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Winter Term Awards Ceremony Recognizes Students’ Achievements and Honors Special Community Members

On March 24, Westminster honored students who have excelled academically, artistically and athletically, and recognized members of the school community for their commitment to the school during the winter term awards ceremony.

A-men Rasheed, dean of student life and director of theater and Dramat productions, began the ceremony on an uplifting note, wishing everyone a happy spring.
 
“Spring is music to my ears because that means that we have come a very long way. Two successful trimesters have come and gone, and here we are in our final push to Commencement and the end of the 2022/2023 school year,” he said.
 
While some of his favorite Westminster moments happen in the spring, he asked the community to reflect on and celebrate some of the wonderful things that transpired this past winter.
 
Beyond acknowledging students’ academic, athletic and artistic performances over winter, he also commended students for coming together and giving of themselves. He gave several examples, including when the entire school community worked together packing gifts, decorating cards and when more than 40 students organized a much appreciated, and well received holiday gathering at Moylan School in Hartford for Horizons at Westminster families and students. “Many of you noticed how the library at Moylan was in disrepair, and you spent time at the beginning of the March break restoring the space. It’s moments like these when you are exhibiting your best selves and making a commitment beyond self that makes all the difference,” he said.
 
He also credited students for further strengthening the community by their willingness to listen deeply to different points of view, engage in civil discourse and to continue to learn from each other.
 
“As we celebrate your accomplishments of the winter term, let’s move forward today and every day with the ability to THINK: is it Thoughtful, is it Helpful, is it Important, is it Necessary, is it Kind?” he said.
 
 
Academic Dean Betsy Heckman announced the names of students who earned the honor of Summus for the winter term:
 
Academic Awards
 
Third Form Summus
Caroline Breslav, John Dwyer, Lauren Levinson, Sunshine Li, Nick Lopriore, Aidan O’Callaghan, Henry Warren, Luna Yang
 
Fourth Form Summus
Laura B. Friesen, Alex Goodman, Cindion Huang, Trent Jones, Elise Park, Meiyin Ren, Finn Seeley, Allysen Whitehead, Max Williams, Jennifer Yang
 
Fifth Form Summus
Carolyn Cheng, Nora Davis, Wills Erda, Sarah Lenox, Jonathan Li, Tarapi Pyo, Sarah Rocchio, Kalle Schmidt, Michael Song, Alice Tao, Kimi Weng, Jacqueline Wu
 
Sixth Form and Postgraduate Summus
Sam Bradley, Emma Budke, Amber Caruso, Maris Cathcart, Tommy Cramer, Alexi Haimes, Alice Liu, Tia MacDonald, Owen Murphy, Tomasina Pearman, Grace Yuan, Allen Zhou
 
Athletic Awards
 
Before announcing the awards, Athletic Director Timothy Joncas ’00 presented an overview of the winter season and presented Westminster chairs to two long-serving staff members: Dana Guay and Bill Ennis. The two have been fixtures in Jackson Rink since the early 80s. Mr. Guay started working in Jackson Rink in January of 1981, and Mr. Ennis started in 1982. They served the community for a combined 83 years.
 
 
The Berry Awards, which are named in honor of former faculty member Richard P. “Scott” Berry and recognize the player from each lower team who gave the best effort and demonstrated the best attitude throughout the season, were given to:
 
Junior Varsity Boys’ Basketball: Rhys Marschke ’24
Third Boys’ Basketball: Brody DiBeneditto ’26
Junior Varsity Girls’ Basketball: Sabrina Yang ’26
 
Junior Varsity Boys’ Hockey: Jack Rockefeller ’23 and Jack Grahling ’25
Third Boys’ Hockey: Ethan Cramer ’23
Junior Varsity Girls’ Hockey: Ava Lynch ’23 and Francesca Carnovale ’23
 
Junior Varsity Boys’ Squash: Dane Moliterno ’24
Third Boys’ Squash: Will Henry ’26
Junior Varsity Girls’ Squash: Maddie Clark ’25               
Third Girls’ Squash: Lucy Morton ’26
 
Varsity Team Awards
 
Varsity Boys’ Basketball
            Most Improved Player: Jack Darnowski ’23
            Keyes Foul Shooting Award: Marcello Demerski ’23
            Donald H. Werner Most Valuable Player: Dorian Paki ’23
Varsity Girls’ Basketball
            Most Improved Player: Lauren Neuman ’25
            Keyes Foul Shooting Award: Bianca D’Onofrio ’23
            Most Valuable Player: Haley Cramer ’24
Varsity Boys’ Hockey
            Most Improved Player: Nicholas Tsatas ’25
            Most Valuable Player: Ryan Shaw ’25
Varsity Girls’ Hockey:
            Most Improved Player: Callie Dermody ’23
            Most Valuable Player: Shannon Moran ’23
Varsity Boys’ Squash
            Talbot/Edwards Most Improved Player: Mason Abbate ’24
            Fritz Zeller Most Valuable Player: Julio Palomino Perez ’23
Varsity Girls’ Squash
            Talbot/Edwards Most Improved Player: Alice Tao ’24
            Fritz Zeller Most Valuable Player: Nicole Smith ’23
Varsity Boys’ Swimming and Diving
            Most Improved Swimmer/Diver: Simon Stambaugh ’26
            Preston Pete “P” Test Most Valuable Swimmer/Diver: John Dwyer ’26
Varsity Girls’ Swimming and Diving
            Most Improved Swimmer/Diver: Cecily Belford ’24
            Most Valuable Swimmer/Diver: Lucy Benoit ’23 
 
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:
 
            Varsity Girls’ Basketball: Mather Thompson ’23
            Varsity Boys’ Basketball: Marcello Demerski ’23
            Varsity Girls’ Hockey: Alex Whalen ’24 and Amelia Molin ’23
            Varsity Boys’ Hockey: Wade Volo ’23
            Varsity Girls’ Squash: Margaret Dilks ’24
            Varsity Boys’ Squash: Gabriel Lugo ’23
            Varsity Girls’ Swimming and Diving: Chiamaka Kanu ’23
            Varsity Boys’ Swimming and Diving: Mason Zottola ’23
 
All-League Founders Awards
The All-Founders League Award is given to two members of each first team in recognition of those student athletes who best exemplify the league ideals of sportsmanship, hard work and character in the spirit of competition and fair play at the varsity level.
 
Boys’ Basketball: Marcello Demerski ’23 and Dorian Paki ’23
Girls’ Basketball: Ruthie Haims ’23 and Mariama Camara ’23
Boys’ Hockey: Matteo De Luca ’25 and Hayden Raycraft ’23
Girls’ Hockey: Hailey Tullo ’23 and Amelia Molin ’23
Boys’ Squash: Andrew Pang ’24
Girls’ Squash: Nicole Smith ’23 and Maggie McCarthy ’23
Boys’ Swimming and Diving: John Dwyer ’26 and Owen Huang ’25
Girls’ Swimming and Diving: Lucy Benoit ’23 and Marin Benoit ’26
 
The Hopley-Jackson Award, which is given to the Westminster lower team with the best season, was presented to:
                
Junior Varsity Boys’ Squash
Coach: Ebonie Reaves
Captain: Ben Swift ’25
                
The Frederick D. Houghton Award, which is given to the Westminster team with the best season, was presented to:
       
Girls’ Swimming and Diving
Coaches: Siobhan Dale, Jake Cahill, Amanda Rappold, Caroline Larock, Erin Izzo
Captains: Lucy Benoit ’23, Margaret Breen ’23, Riley Vincent-Leigh ’23
 
Performing Arts Award
 
Director of Theater A-men Rasheed announced the recipient of the Frances Laurel Hopkins Award, given to a student for outstanding contributions to Dramat, as Maris Cathcart ’23.
 
The newest members of Dramat, the student dramatic organization, contributing at least 100 hours to a production, were announced as Sam Bradley ’23, Amber Caruso ’24, Morgan Curtis ’24, Asia Daniela Odong ’24, Reagan DeMovick ’26, Cindion Huang ’25, Kate Hui ’26, Grace Li ’26, Emma Mason ’23, Saskia Mattiko ’23 and Catherine Rodrigues ’23.
 
The newest members of the Williams Hill Players, those students who have worked 400 hours or more in Dramat productions over the years, were announced as Maris Cathcart ’23 and Tia MacDonald ’23.
 
Head of School Awards for Community
 
In announcing the community awards, Head of School Elaine White said, “We know that the strength, love and support that we give one another also gives us the staying power that we need to pursue our passions, to try something that is scary, to admit that we have made a mistake, and to push ourselves to be better.”
 
The four recipients who each received a “W” pin were: Justin Kassouf, equipment manager, athletic trainer Erin Koukopolous, and students Asia Odong ’24 and Jackson Raymond ’24.
 
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