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The Upper School Awards ceremony on Thursday, May 2 at Childs Memorial Terrace celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2024 and underclass students. In her opening remarks, Head of Upper School Merritt Livermore ‘91 reflected on the journey of University of South Carolina Coach Dawn Staley and the NCAA women’s championship team. Livermore said, “She understands that true success isn't just about individual talent, but about the bonds forged within a team. This emphasis on community and connection mirrors the character of our own school.”

Following the presentation of leadership awards, 35 members of the Classes of 2024 and 2025 were welcomed into the McDonogh Chapter of the Cum Laude Society at the School’s 63rd Induction ceremony. They joined 16 seniors who, in 2023, were inducted into the prestigious honor society, which recognizes academic achievement grounded in character, honesty, and integrity.

The 18 initiates from the Class of 2024 are: Finn Alexander, Jai Bajaj, Gabrielle Batrouni, Claire Cook, Sapphire Grader-Beck, Leo Guan, Jack Hershfield, Rachel Keane, Alexa Klein, Tony Liu, Mary Marquez, Ryan McGonigle, Owen McKinnell, Mason Miller, Nina Murthi, Caitlin Rapalski, Isabel Sandoval, and Sophie Scherz.

The 17 initiates from the Class of 2025 are: Amanda Bavar, Nuh Cheema, Mark Cherches, Ruth Elias, Katie Haroun, Leila Khoury, Zain Naqvi, Mia Oh, Andrea Otrocol, Madison Pegram, Sebastian Pio Roda, Savannah Radz, Victoria Richardson, Grace Scharper, Eliza Schuster, Isabella Sodhi, and Michael Tardivo.

After the presentation of the Departmental Awards, Livermore returned to the theme of her opening remarks. She encouraged the students to show their enthusiasm for their classmates and friends recognized at the Upper School Awards Ceremony and to stand together in unwavering support for one another in the days and weeks to come.

Leadership Awards
(Class of 2024 Leadership Awards will be presented at Commencement)

The Dedication Award: Mark Cherches ‘25 and Andrea Otrocol ‘25
Presented to juniors whose contributions and efforts have been in a range of school undertakings and who show promise of excellence in those endeavors

The Faculty Prize for the Eleventh Grade: Ruth Elias ‘25
Presented to a junior who shows outstanding intellectual and personal promise

The Blanche A. C. Wells Award: JJ Di Monte ‘26 and Meheret Goshu ‘26
Presented to two sophomores who have most nearly lived up to the ideals taught by Louis E. Lamborn during his 26 years as Headmaster

The Underclass Leadership Award: Jelani Baker ‘27, Landon Tamaddon ‘26, Ari Benjamin ‘26, Michael Tardivo ‘25, and Zewdi Tesfayohannes ‘25
Presented to those students who, throughout the year, have exerted a major positive influence on the life of the school through conduct as a person and capacity as a leader

The Gary ’58 and Peter Dimling ’63 Award: Ethan Davies ‘27
Presented to the freshman who has been the greatest inspiration to fellow students throughout the year

The Class of ’40 Award: William Ashley ‘26 and Ethan Fruman ‘26
Presented to the sophomores who have been the greatest inspiration to fellow students throughout the year

The Louis E. Lamborn Award: Thomas Rafailides '25
Presented to the junior who best exemplifies the ideals taught by Louis E. Lamborn, Headmaster 1926-1952

2024 Departmental Awards

The Excellence in English Award: Megan Winakur ‘24
Presented to a senior who has excelled in the study of English

The Eustace Straughn Glascock 1879 Award: Z Smith ‘24
Presented to a senior who has excelled in creative writing

The English Achievement Award: Sophie Scherz ‘24
Presented to the senior who has combined outstanding achievement and extraordinary passion in the study of English over the past four years

The Shirley Klein Journalism Award: Lauren Geddes ‘25
Presented to the underclass student who has demonstrated interest in and enthusiasm for school journalism and student publications to attend a journalism seminar

The Charles C. Kinard Award: Carly Green ‘24, Zarina Hamilton ‘24, Kelvin Niu ‘24, Ria Sood ‘24, and Elliet Walton ‘24
Presented to the seniors who, through writing, leadership, energy, and concern for others, have contributed most consistently to high standards of school journalism

The Photojournalism Award: Brianna Mentzer ‘26
Presented to a student who has demonstrated outstanding dedication to and talent for photojournalism in the service of school publications

The Underclass Chinese Award: Michael Tardivo ‘25
Presented to the underclass student with the most achievement in and enthusiasm for the Chinese language both inside and outside the classroom

The Senior Chinese Award: Sophia Wang ‘24
Presented to the senior with the most achievement in and enthusiasm for the Chinese language both inside and outside the classroom

The French Award: Thomas Rafailides ‘25 
Presented to the underclass student who has shown the most achievement and interest in French both inside and outside the classroom

The Marion Sparks Prize: Vahishta Engineer ‘24
Presented to the senior who has shown marked proficiency in French

The Underclass Latin Award: Will Moore ‘25
Presented to the underclass student who has shown the most achievement and interest in Latin

The Senior Latin Award: Ara Wickramasinghe '24
Presented to the senior who has shown the greatest achievement and interest in Latin

The Spanish Award: Izzy Pacheco ‘25
Presented to the underclass student who has shown the most achievement and interest in Spanish both inside and outside the classroom

The Ruth Keebler White Award: Zarina Hamilton ‘24
Presented to the senior who has shown outstanding promise in the study of the Spanish language

Exchange Student Recognition: Akari Nomura
Presented to the exchange student who has completed the junior year classwork

The World History Award: Philemon Kuo ‘26
Presented to the student who has shown outstanding appreciation of, curiosity about, and achievement in the study of world history

The Paul Carre ’21 Award: Madison Pegram ‘25
Presented to the student who has excelled in the study of United States history

The Martin H. McKibbin, Jr. Excellence in History and Social Studies Award: Zarina Hamilton ‘24 and Caitlin Rapalski ‘24
Presented to the seniors who have excelled in the study of history and social studies

The General Excellence in Mathematics Award: Ari Bershek ‘25 and Zain Naqvi ‘25 Presented to the juniors who have shown outstanding proficiency and interest in mathematics

The Francis L. Fenwick ’68 Award: Cate Arbaugh ‘24 and Jón Salenger ‘24
Presented to the seniors who, in the last two years at McDonogh, have shown outstanding excellence in mathematics

The Alvin S. Chilcoat Award: Finn Mitchell ‘24
Presented to the senior who has shown the greatest improvement in the subject of mathematics throughout Upper School

The Robert C. Smoot III ’51 Award: Philemon Kuo ‘26
Presented to a freshman or sophomore who has shown outstanding ability and understanding in chemistry

The Howard B. Henry ’51 Award: Jaden Dahan ‘24
Presented to an upperclass student who has shown outstanding ability and understanding in chemistry

The Robert C. White Award: Jón Salenger ‘24
Presented to the senior who exhibits outstanding appreciation of and achievement in physical science

The Alfred Ogden Ramsay Award: Cate Arbaugh ‘24
Presented to the student who exhibits outstanding appreciation of and achievement in biology

The Dr. Herbert E. Wilgis ’53 Award: Javier Rodriguez ‘24 and Camryn Sciubba ‘24 Presented to upperclass students of biology whose interest, application, and proficiency suggest that good use will be made of those talents in medicine or some related field of endeavor

The Robert E. Seigman ’64 Excellence in Science Award: Ruth Elias ‘25 and Sebastian Pio Roda ‘25
Presented to a junior in recognition of outstanding academic achievement, good character, and superior intellectual promise in the field of science

The Albert C. Schauman ’31 Award: Claire Cook ‘24
Presented to a senior who has shown promise in the field of science, been actively involved in science, and demonstrated a sensitivity to the spirit of the discipline

The Engineering Award: Zarina Hamilton ‘24
Presented to the senior who has shown achievement and promise in the field of engineering

The Underclass Dance Award: Leah Denton ‘25 and Milana Nunez ‘25
Presented to the underclass students who have demonstrated outstanding proficiency and interest in dance

The Dance Award: Anne Cole Cuneen ‘24 and Katelyn Wilhelm ‘24
Presented to the seniors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement as performing artists and dedication to the McDonogh dance program

The General Excellence in Instrumental Music Award: Owen Paterson ‘25 and Anya Viswanathan ‘26
Presented to the underclass students who have excelled in instrumental music

The Marshall C. Anders, Jr. Instrumental Music Award: Sapphire Grader-Beck ‘24 and Tony Liu ‘24
Presented to the seniors who have excelled in instrumental music

The Marshall C. Anders, Jr. Vocal Music Award: Dana Thomspon ‘24 and Megan Winakur ‘24 Presented to the seniors who have excelled in vocal music

The Theatre Arts Award: Auden Beauvois ‘24 and Ava Jankowski ‘24
Chosen by their peers, the award is presented to the students who have made significant contributions to theatre productions of the School

The John Van Meter Award for Technical Theatre: Kelvin Niu ‘24
Presented to students who have demonstrated excellence in technical theatre and made significant contributions to the performing art

The Robert Eric Farmer ’81 Art Achievement Award: Anna Livermore ‘25 and Shruti Nair '25
Presented to the art students who have evidenced the most improvement in expressing their art talent

The Cleveland Award: Nailah Muhammad ‘24 and Brooke Palevich ‘24
Presented to the seniors whose enthusiasm, effort, and talent have contributed to the encouragement of the visual arts at McDonogh

The Simon Minkove Debate Award: Mark Cherches ‘25 and Aryan Prabhakar ‘26 Presented to the underclass students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the school’s debate program

The North-Edwards Award: Zarina Hamilton ‘24, Ria Sood ‘24, and Sophia Wang ‘24 Presented to the seniors who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in the school’s Allan Debating Society

The Willis K. Lynch ’28 Award: Eloise Khouzami ‘24
Presented to the student who has made the greatest contribution to the School’s equestrian tradition

The Technology Service Award: Amani Murray-Lompo ‘24 and Katherine Pesetski ‘24 Presented to the students who have made significant contributions to the school in technology

The Computer Science Award: Leo Doyle ‘24 and Sophie Winter ‘26
Presented to students who exhibit outstanding achievement and interest in computer science

The Robotics Technology Award: Zain Naqvi ‘25 and Katherine Pesetski ‘24
Presented to the students whose leadership and dedicated contributions have promoted and fostered the continued growth of the robotics technology program

The Admissions Ambassador Service Award: Jonathan Afolabi ‘27 and Eloise Khouzami ‘24
Presented to students who embody the McDonogh Spirit of "giving something more than we take" and are outstanding ambassadors for the Admissions Office to new and prospective families

The Golden Eagle Award: Anne Cole Cunneen ‘24, Clara Dawn ‘24, Alison Doverspike ‘24, Arianna Fowlkes ‘24, Mary Gorsky ‘24, Léla Greene ‘24, Annika Hung ‘24, Sydney Jacobstein ‘24, Rachel Keane ’24, Eloise Khouzami ‘24, Ryan McGonigle ‘24, Ava McKennie ‘24, Jordyn Rollins ‘24, Remi Schaller ‘24, Camryn Sciubba ‘24, Sophia Trahan ‘24, Rainey Turnbull ‘24, Katelyn Wilhelm ‘24, and Taylor Wu ‘24.
Presented to the dedicated athletes who have participated in an interscholastic sport every season of their Upper School careers