Westminster's 119th Commencement

Westminster School celebrated the graduation of 107 students in the Class of 2007 at commencement exercises May 27 on Commencement Lawn.

“We gather as a school family today to congratulate these young people, to salute those who have excelled in the different realms of our activities, to thank those who have made this achievement possible and to bid our goodbyes to those who soon take their leave of our community,” said Headmaster W. Graham Cole, Jr. in welcoming family members and friends to the school’s 119th commencement ceremony.

The ceremony featured a number of speakers, and presentation of awards and diplomas. Michael Lobdell, an alumnus, parent and vice chairman of the Westminster Board of Trustees, delivered the keynote address. Other speakers included graduating Sixth Formers Matthew Emmel who gave the outstanding scholar address and Head Prefect Nicholas Stevens who gave the salutatory address. Headmaster Cole and Chairman of the Westminster Board of Trustees John Armour presented diplomas to the graduates.

Following the commencement ceremony, members of the Class of 2007 participated in a Westminster tradition of passing their diplomas. They formed a circle on the Senior Lawn and passed the diplomas they received randomly during the commencement ceremony until they received their own diplomas. They then stepped out of the circle signifying their graduation.

Audio Clips
Click here for links to audio clips of this year's principle Commencement addressees. You can listen to the remarks of Nick Stevens, Matt Emmel and Spike Lobdell.

College Bound
To view the list of colleges and universities members of the Class of 2007 will attend, click here.

The members of the Westminster School Class of 2007 include:
Alex Anderson, Carlos Andrade, Emma Anquillare, Laura Arciero, Leigh Armstrong, Young Bahn, Wilson Bak, Leah Barker, Schuyler Biedron, Heidi Bitter, Adam Bitzer, Erica Briggs, Chelsea Brown, Leila Campoli, Greg Carey, Mallory Coquoz, Frank Coughlin, Peter Creech, Harish Dadoo, Chris Dahmke, T.J. Doherty, Dave Earl, Matt Emmel, Woojae Eum, Ali Evans, Tim Gavrich, Alexandra Geitz, Alex Gerson, Jason Gilmartin, Julianna Gonzalez, C.G. Grant, Chelsea Hall, Kelly Harrington, Carsey Hawkins, Melissa Haynes, Chris Heilakka, Pat Hesketh, Chad Horsford, Mandy Hyne, Sam Johnson, Tucker Jones, Will Katz, Andrew Kim, Adam King, Graham Kohan, Caroline Kokulis, Chris LaBarre, Clark LaMotte, Eddie Landesberg, Adam Lewicki, Joey Liberator, Sarah Lobdell, George Lyon, Darren Mac Donald, Sky Miers, Grace Moore, Taylor Neighbours, Pat O’Brien, Alli Papa, Augie Perrigo, Rob Pierce, Brian Pierre, Nick Pitsikoulis, Caroline Reigeluth, Ryan Riffe, Olivia Robinson, Charlie Rocco, Caitlin Romaniello, Zane Rooney, Andrew Ryan, James Ryoo, Thames Sae Sue, Evan Salzberg, Derek Sandberg, Hilary Sargent, Kathryn Sargent, Ryan Seong, John Sherman, Hunter Siegel, Kim Sirko, Drew Skipp, Carl Spevacek, Nick Stevens, Rachael Susaneck, Andrew Sutherland, Mark Sutherland, Elsie Swank, Parker Swenson, Zach Tayne, Ellie Thom, Graham Thomson, Devon Torres, Jimmy Turbide, Drew Ugalde, Jake Utzig, Audrey Wallace, Sarah Warnke, Jessi Waters, Andrew Webb, Jamie Whittendale, Bill Wiederseim, Kelsea Wigmore, Peter Williams, Liza Winship, Kevin Wu, Alexander Young and Gavin Zalinger.

Commencement Prizes and Awards

Faculty Prizes

O’Brien Award
David R. Pope

This award is presented annually in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Junie O’Brien, parents and trustees who devoted their lives in service to young people and to schools. It recognizes a member of the faculty who has, over the course of the year, been especially selfless and generous with time and care in the nurture and support of students and whose extraordinary, ongoing personal commitment to young people, sets an example to the Westminster community.

Swayze Award
Mary Pat Gritzmacher

Presented annually through the generosity of distinguished alumnus, trustee and former Chairman of the Board of Trustees Townsend Swayze ’55, this award is given to a member of the faculty for outstanding contributions to the life of the school.

C. Hiram Upson Family Chair
Barbara Adams

This new faculty-teaching chair, which was presented for the first time at commencement, was established by former trustee and alumnus Hi Upson ’50. It honors faculty members in the humanities who are master teachers of writing.

Student Prizes

Gretchen Hupfel ’82 Art Purchase Prize
Eleanor Westcott Thom ’07

Named for Gretchen Hupfel ’82, this prize celebrates the life of a very talented Westminster graduate and provides funds to annually purchase a piece of student art. Through the generosity of the Class of 1982, the school recognizes outstanding student art and adds to the school’s art collection.


Cowing Art Award
Grace Wilde Moore ’07

Established by the Class of 1963 in memory of faculty member David Cowing, this award is given for outstanding contribution to art at Westminster School.


Edward Scull, Jr.,’71 Award for Excellence in Architecture
Lawrence Jacob Utzig III ’07 and Kevin Wu ’07

This award is presented in memory of Edward Scull, Jr.,’71, an outstanding student and athlete.


Excellence in Science
Matthew David Emmel ’07
Woo Jae Eum ’07


Excellence in Mathematics
Woo Jae Eum ’07


Dramatic Award for Service and Achievement in Acting
Alexandra Claire Geitz ’07


Design Award for Service and Achievement in Technical Support
Carsey Leigh Hawkins ’07


J. Lawrence Gilman Award for Achievement in Music and Participation in Musical Activities
Andrew Kim ’07

Dance Award
Laura Jeanne Arciero ’07

Gordon McKinley Award for Excellence in English
Matthew David Emmel ’07

This award is given each year in honor of Gordon McKinley, a former chair of the English Department who served on the faculty from 1958 to 1986 as a master teacher.

Critchell Rimington ’25 Creative Writing Award
Leah Devon Barker ’07

This award is given annually to an outstanding young writer in memory of Yachting Magazine editor and publisher Critchell Rimington ’25.


Moncada Prize for Excellence in Spanish
Sarah Anne Marco ’07

This award is given in honor of Luis Moncada, former head of the Language Department and his wife, Dora, who shared their love of Spanish and Hispanic culture.

Excellence in French
Leila Winn Campoli ’07

Excellence in Latin
Elizabeth Katharine Winship ’07


Class of 1941 Peter Mars Memorial History Prize
Caroline Burns Reigeluth ’07


Excellence in Economics
Matthew David Emmel ’07
Woo Jae Eum ’07


Prizes for General Scholarship (Sixth Form only)

First in the Sixth Form: Matthew Emmel ’07

Second in the Sixth Form: Tanawit Sae Sue ’07

Third in the Sixth Form: Woo Jae Eum ’07


Excellence in Physics
Benjamin Bestor Zalinger ’07


Butler Bowl
Tiffany Shermain Liu ’10

This award is presented by the faculty to a member of the Third Form for character and leadership.


Fourth Form Bowl
Jae Kyung Ahn ’09

This award is presented annually by the faculty to a Fourth Former who shows outstanding personal qualities and concern for the community.


Wilbraham Bowl
Emily Austin Cranshaw ’08
Sarah Anne Marco ’08

This award is presented annually to a member of the Fifth Form who best embodies the qualities of Mr. Geoffrey Wilbraham, who gave distinguished and loyal service to Westminster from 1958 to 1994; high personal standards, consistent respect for others, unswerving commitment to the common good, steady insistence on fair play, and abiding human decency. This year, the faculty chose two students for this award.



Brian T. Bruyette ’77 Senior Athletic Award
Ryan Garrett Riffe ’07
Jessica Herron Waters ’07

This award is given by the faculty to the Sixth Form boy and girl who best exemplify excellence in athletics and who contributed to the character of his or her team. It is given annually in memory of Brian T. Bruyette ’77, who in his enthusiasm, sportsmanship, effort and skills, represented all that is best in his school.


Richard K. LeBlond II Honor Award
Woo Jae Eum ’07

This award is given annually to a member of the Sixth Form who exemplifies dedication to academics and loyalty to the school.


Paul Winship ’35 Alumni Book Prize
Sarah Childs Lobdell ’07

The book prize is awarded to a Sixth Former who has made an unusual commitment in both breadth and depth to the school's programs and activities. It is awarded in honor of Paul Winship ’35, former director of the alumni program, whose vision resulted in many of the buildings on the Hill.


Outstanding Scholar Award
Matthew David Emmel ’07

Given to the Westminster Sixth Former who, in the opinion of the faculty, is the outstanding scholar of the class, this award is not necessarily determined by rank in class but is based, rather, on the attributes of the true scholar: curiosity, imagination, power to associate new observations with prior experience, thoroughness, appetite for ideas rather than for grades as an end in themselves, and the ability to move easily in the realm of concepts.


Keyes Bowl
Chad Horsford ’07

Established by the Class of 1966 and recognized as the school’s highest award each year, the Keyes Bowl is presented to a member of the Sixth Form and recognizes the qualities of loyalty, courage, leadership and humility that were exemplified by Headmaster Francis P. Keyes (1956 to 1970).