This spring, The Williston Northampton School community created a video that shows what an exceptional place Williston is to learn and live. The project was inspired by and overseen by Steve Porter ’97, a world-renowned DJ and video artist whose videos have received millions of hits on YouTube and who now produces videos for the NBA, the NFL, ESPN, and others. Titled “Williston Is,” the video features students, faculty, and alumni finishing the sentence that begins, “Williston is . . .” Students in Edward Hing ’77’s film class took most of the footage and worked in collaboration with Steve on the final editing. The video was debuted to the student body at an assembly in May; alumni saw it for the first time at Reunion in June.
Math Awards Presented to Dongyang Cheng and Jiayuan Xu
Last March, six Williston students participated in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC), a worldwide competition that involves more than 250,000 high school students. Two Williston students, Dongyang “Don” Cheng ’11 and Jiayuan “George” Xu ’13, scored high enough on the AMC 12 and AMC 10 tests, respectively, to be invited to the next level of competition, the American Invitational Mathematics Exam (AIME).
For their participation in the three-hour long AIME, Don and George were honored at the final assembly of the year by Mathematics Department Head Elizabeth Anderson and Mathematics Teacher Alan Lipp with pins and certificates of distinction on the AMC, and certificates of participation in the AIME.
Don Cheng did so well on the AIME that he was one of only 302 students invited to participate at the next round of competition, the nine-hour United States of America Mathematical Olympiad, which was held over the course of two days in April. This is the second year that Don has competed in the USAMO.
Don also received two additional awards for his outstanding performance in math competitions this year. The first award recognized his scoring in first place in Massachusetts on the AMC. The second recognized his perfect score in all six rounds of competition in the New England Mathematics League, in which math clubs from over 400 schools competed, and for which only a few students in New England achieved a perfect score.
Alda Speaks of Dreams, by Dylan Kenseth ’14
Several hundred people sat with rapt attention under the perfect blue sky over the Reed Center as Head of School Robert W. Hill, III welcomed them to Williston’s 170th Commencement exercises on the morning of June 4, 2011. In his usual cheery but dignified manner, he spoke of how, in his earlier years, he would watch three episodes of M*A*S*H daily, a TV show thought to be “the best of all time.” Without further ado, he turned and gave the podium to the man sitting casually to his left. Alan Alda, distinguished actor, writer, and grandfather to senior Emilia Caligiuri, rose and began a speech filled with unique advice for the graduating seniors.
Hopping to It!
Williston’s faculty and seniors recently competed to see who would win the Annual Fund Frog of Awesomeness statue, which is awarded to the group with the best participation in the Annual Fund. Traci Wolfe, director of annual giving, announced the results of the competition at assembly on May 24: the faculty won the frog statue with a participation rate of 86.1%, narrowly defeating the senior class which had an 82.8% participation rate. The faculty will keep the statue until next year, when the class of 2012 will challenge them.
Have you remembered to give to the Annual Fund? The fund closes on June 30, 2011.
United Way Honors Faculty Member Bob Blanchette
At the recent United Way of Hampshire County campaign celebration luncheon, Williston teacher Bob Blanchette was recognized as the most valuable employee campaign coordinator for the UWHC’s annual campaign. For the past three years, Bob has led the charge to rejuvenate the United Way annual campaign throughout the campus of The Williston Northampton School.
Bob became Williston’s campus coordinator for the United Way in 2009, and has been a donor for decades. Since he began coordinating, the school’s overall giving has increased each year, and this year, gifts nearly doubled. Bob says, “I am hopeful that the momentum we have built will continue for many years to come, because I believe it is very important that those of us who have the financial resources agree to help our friends and neighbors in the Valley who are in need of our support.”
Bob, who will retire at the end of this school year, was joined in making appeals this year by staff member Dan Curylo, who will continue next year, assisted by faculty member Allison Marsland. “There is no doubt that Dan’s involvement helped a great deal this year, and it was terrific to have such an enthusiastic partner,” Bob says.
Since coming to Williston in 1972, Bob has taught French, was director of admission, and taught math, as well as advising the academic and investing clubs and serving as president of Williston’s Cum Laude Society.