Alumni Spotlight

NCCS Students Receive Media Accolades!

Congratulations to Amanda Miller ’19 and Lindsay Ferretti ’19 for being named “Teens to Watch” by New Canaan, Darien & Rowayton Magazine, and to Kiera Smith ’26, Hunter Harper ’24 and Seth Yoo ’19 who were similarly named “18 under 18” by Bedford, New Canaan Magazine.

Prior recipients include:

Audrey Magnusen ’19

Amitav Nott ’19

Margaret Ruvinsky ’19

Sydney Coffield ’18

Arjun Dayal ’18

Jack Johnson ’18

Olivia Sheridan ’17

Cam Raker ’16

Alexandra Truwit ’15

Bella Bean ’14

Will Wapler ’14

John Fox ’13

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If not, please send your preferred email address to Director of Alumni Affairs Holly Donaldson Casella ’04 at hcasella@countryschool.net.

Caitlin Neafsey graduated from St. Luke’s School, where she earned the Athlete of Distinction Award for participating in 12 varsity seasons (soccer, squash and lacrosse) and was the captain of the squash team. Caitlin also participated in the visual arts, school publications, the yearbook and as a school tour guide. She attends Cornell University.

Sidney Osinloye graduated with academic honors from Brien McMahon High School where she was active in community service activities and led a school club. A fouryear honors student, Sidney received an IB French Award, AP Literature and Composition Award and honors awards. She attends Pennsylvania State University.

Reed Parmelee graduated from St. Luke’s School with academic honors, received a bronze medal for his performance on the national Spanish Exam, was a co-captain of the varsity tennis team and was honored with the Heart of the Storm Award for Commitment and Effort in tennis. He attends the University of Richmond.

48 Ram Perez graduated with high honors from Brien McMahon High School of Norwalk and represented his class as a student speaker at graduation. While attending BMHS, Ram founded the Wellness & Fitness Club, was a youth lacrosse coach, a captain of the lacrosse and soccer teams and was elected president of the Student Governance Council. A dedicated Horizons at NCCS volunteer, Ram was a featured speaker at the program’s high school graduation ceremony held in the spring and an assistant teacher in the summer program. Ram attends the University of Virginia. For more, please see page 42.

Noah Rizvi graduated with academic honors from St. Luke’s School, where he was a co-captain of the tennis team. He attends the University of Indiana.

Devan Phelan graduated from Rye Country Day School, were he was named a 2021 Community Engagement Fellow for his work with the Norwalk Community College Horizons program, planning a service learning day for Pre-K through Middle School students at Horizons Norwalk Community College, creating a yearbook for the program, and helping with general logistics to keep the program running in the future. He also participated in the U.S. Invitational Young Physicists Tournament (USIYPT), an annual physics research and debate tournament for high school students where he was on the team that presented “A Magnetic Force Law.”

49 Thomas Ricciardelli graduated with academic honors from The Taft School, where he was a member of the student government and captained the varsity hockey and lacrosse teams. Thomas received Taft’s 2022 Stone Award (leadership, consistent high level of performance, perseverance and good sportsmanship), Angier Ice Hockey Trophy, the Ogden Award (lacrosse MVP) and was named Western (lacrosse) Goalie of the Year, an Under Armour All-American and a U.S. Lacrosse All-American. He attends Notre Dame University.

50 Margaret Ruvinsky graduated from King School, where she received the Nancy Cunningham Nickerson Award (commitment to improving the lives of those facing physical and/or spiritual challenges, and having an abiding concern for others) and the Cathy Mishkin King Cares Award, given to the student who engages with joy and enthusiasm in activities that involve helping and working with younger children. Maggie was one of the leaders of the 2022 King Connections, a club that partners with the Children’s Learning Centers of Fairfield County.

Daniela Soto graduated with academic honors from Rye Country Day School, receiving the Robert Reeser Memorial Award (given to the senior who has displayed a growing interest and talent in math over the years) and the Mary Ann Reichhardt Memorial Award (given to a senior for a combination of outstanding academics and contributions to the school). In addition, she played varsity soccer, founded and led a club called Paws for a Cause that works to increase awareness for animal welfare and led a peer mentoring program that works with middle and upper school girls. Daniela received the Scholastics Gold and Silver Key for the Art and Writing Competition as well as recognition in a Congressional Art Competition. She attends Middlebury College.

Samantha Stevens graduated with academic honors and was invited to join the National Honor Society at Darien High School. She was also inducted into both the Spanish and Science National Honors Societies and received an AP scholar award. She received first place in the Principles of Business Management state competition and competed in the International Career Development Conference in 2021. Additionally, Samantha played varsity soccer and volunteered at the nonprofit agencies Building One Community and the Youth Community Fund of Darien. She also was president of the DECA Business Club and the Rowan Center Student Advisory Council, an organization with the mission of eliminating sexual violence on school campuses by providing insight, information and perspective. Samantha attends the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Ellie Walker is a senior on the academic honor roll and member of the cum laude society at Blair Academy. At the school’s prize day, Ellie received the Edyth Jeffrey Shakespeare Essay Prize, the Junior History Prize and the Global Issues Prize. Previously, she has received the Sophomore English Prize, Sophomore History Prize and has won the Shakespeare Essay Prize three consecutive years. Ellie is a leader in the school’s student government and has been named captain of the varsity crew team.

Ellie led Blair students in a seminar about Bayard Rustin, Martin Luther King Jr.’s