As part of Commencement exercises, Williston Northampton honored members of the class of 2024 with senior awards. The awards were conferred at Williston Northampton School’s 183nd Commencement ceremony by Dean of Faculty Corinne Fogg ‘99. Below are the remarks from the ceremony.
We delight this morning in what will be remembered as a pivotal moment for you in our 183rd Williston Commencement. The class of 2024 has led with curiosity, panache, and empathy. Following the compelling example of our graduating class of 2024, the Williston community has been inspired to reach new heights of excellence and fulfillment, fostering a spirit of innovation and compassion that will resonate for years to come.
Throughout this academic year, the Williston community has come together in profound ways, celebrating the diverse talents and passions of our students. We have witnessed an array of achievements that highlight the dedication and zeal of our students. Our actors, dancers, instrumentalists, and singers have delivered outstanding performances that captivated and inspired us. Our artists have showcased their creativity through stunning multimedia galleries. Williston Scholars have presented impressive projects over three trimesters, demonstrating depth and insight. Our athletes have shown tremendous growth, achieved remarkable successes, and celebrated championship victories, all while embodying the spirit of teamwork, integrity, and perseverance. Across campus, there has been a contagious love of learning that has energized us all.
It is my great pleasure to now share with you the most notable accomplishments of our students and to recognize outstanding distinction within the Class of 2024. Let us celebrate their hard work, talent, and dedication.
On Thursday afternoon we held our Awards Assembly to celebrate another incredible year of success for Williston’s Athletic teams. The Athletic Department presents a senior award, the Blanket Award, to honor exceptional participation in the Williston athletic program. Seniors who have been at Williston for more than one year are eligible for this award if they missed only one season, not including their senior year. 12 seniors were presented the Blanket Award on Thursday. I ask that they all stand now and be recognized.
I would also like to acknowledge the senior recipients of our top 4 athletic awards and ask those individuals to stand now and be recognized.
The George Denman Bowl (for boys), and the Alumnae Bowl (for girls) are “awarded to seniors whose contribution to the athletic program has been characterized by exceptional achievement, faithful participation, and loyal devotion to the best interests of the school.”
This year The George Denman Award was given to: James Elliott
This year the Alumnae Bowl Award was given to: Monique Lyons and Camille Armaganian
The Athletic Leadership Awards is presented to seniors who have distinguished themselves in terms of the quality of the leadership they have demonstrated as student athletes. The recipients exemplify what it means to be an outstanding teammate, competitor, and representative of the school. Their selfless leadership, sportsmanship and integrity have provided inspiration to their coaches and teammates throughout their time at Williston.
This year the Athletic Leadership Awards were given to:
(boys) Jeremy Dube
(girls) Anna Sawyer
We also recognized overall excellence at each grade level and I’d like to highlight the winners of each of the prizes and ask them to stand, and we can applaud them together as a group.
For the 9th grade there are three prizes: Jack Choo was the recipient of the Head of School Prize. Rowan Lonergan was the recipient of the Yale Prize and Alia Ghaoui was the recipient of the Bowdoin Prize.
For the 10th grade there are three prizes. Alex Landon was the recipient of the Head of School Prize, Wakanda Hu was the recipient of the Smith College Prize, and Zola Piekarski was the recipient of the Williams College Prize.
For the 11th grade there are four prizes. Jacob Waah was the recipient of the Head of School Prize, Jack Berrien was the recipient of the Lincoln Granniss Prize, Alyssa Matricciani was the recipient of the Dartmouth Prize and Isabel Baxter-Paris was the recipient of the Harvard Prize.
Congratulations!
Before presenting the senior class prizes and awards, I am pleased to make announcements about the Williston Scholars program. This year we offered 7 courses within our Williston Scholars program and there are 5 seniors who will be recognized at this time for their exemplary work. As I read the names of the seniors, I ask that they come forward to receive their certificates.
For Work in the English Department: Amber Fedor
For Work in the Math Department: Jeremy Dube and Joe Zhou
For Work in the Language Department: Alina Sorkin-Camacho
For Work in the History and Global Studies Department: Durgin Shields
The following are the Senior Prizes, awarded each year at Commencement, as voted by the full faculty, and presented by Head of School, Robert Hill.
The Tara Michelle Katzner Memorial Prize is awarded annually to that student who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, determination, and dedication. This year the prize is given to:
- Channing Doran
The Henry Teller Prize, in memory of a history teacher and choral conductor, 1947-1983, is awarded to that person in the Williston Northampton community who by active example encourages intercultural understanding and good will. This year the prize is given to:
- Joe Zhou
The Tim Wallis, Class of 1962 Prize was established in memory of an English-Speaking Union exchange student at Williston; the prize is given at Commencement to that senior “who gets much from the School because he or she puts much in.” This year the prize is given to:
- Caroline Aufiero
The Class of 1942 Prize is awarded in recognition of “Outstanding Service to the School.” This year the prize is given to:
- Anna Sawyer
The George H. Higgins Prize is given to “that student in the graduating class who has displayed outstanding character in school life.” This year the prize is given to:
- Teagan Duffy
The Katherine M. Ockenden, Class of 1949 Prize is given to that senior who “in the opinion of the faculty has contributed moral, positive leadership.” This year the prize is given to:
- Soleil Richardson
The Westcott E. S. Moulton Award, honoring a member of the Class of 1927 and Williston Alumni Secretary, 1961-1973, is presented to that member of the senior class who has shown a high degree of effort in publications, sportsmanship, leadership, and community involvement leading to continued loyalty and interest as an alumna or alumnus. This year the award is given to:
- Andie Kinstle
The L. G. Treadway Citizenship Prize, established by Richard Treadway, Class of 1932, in honor of his father, is awarded to a senior who has been at the school for at least two years, who has maintained a strong scholastic standing, and who has given promise of future achievement. The chief qualities to be considered are personal integrity and contributions made to the best citizenship of the school. This year the prize is awarded to:
- Calvin Klumpp
The Dorothy Bement Prize, honoring a co-founder of The Northampton School for Girls, is given to the senior who has exhibited excellence in academic endeavors and in contributions to citizenship and the overall life of the school. This year the prize is awarded to:
- Catie Spence
The Joseph Sawyer Memorial Prize, honoring the 7th Headmaster of Williston Seminary, 1886-1919, is awarded to a senior who has made outstanding contributions to the intellectual and community life of the school. This year the prize is awarded to:
- Nick Sobon
We now come to the final three prizes which carry the greatest distinction; the first two being awarded to the outstanding students in the senior class, the third honoring the first scholar in the class:
The Sarah B. Whitaker Prize, honoring a co-founder of the Northampton School for Girls, and co-Principal, 1924-1962, is also known as the White Blazer Award. The White Blazer is given to a senior who has made the greatest contributions to the academic, athletic, and community life of the school while exhibiting exemplary leadership and integrity. The White Blazer is awarded this year to:
- Emily Hamann
The Archibald V. Galbraith Prize, honoring the 8th Headmaster of Williston Academy, 1919-1949, is awarded to that senior who in academics, athletics, and citizenship is exemplary, representing that which is best in the school. The Galbraith prize is awarded this year to:
- Jeremy Dube
The Valedictory prize is awarded to the first scholar of the class. It is a combination of two awards from an era in the school’s history, when the Edmund H. Sawyer Prize was given for work in the classical curriculum and the Horatio G. Knight Prize was given for work in the scientific curriculum. These prizes are now combined into one. It honors the student who, by record of performance during the senior year, is judged by the faculty to be pre-eminent in academic achievement. This year the recipient of the Valedictory prize is:
- Catherine Spence
ON BEHALF OF THE FACULTY AND STAFF,
CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO THE CLASS OF 2024!
WE WILL MISS YOU!