MAGAZINE - Poly Prep Country Day School

M A J O R S C H O O L A W A R D S
The annual Major Awards Chapel recognized Middle School (above) and Upper School
(below) award winners.
POLY ANNOUNCES
2007–2008 MAJOR
AWARD WINNERS
On May 27, Upper and Middle School
students gathered in the gym for Poly
Prep’s annual Major Awards Chapel.
The ceremony began with the Middle
School awards, which were presented
by Upper School students who had
previously received them.
The Maryanna Sheller Award, given
to a Grade 6 student deemed outstanding
in scholarship and character, was
presented to Edward Spinelli.
The Ralph Dupee Award is given
to the Form I students who have
made outstanding contributions in
academics, extracurricular activity,
and personal character. The award was
shared this year by Jacqueline Chirdo
and Christine Croasdaile, who will
serve as co-presidents of the Middle
School next year.
The Myron Ruckstull Award for
outstanding sportsmanship in daily life
at Poly was presented to eighth graders
Katharine Friel and Nicholas Caso. The
Marjorie Bull Award for outstanding
academic achievement in Grade 8 went
to Jennifer Shyue and Hans Bilger,
who won last year’s Dupee Award.
Math chair Anita DeRuiter presented
the first Upper School award,
the Emmett Gold Routt Cup, awarded
annually to the student who has shown
the greatest academic improvement
during senior year. She gave the
trophy to Matthew Mirman, whom she
praised for his grit, determination,
and intellectual ability.
The 2008 School Service Award
went to Katie Giovinazzo, praised
by peers and teachers for her extraordinary
initiative and hard work in
leading the Cambodia Project. (See
page 13.) The Service Award honors a
senior student for character, loyalty,
service, and decorum.
Performing arts teacher Sonya
Baehr presented Ian Holden with
the Creativity Prize, awarded to the
senior who has shown outstanding
originality and imagination in a particular
discipline. Baehr described
Holden as the embodiment of artistry
in theatre, dance, music, and film.
The 2008 Williams Prize for
Intellectual Curiosity was awarded
to two students, Margot Elmaleh
and Amedeo Turturro. Elmaleh was
described as a student
who is always thinking
about thinking, and
Turturro was called
patient and exacting.
The Williams Prize is
given to the senior
or seniors who most
clearly demonstrate a
genuine pursuit of
learning and enthusiasm
for knowledge.
Kevin Heller won the
Scull Plaque, awarded
annually to a senior who
has excelled in both
scholarship and athletics.
Heller’s talent and
ability have prompted a New York Mets
scout to say that he could easily play
major league baseball after college.
The celebrated Joseph Dana Allen
Award went to Elizabeth Balsam.
Named for the headmaster who served
Poly from 1917 to 1949, the honor is
awarded for the highest scholarship,
combined with commensurate character.
Balsam received an A or A+ in every
class but two, in which she earned A-.
The Poly Cup, given annually to the
senior who has stood for the most at
Poly, went to Jennifer Buchholz. Head
of Upper School Bud Cox called her
“a model of intellectual and moral
integrity.” Buchholz’s character, he
said, simply epitomizes the qualities
of empathy, humility, and courage.
When the awards had all been presented,
Grade 5 closed the Chapel by
singing “Far Down on the Heights Called
Dyker” to the outgoing Class of 2008.
SUMMER 2008 9