improved Player: John Dowling, Will Lammey
    Lea Most Valuable Player: Tyler Buckley
Golf:
    Most Improved Golfer: Xavier Morin
    Most Valuable Golfer: Jack Rubino
First Boys’ Lacrosse:
    Hovey Ground Ball Award: Ben Shively
    Class of 1981 Most Improved Player:    Jamie Moross
    Hovey Most Valuable Player: Alec Dunn
First Girls’ Lacrosse:
    Ground Ball Award: Susanna Baker
    Most Improved Player: Katie Savage
    Kurtz Most Valuable Player: Eleni Tebano
 First Softball:
    Most Improved Player: Jade Marlowe
    Most Valuable Player: Jordan Gowdy, Rachel Monroe
First Boys’ Tennis:
    Most Improved Player: Harry Ganek
    Davenport Most Valuable Player: Charlie Russell
First Girls’ Tennis:
    Most Improved Player: Brittany Swanson
    Most Valuable Player: Lia Petersen
Boys’ Track:
    Most Improved Trackster: Stephan Reyes
    Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Travis Percy
Girls’ Track:
    Most Improved Trackster: Mary Anderson
    Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Jennifer Girard
 
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: Alex Tomashoff
    Golf: Phillippe Morin
    Boys’ Lacrosse: Pierce Cote
    Girls’ Lacrosse: Alex Regan
    Softball: Amanda Savino, Kat Pate
    Boys’ Tennis: Andrew Bell
    Girls’ Tennis: Katherine Kelter
    Boys’ Track: Ryan Strange
    Girls’ Track: Bridget Gorham
 
The Hopley-Jackson Award, which is given to the Westminster lower team with the best season, was presented to:
Second Girls’ Lacrosse
Coaches: Lindsay O’Brien, Jenny Philip
Captains: Cricket di Galoma, Emily Mell
 
The 2013 spring Frederick D. Houghton Award, which is given to the Westminster team with the best season, was presented to two teams:
First Golf
    Coaches: Peter Briggs, Greg Marco
    Captains: David Hallisey, Jack Rubino
First Softball
    Coaches: Carolyn Walker, Mitch Overbye
    Captains: Alli Devins, Jordan Gowdy, Sydney Daniels
            
Spring first team captains then introduced the captains-elect for next spring:
Baseball: Mike McNally, Toby Casper, Tyler Buckley
Golf: Phillippe Morin
Boys’ Lacrosse: Matt Knight, Tristan Rai, Sam Dardani
Girls’ Lacrosse: Tori DeAngelis, Ellie Deveaux, Megan Walsh
Softball: Rachel Monroe, Jordan Gowdy, Brooke Wolejko
Boys’ Tennis: Harry Ganek, Charlie Russell
Girls’ Tennis: Katherine Kelter, Lia Petersen
Boys’ Track: Travis Percy, Stephan Reyes
Girls’ Track: Jenn Girard, Yamilex Munoz
 
The Daly Award
Established in 2012 in honor of Dennis A. Daly — teacher, coach, athletics director and mentor from 1990-2012 — this award recognizes annually those students who have competed at the first-team level for all three seasons of their Sixth Form year and demonstrated both a wonderful breadth of athletic pursuits and an extraordinary commitment to the highest level of Westminster sports: Sydney Daniels, Alli Devins, Vincent Gisonti, Lindsay Hanau, Kevin Murray, Ryan Nardi, Ryan Strange, Eleni Tebano
 
Next, individuals were recognized for accomplishments in other areas of school activity.
 
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 William Schmidt ’13.
 
Performing Arts
Theater Director A-men Rasheed presented the Frances Laurel Hopkins Award to Duncan Kellogg ’15.
 
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 Yvonne Pruitt ’14 and Duncan Kellogg ’15.
 
WALKS Essay
Betsy Heckman, head of the History Department, recognized Rosie Wetzel ’14 and Sean Han ’14 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.
 
Brian Ford Writing Prize
The Brian Ford Writing Prize is given annually to an underform student who, in the view of the English Department, best exemplifies a passion for the craft of writing. The prize comes in the form of a handsome stipend and the winner is asked to present a new piece of writing to the English Department in the fall. English teacher Bryan Tawney presented the award to Taite Puhala ’14.
 
Barnes Service Award
Based on her extraordinary commitment to community service, Marissa Eklund 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.
 
Yearbook Dedication
Spectator editors in chief Maggie Garrison and Morgan Rubin presented the 2013 yearbook dedication to Barbara and Dick Adams.
 
Before closing the ceremony and thanking everyone for their attendance, Headmaster Philip recognized members of the 2013 Parents’ Committee, and Director of Development Maggie Pinney introduced the class agents for the Class of 2013. Next year’s John Hay Society Vestry and form officers were also introduced.