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