Awards and Prizes 2012

Bags packed (mostly), boxes and furniture that’ll return in September whisked away by Mayflower, decked out in clothes that say “special dinner” or “I’m a freshman waiter,” students, faculty and their families, and staff gather by advisee group on the Pergola in the bookend moment to the New Year’s Banquet nine months back. It’s the final gathering of the whole inner circle, and, like its twin, it begins with Domine and ends with The Banquet Song. In between, toasts by class presidents, the announcement of Academic Commendations and other School awards and prizes, the School Chair’s remarks, and the Head of School’s year-end message.

And in a back-to-the-futuresque moment, not long after the last echo drifts up into the hills, there's another round of the song:  alums from 22 to nearly-ninety will come back to campus in less than a week to sing for their supper, the words returning easily, though perhaps unsung for years between their last Thacher banquet and the present.

The following Commendations, awards, and prizes were given at the All-School Banquet. If you’re wondering about the middle names, Thacher tradition holds that when a student receives an honor publicly, his or her full name is read. An asterisk indicates the top scholar or scholars in the discipline at that grade or level.

9^th

Kevin Michael Griffee*

Liam Raoul Carpenter-Urquhart

Anne Fraser Gregory

Julia Maria Girardoni

Marissa Cristina Lopez

Meagan Rose Rodriguez

Sarah Drewsen Van Son

10^th

Melani Reiko Shahin*

Jackson Paul Baldwin

Lillian Claire Boyle

Jonathan Yang Ming Chang

Jillian Rea Elkin

Hsin-Yu “Felicia” Jiang

Anasazi Vanessa Levy

11^th

Julianna Gamble Childs*

Kelsey Ann Hartman

Brisha Virginia Howe

Nancy Elizabeth Macmillan

Melanie Gayle Reimer

Ana Belen Urgiles

Ashley Regan Wachtell

12^th

Anouk Marie-Justine Ackerman

Walker Guthrie Conyngham

Lucas Alexander Currie

Derek Nolan Gulick-Stutz

Zoey Sheldon Poll

Katherine Choe-Yung Yu

The Jack Boyd English Prize, established in 1906 in memory of John Franklin Boyd, Jr., who died at Thacher in 1902, goes, by vote of the Department, to the twelfth grader who has done the best work in English this year: Alice Flora Hyde

The Nash Robbins Short Story Prize, given in the name of John Nash Robbins, CdeP ’81, is for excellence in writing and is presented to the author of the best short story by vote of the Department: Lucas Alexander Currie

The William Bishop Nixon Poetrty Prize, first given in 1945 by William Nixon in memory of Jack Boyd, is awarded for the best poem written at any time during the year as voted by the Department: Jackson Samuel Howard

9^th

Emma Lynn Best Rogowski*

Liam Raoul Carpenter-Urquhart

Benjamin Gregory Lim Chadwick

Jisoo Ann Han

Sarah Drewsen Van Sohn

Jun Soo “Ben” Yoon

10^th

Alexander Zaldastani*

Jackson Paul Baldwin

Andrew James Combs

Truman Theodore Hanks

Erich Noa Herzig

Aidan Lake Waugh

11^th

Jung Min “Josh” Cho*

Bradley Kendrick Callander

Paul Vincent Cresanta

Silvina Viri Hernandez

Carson Dino Rabuzzi Leydecker

Irene Limb

Melanie Gayle Reimer

12^th

Anouk Marie-Justine Ackerman

Lauren Michelle Butler

Sarah Elizabeth Cresto

Lucy Ji Yoon Han

Jade Cotrim Lopes

Geneva Elise Miller

So Hyun “Bridget” Park

The Morgan Ward Prize, established in 1964 by Dr. Marshall Hall, Jr., in honor of a former colleague and friend, Dr. Morgan Ward, goes, by vote of the Department, to the senior who has done the best work in mathematics: Christina Ann Eilar

Emma Lynn Best Rogowski*

Julia Maria Girardoni

Jisoo Ann Han

Sarah Drewsen Van Son

Melani Reiko Shahin*

Jung Min “Josh” Cho

Jackson Ford Dolphin

Reed Oliver Gulick-Stutz

Hsin-Yu “Felicia” Jiang

Beatrice Emery Land

Anasazi Vanessa Levy

Melanie Gayle Reimer

Emily–Caitlin Hart Jordan*

Kelsey Ann Hartman

Jarrett Thomas Kong

Jamie Thomas Rush

Leigh Hanson Thomas

Ana Belen Urgiles

Ashley Regan Wachtell

Nu Xiong

Jung Min “Josh” Cho

Paul Vincent Cresanta

Nancy Elizabeth Macmillan

Geneva Elise Miller

William Kerr Muir

Justin Thomas Myles

The Foreign Language Award, by vote of the Department, goes to the senior or seniors who have demonstrated excellence in and a passion for language acquisition: Lucas Alexander Currie, Derek Nolan Gulick-Stutz, Zoey Sheldon Poll

9^th

Benjamin Gregory Lim Chadwick*

Liam Raoul Carpenter-Urquhart

Skylar Emily Eastman Lewis

Emma Lynn Best Rogowski

Adam Li Silberberg

Sarah Drewsen Van Son

10^th

Erich Noa Herzig*

David Kakuei Chao

Reed Oliver Gulick-Stutz

Hsin-Yu “Felicia” Jiang

Mahogany Monette

Mia Reynolds Voevodsky

Alexander Zaldastani

11^th

Olivier Putnam Domergue--Biology

Alexander Brett Duncan--AP Environmental Science

Amy Elizabeth Feldman--Veterinary Medicine

Yerim “Amy” Kim--AP Biology

Daniel Parker Kruth--Biology

Irene Limb--AP Chemistry and AP Environmental Science

Ana Belen Urgiles--AP Biology

12^th

Anouk Marie-Justine Ackerman--AP Physics

Cayce Aida Cover--Biology and Veterinary Medicine

Shane Patrick Griffee--Biology and AP Psychology

Lucy Ji Yoon Han--AP Psychology

Chase Edward Montague--AP Environmental Science

Paule Ruth Voevodsky--Biology and AP Environmental Science

The Biology Award: Alice Flora Hyde

The Chemistry Award: Paul Vincent Cresanta

The Environmental Science Award: Anouk Marie-Justine Ackerman

The Physics Award: Tae Jung Kim

The Psychology Award: Sarah Elizabeth Cresto

9^th

Sarah Drewsen Van Son*

Marshall Havard Fisher

Kevin Michael Griffee

Skylar Emily Eastman Lewis

Marissa Cristina Lopez

10^th

Melani Reiko Shahin*

Lillian Claire Boyle

David Kakuei Chao

Jackson Ford Dolphin

Quincy Jefferson Hunter-Daniel

Hsin-Yu “Felicia” Jiang

Anasazi Vanessa Levy
Rachel Rex

11^th

Ana Belen Urgiles*

Jung Min “Josh” Cho

Kelsey Ann Hartman

Yerim “Amy” Kim

Irene Limb

Jack Raynor Weil

Nu Xiong

12^th

Sarah Elizabeth Cresto

Alice Flora Hyde

William Scott Kirkland

Katherine Gorter Krey

Zoey Sheldon Poll

Katherine Choe-Yung Yu

The History Prize: Derek Nolan Gulick-Stutz

9th

Michael Briggs Boss

Bailey Jean Cypheridge

Alexander Yuang Chen

Sarah Drewsen Van Son

Sienna Lola Currie

Bailey Jean Cypheridge

Julia Maria Girardoni

Meagan Rose Rodriguez

Adam Li Silberberg

10^th

Jonathan Yang Ming Chang

Grant Kennedy Ellman

Reed Oliver Gulick-Stutz

Melanie Reiko Shahin

Pascal Yves Cevaer-Corey

Leah M. Ho-Israel

Quincy Jefferson Hunter-Daniel

Sophie Jane McMillan

11^th

Music:

Paul Vincent Cresanta

Irene Limb

Silvina Viri Hernandez

Visual Arts:

Irene Limb

Nu Xiong

12^th

Eva Leona Batalla-Mann

Anton Trent Doty

Shane Patrick Griffee

Jackson Samuel Howard

Jin Yeo Jung

Cassandra Rae Disner

AP Art History scholars: Alice Flora Hyde and Zoey Sheldon Poll

Wood Design top scholar: Marshall Thomas Gifford

The Harry Llewellyn Bixby Dramatic Cup, first given in 1919 and awarded to students in recognition of their contribution to the Thacher Drama Program: Derek Nolan Gulick-Stutz

The Eric Bechtel Dachs Prize for Technical Theatre, awarded to the student who, in his or her career at Thacher, has shown the greatest dedication, imagination and expertise in technical theater: Alice Flora Hyde

The Darrah Corbet, Jr. Studio Prize, first given in 1941 in memory of Darrah Corbett, Jr., CdeP 1936:Lilly Soca Haggard

The Marcus Hele Dall Award, given to the student who has done the best work in photography: Christopher Matthew Yih

The Rhode Island School of Design Art Award, to that student who has demonstrated uncommon dedication, commitment and achievement in the Visual Arts: Jesse Vagneur Gates

The Agnes M. Lord Music Award, first given in 1922 to honor Mrs. Walter St. Clair Lord, who taught music at Thacher from 1898 to 1925: Andrew Philip Atwong

The Class of 2000 Dance Award, established in recognition of the dedication, leadership and accomplishments of the dancers of the Class of 2000, goes to the senior who most embodies those qualities: Tabitha Alexis Sullivan-Wallace

The Palmer Prize for Debating, first awarded in 1937 and given by the father of Lowell M. Palmer II, CdeP 1938: Justin Thomas Myles

The William Bennett Munro Prize, first awarded in 1934 by Mr. Munro, who for many years was head of the Humanities Department at the California Institute of Technology, goes to that student who, in the opinion of the Faculty Judges and the School Chair, has delivered the most eloquent, thoughtful and carefully prepared speech in the School-wide competition: Jean-Jacques Enkumu Ntshaykolo

The Moffitt Saddle, given by Liz Moffitt Herr in memory of the long-term relationship between Thacher and her father, Herbert C. Moffitt, M.D. CdeP 1933, awarded each year to that junior whose energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to the Horse Program reflects that of Doctor Moffitt: Amy Elizabeth Feldman

The Top Wrangler Buckle, given by the Class of 1979 in memory of their friend and classmate Richard A. Wilson, Jr. CdeP 1979 to recognize that senior who throughout his or her Thacher career has shown great endeavor and success in all aspects of the Horse Program--riding, camping, and leadership: Miles David Fossett

The George Beckwith Gymkhana Trophy, presented to the captains of the winning gymkhana team:

Helen Christine Brown

Miles David Fossett

Daniel Parker Kruth

Michael Si-Yao John Xu

The Bissell Gymkhana Trophy, presented each year to the high-point man or woman: Miles David Fossett Trophy

The Herbert Sisters’ English Riding Trophy, first awarded in 2006, is given in honor of Alexandra MacLean Herbert CdeP 2002 and Deirdre Healy Herbert CdeP 2006, to that rider who has shown exceptional dedication, commitment, and talent in the English Riding Program: Hailey May Everett

The Charles Pratt Trapshoot Plate, awarded to that student with the highest score: Carson Dino Rabuzzi Leydecker, with 22/25

The Vaquero Cup, awarded to the best all-around student in riding, shooting, and gymkhana: Cayce Aida Cover

The Hollister Wheaton Trapshoot Award goes to the parent and student with the highest score: Lee Novich and Simon Novich ‘14 (44/50)

The Best Camper Award goes to the student who, in the opinion of the Camping Committee, has done the most camping and helped significantly with the running of the camping program:

Joseph Mac Weld Bell

Marshall Thomas Gifford

William Scott Kirkland

The Edward R. Spaulding Tennis Cup, presented to The Thacher School by E.R. Spaulding of Santa Barbara and first awarded in 1903, this award goes each year to the School Tennis Champion: William Oliver Halsted

The Condor Trophy is awarded to that girls' and/or boys' varsity athletic team or teams who, in the opinion of the Athletic Council, have through their work rate, dedication, attitude, and record of achievement in league and post-season competition, truly distinguished themselves. Awarded for the first time this year, to the Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team and the Girls’ Cross Country Team

The Marvin Shagam Award goes annually to that student who has made a difference in The Thacher Community through force of character, goodness, courage, vision, and love for all God’s creation, rather than for leadership in academics and athletics. Although established in Mr. Shagam’s name, he has no part in the selection of the recipient. This year’s recipient: Sarah Noromalala Ratsimbazafy

Founded in 1906, Cum Laude is modeled on Phi Beta Kappa, the 232-year old honor society. Election to Cum Laude commends those students who have met the highest criteria of academic achievement and integrity throughout every semester of their time at Thacher. No more than 20% of the senior class may be elected; half that may be voted in as juniors. Additionally, to be chosen, a student must also hold dear the qualities of “Excellence, Justice and Honor” named in the Society’s motto: Areté, Diké, Timé.

Members of the Class of 2012, elected in their junior year:

Anouk Marie-Justine Ackerman

Derek Nolan Gülick-Stutz

Alice Flora Hyde

Members of the Class of 2012, elected in their senior year:

Paige Catherine Bowie

Sarah Elizabeth Cresto

Lucas Alexander Currie

Christina Ann Eilar

Shane Patrick Griffee

Margot Therese Hughan

Emily-Caitlyn Hart Jordan

Lisea Ashley Lark

Katherine Choe-Yung Yu

Members of the Class of 2013, elected this year:

Julianna Gamble Childs

Paul Vincent Cresanta

Irene Limb

Justin Thomas Myles

Melanie Gayle Reimer