2016 Upper School Awards Assembly

On May 17, The Upper School Awards Assembly was held in the Seldin Performing Arts Center. This annual event recognized outstanding student contributions to the St. Luke’s Upper School community during the 2015-2016 school year.

Art: The award of Distinction in Art is given to students who possess a dynamic passion, talent and aptitude for imagining and creating art.  Additionally, they demonstrate a deep intellectual curiosity about the discipline of art in general.  These art students consistently go beyond criteria for any given project, creating thoughtful artworks that demonstrate mastery of principles of art and technical skill.
Jada Boggs

Design Lab: Students earning Distinction in designLab have demonstrated strong creative problem-solving abilities through the application of computer science, engineering, or both. They have learned to solve comprehensive problems, both individually and collaboratively, and through the process have shown that they can apply abstraction and computational thinking to real world design challenges. They are also curious and empathetic and have developed as independent learners through their experiences with the designLab.

English: Students receiving Distinction in English must first and foremost have a keen interest in literature—both reading it and discussing it. They also craft essays that are insightful, original and erudite.   

History: The History Department recognizes scholars for their pursuit of genuine understanding about historical events, for their self-discipline in the pursuit of knowledge, for the clarity and insight of their written work, and for their consistent contributions towards the stated goals of their classes.

Mathematics: The award of Distinction in Mathematics is given to students who have great mathematical ability and aptitude, as well as an intellectual curiosity about the subject. These students are independent thinkers who seek clarity and sound understanding in a mathematical discipline they are studying this year, showing persistence and follow-through in their distinctive desire for understanding and passion to learn.

Music: This award is given in recognition of singular merit, ability, and achievement of outstanding contributions to the success of the St. Luke’s Band and Choir programs and for unusual degrees of loyalty, cooperation and high qualities of conduct and a commitment to excellence which includes a giving of their time and talents for the good of the St. Luke’s music program.

Science: The award of Distinction in Science is given to students who display significant interest and achievement in the science disciplines. These students engage with the material in intellectual and creative ways indicating a desire to truly understand the world around them.  They challenge themselves to consistently achieve a deeper level of knowledge and are active problem solvers both within and outside of the classroom.

Theatre Arts: The award for excellence in Acting is given to talented actors who demonstrate a passion for fun, and adventurous exploration into the art of theater. These actors are artistic leaders who tackle bold works that astonish the mind, challenge the heart, and delight the senses. These students pair talent with strong work ethic.

The award for distinction in Stagecraft is given to outstanding technical theater students who have a keen ability in set construction, as well as lighting and sound design.  These technicians are adept at applying theory to practice and can conceptualize a project and then follow it through to execution all with theatrical artistry.

World Languages: A student earning departmental distinction in world languages is profoundly passionate about language and culture. Such students actively seek an in-depth, detailed, and multi-faceted understanding of their language of study. They delight in finding chances to use the target language both in and outside of class and jump at opportunities to immerse themselves in learning about the cultures of other lands and people.

Klein Leadership Award: The purpose of the Emerging Leader Award is to recognize a St. Luke’s student of good character in the freshman class  who possesses leadership potential. This award recipient will receive a scholarship to attend an Outward Bound program this summer.  The award aligns with the Center for Leadership’s mission to find one’s voice and make a difference.

The Brown University Book Award honors the junior who best combines academic excellence with clarity in written and spoken expression.

The Dartmouth Book Award is given to a student who ranks the top 10% of the junior class; has strong character; has made a positive impact on the life of the school; and excels in at least one non-academic area.

The winner of the Harvard Book Prize must display excellence in scholarship and high character, in addition to achievement in other fields.

The Holy Cross Book Prize is given to a student who exemplifies outstanding scholarship, concern for others, and positive commitment to both school and community.

The Kalamazoo College Book Award is given to a junior whose actions demonstrate a commitment to social justice and human rights in the St. Luke’s community and beyond.  

Gabby Finley  

The recipient of the St. Lawrence Book Award has displayed a significant commitment to community service, both at the school and in the local community. Mary Zech  

The University of Virginia Jefferson Award is given to a well-rounded junior who represents the Jeffersonian ideals of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.
Ryan Murphy  

The Vassar College Book Award is designated to a junior who has maintained high academic achievement and, in particular, has demonstrated excellence in the humanities.

The Williams College Book Award is given to a junior who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school.

Jack Hobbs  

Nobbe Award: The Nobbe Award, which is given to the Upper School student who is most instrumental in forwarding journalism at St. Luke’s School. Mr. George Nobbe during his years here in the 1940s was an enthusiastic staff member of the newspaper. He then went on to Harvard and Columbia, and had a long and noteworthy career as an editor and conservation journalist. After his death in 2000 this Award was established in his honor.  The recipients of this award receive a book from St. Luke’s.

Scholars Recognition: Seniors who completed the requirements for classical scholars, global scholars, and STEM scholars were recognized.

Setting the Stage for Augustus, Rome's First Emperor

The International Oil Conflict: A Relationship between Developed Nations' Involvement and the Fragility of a Nation

The Effectiveness of Commerce-Based Philanthropy in Combating Global Poverty

Healthcare and Requisite Nurses in India: The Intersection of Nursing, Cultural Beliefs, and a Country's Wellbeing

The Role of Internet in a Free and Closed Society: A Comparative Study Between Internet Censorship in France and China

A Homeless Future: Analysis of the Financial Crises Facing Olympic Game Hosts

Gender, Culture, and Women's Health: A Look Into India, Senegal, and Colombia

Cross-Cultural Inequalities in Special Education: Uncovering the Truth in the United States, Russia and South Africa

A Vision for the Future: The Relationship Between Visual Impairment, Poverty, and Development

Why Do They Go? Western Foreign Fighters in Middle Eastern Terror

Life in Zimbabwe: The Implications of Robert Mugabe’s Regime

The Role of Poverty and Patriarchy in the Sex Trafficking of India’s Disposable People

Modern Slavery: The Kafala System and The Migrant Workers' Rights Crisis in the Persian Gulf Region

Population Ageing: Causes and Effects on Global Healthcare

Networks of Innovation in Cystic Fibrosis

High Voltage Direct Current: Energy Efficiency Through Transmission

Exercise Optimization Through Assistive Technologies

Performance Enhancing Drugs: Strikeout or Home Run? A Statistical Evaluation of the Efficacy of Cheating in Major League Baseball

Performance Enhancing Drugs: Strikeout or Home Run? A Statistical Evaluation of the Efficacy of Cheating in Major League Baseball

Building the Perfect Bracket? A Statistical Analysis of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament

Cum Laude: The Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 and was modeled on the collegiate level Phi Beta Kappa.  At St. Luke’s, the Cum Laude Society inductees are those seniors whose cumulative, weighted grade point average is in the top 20% of the graduating class.

Salutatorian: Caleigh Steele

Valedictorian: Kat Adams

Top Scholars for students in grades 9, 10, and 11 will be determined after the fourth quarter is completed. The Top Scholars awards are based solely on the year’s average. Valedictorian and Salutatorian is a cumulative award.

The Community Service Award recognizes a senior whose service to the community outside of St. Luke’s School has been extraordinary. Through volunteer work, the student has developed a passion, made a significant impact on the organization served and lived out the St. Luke’s motto: Enter to learn, go forth to serve.

The Richard M. Whitcomb Character Award recognizes a senior who shows an enduring commitment to qualities associated with good character such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. The recipient best represents the values and goals espoused by Headmaster Emeritus Richard Whitcomb.

Josh Auguste  

The Daniel Q. Ireland Award recognizes a senior whose unusually strong commitment and effort have resulted in achievements that have brought pride to the school.

The William K. Von Fabrice Award recognizes a senior, in memory of a co-founder of St. Luke’s, who placed great emphasis on friendship and concern for others. The recipient has demonstrated these qualities throughout his or her St. Luke’s Career, being a loyal friend to both classmates and the school.

The Richard J Pedrick Award recognizes a senior who exemplifies those qualities that best characterized Dick Pedrick—leadership, dedication, intelligence, athletic participation, good sportsmanship and love for his or her fellow human being.

The Seldin Family Performing Arts Award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated an ongoing passion for the performing arts. The recipient has shown extraordinary dedication to the performing arts at St. Luke’s School, as exemplified by the Seldin Family, and achieved a level of excellence that makes him or her a true star.

The Karen E. Wiegman Award recognizes a senior who has shown the most growth over his or her years at St. Luke’s School. This growth is marked by social connection, academic discovery, and personal maturation.  

The Service Award recognizes a senior whose service to the school or community clearly surpasses what is expected. The recipient is the senior class exemplar of the school’s motto, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve.”

The Be Kind Award was created in memory of Bill Mahoney, St. Luke’s School trustee, St. Luke’s School parent, and friend to all, this award is given to a graduating senior who has actively practiced kindness and radiates good cheer. Through frequent acts of kindness and a contagiously generous disposition, the awardee makes people feel good about themselves, generates a spirit of inclusion, and inspires others to “pass it on.”

The Senior Bowl recognizes a Senior who, in the opinion of the faculty, has consistently received significant academic honors during his or her St. Luke’s Career, while participating enthusiastically in a variety of school activities.

The Senior Loyalty Cup recognizes a Senior whose contributions and dedication to St. Luke’s have distinguished him or her as an outstanding leader.  

The Headmaster’s Award recognizes two graduating students who have made unique contributions to St. Luke’s in ways that bring great credit to the school.

The Upper School Awards Assembly concluded with the special commissioning of Emma Powless ‘16 who is heading off to serve our country at the US Military Academy at West Point. United States Military Academy Class of 1991, Field Force Representative, and West Point Admissions MyLinh B. Shattan presented a certificate to Emma who received two spirited standing ovations.

Go to the US Awards photo gallery to see some pictures from the assembly.