MKA Recognizes Student Achievement in Ninth Through Eleventh Grade for the 2023-2024 School Year
Congratulations to the outstanding Montclair Kimberley Academy students who have been honored with academic, community engagement, and athletic awards. We could not be more proud of their hard work, dedication, and the impressive feats they have accomplished during the 2023-2024 school year!
DEPARTMENT AND FACULTY SCHOLAR AWARDS
Elizabeth O’Neil Feagley Award for Creativity – Awarded jointly by the English and Fine and Performing Arts Departments in memory of Elizabeth O’Neil Feagley to a junior for outstanding creative expression: Sadie Shapiro
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal – Awarded jointly by the Math and Science Departments, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal is presented to a junior who shows superb performance in the study of mathematics and the sciences. Award recipients will receive a merit scholarship to RPI if they attend: Ciara Branigan
Frank Brogan Memorial Award – Awarded jointly by the English and History Departments, the Frank Brogan Memorial Award was established in 1982 by the members of the class of 1972 in memory of their classmate Frank "Poncho" Brogan. It is to be awarded to that member of the junior class who shows a special interest and high proficiency in the art of written expression: Temira Weisberg
Junior World Language Prize – Awarded to the top junior student in world languages. Each year, the Upper School World Languages Department recognizes the top student in the eleventh grade. The student who earns this award excels in and out of the classroom and engages in the study of language and culture with empathy and understanding. Students are nominated by their current teachers, and then the awardee is decided upon by the department as a whole: X'Avier Walker
John Rabke Memorial Award – Given in memory of John Rabke, who generously and lovingly served Montclair Kimberley Academy from 1970-2003 as teacher, advisor, coach, Department Chair, and Director of College Placement. To honor John’s long-term commitment to international volunteer programs such as the Peace Corps and Amigos de las Americas, the award will encourage students committed to community engagement and cultural understanding. The award will be presented annually to a junior at Montclair Kimberley Academy and will include a financial component to facilitate travel: Scarlett Smithen
Faculty Scholar Awards– Established by the Upper School faculty to recognize and honor students who have demonstrated unusual intellectual curiosity, seeking knowledge for its own sake rather than for material rewards:
9th Grade – Annie Barrett, Charlotte Gardiner, Dhruv Nair, Tyler Parliman, Iris Shen
10th Grade – Christie Kim, Nathan Hubert, Tyler Rizzo, Eli Rosenberg, Logan Snyder
11th Grade – Elaniyah Aurora, Sam Lewis, Timothy Slater, Max Stanford, Temira Weisberg
MacVicar Prize – John George MacVicar, founder of The Montclair Academy of Boys in 1887 and founding father to Montclair Academy, created a school whose vision was to prepare students for the academic rigors of college life while emphasizing the importance of character development. This vision became the central focus upon the merger of Montclair Academy and The Kimberley School and remains a central focus for Montclair Kimberley Academy. In his own words, “The formation of character, the cultivation of sound principles of truth and honor, and the illustration of right ideas regarding what is worth attaining in life, are considered equally as important as academic subjects.” Over one hundred years later, we honor these values as we recognize outstanding members of the junior class who have realized these goals. The MacVicar Prize is awarded to juniors of outstanding personal character who have demonstrated qualities of leadership and good citizenship and who have made a positive contribution to the Montclair Kimberley Academy community: Brooks Barrett, Ciara Branigan, Henry Gottfried, Sadie Shapiro
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARDS
Presidential Service Awards- A government premier volunteer awards program that encourages citizens, through presidential recognition, to live a life of service. Awards are based on hours of engagement: a Bronze Award to students who perform 100-174 hours (50 hours minimum for 9th Grade); a Silver to students who perform 175-249 hours (75 hours minimum for 9th Grade); and finally, a Gold Award to students who perform over 250 hours of community engagement (100 hours minimum for 9th Grade). The following students were recognized for their Community Engagement hours:
Bronze
9th Grade – Sophie Brown, Emma Flick, Sophie Gold, Milena Kwapniewski, Alexander Scuorzo
10th Grade – Suzanna Elkhouri, Sophie Felsenthal, Chelsea Lee, Maudie Grace Lomuscio, Maggie Murphy, Shea Murphy, Jalah-Joy Norris, Niam Patel, Talia Rosenthal, Audrey Solomon, Nahlia Udofia, Emery Walls
11th Grade – Jack Barrack, Elliot Cha, Christina Chakhtoura, Sohaila Cheema, Ryan Decter, Camron Ganchi, Henry Gottfried, Ava Lilore-Sciancalepore, Jack Scuorzo, Jihoo Shim
Silver
9th Grade – Damian Polanskyj, Dylan Weisman
10th Grade – Katherine Altirs, Nikhil Ballem, Nathan Hubert, Maanasa Jagan, Claire Norris, Zosi Nwabueze-Pryor, Eli Rosenberg
11th Grade – Holden Foley, Alexa Kahn
Gold
9th Grade – Victoria Altirs, Evy Fernandez, Iris Shen
10th Grade – Matthew Kwon, Serena Nguyen, Tala Saker
11th Grade – Sydney Fradette, Benjamin Morganstein
ATHLETICS AWARDS
Klein Awards – Given in memory of Dr. William Klein, eminent physical sports enthusiast and grandfather of two graduates of Montclair Academy. The Klein Awards recognize one male and female student athlete in each grade who exemplify, within the current school year, excellence in athletics and character and achieve a creditable record in academics. Award winners must demonstrate dedication to their studies and a positive and respectful attitude toward their teachers, coaches, and peers:
9th Grade – Max Ludlow, Eva Sieger
10th Grade – Nina Abalos, Thomas Meeker
11th Grade – Malia Cesareo, Caspar Turck
