RYE COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL CLASS OF 2019
It was a day of fine speeches and well-earned award recognitions at Rye Country Day’s 150th Graduation Ceremony June 7.
Before introducing Kate Ordway, head of the English Department, who is retiring after 21 years at the school, Headmaster Scott Nelson noted a number of her contributions over the years.
“Kate Ordway has shared her passion for literature, critical analysis, and expository and creative writing. She has been a promoter of the arts in all forms throughout her tenure and has encouraged students in every way. And in her role as Chair, Kate has been an open-minded, collaborative, and encouraging colleague.”
Headmaster Scott Nelson pictured with the three recipients of the Headmaster’s Prize, from left: William Shabecoff, Julian Martelly, and Patricia Bautista.
In her Commencement Address, Ordway shared some of her wisdom with the class of 2019: “There are things that I have discovered and know to be true: Try not to be distracted, but when you make mistakes — and you will — don’t be afraid to improvise, step back, and look at the larger picture. We are all entangled particles. Like George Seurat, we are pointillists who, thanks to the many colors and identities of who we are, each contributes a tiny little bit to the larger canvas of life. I am because of you.”
Headmaster Nelson had this to say about Laszlo Kopits, class president: “An outstanding student, Lazlo has successfully completed six Honors and ten AP courses with a nearly perfect transcript while taking a most challenging course load. At this year’s Prize Day, he received the Computer Science Achievement Award.
Laszlo Kopits, senior class president
“Lazlo is a leader of his peers in various ways — in addition to Student Government, he served as captain of two varsity teams, Cross Country and Track, he was head of the Peer Leadership program, and co-head of two tutoring programs.
“His passion for engineering was evident in his leadership of the Robotics Club, his significant contributions to our highly competitive Robotics Team, and his talented work as an Apprentice in support of our new makerspace.”
In his speech to his fellow graduates, Kopits said, “All too often we judge ourselves based on the person we want to be, the ideal version of ourselves that the vast majority of us will never become. I think it’s time for us to change that. Forget about the person we want to become. Forget about greatness and focus on goodness. Focus on those little things you can do. A little progress every day. Don’t worry about looking like you’re doing great, worry about not only being good, but constantly getting better.”
THE GRADUATES
Alexander Jed Asness
Mitchell Neil Babiarz
Patricia Bautista Tiburcio
Samantha Ariel Bobman
Cole Hunter Harris Boester
Mick Harris Cafritz Bronsky
Malcolm J. Brydson
Samantha Leigh Buchbinder
James Y. Chen
Owen William Coady
Joshua Daniel Cohen
Cameron Coleman
Sarah Ruth Colin
Annie Rose Cooper
William Austin Cousin
Conrad James Crakes
Margaret Mary Dunn
Kennedi Ari Eisley
Matias Esquivel Losada
Joseph Patrick Farrell
Nathalie Ryan Felton
Zoe Ariel Goldberg
Alexander Richard Hackett
Annabel J. Halaby
Paulina Harasimowicz
Faith Hardy
Alexia Swann Hartogensis
Camila Hirani
Samantha Hirschberg
Franklin Richard Hong
Mia Hotsuki
Allan Wade Houston III
Alexander Ivanov
Sophia Millie Jindal
Charles-Andre Francois Jolly
Mitchell Dean Katz
Alexander Edward Kelly
Gabrielle Kelly
Warren Charles Kennedy-Nolle
James Kernan
Jared Kim
Jack Maxwell Kissell
Raymond Lee Konopka
Laszlo Steven Kopits
Brooke Amanda Kozek
Georgia Ariel Mandell
Justin Henry Mandell
Madeline Gayle Mandell
Connor Durdan Marrs
Julian Jeremiah Martelly
Taddeo Mattia
Reilly McManus
William Merritt McPhail
Alexandra Medow
Amber Adriana Michaca Martinez
John Galbraith Miller
Max P. Mindich
Charles Thomas Moysak
William O’Meara
Nicholas Blaine Owens
Ava Christina Paganelli
Mindy Clara Pang
Charles Bingham Perry
Lucca Piccinini
Elysia Sophia Pil
Liam Thomas Pope
Jane Reynolds
Alexander Noel Rivera
Brett Karson Robinson
William Merritt Roddy
Lily Jane Rosen
Harrison John Roth
Erin Sarai Salomon
Natalie Isabel Sanchez
Hope Cassandra Santomero
Jason Charles Schnall
William I. Shabecoff
Nishan Gennetian Shehadeh
Kioni Moraa Shropshire-Maina
Claire Wedeles Slocum
Gabriel Smilovic
Yusra Hatim Suliman
Aisling Virginia Sullivan
Nicholas Anders Tallis
Joseph Teva Tannenbaum
Clare Qianzhao Taylor-Winters
Charlotte H. Townley
Cecilia Allegra van Paasschen
Nina Jien van Vredenburch
Shoshanna Remark Victor
Sabrina Sue Vumbacco
William Alexander Waddell
Blake Schaut Waldman
Sarah Elizabeth Wright
Jessica Gould Yaffa
Jialin Yang
Ethan Gabriel Zeplin
Helena Shirley Zimmerman
