2019-2020
P O R T L E D G E U P P E R S C H O O L
AWARDS
CONTENTS
3 Community Service Awards 4-5 Educational Technology Awards 6-10 English Department Awards 11-15 History Department Awards
Mr. Grzelewski, Director of Upper School
16-19 Mathematics Department Awards 20-23 Music Department Awards 24-28 Science Department Awards 29-32 Theatre Department Awards 33-36 Visual Arts Department Awards 37-41 World Languages and Culture Department Awards
Community Service
Independence, responsibility, and a sense of civic duty are qualities which Portledge seeks to instill in its students. To that end there has been instituted an annual Community Service requirement of 10 hours. While a number of individuals went well beyond the minimum
requirement of ten hours during this year, there were twelve who are recognized for logging more than 100 hours. These individuals include Gabe Staiano (100), Trent Midura, (100.5), Sandeep Sood (109), Isabel Szarfarc (115), Corinne Sweeney (115.5), Camryn Kleinwaks (140), Charlotte Baker (160), and Jia Yuan Yu (180). Four altruists logged over 200 hours: Noah Capps (210), Mia Schecter (211) Amy Lawn (250), and with a grand total 1500 hours, Maxwell Gould.
Educational Technology
Educational Technology 9th Love of Learning: Tobias Mummers
The award for Love of Learning, grade 9, goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in class and has impressed his peers and teachers. This year he enrolled in the Introduction to Programming course half way through the school year, which meant that he had a fair amount of work to complete and content to learn to be caught up with his peers in the course. Not only did he complete the work assigned to him, but he explored additional content outside of the curriculum to help him go beyond the requirements of various programming projects. He also completed a community service project teaching others how to code during a free block. The Educational Technology department is pleased to recognize Tobey Mummers!
Educational Technology 10th Academic Excellence: Ryan Levy
The award for Academic Excellence, grade 10, goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in class and has impressed his peers and teacher. This year he enrolled in the Introduction to Programming course and devoured the course material. This student read ahead in the textbook, explored additional content outside of class and even created his own projects that he would share with his fellow students and teacher. When it came to course work, he would always develop clever solutions to problems with highly well-written code. The Educational Technology department is pleased to recognize Ryan Levy!
Educational Technology
Educational Technology 10th Love of Learning: Rachel Lohan
The award for Love of Learning, grade 10, goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in class and has impressed her peers and teacher. This year she enrolled in the Computer Science Principles course and dove into the material. In every class, she would ask thoughtful questions and was always willing to participate in discussions. When we moved into exploring HTML, CSS and then Javascript, she would push herself to complete unit project assignments that fully incorporated multiple technical facets that she had learned. Most recently her apps have had both clean looking user interfaces as well as exceptionally well organized code. The Educational Technology department is pleased to recognize Rachel Lohan!
Educational Technology 12th Love of Learning: Harrison Rubin
The award for Love of Learning, grade 12, goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in class and has impressed peers and teachers. During the year, this student completed an independent study in computer science, helped to support students taking the introduction to programming course, and was a lead coder for Portledge, Hit the Switch!, one of Portledge’s FIRST Tech Challenge robotics teams. He has spent countless hours learning about computer vision, researched multiple facets of Computer Science, including Java and Kotlin for robotics, HTML, CSS and Javascript for websites, and made Hit the Switch’s robot one of the best coded robots we have had in our seven year history of the robotics program. The Educational Technology department is pleased to recognize Harry Rubin for his Love of Learning.
English Department
English 9th Academic Excellence: Belaine Mamo The winner of this year’s 9th grade Excellence in English Award is Belaine Mamo. Belaine is acareful thinker and insightful writer. Both in the classroom and on-screen, her deep engagement in class is always apparent from her expressions of discovery and delight. She is diligent about learning course concepts, producing excellent work, and forming connections between lessons.Poised and gracious, Belaine shows a genuine appreciation for both English literature and forsimply being in an academic environment. Congratulations to Belaine for all she has exploredand achieved in English this year!
English 9th Love of Learning: Sandeep Sood This year’s 9th grade Love of Learning Award winner in English is Sandeep Sood. Sandeep hasconsistently been a vibrant, eager presence in the classroom, both in person and online. He isfull of intellectual curiosity, constantly posing questions that push planned lessons into intriguing new territory. His dedication to doing his best work and strengthening his skills is always apparent. He does the work for its own sake, showing genuine interest in receiving feedback, making new discoveries, or just conversing about literature and writing. Respectful, enthusiastic, and inquisitive, Sandeep exudes the scholarly joy described by the Love of Learning Award.
English Department
English 10th Academic Excellence: Jack Kugler The tenth grade award for excellence in English goes to an avid student whose incisive analytical skills, praiseworthy achievement on both essays and tests, consistent diligence, and willingness to share his insights with others make him a pleasure to have in class. The English Department is pleased to recognize Jack Kugler.
English 10th Love of Learning: Sebastian Ross The recipient of the tenth grade English award for love of learning has brought his diligence, his understanding, and his enthusiasm to class every day. In discussion, he is ever ready to make penetrating comments, ask pertinent questions, and delve deeper into the literature we read. The English Department is pleased to recognize Sebastian Ross.
English Department
English 11th Academic Excellence: Charlotte Baker The winner of this year’s 11th grade Excellence in English Award is Charlotte Baker. Whether she’s closely analyzing a single line of verse or forming connections between literature and broad global concerns, Charlotte doesn’t miss a thing. She is always bursting with insight about any reading material, making astute comments in every class and writing with creativity and a keen critical eye. Her deep thinking is visible in her face; there isn’t a moment of class when she isn’t furrowing her brow in contemplation, widening her eyes in the excitement of discovery, or smiling with satisfaction upon making a connection. It is a pleasure to present this award to such a dedicated and passionate scholar.
English 11th Love of Learning: Yijun (Christina) Ye This year’s 11th grade Love of Learning Award winner in English is Christina Ye. Christina’s incredible progress with the English language is a testament to her voracious appetite for learning. Her dedication and industriousness have helped her not only to move up to IB English, but to excel in the course. She produces incisive analytical writing as well as creative pieces that are artful and deeply atmospheric. But the most commendable thing about Christina’s studies in English may be the driving intention behind her hard work: her fundamental value of communication. Christina has used her skills in English not only for her own pleasure or academic benefit, but also to write speeches, represent her fellow students in student government, and facilitate connections between those around her. For her great achievement and understanding of just how important the communicative arts are, we are proud to present Christina with this award.
English Department
English 12th Academic Excellence: Madeline Pittel This year’s award winner is truly devoted to the act of reading and possesses great affection for books in general. She views literature not only as a mirror that reflects her own experience, but also as a lamp that casts light onto new worlds and people. A sensitive and insightful reader (especially of 19thcentury fiction), she regularly detects the subtleties within a text that elude others. In her scholarship, she tirelessly takes risks rather than settling for easy and pat interpretations. But most importantly, she combines her insatiable critical eye with an earnest appreciation for what she reads.
English 12th Love of Learning: Ying (Andrea) Sun This year the 12th grade love of learning award in English goes to a student who not only excels in all that she does, but shows true passion for the subject area. For the past three years, Andrea has been an extremely hardworking and diligent English student, and she has strived to surpass all that was expected of her. She continuously challenged herself to think out of the box, and when given the choice, she always chose the assignments that allowed her to be the most creative and make the best critical connections. It was clear from the start that she had an aptitude for writing, but this never deterred her from working harder to improve the drafts of her papers in order to submit an even better final copy. Perhaps the most admirable thing about Andrea is that she was extremely modest in her approach to class, and even though she excelled on each assignment, she never settled on “good” and always worked for “excellence.” It has been a pleasure to see her grow and mature from a quiet and uncertain tenth grader into a confident independent college entrant, and I know that her vivacity for learning will help her to shine bright next year!
English Department
English Bovell Award: Madeline Pittel The Carolyn Bovell Award is to be presented by vote of the English Department to a graduating senior who has demonstrated exceptional talent and passion for writing through work in English classes, in writing classes, and through contributions to the newspaper and literary Magazine.
History Department
History 9th Academic Excellence: Nicolette Wu The award for academic excellence for grade 9 goes to a student who has demonstrated a mastery of skills and content in Advanced Western Civilizations. Her desire to learn, consistent hard work, and perseverance has led her to become a strong critical thinker and a phenomenal analytical writer. She is open-minded to new ideas and pushes herself and those around her to continue to learn and grow. The History Department is pleased to recognize Nicolette Wu.
History 9th Love of Learning: Jake Rivera This year’s History award for 9th Grade Love of Learning goes to a student who has shown dedication to the course in and out of the classroom. Jake Rivera has been engaged throughout the school year, taking each challenge head-on. Even in the most stressful of times, he has shown his love and passion for history. This year’s Love of Learning History award for the freshman class goes to Jake Rivera.
History Department
History 10th Academic Excellence: Jack Kugler Beginning with the first few classes this fall, one student set himself apart from all of the other very talented and conscientious learners in the advanced sections of History 10A. Maybe it was the copious and meticulous class and reading notes he took each day and evening at school and home. Or maybe it was the confident and quiet way he respectfully raised his hand after almost every query posed, so as to let his teacher know that he knew the answer and was ready to discuss it if his teacher needed him to. If those examples were not sufficient, then it was his back to back scores of 100 % on the first two tests of the year that solidified his position as the top history student in the class. Thus, it is for all these examples of scholarship that Jack Kugler is recognized for his Academic Excellence in History 10A.
History 10th Love of Learning: Thomas Manfuso This year’s award for Love of Learning in 10th Grade History goes to a young man who is so knowledgeable about European history that he could probably write a book about the trials and tribulations of the Hapsburg Dynasty or how the concept of liberalism was reflected in the arts and fashions of nineteenthcentury Europeans. His unquenchable thirst for knowledge is something to appreciate and respect, and so it is with great esteem that TJ Manfuso is recognized for his Love of Learning in 10th Grade history.
History Department
History 11th Academic Excellence: Tanner Flood Academic excellence should never be measured by just high marks and significant achievement, although in the case of this year’s recipient of the award for Academic Excellence in 11th grade History those things exist many times over. A determination of academic excellence should also include an examination of the impact an individual has on the collaborative dynamics of the learning group of which she or he is a part. When this component is applied to the determination of academic excellence in 11th-grade history this year one member of the Advanced Placement United States History class stands out. Throughout the year he endeavored tirelessly to assist his fellow students in understanding the complexities of the AP U.S. History curriculum. Whether he was helping his classmates write a clear and concise thesis or tutoring them before an important assessment, he always made the success of the class his top priority. Thus, in recognition of his tremendous efforts on behalf of collaborative learning, as well as for his own incredibly high level of achievement during this year’s course in Advanced Placement United States History, Tanner Flood receives an award for Academic Excellence in 11th-grade history.
History 11th Love of Learning: Charlotte Baker The award for Love of Learning in history grade 11, goes to a student who continuously reminds those around her how engaging learning can be. Her intense intellectual curiosity, coupled with her ability to achieve at the highest level makes teaching such an individual an absolute joy. As a member of the 2021 IB cohort, this student demonstrates so many of the traits valued by Portledge, especially kindness, respect, an open mind, and critical thinking. The History department is pleased to recognize Charlotte Baker.
History Department
History 12th Academic Excellence: Luca Caviezel It is rare to teach a student more than once in their high school career, let alone three times. This student has consistently produced above-average work throughout his tenure at Portledge. His curiosity about the subject matter and his dedication to improving his historical understanding of events has caused him to earn this recognition, now four years in a row! It gives the history department great pride to present Luca Caviezel the award for Academic Excellence in history.
History 12th Love of Learning: Jonah Hirschwerk The award for Love of Learning goes to a student who immersed himself in the content of AP United States Government and Politics. He consistently asked thoughtful questions, made meaningful connections to current events, and always participated in and led class discussions. Through the adversity of online learning, he persevered and stayed engaged throughout our review and put one-hundred percent effort into the practice exams. The student recognized for Love of Learning is Jonah Hirschwerk.
History Department
History Jennings Prize: Yijun (Christina) Ye Prescott Jennings, the longtime Chairman of the History Department, particularly enjoyed working with students on the combination of historical analysis and written prose. Every year several essays are submitted to the history department for evaluation and the finest is selected through a secret ballot. This year, for the research paper investigating To what extent has Ruth Bader Ginsburg shaped gender rights in the United States? the Jennings Prize goes to Yijun (Christina) Ye.
History Barbara Miles Award: Laura Narby Barbara Miles served as the Head Librarian at Portledge School for 20 years. She consistently encouraged students to delve into the process of scholarly research. She was instrumental in developing the annual 10th grade history research project. Every year the History Department selects the paper or papers that represent the finest qualities of research that come from class research projects. This year’s recipient of the Barbara Miles Award for her research paper entitled, To what extent did the changes made by the Roman military lead to victory in the Punic Wars? is Laura Narby.
Mathematics Department
Math 9th Academic Excellence: Cassandra Oswald-Pisarski The award for Academic Excellence, grade 9, goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in class and has impressed her peers and teachers. This year she participated in the New York State Math League, the Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League, and the Nassau Math Competition. The Mathematics department is pleased to recognize Cassandra Oswald-Pisarski.
Math 9th Love of Learning: Milan Glass The award for Love of Learning, grade 9, goes to a positive-spirited and self-driven student who consistently sought to make connections in the classroom. She actively participated in each lesson, completed assignments in an organized and thorough manner, asked clarifying questions and made corrections to further her understanding of the course content. In addition, this student was always a team player who worked collaboratively and effectively with all of her peers. The Mathematics department is pleased to recognize Milan Glass.
Mathematics Department
Math 10th Academic Excellence: Rui (Eric) Huang The award for Academic Excellence, grade 10, goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in both his math classes and has impressed his peers and teachers. This year he participated in the New York State Math League, the Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League, and the Nassau Math Competition. The Mathematics department is pleased to recognize Rui (Eric) Huang.
Math 10th Love of Learning: Rachel Lohan The award for Love of Learning, grade 10, goes to a student who doesn’t quit until she has achieved complete understanding. This student will ask for endless clarification and will not stop until she knows that she is ready to move on to another challenge. The Mathematics department is pleased to recognize Rachel Lohan.
Mathematics Department
Math 11th Academic Excellence: Victoria DeNoto The award for excellence in Mathematics, grade 11, goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in class and has impressed her peers and teachers. Her fellow students will often turn to her for thorough explanations and clarifications. She is a leader in the classroom. The Mathematics department is pleased to recognize Victoria DeNoto.
Math 11th Love of Learning: Devanshi Mehta The award for Love of Learning, grade 11, goes to a student who has never given up in her pursuit to master the often difficult concepts presented in advanced Precalculus. Her dedication to the course has been unparalleled. Â The Mathematics department is pleased to recognize Devanshi Mehta.
Mathematics Department
Math 12th Academic Excellence: Luca Caviezel This student shows consistent dedication to and excellence in AP Calculus, earning perfect marks on almost every assessment. We couldn’t be more pleased with our choice for this year’s award. The Mathematics department is pleased to recognize Luca Caviezel for Academic Excellence in mathematics.
Math 12th Love of Learning: Harrison Rubin The award for Love of Learning, grade 12, goes to a student who has shown dedication to the course and an unyielding yearning for understanding and mastery of the subject. The Mathematics Department is pleased to recognize Harrison Rubin.
Music Department
Music 9th Academic Excellence: Ming Rui (Abby) Jiang This ninth grader hit the ground running, immediately taking the lead in the first violin section with her excellent tone and fine musicality. She played solos in both the winter and spring concerts, dazzling audiences with her brilliant technique and tone. The orchestra counts on this student to count them in with confidence. The recipient of the Academic Achievement award is Ming Rui (Abby) Jiang.
Music 9th Love of Learning: Sydney Rodriguez-Kong One doesn’t normally associate a quiet and reserved musician with a loud drum set, but Sydney RodriguezKong is not a normal 9th grade percussionist. Going above and beyond in the concert band, the jazz band, and the pit band for the Upper School musical, she flawlessly executed her parts all year and took on extra tasks without skipping a beat, literally and figuratively. Her thoughtful devotion to making her many ensembles sound their best, combined with her clear love of making music as a soloist, in a group, and as a section member has made her a standout percussionist. The recipient of the 9th grade Love of Learning award is Sydney Rodriguez-Kong.
Music Department
Music 10th Academic Excellence: Haowen Yang A student playing in three ensembles is clearly invested in music, and to play in all of them with exceptional brilliance is remarkable. In the jazz band, he took risks to improvise, play in new time signatures, and study jazz trumpet solos to be the best musician he could be. In the solo/chamber ensemble, his curiosity, enthusiasm for trumpet and willingness to learn any and all new music put in front of him was unstoppable. Haowen, without fail, spent every lesson, every free moment warming up, practicing and stopping in during his free time (what little there was) to “talk trumpet” always with a glimmer in his voice. In the concert band, he practiced his parts to perfection to ensure they were correct and polished for performance. His love of the trumpet is unquestionable, and his musical leadership as a sophomore is undeniable. The 10th grade Academic Achievement award goes to Haowen Yang.
Music 10th Love of Learning: Elisabeth Nwasokwa This student sets an example for the orchestra in her love for music, patience, and respect. She is always asking to learn more difficult music, even if it means she will have to spend more time in lessons and practicing. She played one of the solos in this year’s online performance of Vivaldi’s Concerto in b minor. She can always be counted on to attend rehearsals and performances of the orchestra and chamber orchestra. The recipient for the Love of Learning award is Elisabeth Nwasokwa.
Music Department
Music 11th Academic Excellence: Arabella Benjamin The recipient of this year’s Academic Achievement in Music Award is a student who has demonstrated remarkable talent and drive. She was a powerful force in both the Concert Chorus and Select Chorus, skilled enough to provide both soaring solos and gentle accompaniment. While she wowed the crowd at each opportunity, the audience did not get to see the attention to detail and thorough preparation that took place during each rehearsal. In theatre, Ella’s voice and overwhelming effort always elevated the cast. Her talent, incredible vocal gifts and maturity reach far beyond that of someone her age. The 11th grade Academic Achievement in Music award goes to Ella Benjamin.
Music 11th Love of Learning: Katherine Wu The recipient of this year’s love of learning award is a talented artist with skills in both cello and vocal studies. She leads her section in orchestra with confidence and impressive technique. Her skills made her one of the leading instrumentalists on the orchestra’s virtual performance of Vivaldi’s Concerto in b minor. She is a committed member of both the Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra. If that was not enough, this student is also a singer, always putting in the hard work to strengthen the Concert Chorus and Select Chorus. As an alto, she was often tasked with navigating difficult inner harmonies, something that suited her desire to challenge herself. As an IB Music student, she asks insightful questions about music from around the world and about theoretical concepts. The 11th Grade recipient of the Love of Learning Award is Katherine Wu.
Music Department
Music 12th Academic Excellence: Luke Chen A humble and hard working musician, Luke Chen led the trumpet section with skill and poise during his many solos and ensemble playing. His standout performance on the piano at the Portledge Showcase demonstrated his ability to play yet another instrument at an extremely high level. His precision, work ethic, and drive served as a model to raise the level of the concert band at every rehearsal and performance, and his recording of his trumpet parts for the online concerts were truly exceptional. The 12th grade Academic Achievement recipient is Luke Chen.
Music 12th Love of Learning: Jonah Hirschwerk When a student has a private lesson for music class, most of the time, they come in excited to play music and learn their parts. Jonah Hirschwerk came to every rehearsal and his weekly saxophone lessons with that same energy but played with a true passion to be his best. He treated rehearsals like he was on an athletic field, and brought an athletic and competitive mindset to always lead and get the best out of his fellow saxophonists. Jonah worked tirelessly to learn the nuances of his solo parts for the concerts this year and even asked for additional parts on top of his already demanding music load. The 12th grade recipient of the Love of Learning award is Jonah Hirschwerk.
Science Department
Science 9th Academic Excellence: John DeLuca This award for Love of Learning in science, grade 9, goes to a student who has consistently demonstrated enthusiasm for the content and the learning process in biology. He embraces challenges, readily shares his insights to lead discussions and collaborative activities, and asks thought-provoking questions that deepen the learning for all. Possessing an intellectual curiosity that drives his quest for knowledge and desire to make sense of what he has learned, he is careful to demonstrate both his comprehension and his conscientiousness in every facet of class. Respectful, kind, and responsible, this student sets a wonderful example for his peers and should be proud of his many accomplishments. The Science Department is pleased to recognize John DeLuca
Science 9th Love of Learning: Tyler Wasserman An award for Love of Learning in science, grade 9, goes to a student whose enthusiasm and interest for biology extends far past reading the textbooks and preparing for exams. This student impresses with consistent participation in class, as he is always willing to ask deep questions with the goal of extending his knowledge. He has been an enthusiastic researcher since September, further displaying his interest and joy for learning. His willingness and zeal to get involved in class debates and discussions truly shows his passion for biology. Not only does he exude excitement for science, but he is a team player, always willing to help out a classmate. The Science department is pleased to recognize Tyler Wasserman.
Science Department
Science 10th Academic Excellence: Jack Kugler This student has excelled in science classes ever since joining the Upper School. He always dives into new material with excitement and works to develop true mastery in all that he does. He is a leader in the classroom and a meticulous technician in the laboratory. His completed assignments reflect both his strong intellect and his passion for knowledge. It has been a true pleasure working with him and Portledge School will miss him next year as he moves on to a new school. Congratulations to this year’s 10th grade Academic Excellence Award winner - Jack Kugler
Science 10th Love of Learning: Corinne Sweeney The award for Love of Learning in 10th grade science goes to a student who was consistently prepared for class and went the extra mile to assure that she mastered the material. She was not discouraged by the hard work required for success and always led the class in her preparation and dedication to her work. The Love of Learning award in Science goes to Corinne Sweeney for her outstanding dedication in AP Biology.
Science Department
Science 11th Academic Excellence: Charlotte Murrell The award for Academic Excellence in 11th grade Science goes to a student who was extremely diligent and worked towards excellence throughout the year. She persevered to master complex IB assessment questions and sought to integrate information from various perspectives. Her dedication to excellence in completing her Internal assessment project on the effect of acid rain on plant growth was exemplary. She came in throughout holidays and weekends to collect data and assure that her scientific results were accurate and complete. The award for Academic Excellence in 11th grade Science goes to Charlotte Murrell for her outstanding work in IB Environmental Systems and Societies.
Science 11th Love of Learning: Ross Klein The award for Love of Learning, grade 11, goes to a student who continually demonstrates an unparalleled curiosity about the world. He is unafraid to dive deeply into the Physics underlying reality, and brings his keen interest in algorithmic programming to illuminate these depths. The Science Department is pleased to recognize Ross Klein.
Science Department
Science 12th Academic Excellence: Madeline Pittel The award for Academic Excellence in 12th grade Science goes to a student who achieved brilliance in all facets of the IB science course. Through diligent work and critical analysis, she was able to integrate material from different perspectives and expertly answer difficult IB assessment questions. For her Internal Assessment project, she worked tirelessly to explore a topic that would provide novel results and was able to analyze the advantages and disadvantages of ecotourism in Costa Rica. The award for Academic Excellence in Science goes to Madeline Pittel for her outstanding work in IB Environmental Systems and Societies.
Science 12th Love of Learning: Christian Philippe Dam The award for Love of Learning, grade 12, goes to a student who allows this love to lead him along interesting intellectual paths. His insightful questions show how he connects his many and varied academic studies. In particular, he has successfully linked Science and Art by bringing his knowledge of Physics to his video production, and by using his video skills to explain aspects of Physics. The Science Department is pleased to recognize Christian Philippe Dam.
Science Department
American Chemical Society Award: Rui (Eric) Huang Each year in conjunction with The American Chemical Society and its Long Island Subdivision, Portledge School presents one or more plaques to recognize Chemistry A students for their outstanding achievement and effort in their study of Chemistry. The American Chemical Society hopes these awards will help encourage students to pursue further study in Chemistry. The Portledge Science Department presents this year’s ACS award to a student who shows great potential as a future scientist, he has developed a strong understanding of Chemistry and excellent problem solving skills. He always seeks to truly understand the material and perform to the best of his abilities. This year, the American Chemical Society award for excellence in Chemistry is presented to Rui (Eric) Huang
Theatre Department
Theatre 9th Academic Excellence: Nicolette Wu The Freshman award for Excellence in Theatre goes to a student who has shown a great deal of potential as a performer. She did an incredible job understudying in the Fall Play and earned a lead role in the Spring Musical. As special as she is as a talent, she is equally special as a person. The 9th grade award for Excellence in Theatre goes to Niki Wu.
Theatre 9th Love of Learning: Milan Glass The Freshmen award for Love of Learning goes to a student who is always first to complete a project and is never satisfied with just “getting it in on time.� Always going above and beyond and displaying a work ethic that is second to none, she was a rock star all year. The 9th grade award for Love of Learning in Theatre goes to Milan Glass.
Theatre Department
Theatre 10th Academic Excellence: Mary Cooper Moore The Sophomore award for Excellence in Theatre goes to a student who always brings a positive energy to class and rehearsals. She displayed a new level of commitment to the program this year and you could see that effort pay off in her work in class and on stage. The 10th grade award for Excellence in Theatre goes to Mary Cooper Moore.
Theatre 11th Love of Learning: James Katzman The Junior award for Love of Learning goes to a student who has come a long way since Freshman year. For real…a LONG WAY. He has participated in every Theatre class and activity since coming to Portledge and his performances in school productions never cease to entertain. He brings it every time out…. usually with a resounding “Let’s Go!!!” The 11 th grade award for the Love of Learning in Theatre goes to Jimmy Katzmann.
Theatre Department
Theatre 11th Academic Excellence: Arabella Benjamin The Junior award for Excellence in Theatre goes to one of the most talented students Mr. Dula has ever had the pleasure of teaching. She has also become a real leader in the program, and her willingness to be open and vulnerable inspires her peers to do the same. If you have not seen her perform in our free Black Box productions, that is too bad…because it will cost you a lot more to see her on Broadway. The 11 th grade award for the Excellence in Theatre goes to Ella Benjamin.
Theatre 12th Love of Learning: Ava Feinstein There will be two Senior Love of Learning in Theatre awards this year. The first award goes to a student who has impressed Mr. Dula with her ability to persevere. After not getting cast following her first school audition, this student did what many lack the courage to do...she kept trying. She asked to be an assistant director, so she could learn from the process. She said she would audition again next year and “crush it”...and crush it she did. She earned a lead role that Fall and has never looked back. Thank you Ava for always being your fearless self...we will miss you. The 12th grade award for Love of Learning in Theatre goes to Ava Feinstein.
Theatre Department
Theatre 12th Love of Learning: Alexandra Boyatt The next Senior award for Love of Learning goes to a student that Mr. Dula has been teaching for five straight years. During that time, she has taken every Theatre class, been an active member of club, performed in shows, worked backstage and assistant directed. She is an extremely gifted writer and her willingness to “go a little deeper” with her work helped create an environment where everyone felt safe to do the same. This student really is an amazing human and the Theatre program will miss her terribly. The 12th grade award for the Love of Learning in Theatre goes to Alex Boyatt.
Theatre 12th Academic Excellence: Luca Caviezel The Senior award for Excellence in Theatre goes to a student who truly embodies what the Theatre program represents. He is always kind, supportive and never afraid to fall on his face. During his four years, he has taken every Theatre class, served as Club president and helped backstage on shows for all three divisions. He also performed in every Upper School show and Theatre activity his schedule would allow. He did all of this while playing sports, serving on Student Council, and maintaining academic excellence. Yes, he is one of those “wreck the curve” kind of students. Despite this, you would be hard pressed to find anyone who does not love this guy. He is one of the best students this program has ever had and it will not be the same without him. The 12th grade award for Excellence in Theatre goes To Luca Caviezel.
Visual Arts Department
Visual Arts 9th Academic Excellence: Ming Rui (Abby) Jiang The recipient of this year’s Excellence in Art Award goes to a young lady who has quickly established herself as a highly skilled, highly motivated artist. Her work is exceptional and demonstrates the countless hours of commitment she has dedicated to her craft. Rarely is so much talent, focus and passion exhibited on the freshman level. Never satisfied in just completing just the assigned project, Abby would consistently complete two or three more projects motivated only by her passion and desire to improve her already accomplished artistic skills. The Art Department is pleased to recognize Abby Jiang for the 9th grade Excellence in Art Award.
Visual Arts 9th Love of Learning: Nicolette Wu This year the ninth grade Love of Art award goes to a student who was always willing to meet every project head on. She saw each project as a personal challenge. Going above and beyond was the standard by which she approached her work. Never satisfied with the obvious solutions, she worked out countless possibilities until she came up with an idea that both fulfilled the requirements and stirred her interest. It is with great respect that the Art Department recognizes Nicolette Wu.
Visual Arts Department
Visual Arts 10th Academic Excellence: Ana Vissicchio The Visual Art Department is pleased to recognize Ana Vissicchio as the recipient of the tenth grade Excellence in Art Award. Ana is a very talented and modest young lady who is far more comfortable creating her art than she is receiving compliments. She is an incredibly talented artist; whether it’s painting, drawing or mixed media, she does it all with originality and passion. Ana has also graciously taken on the responsibility of photographing and scripting all the posts for the Visual Arts Department’s Instagram feed.
Visual Arts 10th Love of Learning: Yan Jie (Annie) Xiao This year the tenth grade Love of Art award goes to a student who is shy and modest when it comes to her artistic skills, so it would not be surprising if she has no idea she was even considered for this award. With that said, she passionately created some of the finest artwork all year and is more than deserving of this award. Excellent drawing skills and a commitment to executing her work at a very high level have characterized her work. The Art department is proud to recognize Annie Xiao with the Love of Art Award.
Visual Arts Department
Visual Arts 11th Academic Excellence: Madison Schneider The Visual Art Department is pleased to recognize Madison Schneider as the recipient of the eleventh grade Excellence in Art Award. Madison is a quiet, talented artist who is never at a loss for inspiration. In fact she will create several iterations of any project she is assigned. Madison is comfortable working in any medium, painting, pencil and sculpture. She is also an accomplished photographer. Madison has also stepped up to help the Athletic Department with imagery for their twitter posts. Most recently Madison was asked to create a logo for an initiative to raise money for meals for first responders. The logo was used to publicize the event on social media as well as t-shirts and banners.
Visual Arts 11th Love of Learning: Olivia Mooney The Visual Art Department is pleased to recognize Olivia Mooney as the recipient of the eleventh grade Love of Learning Award. Olivia excelled in her Graffiti class this school year. She took on each assignment as a challenge to explore new techniques and expand her skills. Olivia became a leader in the classroom, inspiring others with the quality of her work. Most importantly, she is completely self-motivated and clearly has a passion for the art-making process.
Visual Arts Department
Visual Arts 12th Academic Excellence: Ava Feinstein The Visual Arts Department is pleased to recognize Ava Feinstein as the recipient of the twelfth grade Excellence in Art Award. Ava is a talented intense artist who is never at a loss for inspiration. She also possesses the drive to make those ideas come to fruition. Ava’s ideas are usually grand in scale, huge portraits, exuberant splashes of color, large sculptures. Even when Ava worked on a small scale creating individual rooms and environments, the smaller pieces were added together to form a huge castle. This was an environment you were invited to enter and explore. Most recently Ava’s Wired Woman was among the 100 chosen by the Hecksher Museum’s Long Island’s Best competition out of 388 submissions from 58 high schools.
Visual Arts 12th Love of Learning: Amy Lawn The Visual Arts Department is pleased to recognize Amy Lawn as the recipient of the twelfth grade Love of Learning in Art Award. Amy approached her art with a quiet earnestness and a desire to learn personally and in the process inform her audience. Thoughtful in her approach to creating art, her journal had many explorations of her concepts and ideas. These explorations were not necessarily just of a beautiful painting, pencil rendering or sculpture as one might expect, but works that highlighted her awareness of social issues and her need to inform the public with thought provoking art showing issues ranging from the perception of race or the environment, to women’s rights. As for technical expertise and creating objects of beauty? Amy has a love of animals and displayed a mastery of pointillism by producing beautifully detailed renderings in pen and ink of her favorite creatures.
World Languages and Culture Department World Languages and Culture 9th Academic Excellence: Nicolette Wu The award for excellence in 9th grade, goes to a student who asks thoughtful and intelligent questions, and has a curiosity for knowledge that goes well beyond her years. Her average this year has been consistently outstanding, and she will settle for nothing less. Her quiet determination to produce consistently exceptional work is commendable. The World Languages department is pleased to recognize Nicolette Wu.
World Languages and Culture 9th Love of Learning: Laura Narby This student has consistently performed at a very high level in her Spanish classes. She is a talented language learner and also has the work ethic and intellectual curiosity needed to delve deeply into complicated topics. She always applies the new grammatical structures she is learning when speaking and writing in Spanish. She has great intellectual curiosity and an admirable willingness to take risks, which pays off more often than not. It has been a pleasure to work with her, as the entire class benefits from her contributions. An impressive student, this young woman is also a fine human being whose love of learning will hold her in good stead for a lifetime. The teacher hopes that this student shares her feelings of pride in her achievements and in the strong abilities she has developed. With the department’s best wishes for continued success in Spanish, this award goes to Laura Narby.
World Languages and Culture Department World Languages and Culture 10th Academic Excellence: Jack Kugler This year’s winner of the 10th grade award for excellence in language learning goes to someone who is truly a scholar and a gentleman. His passion for learning about language, culture, history, literature, and the world has led him to take advanced courses in both French and Mandarin. His French and Mandarin teacher both feel his level of proficiency has grown tremendously this year, as has his understanding of language structures and his knowledge of the cultural phenomena associated with the places in the world where these languages are spoken. He continuously strives to learn more and to do better, and his work is always excellent. Winner of a bronze medal in the Level 4 National French Contest, the recipient of the prize for excellence in the 10th grade goes to Jack Kugler.
World Languages and Culture 10th Love of Learning: Mary Cooper Moore This 10th grade student impressed the teacher by her hard work and dedication. She arrived in class each day ready to do her best. As she learned new material, she would apply it to her speaking and writing assignments,which allowed her to improve her skills day by day. Whatever the task, she exhibited exceptional focus and diligence. When in class she took full advantage of her time for learning and she always worked conscientiously on her homework. Her fantastic work ethic made her a role model in the classroom. This student exceeded the expectations of the course and the teacher on a regular basis. She did her best every single day. For her continued dedication to her Spanish studies, the language department award for love of learning goes to Mary Cooper Moore.
World Languages and Culture Department World Languages and Culture 11th Academic Excellence: Katherine Wu The award for Excellence in grade 11 goes to a student who has exceeded expectations in class and has impressed her peers and teachers. This year she finished reading a fourth play in Spanish. A dedicated, diligent, and responsible student, the recipient of this award excels in many areas; she speaks beautiful Spanish, incorporates creativity in all she does, and her kindness speaks to her genuine care for her peers throughout the year, both in the classroom and beyond. Her major essay on Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding) by the Spanish dramatist, Fredrico Garcia Lorca, titled, The Oppression of Women, focused on how the death of men in the play freed the women from the oppression they suffered in the machista society of 1930s Spain. Her essay impressively analysed in elegant prose many of the literary techniques Lorca incorporated throughout his masterpiece to address themes of concern to IB students such as identity, human ingenuity, and social organization. The World Language Department is pleased to recognize Katherine Wu.
World Languages and Culture 11th Love of Learning: Charlotte Murrell The award for Love of Learning, 11th grade, goes to a student who has attained scholarly achievements in IB Spanish, impressing her peers and her teachers. This year, she was met with the challenge of reading her first book entirely in the target language by the Spanish playwright, Federico Garcia Lorca. This young learner not only demonstrated understanding of the many literary techniques presented in Lorca’s masterpiece, Bodas de Sangre (Blood Wedding); she concluded the final trimester in IB Spanish by writing a persuasive essay on the topic of stability versus passion, which focused on how this theme in the play represents the inherent differences between the main characters. She showed great insight and sensitivity as she analyzed the play’s depiction of the tragedy of love, which in the end, wins over the heart. She has gained a strong command of basic and advanced language structures in Spanish, thanks to her diligent approach to learning the language. She has learned to communicate effectively, even exquisitely, all while demonstrating her love for the language learning process by incorporating elements from past lessons. This student clearly demonstrates in everything she does how much she enjoys learning and exploring the language and cultures of the Spanish-speaking world. The World Language Department is pleased to recognize Charlotte Murrell.
World Languages and Culture Department
World Languages and Culture 12th Academic Excellence: Luca Caviezel Throughout this student’s career at Portledge, he has distinguished himself as a gifted language learner. By now, his senior year, he has met his goal of being able to speak French fluently. Yet, his achievements are in fact even greater, because his command of the language allows him to write and speak in multiple registers. He can appropriately apply the most complicated rules of grammar, expressing himself with great sophistication. He can also weave into his speech authentic idiomatic phrases and vocabulary that one can hear in everyday conversations in a French-speaking country. He learns to know and that means that he is able to call up lessons from previous years of study, so as to bolster his analysis of the complex topics addressed in the IB curriculum (such as threats to the environment, struggles in personal identity, problems of economic disparity, and questions of social justice). An exceptional student whose work is always thoughtful and of the most excellent quality, this student has for the 3rd year in a row won a Gold Medal in the National French Contest- this time in the highest category: Level 5. The language department wishes him all the best as he moves on to pursue his French Studies at the university level at Saint Andrews, in Scotland. With great pride, the language department bestows the 12th grade award for excellence to Luca Caviezel.
World Languages and Culture Department
World Languages and Culture 12th Love of Learning: Sarah Buonaguro The Grade 12 award for love of learning in languages goes to a student who has most exceeded all expectations in her Spanish Culture and Conversation class, whose dedication to the pursuit of knowledge has continuously impressed both her peers and her very lucky teacher. Sarah worked her hardest all year. She took the initiative independently to learn more about the content that we covered this year, and she came away with a much higher degree of fluency and global knowledge than she herself dreamed possible. Her teacher was touched to hear her comment on how much she grew to understand about the world, simply by learning about the situations in the authentic Hispanoamerican stories, movies and cultural content covered by our curriculum. This student's curiosity and deep interest in the Spanishspeaking world and its language continued straight through our time of quarantine. She has been on time to every class, attentive, insightful, and intuitive, especially as regards how some of the topics we covered actually connect to our current local, national and world situation caused by the insidious pandemic that is changing all of our lives. The World Language Department is pleased to bestow the Love of Learning Award in Spanish to Sarah Buonaguro.
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