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2018 Upper School Awards
It was a wonderful celebration of Upper School students' achievements from this past year.
On Monday, May 21, the Upper School Awards Assembly was held in the Seldin Performing Arts Center. The annual event recognized outstanding student contributions to the St. Luke’s Upper School community during the 2017–2018 school year. Head of Upper School Liz Perry began the assembly with Departmental Distinctions.
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. In the magical process of bringing into physical form things that did not exist before, things of significance, these artists craft their own personal meaning through sensitive and powerful expressions.
Emma Castiglione
Chloe Kekedjian
Ashley Kelley
Matthew Murphy
Brody Menzies
Maria Minuesa
Ping Ryan
Leo Van Munching
Claire Watson
Lucia Wiggers
designLab
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. Additionally, they are curious and empathetic and have developed as independent learners through their experiences with the designLab.
Zachary Amendola
Landon Bachman
Kendall Boege
Jack Briggs
Anna Camp
Dominic Demarco
Archer Goodwyn
Peter Gutstein
Henry Jodka
Hannah Mathew
Mia Mitchell
Liam Patty
Connor Rosow
Jamie Ullman
Marco Volpitta
Carolina Warneryd
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. Indeed, they look forward to each new book with eager anticipation, and they view writing and speaking as opportunities to express their ideas with style.
Kristen Beaumonte
Tasia Courts
Elyse Kim
Moli Ma
Cate Mathews
Bilal Memon
Ruth Mercedes
Clara Pakman
Adiah Price-Tucker
Georgia Rosenberg
Nick Rutigliano
Lynden Steele
Chris Walsh
Amelie Warneryd
Carolina Warneryd
Amelia Wyckoff
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 toward the stated goals of their classes.
Kayleigh Bowler
Jack Briggs
Marguerite DeMarco
Chloe Kekedjian
Elyse Kim
Cate Mathews
Bilal Memon
Kirsten Pastore
Adiah Price-Tucker
Alexandra Riley
Georgia Rosenberg
Lynden Steele
Mary Grace Thomas
Chris Walsh
Amelie Warneryd
Amelia Wyckoff
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 in their passion to learn.
Ajit Akole
Hannah Amendola
Zachary Amendola
Kristen Beaumonte
Dominic DeMarco
Jacob Hammer
Jackson Hart
Chloe Kekedjian
Cate Mathews
Bilal Memon
Georgia Rosenberg
Nick Rutigliano
Alexandra Truwit
Jamie Ullman
Chris Walsh
Amelie Warneryd
Carolina Warneryd
CJ Woodberry
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 giving of their time and talents for the good of the St. Luke’s music program.
Alex Awad
Sarah Bryant
Michael Crispi
Alexis DuPree
Kathleen Ehlers
Henry Jodka
Seth Kim
Andrew Kurth
Duncan MacLear
Mitchell Mount
Zaire Profit
Jerry Rutigliano
Emily Stute
Jamie Ullman
Claire Watson
Amelia Wyckoff
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.
Landon Bachman
Kayleigh Bowler
Jillian Fischer
Hannah Haden
Chloe Kekedjian
Elyse Kim
Molly Kim
Andrew Kurth
Cate Mathews
Bilal Memon
Anna Raleigh
Georgia Rosenberg
Nick Rutigliano
Adiah Price-Tucker
Jamie Ullman
Chris Walsh
Carolina Warneryd
THEATRE ARTS
The award for excellence in Acting is given to talented actors who demonstrate an ability and awareness to empathize with characters they portray, take artistic risks, and embrace the given circumstances of a story with fearless abandon. These actors are artistic leaders who, with their bravery and creativity, move audience members to tears and laughter. They command the stage, exude leadership behind the scenes, and give their best every time.
The award for excellence in Stagecraft is given to outstanding theater students who have a keen ability in set, lighting, costume, and sound design for the stage. These designers and technicians are conceptual thinkers, extreme problem solvers, and generous collaborators. They routinely visualize the improbable and execute with skill and artistry.
Sarah Powless (Acting)
Jack Laibe (Stagecraft)
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.
Zachary Amendola (Spanish)
Kristen Beaumonte (Latin)
Dean Goll (Mandarin)
Jacqui Holzberger (Latin)
Phoebe Kurth (Latin)
Kenny Lam (Mandarin)
Danielle Nares (French and Spanish)
Brian Peck (Mandarin)
Adiah Price-Tucker (Mandarin)
Lynden Steele (Spanish)
Mary Grace Thomas (French)
Jamie Ullman (Spanish)
Amelie Warneryd (French and Spanish)
Chris Walsh (Latin)
Carolina Warneryd (French and Spanish)
CJ Woodberry (Spanish)
Klein Leadership Award
The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a St. Luke’s student of good character in the freshman class who possesses leadership potential. The award recipient receives 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.
Jack Conti
11th Grade Class Deans, Susan Doran and Alec LeBris, presented the Junior College Book Awards
The Brown University Book Award honors the junior who best combines academic excellence with clarity in written and spoken expression.
Clara Pakman
The Cornell Book Award is given to a junior who shows an awareness of cultural diversity and is an excellent student, good citizen, and innovative thinker.
Juliette Finley
The Dartmouth Book Award is given to a student who ranks in the top 10 percent 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.
Hannah Amendola
The Harvard Book Prize is given to a student who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, in addition to achievement in other fields.
Carolina Warneryd
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.
Kendall Boege
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.
Madison Sead
The St. Lawrence Book Award recognizes a junior who has demonstrated academic success and been identified as someone who displays a significant commitment to community service, both at the school and in the local community.
Katherine Barton
The University of Virginia Jefferson Award is given to a well-rounded junior who represents the Jeffersonian ideals of scholarship, leadership, and citizenship.
Georgia Rosenberg
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.
CJ Woodberry
Head of Upper School Liz Perry presented the Nobbe and the Scholars Awards.
Nobbe Award
The Nobbe Award 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.
Claire Wilson
St. Luke’s Senior Scholars
St. Luke’s Senior Scholars who presented on STEM, Global, and Classical topics were recognized earlier in the spring.
St. Luke’s Senior Scholars who presented on STEM, Global, and Classical topics were recognized earlier in the spring.
Classics Scholars
Alexandra Schwartz: The Art of Translation: Exploring Translation Theory in Catullus’ Carmen 36
Cooper Truwit: Augustus’ Ascent and Acclimation to Power
Amelia Wyckoff: Villain or Victim: Sexuality, Gender, and Female Agency in Medea
Global Scholars
Kristen Beaumonte: Keeping Calm and Fighting Back: How Britain is Modeling Successful Recovery from Terror
Hannah Haden: A Balancing Act: An Exploration of Pharmaceutical Drug Testing in Developing Nations
Hope Jackson: Brexit at Work: The Effects of Departing the European Union on Scottish Jobs
Elizabeth Laub: Call 911: The State of Emergency Medical Services in Low-Income Countries
Sarah Powless: Secret Weapons: The Role of Women in the Islamic State
Thaise Sudano: How a Harmful Tradition Persists in the Twenty-First Century: The Implications of Female Genital Mutilation on Women with a Focus on Senegal
Jack Thies: The Broken Wheel of Recidivism: A Comparative Analysis of India and the United States
Claire Wilson: Eye On The Ball: How Sports Affect Nation Branding in Brazil, New Zealand, and Canada
STEM Scholars
Ajit Akole: Mining Novel RNA Sequences: An Effort to Further Map the Human Transcriptome
Dominic DeMarco: Traffic Flow and Intersections: Using Microscopic Computer Simulation to Analyze Road Connections
Sophia Feldman & Alexandra Truwit: Exploring the Link Between Learned Emotional Intelligence and Academic Success
Jack Halsey: Macroscopic Modeling of Bohmian Mechanics Using a Vibrating Oil Bath
Chloe Kekedjian: Assessing The Biodegradation of High-Density Polyethylene by the Greater Wax Worm
Andrew Kurth: Carbon Nanomaterials for the Future: Optimizing Synthesis Efficiency
Dennis Polyakov: Zippy Chow: Using Traveling Salesman Technology to Optimize Food Delivery
Chase Zammit: Exploration of Non-GMO Alternatives for Frost Damage Prevention in Potato Plants
Cum Laude Society
St. Luke’s School student inductees into the Cum Laude Society are those seniors whose coursework is at the highest and most rigorous levels; who have shown high levels of achievement in their studies; and whose participation in class reflects enthusiasm for greater depths of learning.
Ajit Akole
Kristen Beaumonte
Dominic DeMarco
Hannah Haden
Jack Halsey
Chloe Kekedjian
Elizabeth Laub
Bilal Memon
Gabrielle Mitchell
Mitchell Mount
Dennis Polyakov
Sarah Powless
Adian Price-Tucker
Alexandra Truwit
Claire Wilson
Amelia Wyckoff
Chase Zammit
Head of School Mark Davis presented the remaining awards.
Salutatorian: Kristen Beaumonte
Valedictorian: Ajit Akole
THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD: Alexis DuPree
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.
WHITCOMB AWARD: Ryan Neafsey and Claire Wilson
The Richard M. Whitcomb Character Award recognizes seniors who show an enduring commitment to qualities associated with good character such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. The recipients best represent the values and goals espoused by Headmaster Emeritus Richard Whitcomb.
DAN IRELAND AWARD: Dominic DeMarco and Chloe Kekedjian
The Daniel Q. Ireland Award recognizes seniors whose unusually strong commitment and effort have resulted in achievements that have brought pride to the school.
VON FABRICE AWARD: Kristen Beaumonte and Amelia Wyckoff
The William K. Von Fabrice Award recognizes seniors, in memory of a co-founder of St. Luke’s, who placed great emphasis on friendship and concern for others. The recipients have demonstrated these qualities throughout their St. Luke’s careers, being loyal friends to both classmates and the school.
PEDRICK AWARD: Elizabeth Laub
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.
SELDIN AWARD: Jacqui Holzberger and Amelia Wyckoff
The Seldin Family Performing Arts Award recognizes seniors who have demonstrated an ongoing passion for the performing arts. The recipients have 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 them true stars.
WIEGMAN AWARD: Caroline Nevin and Lucia Wiggers
The Karen E. Wiegman Award recognizes the seniors who have shown the most growth over their years at St. Luke’s School. This growth is marked by social connection, academic discovery, and personal maturation.
SERVICE AWARD: Logan Diliberto
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.”
BE KIND AWARD: Thaise Sudano and Gabrielle Mitchell
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 the graduating seniors who have actively practiced kindness and radiated good cheer. Through frequent acts of kindness and contagiously generous dispositions, the awardees make other people feel good, generate a spirit of inclusion, and inspire others to “pass it on.”
SENIOR BOWL: Ajit Akole and Alexandra Truwit
The Senior Bowl recognizes seniors who, in the opinion of the faculty, have consistently received significant academic honors during their St. Luke’s career, while participating enthusiastically in a variety of school activities.
SENIOR LOYALTY CUP: Jack Thies
The Senior Loyalty Cup recognizes a senior whose contributions and dedication to St. Luke’s have distinguished him or her as an outstanding leader.
HEADMASTER’S AWARD: Bilal Memon and Adiah Price-Tucker
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.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Center for Leadership builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
