During its remote 179th Commencement ceremony, broadcast on May 23, 2020, Williston Northampton School announced the names of its senior academic award winners. Please note, award winners in grades 9, 10, and 11 will be announced during the 2020-21 school year.
The senior awards are as follows:
History and Global Studies
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 accomplishment in AP U.S. History – ERIC ALBANESE
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.
Native American History – ABBY SELTZER
International Relations – JASON ALBANESE
Women’s and Gender Studies – CAROLINE O’CONNOR
Hitler and Nazi Germany – JULIA FARNHAM
Immigration – JACKSON STROUT
African American History – GABRIEL “GABE” LIU
Contemporary World Issues – ADAM JOHNSRUD
Economics – GUILLERMO CASTANEDA CHANG
AP Micro & Macroeconomics – NATHANIEL “NAT” MARKEY
Western Religions – WILLIAM GUNN
Introduction to Philosophy – RACHEL GOODMAN
Ethics and Society – BRENNA “BRIE” BANAS
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.
ANYA ROZARIO
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.
JAMISON “JAMIE” O’MALLEY
English
Prizes honoring ASAHEL LYMAN WILLISTON, Class of 1852, trustee, and nephew of the founder, are offered for excellence in English.AP Literature Grade 12 – KENNETH “KENNY” WANG
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.
RIDER BISHOP
COOPER CREEK
THE BARD COLLEGE PRIZE FOR CRITICAL WRITING is offered to that student “who wrote the outstanding paper or essay during senior year.”
JULIA FARNHAM
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 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.
SHEAREE “SHEZ” ZANGMO
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.
RILEY ROCHE
Visual and Performing Arts
The Visual and Performing Arts Department has awards in each of the disciplines.
FOR THE VISUAL ARTS:
THREE-DIMENSIONAL ART AWARD:
CAROLINE O’CONNOR
FOR PHOTOGRAPHY:
The ANTONIO GIACOMINI, CLASS OF 1931 PHOTOGRAPHY PRIZE is awarded each year for excellent work in Photography:
VINCE WANG
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.
JAMISON “JAMIE” O’MALLEY
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.
REAGAN JOYCE
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.
NATHANIEL “NAT” MARKEY
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.
BRENNA “BRIE” BANAS
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.
ERIC ALBANESE
MUSIC THEORY AWARD is given for best work in AP Music Theory:
ZEYU “STEVEN” WANG
FOR THE THEATER:
The PETER EDGERTON, CLASS OF 1974 MEMORIAL AWARD is given for outstanding service rendered to the Williston Theater.
MARGARET “MORGAN” STRANGE
THE WILLISTON THEATRE PRIZE: to a member of the Williston Theater who has unselfishly given time and energy in the service of the Theater.
NINA RENKERT
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:
ANNA MORAN (A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM)
JASON ALBANESE (LES MISERABLES)
THE HOWARD G. BOARDMAN PRIZES honor the distinguished founder and director of The Williston Theater for 40 years. “Boardy” also taught French and served as Alumni Secretary from 1921 to 1961.
To the male and female actors for OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE in a supporting role 2019-2020.
BRITANIE ACURIO (A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM)
ERIC ALBANESE (LES MISERABLES)
To that member of the Williston Theater who has demonstrated the greatest improvement as an actor during the course of a single year.
BRENNA “BRIE” BANAS
THE CHESTER MONROE MERRICK ’65 MEMORIAL PRIZE: awarded to those who have contributed in technical areas to the excellence of the Theater at Williston:
ALEX MARWAHA
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 PERFORMING ARTS:
BRITANIE ACURIO
BRENNA “BRIE” BANAS
REAGAN JOYCE
ALEX MARWAHA
ANNA MORAN
TRANG PHAN
NINA RENKERT
MARGARET “MORGAN” STRANGE
SHEAREE “SHEZ” ZANGMO
FOR VISUAL ARTS:
BRITANIE ACURIO
ALEX MARWAHA
NINA RENKERT
ABBY SELTZER
SHEAREE “SHEZ” ZANGMO
Science
The PSYCHOLOGY AWARD is presented for the best work in AP Psychology.
RACHEL GOODMAN
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.
For excellence in AP Biology – ERIC ALBANESE
THE YVES COUDERC PHYSICS PRIZES honor a teacher of science and music, 1961-1979.
For greatest achievement in AP Physics 2 – LUKE PO
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.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AWARD for the best work in AP Environmental Science.
KYLE GRABOWSKI
Mathematics
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 BC Multivariable – NATHANIEL “NAT” MARKEY
The MATH DEPARTMENT AWARD for best work in Discrete Mathematics.
YI-CHENG “ETHAN” HUANG
The MATH DEPARTMENT AWARD for best work in AP Statistics.
LUKE PO
The COMPUTER SCIENCE PRINCIPLES PRIZE for outstanding performance in the
computer programming courses and best work in AP Computer Science Principles.
SARAH KIMMEL
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 winner is:
ZEYU “STEVEN” WANG
Language
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.
AP French – ANYA ROZARIO
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.
SARAH KIMMEL
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.
WILLIAM GUNN
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 – MATTHEW “MATT” PIMENTAL
AP Latin – JULIA FARNHAM
THE CHARLES A. BUFFUM PRIZE, honoring a teacher of Latin and Greek from 1878 to 1922, is for excellence in sight translation in Latin.
DYLAN FULCHER-MELENDY
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 III – YI-CHENG “ETHAN” HUANG
AP Spanish – Shared: BRENNA “BRIE” BANAS
AP Spanish – Shared: ANNA MORAN
Additional Awards
TUTOR OF THE YEAR Prize honors the outstanding student tutor who has made a conscientious effort to help fellow students academically. This year the outstanding tutor is:
ZEYU “STEVEN” WANG
JANUS
LILA SCHAEFER
THE LOG
Certificates:
SHEAREE “SHEZ” ZANGMO (EDITOR)
HUONG “ASHLEY” NGUYEN (EDITOR)
VINCE WANG (PHOTOGRAPHER)
Williston Scholars
This year we offered seven courses within our Williston Scholars program and there are nine seniors who will be recognized at this time for their exemplary work.
For work in the English Department:
JULIA FARNHAM
For work in the Math Department:
ABIGAIL “ABBY” DENNIN
For work in the Science Department:
ABIGAIL “ABBY” DENNIN
For work in the Language Department:
ERIC ALBANESE
For work in the History and Global Studies Department:
GABRIEL “GABE” LIU
For work in the Visual Arts Department:
SHEAREE “SHEZ” ZANGMO
For work in the Performing Arts Department:
BRENNA “BRIE” BANAS
NINA RENKERT
MARGARET “MORGAN” STRANGE
Senior Class Prizes and Awards
THE HEAD OF SCHOOL PRIZE is awarded to the twelfth grader who best exhibits the qualities of Purpose, Passion, and Integrity:
JIAKAI “JACK” LONG
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:
ANNI RICHARD
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:
MARGARET “MORGAN” STRANGE
The Henry E. Donais, Jr., ’59 Award is given “to a Senior who has manifested a love of the natural world and who has taken an active interest in the protection and preservation of the world’s environmental resources.” This year the prize is given to:
LILA SCHAEFER
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:
LILA SCHAEFER
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:
JASON ALBANESE
The Class of 1942 Prize is awarded in recognition of “Outstanding Service to the School.” This year the prize is given to:
ANNA MORAN
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:
BRENNA “BRIE” BANAS
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:
NINA RENKERT
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:
ERIC ALBANESE
The Joseph Sawyer Memorial Prize, honoring the 7th Headmaster of Williston Seminary, 1886-1919, is awarded to a young man who has made outstanding contributions to the intellectual and community life of the school. This year the prize is awarded to:
ZEYU “STEVEN” WANG
The Dorothy Bement Prize, honoring a co-founder of The Northampton School for Girls, is given to the young woman who has exhibited excellence in her academic endeavors and in her contributions to citizenship and the overall life of the school. This year the prize is awarded to:
SARAH KIMMEL
We now come to the final three prizes which carry the greatest distinction; the first two being awarded to the outstanding young man and young woman in the senior class, the third honoring the first scholar in the class:
The Archibald V. Galbraith Prize, honoring the 8th Headmaster of Williston Academy, 1919-1949, is awarded to that young man who in academics, athletics, and citizenship is exemplary, representing that which is best in the school. The Galbraith prize is awarded this year to:
NATHANIEL “NAT” MARKEY
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 the young woman who has distinguished herself with 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:
DYLAN FULCHER-MELENDY
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:
NATHANIEL “NAT” MARKEY
On behalf of the faculty and staff, congratulations to the class of 2020! We will miss you!