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class of 2021
the Class of 2021: a milestone class
1 AWARD WINNER
2 AWARD WINNER
The Class of 2021, our centennial-year class, has distinguished itself like no other group in the history of Rectory School. This was not the school year you expected nor wanted. And it would not have been unreasonable for griping and a degree of self-pity to insert themselves into your outlook. You could not play sports as you know them, could not engage in off-campus anything for much of the year, and could not go to Sunday River or Wachusett. You could not interact much with those outside your primary cohort groups, and you couldn’t even go to the bathroom without sliding the indicator and adhering to COVID protocol.
At times I expect you all felt a degree of bitterness and loss of opportunity this year. But these moments were few and far between for the Class of 2021. Rather than lament your losses, you celebrated the first off-campus trip when we went to see the holiday lights in Woodstock. And you weren’t dismayed one bit when we showed up only to find out the lights weren’t even open that night. While some may say we traveled all that way for nothing, you were just happy for the bus ride. And you celebrated the simple joy of traveling in a Rectory bus through the McDonald’s drive-thru to order some fast food with enthusiasm even Ray Kroc could never have imagined. You also took the opportunity to develop new interests such as pickleball and disc golf when old pursuits were not available. Some of you lost out on a favorite sport this year as COVID prevented certain options from occurring, particularly in the winter. But you found new interests in fitness or pick-up hockey on Rectory’s outdoor rink while you looked towards a return to favored choices in the future.
You have grown and matured significantly, Class of 2021. And in a year that had too many “You can’t,” you focused on “We can.” This attitude resulted in the emergence of a number of new student clubs, an undefeated baseball team—who cares that it was a one-game season, off-campus MELP trips, arguably the most impressive student regatta boat ever from Hamilton South, and the first-ever Grub Hub
1) The John and Millie Green Cup was awarded to Prajna Wang, Xi’an. 2) The Patrick D. Wood ’01 Memorial Prize was awarded to Blake Zahansky. 3) The John Bloodworth Mobley, Jr. Class of 1991 cup was awarded to Tyler Mangual.
3 AWARD WINNER “You did it, Class of 2021, and you have left an indelible impact on our school that will live on well into our next century. You are a milestone class, and we could not have wished for a better group of young people with which to share this unique school year.” ~Fred Williams, Welcome Speech at Rectory’s Centennial-Year Graduation Ceremony
food deliveries to the Rectory campus. More importantly, “we can” resulted in a school year that furthered your learning, your leadership skills, and your progress towards your career aspirations in a year where that was at risk for so many. Across all of this, all members of the Class of 2021, whether in person or online, were an integral part of this special community regardless of distance or time zone.
Heavily influenced by Carol Dweck’s best-seller, Mindset, I am a firm believer that there are important takeaways in all situations, particularly what we have experienced these last 18 months. With Dweck in mind, the following observations come to mind when reflecting on this past year:
n Being apart from family and friends—some of our students have not been home since before the pandemic—reminds us of the importance of loved ones in our lives. We should never take having these people in our lives for granted. n While undesired, the challenges we faced at Rectory were nothing compared to the challenges others continue to experience, revealing it is better to appreciate what we have than pine for what we don’t.
n Having the opportunity to learn on a daily basis is a gift, one we should always take advantage of.
n Finally, we can survive, in fact, thrive, existing amongst the same members of our primary cohort group for the bulk of the day.
As I witnessed parent/child reunion hugs at the conclusion of this school year, and as I observed our students across the past nine months, I believe the members of the Class of 2021 and their Rectory peers share these takeaways and recognize their good fortune. Our school also recognizes its good fortune as we will soon be calling these young people before me Rectory alumni.
graduation day awards
The Mabel B. Bigelow Memorial Cup: Shurui “Julia” Zhao, Southbridge, MA Named in honor of the School’s co-founder, this cup is awarded to a female member of the graduating class who displays outstanding excellence in character and who has shown great interest in, and has contributed toward, the welfare of the School.
The Father Bigelow Memorial Cup: Yihan “Carson” Ling, Dalian, China Presented to a male member of the graduating class who best exemplifies those human characteristics Father Bigelow sought to cultivate in all students. These characteristics are best articulated in John Bigelow’s “Prayer for Rectory,” which reads, “To work well, to play well; to think clearly, to speak the truth; to win without pride, to lose without rancor; to have courage, and to be kind. This is a goal for the greatest: It is a goal that the least may reach. To teach this is the whole purpose of schools. To know this is the whole meaning of life.”
The Mr. and Mrs. John Character Cup: Maxtin Hart, Pomfret Center, CT Donated in 1952 in honor of Mr. and Mrs. John Bigelow, this cup is intended for a member of the graduating class who has made great progress in all areas of school life, and who has displayed the kindness, compassion, and spirit which is exemplified in the “Rectory child.”
The Thomas B. Harrison Cup: Manual Martin del Campo Arceo, Mexico City, Mexico Presented for outstanding sportsmanship and consideration for others, not only on the playing field but in all areas of school life.
The Alexander C. Vasiloff Memorial Award: Yuping “Nessa” Tang, Shanghai, China Presented to that Rectory student who best exemplifies those eclectic characteristics which Mr. Vasiloff lovingly brought to this community. They include an interest in history, science and mathematics, arts, and literature.
The John Frazar Austin Cup: Brody Zahansky, Pomfret Center, CT Given by John Frazar Austin, a member of the class of 1949, this cup is awarded annually to a student who best exemplifies the “fighting spirit” which will not permit him/her to quit, whether in sports, in studies, or striving for general improvement.
John Bloodworth Mobley, Jr. Class of 1991 Cup: Tyler Mangual, Willimantic, CT Given by John’s parents, the Mobley Cup is awarded to the proctor who, while wholeheartedly embracing all responsibilities associated with the proctor position, best represents the characteristics by which John is recalled here; specifically, tolerance toward, support of, and enthusiasm for his/her peers throughout his/her career at the School.
The Adam B. Silver ScholarAthlete Cup: Carson Ames, Pomfret, CT Established in honor of Adam, class of 1982, by his parents, the Silver Cup is given to that student who has demonstrated not only spirit, energy, inquisitiveness, and vigor in the classroom, but determination and commitment on the athletic fields.
The John and Millie Green Cup: Prajna Wang, Xi’an, China Presented to the student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has brought an uplifting spirit and sense of joy to the school community.
The Goodridge-Barber Academic Cup: Minran “William” Wang, Shanghai, China Presented to Father Bigelow in 1927 by a gentleman who said he was tired of seeing the most handsome cups at graduation exercises everywhere go to the best athletes, rather than the best scholars. He was determined that Rectory would have a truly splendid looking cup to present to its top student.
The Charles Rockwell Cup: Cesar Rodas, Newark, NJ Donated by Mr. Charles Rockwell, the father of three Rectory graduates: Charles, Jr., 1929; Henry, 1930; and Paul, 1935, the Rockwell cup is awarded to “that person in the graduating class who has done the most for Rectory.”
PATRICK D. WOOD ’01 MEMORIAL PRIZE: BLAKE ZAHANSKY, POMFRET CENTER, CT Awarded to the top student from Windham County matriculating at Pomfret School.
class of 2021 matriculation
Asheville School
Brooks School (2) Choate Rosemary Hall Church Farm School
Culver Academies
Deerfield Academy (2) Eagle Hill School Episcopal High School Frederick Gunn School
Hebron Academy Kent School (2) Lawrenceville School
Loomis Chaffee School (2) Marianapolis Preparatory School Masters School
Middlesex School
New England Innovation Academy New Hampton School (3) Northfield Mount Hermon School
Pomfret School
Portsmouth Abbey School Proctor Academy Salisbury School St. Mark’s School
Suffield Academy Tabor Academy Taft School
The Hill School
Vermont Academy Westminster School
Woodstock Academy
