Academic Awards 2012

“Students and teachers working together and inspiring one another is what makes Williston’s experience so transformative,” Head of School Robert W. Hill III told students and teachers during the annual Academic Awards Ceremony, held at the Athletic Center on May 29, 2012.

“It is an experience that should not be taken for granted when you consider how lucky we are to be here together,” Hill said. “You students work incredibly hard to achieve illustrious results, and so do your teachers.”

Read the full text of Bob Hill’s welcome here. View a photo gallery of the award winners here.

The following awards were presented during the awards ceremony.

Awards Quick List

History
English
Fine Arts
Science
Mathmatics
Latin
French
Chinese
Spanish
Additional Awards
School Awards

Spring Athletic Awards (presented May 28, 2012)

HISTORY

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:

Improvement: Yusuke Sumoyama
Accomplishment: Kathleen Kaisla

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.

Elizabeth Calderone
Madeleine Stern

The Edward M. Lawton Jr. Prizes are awarded for superior work in elective courses in the History and Social Science Department.  Ed Lawton taught history from 1947 to 1983, and was the first to teach Asian History and Economics at Williston.

World Civilization: Matthew Steinberg
European History: Lindsay Richardson
AP Microeconomics: Hansen Yang
Economics: Samuel Goldsmith
International Relations: Samuel Goldsmith
Immigration:  Past and Present: Jiwon Lee
AP Comparative Government and Politics: Addison Maria Coley
Comparative Government and Politics: Joseph Newlin
Native American History: Joseph Newlin
Hitler and Nazi Germany: Simon Wool
Classical Greece: Seth Cohen
Introduction to World Religions: Gillian Peters
Western Religions: Gustav Fredrikson
Introduction to Philosophy: Andrew White

The Edward L. O’Brien ’16 Prize is awarded to a student who has achieved high standing in social studies courses and displayed an active interest in American Law and Politics.

Walter McLaughlin

The Dag Hammarskjöld History Prize, given by an alumnus of the Class of 1955 in honor of the Nobel Laureate and Secretary General of the United Nations, 1953-1961, is awarded to that student who has written the best lengthy research paper on some phase of international relations or diplomatic history:

 Hanna Whirty

The Martin Tananbaum Prize, honoring the father of Minnie Tananbaum Lomeo, Class of 1966, is awarded to that student who has combined an appreciation for the study of religion, philosophy, or ethics with responsible social activities within and beyond the Williston community.

Emily Pettengill

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ENGLISH

Prizes honoring Asahel Lyman Williston, Class of 1852, trustee, and nephew of the founder, are offered for excellence in English.

Grade 9: Cameron Hill
Grade 10: Madeleine Stern
Grade 11: Jilly Lim
Grade 12: Adam Curtis

A prize honoring Gilbert F. Kennedy, Class of 1891 and Williston trustee, for the best junior term paper.

Evan Jacobson

The Hazeldine Prize, in memory of Myrtle Elizabeth Hazeldine and her husband, Harry Newton Hazeldine ’21, is awarded each year to the student who has consistently improved the caliber of his written work both in English classes and for the student newspaper, The Willistonian.

 Andrew White

The Sidney Nelson Morse Prizes, in memory of a member of the Class of 1886 who taught at Williston from 1890 to 1928, are awarded each year to the two students recording the best work in senior English.

Alexander Cervone
Addison Coley

The Bard College Prize for Critical Writing is offered to that student “who wrote the outstanding paper or essay during his or her senior year.”

Hansen Yang

The Antonio Giacomini, Class of 1931 Writing Prize is awarded to that freshman who has demonstrated consistent excellence in his or her written work over the course of the entire year.

Lena Gandevia

The H. Thomas Wood, Class of 1924 Prize is awarded “to the graduating student who has shown the most promise in the field of journalism during his or her undergraduate days at the school.”

Elizabeth deUbl

The Susan Caroline Ferguson Memorial Scholarship was established by the family and friends of Susan Ferguson of the Class of 1980.  The award is made in alternate years to the member of the junior class who attains the highest grades in English or French.  It is awarded this year for achievement in English.

Keely Quirk

Arete, class of 1985, established four prizes to be given for the student in each of the four grades who has, by record of achievement and faculty recommendation, made the most improvement in the study of English for the academic year.

Grade 9: Hyo Bin “Hannah” Lee
Grade 10: Regina Ryjih
Grade 11: Jean-Francois Boucher
Grade 12: Justin Coachman

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FINE ARTS

The  Peter Edgerton, Class of 1974 Memorial Award is given for outstanding service rendered to the Williston Theatre.

Katherine Glowatsky

The Williston Theatre Prize:  to a member of the Williston Theatre who has unselfishly given time and energy in the service of the theater.

Thomas Chandler

The Marquis F. Dickinson Prizes, honoring a member of the Class of 1858, former Trustee, and son-in-law of Samuel and Emily Williston, are awarded for each year’s best dramatic performances.

Laura McCullagh
Erza Wool

The Howard G. Boardman Prizes  honor the distinguished founder and director of The Williston Theatre for 40 years.  “Boardy” also taught French and served as Alumni Secretary from 1921 to 1961.

To an actor for outstanding performances in supporting roles in 2011-2012.

Kathleen Kaisla
Jackson Skinner

To that member of the Williston Theatre who has demonstrated the greatest improvement as an actor during the course of a single year.

Denison Marsland-Rello

The Chester Monroe Merrick ‘65 Memorial Prizes: awarded to those who have contributed in technical areas to the excellence of the Williston Theatre.

Maximilian Reichelt

The Stella Mae Hepworth Memorial Prize is awarded to a senior who contributes significantly to the arts, particularly music.  Mrs. Hepworth taught piano to four decades of Williston students beginning in the 1920s.

Kuan Yu “Ricky” Chen

The Barbara K. Ansbacher Award, established by Henry Ansbacher, Class of 1988, in memory of his mother, is awarded to a member of the graduating class who has maintained a high level of academic achievement and who has made a significant contribution to the music program.

Sarah Hubbard

The Music Department Prize is given in honor of Richard Gregory, who taught music, theater, art history, and English at Williston from 1961 to 2004, in testimony to his life-long love for and involvement with music as a composer, performer and teacher and in recognition of his limitless contributions to musical life at Williston.

Seung Min “Christine” Kim

Fine Arts Prizes

Drawing is given for outstanding effort and excellence.

Gabriel Jacobson

Painting Award is given for inventiveness and chance-taking and for excellence in pursuing the visual language expressively):

Haoshu Xu

Most Improvement in Painting

Esther Kim

The Choreography Award is presented to a student who has excelled in the art of Choreography.  This year’s award is presented to:

Anuska Sarkar

The Dance Performance Award is presented to a student who has excelled in dance performance.  The award is presented to:

Brittany Collins

The Antonio Giacomini, Class of 1931 Photography Prize is awarded each year for excellent work in photography.

Davin Aberle

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SCIENCE

Prizes provided by the will of Benjamin W. B. Brown, class of 1887, are awarded for the best essay or essays written on the study of biological sciences.

Most Improved in Biology: Benjamin Sarat
Biology:  Cade Zawacki
AP Biology:  Alexander Cervone

The University of Rochester and Bausch & Lomb, Inc. of Rochester, New York, offers the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award, an honorary science award medal, to a junior who has made the greatest progress in science during his secondary school years.  The student receiving this award is eligible to compete for a science scholarship.

Jiayuan “George” Xu

The Alumni Association of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a medal to an 11th grader who has achieved excellence in mathematics and science.

If student applies and enrolls, the official Rensselaer Medal will be presented during honors convocation in the fall of the first year at Rensselaer.

Alexander Peng

The Yves Couderc Physics Prizes honor a teacher of science and music, 1961-1979.

For greatest achievement: Jiayuan “George” Xu
For greatest improvement: Jean-Gabriel Lacombe

The Class of 1891 offers two prizes for excellence in chemistry, honoring  Professor Frank Adrian Leach, who taught chemistry and biology and served as Director of Athletics, 1892-1902.

Chemistry:  James Borden
AP Chemistry: Eric Tallman

The Earl Nelson Johnston Prize, established by the Class of 1953, is awarded annually for the best improvement in chemistry.  Mr. Johnston taught science from 1918 to 1954, and at times conducted the choir and advised The Willistonian and The Log:

Elizabeth Lawrence

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MATHEMATICS

The Mathematical Association of America holds a series of contests each year to determine the strongest mathematical students in the country.  The winners of these year-long competitions represent the United States in an International Olympiad.  The first of these contests is called the American Mathematics Contest.  The student who scores highest at each participating school is named the winner at that school.  This year the winner is:

Jiayuan “George” Xu

The George Parsons Tibbets Prizes, honoring a legendary teacher of mathematics from 1890 to 1926, are awarded each year.

Calculus: Jiayuan “George” Xu
Multivariable Calculus: Hansen Yang                                                                                Algebra 2: Yiting “Tina” Zhang
Matthew Steinberg
Algebra 1  : Molly Wilder                                     

A prize is awarded in memory of the late Judge David Kennedy, Class of 1892, for the best work in geometry.    

Caroline Borden  (8th grade)

The Melvin Jesse Cook Award for achievement in precalculus was established to honor Mr. Cook, head of the math department, who retired in 1952 after 41 years, and was made an honorary member of that graduating class.

 David Fay

The Math Department Award for best work in discrete mathematics.

Jiayuan “George” Xu

The Computer Programming Prize for outstanding performance in the computer programming courses.

Jonathan Deaton

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LATIN

The following students are receiving awards in honor of their success on the National Latin Exam.  One hundred and forty-eight thousand students from 50 states and 13 other countries took this exam. At each level of study, the highest scores were awarded certificates of, ‘maxima cum laude’ with a silver medal, and ‘summa cum laude’ with a gold medal.

Silver Medal

Elizabeth deUbl
Jilly Lim
Callum Poulin
Cade Zawacki

Gold Medal

Lena Gandevia
Kathleen Kaisla
Persis Ticknor-Swanson

The Lincoln D. Granniss Prizes, established by the Class of 1953, are awarded for scholastic achievement and earnest, intelligent participation in the Latin courses.  The class hopes that the prize, honoring a teacher of Latin from 1910 to 1953, will be respected, as “it is the living symbol of a man who has instilled in all a pleasure in being and learning.”

Latin I: Emily Grussing
Latin II: Cade Zawacki
Latin III: Jilly Lim
AP Latin: Karlyn Simpson

 The Charles A. Buffum Prize, honoring a teacher of Latin and Greek from 1878  to 1922, is for excellence in sight translation in Latin.

Benjamin Greeman

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FRENCH

In March, 97,353 students nationwide participated in the Le Grand Concours 2012.  This evening, we recognize those students who placed at the national level.

LEVEL 1A  (French I):

Emma Kaisla: fifth place in Western Massachusetts and Vermont; eighth place in nation

LEVEL 2A (French II and II Honors)

Matthew Steinberg: first place in Western Massachusetts and Vermont; fifth in nation

Umi Keezing: second place in Western Massachusetts and Vermont; sixth in nation

 Brenna Quirk: third place in Western Massachusetts and Vermont; 10th in nation

The Howard G. Boardman Prizes are for excellence in French.  These prizes were established to honor Howard G. Boardman, head of the French Department for many years and Senior Master of the School until his retirement in 1961.  They come from a fund established by Professor and Mrs. J. Henry Korson.

French I: Nan “Catherine” Ding
French II: Umi Keezing
French III: Olivia Foster
Advanced French Honors: Mika Chmielewski
AP French: Emily McHugh

The B. Hoff Knight Award, in memory of a faculty member, 1967-1968, is awarded to that student who displays an active interest in the study of French and plans further study of the language.

Alexander Nunnelly

The Henry E. Donais, Jr. French Prize is given “in memory of Henry E. Donais, Jr., Class of 1959 and former member of the French Department at Williston,” 1966-1969, for best fluency in French.

Valerie Moon

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SPANISH

The David H. Thomas Spanish Prizes are awarded to those students who have made the greatest achievement as students of Spanish during the academic year.  David H. Thomas was elected to the Williston faculty in 1929 and, after 42 years of service as teacher and department head, retired in 1971.

Spanish I: Katelin Murray
Spanish II: Cameron Hill
Spanish III: Elizabeth Calderone
Advanced Spanish Honors: Eric Tallman
AP Spanish: Alex Garcia

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CHINESE

The following prizes are awarded to those students who have made the greatest achievement as students of Chinese during the academic year.

Chinese I: Tomoya Morita
Chinese II: James “Noah” Jackson
Chinese III: Caitlin Berube
Chinese IV: Jiwon Lee

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ADDITIONAL AWARDS

Arete, Class of 1985, established a prize to honor that outstanding student tutor who has made a conscientious effort to help fellow students academically.  This year the officers of Arete voted the most outstanding tutor to be:

Katherine Cavanaugh

JANUS

Nicholas Brady

THE LOG

Certificates:    Alizah Barker
Laura Bowman
Kathryn “Rachel” Fechser
Hyo Bin “Hannah” Lee

Book: Sarah Wilkie

THE WILLISTONIAN                                                                                                  

Certificates:  Elizabeth deUbl
Nathan Gordon  (8th grade)
Sai He
Brendan Hellweg
Dylan Kenseth
Mairead Poulin
Andrew White
Hui Yan “Athena” Yeung

Jiwon Lee has been noimated by Ms. Bao to receive an award for her dedication and perseverance in foreign study and this nomination has been accepted by the Massachusetts Foreign Language Association.  Jiwon has demonstrated excellence in the most advanced course of Chinese and has actively participated and shown great leadership in all kinds of social cultural learning activities.

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School Awards

The first school award is in the Williston Scholars Program. This award is given for distinctive work in the Williston Scholars Course  “The 18th century in the Connecticut River Valley” which is offered in the history and global studies department.

Evan Jacobson

The final group of prizes is voted on by the faculty for the top performance in each grade.

There are two ninth grade prizes.

The Yale College Book Prizeis awarded to a ninth grader who excels in scholarship and has made a significant contribution to the life of the school.

Hyo Bin “Hannah” Lee

The Bowdoin College Book Prize is presented annually to the outstanding ninth grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character.

Cade Zawacki

There are two 10th grade prizes.

The Smith College Book Award is presented to a tenth grader who exhibits consistent all-around excellence.

Elizabeth Calderone

The Williams College Book Prize is awarded by The Williams Alumni Association to the outstanding tenth grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character.

Madeleine Stern

There are four 11th grade prizes.

The Lincoln D. Granniss Yale University Scholarship is awarded to that member of Williston Northampton’s upcoming senior class who is qualified by virtue of academic and extracurricular excellence to be a strong candidate for admission to Yale University. Lincoln Granniss taught Latin at Williston, 1910-1953, and was a member of the Yale classes of 1906 and 1925.

Eric Tallman

The Holy Cross Book Prize is awarded to a student in the top 10 percent of the 11th grade who gives evidence of a strong concern for school and community:

Jilly Lim

The Dartmouth Book Prize is awarded to an eleventh grader who ably combines leadership potential with excellence in achievement both in the classroom and in non-academic activities.

Haoshu Xu

The Harvard Book Prize is awarded to the outstanding eleventh grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character.

Devon Greenwood

The Emily N. McFadon Vincent ’49 and Bob E. Vincent Instructorship was established in 2007 by Emily N. McFadon Vincent, Class of 1949, and her husband Bob to recognize a young faculty member’s initiatives in and out of the classroom.

The Vincent Instructorship was awarded this year for the first time to Cathy Kay for a three year period: September 2011 to June 2014.

The Sandra B. ’55 and Joseph C. Mesics Instructorship was established in 2001 to recognize a young faculty member’s initiatives in and out of the classroom.

The Mesics Instructorship was awarded this year to Sarah Klumpp for a three year period: September 2011 to June 2014.

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*Seniors receive citizenship and scholarship prizes at the commencement ceremony itself, on Saturday, June 2. Many of the senior prizes, awarded at graduation, recognize students who have earned the community’s respect for their character and contributions to the school.  The Valedictory Prize is announced to the faculty prior to the Baccalaureate ceremony on June 1, and presented at graduation.

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