Upper School Honors Student Academic Excellence at Awards Ceremony

The pursuit of academic excellence and achievement among St. Margaret’s junior and senior classes was celebrated and recognized this week at the 2018 Upper School Awards Ceremony.

The faculty awarded academic book prizes from distinguished colleges and universities, defined by qualities representative of those schools. St. Margaret’s academic department distinctions were also recognized, along with St. Margaret’s senior awards that were presented to students with heartfelt messages from each presenter.

“The importance of recognizing achievement as a valid pursuit by itself and in itself, lies not in the achievement alone,” Upper School Principal Tony Jordan said. “What is more important is the learning and habits of mind that develop as we strive for excellence in these important areas and carry those habits through lives of purpose and success.”

Also recognized was the work of many Upper School student leadership groups, including Admission Ambassadors, Associated Student Body, Honors Committee, Peer Counselors, Tartan Inclusivity & Diversity Education.

The complete list of honorees follows:

The George Washington University Book – Recipient: Declan Landau. Awarded to a junior who embodies the George Washington drive and spirit, specifically with their academic excellence, leadership outside of the classroom, diversity of thought, and ability to put knowledge into action.

The Harvard Book Prize – Recipient: Jordan Westendorf. Awarded to an outstanding junior who exhibits superior academic, personal and extracurricular achievements.

The Kenyon College Book – Recipient: Gillian Mann. Awarded to the member of the junior class who best embodies the central tenets of the liberal arts—a high level of intellectual engagement, creativity and commitment to community.

The University of Pennsylvania Book – Recipient: Natalie Yee. Awarded to a high school junior who best exemplifies the qualities and characteristics of Benjamin Franklin—a scholar, innovator and server of the community.

The Princeton Book – Recipient: Julia Martin. Awarded to an outstanding junior who exhibits intellectual promise and academic excellence; exemplary service or extracurricular activities; and outstanding personal character.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) Medal – Recipient: Drew Vollero. Awarded to a junior who excels in advanced math and science, adheres to rigorous academic standards, and exhibits a well-rounded interest and involvement in the community.

The Saint Lawrence University Book – Recipient: Isabella Blount. Awarded to a junior who, like the St. Lawrence University community, values a commitment to the service of others.

The Smith College Book – Recipient: Emily Sun. Awarded to an outstanding junior female who exemplifies academic achievement, leadership qualities, and concern for others.

The Williams College Book – Recipient: Kevin Zhu. Awarded to a junior who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school.

The Yale Book – Recipient: Matthew Colglazier. Awarded to a junior who demonstrates “lux et veritas,” enlightenment and truth, the motto of Yale College, combining outstanding personal character—the “lux” – with outstanding intellectual promise, the “veritas.”

Dominic Ondryas Memorial Award – Recipient: Sarah Thurin. Awarded to the junior who has exercised leadership during his or her years at St. Margaret’s and who has shown a willingness to improve the community and the world by leading others through personal example and commitment.

Scholar-Athlete Awards – Recipients: Daisy Sellas and Brian Hillman. Awarded to one female and one male who have demonstrated the highest level of combined academic, athletic and extra-curricular achievement while maintaining a minimum unweighted 3.5 grade-point average during their sophomore, junior and senior years. This award is the highest individual award bestowed upon scholar athletes by the CIF Southern Section.

Jon Balak Award – Recipients: Cailin Young and Matthew Josephs.

Athletes of the Year: Recipients: Ryan Cragun and Lauren McCaffrey.

A Departmental Book is awarded to seniors who have achieved excellence in an academic discipline.

Computer Science: Madison Mafi

English: Kinsale Hueston

Mathematics: Andrew Shin

Science: Jada Thomas

History: Alexis Fintland

Chinese: Alison Meany

Latin: Jadie Pruitt

Spanish: Kimmy Maguire

Performing Arts: Daisy Sellas

Visual Arts: Hana Adams

The Founder’s Award – Recipient: Hye Won (Alice) Na. Awarded to the senior who has maintained the highest grade point average in the class.

Salutatorian Award – Recipient: Bryant Villamil. Awarded to the senior who has maintained the second highest grade point average in the class.

The Father Ernest D. SIllers Award – Recipient: Daisy Sellas. Awarded to the senior who has set an example of overall achievement, combining an excellent academic record with exemplary service to the school, citizenship and leadership.

The Board of Trustees’ Award – Recipient: Jaden Cloobeck. Awarded to the senior who has grown the most both as a person and as a student, and has taken advantage of the many opportunities for involvement.

St. Margaret’s Award – Recipient: Colin Ballantyne. Awarded to the senior whose academic work is distinguished by the love of scholarship and who, by example, has contributed most to the academic morale of the school.

PTF Service Award – Recipient: Sarah Ko and Mitra Alikhani. Awarded to the senior whose leadership emobides the spirit of selflessness through commitment and involvement.

Faculty Achievement Award – Recipient: Bryant Villamil. Awarded to the senior who has maintained high academic standards through an exceptional combination of achievement, resilience and perseverance.

Faculty Plate – Recipient: Gavin Clarke. Awarded to the senior who has made the most of his or her St. Margaret’s experience and who clearly manifests the Latin inscription on the award plate, suo Marte or “by one’s own prowess,” in his or her years of endeavor in the St. Margaret’s community.

Principal’s Cup – Recipient: Sahar Khashayar. Awarded to the senior who has grown to exemplify the ideals of Honor, Diligence and Decency. The senior has questioned the application and meaning of these ideals in his or her involvement at St. Margaret’s as a student and as a leader, and has made this school a better place by living life courageously, consistently and compassionately.