Six BB&N Seniors Named National Merit Scholar Finalists This year, six BB&N seniors were named National Merit Scholarship “Finalists” in recognition of their academic promise and distinguished performance in the National Merit Scholarship Program of 2013: from left below, Elaine Dai, Alicia Juang, Jacob Kuhn, Elana Sulakshana, Cordelia Mikita, and Catherine Williams. Approximately 1.6 million students sit each year for the Practice SAT (PSAT) administered in October of their third year of high school. The nonprofit National Merit Scholarship Corporation then evaluates these PSAT results, plus students’ academic records throughout high school, to determine the top one percent who advance to “finalist” standing.
Former Board Chair Woodsum Receives Myra H. Kraft Award Eight US Students Win National Art & Writing Awards Eight BB&N students earned national recognition in The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards of 2013: Alberto Ancona ’14, Wenli Bao ’13, Harry Bator ’15, Ami Clifford ’13, Sarah Dahl ’15, Jake Kuhn ’13, Caitlin McCarey ’13, and Margery Tong ’13. The students were identified by panels of creative professionals as the most talented young artists and writers in the nation. This year, 230,000 works of art and writing were submitted by students in grades 7-12 and only the top one percent were recognized at the national level. The honor garnered an invitation to attend a ceremony at the world-famous Carnegie Hall in New York City in May.
Former BB&N board chair Steve Woodsum (P’06, ’08, ’10) was one of three individuals honored this spring with a director of the year award by The National Association of Corporate Directors New England Chapter (NACDNE). Each year, NACDNE recognizes board members and boards from public, private, and nonprofit organizations who exemplify the key attributes of outstanding directors. During an April 11 ceremony at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, Woodsum received the Myra H. Kraft Award for Non-Profit Leadership for his service in leadership positions at numerous non-profits, including BB&N. “Few individuals would be more deserving of this recognition for the extraordinary work accomplished on behalf of non-profit organizations. Steve has made such a difference in the lives of so many,” says Woodie Haskins, BB&N’s Assistant Head of School for External Affairs. “He has always been concerned about the well-being of others first; the phrase ‘non sibi,’ not for oneself, describes him best. He lives this motto every day of his life and his moral compass is guided by integrity, service, modesty, and generosity.” Woodsum served as BB&N’s Board of Trustees Chair from 2001 to 2006 and has also been involved with the following organizations in various capacities: Chair of the National Board of City Year, Director of Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Director of Massachusetts General Hospital, member of Overseers at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Trustees of the Boston Harbor Island Alliance, Former Board Chair of the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center, Former Director of Jumpstart for Young Children, CIDCO, Clean Harbors, Information Builders, QMS, and Superior Services. 7