Eleventh-Grade English Academic Excellence

HOLLY SIMON

Holly is a shining example of what makes the humanities humanistic. She experiences literature with all parts of her personhood; all at once, she appreciates the craft of beautiful writing, deeply empathizes with characters in their various situations, and gives profound thought to the social relevance of the perspectives she finds in stories. The humanities are important because a people is, at its core, individuals and their shared stories; Holly not only understands this concept but lives by it. When she engages with a narrative, be it a lengthy 19thcentury novel or an obscure work of musical theater, she sees a rainbow of reasons to value that story. Holly sees the minute textual details and the big picture, the satirical ironies and the earnest truths, the social power and the individual pathos - and she knows that none of these aspects are separate from one another. It is our pleasure to present Holly with this award, and to honor her brilliant mind, active hand, and open heart.