Spring 2014 Awards Ceremony

Headmaster Bill Philip welcomed everyone to the spring term awards ceremony May 23 by offering congratulations to members of the Class of 2014 and their parents, families and friends. He then cited numerous achievements of students, faculty and staff during the spring term related to administrative services, the arts, the Westminster poet, student mathematics’ competitions, the chapel program, community service, Westminster Crossroads Learning Program in Hartford and stickball.
 

Director of Studies Bill Sistare presented the following academic awards to the Sixth Form:

Mary Anderson, Kelly Andrien, Riley Bitterli, Victoria Carrillo, Anish Chadalavada, Carlo Comia, Emily Crocker, Eleanor Deveaux, Camilla di Galoma, John Dowling, Elizabeth Hark, Katharine Hovey, Katherine Kelter, Mae Mullen, Chandler Nemetz, Mark Pfister, Yvonne Pruitt, Taite Puhala,

Abigail Reed, Jarunetr Sae-Lim, Amanda Savino, Thiele Schroeder, Brittany Swanson, Rosalie Wetzel
 

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 Golf: MacKenzie Hawkes

Second Boys’ Lacrosse: Austin Pope, Chris Swanson

Third Boys’ Lacrosse: Tim Callahan

Second Girls’ Lacrosse: Emily Mell

Third Girls’ Lacrosse: Julia Carter

Second Boys’ Tennis: KJ Maturine

Second Girls’ Tennis: Susie Carter

Third Co-ed Tennis: Marius Kluonis
 

He also announced the following First Team Awards:

First Baseball:

   Michelini Most Improved Player: Will Leathers

   Lea Most Valuable Player: Tyler Buckley, Vincent Ferraro

Golf:

   Most Improved Golfer: Bryson Tomcik

   Most Valuable Golfer: Philippe Morin

First Boys’ Lacrosse:

   Hovey Ground Ball Award: Ben Shively

   Class of 1981 Most Improved Player: Zack Orzech

   Hovey Most Valuable Player: Tristan Rai

First Girls’ Lacrosse:

   Ground Ball Award: Ellie Deveaux

   Most Improved Player: Isabel Tobbetts

   Kurtz Most Valuable Player: Mary French

First Softball:

   Most Improved Player: Gabby Brown

   Most Valuable Player: Rachel Monroe, Amanda Savino

First Boys’ Tennis:

   Most Improved Player: Alvin Heumann

   Davenport Most Valuable Player: Andrew Bell

First Girls’ Tennis:

   Most Improved Player: Katherine Ogden

   Most Valuable Player: Lia Petersen

Boys’ Track:

   Most Improved Trackster: Ken Barnes

   Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Aaron Rubin

Girls’ Track
   Most Improved Trackster: Katherine Eckerson

   Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Unique Shakoor
 

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: Nick Rocco

Golf: Addison Cilmi

Boys’ Lacrosse: Evan Doodian

Girls’ Lacrosse: Kelcie Finn

Softball: Jordan Gowdy, Brooke Wolejko

Boys’ Tennis: Charlie Russell

Girls’ Tennis: Katherine Kelter

Boys’ Track: Aaron Poston

Girls’ Track: Mary Anderson
 

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

Second Golf

Coaches: Peter Briggs

Captain: MacKenzie Hawkes
 

The 2014 spring Frederick D. Houghton Award, which is given to the Westminster team with the best season, was presented to:

First Softball

Coaches: Mitch Overbye, Carolyn Walker, Lee Zalinger

Captains: Jordan Gowdy, Rachel Monroe, Brooke Wolejko
 

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

Baseball: Nick Rocco, Tyler Buckley

Golf: Philippe Morin

Boys’ Lacrosse: Dylan Moser, Drew Simeon, Ryan Seymour

Girls’ Lacrosse: Eliza Christman, Mary French

Softball: Catherine Crawley, Jade Marlowe, Brenna Monroe

Boys’ Tennis: Gustavs Gerkens

Girls’ Tennis: Ginny Durfee, Julia Cooper

Boys’ Track: Aaron Rubin, Aaron Poston

Girls’ Track: Unique Shakoor, Erin Ozturk
 

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: Eli Bonadies, Toby Casper, Shannon Cherpak, Thomas Cragg, Timothy Daigler, Kelcie Finn, Jenn Girard, Zack Hamilton, Alvin Heumann, Michael Logan, Michael McNally, Rachel Monroe, Laura Moore, Marquet Newsome, John Pappas. Kat Pate, Travis Percy, Tristan Rai

Ben Shively, Brittany Swanson, Will Swanson and Brooke Wolejko.
 

Next, individuals were recognized for accomplishments in other school activities.
 

Associate Director of Admissions Carolyn Walker presented the Ganzenmuller-Buckey Award, given annually to the Black and Gold student tour guide who has contributed the most to the Admissions Office over the year, to Ellie Deveaux ’14.
 

Theater Director A-men Rasheed presented the Frances Laurel Hopkins Award to Jewel Brown ’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 Jewel Brown’15 and Duncan Kellogg ’15.
 

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 Drew Brazer ’15.
 

Mae Mullen ’14
 

Based on her extraordinary commitment to community service, Brittany Swanson ’14 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.
 

Spectator editors Andrew Bell ’14 and Lizzie Hark’14 announced the 2014 yearbook dedication to faculty members Pam and Nick McDonald.
 

Before closing the ceremony and thanking everyone for their attendance, Headmaster Philip recognized members of the 2014 Parents’ Committee, and Director of Development Maggie Pinney introduced the class agents for the Class of 2014. Next year’s SON Board, John Hay Society Vestry and Spectator and News editors also were introduced.