The Belfry - Graduation Issue - June 2010

The Belfry Graduation Issue Norfolk Academy • 1585 Wesleyan Drive, Norfolk, Virginia • 2010 Edition

Katharina Schwarz

Dustin Fink

Freddie Fletcher

Matt Freeman

After several days of festivities honoring the senior class of Norfolk Academy, the Class of 2010 graduated today. On Thursday, June 3, parents and members of the senior class attended Vespers, rehearsal for graduation, and a dinner afterwards.

Commencement began at 3:00 p.m. on June 4 with Jon Waitzer and Ankit Gupta, recently inducted President of the Tunstall Student Council and President of next year’s senior class, leading the procession.

Headmaster Dennis Manning gave the invocation and then welcomed parents and guests.

Mr. Manning then introduced Katharina Schwarz, who delivered the first valedictory address. Evan Strasnick then delivered the second valedictory address.

Mr. Manning then presented the Waitzer Master Teacher Awards and the James B. Massey Awards to recognize dedication and professionalism among the faculty.

Mrs. Linda Gorsline, Director of the Upper School, then joined Mr. Manning for the presentation of the awards. Katharina Schwarz and Evan Strasnick accepted awards as the girl and boy with the highest scholastic averages. Schwarz received the High Honors Award, and Strasnick received the John H. Ingram Memorial Award.

The Bible Award, a gift of Mr. and Mrs. James V. Bickford III, in honor of the spiritual principles inculcated into the environment of Norfolk Academy by James B. Massey, Jr., also went to Schwarz and Strasnick.

The Irving Sarlin Salutatorian Award, given by Margo Klewans in memory of her maternal grandfather, was presented to Dustin Fink as the senior who has maintained the second highest scholastic average during the past four years.

Lauren Dougherty received the Virginia Ellis Talbot Award, presented to the senior girl who, in the judgment of the faculty, has demonstrated the highest degree of leadership based upon the influence of character.

As the senior boy who has rendered to the Academy the highest service through leadership based upon the influence of character, Freddie Fletcher received the S. Barron Segar Award.

The Ann Carroll Breeden Fellowship Award and the Robert Gatewood Fellowship Award honor the senior girl and boy whose high degree of good fellowship and whose completeness as human beings bring them credit in all walks of life: academic, athletic, artistic, and social. Katharina Schwarz received the Breeden Award, and Andrew Werner received the Gatewood Award.

In memory of Senator Robert F. Baldwin, the Tunstall Student Council recognized the senior boy who, although not a member of the Student Council, has exhibited most consistently and to the highest degree good citizenship within the school community. This year’s Robert F. Baldwin Citizenship Award recipient was Matt Freeman.

Evan Strasnick

Lauren Dougherty

Andrew Werner

Brittany Spruiell

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Annie Wilkins

Emily Zerishnek

Desmond Cole

Eric Gorsline

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Awarded by the Tunstall Student Council, the Bernice Bradshaw Lovitt Citizenship Award recognizes the senior girl who has exhibited most consistently and to the highest degree the qualities of good citizenship within the school community. Brittany Spruiell received the award.

Annie Wilkins was the recipient of this year’s Edith Pratt Masterson Honor Award, selected by vote of the Honor Council and given to the senior who best exemplifies the Jeffersonian ideals of honor.

The Alexander G. Kiehl Award, bestowed upon the student who most nearly exemplifies the outstanding characteristics of Alex Kiehl’s life, a superior degree of devotion and commitment to the unselfish pursuit of excellence in academics and in athletics, went to Lex Booth.

The Country Day School for Girls Award honors the senior girl who exemplifies a superior degree of devotion and commitment to the unselfish pursuit of excellence in academics and athletics. Emily Zerishnek received the award this year.

Elle Page McNider received the Sally Taliaferro Driver Award, given annually by members of the Class of 1961 in memory of Sally Taliaferro Driver to a senior girl who, throughout her career at Norfolk Academy, has consistently and without public recognition, exhibited school spirit, loyalty, friendliness, kindness, liveliness, and enthusiasm.

The Charles Forsyth Wirth Award, given in memory of Charles Wirth to a senior boy who, throughout his career at Norfolk Academy, has consistently exhibited honor, loyalty, friendliness, kindness, liveliness, enthusiasm, and has conducted himself as a gentleman, was presented to Desmond Cole.

Tev’n Powers received the Thomas Cornick Rixey Award, given annually by the members of the Class of 1980 in memory of Tom Rixey to a senior boy who, throughout his career at Norfolk Academy, has consistently exhibited a high degree of good sportsmanship, loyalty, friendliness, kindness, and determination.

Evan Strasnick received the David Ari Leavitt Award, given to the junior or senior who has pursued some artistic, literary, intellectual, or public-spirited endeavor with an exceptional degree of originality and humanitarian concern.

Dustin Fink won the Thomas McEntee Martin Award, in recognition of initiative, originality, and creative ability.

The Class of 1952 Award, presented to the senior named by a panel of outside judges to be the outstanding speaker of the senior class, went to Evan Strasnick.

The Royce E. Jones Award was awarded in memory of Royce Jones, Director of Athletics, teacher, and football coach from 19611979, to Eric Gorsline, the senior athlete whose spirit of determination, commitment to high standards, sense of humor, and positive self-image exemplify excellence within the school community.

The DeShannon Artemis Taylor Award, given to a member of the senior class who, like D.A. Taylor, has exhibited with enthusiasm and dedication a true love for both learning and athletic competition, went to Nick Sas. The John Connor Community Service Award, given to an Upper School student who has contributed unselfishly to the Norfolk Academy community and the greater Hampton Roads area, went to Avery Bernert.

The Kathleen Murray Gibson Award, given to a Tunstall senior who has made outstanding contributions to student publications at Norfolk Academy, was presented to Rebecca Nelson.

Lex Booth

Elle Page McNider

Tev'n Powers

Nick Sas

Avery Bernert

Michael Paris

Mark Drosnes

Luke Kanter

Of the two awards bestowed for excellence in the study of history, the outstanding senior girl in this discipline, Katharina Schwarz, received the Mr. and Mrs. Lawson Miles Award. Nick Sas accepted the William Selden Memorial Award.

Michael Paris won the W. Peyton May Award recognizing the outstanding student in economics.

The Minnie Roth Campbell Award, given to a senior girl for excellence in original writing, went to Kelly Luker.

Mark Drosnes received the Simcoe and Celia Glasser Award, awarded an Upper School student for excellence in the writing of poetry.

Two seniors were recognized for excellence in the study of English.

Nick Sas earned the William Henry Thompson Loyall Memorial Award, and Katie Thoma accepted the Robert D. Anthony Award.

The Arthur A. MacConochie Award, given in honor of Arthur A. MacConochie, English Department Chair from 1967 to 1990 to a senior boy for excellence in original writing, went to Luke Kanter.

In honor of master teacher and writer Robert S. Sergeant, the English Department awarded the Robert Stewart Sergeant Memorial Writing Scholarship to Lauren Childress as the most accomplished writer in the senior class.

Jill Bernstein received the George Newton Award, citing a senior girl for excellence in the study of a modern foreign language. The Calvert Rogers Dey Memorial Award, for a boy who excels in the study of a modern foreign language, went to Evan Strasnick.

For excellence in the study of Latin, Katharina Schwarz received the Elizabeth Porter Bennett Award.

The Traylor Cozart Nunnally German Award, given in memory of Traylor Cozart Nunnally to a fourth year German student who, by hard work and enthusiasm, has achieved noteworthy success, was presented to Rebecca Nelson and Philip Conkling.

Emily Zerishnek received the Elizabeth Reynolds Parker Senior Science Award for excellence in science. Andrew Werner was presented the John H. Kepchar Science Award for excellence in science.

Mark Drosnes received the Victor and Joyce Ratnavale Science Award, given annually by the family and friends of the Ratnavales, in memory of Victor and Joyce Ratnavale, to the student who has shown the greatest enthusiasm for and interest in environmental science or advanced biology.

For excellence in the study of mathematics, the Mary McCulloch Moore Memorial Mathematics Award was presented to Hillary BonTempi, and the William Wadsworth Dey Memorial Award to Dustin Fink.

The Art History Award, given to the senior who has demonstrated the highest level of enthusiasm for and excellence in the study of Art History, went to Evan Brush.

The Fine Arts Award, given to the student who has encouraged and promoted student participation in the arts, went to Evan Strasnick.

Lex Booth earned the Music Award, as that student in Tunstall whose dedication and demonstrated leadership have contributed most significantly toward the enjoyment of choral and ensemble music in the school.

The Music Department awarded the George W. Sergeant Memorial Music Scholarship in honor of Rob Sergeant to Kelly Luker as the most accomplished senior vocalist.

Rebecca Nelson

Kelly Luker

Katie Thoma

Lauren Childress

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Jill Bernstein

Hillary BonTempi

Jay Woodard

Recognized as the senior who has made the greatest achievement in the creative arts, Jay Woodard received the Bell Award, in honor of Virginia Thomas Bell, who was a teacher at The Country Day School and Norfolk Academy.

The Musical Theater Award, given to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership, originality, and achievement in the winter musical, went to Rebecca Nelson.

The Theater Arts Award, given by Dr. and Mrs. David W. Yacavone to recognize a senior who has demonstrated either on stage or behind the scenes leadership, artistry, and excellence in the field of theater arts, went to Andrew Werner.

The Drama Department awarded the Mary Frances Pitcher Sergeant Memorial Drama Scholarship to William Dugan as the most accomplished actor or actress in the senior class.

Elle Page McNider accepted the John A. Tucker Award for the senior girl who has made the greatest contribution to the girls’ athletic program. The Jeffrey Ross Kesser Award, given to the senior boy who has made the greatest contribution to the boys’ athletic program, went to Scott Heller.

Headmaster Awards were presented to Philip Conkling, DJ Covington, Kelly Luker, Denise Mousouris, and Stephen Nusbaum.

Following the Headmaster Awards, Mr. Christopher Nelson, Assistant Director of Upper School, and Mr. Benjamin Vanderberry, President of the Board of Trustees, joined Mr. Manning and Mrs. Gorsline for the presentation of diplomas to the Class of 2010. In addition to their diplomas, the following students received Twelve Year Awards: Sam Agnew, Michael Baddar, Lauren Barker, Emily Barry, Avery Bernert, Charlie Blakeley, Hillary BonTempi, Lex Booth, Evan Brush, Drew Cole, Philip Conkling, Lauren Del Duca, Bill Devine, Claire Diamonstein, Lauren Dougherty, William Dugan, Dustin Fink, Eric Friddell, Craig Friedman, Amanda Furman, Margaret Furr, Becca Gibbs, Eric Gorsline, Tori Griffin, Alex Gromelski, Scott Heller, Kelley Higgins, Sarah Hoffman, Aaron Jason, Talbott Johnson, Laura Kahn, Sandhya Kakani, Virginia Keever, Kaki Kiger, Virginia Lascara, Jimmy Leach, Carlin McCrory, Molly McCrory, Elle Page McNider, Carter Moore, Denise Mousouris, Will Munford, Rebecca Nelson, Stephen Nusbaum, Bethany Old, Jacquie Oliver, Audrey Petersen, Robert Reed, Taylor Shearin, Blair Stiner, Evan Strasnick, Ian Taylor, Katie Thoma, Andy Via, Mac Weaver, Andrew Werner, Annie Wilkins, Leigh Williams, Jay Woodard, and Jessica Yu.

Scott Heller

Evan Brush

William Dugan

Stephen Nusbaum DJ Covington

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Philip Conkling

Denise Mousouris

Destinations of the Class of 2010 Sam Agnew - James Madison University • Khadijah Ameen - Emory University Samiah Anderson - University of Maryland at College Park • Kris Atterbury - Radford University Michael Baddar - University of Toronto • Lauren Barker - Auburn University Emily Barry - University of Mary Washington • Avery Bernert - Davidson College Jill Bernstein - University of Virginia • Charlie Blakeley - University of Georgia Chris Bolen - Virginia Military Institute • Kayla Bond - Virginia Tech Hillary BonTempi - Washington and Lee University • Lex Booth - University of Virginia Evan Brush - University of Virginia • Irene Cavros - Georgetown University Lauren Childress - Brown University • Lindsey Clark - Virginia Tech Drew Cole - University of Virginia • Desmond Cole - University of North Carolina at Wilmington Philip Conkling - Hamilton College • DJ Covington - Virginia Military Institute Garrick Dawson - Roanoke College • Lauren Del Duca - University of Pittsburgh Bill Devine - University of Virginia • Claire Diamonstein - Washington University Lauren Dougherty - Wofford College • Mark Drosnes - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Devon DuBay - George Washington University • William Dugan - United States Air Force Academy Mary Ellen Edgerton - Cornell University • Shira Ellenson - Cornell University Dustin Fink - Stanford University • Freddie Fletcher - Dartmouth College Matt Freeman - Hampden-Sydney College • Eric Friddell - University of Virginia Craig Friedman - Tulane University • Amanda Furman - George Washington University Margaret Furr - University of Virginia • Becca Gibbs - James Madison University Eric Gorsline - Hampden-Sydney College • Tori Griffin - University of Virginia Alex Gromelski - University of Virginia • Rachel Gross - Washington University Ross Hanson - Cornell University • Scott Heller - Hampden-Sydney College Kelley Higgins - Towson University • Sarah Hoffman - University of Virginia Aaron Jason - James Madison University • Talbott Johnson - College of Charleston Laura Kahn - Emory University • Sandhya Kakani - George Washington University Luke Kanter - Johns Hopkins University • Virginia Keever - Savannah College of Art and Design Kaki Kiger - Longwood University • Alex King - University of Rochester Kippy Lang’at - University of Maryland, Baltimore County • Virginia Lascara - James Madison University Jimmy Leach - Old Dominion University • Kelly Luker - Virginia Tech • Carter McCabe - University of Virginia Carlin McCrory - Florida State University • Molly McCrory - University of South Carolina Elle Page McNider - University of Alabama • Ramin Mohammadi - College of William and Mary Carter Moore - Dickinson College • Willie Morton - University of Mary Washington Denise Mousouris - Dickinson College • Will Munford - University of Virginia Richard Murphy - College of William and Mary • Rebecca Nelson - Boston College Stephen Nusbaum - Hampden-Sydney College • Evan O’Connor - Villanova University Bethany Old - James Madison University • Jacquie Oliver - James Madison University Nathan Ott - Hampden-Sydney College • Bill Parker - College of William and Mary Catie Pavilack - College of William and Mary • Audrey Petersen - Vanderbilt University Jayme Pounders - Emerson College • Kiel Powell - Hampden-Sydney College Tev’n Powers - Dartmouth College • Robert Reed - University of Virginia Lindsey Robinson - George Mason University • Ryan Ross - University of Virginia Noah Sacks - University of Colorado at Boulder • Nick Sas - Yale University Katharina Schwarz - Harvard University • Marshall Scott - Colgate University Ashmi Shah - University of Virginia • Taylor Shearin - James Madison University Andrew Shelton - College of William and Mary • Jessica Smith - College of William and Mary Brittany Spruiell - Duke University • Blair Stiner - University of Colorado at Boulder Evan Strasnick - Princeton University • Arielle Stromberg - University of Georgia Ian Taylor - James Madison University • PJ Terranova - University of North Carolina at Wilmington Katie Thoma - College of William and Mary • Carrie Thornton - Duke University Alexander Tucker - Virginia Tech • Miguel Turner - Old Dominion University Andy Via - Washington College • Shaanan Wade - Drexel University • Mac Weaver - University of Virginia Andrew Werner - Princeton University • Jasmine White - Tufts University Annie Wilkins - University of Virginia • Leigh Williams - University of Mary Washington Jay Woodard - Radford University • Katie Woods - University of Virginia • Trevor Young - East Carolina University Jessica Yu - Virginia Tech • Emily Zerishnek - Cornell University

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Class of 2010

Norfolk Academy