Students and faculty assembled under a tent on the Quad on the afternoon of May 28 to recognize the academic achievements of Williston students. Head of School Robert W. Hill III reminded students that “what you accomplish, how you behave, how you treat others, in other words—YOUR DEEDS—will determine whether or not you are a successful lifelong student.”
(Read the full text of Mr. Hill’s speech here.)
(See photos here and video here.)
Other awards presented as the school year came to a close:
- Spring Athletic Awards (presented May 27, 2016; see photos here)
- Cum Laude Inductees (presented at Commencement, May 29, 2016; photos coming soon)
The awards were bestowed as follows:
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:
For improvement: CAMERON WARD
For accomplishment: MICHAEL WARREN
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:
MADISON FULCHER-MELENDY
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: ROBERT “ROBBY” HILL
European History: SARA RENKERT
AP Microeconomics: HANZHANG “DERRICK” ZHAO
International Relations: LEEANNA ALBANESE
Immigration: DIMITRA “TOULA” SIERROS
Economics: TYLER GREENWOOD
AP Comparative Government and Politics: THEODORE WOLFE
The Soviet Union and Contemporary Russia: CHAK FUNG “ANTHONY” LEUNG
Hitler and Nazi Germany: SARAH LUCIA
Women and Gender Studies: JOSEPHINE “PINKY” KING
Western Religions: ISABELLE TEGTMEYER
Eastern Religions: CAROLINE BORDEN
Introduction to Philosophy: JIA LUN “VIVIEN” SHAO
Ethics and Society: PARKER SWEET
Existentialism: SARAH LUCIA
Buddhism: SAUL BLAIN
Accounting, Finance and Entrepreneurship: DONALD BATTIMELLI
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:
ANNA WILINSKY
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:
SABRINA SAMPSON
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.
ALARA AKISIK
The George and Frank Carew Debating Prize was established by brothers, members of the class of 1882, and is awarded for excellence in debate. Originally the prize was given to the winners of the annual Adelphi vs. Gamma Sigma debate.
KIRA WILSON
ENGLISH
Prizes honoring Asahel Lyman Williston, Class of 1852, trustee, and nephew of the founder, are offered for excellence in English.
Grade 9 : MADELEINE “MADDIE” ELSEA
Grade 10 : SARA RENKERT
Grade 11: EMILY YEAGER
Grade 12: KIRA WILSON
A prize honoring Gilbert F. Kennedy, Class of 1891 and Williston trustee, for the best junior term paper.
ANNA WILINSKY
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 or her written work both in English classes and for the student newspaper, The Willistonian.
THEODORE WOLFE
The Sidney Nelson Morse Prize, 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.
BEATRICE “MORGAN” FOGLEMAN
JOSEPHINE “PINKY” KING
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.”
ELIZABETH SHELINE
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:
ELEANOR WOLFE
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.”
This year’s prize honors the students who have contributed the most to The Willistonian’s print and online publications.
NATHAN GORDON
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.
SIMA GANDEVIA
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: YOSHIKA “BRIGITTE” ANNABELLE
Grade 10: CAROLINE CHANNELL
Grade 11: KONSTANTIN STRELNIKOV
Grade 12: DANI ANASTASOVITES
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS
FOR THE VISUAL ARTS:
DRAWING AWARD: For outstanding effort and excellence:
BRENDAN SHAEFFER
PAINTING AWARD: For inventiveness and chance-taking and for excellence in pursuing the visual language expressively:
JIAYING TANG
THREE DIMENSIONAL ART AWARD:
JOSEPHINE “PINKY” KING
FOR PHOTOGRAPHY:
The
Antonio Giacomini, Class Of 1931 Photography Prize is awarded each year for excellent work in photography:
NEYSA TAPANES
FOR DANCE:
The Choreography Award is presented to that student who has demonstrated his or her commitment to excellence in the art of Dance Composition by engaging in collaborative projects, inviting personal growth, and presenting impactful dance pieces for the Williston stage.
This year’s recipient of the Choreography Award is:
GABRIELLE RECORD
The Dance Performance Award is presented to the student who has consistently demonstrated excellence, enthusiasm, and leadership in the Dance Program, both in the studio and on the stage. The recipient of this award demands of him or herself the highest level of physical and intellectual effort, attention to detail, and a dynamic quality of movement that inspires connection, communicates emotion, and delivers a powerful audience experience.
This year the Dance Performance Award is shared by:
ABIGAIL BERRY
CALVIN TICKNOR-SWANSON
FOR MUSIC:
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.
JULIA WISE
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.
CALVIN TICKNOR-SWANSON
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.
PHILLIP LEE
FOR THE THEATRE:
The
Peter Edgerton, Class Of 1974 Memorial Award is given for outstanding service rendered to the Williston Theatre.
CALVIN TICKNOR-SWANSON
The Williston Theatre Prize: to a member of the Williston Theatre who has unselfishly given time and energy in the service of the Theatre.
LEEANNA ALBANESE
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 male and female dramatic performances. Winning this year:
VERDI DEGBEY (IN THE HEIGHTS)
JULIA WISE (IN THE HEIGHTS)
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 the male and female actors for OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCES in supporting roles 2015-2016.
CHING-YU “ERIC” CHEN (TROJAN WOMEN)
HANA BROWN (TROJAN WOMEN)
To that member of the Williston Theatre who has demonstrated the GREATEST IMPROVEMENT as an actor during the course of a single year.
CALVIN FRYE
The Chester Monroe Merrick ‘65 Memorial Prize: awarded to that student who has contributed in technical areas to the excellence of the Theatre at Williston:
KHANH PHAM
SCIENCE
The Psychology Award is presented to that student who has shown the greatest promise in the field of psychology.
This year the prize goes to:
JULIE LORD
Prizes provided by the will of
Benjamin W. B. Brown, class of 1887, are awarded for the best essays written or achievement in the study of biological sciences.
Biology – TOMASZ PALUCHOWSKI
Most Improved in Biology – DESTINY NWAFOR
For excellence in AP Biology – HALEY MCCREARY
Bausch And Lomb Honorary Science Award The University of Rochester and Bausch & Lomb, Inc. of Rochester, New York, offers 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.
SIMA GANDEVIA
The Alumni Association of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute offers a medal to an eleventh grader who has achieved excellence in mathematics and science.
TOMASZ PALUCHOWSKI
The Yves Couderc Physics Prizes honor a teacher of science and music, 1961-1979.
For greatest achievement in Physics: DORA GORDON
For greatest improvement in Physics: JULIA CAVANAUGH
For greatest achievement in Advanced Physics: JOSEPHINE “PINKY” KING
For greatest improvement in Advanced Physics: TUNA SEZGIN
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: MADISON FULCHER-MELENDY
AP Chemistry: CAROLINE BORDEN
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:
RISA TAPANES
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 prize was awarded earlier this year though we would like to have them stand and be recognized for this achievement. This year the winners are:
JOSHUA CALIANOS
WANGCHEN “SHIRLEY” ZHOU
The George Parsons Tibbets Prizes, honoring a legendary teacher of mathematics from 1890 to 1926, are awarded each year for best work in:
Calculus: CHAIWAT SETWIPATANACHAI
Multivariable Calculus: TANMAY KHALE
Algebra 2: SEUNGWOO “SIMON” KIM
Algebra 1: KANTARATT “PUNN” PHENTRAKUL
A prize is awarded in memory of the late Judge David Kennedy, Class of 1892, for the best work in Geometry.
NATHANIEL MARKEY
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.
SHENGFU SHEN
The Math Department Award for best work in Discrete Mathematics:
HAOQI “MIKE” HUANG
TheMath Department Award for best work in Statistics:
TOMASZ PALUCHOWSKI
The Computer Programming Prize for outstanding performance in the computer programming courses is awarded to:
MOLLY ZAWACKI
LANGUAGE
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: KANTARATT “PUNN” PHENTRAKUL
Chinese II: ABBY SELTZER
Chinese III: KAREN JANOCHA
Chinese IV: TANMAY KHALE
FRENCH
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: SARA RENKERT
French II: WALTER KISSANE
French III: NATALIE ROMAIN
Honors French V: BEATRICE “MORGAN” FOGLEMAN
AP French: JOSEPHINE “PINKY” KING
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.
HALEY MCCREARY
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 by a non-native speaker.
HENRY MILLER
LATIN
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: CHENG-EN “CHANCELLOR” LEE
Latin II: DORA GORDON
Latin III: JIN YOUNG “CHLOE” LEE
Honors Latin IV: KEVIN O’SULLIVAN
AP Latin: SIMA GANDEVIA
The Charles A. Buffam Prize, honoring a teacher of Latin and Greek from 1878 to 1922, is for excellence in sight translation in Latin.
ANABELLE FARNHAM
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: EMILY YEAGER
Spanish II: ROBERT “ROBBY” HILL
Spanish III: MADISON FULCHER-MELENDY
Honors Spanish V: SOMA MIZOBUCHI
AP Spanish: TOMASZ PALUCHOWSKI
SECTION VIII – ADDITIONAL AWARDS
JUSTIN FROMETA, President of Arete, will confer the following prize:
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:
TOMASZ PALUCHOWSKI
JANUS
MAITRI DALAL
JOSEPHINE “PINKY” KING
THE LOG
Certificates:
BRYAN BATES
A’SHAELA CHAIRES
CAROLINE CHANNELL
ABBIE FOSTER
LAUREN HELM
CATHERINE KING
GABRIELLA MERCIER
ISABELLE TEGTMEYER
ELEANOR WOLFE
Book:
HANNAH FITZGERALD
The first general School awards are given as part of the Williston Scholars Program. These awards are given for exemplary work within a Williston Scholars Course.
SITAI CHEN for his work in Visual Arts
HANZHANG “DERRICK” ZHAO for his work in Visual Arts
SHENGFU SHEN for his work in Science
The final group of prizes is voted on by the faculty for the top performance in each grade.
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIZE is awarded to the 9th grader who best exemplifies the qualities of purpose, passion, and integrity:
RYAN DWYER
THE YALE COLLEGE BOOK PRIZE is awarded to a ninth grader who excels in scholarship and has made a significant contribution to the life of the school:
ROBERT “ROBBY” HILL
THE BOWDOIN COLLEGE BOOK PRIZE is presented annually to the outstanding ninth grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character:
DORA GORDON
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIZE is awarded to the 10th grader who best exemplifies the qualities of purpose, passion and integrity:
CAROLINE CHANNELL
THE SMITH COLLEGE BOOK AWARD is presented to a tenth grader who exhibits consistent all-around excellence:
SOPHIA SCHAEFER
THE WILLIAMS COLLEGE BOOK PRIZE is awarded by The Williams Alumni Association to the outstanding tenth grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character:
ANABELLE FARNHAM
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIZE is awarded to the 11th grader who best exemplifies the qualities of purpose, passion and integrity:
Soma Mizobuchi
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.
AVA McELHONE YATES
THE HOLY CROSS BOOK PRIZE is awarded to a student in the top ten percent of the eleventh grade who gives evidence of a strong concern for school and community:
IAN OSTBERG
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:
MOLLY ZAWACKI
THE HARVARD BOOK PRIZE is awarded to the outstanding eleventh grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character.
EMILY YEAGER