Upper School Students Recognized at Year-End Academic Awards Assembly

The special recognition program covers several categories, including general awards, honor society inductions, book prizes, senior class merit awards, senior academic awards, and the outstanding faculty award. Any military or service academy appointments are also acknowledged at this assembly.

To begin the program, new members were inducted into the Cum Laude Society, the French Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, the Latin Honor Society, and the Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society.

General academic achievement awards were then presented. Those included:

The Rensselaer Award is given annually by Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to a junior who has distinguished himself or herself in mathematics and science and demonstrates potential for success in a science or technologically oriented profession. The 2024 recipient is Timothy Wright ’25.

The Stewart Chemistry Award honors Dr. Jay Stewart, long-time and devoted Chairman of the Science Department. It is given annually to the student with the most outstanding achievement and genuine interest in chemistry. The 2024 recipient is Aliza Monaldo ’24.

The Bausch & Lomb Junior Medal is awarded in recognition of outstanding achievement and superior intellectual promise in the field of science. The 2024 recipient is Grant Lonergan ’25.

The Wilmer Stone Creative Writing Award is given to the author of the best creative literary work during an academic year as determined by the English Department Faculty. The 2024 recipient is Kiernan Robinson ’24, for his graphic novel Work in Progress.

Book Awards are sponsored by selected colleges and universities, who annually choose to recognize distinguished members of the junior class. This year’s prizes were awarded to:

Established in 1955, The National Merit Scholarship Program recognizes students for their academic promise each year. Students are identified for recognition based on their scores on the PSAT taken during their junior year in high school. The qualifying scores in Maryland are among the highest in the country.

The National Merit Scholarship Program named one Severn student, Whitney Grimes ’24, a finalist in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Competition. The qualifying scores in Maryland are among the highest in the country. This year, approximately 16,000 semifinalists were named finalists.

The following thirteen Severn School students have also been named as Commended Students in the National Merit Scholarship Program, placing them among the top 50,000 scorers of the more than 1.5 million students who took the 2022 PSAT:

Additionally, three other Severn students earned recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Jennifer Gomez-Gallardo ‘24 received the National Hispanic Recognition Award, and Giselle Torain ‘24 and Iwinosa Ede-Osifo ‘25 received the National African American Recognition Award.

Upper School English teacher Jason Salinas also presented certificates to the five Severn graduating seniors who intend to serve their country through military service. Salinas recognized the following:

Student Council President Sean Ward announced the 2024 recipient of the Julian A. Domenech Outstanding Faculty Award, which recognizes the faculty member who the student body believes has made the most significant contribution to the students and has shown creativity and enthusiasm for their subject matter. This year's recipient, selected by the students, is Apryl Doyle, an Upper School English teacher.

The following senior awards were also presented:

Kirby English Award—Timothy Stephen Kirby (Severn '58) presented the School with a plaque inscribed each year with the name of the senior class member who has shown the greatest proficiency in the study of English. The English Department presented Douglas Schwartz with the 2024 award.

Albert K. Hawkins History Award—In 1959, the Patrons' Club of Severn School approved the inauguration of an award in memory of Albert K. Hawkins, a former Headmaster at Severn. This award, a plaque on which the name of each year's recipient is inscribed, was established to honor a member of the graduating class who has shown a genuine interest and outstanding achievement in history during his/her stay at Severn. The two 2024 recipients are Emily Sutton and Benjamin Veiel.

The Frederick S. Hemry Spanish Award—This award was created by Mr. Harold Slanker (Severn '49) in memory of Fred S. Hemry, a former Spanish teacher at Severn. It recognizes each year the student who shows the greatest promise and achievement in the study of Spanish. The 2024 honorees are Douglas Schwartz and Jennifer Gomez-Gallardo.

The Jeannine Mollet Iwanicki French Award - A plaque, donated by her family, is inscribed each year with the name of the student who shows the greatest promise and achievement in the study of French. The 2024 recipients are Kiernan Robinson and Whitney Grimes.

Richard Lynch Latin Award—This award is presented in memory of Richard Lynch, a former teacher of Latin at Severn, to the student who has demonstrated an exceptional knowledge of and appreciation for the Latin language. The award also recognizes demonstrated appreciation for the heritage of classical antiquity and respect for our own American culture. This year’s Latin Award winner is Charles Friedrich.

Mathematics Award - The Class of 1959 presented to the school a plaque on which is inscribed each year the name of the member of the graduating class who, while at Severn School, excelled in a rigorous mathematics-focused program, including high-level courses, electives, and activities, and consistently made a positive contribution to the mathematical culture of Severn School. The 2024 winner is Whitney Grimes.

The Sandy Hoffman Memorial Science Award is presented for excellence in the sciences and the humanities. Created by Dr. Kenneth Hoffman in memory of his wife who, before her untimely death, gave of herself to the Severn community not only as a teacher of science but also as a woman of broad knowledge, unusual wisdom, and genuine caring, this award is intended to recognize the student who has achieved honors in science with strong ability and demonstrated interest in the humanities and the arts. The 2024 recipient is Emily Sutton.

Bauer Family Technology Award—This award recognizes excellence, initiative, and enthusiasm in the study and use of technology. It was originally established in 1984 as the Computer Science Award. In recognition of the significant and generous contributions of members of the Bauer family toward advancing the use and instruction of computer-related technology at Severn School, this award is now given in their honor. The 2024 honorees are Aliza Monaldo and Dylan Fenn.

C. Markland Kelly, Jr., Athletic Service Awards - This award is made possible by the Ensign C. Markland Kelly, Jr., Memorial Foundation, Inc., in memory of a young man who gave his life to help perpetuate the ideals that have made America great. It is presented to the students who best demonstrate outstanding characteristics in rendering service to their school's athletic program. Criteria considered in selecting the honoree include leadership, promotion of athletics within the school, teamwork, sportsmanship, and scholarship. The 2024 recipients are Skyler Morton and Jack Hayman.

Community Service Award—This award is given to a senior who has freely given his/her time above and beyond Severn's service expectations during their time in the Upper School. A strong and ongoing commitment to serving others in an exemplary and noteworthy manner is taken into consideration. The 2024 recipient is Jennifer Gomez-Gallardo.

Principal's Award—The Upper School Head gives this award to a senior who has demonstrated personal growth, maturity, dependability, and integrity while attending Severn School. The 2024 recipient is Nicholas Hanson.