32 minute read
Commencement 2022 Starting Point of Love, Hope & Dreams
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
Starting Point of Love, Hope & Dreams
Class of 2022 Unites in Joyful ‘Care & Support’ for One Another
FFAMILY AND FRIENDS flocked to Edwards Campus to hail 112 young men as they entered the ranks of Brunswick’s newest alumni — the school celebrated its 120th Commencement Exercises on May 18, under blazing sunshine amid a crowd of well-wishers who journeyed from near and far.
BY KATHERINE OGDEN & MIKE KENNEDY ’99
IT WAS A SPARKLING SPRING DAY, with bountiful sunshine and clear, blue skies — the perfect kind of day to graduate from high school, and Evelyne Etienne of Norwalk, Conn., wasn’t sure exactly how many members of her family had convened on Edwards Campus.
“It’s a lot of us,” she mused, breathlessly, as she paused in the moments after watching her nephew graduate from Brunswick.“Close to 20, if not more.” Grandmother Sidonie Buissreth of Danbury, Conn., was there,
along with two additional grandparents, as well as many other aunts and uncles, cousins, and siblings — all of them gathered to mark a watershed moment in the life of one of their own. Tristan Joseph ’22, a star Bruin on the basketball court and headed to Middlebury College, was receiving his diploma.
The entire family, Etienne said, had been invested in getting Tristan to this moment, and they were now gathered to bask in the joy of it.
“It’s all of us, as a village, that got him here,” Etienne said before moving on to corral all those family members
for photos. “Pick-ups, drop-offs, games. His whole village is here to celebrate.”
Brunswick graduated 112 members of the Class of 2022 in its 120th Commencement exercises on May 18; the celebration brought the Joseph family along with many hundreds
of other family members and friends to an outdoor ceremony on Robert L. Cosby Field.
Also among the crowd were members of the Villis family, including Rev. Elias G. Villis and his wife, Melanie, parents of George ’22.
Just as they had countless times before, the Villis family had brought their son to school earlier in the day, dropping him off in preparation for the afternoon’s events.
And, just as every parent does at most any drop-off, the Villises stole one last look at their son as he made his way into a scrum of his peers — all young men now, gathering one last time before embarking on the next chapter of their lives.
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP TO BOTTOM Tristan Joseph and his family came out in full force to join in Tristan’s triumphant day, as Henry Caponiti savored every embrace at the Senior-Faculty Handshake.
THIS PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Faculty go down the line to congratulate members of the Class of 2022 in Burke Field House; George Villis straightens his traditional Commencement tie; and Michael Neviera and Tyler Wilson strut confidently (and stylishly) into pre-ceremony festivities. PREVIOUS SPREAD Jalen Johnson and Ashton Winegardner lead the way — side-by-side, diplomas in hand — to the after party on Edwards Campus at Commencement 2022. Happy faces shined before, during, and after the ceremonies, as (opposite page, clockwise from top) Nate Barsanti shares a celebratory moment with his grandmother, former Head of Lower School Eleanor Lindberg; Senior Dean Paul Withstandley helps Ben Packer with his boutonniere; and Gavin Foster enjoys one of the many reasons to smile on such a beautiful spring day.
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
Seth Yoo was cited as Brunswick’s Valedictorian, giving him the honor to introduce the Class of 2022’s choice for Ivy Speaker, Tony Luo.
And on this day, just as it was on George Villis’ first Brunswick day four years earlier, a smiling face was there to greet him.
Fellow graduate Zachary Murray ’22, who “hosted” George and helped the new Bruin adjust to Brunswick when he started his ’Wick journey, was approaching his classmate with joy and a broad smile.
“When I dropped George off, Zachary approached
him with a big smile, and his hand outstretched ready to shake hands,” said Villis’ mom, Melanie. “The smile on both of their faces will be a treasured lifelong memory.
“It really just brought it all together, teaching these boys to be men,” she said, moments after her son received his brown-and-white diploma.
TOP TO BOTTOM Tad Carney is center stage among his classmates as they prepare to process into the ceremonies; graduate Peter Kapp says goodbye to Mr. Tim Ostrye; and Sam Hall goes in for the bear (or bruin) hug at the Senior-Faculty Handshake.
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
SENIOR AWARDS OF DISTINCTION
Honors for Excellence & ‘Spreading Joy & Kindness’
BRUNSWICK TEACHERS recognized 13 students for high achievement, not just in academics, athletics, and community
service, but also for extraordinary character — awarding nine awards of distinction and four faculty citations to graduates of the Class of 2022.
Robert L. Cosby award winner Caleb Boateng was recognized for his ability to “see the good in each of us, to care, to love, to smile.”
“Today’s recipient of the Cosby Award is, like his namesake, no stranger to struggle and sacrifice. And since the day he arrived here, he has never let it get in his way of spreading joy and kindness to everyone he encounters,” said Paul Withstandley.
Valedictorian Seth Yoo was named recipient of the Kulukundis Cup, and was celebrated not just for his academic average, but also for demonstrating “an admirable belief in the upside of a liberal arts education” — by tackling diverse courses such as Russian Literature, post-AP French Honors Seminar, and the post-BC Calculus Multivariables.
“As teachers, we know that many students are great to teach; fewer are those who further your own learning,” said Tucker Hastings.
Henry Caponiti was named as the winner of the Altman Prize for his tireless support of school spirit.
“Always quick with a smile and a friendly greeting, this young man was the leader of ‘the swamp,’ the raucous student cheering section that helped create a home-field advantage for our varsity teams,” said Bob Benjamin.
Here’s the full list of Commencement award winners:
Valedictorian Seth Yoo
Kulukundis Cup Seth Yoo Robert L. Cosby Award Caleb A. Boateng
A. Macdonald Caputo Award Charles P. Johnson
Community Service Award Nikitas N. Handrinos
BPA Prize Samuel D. Hall
Jenkins Athletic Award William R. Donovan Faculty Citations Jackson W. Schwartz Wells M. Faulstich Jeffrey Ruiz Gregory P. Kapp III
Head of School’s Trophy Myles E. Spiess
Thomas A. Altman Prize Henry M. Caponiti
TOP TO BOTTOM Myles Spiess was recognized with the Head of School’s Trophy; Will Donovan received the Jenkins Award from Ron VanBelle; and Jackson Schwartz earned a faculty citation, as did Wells Faulstich, pictured with presenter Oliver Bierman-Lytle.
INVOCATION
Special Connection, Abundance of Blessings
TOP TO BOTTOM It was a special occasion for the Rev. Elias G. Villis, who gave the invocation and also witnessed the graduation of his son George; a crew of graduates — Teddy Elmlinger, William Morton, Dylan Giovine, Oliver Hoeffel, Nick Bianco, Lyndon Gay, and Chris Dolan — gathers for a pre-ceremony photo; and Logan Mueller shines a big, bright smile.
THE REV. ELIAS G. VILLIS P ’19, ’22, ’24, father to graduate George ’22, provided the invocation at this year’s Commencement.
“May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships, so that you will live deep within your heart,” Rev. Villis told the graduates. “May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality, and peace.
“May God bless you with the foolishness to think that you can make a difference in the world, so that you will do the things others tell you cannot be done,” he said.
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
WELCOME
HEAD OF SCHOOL Thomas W. Philip introduced the proceedings and offered gratitude to the many people who have supported the graduates through their years at Brunswick — including faculty, parents, family, and friends.
“I want to begin by emphasizing that the success of these young men (beyond reflecting immense talent and effort on their part) also speaks clearly to the love and care of so many here today.”
With two wonderful speeches on tap for the ceremony, Philip said
ABOVE Head of School Tom Philip presents Ford Brown with his diploma. RIGHT Tony Luo wows the crowd with his thoughtful and laughter-inducing Ivy Address, one all of his classmates will surely remember.
LEFT A picture is worth a thousand words: Nikitas Handrinos and Frankie Grether revel in the moment.
he would not burden the gathering with a third.
“I will leave you with the strength of two overwhelming emotions that are unavoidable when I think about the Class of 2022.”
Philip told the graduates that Brunswick is a home for them, a “starting point of love, hope, and dreams” — and also a place where pride and love abide.
“I am — and on behalf of all the faculty and this community here assembled — so proud of how you care for and support one another,” he said.
“I — and all here — absolutely love you guys. We love being a part of your story.”
CLASS SPEAKER
VALEDICTORIAN SETH YOO provided the introduction for Ivy Speaker Zixun Tony Luo, who drew a standing ovation for a speech that conveyed parts of his own life story, including grim experiences as a schoolboy in Shenzhen, China — and what he has learned since coming to Brunswick four years ago.
“I looked at the three words Courage, Honor, Truth one more time before I came up on the stage,” he told the crowd. “Over the past four years, I have sought the meaning of those words. And I’m proud to say that now I finally understand.”
Luo reached back in his memory to recall his first day at Brunswick as he admitted: “I did call my teacher by his first name on the first day of school.
“If you told the freshman Tony he would be on this stage, he would
SENIOR BREAKFAST
Return to ’Wick Akin to ‘Coming Home’
AS HE WALKED DOWN the hallway, Greg Shenkman ’99
(P ’34) heard a familiar voice calling his name.
It was his second-grade teacher, Mrs. Pat Meloni, who recognized her student from his days donning a brown sweater at Brunswick — no matter that it had been more than 30 years earlier. Greg was showing his now-wife Rebecca his old stomping grounds and scanning the class photos on the wall in search of his own when he connected with one of his favorite teachers from his 14 years at ’Wick. Now a father of a Brunswick boy, Grant ’34, as well as a daughter, Wellesley, at Greenwich Academy, Greg serves as the president of the Alumni Development Council and spoke at the Senior Breakfast held on the morning before Commencement.
“Every time I come back to Brunswick, it’s like coming home,” said Greg, who graduated from the College of William & Mary and currently works as a trader at Shenkman Capital Management.
“Brunswick is more of a fraternity than the one I joined in college,” he told the soon-to-be graduates. “Being a part of this school connects you to a whole host of people who want to help you.
“I encourage you to stay active and involved in the community — and to give back in any way you can.”
TOP TO BOTTOM Greg Shenkman ’99 joined traditional speakers Ian ’93 and Shep Murray ’89 at the Senior Breakfast, as graduates Nick Rinaldi, Owen Neviera, and Alex Hazlett enjoyed the hearty meal — and the words of advice!
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
Nico Montoni sure looks to be enjoying himself on his big day!
kindly declare this to be some kind of fantasy fiction,” he said. “To all my senior comrades, you have taught a nervous classmate how to be courageous.”
Luo said his first days at Brunswick were marked by a mindset of fear — a false belief that hiding vulnerability was the key to a happy, successful life.
“I was so afraid if I revealed my weaker side I would lose your respect,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how fragile I became from hiding these feelings.
“Sounds familiar, right? At some moments in your lives, you choose to cage yourself from the world; as long as people do not discover you, life will go smoothly.”
Growing up in one of the fastest-growing cities in China, Luo was surrounded by so many brilliant companies, but his experience at school was miserable.
“The truth is, not everyone had passion in math,” he said. “When my grade was the only judgment of my value, I suffered during every second in class.
“The whole system was the mistake. I couldn’t change it. I was once a bad student.”
While still in middle school in Shenzhen, he failed to “pick up the courage” to support a classmate with mental illness, a person who suffered from a “ridiculous attack.”
NEW DESTINATIONS
For Class of ’22, Brightest of Futures Await
Nicholas Joseph Accetta Denison University Nicholas James Altman Boston College Luke Thomas Apostolides Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ashton Arjomand Northwestern University Nathaniel Carl Barsanti Colorado College William Baxter Lehigh University Baker Wells Beck Colgate University David William Beeson Princeton University John Clifford Belknap University of Wisconsin Séve Berrier YIP Sweden
Nicholas John Bianco Georgetown University Caleb Asare Boateng Middlebury College Zachary William Boehly University of Texas Whitman Brewer New York University John Crawford Brown Harvard University John Timothy Alden Burdett Middlebury College Michael G. Burton Jr. Georgetown University Henry Michael Caponiti Georgetown University John Edward Carey Boston College Tad Eliot Carney Yale University Frank Joseph Carroll Miami University, Ohio Hunter Charles Clark University of Connecticut Hank Rowland Cleaves Dartmouth College Christopher Hemenway Dolan Santa Clara University William Richard Donovan University of Notre Dame John Duncan Dunn University of Pennsylvania Kha’lil DaShaun Eason University of New Haven John Edward Elmlinger Tulane University Nicholas Christopher Errico Georgetown University Theo Montgomery Evans University of Wisconsin Wells McCoy Faulstich Pepperdine University Joshua Stuart Feldman Villanova University William Harrison Forshner Wake Forest University Gavin James Foster Wake Forest University Christopher Conway Gaine University of Michigan Lyndon Garrett Gay Trinity College Francis Pentlarge Gehring IV Claremont McKenna College James Dowling Gibbons Bowdoin College Dylan Thomas Giovine University of Texas Francisco Ion Grether Villanova University Samuel Christopher Guadalupe United States Naval Academy Owen Dale Guest Harvard University Lorenzo Sebastian Gunningham Hamilton College Adonys Ramon Guzman Boston College Samuel Drisko Hall University of Denver Nikitas Nikolaos Handrinos Indiana University Owen Innis Hayes University of Pennsylvania Alexander Stockton Hazlett Yale University Andrew James Hock Georgetown University Lucas Kurt Hodgson University of Michigan Oliver John Hoeffel Villanova University Christopher James Israel Bard College Robert Warren Jacobson Indiana University Charles Philip Johnson Duke University
Jalen Julius Johnson Pace University Tristan Spaulding Joseph Middlebury College William Nicholas Kallman Middlebury College
Gregory Peter Kapp III University of Pennsylvania Kyle Jaden Karas Binghamton University Patrick Cassidy Keller University of Virginia Warren James Klein Dartmouth College William MacCoy Knight University of Colorado Boulder Maximilian Konzerowski Dartmouth College Daniel Pelton Lauter Georgetown University Felipe Leao Dartmouth College Evan Cho-Hou Lee University of Notre Dame John Augustine Lin University of North Carolina NaShawn Zaire Livingston University of Connecticut Zixun Tony Luo University of Chicago Andrew Xavier Lynch Boston College Aidan Kenneth Marks Yale University Cole Daniel Mascolo Elon University Douglas Paul Messier Clemson University Kevin Gordon Miller Wake Forest University Michael Ryan Montgomery University of Wisconsin Nico Anthony Montoni Virginia Tech University Jack William Moore Tufts University William Spencer Morton University of Richmond Logan Riley Mueller Rutgers University Zachary Nicholas Murray Villanova University Edward Alexander Nagler University of Notre Dame Michael Robert Neviera Boston College Owen Paul Neviera Boston College Thomas Lauer O’Connor Jr. University of Notre Dame William Jeremiah O’Connor University of Michigan JP Ohl Princeton University Theodore John Ohls III Southern Methodist University Benjamin William Packer University of Virginia Benet Washington Polikoff Louisiana State University Lucas Lima Pombo University of Chicago James Restieri University of Wisconsin Nicholas Haven Rinaldi University of Chicago Jeffrey Ruiz Cornell University Kaden Ramy Saad Georgetown University Matthew Suat Saah Colgate University Frithjof Aidan Sanger Carnegie Mellon University Maxime Sauvé Concordia University Quebec Luke Johnstone Schlank Georgetown University Jackson Wolff Schwartz Brown University Walter Woods Scott University of St. Andrews Charles Andrew Sfreddo Boston College Myles Edward Spiess University of Chicago Jack Ross Stemerman Yale University Samuel Marshall Swigart Santa Clara University George Constantinos Villis University of New England Jackson Frederick Walker College of William & Mary James Walker Boston College Darrell Joseph Warren Sacred Heart University
Spencer Warren Rochester Institute of Technology Tyler Thomas Wilson Princeton University Ashton Buck Winegardner University of Virginia Seth Yoo Amherst College
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
“Instead, I joined the unreasonable crowd expressing fear and anger from nowhere,” he said. “Shamefully, I was part of the large group of people that did this. Deep down, I knew it was wrong.”
Coming to Brunswick and especially witnessing how his classmates tackled athletic challenges changed everything.
“I sensed a different environment at Brunswick when I saw how Tristan and Charlie broke through defenses of seven-foot dudes; when I heard the story of Mr. Kirby-Smith rushing into fire to save lives; when I saw the firm confidence in Kaden’s eyes facing a wrestling match,” he said.
“I realized everyone has courage here, so why shouldn’t I? Thanks to my senior comrades, courage is marking my soul now.” SPEAKER
EDMUND A. HAJIM (P ’84, ’86), Brunswick board chair from 1980–1983 and now chairman of High Vista Strategies LLC, with more than 50 years of Wall Street success behind him, served as Commencement speaker.
In a rousing speech that detailed his rise from orphanages to America’s boardrooms, Hajim shared his own extraordinary life story and guiding principles with graduates and their families.
Essentially kidnapped by his father as a toddler, Hajim spent the next 15 years shifting homes — his father was often out at sea, leaving his son to shuffle between five foster homes, the YMCA hotel on 34th Street, a hotel room on Coney Island, and two orphanages.
As a teenager, after landing at an orphanage in Yonkers, N.Y., Hajim graduated from Roosevelt High School, with an ROTC scholarship to the University of Rochester.
“Nobody came to my graduation,” Hajim said, adding: “I arrived at Rochester in my black leather jacket.”
Ed Hajim — former Brunswick parent and board chairman, as well as the author of On the Road Less Traveled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom — served as Commencement speaker.
TOP TO BOTTOM Kyle Karas and Luke Apostolides exchange a fist-bump before heading to their seats; Luke Schlank and Jackson Schwartz share in a moment of laughter; and the “Lifers” celebrate 14 years as Brunswick boys FRONT Nate Barsanti, Sam Hall, Jackson Schwartz, Patrick Keller, Warren Klein, Ashton Arjomand, and Teddy Elmlinger MIDDLE Theo Evans, David Beeson, Chris Israel, Zach Boehly, Alex Hazlett, Ashton Winegardner, Michael Neviera, Zach Murray, Peter Kapp, and Oliver Hoeffel BACK Owen Neviera, Evan Lee, Benet Polikoff, John Burdett, Chris Dolan, Darrell Warren, and William Forshner (Missing: Will Donovan)
The first year of college was rough, Hajim admitted, but he adjusted. He cut his hair, bought a tweed jacket, and earned a degree in chemical engineering as he also discovered one of his driving passions: “Putting people together to help people do better than they thought they could.”
After college, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy, made his way through Harvard Business School, and spent the next 50 years
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
in the “canyons of Wall Street” — it’s a story that Hajim detailed in his book, On the Road Less Traveled: An Unlikely Journey from the Orphanage to the Boardroom, a copy of which every graduate received.
“I tell you this story because there’s a message that anything is possible in this wonderful country,” he said. “Education is the solution to everything, almost everything.”
Hajim said he has often been asked about the “secret sauce” to success, and as he thought about that question, he found the answer lies in the way he talks to himself.
“I came across a framework that allowed me to talk to myself in an intelligent manner,” he said.
As Hajim sees it, developing four “pitchers of life” — passions, principles, partners, and plans — has helped him juggle the “buckets of life” — self, family, work, and community.
Hajim implored graduates to use their time in college to reach and to stretch, to test themselves.
“There can only be two results: Success or a learning experience,” he said. “Early failures are a gift.”
Hajim said one of the principles that has guided his own life has been passion, and he advised graduates to search for it.
“Find something that makes you take two steps at a time.”
A Quiet Moment of Remembrance
AS PART OF the ceremony, Philip requested and led a moment of silence in honor and memory of Teddy Balkind, the St. Luke’s student and hockey player who died in January. ONE GRADUATE’S PERSPECTIVE
Moral Compasses Guided by ‘Courage, Honor, Truth’
By Jeffrey Ruiz ’22
THE YELLOW SCHOOL BUS pulled up to the front of Brunswick Middle School and boys began bounding off the steps and racing toward the door.
Their faces shined bright with joy, innocence, and anticipation on the first day of Horizons.
As I counted them — part of my duties as a volunteer — I was having trouble sharing in their excitement, bittersweet feelings swelling in my chest as I began my fourth and final summer with the life-changing program.
I had seen the boys grow in maturity and stature — from kindergartners to fourth graders, always carrying that same positive energy and perspective — during my experience, which began when I was a rising freshman at Brunswick.
As I greeted the boys, I was reminded that the clock keeps ticking and the future is waiting. Never did I think time would fly by so fast — never did I think (when I was a middle schooler) that high school graduation and my eight years at Brunswick would come and go in the blink of an eye. But they did.
They are full, though, of cherished memories, and they ran the gamut of emotions — happiness, pride, anxiousness, relief, and fear. The list goes on.
Brunswick is a special place, which we, the Class of 2022, had the privilege
to attend — known best to outsiders for its academic and athletic prowess.
For those lucky enough to walk the halls of Maher Avenue and King Street, though, we are taught lessons that go beyond math, English, or history — beyond the Xs and Os of soccer, hockey, or lacrosse.
They often go unnoticed, even by our very own students. But they are rooted in character development — and in the words of our school motto.
Each and every Brunswick boy’s moral compass has, in one way or another, been shaped by the principles of Courage, Honor, Truth. They will always be our guiding lights — and set us apart from others and define us as Brunswick Bruins forever.
We don’t really need to explain how or why.
Ivy Speaker Tony Luo ’22 said in his commencement remarks that he finally understood the meaning of Courage, Honor, and Truth as he was set to receive his diploma and head off to college and into adulthood.
I do, too.
SENIOR PROM
Celebrants Dance & Cheer as Manhattan Skyline Glows
IMAGINE NEW YORK CITY with a Las Vegas twist. —
Members of the Class of 2022 and their dates enjoyed the traditional sunset cruise aboard the World Yacht Spirit of New York on the eve of graduation — Lady Liberty, One World Trade Center, and the picturesque Manhattan skyline serving as the background for selfies and snapshots.
But new to the fun and fray at this year’s Senior Prom were craps, blackjack, and roulette games (without the emotional highs and lows of winning and losing real dollars and cents, of course!)
There may have been an Elvis sighting as well!
The “Casino Royaleinspired” theme made for a memorable evening on deck and on the dance floor for all the partygoers before they disembarked at Pier 81 and headed home for a little shuteye before their big day ahead.
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
SENIOR AWARDS DAY
Commitment to Life with ‘No Excuses’
Evan Ciecimirski
AHOST OF BRUNSWICK
seniors was honored with distinguished awards at a ceremony in Burke Field House on Monday, May 16.
Upper School English teacher Evan Ciecimirski served as the keynote speaker, as selected by the Class of 2022.
Ciecimirski focused his remarks on a personal mantra he has embraced throughout much of his 30-year life — “No Excuses.”
Beyond personal anecdotes, the Cornell graduate discussed his senior English elective, entitled “Mind Over Matter,” in which students learn about athletes who have made great athletic or cultural contributions at the highest levels, against extraordinary odds — such as Joe Rantz, Louis Zamperini, Gino Bartali, Stelios Kyriakides, Wilma Rudolph, and Michael Oher.
He also shared the story of John “Jack” Reynolds Robinson, a senior at Cornell and Commodore of the Heavyweight Crew, who died in February, after an 11-year battle with osteo sarcoma.
“The purpose of these stories is not to sadden you, nor to make you feel like your accomplishments are not significant,” Ciecimirski said. “What is remarkable about these men and women — and so many others — is not that they showed such uncommon courage and strength, but that such uncommon actions are in many ways more common than we may realize.”
He offered the Class of 2022 — a group of young men he bonded with as an advisor, teacher, coach, and Vermont campus chaperone — one final piece of advice.
“Remember everything that you have accomplished up to this point, whatever the obstacles you have overcome to this day, and use them to put your next challenges into perspective.
“Some may be easier; some may be harder. But if you abide by the mantra, ‘No Excuses,’ you will know you have given it your best.
“As you move on from Brunswick, I encourage you to continue to embody our motto: Courage. Honor. Truth. All three pillars of the school motto have played and will play a large role in living a life of ‘No Excuses.’”
FRONT Sam Hall, Will Knight, Charlie Johnson, Myles Spiess, Felipe Leao, Henry Caponiti, Michael Montgomery, Michael Neviera, Will O’Connor, Edward Nagler, Lucas Pombo, and Walter Scott BACK Jackson Schwartz, Max Konzerowsky, Peter Kapp, Kyle Karas, Caleb Boateng, Luke Apostolides, Seth Yoo, Nick Accetta, Samuel Guadalupe, Tyler Wilson, and Kaden Saad (Missing: Cliff Belknap, Will Donovan, Wells Faulstich, and Benet Polikoff)
Cum Laude Certificates* Samuel C. Guadalupe Gregory P. Kapp III Maximilian Konzerowsky Edward A. Nagler Lucas L. Pombo Kaden R. Saad Myles E. Spiess
Theater Award Tyler T. Wilson
Simpson Choral Award Wells M. Faulstich
Randolph Band Award Samuel D. Hall
Visual Arts Award William M. Knight
Everett Award for English Jackson W. Schwartz
R. Scott Tucker Senior Essay Award Michael R. Montgomery
Bouffier Foreign Language Award Nicholas J. Accetta
Senior Classics Award Felipe Leao
John Van Atta History Award Seth Yoo
Stephen A. Duennebier Social Sciences Award Edward A. Nagler
McKinnon Global Studies Award Walter W. Scott
Thomas A. Shields Mathematics Award Seth Yoo
AAPT Science Award Felipe Leao
Alan M. Turing Award for Computer Science Luke T. Apostolides
Gus Conrades ’86 Varsity Athletic Awards John C. Belknap Caleb A. Boateng Henry M. Caponiti William R. Donovan Charles P. Johnson Kyle J. Karas Michael R. Neviera William J. O’Connor Benet W. Polikoff Lucas L. Pombo Kaden R. Saad
Robert G. Sampson Award Charles P. Johnson
*Cum Laude members joined earlier inductees and classmates Luke T.
Apostolides, Felipe Leao, Michael R.
Montgomery, Jackson W. Schwartz,
Tyler T. Wilson, and Seth Yoo SENIOR-FACULTY HANDSHAKE
EACH YEAR, COMMENCEMENT features a special assembly of every Brunswick faculty member, from the Pre School through the Upper School, who arrive at graduation and organize themselves into a huge receiving line, awaiting arrival of their students.
No, they are not handing out late grades or pink slips or even the honor of the day, the brown-and-white diplomas. Instead, it’s handshakes and hugs that ensue.
This year, it was Burke Field House that served as the venue for the Brunswick tradition that is the Senior-Faculty handshake, where teachers from every division greet their students in the moments before Pomp & Circumstance heralds the soon-to-be-graduates into Commencement.
And this year, just like they do every year, both faculty and students found the experience to be uniquely meaningful.
“I look forward to the handshake,” said Thomas Pettengill, Upper School science teacher. “In many ways, it’s a
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
sad day and a day of excitement. It’s true for the teacher, too.”
“It meant a lot to me,” said Brian Hoffman, Upper School history teacher. “It was space to say goodbye. I look forward to hearing from these students in the future, to see what they are up to.”
“This is really something special to conclude our Brunswick journey,” said Danny Lauter ’22. “It means a lot for every student to say thank you to every teacher. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am.”
ABOVE The Boateng Family: Praise, Karen, Caleb, Rita, and Kwaku
OPPOSITE PAGE (TOP TO BOTTOM) The Johnson Family: Ellie (GA ’23), Rob, Charlie ’22, Katie, and Henry ’25 The Burdett Family: John ’22, Charlie ’18, Sarah, Lucy (GA ’22), Doug, and grandmother Marlys Edwards
TOP The Cleaves siblings: Chloe (GA ’26), Hank ’22, Colton ’28, and Cooper ’24 ABOVE Fritz Sanger and his grandmother, Helga Magargal LEFT Danny Lauter shakes the statuesque hand of Robert L. Cosby while processing into the ceremonies.
! CLASS OF 2022 S POTLIGHT ON CELEBRATION
CLOSING CEREMONIES
Third Time’s the Ultimate Charm
UPPER SCHOOL MATH TEACHER Grace Warne joined the ranks of
Brunswick’s finest as Head of School Thomas Philip named the longtime educator as recipient of the John F. Otto Award during Brunswick’s traditional Closing Ceremonies on June 7.
The award, one of the top honors given out each spring as Brunswick caps its school year, is “dedicated to those faculty members with the courage to pursue their individual vision with honesty and integrity, so as to earn the appreciation of their critics and the loyalty of their peers.”
Philip cited Warne, who has struggled with serious health problems for the past two years, as a “model of personal integrity, positive energy, and compassion.”
“Her presence in our hallways is a daily reminder of her dedication to our boys and our school, as well as the virtues of living each and every day as the gift that it is,” he said.
Closing Ceremonies was held in-person for the first time in three years. The proceedings honored Warne and a host of students and faculty members for outstanding accomplishments in the classroom, on the athletic fields, and in the school community.
Philip noted the gathering of the school community after two years that have arguably been the most unique in school history.
“There are, generally, three times a year when we get most of the school community together: Opening Day, the Holiday Assembly, and this ceremony,” he said. “The past few years have made these large gatherings a bit challenging, but here we are celebrating the successful conclusion of another Brunswick School year.”
Philip said Brunswick is built for times like this, and everything it does is in preparation for times when “things don’t go as planned, when you have to adjust and be flexible, the times when you have to dig a little deeper and give more of yourself than expected.”
“Boys and faculty, you have each, in your own way, delivered on that score this year. Thank you for the incredible and overwhelming success you’ve made this school year.”
The event concluded with the Moving-Up Ceremony, as eighth-grade students were welcomed to the Upper School, and juniors were named to the senior class.
Here’s the full list of this year’s award recipients:
MIDDLE SCHOOL AWARDS
Eleanor G. Lindberg Award William L. Jensen
Virginia I. Peterson Award Collin R. McCreath
Sarah B. Burdett Award Charles C. MacColl
Kulukundis Cup Pierce G. Crosby
Geis Cup Jake Greene
Williamson Trophy Nathaniel B. Lee
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Tom Philip and Grace Warne; William Jensen ’29 and Judy Gallagher; Anthony Fischetti and Nathan Lee ’26; Drew Dawson and Collin McCreath ’28
UPPER SCHOOL AWARDS
Cum Laude William B. Ewald Ryan W. Kulsakdinun Benjamin H. Sheppard Vilas A. Sorgaard-Srikrishnan Hunter J. Spiess
William A. Durkin III ’72 Alumni Award William Nook
Ike Dolphan ’22 Award Griffin Green
Princeton Alumni Award Andrew P. Tu
Columbia Book Award Thomas M. Whidden
Oaklawn Award Matthew Augustine
Randolph Award Devin Price Williams Book Award Ryan W. Kulsakdinun
Yale Alumni Award Holden F. Fraser
Harvard Book Award Hunter J. Spiess
Brown Book Award Jackson R. Fels
Arabic Award Magnus B. O’Reilly
Chinese Award Alden D. Reals
French Award Tomas Jasson
Italian Award Collin H. Eschricht
Spanish Award Theodore G. Sandler
Classics Award William B. Ewald Multilingual Award Matteo Santulin
Kenneth Merritt Mathematics Award Subir Garg
Fairfield Book Award Nikolas Sulkowski
Rensselaer Award Vilas A. Sorgaard-Srikrishnan
Computer Science Award Ryan W. Kulsakdinun
Grade Nine Service Award Jack Scafidi
Grade Ten Service Award Thomas M. Whidden
Grade Eleven Service Award Eric L. Lonnegren Grade Eleven Varsity Athletic Plaques Tomas J. Delgado Riley M. Gilsenan Luke R. Michalik Riley J. Redahan Malik A. Samms
Grade Ten Varsity Athletic Plaques Randolph P. Eddy Thomas H. B. Ewald
John F. Otto Faculty Award Grace Warne
Sheila Pultz Service to Brunswick Award Michael DeAngelo
TOP (LEFT TO RIGHT) Devin Price ’24 and Danny Dychkowski; Subir Garg ’25 and Richard Dobbins; Thomas Whidden ’24 and Doug Burdett
ABOVE (LEFT TO RIGHT) Andrew Tu ’24 and Derek Hruska; Mike Hannigan and Holden Fraser ’23; Vilas SorgaardSrikrishnan ’23 and Dana Montanez
