Ninth, 10th, and 11th-grade students gathered in Brauer Auditorium on Monday morning for Prize Day, the annual Upper School assembly that recognizes students in a variety of ways. It was the first time the Upper School community gathered in person for this special event since 2019. Members of the Upper School Band program played music as the rising seniors of the Class of 2023 took their seats for the first time in the front of Brauer Auditorium, the space reserved for the senior class.
While we recognize many accomplishments through the year in athletics, community service, and in 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
Diane Gioia, Dean of the Class of 2023, Chris Ludbrook, Dean of the Class of 2025, Daniel George, Dean of the Class of 2022, and Nicole Trueman Shaw, Dean of the Class of 2024, presented the Living the Mission Awards.
- Leadership: Lilly Loeb ’25, Devon Catsavis ’24, and Skye Patton ’23
- Respect: Emery Chamberlain ’25, David Ding ’24, and Happy Phatak ’23
- Perseverance: Sanjana Gandhi ’25, Madison Sineff ’24, and Ali Oak ’23
- Service: Sophia Huddleston ’25, Abby Gray ’24, and Kyle Sha ’23
Class Awards
Student Council Co-Heads Skye Patton ’23 and Mason Boon ’23 presented the Class Awards:
- Wilma Jean Messing Ninth Grade Award: Jai Patel ’25
- J.E. Beasley Tenth Grade Award: Camden Miller ’24
- R.S. Beasley Eleventh Grade Award: Nikitha Ada ’23
Department Grade-Level Academic Awards
Department grade-level academic awards were presented by the respective department chairs, including Patrick Huewe (World Languages), Lynn Mittler (English), Brad Heinemann (Fine & Performing Arts), Carla Federman (History & Social Sciences), Brain Coco (on behalf of Paul Zahller, Science), and Diane Broberg (Mathematics).
- World Languages: Sophia Huddleston ’25, Zoie Tolson ’24, and Varsha Devisetty ’23
- English: Kate Hunter ’25, Janet He ’24, Phoebe Burgis ’23, and Alice Ma ’23
- Fine & Performing Arts: Claire Giokas ’25, Virginia Portell ’24, and Miles Rainwater ’23
- History & Social Sciences: Zach Krivonak ’25, Madison Sineff ’24, and Emily Podgorny ’23
- Science: Sanjana Gandhi ’25, Kenadi McDile ’24, and Mason Bedell ’23
- Mathematics: Andrew Haas ’25, Mikaela Mikulec ’24, and Kyle Sha ’23
Zach Williams ’95 presented the Ryan D. Seed ’95 Leadership Award to Grant LaMartina ’25.
Jay Rainey, Head of School, presented the John E. Mackey Leadership Award to Aanya Tiwari ’23.
Josh Smith, Director of Athletics, presented the McKelvey Award for leadership in athletics to Winston Moore ’23 and Julia Ray ’23.
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.
St. Lawrence College Book Award: JC Nguyen ’23
Bowdoin College Book Award: Evelyn Lui ’23
Dartmouth Book Award: Nate Schuckman ’23
Brandeis Book Award: Kyle Sha ’23
Brown University Book Award: Phoebe Burgis ’23
Harvard Book Award: Noah Macam ’23
Princeton University Book Award, presented by Princeton alumnus Mr. Jim Dodds: Sanchi Vishwakarma ’23
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal: Grayson Marks ’23
Rhodes College Book Award: Jack Mills ’23
Smith College Book Award: Erica Engelhardt ’23
Tulane Book Award: Philip Ralph ’23
University of Pennsylvania Book Award: Nikitha Ada ’23
University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award: Henley Danforth ’23
Yale University Book Award: Mason Bedell ’23
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: Ash Aranha ’23
The Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award: Jackson Chou ’23
The Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology: Raina Compton ’23
The George Eastman Young Leaders Award: Jane Cohen ’23
Spirit of Learning Award
Dr. Sally Maxwell, Assistant Head of School for Teaching and Learning, presented the Spirit of Learning Award:
- Joe Intagliata ’25
- Zoe Zlatic ’24
- Mason Boon ’23
Congratulations to all our 2022 Prize Day recipients!