The Westminster community gathered in Werner Centennial Center Dec. 5 to celebrate the incredible achievements of the fall 2024 term.
Head of School Elaine White welcomed the community and reflected on the last few months of the fall term, which she noted was marked with “the commitment to service beyond self,” with students stepping up in leadership roles, organizing activities, and supporting each other. She shared that this spirit of grace was evident as students worked to uphold higher ideals and hold each other accountable, despite a strenuous political climate. Noteworthy moments from the fall term included the inaugural Westminster Habitat for Humanity project, where students helped build homes for families in need, and the first-ever Horizons trick-or-treating event, which brought great joy to local children.
Director of Athletics Tim Joncas encouraged the school community to focus not just on individual academic, athletic, or artistic achievements, but on how they support and hold each other accountable during the final weeks of the term. He noted that this will set the tone for the rest of the winter term, and challenged the Martlet community for a recommitment to the core values of Grit, Grace, and being great teammates.
Before beginning the list of awards, Academic Dean Betsy Heckman encouraged everyone to support their peers in a celebratory and inclusive way, responding with thoughtfulness and kindness. Heckman recognized those students from each form that received Summus this fall, awarded to the top ten percent of each form based on GPA.
Academic Awards
Academic Dean Betsy Heckman announced students who earned the honor of Summus for the fall term.
Third Form Summus:
Sofia Eleuteri, Candice Hong, Issac Kwon, Blair Li, Justin Li, Rafa Rodrigues, Chloe Zhao, Max Zong
Fourth Form Summus:
Charlotte Jin, Xavier Kahn, Jaelyn Kang, Lisesel Kocourek, Andrew Ma, Gianna Monaco, Kitty Olson, Jack Owens, Mya Polastry, Saleha Rahimi
Fifth Form Summus:
Caroline Breslav, Finn Cathey, Carson Craig, John Dwyer, Hayley Fineberg, Pippa Jiranek, Elsa Koh, Taryn Overstreet, Jeff Shao, George Tsatas, Luna Yang, Sabrina Yang
Sixth Form Summus:
Sarah Eddy, Jason Hu, Cindion Huang, Sam Hyde, Meiyin Ren, Finn Seeley, Viktoriia Voitiuk, Lucy Wainwright, Allysen Whitehead, Jennifer Yang
Athletic Awards
Director of Athletics Timothy Joncas presented the following athletic awards.
Berry Awards
Named in honor of Richard P. “Scott” Berry, loyal faculty member, coach and friend from 1971-2017, recognizes the player from each lower team who gave the best effort and demonstrated the best attitude throughout the season.
JV Field Hockey: Lilly Murphy ’25
3rd Field Hockey: Hopie Fooshee ’27
JV Boys’ Soccer: Auggie Jiranek ’27
3rd Boys’ Soccer: Brooks Berthiaume ’27
4th Boys’ Soccer: Caden Weichselbaumer ’28
JV Girls’ Soccer: Sofia Davella ’25
3rd Girls’ Soccer: Gloria Oh ’28
IM Volleyball: Caroline Breslav ’26
Varsity Awards
Most Improved Player (MIP) and Most Valuable Player (MVP)
Field Hockey
MIP: Pippa Jiranek ’26
Pitcairn MVP: Hadley Crowther ’25
Boys’ Water Polo
MIP: Jesse Yang ’27
MVP: Trent Jones ’25
Boys’ Cross Country
MIP: Niraj Prakas ’26
Jones Bowl, MVR: James O’Connell ’25
Girls’ Cross Country
MIP: Hayden Schneider ’25
Wilbur Bowl, MVR: Sophia Lazor ’27
Girls’ Soccer
MIP: Schuyler Groves ’26
MVP: Emme Pacheco-Hager ’25
Boys’ Soccer
Wilbraham MIP: Daniel A. Olaosebikan ’26
1956 MVP: Abraham Monsee Jr. ’25
The Stephen Harris Squibb Bowl awards, which honor the athlete from each Varsity team who demonstrated the greatest sportsmanship, consistent effort, and inspired performance throughout the season were given to:
Field Hockey: Lucy Wainwright ’25
Girls Soccer: Lauren Neuman ’25
Boys Soccer: Henry M. Warner ’25
Boys Cross Country: Sam Hyde ’25
Girls Cross Country: Sophie Grace Stevenson ’25
Water Polo: Will Larock ’25
The All Founders League Award is given to two members of each varsity team who best exemplify the League ideals of sportsmanship, hard work and character in the spirit of competition and fair play at the varsity level.
Varsity Boys’ Soccer: Luka M. Misko ’27, Jaime Escartín '27
Varsity Girls’ Soccer: Emma Isakoff ’25, Taryn Overstreet ’26
Varsity Boys’ Cross Country: Nicholas Lopriore ’26, Nicholas Ramsumair ’27
Varsity Girls’ Cross Country: AJ Jimenez ’25 and Sofia Eleuteri ’28
Varsity Field Hockey: Allysen Whitehead ’25 and Lily Vincent ’25
Varsity Water Polo: Jason Hu ’25, Filip Tomic ’25
The Hopley-Jackson Award, named in honor of Richard Hopley and Michael Jackson, lower team coaches for many years at Westminster, is given seasonally to the Westminster lower team with the best season. The Hopley-Jackson Award went to the JV Field Hockey team.
Coaches: Lawrence Court, Nicole Garcia
Captains: Lily Murphy, Paige Herlihy, Maddie Clark
The Houghton Award, named in honor of Frederick Houghton, Class of 32, trustee, friend, and fan, is given seasonally to the Westminster team with the best season. This Houghton Award winner for this fall went to Varsity Girls’ Cross Country
Coaches: Siobhan Dale, Ethan Na
Captains: Hayden Schneider, Sophie Grace Stevenson
Performing Arts
Frances Laurel Hopkins Award, which recognizes a student who has made outstanding contributions to the Westminster Dramat Association, was given to Viktoriia Voitiuk ’25.
Hannah Maltby ’26 was named a member of Dramat. New members are admitted into the Westminster Dramat Association after accumulating 100 hours working on productions.
Head of School Pin Awards
The last celebration of the morning highlighted special community members. Graham Cole, head of school from 1993-2010, started the tradition of awarding a headmaster’s pin each season to recognize extraordinary community commitment.
Faculty members make nominations for each term. Each nomination is accompanied by a description that serves as testament to the love, effort and care that happen under the radar, behind closed doors and away from the fanfare.
This year, pins were given to:
Darryl Turbacuski: In recognition of his exceptional dedication, resilience, and positive attitude since stepping into his new role in the Technology Office–all while he continued to serve in his previous capacity with the Business Office until his replacement could be hired.
Tammy Bortz: For making it her mission to get to know students and faculty and taking care of so many late into the night, planning so well for evening activities, and for investing completely in the community.
Ms. Jun: For the work she devoted and continues to devote to international students, for reaching out to students, reaching out to parents, serving as an ambassador in many ways, for her strength and compassion in listening to and supporting students.
Three students were awarded pins for understanding what it means to be a part of a community. Max Williams ’25 for his quiet but impactful work, never asking for or expects praise or recognition for his efforts, Lauren Levinson ’26, for her total commitment to the service to others and for pushing herself to follow through on her commitment to Habitat for Humanity, and Sofia Eleuteri ’28, nominated by her cross country teammates for showing her determination, willpower, and kindness each and every day and always going the extra mile.
Lastly, the final community pin awarded was the Avery H. Bevin ’59 Kindness Award. Established in 2024 by the family of Avery H. Bevin ’59, this award is to be presented each term to a student who displays the attributes of kindness, grace, inclusion and care for individuals. The recipient of this award is chosen through nominations from the student body. This year’s recipient was Anthony DiBartolomeo ’25, for being continually noticed by friends, classmates and teammates as an all around great person, always making sure to do the little things that make a big difference.
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