Graduation 2023

Thank you, Mr. Parisi. Thank you as well, to Ms. St. Paul, Mr. Avlon, Ms. Hughes Johnson and the Board of Trustees, Mr. Bland, Dr. Palmer, Ms. Sugrue, Mr. Ruiz, and members of faculty and staff for making today possible. Finally, to the Class of 2023, congratulations and thank you for entrusting me with the honor of culminating our time at Milton.

Also, mom and dad: Surprise!

I chose not to tell my parents that I would be giving a Graduation speech this morning, which began by accident (I promise), but I decided to continue for the element of surprise. Let me tell you—it was really difficult to come up with new excuses every time my mom asked what I was so busy working on during senior spring. So, sorry, mom and dad.

I’ve been shocking my parents my whole life. When I was younger, I was an extremely curious toddler—honestly, in a way that was often a nightmare for my parents. I would ask a million questions. I loved talking to strangers, wandering off in the park, and putting random puzzle pieces in my mouth. That curiosity eventually reached a ceiling: when I was two years old, I put my left hand in a blender. Gory, right?

I had multiple surgeries, skin grafts and hours of physical therapy, but even today, my left index finger and middle finger are two stubs and I have limited motor skills on my left hand. In elementary school and for much of middle school, being different isn’t typically something that’s appreciated, and so I was bullied for my hand relentlessly. My parents encouraged me to lean into it: to answer the questions people had, no matter how inquisitive they might be. In case you were wondering: I do not get 20 percent off when I go to the nail salon. Though, to be fair, I’ve also never asked, so who knows? Unfortunately, I still used to come home in tears—my fingers were still called weird, and creepy.

So, when I came to Milton, I decided I was never going to talk about it again—it clearly separated me from everyone. I wanted to push down that part of myself, suppress it until it didn’t exist anymore, and I succeeded.

Then, in the spring of my junior-year English class, Literature and the Human Condition, we were assigned an essay to read, titled “On Self-Respect” by Joan Didion, and I came upon a set of lines that has stuck with me with me since: “Self-deception remains the most difficult deception. The charms that work on others count for nothing in that devastatingly well-lit back alley where one keeps assignations with oneself: no winning smiles will do here, no prettily drawn lists of good intentions.”

Reading those lines, I began to realize that I had spent a large chunk of my life existing in some form of self-deception: I had chosen to extinguish a part of my individuality, of myself, in fear of the outside world, in fear of what others around me might say. I have deceived myself more than times than I can count. We all have. We’ve deceived ourselves into thinking that if this one thing works out for us then life will be perfect, that bad relationships are good relationships, and that we have more time with the people we love than we actually do. The unfortunate, inconvenient consequences of self-deception also mean that we are messing with our own self-representation.

Here’s the thing: When we let other people dictate our choices, they dictate who we are, and how we move through the world. The people who love and care for you will be there for who you are—so, don’t modify and mold yourself in fear of others: show up as you are. Make the choices that allow you to be the most authentic, truest version of yourself, because that’s what self-representation is.

Okay, so this all sounds great in theory—self-representation and self-respect—but it is heart-wrenchingly difficult to put into practice. The good thing is, though, when you’re letting go of the decisions that you make to accommodate others, you’re making space for the decisions that will make you happy, and inviting people into your life who will do the same. Now, this doesn’t mean we’re not going to regret some of the choices we make, for example, me thinking I could pack up an entire dorm room in the span of an hour? Not a smart choice. Wearing five-inch heels to Boat Dance? Not a smart choice, as I and many of the people behind me can attest to. Putting your hand in a blender? Probably not a smart choice.

We’ll make choices that leave us with scars, both emotional and physical, choices that will break us into hundreds of little pieces, but guess what? Those tiny pieces eventually come together to make a beautiful mosaic of who we truly are; because they are our choices and ours alone, and we are better, more interesting, more fulfilled people for making those choices. And anyways, you’re the one looking at the mosaic hanging in your house at the end of the day, so wouldn’t you rather have it be a mosaic of the choices you made to fulfill yourself, rather than the choices you made to indulge others?

So, today as we leave Milton, and embark upon this journey that feels terrifying, massive, exciting and, paradoxically, like it is closing in on us and is wide open to possibility all at once, I ask you to think about the choices you will be proud of, that allow you to be that most authentic, mosaic-esque version of yourself

Thank you.

Thank you Ms. St. Paul. Thank you as well to Mr. Avlon, Ms. Hughes-Johnson and the members of the Board of Trustees, Mr. Bland, Dr. Palmer, Ms. Sugrue, Mr. Ruiz, Mr. Parisi, and my advisor Mr. Ball for making today possible. Finally, thank you to the Class of 2023 for giving me the honor of closing out our time at Milton.

How do you define success? Reflecting back on my last four years at Milton, I realize my definition has evolved tremendously. Five years ago, when I told people in Singapore—my home—that I was going to a boarding school, I was met with the same reaction. Friends and family members told me how fortunate I was to get this opportunity, and how I must take advantage of every resource around me. Success in their eyes meant coming to the States, getting straight As, and becoming the doctor my Indian parents always wanted me to be.

And that’s what it meant to me during my first two years at Milton. I created such big shoes for myself to fill, that, when COVID forced us online during our sophomore year, I slogged away in front of my computer in order to attain my goals.

Living halfway across the world, I struggled to attend my online classes; however, committed to my narrow definition of success, I sacrificed my sleep, my hobbies, and, most importantly, my relationships in order to stay on top of my school work. My nights became my days. From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. on weekdays I logged in to class, and from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. on weekends I competed in virtual debate tournaments, taking half-hour naps in between rounds in order to keep myself sharp. One of my strongest memories from sophomore year revolves around the hours I spent alone in my room with nothing but my computer as I researched, wrote, and then rewrote my US history paper. I obsessed over every minute detail at the expense of family meals, and spent hours at night finding my 50th source instead of going out with friends. I was, to put it quite simply, lonely. I recall receiving the grade on that paper and having 10 seconds of euphoria, 10 seconds where I felt like the weeks I spent working on it were worth it, 10 seconds where nothing else mattered. But the 11th second inevitably arrived, and when it did, I folded my head back down on my desk to look at the next assignment. I had spent weeks isolated from my friends and family for 10 seconds of fulfillment. I had arrived at this 11th second and felt more alone than ever.

I needed to redefine success.

When I returned to campus a year later, I experienced some more tough times, like the brutal molecular genetics unit in honors bio and the transition back to a “normal” school life after COVID; yet, no time was as hard as Wolcott’s mouse infestation in the winter of 2021. Now, before I carry on I must preface—definitely not because I have to—that Milton did its absolute best in order to help us get rid of our mice, and became allies in our ongoing war. I remember the beginning of the invasion like it was yesterday. As I lay in bed scrolling through my phone, I heard a shriek from downstairs. I figured someone had just put tinfoil in our microwave—for the fifth time that week—but before I could return back to my phone, there was banging on each door in the hallway. One of my friends explained to our floor how he had found a mouse scavenging through his food, and at that moment, I knew we were in for a long winter.

School had never taken such a backseat in my life until I got my potato chips robbed by little rodents every day, and had to set elaborate traps to catch these vermin. I mean, I got so desperate that I sprinkled my chips all around a mouse trap in order to try and catch one, just to wake up to my actual bag of chips eaten, the chips around the trap eaten, and no mouse to be found. I had gone from being lonely in my room to being surrounded by way too many lives. With the rest of the dorm experiencing the same tragedies, we banded together against this common enemy. We stayed up long after lights out, scheming away at how to trap those little mice, in obviously humane ways. Success had changed from academic accolades to mouse-hunting with my friends, and I couldn’t have been more happy about it.

One of my key memories of junior year was packing the second floor bathroom with half our dorm after we had finally caught one of the mice. As the room erupted into chatter with people strategizing ways to get this trapped mouse out of the window—safely, of course—I realized that this is what true achievement should be. After the first 10 seconds in that bathroom passed and I had gotten over the initial dopamine rush at catching this mouse, the 11th second arrived, as it always did. This time, however, I did not experience any regret or loneliness. In that 11th second, when the triumph of our work had settled in, I was left with memories of my closest friends, memories I will never forget. Although catching mice in a bathroom may seem like a trivial success—I mean, we were literally in fear of an animal the size of my palm—I don’t think I have a memory that embodies my achievements at Milton as much as that one. In that 11th second I realized that the most meaningful successes are the ones we share with others, the ones that are more than just an achievement for your instagram bio or a grade on your transcript. In that 11th second, I was not alone.

After Wolcott’s victory over the mice, I defined true success as a moment you can share with others, a moment where there is no 11th second of emptiness but an 11th second of elation, of satisfaction, of fulfillment.

And in many ways, this is our 11th second, the moment where we reflect on our 10 seconds of high school and cherish the true memories that we made from here, the true successes that we have taken away from our time. To the class of 2023, I want you all to think of a time where you and a friend succeeded, or you and a group achieved something you could not have done alone. Understand that those are the experiences that will be hand-printed on your heart, those are the memories that will carry you through your life. Today is a day where we celebrate each individual’s success in the class of 2023; however, imagine how empty you would feel if you were standing alone on this stage to receive your diploma—if your great achievement of graduating from Milton happened in solitude—and you could not share this moment. Today we share our success with the friends who sit beside us, the family who sit in front of us and thousands of miles away, and the faculty who were behind us the whole time. Today we stand in the fleeting moments of our 10 seconds of high school, and regardless of what we have accomplished during those seconds, we must look towards the future in order to make the next 10 count. We must pave a path for ourselves in order to ensure that when we arrive at the inevitable 11th second, we are able to say that the journey was greater than the destination.

So how do you define success? In my eyes, it means being in that 11th second, being happier than ever, and sharing the joy of that achievement with others. As we move forward with our lives, know that our legacy is not defined by the grades we got or the awards that we won, it is cemented by the people that we have changed with, that we have truly made an impact on. That is the definition of success that I hope you will carry with you.

Thank you.

To the Milton Class of 2023:

This is one of those mountain-top moments in life. Savor it. From this pinnacle, you can look back at where you’ve been, look forward to where you are going, but most of all, appreciate the present moment, surrounded by your family and friends.

Everything should seem possible to you now. But the joy and relief you feel is probably suffused with some doubt and uncertainty.

Know this: You have more power than you think you do. Time is on your side—especially if you apply it to the pursuit of real, true goals. And the good news is that you’re never alone on the path of life if you know where to look.

More than a quarter century ago I was sitting where you are, with cowboy boots and long hair. Milton shaped the course of my life in ways that only became clear years later.

I was editor of The Milton Paper, and I became a journalist. I loved literature and history, and I became an author and historian—I came up with the idea for my first book, Independent Nation, at a seminar in Straus. I was the lead singer in a campus rock band, which turned out to be surprisingly good practice for cable news.

It was also here at Milton that I started collecting my favorite quotes in a blue hardcover book. I love quotes: They distill big ideas into durable wisdom, available for instant recall at those moments when we need to remind ourselves what’s really important.

I want to carry that spirit forward by giving you all a gift today—something tactile to hold on to in our digital world. It is a book, printed just for your class, titled 30 Quotes to Guide Your Life.

It contains a few of my favorite quotes, organized around the arc of life, and kicks off with this foundational question from the poet Mary Oliver: “What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

You get to be the author of your own life, with chapters defined by your choices. Never forget that your life has value—you are precious beyond measure and have been since the day you were born.

Some of the best advice on how to live is basic kindergarten wisdom. I’m talking about the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. It’s just as easy and difficult and profound as that. Some version is found in virtually every faith tradition—including the Bible, the Talmud, and the Koran. Life is a contest of caring. Kindness counts.

There are moments when you will feel stuck, debating what’s the right thing to do. Here’s one guide I like: It was a favorite quote of Abraham Lincoln, who heard it from a farmer in Illinois with some backwoods common sense: “When I do good, I feel good;” said the farmer. “When I do bad, I feel bad. And that is my religion.”

You’ve been blessed with one of the greatest educations anywhere on earth here at Milton. Now, your education journey will continue onto college. You’ll meet a lot of smart people along the way, but you’ll find that “Intelligence isn’t enough” as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. told us. “Intelligence plus character is the true goal of education.”

Character is the essential quality in human beings. But remember that just because a person *is* a character doesn’t mean they *have* character.

There will be times when you will wrestle with fear and doubt. But as Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” You can’t control other people’s actions, but you can learn to control your own reactions.

It is important to have fun on this journey; so “Always laugh when you can,” as the poet Lord Byron told us, “It is cheap medicine.” Some of my favorite memories from Milton are laughing with friends. I hope the same is true for you.

Travel when you can—see the world, get out of your respective bubble. Travel is a blast but also, as Mark Twain remarked, “Travel is fatal to prejudice.” You’ll get perspective and learn that there’s more that unites us than divides us, as human beings.

Let’s talk about love: As you date and find your mate, Chicago columnist Mary Schmich had a great bit of advice, “Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts, and don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.”

To find who you love, do what you love. Commitment is liberating, as paradoxical as it may sound. It simplifies your life and clarifies your priorities. And if you’re looking for the meaning of life, have children. Seriously. Just ask your parents—especially on a good day, like today.

Courage is key—not just physical courage but the moral courage to stay true to your core convictions. As the author Anaïs Nin wrote: “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.”

Sometimes the gap between what you dream and what you can do will seem daunting. Take a page from Theodore Roosevelt: “Do what you can. Where you are. With what you’ve got.” It’s a very punk-rock, DIY ethos. And it works.

There will be temptations along the way. We live in a society that celebrates the superficial. This is fool’s gold. As Holocaust survivor and psychologist named Viktor Frankel wrote: “When a person can’t find a deep sense of meaning or purpose, they distract themselves with pleasure.”

Don’t get me wrong, enjoy pleasure. But it is not the main purpose of life. That is the difference between fun and joy: Fun is fleeting; joy is transcendent. A purpose beyond yourself is what you’re really looking for.

You will face obstacles. At those moments, remember what jazz great Duke Ellington said: “A problem is a chance for you to do your best.” Reframe the moment in your mind: Challenges are opportunities for excellence.

Don’t get discouraged or give into hate. It is as self-destructive as a drug addiction. As Nelson Mandela said, “Resentment is like drinking poison, hoping it will kill your enemies.”

Persistence is a superpower. You will not win every battle, but you’re never really defeated until you give up. Or, as a Japanese proverb tells us: “Knocked down seven times; Stand up eight.”

Here’s a way to improve your odds: Make change your ally and not your enemy. Surf the transformational trends of your time—which, to name a few, will include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, climate change mitigation and nuclear fusion. As hockey great Wayne Gretzky said, “Skate to where the puck is going.” I wanted to make sure the hockey team was still listening.

You will not find success without hard work. That’s just reality. As Hall of Fame football coach Vincent Lombardi was fond of saying, “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”

The American philosopher and professor William James, father of Pragmatism, had a more earthy view of success and expressed it in an equation: “Self-Esteem” he said, is “accomplishment divided by pretensions.” In other words, take your work seriously but not yourself.

That’s eternally good advice in any field. I had a version of it painted on a pillar in the newsroom of The Daily Beast when I was editor-in-chief. It’s a quote by the great Texas columnist Molly Ivins: “Keep fighting for freedom and justice, beloveds, but don’t forget to have fun doing it.”

Part of life in a liberal democracy is giving a damn about civics and politics. That’s the price we pay to be citizens, not subjects.

The essential quote for our times—or at least the last few years of my life as a journalist—comes from the late New York Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan: “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.”

The Czech dissident and playwright-turned-president, Vaclav Havel, was wary of those people who impose ideology on every human interaction—whether from the right or left. He said, “Ideology gives people the illusion of dignity and morals while making it easier to part with them.”

Don’t fall into the group think or group blame: Much of the evil in the world has come from viewing people primarily as members of groups rather than as individuals.

There will be moments when it looks like the world and the country is falling apart—but don’t fall into pessimism; it is paralyzing. Instead, remember what Mahatma Gandhi said: “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fail. Think of it—always.”

That is true. The storm will pass. The sun will rise. And it is always blue sky above the clouds.

The real triumphs in life require overcoming adversity. Very little worthwhile comes easily. That can be a powerful motivator. Listen to Irish author George Bernard Shaw: “This is the true joy in life: the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one… the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.”

Keep moving. Keep creating. Keep growing. Don’t lose your enthusiasm. As Bob Dylan sang, “He not busy being born is busy dying.”

At a certain point—and don’t wait too late—think about your legacy. I like what musical great Stephen Sondheim wrote in a play called Sunday in the Park with George: “There are only two worthwhile things to leave behind when you depart this world of ours: Children and art.”

I love that because it’s so simple. Children and art are extensions of our love that carry forward with lives of their own, long after we’re gone.

At the end of the day, we’re here to help other people and leave the place better than we found it. It doesn’t need to be much more complicated than that. As baseball great Jackie Robinson believed: “One life does not matter except for the impact it has on other lives.”

Finally, no matter how high or low you might feel, remember that the one indisputably true thing in life is “This too shall pass.”

It’s my hope that this book will offer you useful wisdom. I hope it reminds you in challenging moments that you are not alone on this journey. Your guides can include some of the most fascinating people who ever lived—presidents, musicians, authors and philosophers. It’s an invisible republic of advisors, gathered from across time and space, to cheer you on.

In the process of pulling together these quotes, I’ve been reminded what a challenge it is to live up to our ideals. There are all sorts of rationalizations that can distract us from having the courage to pursue our real true goals. It is humbling to know how we can fall short of living up to our own advice.

But that’s part of what it means to be human: to laugh, to forgive, and to persevere. To grow closer toward being our best self, tapping into a deeper reservoir of joy and purpose. To appreciate this life and the opportunities for action it provides in a way that answers the question we began with:

“What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

Answer it for yourself. Do the work. Appreciate the journey. And always Dare to be true.

Caroline Adele Albright, Milton, MA
Zola Mia Alcaro, Norwell, MA
Amanda Ruby Alegria, New Rochelle, NY
Blake Sterling Ankner, Boston, MA
Ismail Assafi, Casablanca, Grand Casablanca, Morocco
Yohana Aweke, Norwood, MA,
Darius Reines Banaitis, Medway, MA
Omar Tanu Barry, Boston, MA,
Alia Bayoumi, Dubai, UAE
Stefania Bielkina, Kyiv, Ukraine
Caitlin Alexandra Blanksteen, Renton, WA,
William Bailey Bourell, Westwood MA
Cailey Anne Brousseau, Cranston, RI
Harrison Paul Brown, Wildwood, MO
Jesse Star Bryan, Madbury, New Hampshire
Catherine Dolan Buckley, Pembroke, MA
Tanner Christian Burnett, Hingham, MA
Mateo Rafael Ochieng Buyu, Dorchester, MA
Jada Beth Campbell, Kingston, Jamaica
Claire Jolie Candela, Maynard, MA,
Gavin Michael Carter, Cohasset, MA
William Ewald Charles, Milton, MA
Mason Connor Chen, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Victor Wenhan Chen, Berwyn, PA
Aidan William Chiang, Dedham, MA
Louis Adams Chiasson, Wellesley, MA
Aidan Marcus Chuang, New York, NY
Robert Henry Cohen, Sudbury MA
Harrison Lewis Coyne, Scituate, MA
Jack Thomas Crowley, Milton, MA
Henry La-Hyunju Dallman, Newton, MA
Henry Dennis Darling, Milton MA
Lorenzo James de Simone, Boston, MA
Maximilian Steve Deisboeck, Wellesley, MA
Noelle Skylar Devonish, Milton MA
Benjamin Dorje Dixey, Berkeley, CA
Annabel Sawyer Dunnington, Milton, MA
Miles Morrison English, New Canaan, CT
Nika Aryanpour Farokhzad, Brookline, MA
Jackson Graydon Faughnan, Binghamton, NY,
Sophia Louise Agnes Fife, Easton, MA,
Sophie Merritt Fisher, NY, NY
Isabelle Grace Fitzgibbon, Milton, MA
Jack Dylan Flowers, Hingham, MA
Pia Isabella Franken, Boston, MA
John Yuhan Fu, Shenzhen Guangdong, China
William MacEwen Gallagher, Duxbury, MA
Gabriella Rose Gallagher, Milton, MA
Elizabeth Caroline Gallori, Brookline, MA
Kylee Adelle Galva, The Bronx, NY
Vivian Ann Gao, Beijing, China
Kyra Yuanbin Geyling, Milton, MA
Grace Daggett Grady, Mt. Pleasant, SC
Jack Joseph Graham, Greenville, RI
John Donald Greenip, Cohasset, MA
Misha Griffin, Providence, RI
Owen Mark GwinnLandry, Wellesley, MA
Yaman Habip, Newton, MA
Lan Hai, Shanghai, China
Madelyn Rose Handly, Weymouth MA
Michael Maynard Hanlon, Hingham, MA
Emma Ruth Salvage Harris, Milton, MA
Trinity Marjorie Jasoda Hartridge, Queens, NY
Brian Cornelius Hegarty, Milton, MA
Theodora Reiss Heredia, IA City, IA
Connor Fenton Hicks, North Attleboro, MA
Melany Arielle Hirsch, Newton, MA
Caleb Daxe Hirschfeld, Brookline, MA
Scarlett Olds Hoffman, Philadelphia, PA
Abigail Therese Holcomb, Hamilton, NY
Jacob Robert Holtschlag , Hingham, MA
Thomas Stephen Hong, Newton MA
Audrey Mairead Howley, Milton, MA
Seo Jeong Kate Hwang, Busan, South Korea
Molly Elizabeth Isaac, Newton, MA
Sohaila Omar Hosam Gamaleldin Ismail, Cairo, Egypt
Sydney Morgan Iwaskow, Duxbury, MA
Samuel Robert Johnson, Kingston MA
Sara Rani Kalra, Milton, MA
Arianna Grace Kamal, Dover, MA
Sarah Simo Kamdem, Douala Littoral, Cameroon
Isabella Kanczuk, Brookline, MA
Qayson Ali Kara, Lake Mary, FL
Nikhil Pal Kathiresan, Newton, MA
Julian Katsoulis, Cambridge, MA
Mikka Kelechian, Île-Bizard, Quebec, Canada
Brenna Marie Kelley, Milton, MA
Matias Manuel Kemper-Tapia, Boston, MA
Austin Bates Kinnealey, Milton, MA
Hannah Fleur Fuyun Knowlton, Boston, MA
Nathaniel Charles Landau, Natick, MA
Jackson Rye Landy, Milton, MA
Oreofeoluwakitan Oluwatoni Lanre-Phillips, Lekki Lagos, Nigeria
Brynn Josephine Leahy, Norton, MA
Jessica Harrington Lee, Milton, MA
Elsa Lynden Foote LeStage, Milton, MA
Savanna Ya-Zhi Leung, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Abram Samuel Litvak, Milton, MA
Dennis George Losett, Philadelphia, PA
Brendan Thomas Maher, East Northport, NY
Nimco Muxumed Maxamuud, Hargeisa Somaliland, Somalia
Dixon McClintock, Boston, MA
Ryan Matthew McGauley, Newton, MA
Ryan Patrick McGurn, Braintree MA
Murphy McLaughlin, Milton, MA
Cori Michelle Miller, Dorchester , MA
Makena Ann Monahan, Norwell , MA
Meredith Catherine Monnich, Hingham, MA
Iden Noël Montalvo, The Bronx, NY
Sophia Elaine Morse, Milton MA
Isabella Mostofi , Milton , MA
Sofia Renee Mraz, Duxbury, MA
Jacob Alexander Chernock Mulliken, Brookline, MA
Sophie Wren Winslow Myers, Cambridge, MA
Phúc Gia Ngô, Hanoi, Vietnam
Rachel Kandel Novick, Sharon, MA
Genevieve Zaragoza O’Marah, Dedham, MA
Ronan Colm O’Flaherty, Milton MA
Cameron Michael O’Rourke, Dedham, MA
Michaela Ocko, Boston, MA
Isabelle Jaye Ocko, Boston, MA
Fernando Benjamin Paiz, Milton , MA
Emma Grace Petherick, Plymouth MA
Jacob Irwin Pohl, Chicago, Illinois
Allison Rose Polimeno, Milton, MA
Madden Powers, Glendale, CA
Julia Marie Price, Wellesley, MA
Ailanni Jayne Quander, Winston-Salem, NC
Charli Quinn, Duxbury, MA
Andrew Kenneth Rappleyea, Millbrook, NY
Jonah Williams Reay, Blue Hill, ME
Sofia Maria Reid, Belfast, St. Paul Parish, Dominica
Annie Elizabeth Renz, Milton, MA
Jonah Charles Renz, Milton, MA
Isabel Reynoso, NY City, NY
Nicole Eva Rivkin , Newton, MA
Andrew Burling Rodriguez, Cambridge, MA
Aiden Paolo Rodriguez, Lunenburg, MA
Daniel J. Rosenberg, Wakefield, MA
Marina Julia Rounds, Milton, MA
Jacqueline Hart Ruggieri, Naples, FL
Adriana Lisette Ruiz, Milton, MA
Ava Radiet Russell, Mattapoisett, MA
Hannah Elizabeth Sabio, Monroe, CT
Eliza Grace Sadhwani, Hingham, MA
Gracie Vikram Sagar, Dubai, UAE
Jadier Dominic Sanchez, Hyde Park, MA
Henry Michael Schoettle, Milton, MA
Charles L. Sclater-Booth , South Deerfield, MA
Nina Shah, Newton, MA
Jesse Ryan Shue, Milton, MA
Wayne Louis Simon, Douglas, MA
Aleisha Esther Sin, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Arhan Singh, Singapore, Singapore
Alden Havemeyer Smith, Scarborough, ME
Julia Yi Fitzgibbons Smith, Palm beach, FL
Amelia Murphy Solomon, Sharon, MA
Robin Quinn Storey, Madison, MS
Thomas Brewster Strong, Duxbury, MA
Julie Marie Sullivan, Dover, MA
Laura Frances Sullivan, Dover, MA
Nancy Tao, Jericho, NY
Elio Thadhani, Boston, MA
Jaden Elijah Thompson, Needham, MA
Mia Alexa Todd, Kingston, Jamaica
Julia Boden Torrey, Hingham, MA
John David Truesdale, Boston, MA
Ralph Gardner Vogel, Chestnut Hill, MA
Rio Voss-Kernan, Hull, MA
Ella Kate Walsmith, Hingham, MA
Emma Wang, McLean, Virginia
Jue Wang, Guangzhou Guangdong, China
Jianyu Wang, Beijing, China
Desman Dillon Ward, Dorchester, MA
Ben William Waterman, Milton, MA
James Birdseye Endicott Weil, Boston, MA
Glenn Fenimore Cooper Weil, Cooperstown, NY
Kiana Allison West, Milton, MA
Thomas Butler Dingman Wideman, Milton, MA
Sarah Davies Wiemeyer , Duxbury, MA
Natalie Owen Williamson, Miami, FL
Alexandra Murray Wilson, Palm Beach, FL
Julia Reed Winter, Boston, MA
Ted Xunjiang Wu, Sudbury, MA
Sophia Xie, Lexington, MA
Sharon Xie, Shanghai, China
Victor Xu, Chandler, AZ
Yi Yang, Braintree, MA
Can Yildirim, Milton, MA
Katrina Yip, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Evan Zhang, Concord, MA
Lucia Eleanor Zinny, Wellesley, MA

THE AWARD FOR DISTINCTIVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Caroline Adele Albright
Zola Mia Alcaro
Blake Sterling Ankner
Ismail Assafi
Alia Bayoumi
Caitlin Alexandra Blanksteen
Harrison Paul Brown
Jesse Star Bryan
Mason Connor Chen
Victor Wenhan Chen
Aidan William Chiang
Jack Thomas Crowley
Henry Dennis Darling
Maximilian Steve Deisboeck
Nika Aryanpour Farokhzad
Isabelle Grace Fitzgibbon
John Yuhan Fu
Elizabeth Caroline Gallori
Vivian Ann Gao
John Donald Greenip
Owen Mark GwinnLandry
Yaman Habip
Madelyn Rose Handly
Emma Ruth Salvage Harris
Brian Cornelius Hegarty
Theodora Reiss Heredia
Melany Arielle Hirsch
Caleb Daxe Hirschfeld
Abigail Therese Holcomb
Thomas Stephen Hong
Seo Jeong Kate Hwang
Molly Elizabeth Isaac
Sohaila Omar Ismail
Sara Rani Kalra
Arianna Grace Kamal
Sarah Simo Kamdem
Isabella Kanczuk
Nikhil Pal Kathiresan
Mikka Kelechian
Oreofeoluwakitan Oluwatoni Lanre-Phillips
Jessica Harrington Lee
Savanna Ya-Zhi Leung
Abram Samuel Litvak
Cori Michelle Miller
Meredith Catherine Monnich
Jacob Alexander Mulliken
Genevieve Zaragoza O’Marah
Cameron Michael O’Rourke
Jacob Irwin Pohl
Annie Elizabeth Renz
Jonah Charles Renz
Andrew Burling Rodriguez
Marina Julia Rounds
Adriana Lisette Ruiz
Jesse Ryan Shue
Wayne Louis Simon
Aleisha Esther Sin
Alden Havemeyer Smith
Amelia Murphy Solomon
Thomas Brewster Strong
Julie Marie Sullivan
Laura Frances Sullivan
Nancy Tao
Jaden Elijah Thompson
Julia Boden Torrey
John David Truesdale
Ralph Gardner Vogel
Rio Voss-Kernan
Ella Kate Walsmith
Emma Wang
Jianyu Wang
Jue Wang
Natalie Owen Williamson
Alexandra Murray Wilson
Ted Wu
Sharon Xie
Yi Yang
Can Yildirim
Katrina Yip
Evan Zhang

THE HEAD OF SCHOOL AWARD
The Head of School Award is presented each year to honor and celebrate certain members of Class I for their demonstrated spirit of self-sacrifice, community concern, leadership, integrity, fairness, kindliness, and respect for others.

Harrison Brown
Henry Darling
Grace Grady
Misha Griffin
Yaman Habip
Trinity Hartridge
Brian Heggarty
Melaney Hirsch
“SJ” SeoJeong Hwang
Phúc Gia Ngô
Amelia Solomon
Desman Ward

THE JAMES S. WILLIS MEMORIAL AWARD
To the Headmonitors.

Victor Chen
Robin Storey

WILLIAM BACON LOVERING AWARD
To two students, chosen by their classmates, who have helped most by their sense of duty to perpetuate the memory of a gallant gentleman and officer.

Blake Anker
Julia Torrey

THE LOUIS ANDREWS MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
To a student who has best fulfilled their potential in the areas of intelligence, self-discipline, physical ability, concern for others and integrity.

Emily Counihan

THE FRANK D. MILLET SCHOLARSHIP AWARD
To students who demonstrate high moral integrity, support classmates, and have established meaningful relationships with peers and faculty. The Millet scholars, by virtue of their character and deeds, are integral members of their class and hold great promise as future leaders.

Christian Kakhome
Mai Le

THE LEO MAZA AWARD
Awarded to that student(s), in Classes I-IV, who in working within one of the culture or identity groups at the school or other significant cultural or social justice initiative, has made an outstanding contribution to build community at Milton by promoting the appreciation of their cultural or identity or the work for equity and justice throughout the rest of the school.

Trinity Hartridge

THE H. ADAMS CARTER PRIZE
Awarded to the student or students who, in their years at Milton, have shown a dedication to the pursuit of outdoor skills, demonstrated strong leadership, and reached high levels of personal achievement in one or more outdoor activities.

Kyra Geyling
Elio Thadhani

THE A. HOWARD ABELL PRIZE
Established by Dr. and Mrs. Eric Oldberg for students deemed exceptionally proficient or talented in instrumental or vocal music or in composition.

Elizabeth Gallori
Sophia Xie

HARRISON OTIS APTHORP MUSIC PRIZE
Awarded in recognition of helpful activity in furthering in the school an interest and joy in music.

John Fu
Jianyu (Julia) Wang

THE GEORGE SLOAN OLDBERG MEMORIAL PRIZE
Awarded in memory of George Oldberg ’54, to members of the school who have been a unique influence in the field of music.

Will Bourell
William Charles

THE SCIENCE PRIZE
Awarded to students who have demonstrated genuine curiosity, enthusiasm, as well as remarkable scientific growth in physics, chemistry and/or biology.

Caitlin Blanksteen
Isabelle Fitzgibbon
Yaman Habip
Madelyn Handly
Melany Hirsch
Molly Isaac
Nik Kathiresan
Andrew Rodriguez
Adriana Ruiz
Laura Sullivan
Elio Thadhani
Julia Torrey
Ella Walsmith
Teddy Wu
Anna Yang

THE WALES PRIZE
Awarded in honor of Donald Wales who taught Class IV science for more than 36 years. It recognizes students in Class IV who have consistently demonstrated interest and excitement in science.

Alexander Landis-Arnold
Wenna (Vickie) Mao
Sarina Miller
Sonia Pande
Amara Prather
Avanseesh Siruvuri
Max Tsai-Young
Max Weil

THE ROBERT SALTONSTALL MEDAL
For pre-eminence in physical efficiency and observance of the code of the true sportsman.

Murphy McLaughlin

THE A. O. SMITH PRIZE
Awarded by the English Department to students who display unusual talent in non-fiction writing.

Louis Chiasson
Coby Mulliken
Phúc Gia Ngô
Isabelle Ocko

THE CRITICAL ESSAY PRIZE
Awarded by the English Department for the best essay about a work or works of literature.

Thomas Hong

THE MARKHAM AND PIERPONT STACKPOLE PRIZE
Awarded in honor of two English teachers, father and son, to authors of unusual talent in creative writing.

Henry Dallman
Coby Mulliken

THE DOROTHY J. SULLIVAN AWARD
To a Class I student who has demonstrated an outstanding attitude and commitment to athletics at Milton. She models exceptional sportsmanship, leadership and dedication, and she serves as an inspiration and role model to her teammates and others.

Julia Torrey

THE DONALD CAMERON DUNCAN PRIZE FOR MATHEMATICS
Awarded to students in Class I who have achieved excellence in the study of mathematics while demonstrating the kind of love of the subject and joy in promoting its understanding which will be the lasting legacy of Donald Duncan’s extraordinary contributions to the teaching of mathematics at Milton.

Max Deisboeck
Yaman Habip
Caleb Hirschfeld
Melany Hirsch
Molly Isaac
Sara Kalra
Adrianna Ruiz

THE RICHARD PRICE ’50 PRIZE IN TECHNICAL THEATER
Awarded for unusual contributions of time, energy and ideas in theatre production and in technical assistance throughout a student’s career.

Grace Grady
Misha Griffin

THE PERFORMING ARTS AWARD
Presented by the Performing Arts Department for outstanding contributions in production work, acting, speech, audiovisuals, and dance throughout a student’s Milton career.

Henry Darling
Pia Franken
Vivian Gao
Owen GwinnLandry
Trinity Hartridge
Phúc Gia Ngô
Fernando Paiz
Amelia Solomon
Jianyu (Julia) Wang
Desman Ward
Can Yildirim

THE DALE DELETIS PRIZE
Awarded for exceptional effort, excellence, and achievement in public speaking.

Nika Farokhzad
Nancy Tao

THE KIKI RICE-GRAY PRIZE
Awarded for outstanding contributions to Milton Performing Arts throughout a student’s career in both performance and production.

Grace Grady
Misha Griffin
Amelia Solomon

THE PRISCILLA BAILEY AWARD
To a student in her Class I year, recognizing exceptional athletic skill and admirable contributions to her team. This talented athlete demonstrates a strong work ethic and conducts herself with a spirit of teamwork and good sportsmanship.

Brynn Leahy

THE HENRY WARDER CAREY PRIZE
To members of the First Class, who, in Public Speaking and Oral Interpretation, have shown consistent effort, thoroughness of preparation, and concern for others.

Fernando Paiz
Alexandra Wilson

THE ROBERT L. DALEY PRIZE
Created by his students of 1984 in his memory and honor, this prize in Classics is awarded to the student from Latin 4 or beyond who best exemplifies Mr. Daley’s love of languages.

Maximilian Deisboeck

THE ALFRED ELLIOTT MEMORIAL TROPHY
For self-sacrifice and devotion to the best interests of his teams, regardless of skill.

Ryan McGurn

THE RICHARD LAWRENCE DERBY MEMORIAL AWARD
To members of the Second Class, outstanding in Mathematics, Astronomy, or Physics.

Claire Choe
Hailey Coval
Erika Drisko
Ingrid Hsu
Anthony Lee

THE GORHAM PALFREY FAUCON PRIZE
Established in 1911 and awarded to Class I students who, in their study of history and social sciences, have demonstrated interest, outstanding achievement, respect for others, and a deep curiosity about the human experience.

Nika Farokhzad
Sophie Myers
Amelia Solomon

THE BENJAMIN FOSDICK HARDING LATIN PRIZES
Awarded on the basis of a separate test at each prize level.

Level 5: Melany Hirsch
Level 4: Charlotte Mone
Level 3: Maximilian Weil

THE MODERN LANGUAGE PRIZES
Awarded to those students who, in the opinion of the Department, most exhibit the qualities of academic excellence, enthusiastic participation, and support of fellow students, both in and out of class.

Yaman Habip
Ainsley Madden
Meredith Monnich
Adriana Ruiz
Benjamin Siegel
Alden Smith
Jianyu (Julia) Wang

THE MILTON ACADEMY ART PRIZES
Awarded for imagination and technical excellence in art and for an independent and creative spirit of endeavor.

Blake Ankner
Caitlin Blanksteen
Louis Chiasson
Scarlett Hoffman
Hannah Knowlton
Savanna Leung
Michaela Ocko
Isabel Reynoso
Mari Rounds
Natalie Williamson

THE COMPUTER SCIENCE PRIZE
Awarded to students for excellence in computer science.

Blake Ankner
Yaman Habip
Oreofeoluwakitan Lanre-Phillips
Andrew Rodriguez
Ryan Shue

INDEPENDENT SCHOOL LEAGUE AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
This annual award recognizes student athletes for exhibiting the Independent School League ideals of integrity, sportsmanship, fair play, and good citizenship, while participating as a multi-sport athlete during their Independent School League career.

Jake Holtschlag
Makena Monahan
Annie Renz