Junior Play: All Chalk and Lots of Action | by MIKE POJMAN

All Chalk and Lots of Action

by Mike Pojman

Patience—lots of patience—is what it took to direct the 34 squirrely seventh, eighth, and ninth graders who tried out for this spring’s Junior Play, Chalk is Cheap. Very likely, most of these promising (and some not-so-promising) thespians had not been on stage since their third grade production of A Christmas Carol, or HMS Pinafore, or maybe never. Blocking scenes, running lines, hitting marks, remembering entrances, all were new concepts to all but a few of the fresh-faced RL boys and girls (from Newton Country Day) in the cast, so Director of Dramatics Derek Nelson had to “take it from the top,” as they say in showbiz.

For some reason (perhaps because I wrote the play) I took a particular interest in Chalk is Cheap, and fortunately Derek did not insist on a “closed set,” so he welcomed me to stop in regularly throughout the two-month production schedule—from early February tryouts and the first all-cast readthrough, through nightly rehearsals and “tech week,” to the Thursday evening “dress” as the final runup to Friday’s opening night. I had a backstage pass, and I used it freely. (You may have noticed that I am throwing around all the show terms I can muster, with little concern for whether or not I am using them correctly.)

Those of you alumni who were in plays staged by the inimitable David Frank during his long and distinguished Roxbury Latin career remember his own eccentric directing style: he delighted in reciting the lines for each cast member in turn so that he or she could learn by imitation without much need for innovation. A theatrical chameleon, David could be Harold Hill at one moment and Desdemona the next, depending on whom he was coaching. His approach was idiosyncratic but effective, especially for those with little experience and even less talent.

Derek’s style is more conventional, equally effective, and much more efficient, which was greatly appreciated by the very busy boys and girls in the cast, who were eager to finish by 7 p.m. so that they could get home by 8 p.m. to begin their homework—and equally by their over-

programmed parents, who lined up patiently in the front circle waiting for practices to end, which they invariably did, on time. It is hardly an exaggeration to say that Derek would yell “cut” in mid-scene if necessary, so that a rehearsal would end at 7 o’clock sharp, as promised. Actually, Derek never yelled, never raised his voice, as he drew on 30 years of knowhow to manage pubescent energy masterfully without fighting it, and that had a calming effect on almost everyone. Like César Millan of that old “Dog Whisperer” reality show, he established himself firmly as the pack leader without ever needing to snarl.

It was a great thrill to see the show take shape week-by-week, and I enjoyed watching the next generation of promising actors slowly emerge through Derek’s guidance as they progressed from stilted line-reading to polished performances once they were “off book.” Naturally not all the players reached the same high level achieved by the four leads (Lucas Connors, Ryan Miller, Maggie Crowley, and Taylor Elher), but all of them gave it their best, whether they had twenty lines or only three. Many gave truly virtuoso performances, including Zach Heaton as Mr. Opdycke, Liam Walsh as Mr. Quirk, Nick Glaeser as Mr. Matthews, Nick Makura as Mr. Reid, Brendan Reichard as Mr. Poles, Oliver Colbert as Mr. Buckley, and Teddy Smith as Mr. Sugg. And not to be upstaged, Mrs. Carroll and Mrs. MorrisKliment played themselves—via Zoom.

Chalk is Cheap was intended to be produced as part of the school’s 375th anniversary celebration two years ago. As with so many other grand plans, however, the pandemic scuttled that scheme. I felt some urgency about writing Chalk is Cheap because, well, being rather fond of the title, I thought it important that the work be performed before a reference to “chalk” was as unfamiliar to a teenage audience as a rotary phone. It may already have been too late. My fifthie English students kept asking me, “We know it’s a joke, but what does it mean?” An unapologetic punster, I’ve never been one to recoil from a good (or bad) play on words.

Be that as it may, I am thrilled and grateful that Mr. Nelson took a leap of faith and offered to produce the show this past spring, with a little freshening up, to celebrate the school’s 475th—albeit a century early. Without his blind faith, imagination, foresight, and expert direction, Chalk is Cheap would have remained in COVID quarantine permanently—and an unchecked item on my bucket list. //

Prize Day

On June 3, the Class of 2022 took their rightful seats at the front of Rousmaniere Hall for the last time this school year. The year’s culminating Prize Day Hall honors the impressive roster of prizewinners, named such for their academic, athletic, artistic, and extracurricular achievements.

“Our purpose for gathering today is to recognize discernible excellence in all areas of school life— academic and extracurricular,” began Headmaster Brennan. “In singling out certain prize winners, we are intending to affirm the highest standards of schoolboy endeavor. We do this even though we know that others in your seats may be more deserving of congratulations, for they have struggled mightily, come far, taken risks, and been honorable boys. To you goes the faculty’s admiration and congratulations.” While some of the major Class I awards were announced at the following day’s Closing Exercises, this year’s prize winners are as follows (lists on following pages):

academic awards Joseph A. Sasserno French Deturs

Tom Pogorelec (V), Omar Rahman (IV), Justin Yamaguchi (III), Justin Shaw (II), George Madison (I)

Headmaster’s Spanish Deturs

Dylan Pan (V), Brendan Reichard (IV), Aidan D’Alessandro (III), Michael Thomas (II), Eli Bailit (I)

Isabel M. Fowler History Prizes

Flynn Hall (VI), Krish Muniappan (IV), Brett Streckenbach (III), Bobby Zabin (II), Zak Bashir (I)

Richard M. Whitney Science Deturs

Nishant Rajagopalan (VI), Liam Walsh (V), Eric Zhu (III), Will Hutter (II)

N. Henry Black Science Detur

Alex Yin (I)

Donald L. Whittle Math Deturs

Eric Archerman (VI), Avish Kumar (V), Xavier Martin (IV), Akhilsai Damera (III), Akshay Kumar (II)

ARJUN BOSE (II) received this year’s Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute prize, the Rensselaer Medal, for achievement in math and science.

Islay F. McCormick Mathematics Prize

Josh Krakauer (I)

Anna Cabot Lowell Deturs in English

Ameer Hasan (VI), Nick Glaeser (V), Lucas Connors (IV), Lucas Vander Elst (III), Kevin Wang (II), Theo Teng (I)

Trustees’ Greek Deturs

Sean Patrick DiLallo (III), Owen Butler (II), Brodie Lee (I)

Anna Cabot Lowell Deturs in Latin

Paul Tompros (VI), Tom Pogorelec (V), Alex Giordano (IV), Jack Tompros (III), James McCurley (II), Teddy Glaeser (I)

extra - curricular awards Lower School Latin Declamation Prize

Simba Makura (V)

Upper School Latin Declamation Prize

Marc Quintanar (II)

Greek Declamation Prize

Matt Hoover (II)

Cameron A. Rylance Music Prize

Ale Philippides (I)

Ralph F.F. Brooks Art Prize

Parker Collins (I)

Joan M. Regan Service Prize

Jamie Drachman (II)

Class of 1976 Dramatics Prize

David Sullivan (I)

Rehder Prize in International Relations

John Wilkinson (I)

Albert W. Kelsey Debate Prize

Vishnu Emani (I)

Publications Award

Jacob Tjaden (I)

Sportsmanship Award

Nolan Walsh

Scholar Athlete Award

James Birch

ISL Award Armando Walters

Class II Book Award Winners

Best Athlete Award Mark Henshon

Holy Cross Book Prize

Owen Butler

Dartmouth Book Award

Justin Shaw

Brown Book Award

Arjun Bose

Harvard Book Award

Akshay Kumar

Valete

Prize Day is also the moment that the students, faculty, and staff recognize those adult members of the community who are leaving Roxbury Latin. Thanks to their endurance, loyalty, and commitment, very few adults move on from RL each year. We are the better for that continuity. This spring, however, we bid farewell to eight members of the faculty and staff— two of whom have completed their Penn Fellowships, and one as a retiree. Below are the remarks delivered in their honor by Headmaster Brennan on June 3.

Jack Parker Two years ago, Jack Parker arrived as one of two new Roxbury Latin Penn Fellows. A brilliant graduate of Middlebury College, he proved from the beginning to be an impressive teacher. Confident, creative, conscientious, Mr. Parker, in each of his classes, represents a distinct talent to convey often difficult information and to ensure that his students develop the attitudes and skills to understand and enjoy mathematics. Mr. Parker taught across the curriculum—from sixies to seniors. He also offered his enthusiasm and expertise to our fifthie soccer team, as well as our junior and varsity wrestling programs. A voracious student himself, he will leave us with his Penn master’s degree in hand to continue his education at Duke University, pursuing a second master’s degree, this time in Data Analytics and Machine Learning. We will miss him, and we wish him well.

Justin Muchnick The second of those fellows who arrived in the fall of 2020 is Justin Muchnick. Arriving at RL in the midst of our COVID adjustment must have been a special challenge for our newly

minted teachers. Despite the challenge, Mr. Muchnick proved from day one that he was up to the task—ready, willing, and able to take on his various duties. An enthusiastic, knowledgeable teacher of English, Mr. Muchnick thrived on the idiosyncrasies of the literature he taught. His energy was contagious as he mined everything from rudimentary grammatical concepts to more elusive principles of analysis. In the fall, he served as Mr. Chappell’s assistant coaching the redoubtable freshman soccer team, and, in the winter, he recreated his own high school wrestling career by assisting with the coaching of wrestling for boys of every grade. A classicist by his Stanford training, Mr. Muchnick could effectively see all that he read and taught through that rich lens. He goes on from here to continue his classics education pursuing a master’s in philosophy at Cambridge University’s Gonville and Caius College. We offer ave atque vale to Mr. Muchnick.

Alessandro Ferzoco ’14 Three years ago, Alessandro Ferzoco began his job helping to run our development and alumni operations, teaching Latin 1 to sixies, assisting with debate, and advising several lucky students. A much-beloved graduate of RL himself, Mr. Ferzoco represented a high standard for his various charges, channeling the distinctive flavor of an RL education and an RL boy. On behalf of our efforts to connect with alumni, Mr. Ferzoco proved a formidable asset. He is a connector by nature, and his eagerness to make contact with alumni of all ages proved invaluable as we sought the support and connection of these important graduates. He was also a special force on behalf of his own class, the great Class of 2014, whom he engaged in an especially nurturing, fulfilling way. As part of Mr. Ferzoco’s duties he was responsible for stewarding our most cherished benefactors by bringing to life in writing the values and activities of the school. Anyone lucky to be in his Latin 1 class knows what a stickler he was for precision in mastering this foundational language, and how eager he was to connect this mastery to the proper wielding of English. An especially attentive advisor, Mr. Ferzoco was committed to giving lavish time and attention to his young charges. A vivid genealogist himself, Mr. Ferzoco extended his historical and cultural commitment to conveying the essence of RL especially as he remembered it. “Back in my day” often preceded a robustly

offered revelation about the people and the patterns of our past. We have benefited greatly from this good man’s commitment to Alma Mater, and we wish him well as he moves on from this sheltered bower.

Mike Tomaino Mike Tomaino came to us three years ago in order to run our summer and auxiliary programs, and to lead our football program. Mr. Tomaino is a careful, reliable leader who reimagined our summer program and who creatively designed programs to extend our reach across the country. In his first summer in charge, programs had to be offered remotely. While new audiences were able to participate, these experiences were understandably different. With energy and clarity, Mr. Tomaino nonetheless ensured each was a valid opportunity. So, too, did he lead an impressive football program. As head varsity coach he had the responsibility for teaching our players and inspiring them to take on teams that out-manned us and outsized us. Nonetheless, he created a competitive ethos and a sense of team that made boys feel great about their joint efforts and made those joint efforts especially notable in competition. A fine high school and college athlete himself, Mr. Tomaino also made an impact assisting Mr. Reid with the excellent junior varsity basketball team and as the head coach of the 9-2 sixie baseball team. Mr. Tomaino also ran a memorable leadership program for our older boys and served as a dedicated advisor and member of the admission committee. Now, Mr. Tomaino goes off to try his hand at business. I am confident that his unassailable character and collaborative nature will serve him well in those efforts.

Sue McCrory I had to go to Cortona, Italy, to find Dr. Sue McCrory. After a concert that a group I’m part of, Mastersingers USA, had sung, I noticed a small group of women gathered around the beautiful altarpiece in our concert venue, the Church of San Domenico. I could not help but be drawn in by the narrative of this confident, astute, enthusiastic interpreter of the work before us. Though she said she could not be sure of the specific artist, she placed him within the context of his time and place and paid attention to the use of shadows, the orientation of the characters arrayed before the Blessed Virgin Mother who was being crowned, and the use of brush stroke and color. I knew two things: This spectacular docent knew her stuff, and

we had to have her at Roxbury Latin. Dr. McCrory fulfilled a dream of mine to have an upper level Art History course taught here. Indeed, she indicated she was available and this began our too-brief association with this talented art historian. Over time, Dr. McCrory created and taught Technology and Art to sophomores, Western Civ to freshmen, and, just this year, as part of the Arts rotation, Architecture to Class IV, as well. She has taught each of these courses with great imagination and effectiveness—always willing to venture into the unknown and learn about and then teach content that had previously been foreign to her. Her AP Art History course counts among the alltime favorites of many of our boys who were astute enough to elect it. Dr. McCrory has contributed lavishly to other courses— like serving as the wise guide to Florence on the Class of 2022’s trip to Italy, and in trips to local galleries and New York City. With integrity and enthusiasm, Dr. McCrory has inspired her charges to look beyond what one can see on the canvas or the page, to consider the subjects and the artist, to imagine the painting’s purpose in its time and its connection to each of us. She has decided to pursue again a career for which she was trained—as a curator and museum organizer. We will miss her many contributions, but rest assured that her lessons about seeing and wondering, and occasionally even believing, will last a lifetime.

Nick Poles ’09 When Nick Poles arrived back on campus in 2014 to celebrate his fifth reunion, he did not know that a conversation with me would change his life. He was working for a company on the tech side of its operation, but he was not loving what he was doing. Sensing a moment of weakness, I suggested that he might want to return to Alma Mater in our technology department— of course with all the bells and whistles of teaching, coaching, advising, serving on the admission committee. For the past eight years Mr. Poles has done that and more. For the past couple of years, he has been in charge of what we call “information services,” in effect ensuring that everything to do with technology in the whole school, in every department, in every classroom and office was running flawlessly. Mr. Poles is excellent about both the details and about the big picture. He’s been perfect for this role. Over the years he has distinguished himself as an excellent teacher of AP Computer Science and as a protean coach of cross country. A formidable scholar-athlete himself, he channeled his teen-like self to be an especially effective cross country coach. In his four seasons as head varsity cross country coach, Mr. Poles’s teams amassed a 54-8 record with two ISL championships, two New England championships, and runners-up distinctions in both the ISL and in New England in the other years. Had he continued in this role there surely would have been talk of a dynasty. His versatility caused Mr. Poles also to help out as a coach of wrestling and recently of JV lacrosse. His finest hour was during the pandemic when he mobilized his team and the rest of the faculty and staff to keep school by alternative means, with plenty of ZOOM and hybrid approaches. Mr. Poles was an impressive problem solver and an unflappable ally in realizing our mission. For all that and more, we are grateful to him. And as he goes on to the world of consultants, we wish him well.

Andy Chappell There’s a good deal of talk in our literature, on our website,

and on our lips about Roxbury Latin being a place where the generalist is celebrated. We like that boys are encouraged to try many different things, to come to understand strengths and weaknesses, to discover passions, and to pitch in on behalf of a school that, given our size, requires people to help out even in an area of school life that might seem mysterious or challenging. In large part, the generalist admonition works because so many adults in our community are generalists themselves. And for my money, no one embodies that ethos more impressively than Andy Chappell.

In 1997, fresh out of UVA, he embarked on these shores eager to try his hand at teaching and coaching. Over the past 25 years, he has done virtually all there is to do on behalf of the mission of this ancient Latin school. He has taught Latin and Greek at all levels; coached first football, then soccer (and his teams were highly competitive, often undefeated), and also baseball, most recently as the assistant varsity coach; he has been intimately involved with the knowing and loving of RL boys as a superb, dedicated advisor and also as the class dean for Class V, Class III, and, most recently, for Class II; he has led the Classics Department as the chair; he has served as Director of Admission cultivating prospects, setting new markers for applicants (during his years in this capacity a new record of students north of 500 applied), and convincing them of the worthiness of an RL match—setting new records for yield as well; he has served as the Director of Studies—putting into place systems and expectations for curriculum development, student evaluations, and faculty feedback; and, most recently, he has served as Assistant Headmaster for Program, offering oversight to a range of school enterprises and people. Along the way, he was intimately involved in the planning for all the athletic renovations that took place a few years ago; he led efforts to imagine more extensive summer programs and the renting of our various spaces; he developed and led RL@Work, a signature program that takes juniors out into the professional sphere and connects us better to alumni and parents; and he has served as the first director of the RL Penn Fellows Program, providing guidance and support to our own fellows and mentors, but also to the broader cohort by teaching graduate courses as part of on-site weekends in Philadelphia and elsewhere. For the past 27 months, Mr. Chappell was one of the key leaders who enabled us to withstand the challenges of the pandemic and to honor our aspirations as a school.

More important than the number and the breadth of what Mr. Chappell has taken on and accomplished is the way in which he has done it. Talented, committed, hard working, he has realized in each of his efforts the mission of RL. Since he arrived here 25 year ago, Mr. Chappell has revered the traditions and idiosyncratic ways of our school, but he was always eager to see us evolve, to improve, to imagine an alternative way of doing things. In that sense, he has been an invaluable partner for me personally. I don’t believe I have known anyone in this business who is less hung up about delivering difficult news than Andy Chappell. He believes that it is better to be direct, to be honest, to hold a high standard. While sometimes people have not liked what he had to say, ultimately everyone had to respect Mr. Chappell’s willingness to tell it like it is, and then to move on.

I happen to know that all of his work—the more benign and the

difficult—derives from his essential decency, his regard for both colleagues and boys, and his eagerness to hold up his end of the bargain. For me, he has been a stalwart colleague, a confidant, and a dear friend.

It is no surprise that The Derryfield School would recognize that Andy Chappell will make for a remarkable head of school. He is ready and deserving of this opportunity, but we will miss him fiercely.

Brian Buckley Every year when we review the Handbook we dwell on the passage, “We care most of all what kind of person a boy is.” And when your teachers review the Faculty Handbook, we emphasize that we are “role models.” In the best of all possible worlds those two objectives complement each other. I can think of no better person than Brian Buckley, and I can think of no better role model for the hundreds of students he has affected during his 36 years as a teacher, coach, and advisor here at RL. Kind, engaged, considerate, conscientious, caring, he is the same no matter what his task—a loving compatriot eager to help where he can. But he has also been a man with a mission. His mission has been to ensure that every student in our school can benefit from the potential place of art in our lives. He has achieved this by putting exemplary art before his students as models of greatness, but he also, most remarkably, has empowered all kinds of boys to make art, to see themselves as artists. Through various media and utilizing various innovative techniques (think grid drawing), Mr. Buckley has coached and prodded boys to do their best, to imagine the representation of ideas in two or three dimensions, to refine, and to complete works of art that dazzle and delight. Our school is bedecked with all kinds of versions of this artistic experiment from the most primitive works of sixies to the sophisticated, beautiful works of seniors. With focus, helpful instruction, vivid modeling, and, most especially, support, Mr. Buckley has consistently affirmed the artist in every boy.

During Mr. Buckley’s time here he has taught all types of art—painting, drawing, sculpting, ceramics. A fine artist himself, Mr. Buckley has not been afraid to learn something new, to apply new technologies to old problems. He has also worked his magic in some quite different spaces, from the three-room studio he first occupied on the second floor of the Ernst Wing (imagine Mr. Bettendorf, Ms. Delaney, and Dr. Beauregard covered in paint!) to the present IDEA Lab, which served as the art room for several years, to his long-time home in the idiosyncratic confines of the Smith Arts Building. But what Mr. Buckley and his students have done has never been confined to the space in which it was made. Rather, his good work spills out into the school punctuating our otherwise drab lives with color and form and life. One particular place in which Mr. Buckley’s work has consistently spilled out is into the theater, where he has been an especially productive scenic designer. Much of the time, in fact, he, with the help of some boys, has built sets and ensured that a production could both stand and live. Working closely first with the redoubtable David Frank, and for the past ten years, Derek Nelson, he has been instrumental in creating complicated, ambitious, delightful productions. In this realm especially, he has been a first-class problem solver.

For many years, in the spirit of RL, Mr. Buckley was the coach of the JV soccer team, another opportunity for him to positively affect the boys with whom he worked. Thanks to his leadership and mentorship, many other arts teachers have come and gone, but made a difference while they were here. As longtime chair of the Arts Department, Mr. Buckley has offered a respectful, considerate voice to the broader discussion of what our curriculum should be, and he has led conversations and resolves that, for example, have resulted in such innovations as the nine-part introduction to arts in Classes VI-IV, as well as AP Art History, Technology and Art, woodworking, water color, photography, and various other offerings over the years. Finally, we shall end where we started. For 36 years, Brian Buckley has been a reassuring colleague, an innovative teacher, a creative set designer, a committed coach, and—especially and most distinctively—a committed advisor. Brian Buckley has loved us, and we are all the better for that. It gives me pleasure to affirm here, Brian, that we, too, have loved you. We thank you. And we will miss you. May you have many years of family, peace, and engaging adventures with art. //

Retiring Trustees

The following remarks were delivered during Closing Exercises by President of the Board Bob O’Connor ’85.

Bryan Anderson Bryan Anderson is a member of the Class of 1988, and is the father of Bryan ’21 and Will ’23. Bryan is an incredibly dedicated son of The Roxbury Latin School. He is the recipient of his class’s Wellington Award; was a founding member of the Alumni Leadership Giving Committee; and has been the Chair of the Annual Fund for many years. Bryan has been a catalyst for so much philanthropic activity benefiting the school over the years, and he and his wife, April, have been leadership donors, including to funds supporting scholarship and the Jack Brennan and Steve Ward professorships. Bryan has also dedicated his time to important board committees, including the Development Committee and the Buildings and Grounds Committee. He has served as a Class Agent and was an inaugural member and the Vice Chair of the Headmaster’s Council. We are grateful for Bryan’s business sense, his sense of humor, and for his consistent commitment to the school. John Connaughton Father of Will ’18, John Connaughton and his wife, Stephanie, have been stalwart supporters of Roxbury Latin, including as leadership donors to the Annual Fund and the capital campaign, and as Annual Fund Parent Leadership agents. John was co-chair of the board’s Development Committee and an important member of the Investment Committee. During his years as Chair of the Development Committee, the school realized record fundraising. We are grateful to John for his love of the school and the unwavering dedication of his time and talents.

Jack Englert Member of the Class of 1977, Jack Englert is also the father of Cole ’18. Jack and his wife, Lee, have been leadership donors to the Annual Fund and capital campaign, and Jack has been a key member of the Board of Trustees, serving as a member of the Development Committee and the Land Strategy Committee, and employing his particular talents as the Chair of the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Jack has been a Class Agent, member of the Headmaster’s Council, and a sponsor for RL@Work. We will miss Jack’s steady and sage advice, and we thank him for his dedicated service.

Larry Lebowitz Member of the Class of 1978, Larry Lebowitz first joined the Board of Trustees in 1998 and has served in so many capacities over these many years: as member of the Executive Committee, Finance Committee, Development Committee, Land Strategy Committee, and the Buildings and Grounds Committee. Most significantly, Larry served as Chair of the Investment Committee and was responsible for modernizing that committee and the ways in which the school’s endowed funds are invested and managed. Larry and his wife, Naomi, have been leadership donors to the Annual Fund and capital campaigns, and generously funded the Harry Lewis Technology Center. Larry is the recipient of his class’s Wellington Award and was an inaugural member of the Alumni Leadership Giving Committee. Larry has long been a leading voice for budgetary discipline, modern financial management, and maintaining the school’s academic excellence and availability to all students regardless of their financial means. We cannot thank Larry enough for his dedication to The Roxbury Latin School, his unflagging energy, and his decades-long, active service to our community. //

Celebrating The Class of 2022

Closing Exercises

On June 4, the 377th year of The Roxbury Latin School culminated with Closing Exercises and the graduation of the Class of 2022. For the first time in two years, the school was able to hold its traditional, intimate ceremony—which includes the seniors, their families, the faculty, and trustees—in Rousmaniere Hall. Immediately after the ceremony, under bright and sunny skies, the 53 newest alumni of The Roxbury Latin School celebrated on the Senior Grass with classmates, family members, and members of the faculty.

Beginning with opening remarks from Headmaster Kerry Brennan—which acknowledged the challenges and triumphs of this particular group of boys, and also noted their many, worthy accomplishments—the ceremony included the singing of traditional songs America The Beautiful, Commemoration Hymn, and The Founder’s Song, as well as a performance of Come Fly With Me sung by The Latonics, with a solo by graduating senior, Eli Bailit. The ringing of the school bell, chiming 3-7-7, officially concluded the school year.

The commencement address was delivered by Ron Liebowitz, president of Brandeis University, and father to graduating senior Heshie and also Ezra of Class III.

“Having watched first-year students arrive at college for the past 38 years, I advise you—in fact, urge you—to dedicate the next four years to personal growth. My point is that the world’s great problems can wait until you have done the hard and hopefully satisfying work that it will take to be in the position to make a difference,” said Mr. Liebowitz. (Read President Liebowitz’s complete remarks on page 42.)

At the conclusion of Mr. Liebowitz’s address, Headmaster Brennan and President of the Board of Trustees Bob O’Connor ’85 awarded diplomas to the newest alumni of The Roxbury Latin School.

Class valedictorian, voted by his classmates, was Vishnu Emani, who delivered a personal, poignant, powerful speech that drew a standing ovation from his classmates.

Vishnu’s address began with his recounting of a parable originally written by German author Heinrich Boll, about a fisherman enjoying his humble catch on a sunny beach. A businessman comes along, extolling the value of the fisherman starting a company, enlisting distributors, and making lots of money so that he can, one day, relax on a beach without a care in the world. The fisherman ultimately replies, “What do you think I’m doing right now?” (Read Vishnu’s full remarks on page 36.)

Three major Class I prizes were also awarded during Closing Exercises:

The Richard A. Berenberg Prize, for generosity of spirit and concern for others, was presented to Alejandro Denis.

The Class of 1913 Award, for significant contributions to the life of the school, was presented to Mark Henshon.

The William Coe Collar Award, for achievements and contributions to the school that are deemed by the faculty as most deserving of recognition, was presented to Vishnu Emani. //