Spring Awards Ceremony Kicks off Commencement Festivities

The Class of 2023 celebrations began Friday, May 26, with the Spring Awards Ceremony, which honors students who have excelled academically, artistically and athletically, and members of the school community for their commitment to the school.

 

Head of School Elaine White opened the awards ceremony by congratulating the Class of 2023 and their parents, families and friends. She asked those in attendance to give silent thanks to “the beauty of this place and our lives on the Hill.”

 

She also recognized English teacher Paul Kendall, dean of the Class of 2023, for his stewardship. “He is your biggest fan, your toughest critic, your most outspoken advocate,” she told students. “He has given you his heart, his extra time, his care and his guidance. He attributes his gray hair to you; in fact, we all attribute our gray hair to you. But he has loved you fiercely and he is immensely proud of you.”

 

White emphasized that none of the prize recipients achieved success solely by themselves. “This is a community that supports one another and recipients, in part, owe their success to the support and engagement of their peers, faculty and families,” she said.

 

Following her remarks, Academic Dean Betsy Heckman announced Sixth Formers who have earned Summus for the spring term.

 

Lucy Benoit

Sam Bradley

Amber Caruso

Maris Cathcart

Olivia Fernandez

Qingyi Alic Liu

Tia MacDonald

Tomasina Pearman

Alec Rosenbaum

Soloman Thomas

Ximan Grace Yuan

Allen Zhou

 

Director of Theater and Dean of Student Life A-men Rasheed presented the Frances Laurel Hopkins Award to Morgan Curtis ’24

 

Before Director of Athletics Tim Joncas ’00 presented the spring athletic awards, he recognized departing faculty members Mark de Kanter ’91, P’19, ’22 and Kathleen Devaney H ’02, P’19, ’22 who have been involved in the athletic program since their arrival in 1997 and 1998, respectively.

 

The Berry Award recognizes the player from each lower team who gave the best effort and demonstrated the best attitude throughout the season.

 

Junior Varsity Boys’ Golf: Nick Dowling ’24

Junior Varsity Boys’ Baseball: Sebastien Blanc ’23

Junior Varsity Boys’ Lacrosse: Finn Seeley ’25

Third Boys’ Lacrosse: Tyler Ungerman ’26

Junior Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse: Mary Styspeck ’24

Third Girls’ Lacrosse: Anna Klapman ’26

Junior Varsity Boys’ Tennis: Robert Yalda ’24

Junior Varsity Girls’ Tennis: Avery Gray ’26

Third Girls’ Tennis: Clara Covill ’26

Third Boys’ Tennis: Kim Weng ’24

 

 

Baseball: Michelini Most Improved: Calvin Hurty ’23

Most Valuable Player: Rowan Masse ’23

 

Boys’ Golf: Most Improved Golfer: Will McCarthy ’25

Scull Most Valuable Golfer: Reed Ghriskey ’26

 

Girls’ Golf: Most Improved Golfer: Tayler Horgan ’24

Most Valuable Golfer: Cindion Huang ’25

 

Boys’ Lacrosse: Hovey Ground Ball Award: Lance Dominick ‘23

Class of 1981 Most Improved Player: Josh Mason ’23

Hovey Most Valuable Player: Kade Smith ’23

 

Girls’ Lacrosse: Ground Ball Award: Hadley Crowther ’25

Most Improved Player: Tilly Lynch ’25

Kurtz Most Valuable Player: Elizabeth Symonds ’23

 

Softball: Most Improved Player: Meiyan Ren ’25

Most Valuable Player: Marleigh Monroe ’24

 

Girls’ Tennis: Most Improved Player: Annabel Brawn ’23

Most Valuable Player: Chandler Green ’23

 

Boys’ Tennis: Most Improved Player: Logan Sun ’24

Davenport Most Valuable Player: Andrew Nelson ’23

 

Boys’ Track: Most Improved Trackster: Daniel Edwards ’24

Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Gabe Mays-Sanchez ’23

 

Girls’ Track: Most Improved Trackster: Elizabeth DeBlasi ’24

Scull Most Valuable Trackster: Elysse Cumberland ’24

 

Ultimate Frisbee: Most Improved Player: Matthew Hanscom ’24

Most Valuable Player: Kalle Schmidt ’24

 

The Stephen Harris Squibb Bowl awards honors the athlete from each varsity team who demonstrated the greatest sportsmanship, consistent effort and inspired performance.

Baseball: Joey Scrofani ’23

Boys’ Golf: Ethan Cramer ’23

Girls’ Golf: Lucy Wainwright ’25

Boys’ Lacrosse: Zoumana Ouattara ’25

Girls’ Lacrosse: Ava Lynch ’23, Bella Ursano ’23

Softball: Catie McGuigan ’23, Hailey Tullo ’23

Boys’ Tennis: David Suit ’24

Girls’ Tennis: Nora Davis ’24

Boys Track: Mason Zottola ’23

Girls’ Track: Sarah Lenox ’24

Ultimate Frisbee: Gabe Lugo ’23

 

The All Founders League Award is given to two members of each Varsity team. The award is given 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.

Baseball: Jamie Palmese ’23, Ryan Jainchill ’23

Boys’ Golf: Ethan Cramer ’23, Reed Ghriskey ’26

Girls’ Golf: Laura B. Friesen ’25, Ella Ungerman ’24

Boys’ Lacrosse: Kade Smith ’23, Lance Dominick ’23

Girls’ Lacrosse: Ruthie Haims ’23, Dylan Bloom ’23

Softball: Olivia Gordon ’24, Nicole Smith ’23

Boys’ Tennis: Andrew Nelson ’23, Oliver Hocking ’23

Girls’ Tennis: Cecily Belford ’24, Clover Cooper ’26

Boys’ Track: Jakub McKinney ’23, Sam Bradley ’23

Girls’ Track: Blessing Kieh ’24, Adrienne Hall ’25

Ultimate Frisbee: Ryan Shaw ’24, Henry Warner ’25

 

The Hopley-Jackson Award is given to the Westminster lower team or teams with the best season:

 

Thirds Boys’ Lacrosse

Coaches: Jay Keough, Tony Griffith

Captains: Finn Williams ’26, Aidan O’Callaghan ’26

 

JV Girls’ Tennis

Coach: Peter Doucette

Captains: Westie Strawbridge ‘24, Maggie McCarthy ‘23

 

The Frederick D. Houghton Award is given to the Westminster team or teams with the best season:

Team: Girls’ Track and Field

Coaches: Lee Huguley, Kelly Babbidge, Arianna Vailas, Siobhan Dale, Stephen Mayfield

Captains: Emma Mason ’23, Elysse Cumberland ’24

Team: Boys’ Varsity Tennis

Coach: Nick Cary

Captains: Oliver Hocking ’23, Jay Henry ’23

 

The Daly Award was established in 2012 in honor of Dennis A. Daly, who served as a longtime teacher, coach, athletic director and mentor. The award recognizes students who have competed at the varsity level for all three seasons of their Sixth Form year and have demonstrated both a wonderful breadth of athletic pursuits and an extraordinary commitment to the highest level of Westminster sports:

 

Emma Budke, Elizabeth DiBlasi, Olivia Fernandez, Emma Mason, Saskia Mattiko, Caterina McGuigan, Jakub McKinney and Mason Zottola

 

 

The Head of School Community Pins, which recognize students, faculty and staff for their extraordinary community commitment, were awarded to the following:

 

Janet Reed, receptionist, for the glue that keeps Westminster together. She is the voice behind the phone, the purveyor of news, the poster of Hill Holidays, the arranger of travel, the collector of end-of-year donations and lost items, the coordinator of summer information packets, keeper of the calendar and much more. “She is someone who knows and celebrates what is happening in all of our lives,” said White.

 

Kerry Kendall, art teacher, for being the soul of exuberance and the whirling dervish of art, for loving everyone and everything good and immersing herself in art shows, Gund events and S.P.A.C.E.

 

Sebastian Blanc ’23 for being a student who has made it his responsibility to support in places in the community that aren’t really noticed. Without being asked, he assists in various venues on campus, often the last person to leave and the only person to help.

 

Gabriel May-Sanchez ’23 for caring deeply about Westminster, for being direct in Prefect Board meetings, encouraging others to get involved and being involved himself.

 

Lastly, Kade Smith ’23 for being the perfect Head Prefect, leaving big shoes to fill next year.

 

The Joan Howard Award, established in 2022 by Julie Morris Ogden ’82, is given in honor of Joan Howard P’00, ’03, who served the Westminster School community for 20 years as an English teacher, a coach and a vital member of the admissions team. This award is given to a tour guide whose devotion to learning and the Westminster community exemplifies that same depth of passion, dedication and interest in others: Morgan Curtis ’24

 

The Gazenmuller-Buckey Award is given annually to the student who contributed the most to Admissions this year: Bella Ursano ’23

 

Outstanding Community Service is presented to the student who demonstrates extraordinary service and commitment to the Westminster community: Stuart Dorman ’23

 

The Horizons at Westminster Award for service: Tia MacDonald ’23

 

Bruyette Senior Athletic Leadership Awards given annually to that Sixth Form student(s) who through their enthusiasm, sportsmanship, effort and skills, represents all that is best in their school: Lucy Benoit ’23, Olivia Fernandez ’23, Kade Smith ’23

 

Academic Dean Betsy Heckman presented the following academic awards and prizes:

 

Edward Scull, Jr., Award for Excellence in Architecture: Hewitt Shelton ’23

 

Cowing Art Award: Ruthie Haims ’23: Paige Smith ’23

 

The Gretchen Hupfel ’82 Art Prize: Charlotte Trafelet ’23

 

Outstanding Contribution to Dance Award: Catherine Rodrigues ’23

 

The J. Lawrence Gilman Award for Achievement in Music and Participation in Musical Activities: Dongha Annie Kim ’23, Mason Zottola ’23

 

The Lewis J. Powers  Photography Award: Oliver Hocking ’23

 

Dramatic Award for Service and Achievement in Acting: Alexa Dailey ’23

 

The Design Award for Service and Achievement in Technical Support: Maris Cathcart ’23

 

Brian Ford Writing Prize: Asia Daniela Odong ’24

 

Critchell Rimington Creative Writing Award: Carolyn Cheng ’24, Cassie Goundrey ’24

 

Gordon McKinley Award for Excellence in English: Tia MacDonald ’23

 

Firth Form History Essay Prize: Olivia Emerson ’24

 

Robert Rodney History Prize: Lauren Levinson ’26

 

Peter Briggs Prize for Excellence in Economics: Chung Hon Johnathan Li ’24

 

Class of 1941 Peter Mars Memorial History Prize: Kalilah Akbar ’23

 

Burdett Prize for Excellence in the study of French: Lucy Benoit ’23, Bella Ursano ’23

 

Moncada Prize for Excellence in Spanish: Kalilah Akbar ’23

 

Kevin Kwok-Fun Chau ’79 Prize for Excellence Chinese: Tia MacDonald ’23

 

Richard P. Hopely Excellence in Latin Prize: Ximan “Grace” Yuan ’23

 

Joyce Wilson Prize for Excellence in Mathematics: Maris Cathcart ’23

 

Excellence in Biology: Allen Zhou ’23

 

Excellence in Chemistry: Stuart Dorman ’23

 

Excellence in Physics: Francesca Carnovale ’23

 

Excellence in Science: Maris Cathcart ’23

 

 

Harvard-Radcliffe Book Prize is given to a member of the Fifth Form who has achieved at the highest level in our most challenging courses and who demonstrates intellectual curiosity, diligence and love of learning in all subjects across the curriculum: Chung Hon Johnathan Li ’24

 

Trinity Book Award is presented to a member of the Fifth Form who consistently performs at the highest academic level and whose impressive work ethic and dedication reflect a commitment to challenging oneself in all aspects of our program: Carolyn Cheng ’24

 

Williams Book Award is given to a member of the Fifth Form who approaches studies with an impressive combination of curiosity, intelligence and diligence, and who enhances the classroom with energy and enthusiasm: Wills Erda ’24

 

Yale Book Award is presented to a member of the Fifth Form who demonstrates superb academic achievement in all subjects across the curriculum and whose intellectual curiosity and passion for learning serve as a model to the school community: Tarapi Pyo ’24

 

Yearbook Dedication: Spectator editors announced the 2023 yearbook dedication to departing faculty members Mark de Kanter ’91, P’19, ’22 and Kathleen Devaney H’02, P’19, ’22 whose breadth of involvement on campus during their 51 combined years of service has “left an indelible mark on almost every area of school life.”

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