Prize Night 2022

The Vreeland Rogers Athletic Awards, established in 1998 by Gerrit Vreeland ’61 and Andrew Y. Rogers, Jr. ’61 and awarded to the students who have contributed the most in spirit, discipline, responsibility and teamwork to the success of The Frederick Gunn School's athletic program; this year's awards were presented to Abigail Agrodnia ’22 and Eddie Rayhill '22.

The Excellence in Photography Award was presented to Alder Curry ’22.

The Excellence in Three-Dimensional Design Award was presented to John Adams ’22.

The Mary Ritter Prize for Excellence in Design, established by her children, Maria '81 and Nina, to celebrate their mother's life and love of art. was presented to Jack Bavoso ’22.

The Excellence in Art Award, established in memory of Elizabeth Kempton, devoted art teacher from 1902 - 1952, was presented to Ursula Anderson ’22.

The Excellence in Dramatics Award was presented to Alder Curry ’22.

The Jerome F. MacCarthy Arts Award, a memorial to Jerry's dedication to artistic expression and in remembrance of his achievement in the arts. was presented to Audrey Richards ’23.

The Malcolm Willis Award for Music, established in memory of Malcolm Willis, teacher at The Frederick Gunn School from 1959 until his untimely death in 1965, was presented to Yoyo Zhang ’22.

The Robert Mortell Prize for Excellence in the Performing Arts was established by Robert B. Mortell, Class of 1955, to celebrate the significance of the arts in The Frederick Gunn School educational experience. This prize is awarded to that student who, in the estimation of the Drama and Music Department faculty, has contributed the most to the performing arts at The Frederick Gunn School. This prize can be awarded for demonstrated excellence in drama, instrumental performance, vocal performance, or technical support. This year it was presented to Audrey Richards ’23.

The Robert J. The Benham Award for Effective Public Speaking was awarded to Emily Chiappa ’23.

The Frederick Gunn School News Award for Excellence in Journalism was presented to Maram Sharif ’23 and Clara Prander ’23.

The School Poetry Prize was awarded to Tim Lacy ’22.

The Stray Shot Award for Excellence in Prose was presented to Quentin Sheers ’22.

The Pamela C. Taylor Award is given to the English IV student who demonstrates courage in the classroom by sharing their passion for the subject. Willing to take a large bite of literature, this student feasts on the power of narrative, recognizing its ability to nourish our lives, change beliefs, and move social views. This year’s award was presented to Katie Porrello ’22.

Excellence in English — The Michael Post Award was presented to Yoyo Zhang ’22.

The Excellence in Mandarin Award was presented to Emily Chiappa ’23.

The Excellence in French Award was presented to Grace Noh ’22.

The W. Russ Elgin Award for Excellence in Spanish was presented to Grace McManus ’23.

The Katherine Kyes Leab History Prize for Moral Leadership is awarded to a 9th or 10th grade student who demonstrates ability in the areas of research, writing and the recognition of strong moral character.  This prize was established by Mr. Daniel Leab in honor of his wife's 65th birthday. This year’s prize was awarded to Erin Whitney ’24.

The Fenning Prize for Excellence in Debate was awarded to Holli Hay ’23.

The Hillman Award in American History, established in 1946 by Mr. and Mrs. Hillman upon the graduation of their son, William Hillman ’46, was presented to Jennifer Macler ’23.

The School History Prize was awarded to Grace Noh ’22.

The Gunn Scholars are rising seniors who have been selected based on aptitude, interest, and character, to pursue original research into some aspect of the life and times of Abigail and Frederick Gunn. The Gunn Scholars for the 2022-23 school year are Gloria Wang ’23, Georgie Charette ’23, Holli Hay ’23 and Sidney Mutau ’23.

The Excellence in Economics Award was presented to Maram Sharif ’22.

The Freshman Mathematics Department Award was presented to Skyler Toffolo ’25.

The Sophomore Mathematics Department Award was presented to Sandra Carrasco ’24.

The Junior Mathematics Department Award was presented to Audrey Richards ’23.

The Senior Mathematics Department Award was presented to Oliver Chen ’22.

The Anthony Golembeske Award for Excellence in Mathematics was presented to Maram Sharif ’22.

}The Excellence in Biology Award was presented to Chris Wang ’23.

The Excellence in Chemistry Award was presented to Jay Lee ’24

The Excellence in Environmental Studies Award was presented to Leo You ’22.

The Raymond W. Reich Award for Excellence in Physics was presented to Oliver Chen ’22.

The Russell Sturgis Bartlett Memorial Prize for Excellence in Science is presented to the student who has had the most success in meeting the challenges of the Science Department's most demanding courses.  This year’s prize was awarded to Serdar Kaltalioglu ’22.

The Freshman-of-the-Year Award was presented to Luke Calabria ’25.

The Patrick M. Dorton ’86 Prize for Quiet Leadership, established by Patrick M. Dorton, Class of 1986, celebrates the importance of individuals who lead by example rather than title at The Frederick Gunn School. The prize is awarded to a rising sophomore or junior, who in the estimation of the Dean of Students Office, has demonstrated perseverance and good citizenship in everything that they do. In their time at The Frederick Gunn School, this student has enhanced the entire community by exerting a positive influence on their peers and serving as a role model. This year’s prize was awarded to Colin Hall ’24.

The Teddy Award is given in loving memory of Edward "Teddy" Bright Ebersol, beloved member of the Class of 2008, who died tragically on November 28, 2004, at the age of 14 in a private plane crash near Telluride, Colorado. Teddy was a loving, enthusiastic and generous young man, “an all-round good person” with a quirky sense of humor and a self-awareness beyond his years. He was a caring friend and a responsible academic citizen. Teddy's two passions were politics and the Boston Red Sox and he could argue anyone to their knees on either subject. Teddy Ebersol's life on this earth ended all too soon, but his wonderful spirit will live on forever in all who knew and loved him. The "Teddy Award' is given to two members of the Freshman Class who embody Teddy's finest qualities:  generosity, enthusiasm, respect, responsibility, perseverance, optimism and loyalty.  It is awarded to a young woman and a young man of great hope and great promise. This year’s awards were presented to Kate Richards ’25 and Ben Elsberg ’25.

The Frederick William Gunn Award is named and awarded in honor of Frederick William Gunn, founder of The Frederick Gunn School and of organized summer camping in America. Awarded to the student who by their interest, enthusiasm, leadership and knowledge has contributed most during the school year to the camping and outdoor program at The Frederick Gunn School. This year’s award was presented to Simon Rhodes ’22.

The Hamilton Gibson Memorial Award is awarded to the student who demonstrates the comprehensive and real interest in and love of nature, which so greatly characterized Hamilton Gibson, third Headmaster of The Frederick Gunn School. This year’s award was presented to Ursula Anderson ’22.

The John Warner Moore Award was established by Orrin Sage Wightman, M.D., as a tribute to his friend, the Rev. John Warner Moore, Chaplin at The Frederick Gunn School 1949-54 and again in 1959 for concern in things of the spirit during the school year. This year’s award was presented to Will Marich ’24.

The Percy B. Wightman Prize for outstanding leadership in “things of the spirit” was presented to Theo Mercier ’22.

The Civic Changemaker Award is awarded to that member of the Senior Class who best utilized their service project as an opportunity to enthusiastically, creatively, and thoughtfully assist others. It is awarded for both their exemplary project as well as their leadership in being a responsible citizen. This year’s award was presented to Yoyo Zhang ’22.

The Red and Gray Tour Guides Award was presented to Theo Mercier ’22.

The Edward Fuller Barnes Memorial Award is for the sophomore who, in the estimation of the Faculty, best exemplifies those qualities of cheerfulness, courtesy, and friendliness which were characteristic of the boy in whose memory this award is made. This year’s award was presented to Emma Eschweiler ’24.

The Yale University Book Award is presented to a junior with outstanding personal character and intellectual promise. This year’s award was presented to Livia Correia ’23.

The University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award is awarded to that junior who best represents the Jeffersonian ideals of scholarship, leadership and citizenship. A well-rounded student, rather than the student with the highest GPA, should be chosen for this award. This year’s award was presented to Will Marich ’23.

The Smith College Book Award is presented to a student from the top tenth of the Junior Class who exemplifies academic achievement, leadership qualities, and concern for others. The student should serve as an example of scholarship and caring contribution to society. This year’s award was presented to Emily Chiappa ’23.

The Trinity College Book Award is presented to a student in the Junior Class for high scholastic standing and service to the school. This year’s award was presented to Ashleen Hay ’23.

The Harvard Club of Southern Connecticut Book Award is presented to that student in the Junior Class whom the Faculty shall deem most worthy by reason of high scholarship and character. This year’s award was presented to Audrey Richards ’23.

The Harold A. Anson Memorial Award is presented to that senior, who in the judgment of the Faculty, demonstrates an acute ethical awareness, sensitivity to the affairs of their community and a sense of service to their fellow citizens.  This year’s award was presented to Gavin Brown ’22.

The Bourne Advisory Council Leadership Award recognizes a student who embodies distinguished leadership qualities and who has demonstrated such qualities throughout their years at The Frederick Gunn School.  We know they will carry this leadership experience with them as they compose a life of principled engagement with the world.  This award, chosen by the Head of School in consultation with the Dean of Students and the Academic Dean, was presented to Ava Marti ’22.

The Chace Award for Excellence in Leadership, awarded to that senior, who in the estimation of the Head of School and Faculty,  has developed in a significant way their leadership potential during their years at The Frederick Gunn School; this year’s award was presented to Clara Prander ’22.

The McClellan Citizenship Prize is awarded to the senior who, in the estimation of the Head of School and Faculty, has shown the greatest progress while at The Frederick Gunn School in relating today's studies and experiences to tomorrow's responsibilities as an adult citizen and parent. This year’s prize was awarded to Grace Noh ’22.

The Thomas Alexander Landford Memorial Prize is awarded to two members of the graduating class who are "always mindful of others." This year’s prizes were awarded to Anne Scovill ’22 and Sean Hall ’22.

The Michael Neal Eanes Award for Greatest Scholastic Improvement, established in 1991 to honor Michael Eanes's 26 years at The Gunnery. This award, for consistency, persistence, improvement, was presented to Paul Clement ’22.

The Dean’s Prize, presented in memory of Norman R. Lemke, Jr., Gunn master and Dean from 1964-1975, by the Dean of Students in consultation with the Faculty; It goes to the Senior who, throughout their years at The Frederick Gunn School, has been most responsive to the guidance of the Faculty.  This year’s prize was awarded to Eric Li ’22.

The following students were  inducted into the Cum Laude Society, one of the highest academic honors at the school: Emily Chiappa ’23, Jennifer Macler ’23, Jenny Shen ’23, Chris Wang ’23, Sayed Alalawi ’22, Gavin Brown ’22, Oliver Chen ’22, Anastasia Cicala ‘22, Eric Li ’22, Maram Sharif ’22, and Leo You ’22.