Each year at Commencement, the Faculty Prize Committee awards special prizes to students. Below is this year's prize winners along with a special citiation offered by Headmaster Dougherty.
The Prize for Unswerving Loyalty and Outstanding Integrity in the Fulfillment of School Responsibilities in memory of Roswell Miller, III, of The Hill School Class of 1940: Anders Hogstrom
"Pop Quiz. Who is Tony Bennett? Right – perhaps the most popular jazz vocalist of the last 60 years. Next: Who is Bill Evans? Don’t know? Bill Evans, his piano accompanist, brought out the best in Tony Bennett every night. So too, on the piano for Hill vocalists and choral groups, in Robins House, in four AP classes, with his sincerity, kindness, and his own confident anonymity, this young man has brought out the best in us. We know now that he “has the world on a string” and that “the best is yet to come,” next, in “Chicago,” it’s his “kind of town” (and university), the winner of the Roswell Miller Prize for loyalty and integrity, Anders Bertil Hogstrom."
The Nicolai H. Hiller, Jr. Memorial Prize awarded annually to that member of the School who best demonstrates the Spirit of Exemplary Effort and Loyal Service to Fellow Students and the School: Greta Witter
"In all that she does, she affirms, “I am accustomed to excellence.” And then she seems to say “I am not comfortable with praise.” Very well, but she routinely receives it – the Isaac Thomas Award at Junior Prize Day; as team captain, the MAPL championship field hockey trophy; as a prize-winning poet, esteem from laureate Billy Collins; as an early accept at Washington and Lee my note of congratulations; as head of the Student Philanthropy Council gratitude from the Sixth Form Leadership winner; as yesterday’s Class Day speaker, applause, sincere applause – and she does so proudly, graciously, “accustomed to excellence,” but still “uncomfortable with praise,” the winner of the Hiller Prize for exemplary effort and loyal service, Greta Bradford Witter."
The Medal awarded by The Hill School for the late Oscar Cox in memory of his father, Jacob Cox, for the greatest improvement in scholarship at The Hill School: Kyle Regensburg
"Like the triple play in baseball, this award, highly esteemed, is nonetheless rooted in trouble. No outs, two men on. That’s a problem. And “greatest improvement” from one year to the next, likely a problem. To pitch out of trouble, let’s call on the Big Guy. To raise a GPA from 2.8 to 3.6, let’s call on the Big Guy, who despite injuries, surgery, rehab, the works, had a terrific spring on the baseball field, gained admission to Wilkes University, and receives today the Cox Medal for greatest improvement in scholarship, Kyle Lee Regensburg."
The Head of Sixth Form Award for the highest Grade Point Average for the Year: Anthony Ferrara
"In the spirit of this Triple Crown season, this young man and two others (John Oberbeck and Bill Phonsomin in a runner-up tie) thoroughbreds all, raced neck and neck and neck to a photo finish, decided by .078 of a point, less than a hair’s breadth. The laurels go finally to this young man, the Head of Form for the Class of 2010, Anthony Stephen Ferrara."
The Headmaster’s Prize for Exemplary Effort and Sterling Contribution to The Life and Work of the School is given in memory of James D. Andrew, of The Hill School Class of 1922, and Virginia Andrew and family: Anthony Ferrara
"Some men are uncomplicated, direct, a simple folk song, sincerely sung. Some are mysterious, elusive, a shadow behind a veil in the dark, a gauzy Debussy tone poem; some are complicated, a ganglia of impressions, voices, actions, emotions, a Stravinsky ballet. And some, like this young man, are complex – lines of character distinct, coherent, but interweaving, intersecting, one more prominent, then another, fugal, a Bach prelude, a magnificent whole. He is quiet and thoughtful, eloquent and expansive; reserved, not reticent; observant, not detached; athletic, but strategic and wily. Artistic but utilitarian; hard-working but economical; generous, generous of time and care. For all of his success – the Sixth Form rhapsodized at his college choices this spring before he chose Princeton – he is altogether “for others.” At another time, in another place, a medieval one, he would by now be cloistered, reflective and prayerful, devoted to a life of the mind and spirit. In this century, he is impelled to step outside that sanctuary, share, serve, lead by doing. For all of that here, he has earned the admiration of students and faculty who know him well and those who do not know him at all. They know simply that he aspires to and typically achieves simple, pure excellence, including the highest distinction bestowed on a student by the faculty of The Hill School, the Headmaster’s Prize for Exemplary Effort and Sterling Contribution to The Life and Work of the School, Anthony Stephen Ferrara."
The Archibald R. Montgomery Award, presented by the Class of 1973, to that Sixth Former who has demonstrated the greatest friendship and personal concern for fellow students: Hee Won "Jennifer" Kang
"Upon his death last October, former Hill School Headmaster Arch Montgomery was honored as a visionary, having urged the admission of young women to the school forty years before. He would have been proud. But on this stage in 2001, the Hill’s sesquicentennial year, he was prouder still, with the creation of this award and the ideals it honors: friendship, concern for others. And he today would be altogether proud that this young woman, elected by her classmates, receives this Award, Hee Won (Jennifer) Kang."
The Prize presented by The Aurelian Honor Society of Yale University for Character, Leadership and Scholarship: David Elliott Williams
"Some years ago, during a tour of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, I declared to Mrs. Dougherty that there were entire, very large buildings there devoted to subjects that I had never heard of before: the Space Nanotechnology Laboratory, the Microphotonics Center, the Chemical Beam Epitaxy Group, Au Bon Pain (Kay explained that’s where we’d go for a Portobello and goat cheese sandwich). This man knows, cares, cares deeply about such matters, and so will go to Boston to study them, but cares just as much about his band of friends, his advisees in Robins House, Kelly Rose’s prize-winning short story, and his school. The winner of the Aurelian Honor Society Prize is David Elliott Williams."
The Award presented by the Alumni for the Best General Record in the Sixth Form: Greg Clark
"At the end of an epic Hill-Lawrenceville 1-1, double-overtime soccer match in November, twenty-two young men collapsed in exhaustion, Teddy Roosevelt stuff, faces marred by dust and sweat and blood, striving valiantly, daring greatly. One rather quiet, even shy young man, this one, seemed mildly surprised at the attention, the appreciation he received. He had just done his job, he seemed to say, and in the course of it scored a goal – great pass from Carlo he demurred – and modestly walked away, shaking hands with friend and foe, a tableau of understated, humble excellence, fit for Dickinson College and recognition for the Best General Record, Gregory Alan Clark."
The J. T. Moore, Jr., ’41, Special Recognition Award, presented by the School in recognition of outstanding leadership in enhancing the morale, spirit, and character of the Class: Hee Won Kang
"In deference to time, I failed to mention earlier that this young woman will attend Penn this fall. Now I have. Likewise, I overlooked that in deference to Penn, she declined this fall to compete for a prestigious scholarship elsewhere. And so now I can declare that her leadership and influence at The Hill begin and end with her sure sense of herself and her devotion to others and this school. She leads because she understands fully the burden and honor that others will follow her. The winner of the J.T. Moore Award for Outstanding Leadership is Hee Won (Jennifer) Kang."
The Wilbur C. Riley Memorial Award, to a young man for outstanding Leadership and high Sportsmanship in competitive athletics: Tyler Mueller
Arrived as a wrestler, not a runner; built like a wrestler, not a runner; fights like a wrestler, not a runner; headed to Lehigh like a wrestler, not a runner; and like no one else in the Class of 2010 has through sheer passion for excellence earned the Riley Award for leadership and sportsmanship, Tyler Clayton Mueller.
The Marion D. Patterson, Jr. Memorial Prize for Unswerving Loyalty and Outstanding Integrity in the Fulfillment of School Responsibilities: Jessica Argenti
"In her first words as chair of our Honor Council, she spoke simply and profoundly in chapel: “We choose to trust.” “We choose to trust.” Such innocence, such wisdom, such courage. And so many reasons in this world not to trust, risking pain, loss, absurdity. The leadership of this young woman – in field hockey, basketball, and softball; in a prefectship; on the Honor Council – is a function of bold, hopeful trust, in teammates, in friends, in principles and ideals that matter. You know. “Whatsoever Things Are True.” She bet it all, trusted. And look at this wonderful reward. The Patterson Prize for loyalty and integrity to Jessica Frances Argenti."
The Prize presented by the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Philadelphia to the student who excels in his or her scholastic record and who possesses inherent character and integrity. It is given not only in recognition of these qualities and attainments, but also as an incentive to good scholarship at the level of higher education: John Oberbeck
"Encouraged in his Hill admission application to explain his prowess as a soccer player, the eighth grader vacillated: “Did I mention I can now take apart a water bottle, reload it, and put it back together? With my eyes closed?” Our counselors got it; he played little, humbled himself impishly, and enjoyed bringing mirth to others. Well we know now. In a second or two, time to re-load his wit – and who here has not agonized in those two seconds, awaiting his riposte? – he can easily summon a passionate case against health care legislation, for the consolation that philosophy brings Boethius, or in incitement of his JV hockey teammates in a locker room pep talk. He’s that quick, he’s that engaged, he’s that passionate. And he is the recipient of the Hill School prize for scholastic excellence and integrity, Brown-bound John Woodbridge Oberbeck."
The Jodi Calvario ’03 Award given to that young woman who demonstrates outstanding Leadership and high Sportsmanship in competitive athletics: Amelia Lawrence
"The Dell Field scoreboard clock presaged the joy, a 15-9 victory over Lawrenceville, and dispatched the pain, a lifetime of it – pain she regarded as a gift; a gift she turned to grit; a grit that she grinded ceaselessly into success in track and lacrosse; and a success that she celebrates with an indelibly joyful laugh, one she will surely whoop at Lake Forest College when she ponders all of this and the Calvario Award for leadership and sportsmanship, Amelia Ann Keyworth Lawrence."
The Charles A. Frank III, ’59 Award, established in his honor by the Board of Trustees and Headmaster in 2007, recognizes in its pure form philanthropy, the love of mankind. Exemplified best in service to others, this spirit, cultivated in all students at The Hill, encourages them to give back to others and inspires them to do more for school, community, and country: Monica Yordan
"Oseh Shalom: “"He who makes peace in Heaven will make peace for us throughout Israel.” So she sang at Parents’ Weekend in celebration of “Our Common Humanity” and in expression of the kindness and goodwill she embodies daily. Embroidered by her whimsical smile, they are qualities endearing and disarming, all the more so when one realizes that they have exacted of him countless dollars in support of Colombia – I have a closet full of Care Colombia tee-shirts! – that attest as well to the savvy, astute, and spirited service to others – the kind that Middlebury will admire – that mark the recipient of the Charles Frank Award for philanthropy, Monica Elizabeth Yordan."
The Hill School Achievement Award, donated by the Reuben Family, is given to that Hill School Sixth Former who, in the opinion of the Faculty Prize Committee, demonstrates the greatest improvement during the course of his or her Hill School experience. The award is to recognize not only improvement, but also strength of resolve, character, and a desire to achieve in some area: Reid Wilson
"The Eighteenth Century poet Thomas Gray in his “Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College” knew kids: “Where ignorance is bliss, ‘tis folly to be wise.” And for three years this young man was sublimely happy, content in a world that few entered and he seldom exited. Heed Dougherty Axiom #1: All kids grow up, even blossom, but almost never on our schedule. Exhibit A: This tall, bright, able, athletic, and genuinely kind, thoughtful young man has blossomed, in his own good time, thank you very much, and heads to Bowdoin with the respect of faculty and students and with the Reuben Family Award for the greatest improvement in his Hill School career, Reid Elliot Wilson."
The Hill School Prize for Unique Leadership: Alexander Hero
"For a unique Sixth Form president a unique award, recognizing his unorthodox campaign for the office, one with an actual platform, not just planks of promises and promotion; a strategy for change, a coherent plan to reason with the school community to modify the daily schedule to encourage more rest and wellness; a combative New York City toughness to withstand the criticism of it; and a tenacity to see it through. The result? One of the most significant changes in the daily routine and culture of this 159-year old school in recent memory. Before heading to Amherst, he deserves special gratitude today, and a special prize, one for unique leadership. Alexander Byron Hero."