Ninth, 10th, and 11th-grade students gathered in Brauer Auditorium last week for Prize Day, the annual Upper School assembly that recognizes students. As Ellie Chen ’26 played the piano, the rising seniors of the Class of 2025 took their seats for the first time in the front of the auditorium, the space reserved for the senior class. Note: several awards were presented during Upper School assembly the following week, as the recipients were taking tests or otherwise engaged during this assembly.
While we recognize many accomplishments through the year in athletics, community service, and the arts, Prize Day is a celebration of academic growth and leadership, not only for the honorees but also for the hard work and determination shown by all MICDS students, each with his or her own special accomplishments.
Living the Mission Awards
Chris Ludbrook, Dean of the Class of 2025, Daniel George, Dean of the Class of 2026, Melanie Duffy, Dean of the Class of 2027, and Nicole Trueman Shaw, Dean of the Class of 2028, presented the Living the Mission Awards.
Leadership: Reagan Hamilton ’25, Cade Miller ’26, and Lilah Pronger ’27
Respect: Joe Intagliata ’25, Harrison Foster ’26, and Jonathan Weiss ’27
Perseverance: Nina Schuerer ’25, Amelia Mackin ’26, and Margot Crowley ’27
Service: Jacob Daus ’25, Shritha Devisetty ’26, and Lola Compton ’27
Class Awards
Student Council Co-Heads Lilly Loeb ’25 and Grant LaMartina ’25 presented these awards, which were determined by the vote of each class.
R.S. Beasley Eleventh Grade Award: Mac Froedge ’25
J.E. Beasley Tenth Grade Award: Robyn Davies ’26
Wilma Jean Messing Ninth Grade Award: Max Padratzik ’27
Department Grade-Level Academic Awards
Department grade-level academic awards were presented by the respective department chairs and their representatives, including Lily Childs (World Languages), Lynn Mittler (English), Dr. Jo Nardolillo (Fine & Performing Arts), Carla Federman (History & Social Sciences), Paul Zahller (Science), and Diane Broberg (Mathematics).
World Languages: Mac Froedge ’25, Shil Penilla ’26, and Navya Reddy ’27
English: Joe Intagliata ’25, Rose Sabalvaro ’26, and Grant Krainik ’27
Nash Poetry Award: Zoe Gannon ’26
Fine & Performing Arts: Natalie Benoist ’25, Will Fendler ’26, and Daniel Kuhlman ’27
History & Social Sciences: Claire Giokas ’25, Meredith Mack ’26, and Lola Compton ’27
Science: Abhinav Katyal ’25, Cade Miller ’26, and Daniel Haas ’27
Mathematics & Computer Science: Norah Wright ’25, Hannah Wang ’26, and Eric Zhang ’27
The Ryan D. Seed ’95 Leadership Award was presented to Kaan Caliskaan ’27.
Jay Rainey, Head of School, presented the John E. Mackey Leadership Award to Grant LaMartina ’25.
Josh Smith, Director of Athletics, presented the McKelvey Award for leadership in athletics to Cece Harris ’25 and Lucas Allgeyer ’25.
College Book Awards
The ceremony continued with the presentation of the College Book Awards. These awards are given by local alumni associations of the colleges and universities in order to promote interest in their schools, and also to recognize the achievements of outstanding high school juniors. MICDS selects these students based on the descriptions of the awards provided by the colleges, not on the basis of any perceived ranking of students or institutions. All College Book Awards carry equal value.
Bowdoin College Book Award: Abby Derdeyn ’25
Brandeis Book Award: Saivi Gadi ’25
Brown University Book Award: Zariyah Nance-Leach ’25
Dartmouth Book Award: Joe Walsh ’25
Princeton University Book Award: Amisha Poojari ’25
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal: Jason Song ’25
Rhodes College Book Award: Carli Salazar Estrada ’25
Smith College Book Award: Reagan Hamilton ’25
St. Lawrence College Book Award: Anika Mulkanoor ’25
Tulane Book Award: Diya Makkapati ’25
University of Pennsylvania Book Award: Hale Foster ’25
University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award: Sophia Huddleston ’25
Yale University Book Award: Jeremy Kalishman ’25
The University of Rochester recognizes four students; one with an award in social sciences and the humanities, one in science, one in Innovation and Information Technology, and one in leadership and academics:
Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences: Nina Schuerer ’25
The Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award: Sanjana Gandhi ’25
The Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology: Andrew Haas ’25
The George Eastman Young Leaders Award: Arjun Puri ’25
Distinguished Scholar Award
Dr. Sally Maxwell, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning, presented the Distinguished Scholar Award:
Andrew Haas ’25
Siboney Oviedo-Gray ’26
Forest Gong ’27
Head of Upper School Scott Small shared some wisdom with his address to the students. Read his remarks here.
Congratulations to all our 2023 Prize Day recipients!