Parents and Family Weekend Awards Ceremony and Performing Arts Concert

Westminster parents, family and friends visited campus Oct. 18-20 for Parents and Family Weekend. They connected with classroom teachers and met other families and friends.

 

The weekend also featured an awards ceremony and performing arts concert Oct. 20 in Werner Centennial Center at which Headmaster Bill Philip welcomed everyone to campus and shared highlights about the opening of school. He also announced that Westminster is in the middle of the Soar Together Campaign for Westminster School that seeks to increase support for students, faculty and programs.

In between performances of the Chamber Choir, Chorale, Dance Ensemble, Concert Band and Jazz Band, numerous academic awards were presented to students in recognition of achievements from last spring.

 

Director of Studies Bill Sistare announced the names of students who earned Summus for the spring term:

Izzy Bailey, Francesca Bradley, Annie Brewer, Rex Flinn, J-C Lane, James Manderlink, Allie Masthay, Grant McCargo, Elena McGuigan, Cooper Organ, Matthew Park, Eva Pfeiffer, Shui Se Phoe, Simonne Ponce, Will Rizzo, Eddie Shin, Hudson Stedman, Alisa Toner, Diana Tsibikova, Michelle Wu

 

Annabelle Aber, Iggy Belov, Eve Cathcart, Eda Chen, Olivia Chou, Mac Dye, Justin Flaks, Juan Jo Garibay, Geena Kim, Michelle Kim, Jaclyn Laplante, Mikaila Lupoli, Will Lynch, Angelesia Ma, Ryan Messina, Jake Monroe, Phalla Phoap, Daniel Pinckney, Cecilia Raymond, Megan Rittenhouse, Rebecca Sargent, William Scott, Liam Seeley, Ian Shane, Ellie Suit, Quoc Anh Truong, Chris Turino, Laura Velez, Bethany Winters, Vernita Zhai, Olivia Zhang

 

Adena Ajike, Greta Baker, Annabel Bradley, Drew Brownback, Lily Carrel, James Chun, Sean Clarke, Elaina Comia, Blake Cote, Megan Cournoyer, Emmett de Kanter, Lukas Dudzik, Kaitlyn Eddy, Layla Ennis, Audrey Froelich, Alex Hu, Vlad Ivanchuk, Hannah Kaye, Shannon Keefe, Lucy Keenan, Caroline Kelter, Klaudia Khegay, Julia Krys, Kevin Kuang, Sofia Kuusisto, Yuna Lee, Alexandra Lin, Bear Lockshin, Caroline McCausland, Tarek Mourad, Liz Murphy, Sasha Novozhilova, Jane Ogden, Jeevan Palaniyandy, Jill Parsons, Reese Poe, Susie Renehan, Carson Roth, Natalie Rubin, Georgia Swank, Dinh Truong, Vincent Wang, Celenah Watson

 

The Advanced Placement Program recognizes students for outstanding performances on AP Exams. In addition to many members of the Class of 2018 who graduated last spring, many current students earned recognition.

 

Students who received scores of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams:

Curtis Brockelman, James (Jae Young) Chun, Elaina Comia, Blake Cote, Lukas Dudzik, Audrey Froelich, Clea Gerrand-Hermes, Alexander Hu, Shannon Keefe, Klaudia Khegay, Eugene Kim, Geena Kim, Kevin Kuang, Caroline McCausland, Sofia Morales, Elizabeth Murphy, Sasha Novozhilova, Reese Poe, Eliza Polukhin, Carson Roth, Justin Schuster, Dinh Anh Truong, Celenah Watson, Vernita Zhai

Students who earned an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more AP exams:

 

Adena Ajike, Megan Cournoyer, Vlad Ivanchuk, Julia Krys, Sofia Kuusisto, Sarah Levine, Matthew Norris, Daniel Pinckney, Isabel von Bargen-Burk, Alexandra Wolf

 

Students who earned an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more exams:

 

Annabel Bradley, Emmett de Kanter, Kaitlyn Eddy, Layla Ennis, Hannah Kaye, Yoonah Lee, Alexandra Lin, Henry Mitrano, Jeevan Palaniyandy, Jillian Parsons, Natalie Rubin, Madeline Vanech, Vincent Wang

Over 1.6 million juniors in 22,000 high schools entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Only 16,000 students in this competition earned recognition as Semifinalists. Among this very select group, Emmett de Kanter ’19 was recognized as a Semifinalist.

 

Additionally, 34,000 high performers in this competition are recognized as Commended Students for their exceptional academic promise as demonstrated by their outstanding performance on this qualifying test. They placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition. Members of the Class of 2019 who earned recognition as Commended Scholars are Alexandra Lin, Henry Mitrano, Reese Poe and Vincent Wang.

At the end of each academic year, academic departments award Book Prizes to students who distinguish themselves in various areas of study. These prizes are awarded to Third, Fourth and Fifth Formers at the following Parents Weekend.

 

Fifth Form History Essay Prize: Jeremy Lockshin ’19

 

The Robert Rodney History Prize: Simonne Ponce ’21

 

Critchell Rimington Creative Writing Award: Hannah Kaye ’19

 

Excellence in Chemistry: Daniel Pinckney ’20 and McKenzie Roller ’20

 

Excellence in Biology: Emmett de Kanter ’19

 

Richard P. Hopley Excellence in Latin: Jill Parsons ’19

 

The Kevin Kwok-Fun Chau ’79 Prize for Excellence in Chinese:

Adena Ajike ’19

 

 

At the end of the year, the faculty as a whole votes Book Prizes to Fifth Formers for distinguished academic achievement.

 

Harvard-Radcliffe Book Prize: Yuna Lee

Given to a member of the Fifth Form who has achieved impressive results in our most challenging courses and who demonstrates qualities of diligence, enthusiasm and intellectual curiosity in a wide variety of subjects ranging across the curriculum.

 

Yale Book Award: Vlad Ivanchuk

Presented to a member of the Fifth Form, with a particular talent in

economics, who approaches academic work with an impressive

combination of curiosity, intelligence and diligence, and who enhances

the classroom with energy and enthusiasm.

Williams Book Award: Jill Parsons

Presented to a member of the Fifth Form who consistently achieves at the highest levels, whose dedication, impressive work ethic and seriousness of purpose sets a positive example in both the academic and extracurricular life of the school.

 

Trinity Book Award: Vincent Wang

Awarded to a member of the Fifth Form who displays superb academic achievement, whose incredible work ethic combines with a strong determination to master any challenge faced.

 

Director of Studies Award: Emmett de Kanter

Awarded to a member of the Fifth Form whose intellectual curiosity and impressive achievement reflect a true mastery of subject matter, and who brings genuine joy of learning and enthusiasm to class every day.

 

 

During Parents and Family Weekend, student artwork was on display in the Chapel Gallery and Fearn Hall.