Wooster School held its Commencement Exercises on Friday, June 12, 2015 to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2015. These seniors join more than 3,000 alumni who have graduated since Wooster’s founding in 1926.
The ceremony featured a number of speakers, and the awarding of prizes and diplomas. David Newman, Head of Middle and Upper Schools announced the honorees for, “Crayons to Commencement,” commending students who began their Wooster careers in the Lower School. Senior Prefect, Audrey Merchan ‘15, announced the senior class gift. Funds raised by the senior class were given as a cash donation to the Rashmie Secondary School, Kathmandu, Nepal. Prizes were given out for outstanding Senior Independent Study projects, academic achievements, and awards of character, followed by an address by the class orator, Zachary Karpen ’15. “Most importantly, we were not taught what to learn, but how to learn. Not what to think, but how to think,“ Karpen noted.
Last but not least, before the seniors received their diplomas, Head of School Matt Byrnes spoke to the graduating class. “Some advice from someone who only took advantage of certain enrichment opportunities, and wishes he could do it all again: Be open to being interested…Leave your phone in your room,” Byrnes remarked. He added, “Be in the moment with people and with ideas.”
Congratulations to the Great Class of 2015 for all of their accomplishments!
Wooster School Class of 2015
Alexandra Marie Ambrosio Zachary Sloan Karpen
Philip Russell Beard Amber Lee March-Bruce
Oliver Maxwell Bratter Audrey Daniella Merchan
Drishti Choudhury Taylor Rose Milana
Emilee Rose Coladarci Mai Othman
Daniel John DeLuca Christopher Quinn Rynne
Hallie Elana Fuchs Isabella Santos
Blair Catherine Hamilton Jacob Morris Schwartz
Alexander Dallas Hard Dimitris Diakidis Smith
Melanie Elizabeth Hodor Julia B. Smith
Jessica Conway Jameson Shauna Reneé Vines
Julia Louise Kalish Amelia Beeson Williams
Class of 2015 Awards and Prizes
Top Award Recipients (Announced at Commencement):
- William Irwin Carter, Jr. Prize Julia Smith
- Aaron C. Coburn Award Julia Kalish and Taylor Milana
- James Hobart Warner Prize Dimitris Smith
- Honor Award Audrey Merchan
- Danbury Exchange Club’s Carmen Melillo Scholarship Blair Hamilton
- AJ Leibling Journalism Prize Julia Smith
- Robert C. Wilson Prize for Mathematics Zachary Karpen
- History and Social Studies Prize Taylor Milana
- John D. Verdery Prize in Religion Jacob Schwartz
- Vinny Puma Spanish Prize Daniel DeLuca
- Josette Eynon Prize for Excellence in Foreign Languages Drishti Choudhury
- Fairfield County Medical Association Biological Science Award Mai Othman
- Jeremy Acheson Platt ’51 Memorial Award for Prolonged Dedication to the Sciences Hallie Fuchs
- John Hart Spittle ’37 Prize for Excellence in Science Isabella Santos
- ’44 Award for Excellence in Mathematics lair Hamilton
- Stephen Logan ’74 Art Award Julia Smith
- Art Department Chair’s Recognition Award Taylor Milana
- Scott Schwartz ’91 Theatre Prize Amber March-Bruce
- Music Prize Amber March-Bruce
- Cordelia Manning Award for Service to the Arts Drishti Choudhury
- Edward W. Robinson ’37 Award Alexander Hard, Taylor Milana
- J. William Nystrom, Sr. ’47 Scholar/Athlete Prize Daniel DeLuca, Isabella Santos
- Thomas Wilcox ’66 Award for School Spirit in Competitive Athletics Christopher Rynne, Julia Kalish
- Alvah Jessup ’49 Award for Outstanding Athlete Zachary Karpen, Blair Hamilton
- James S. Hammer ’63 Award Alexandra Ambrosio
- Cum Laude Society Alexandra Ambrosio, Daniel DeLuca, Blair Hamilton, Julia Smith
About Wooster School
Wooster School is an independent, co-educational college preparatory day school, serving students from Fairfield and Westchester Counties. Located in Danbury, Connecticut, the School serves students from Pre-K through grade 12. A leader in classroom innovation and teaching, Wooster School is a place where thinking and learning are personal, meaningful, and visible; and where faculty work closely with students in small classes and cohorts to think and communicate critically and creatively. At Wooster, every student participates, every student contributes, and every student learns and develops the necessary skills to be a life-long learner and leader in college and life beyond.
To learn more, visit http://www.woosterschool.org/ or contact Wooster School Admissions at (203) 830-3916.