On October 6, members of the classes of 2021, 2022, and 2023 received recognition for academic excellence in the 2019-20 school year in a virtual ceremony. The event, usually held in May, was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Below are the award winners, who would have been in 9th, 10th, and 11th grade at the time the ceremony would have taken place. Congratulations to all!
History and Global Studies Chair Sarah Klumpp announced the awards for excellence in this subject.
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 a United States History course:
For improvement – LILY SHIELDS ’21
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.
ZACHARY “ZAC” LANDON ’22
The EDWARD M. LAWTON JR. PRIZES are awarded for superior work in elective courses in the History and Global Studies Department. Ed Lawton taught history from 1947 to 1983 and was the first to teach Asian History and Economics at Williston.
AP World History – SAGE FRIEDMAN ’22
World History – LAM THIEU ’22
Humanities: History – ELSA FRANKEL ’23
AP Comparative Government and Politics – SOPHIE GONTOW CALDERON ’21
Comparative Government and Politics – TYLER VARIN ’21
Humanities: Religious Studies – AUSTIN CONROY ’23
The EDWARD L. O’BRIEN 1916 PRIZE is awarded to a student who has achieved high standing in the AP U.S. Government course and displayed an active interest in American Law and Politics.
RUBY MCELHONE YATES ’21
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.
NATHAN SHATZ ’21
English Department Chair Sarah Sawyer presented the awards for excellence in this subject.
Prizes honoring ASAHEL LYMAN WILLISTON, Class of 1852, trustee, and nephew of the founder, are offered for excellence in English.
Grade 9 – PHILIPPA “PIPPA” BERRY ’23
Grade 10 – SARAH MARKEY ’22
AP Language Grade 11 – SOPHIE GONTOW CALDERON ’21
A prize honoring GILBERT F. KENNEDY, Class of 1891, and Williston trustee, for the best junior term paper.
ABIGAIL “ABBY” SCHULKIND ’21
THE HAZELDINE PRIZE, in memory of Myrtle Elizabeth Hazeldine and her husband, Harry Newton Hazeldine class of 1921, 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.
SHEN-YI “ERIN” CHAI ’21
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:
HANNAH ROCHE ’23
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.
ANNA RICHARDSON ’21
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 – JUNSEOK HWANG ’23
Grade 10 – ZACHARY “ZAC” LANDON ’22
Grade 11 – ZACHARY “ZAC” GMEREK ’21
Visual and Performing Arts Department Chair Natania Hume presented the awards for excellence in this subject.
The Visual and Performing Arts Department has awards in each of the disciplines.
FOR THE VISUAL ARTS:
DRAWING AWARD: For outstanding effort and excellence:
SOPHIE GONTOW CALDERON ’21
STUDIO ART AWARD: For best work in AP Studio Art
CHARLES “CHARLIE” BLUMBERG ’21
THE ARTS CONCENTRATION recognizes and supports the passions and efforts of students who are deeply involved with the arts at Williston (Visual or Performing) and who are engaged with the arts beyond our academic or extra-curricular requirements. Students who are awarded an Arts Concentration have pursued a specific and rigorous program of opportunities to develop their artistic talents and are also Williston Scholars who have created and shared independent projects in their areas of concentration.
FOR VISUAL ARTS:
XIN “SHIRLEY” SHEN ’21
Science Department Chair William Berghoff presented the awards for excellence in this subject.
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 – LIAM COUGHLIN ’21
NA KYUNG LEE ’21
Most Improved in Biology – OLUWATOMISIN “TOMI” AKISANYA ’21
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.
JI SOO HWANG ’21
The Alumni Association of RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE offers a medal to an eleventh grader who has achieved excellence in mathematics and science.
SOPHIE GONTOW CALDERON ’21
THE YVES COUDERC PHYSICS PRIZES honor a teacher of science and music, 1961-1979.
For greatest improvement in Physics – KANYANGZI “KIKO” XU ’23
For greatest achievement in Physics – LOUISA COUGHLIN ’23
For greatest improvement in an advanced Physics course – NAPATR “AIMIE” WIPULAKORN ’22
For greatest achievement in AP Physics C – JI SOO HWANG ’21
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 – KAITARO “KAI” HORI ’22
JEREMY “JERRY” LANDMAN ’22
AP Chemistry – LIAM COUGHLIN ’21
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:
EMILY ZAMBARANO ’21
Math Department Chair Joshua Seamon presented the awards for excellence in this subject.
The GEORGE PARSONS TIBBETS PRIZES, honoring a legendary teacher of mathematics from 1890 to 1926, are awarded each year for best work in:
AP Calculus AB – NA KYUNG LEE ’21
Algebra 2 – LOUISA COUGHLIN ’23
Algebra 1 – ELIZABETH “LIZ” GLUZ ’23
A prize is awarded in memory of the late JUDGE DAVID KENNEDY, Class of 1892, for the
best work in Geometry.
CATHERINE “CATIE” SPENCE ’24
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.
LIAM COUGHLIN ’21
The COMPUTER PROGRAMMING PRIZE for outstanding performance in the
computer programming courses and best work in AP Computer Science.
ANFISA BOGDANENKO ’21
Language Department Chair Adeleen Brown presented the awards for excellence in this subject.
CHINESE
The following prizes are awarded to those students who have made the greatest achievement as students of Chinese during the academic year.
Chinese II – YIJUNE HONG ’22
Chinese III – COURSON “CC” GRAY ’21
Chinese IV – SIAN LEWANDOWSKI ’21
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 – LAM THIEU ’22
French II – KATHERINE KANG ’23
French III – SOFIA MICHALSKI ’22
French V – ABIGAIL “ABBY” SCHULKIND ’21
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 II – ELSA FRANKEL ’23
Latin III – NA KYUNG LEE ’21
Latin IV – NATHAN SHATZ ’21
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 – LILY VENGCO ’22
Spanish II – JI SOO HWANG ’21
Spanish V – ANNA RICHARDSON ’21
Additional Awards
Wendy Staples, advisor to The Log, presented awards pertaining to this yearbook.
Dedicated editors and staff:
Xin “Shirley” Shen ’21 (editor)
Na Kyung Lee ’21 (editor)
Emily O’Brien ’21 (staff)
Lauren O’Donald ’22 (staff)
Lauren Yee ’23 (staff)
The Book Award is presented to Editor in Chief, Sian Lewandowski ’21.
WILLISTON SCHOLARS PROGRAM
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.
RUBY MCELHONE YATES ’21 for work in English
NATHAN SHATZ ’21 for work in English
ZACHARY “Z” DEMETRIOU ’21 for work in Performing Arts
ABIGAIL “ABBY” SCHULKIND ’21 for work in Visual Arts
The final group of prizes is awarded on by the faculty for the top performance in each grade.
Ninth Grade Prizes
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIZE is awarded to the 9th grader who best exemplifies the qualities of purpose, passion, and integrity:
KATHERINE KANG ’23
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:
LAUREN YEE ’23
THE BOWDOIN COLLEGE BOOK PRIZE is presented annually to the outstanding ninth grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character:
ELSA FRANKEL ’23
Tenth Grade Prizes
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIZE is awarded to the 10th grader who best exemplifies the qualities of purpose, passion, and integrity:
BENNING JOHNSON ’22
THE SMITH COLLEGE BOOK AWARD is presented to a tenth grader who exhibits consistent all-around excellence:
SARAH MARKEY ’22
THE WILLIAMS COLLEGE BOOK PRIZE is awarded to the outstanding tenth grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character:
SAGE FRIEDMAN ’22
Eleventh Grade Prizes
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIZE is awarded to the 11th grader who best exemplifies the qualities of purpose, passion, and integrity:
RUBY MCELHONE YATES ’21
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.
NA KYUNG LEE ’21
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:
JI SOO HWANG ’21
THE HARVARD BOOK PRIZE is awarded to the outstanding eleventh grader in scholarship, citizenship, and character.
LIAM COUGHLIN ’21