119th Commencement

Commencement Speaker : Andrew Katzenberg ‘09

“I want you to think of a time at Rumsey where you felt too uncomfortable or nervous to try something new. We have all been there, but at Rumsey, it’s different. Rumsey made me want to try something new and be out of my comfort zone; to paddle out…that was one of the class themes while I was at Rumsey and it still remains true in my life.

Rumsey is like that good friend who you don’t talk to for years, but then you’re back together and everything falls right back into place… In the Rumsey Hall Mission Statement, there is a section that reads ‘The School emphasizes effort as a criterion for success and is dedicated to helping each child develop toward his or her maximum stature’. I truly believe this to be a big part of Rumsey’s character… It is because of Rumsey’s fundamentals that I was able to pursue what I love to do, give it all my effort, and create a network of people I wanted to surround myself with… I encourage you all to get out of your comfort zone, paddle out, and whatever path you take, give it your all, like you’re trying to make the Effort List.”

Class Speaker : Katie Gleason

“We remember all the Cookie Lines, dances, Track & Field Days, Monday Activities, Airbands, advisory meetings, Bizarre & Extreme Days, and the countless Morning Meetings that we will miss the most. Most of us are probably looking back to the first time we went through this process. Whether you’ve repeated this tradition through ten years or two years, it holds the same value to all of us. Rumsey has changed my life. It taught me, and countless others, so many important lessons. Most schools share the common purpose of educating their students, but thanks to Rumsey, we’ve gotten much more than an education. Rumsey has created so many unbreakable bonds and given us such unforgettable memories…

For the past ten years of my life, I’ve always known that this was my place… The difference between Rumsey and other schools is that when we leave, we will still remain a Blue Dog. We will always be either a Blue or a Red, and we can always come back to the first place we learned to be ourselves…This is where we learned to be a part of a team and how to truly put others above ourselves and make working together a priority. This is where we learned to live by honesty, kindness, and respect and to carry those three values with us wherever we go.”

Above L to R: Kindies Simon Dyball and Matthew Desiderio • Athletic Director Jay Przygocki receiving the “Medal of Honor” for 44 years of service from Amy Hoeniger and Headmaster Matthew Hoeniger ‘81 • Seniors: Marcelo Ramirez, Chenyu ‘Lisa’ Ji, Seyun ‘Joy’ Bang, Zijian ‘Kenny’ Zhang, Yoonji ‘Kelsie’ Choi Below: Senior Class Photo Bottom row L to R: Director of Lower School Rob Brenner and Sagely Brenner ’19 • Andrew Vogelstein P’14, ‘19, Matthew Vogelstein ’19, and Trustee Monica Vogelstein P’14, ‘19 • Jodi von Jess, Sawyer von Jess ’19, and Headmaster Matthew Hoeniger ’81

commencement prizes 2019

The Edward B. Whitney Prize for Excellence in Declamation: “My Year of Saying Yes to Everything” Cyrus Marco Booth ’19

The Annual Dining Hall Prefect Award: Alex Sainz Goldstein ’19

The Prize for the Greatest Improvement in Scholarship: William Taylor Jackson ’19

The Richard M. Wachcic Junior Athletic Award: Caroline Fair Traina ’22 Charles Eugene Cosgriff, III ‘22

The Charlotte Underwood Library Award: Kyra Charlize Rook ’19

The Best All-Around Male and Female Athletes: Chandler Frederick Coe ’19 Kori Jordan Meissner ’19

The Prize for The Boarding Scholars with the Best Conduct Record: Ben (Joonhyoung) Kim ’19 Eleanor Ann Frisbie ’19

Norm Couch Fishing Prize (first awarded 1963): Christopher Clancy ’21

Greatest Improvement in Athletics: Seyun Joy Bang ’19 Harrison Watkins Schopp ’19

The Cody Montana ’08 Memorial Paddle Out Award: Marcus J. Duell ’18

The Prize for Outstanding Scholar-Athlete: Samantha Rose Hill ’19 Brett Joseph Foster ’19 The David Loyd Memorial Prize: Katharine Natalie Dyer Benson ’19

The Marjorie Hull Barr Prize: Natalie Elizabeth Klemm ’23

The J. Mitchell Magnoli ’77 Memorial Award: Edoardo Carlo Cassano ’19

The Scott Evans Seibert ’92 Memorial Scholarship: Aubrey Swan ’20

The Faculty Cup: Yang Cao ’19

The Memorial Award: Matthew Hans Vogelstein ’19

The Duff Community Service Cup: Seongha (Elina) Choi ’19

The Alfred L. Hart II ’65 Fine Arts Prize: Kenny Zhang ’19 The Ryan J. Whelan ’89 Memorial Scholarship Prize: Morgan Ashley Clarke ’20

The Award for Excellence: Yoonji Kelsie Choi ’19

The John F. Schereschewsky, Jr. ’47 Memorial Award: Samantha Ellie Kaufman ’20

The Gabriella Bass ’94 Art Award: Yun (Rose) Shen ’19

The Rose Algrant Memorial Scholarship Award: Alexander Robert Kenerson ‘20

The Henry B. Van Sinderen Memorial Award: Chloe Roberts Coffin ’20

Prize for Perseverance and Worthy Endeavor: Ava Eliana Wishkoff ’19

Award for Leadership: Sagely Anna Brenner ’19

Award for Merit: Seongha (Elina) Choi ’19

Headmaster’s Cup: Sawyer Cole von Jess ’19

Class Speaker: Katie Anne Gleason ’19

Permanent 2019 Class President: Brett Joseph Foster ’19

CLASS OF 2019 SECONDARY SCHOOL MATRICULATION

Avon Old Farms, CT Berkshire School, MA (4) Brewster Academy, NH (2) Canterbury School, CT (4) Chase Collegiate, CT Choate Rosemary Hall, CT (3) Cushing Academy, MA Dublin School, NH Emma Willard, NY Governor’s Academy, MA Greens Farms Academy, CT The Gunnery, CT (3) Horace Mann School, NY Hotchkiss School, CT (3) Kent School, CT (3) Lawrenceville School, NJ Loomis Chaffee School, CT (3) Milton Academy, MA Miss Porter’s School, CT New Hampton School, NH Northfield Mt. Hermon School, MA Peddie School, NJ Phillips Academy, MA Pomfret School, CT

Putney School, VT St. Andrew’s School, DE St. George’s School, RI St. Mark’s School, MA St. Paul’s School, NH Salisbury School, CT (4) San Domenico School, CA South Kent School, CT Suffield Academy, CT (6) Taft School, CT (7) Westminster School, CT (2) Westtown School, PA