Academic News Now Lives on the Williston Website

Thanks for being a loyal reader of our Academic News blog. As we’ve enhanced our website, we’ve changed how we display these stories. From now on, to find posts about academics at Williston, please click here, bookmark the page, and check back frequently.

Another way to stay up to date on Williston news stories is to follow us on social media (FacebookTwitter, and Instagram). We also post content to YouTube and Flickr.

Young Alumni Share How They Faced Transition to College

Young alumni Julia Valine ’15, Ava McElhone Yates ’17, Hannah King ’15, and Cody Cavanaugh ’16 speak to students.

Ten young alumni returned to the Williston Northampton School campus this week to talk with juniors and seniors about the upcoming transition to college. They explained how they made crucial decisions, such as how many schools to visit, and which ones to apply to, as well as how to prepare for the all-important interview and compose the perfect essay. As the panel progressed, they discussed the importance of making sure they have time to socialize and connect while managing a slate of demanding classes and saying “yes” to signing up for that intriguing class outside their major that may take them down an unexpected career path. Continue reading

11 Inducted into Cum Laude Society

During a ceremony in Williston Northampton School’s Phillips Stevens Chapel on Friday, January 5, 11 seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society. The society, modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, recognizes academic achievement by students in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence (Areté), justice (Diké), and honor (Timé).

Inductees are:

  • Caroline Channell
  • Anabelle Farnham
  • Madison Fulcher-Melendy
  • Anna Harvey
  • Emma Lehrer
  • Sabrina Liew
  • Sara Renkert
  • Sophia Schaefer
  • Ana Weed
  • Hanzhang Zhao
  • Wangchen Zhou

Congratulations to these scholars! Here’s a link to the Flickr photo album. Video of the entire event is here. Video of Dr. Holmes speech is here and text is here. To read remarks by Head of School Robert W. Hill III, please click here.

Commended Students Ace PSAT

Seniors Sophia Shaefer, Josh Calianos, and Anabelle Farnham

Kudos to seniors Josh Calianos, Anabelle Farnham, and Sophia Schaefer, who were named Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. Commended Students placed among the top 50,000 scorers of more than 1.6 million students nationally who took the PSAT. Way to go, scholars!

Williston Recognizes AP Scholars

AP Scholars were honored at an assembly on September 15.

Williston offers many Advanced Placement courses (see our course catalogue for a full listing). At a recent assembly, Academic Dean Greg Tuleja announced the names of students who were designated AP Scholars by the College Board, which administers the tests.

From last year’s graduating class of 2017, 59 students were honored on one of four categories.

Among current juniors and seniors, 18 have been recognized for strong performance on last year’s AP exams.

Continue reading

Williston Students Named to T3 Honor Roll

Head of School Robert W. Hill III presents Sima Gandevia ’17 with an academic award. Sima earned high honors this trimester.

The following 286 students earned honors or high honors for the third trimester of 2017. Congratulations, Wildcats! Way to finish strong!

Ninth Grade

Katherine Borden, Honors
Julia Farnham, High Honors
Adam Johnsrud, Honors
Conrad Kang, High Honors
Joe Rees, Honors
Kenneth Wang, High Honors
Dylan Fulcher-Melendy, High Honors
William Gunn, High Honors
Alan Martin, Honors
Matthew Seltzer, High Honors
Abby Seltzer, High Honors
Jonathan Toth, High Honors
Louisa Weed, High Honors
Oscar DeFrancis, High Honors
Continue reading

Commencement Prizes Awarded

Head of School Robert W. Hill III presents an award to Soma Mizobuchi ’17

Over the past few weeks, students have shared their passions and accomplishments widely within our school community. We have celebrated those endeavors in many venues from classroom presentations, to theatrical performances, at concerts, on the playing fields, and at gallery openings and the Arts Walk.

Assistant Head of School Ann Pickrell shared the most notable of these student accomplishments and recognized overall distinction among the Class of 2017. Continue reading

13 Inducted into Cum Laude Society at Commencement

During the Williston Northampton School’s 176th Commencement on May 28, 2017, History and Global studies teacher Peter Gunn led the induction of 13 new members into the Cum Laude Society.

“Every year the Williston Northampton School community witnesses what can be accomplished by a wonderful mixture of human potential and hard work,” he said. “And we catch a glimpse of a brighter future.  We now honor the finest scholars in the class of 2017 with their public induction in to the Williston Northampton chapter of the Cum Laude Society.  In electing these scholars to Cum Laude, Williston celebrates their academic accomplishment and, in a broader sense, the fundamental mission of our School.  These young people show us what can be accomplished by an academic life inspired with purpose, passion, and integrity.” Continue reading

Academic Awards 2017

The Academic Awards for the 2016-17 class year took place under the tent on the Quad on May 27, 2017. Awards were given in six subjects: History and Global Studies, English, Arts, Science, Math, and Language. A link to photographs of the event will be posted soon. The awards were as follows:

 HISTORY & GLOBAL STUDIES

The A. L. HEPWORTH PRIZE, honoring a legendary history teacher, Dean of Students, and tennis coach, 1926-1973, is awarded to those students who have done excellent work in the United States History course:

  • For improvement – ELIN BLOMQUIST
  • For accomplishment – TIMOTHY “TIM” FAY

The HERVEY L. SMITH, JR., PRIZE, established by a member of the faculty from 1939 to 1946, is awarded annually for the highest achievement in the Modern European History course:

  • ROBERT “ROBBY” HILL

Continue reading

Williston Language Students Earn High Honors

Latin and French award winners flanked by Language Department Head Beatrice Cody and French teacher Susan Michalski

Parlez-vous français? Tu Latine loquimur? 你会说中文吗? The answer to these three questions is a resounding, “Oui!” “Ita!” and “是!” when it comes to Williston students, who took top scores in national language exams recently, netting them awards in French, Latin, and Chinese.

French Awards

Nearly 80,000 students nationwide participated in Le Grand Concours National French Contest. The following students placed at the national level and regional chapter level (for Western Massachusetts and Vermont):

LEVEL 1A (French I)
Steven Wang ’20: Sixth place in Western Massachusetts and Vermont chapter, ninth in nation
Ariel Yen ’19: Seventh place in regional chapter, 10th in nation
Madhav Ambadi ’20: Seventh place in regional chapter, 10th in nation
Michelle Tu ’20: Ninth place in regional chapter
Kate Quimby ’19: Ninth place in regional chapter Continue reading