Graduation Ceremonies

The Class of 2021

GRADUATES FROM THE HILL

Nestled in the St. Stephen’s Chapel on a stormy morning, Head of School Chris Gunnin addressed members of the Class of 2021, their families, teachers and staff who had gathered on The Hill for the school’s 71st Commencement Exercises on May 22.

“Graduates, today marks a special milestone in your lives,” Gunnin said. “We have gathered as a community today to applaud you for the work you have done, for the skills and concepts you have mastered, and for the young adults you are becoming. We give thanks to God for the relationships you have formed and the character you have forged. By every measure, you are committed to excellence, you are eager to engage in the world around you, and you are ready to make your mark in the world—just as you have made your mark here in the St. Stephen’s community.

“I would be remiss if I did not point out that you have faced what no St. Stephen’s class before you has,” Gunnin continued. “You have excelled as much and in some cases more, and you have faced unprecedented challenges of the last 16 months, having lived your formative high school years in a time of great anxiety created from a global pandemic.

“And through it all, you have endured, exhibited remarkable grit and shown generosity of spirit at a commendable level,” he concluded. “You have found new ways of learning, being, creating and connecting. Your spirit has been nothing short of inspiring.”

Following Gunnin’s enthusiastic welcome and heartfelt remarks by faculty speaker Ben Hines ’91, senior speaker Betsy Goodrum took the podium. “I can say with confidence that the teachers here are among the best in the world, and many of us would not be where we are today without the countless hours we’ve spent with these amazing people, both inside and outside the classroom,” said Goodrum, who was selected by her classmates to speak about their collective experiences during the ceremony.

“We all found a home inside the classrooms here at St. Stephen’s, and we will always be thankful for the time and energy you put into being the greatest teachers you can be,” she continued. “All of you make this school what it is. We love you.

“Unfortunately, many of our classmates have not been able to come to school this year and also cannot be here with us today,” she said of the 14 members of the class who lived and learned from their homes around the world throughout the pandemic and participated in the ceremony via videoconference. “Our grade feels incomplete without you here, and we wish that you could have been here to celebrate good times and bad at the senior tables, in the dorms and in our classrooms.

“I think we are all thankful for different things from our time at St. Stephen’s, but I think we can all agree that we are thankful for the beautiful campus, the ability to create lasting friendships and memories, for the grit, growth and persistence to fight through adverse circumstances, and the ability to learn how to adapt,” she said.

“As I reflected on our four years together, I think about how we have all learned resilience, experienced happiness; for that I think that we should all have a lot of gratitude,” Goodrum added before congratulating her classmates and wishing them great happiness in their lives.

Following tradition in a truly untraditional school year, the ceremony concluded with the presentation of major awards and diplomas, followed by the recitation of the school prayer and the benediction, led by the Rt. Rev. Kathryn Ryan, bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Congratulations, graduates!

PHOTOS LEFT PAGE: Connor Dodd and Annie Earthman RIGHT PAGE: Anouk Martin-Gachot, Michelle Ramirez, Ebube Oraelosi and Jolie Pham; Bryan Lugo Carrasco, Billal Lyzzaik, Mariana Garcia Vera, Patricio Solis and J.P. Lugo Carrasco

Medals and Honors

The Bishop John E. Hines Medal was named after the Rt. Rev. John Hines, founder of St. Stephen's Episcopal School, who was a man of extraordinary vision and bold action. The Bishop Hines Medal is awarded to the member of the graduating class who maintained the highest academic standing throughout their 11th- and 12th-grade years. The 2021 Bishop Hines Medal was presented to Linda Liu.

Named for the school’s first headmaster, The William Brewster Medal was established in 1960 by the St. Stephen’s faculty to recognize the 12th-grade student who made the greatest total contribution to the life of the school. The recipient is an engaged and talented student—strong across all disciplines and genuinely interested in “the life of the mind.” The 2021 Brewster Medal was presented to Betsy Goodrum.

The Dobbie Leverton Fenton Medal is awarded annually to a member of the 12th-grade class who promotes the values of social justice. This year’s Dobbie Leverton Fenton Medal was awarded to Grace Mugo.

The Velberta Asher Towner Award in the Performing Arts was named for a longtime member of the St. Stephen’s faculty and former chair of the fine arts department. This award is presented to two students who excelled in the performing arts. The 2021 Towner Award was presented to Bella Salazar Harper and Matthew Kim.

PHOTOS THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Head of School Chris Gunnin; senior speaker Betsy Goodrum; Troy Lanier, Carson Murtuza-Lanier and Miriam Murtuza, Ph.D.; Grace Mugo with Claire Simmonds; RIGHT PAGE: Vincent Moroz, Max Schaffer, A.J. Francois, Pato Garcia Muriel Pasquel and Jeronimo Perez Rocha Solorzano; Lina Kim, Annie Mooney and Fer Hurtado

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Hunter Thu, Sloan Wittliff, Jayan Nitzsche, Nic Valdes, Katherine Cline and Hattie White; Kate Beveridge; Yixuan Zhou, Jessica Shi, Zoe Zhao, Tyler Kuang, Cathy Xue, Miranda Zheng, Eddie Gao, Linda Liu, Watson Tao, James Li and Frank Fan

Diplomas with High Honors

Olivia Korensky Linda Liu J.P. Lugo Carrasco Billal Lyzzaik Carling McQuinn Carson Murtuza-Lanier Evan Schlesinger James Stephens Lara Tanner Nic Valdes Isabella Villarreal

Diplomas with Honors

Elly Abikhaled Olivia Avant Griffin Ball Whitney Ball Cavan Bennigson Kate Beveridge Trey Butter Veronica Cabeza de Vaca Penelope Cano Joseph Carruth Katherine Cline Gus Cosby Rose Danuser Jacob Dell Connor Dodd Jess Erben Maddie Ford A.J. Francois Eddie Gao Lauren Gill Kate Golson Jason Han Fer Hurtado Jada January Chiraag Kambalimath Lina Kim Matthew Kim Peter Lee Elizabeth Luciano Madeleine Lucid Anouk Martin-Gachot Sofia Messer Layla Metni Salma Mohamed Vincent Moroz Nina Mosler Grace Mugo Jayan Nitzsche Jolie Pham Abbie Prewitt Cooper Price Nick Rubin Bella Salazar Harper Marshall Schechter Sadie Shea Jessica Shi Patricio Solis Hunter Thu Hattie White Cathy Xue Serena Yao Hansen Zhang Zoe Zhao Yixuan Zhou

Cum Laude Society

Whitney Ball Rose Danuser Jason Han Jada January Chiraag Kambalimath Olivia Korensky Peter Lee Linda Liu J.P. Lugo Carrasco Billal Lyzzaik Carling McQuinn Sofia Messer Layla Metni Nina Mosler Carson Murtuza-Lanier Cooper Price Bella Salazar Harper Evan Schlesinger James Stephens Lara Tanner Nic Valdes Isabella Villarreal Hattie White

Student Leadership and Service Awards

The Catherine Elliott Montgomery Prize is awarded by a committee of teachers to the 12th-grade student whose creativity, character and scholarship give promise of a contribution in history or the social sciences. The 2021 Montgomery Prize was awarded to Linda Liu.

The Jan Hines Leadership Award is presented to those students who have made positive contributions to our school and worked tirelessly to make our community a better place. This year’s award was presented to Matthew Kim, Peter Lee, Billal Lyzzaik and Abbie Prewitt.

Service Learning Distinction Whitney Ball Isabella Villarreal

Equity and Inclusion Leadership and Service Award Fer Hurtado Chiraag Kambalimath Olivia Korensky Grace Mugo

DCWP Christian Goop Award Carson Murtuza-Lanier

International Student of the Year Peter Lee

National Chinese Honor Society Elly Abikhaled

Mathematics Award: TXML Carson Murtuza-Lanier

Proctor Medals Jorge Carzo Madero Jason Han Fer Hurtado Lina Kim Peter Lee Alex Liu Linda Liu J.P. Lugo Carrasco Billal Lyzzaik Salma Mohamed Annie Mooney Ebube Oraelosi Jolie Pham Bella Salazar Harper Chelsea Saucedo Patricio Solis Watson Tao Eliah Ugarte Nic Valdes Miranda Zheng

PHOTOS TOP TO BOTTOM: Ronik Gupta with Nina Mosler; Mia Gonzalez, Alexandra Weatherspoon, Casey Bray and Abbie Prewitt; Ethan Alphonso, Peter Lee and Matt Hutchison UPPER SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL GRADUATION GRADUATION

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Dylan Young, Jacob Dell and Ian Chamoun; Jada January; Colleen Hynes, Ph.D.; Elly Abikhaled

Book Prizes

English 12 Cooper Price Chinese 4 Salma Mohamed Chinese 6 Max Goldberg Chinese 7 Elly Abikhaled Spanish 5A Linda Liu Spanish 7 Carson Murtuza-Lanier Advanced Calculus AB Lara Tanner and Isabella Villarreal Multivariable Analysis Peter Lee Statistics and Selected Topics

Jeronimo Perez Rocha Solorzano Advanced Statistics Jason Han Engineering Cooper Price Theology Anouk Martin-Gachot Advanced European History H.P. Weber Advanced Physics Jason Han Advanced Biology II Billal Lyzzaik Advanced Chemistry II J.P. Lugo Carrasco Visual Studies III Layla Metni Advanced Art Anouk Martin-Gachot Advanced Art History Bella Salazar Harper Astrophysics Olivia Korensky and James Stephens Hammer Geology Award Carson Murtuza-Lanier Cloos Geology Award Olivia Korensky Projects in Science and Technology Peter Lee

Fine Arts Awards

The Rev. Charles Abram and Virginia Sumners Music Award is presented annually to a member of the 12thgrade class who made the greatest overall contribution to music at the school. The 2021 Sumners Music Award recipient was Linda Liu.

The Anne Dewey Guerin Award is awarded each year to the 12th-grade student who made the greatest contribution to the theatre program. This year’s Anne Dewey Guerin award was presented to Gus Cosby.

Awards of Excellence Creative Writing Linda Liu Outstanding Percussionist Jess Erben Outstanding Thunder Drums Nick Rubin Outstanding Piano Student Carson Murtuza-Lanier Orchestra Director’s Award Matthew Kim Outstanding Orchestral Leadership Linda Liu Outstanding Principal Players Nina Mosler and Bella Salazar Harper Outstanding Violin Student Salma Mohamed Outstanding Viola Student James Stephens Outstanding Cello Student Sofia Messer Excellence in Ceramics Anouk Martin-Gachot Excellence in Photography Sarah Courtney Outstanding Theatre Technician Eliah Ugarte Outstanding Dance Performer Sadie Shea Outstanding Choreographer Annie Earthman Outstanding Choral Student Cooper Price Spartan Film Eli Black Person-Up Award Dylan Young Theatre Focus Award Gus Cosby, Kate Golson, Layla Metni and Eliah Ugarte

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Matthew Kim; Elizabeth Hansing Moon with Bella Salazar Harper; Devlin Hieber and Mary Grace Wieland UPPER SCHOOL UPPER SCHOOL GRADUATIONGRADUATION

Athletics Awards

The Don Cunningham Memorial Awards are presented to a female and male Spartan who lettered in three sports in their 12th-grade year and demonstrated outstanding talent, leadership, dedication and sportsmanship. This year’s Cunningham Awards were presented to Whitney Ball and Luke Near.

The David Paschall Award was created to recognize and honor outstanding accomplishments of students in academics and athletics. To be eligible for the award, a student must earn a varsity letter during each term and maintain honor roll status during the fall and winter terms. The 2021 award recipients were Whitney Ball, Olivia Korensky, Luke Near, Abbie Prewitt and Hunter Thu.

The Athletic Leadership Award is presented each year to two student-athletes who demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities throughout Upper School. The 2021 Athletic Leadership Award was presented to Connor Dodd and Abbie Prewitt.

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Jon McCain with Luke Near; the Rt. Rev. Kathryn Ryan; Jon McCain with Whitney Ball

All-South Zone Award Winners

Cross Country Sloan Wittliff Cross Country Jayan Nitzsche Cross Country Katie Cline Cross Country Hattie White Field Hockey Sarah Courtney Boys Volleyball Griffin Ball Boys Volleyball J.P. Lugo Girls Volleyball Whitney Ball Girls Basketball Whitney Ball Girls Soccer Alex Weatherspoon Boys Soccer Ian Chamoun Boys Soccer Hudson Seade Boys Soccer Max Schaffer Boys Lacrosse Jason Layton Girls Lacrosse Whitney Ball Boys Tennis Davis Wallin Boys Tennis Chiraag Kambalimath Boys Tennis Vincent Moroz Girls Tennis Veronica Cabeza de Vaca Girls Track Katie Cline Girls Track Hattie White Boys Track Jayan Nitzsche Boys Track Sloan Wittliff Baseball Max Goldberg

PHOTOS TOP: Rebecca Gibbs, La-Mont King, Charlton Perry; BOTTOM: Hai Zheng Olefsky, Andy Aceves, Octavia Sadler and Gretchen Inman, R.N.

Special Faculty and Staff Recognition

At the end of the academic year, awards of excellence were presented to the following outstanding teachers and staff.

Rebecca Gibbs, Upper School mathematics instructor, and La-Mont King, Middle School P.E. coordinator and head basketball coach, were awarded the Dean H. Towner Master Teaching Chair.

Director of Outdoor Education Charlton Perry was awarded the John D. Gerhart ’61 Master Teaching Chair.

Hai Zheng Olefsky, Chinese instructor and assistant director of the International Program, was awarded the Master Teaching Chair in Critical Languages.

English instructor Andy Aceves received the Upper School Teacher Excellence Award.

History teacher Octavia Sadler received the Middle School Teacher Excellence Award.

Gretchen Inman, R.N., director of health services, received the Staff Excellence Award.

Fond Farewells to the FitzGerald Family

It is with great sadness, yet full hearts, that the St. Stephen’s Episcopal School community bids farewell to the FitzGerald family as they leave campus this summer to embark on the next chapter of their life in the northeast. The school will miss the leadership of the Rev. Todd FitzGerald, who has inspired and supported our community as school chaplain since 2012, the valuable contributions of Amy FitzGerald, who served as our school archivist and library assistant, and their daughters, Stella ’20 and Florie (a rising 7th grader).

“Father Todd shared with me that he has accepted the call to serve as priest in charge at St. John's Episcopal Church in West Hartford, Conn.,” Head of School Chris Gunnin announced in late spring. “I am deeply grateful for Todd's leadership and service to the St. Stephen’s community.

“Throughout the past nine years, Father Todd bolstered our sense of Episcopal identity and taught us how to live into it daily,” Gunnin said. “In addition to enhancing our service learning program and strengthening our partnership with St. Etienne in Haiti, he made significant contributions to our diversity, equity and inclusion work, particularly in creating our shared vision for the Bishop Hines Center for Social Justice. His positive impact will be felt within our school community and beyond for many years to come.

MIDDLE SCHOOL closing ceremony

On May 28, the St. Stephen’s community celebrated 8th-grade students’ graduation from Gunn Hall and the numerous accomplishments of all Middle School students. The morning kicked off with the Middle School Closing Ceremony and was followed by a festive campus car parade for students and their families.

During the morning ceremony, Head of School Chris Gunnin and Middle School Head Magnus Maccow recognized the students’ tremendous energy and great resilience throughout the year. Following their remarks, a number of special academic, artistic, athletic and community leadership awards were presented.

The Academic Hall of Fame Award, which is presented each year to the students who achieved High Honor Roll status every term for the three years of Middle School, was presented to Alexander Agrawal, Evan McGinnis, Audrey Wan and Claire Wan.

Audrey Wan (8th grade), Emma Ton (7th grade) and Abby Cohen (6th grade) were recognized for their outstanding scholarship and for achieving Highest Academic Standing in Their Class.

Named for the first head of Middle School, the Priscilla Foster Award recognizes an inspiring student leader with a can-do spirit and desire to help others. Eighth grader Annabel Furlong was awarded the 2021 Priscilla Foster Award.

Levi Skaistis (7th grade) and Eli Sahely (6th grade) were recognized with the Citizenship Award for reflecting the highest traditions and core values of our school.

The Linda Douglass Spirit of Hope Award, which recognizes a student leader who exemplifies what it means to make a difference in the school community and beyond, was presented to Rett Berger.

Golden Pen Awards were presented to Rebecca Cole (8th grade), Clare Burkhart (7th grade) and Abby Cohen (6th grade).

The Middle School’s Spiritual Leadership Award was given to Annie Ehrlich.

The Anne Teel Athletics Award was presented to Clara Rogers, and the Hunter Paschall Athletics Award went to Zach Prager.

PHOTOS (FROM TOP TO BOTTOM): Emma Eggleston, Kaitlyn Wurtsbaugh and Talia Alphonso; Steely Horne-Lalande, Nevita McCormick and Magnolia Lowrey-Sugg; Rex Lauryssen, Will Perkins, Evan McGinnis, Finn Springer and Jake Chapman

PHOTOS CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: Eason Zhao, Aaron Bellm, Charlie Dugan and Gabe Sahely; Gene and Marlexa Phillips with Trey Phillips; Josie Mullan; Lizzie White and Jade Wong