Graduation 2023

Graduation day was another gorgeous day in what was a gorgeous Spring here in VT!  I'm so proud of these young women.  Lucy Ambach (Molecular Biology and Biochemistry) and Manya Kula (Psychology) were both honored with Magna Cum Laude status, and both Laney Sullivan (Economics) and Addie Mahler (Joint Environmental Studies/Biology) were Summa Cum Laude, so right off the bat that's an impressive group of seniors!

On top of that, Laney received high honors by the Econ Department and was also the recipient of the D.K. Smith Economics Prize.  This is an award given to the student who writes the best senior thesis in the Economics Department.  WOW--well done, Laney!!

Addie also received department honors in both departments.  Additionally, she was awarded the Michael Moss '16 Prize in Environmental Studies.  This is an award to recognize a graduating senior whose academic success stems from a passion for the outdoors and the natural world, whose motivations transcend a job search or class ranking, and who demonstrates a genuine love for wildlife.  Very cool!  And, to top it off, Addie was selected as a Phi Beta Kappa recipient, so kudos to her for that wonderful list of honors.

Pictured here are the original class that started four years ago, so we all had a fun dinner out in town during senior week!  I'm going to miss this group, but fortunately Kelly will be back as a super-senior in the Fall!

And, as a throw-back, here's the picture from our opening BBQ their freshman year at the Knoll.  Finally, the last picture of the group is from Senior Night at our last home match of the season this Fall.

More Spring Awards and Presentations

Addie, Kelly and Laney all had thesis or senior work presentations this Spring, but at a later date than my previous post around the time of the Spring Symposium, and all three were fantastic.  Addie's was an oral presentation, and Laney's was a poster presentation, as was Kelly's.  Kelly did another presentation on her thesis work, this time in poster form, and it was fun to see the adjustments she'd made from the earlier time of her oral presentation for the Spring Symposium.  

I'm not sure you can read the titles of all of these presentations, but Addie's was for Environmental Studies and Biology, and both Laney and Kelly's were for their Economics majors.

I'm so proud of all of these seniors for their incredible careers, both academically and athletically!

Then, the other award that was presented at the Student Leadership Awards Ceremony this Spring was to Catilin Smith.  Caitlin received the Franklin G. Williams 1913 & Sara H. Williams 1912 Memorial Award.  This is awarded to sophomore student on the basis of deep human qualities of natural kindness, perceptivity of the needs and feelings of others, and an abiding sense of personal responsibility.  Caitlin is a very deserving recipient of this award and I was honored to be there to see her receive it.