Friends Academy Celebrates Academic Awards at Fourth Day Honors Ceremony

At the Fourth Day Honors ceremony held at Friends Academy on Wednesday, June 7th, the Upper School departments announced this year’s academic and special recognition awards.  At the same time, the Friends Cum Laude Society inducted new members from the senior class. Senior Eli Kalimian of Old Brookville (Tulane University) opened the ceremony with a religious reading, read in both English and Hebrew, and a moment of silence. Senior Richard Wang of Upper Brookville (University of Pennsylvania) played Liebestraum No. 3 by Franz Liszt on the piano. David Seeler '59 received the Distinguished Alumni award and spoke to the community about his time at Friends Academy including picking apples from trees when visiting nearby farms.

 The students recognized and the colleges the graduating seniors will be attending are:

The James E. Gardner Headmaster’s Commendation Award is presented to students in the graduating class who have demonstrated the qualities of kindness, integrity, cooperation, effort, cheerfulness, participation in school activities and unselfishness, all irrespective of athletic or scholastic aptitude and achievement.  This year’s recipients are Emma Daniels (Boston Conservatory at Berklee) of Freeport/Hempstead and Daniel Baskind (Binghamton University) of Carle Place.

The Roger Erickson Humanities Scholarship enables a deserving student to pursue his/her interest in the humanities (philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history, language and more) during the summer months and ensures, that a love and appreciation of literature, fine and performing arts within the Friends Community continues in the memory of former English teacher Roger Erickson. This year’s recipient is junior Senuli Peiris ‘24 of Levittown.

The 2022 Roger Erickson Humanities Scholarship recipient Mia Kamensky (right) announced Senuli as the 2023 recipient.

The Martin Jacobson Scholarship Award is presented in honor of Marty Jacobson, a devoted teacher, coach, mentor, and Athletic Director for 38 years. This scholarship goes to the student who exemplifies those leadership qualities that Marty sought to instill:  integrity, commitment, inner strength, resiliency, vision, intensity, empathy, and caring service. This year’s recipient is junior Sam Laserson ’24 of Huntington.

The Brian James Hom Scholarship Award is presented in honor of Brian Hom ’11, who passed away in 2011 and left a lasting impact on all who knew him through his passion for social equity and justice, innate generosity and personal warmth, wonderful sense of humor and smile, and unparalleled commitment to excellence as a runner and scholar. He genuinely respected all people and sought to restore dignity and hope to the world. The scholarship honors a student who embodies Brian’s qualities and lives according to his motto, “I am the me I choose to be.” This year’s recipient is junior Josh McKenzie ’24 of Westbury.

The Elizabeth Young Durante Community Service Award is presented in honor of Elizabeth Durante ’06, who passed away in 2009. This Community Service Award is given to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to serving those in need. This year’s recipient is senior Alexa Moschetto (Cornell University) of Sands Point.

Roger Erickson English Award

   Serena Saad (Barnard College)
   Isabella Sha (Dartmouth College)

French Award

   Olivia Carden (Middlebury College)

Spanish Award

   Adriana Lloves '24
   Ryan Sharifov (Wake Forest University)

Latin Award

  Kidder Bacon (Eton College)

Chinese Award

   Junhao Jiang '25

 Elizabeth Roosevelt History Award

   Nell Kurita (Brandeis University)
   Serena Saad (Barnard College)

Mathematics Award

   Rachel Na (Washington University in St. Louis)

Four-year participants in the Theater Program

   Anika Bhatia
   Hannah Byron
   Peter Hiotis
   Theoni Hiotis
   Mark Jennings
   Justin Kelly
   Chris Kontos
   Nell Kurita
   Natalia Tauter
   Richard Zhu

Four-year participants in the Dance Program

   Emma Daniels
   Angelica DiLeo
   Nikki Mazur

Four-year participants in the Music Program

   Josh Chen
   Charles Englander
   Rachel Na
   Gavin Sanders
   Isabella Sha
   Ava Silverstein
   Spencer Towse
   Richard Walka
   Richard Wang

Four-year participants in multiple Arts disciplines 

   Meg Gillies
   Serena Saad
   Holly Song
   Cara Soscie
   Tina Tang
   Jordan Wolf

Science Award

   Rachel Na (Washington University in St. Louis
   Liv Prestandrea (Boston University)
   Isabella Sha (Dartmouth College)

Technology Award

   Nell Kurita (Brandeis University)
   Gavin Sanders (Northeastern University)

Outstanding Female Athlete

   Paris Panagopoulos (Yale University)

Outstanding Male Athlete

   Logan Mott (College of Holy Cross)

Members of the Class of 2023 inducted into the Cum Laude Society as seniors in their fall semester are:

Will Bystrom (Georgetown University)
Joshua Chen (Johns Hopkins University)
Rachel Na (Washington University at St. Louis)
Liv Prestandrea (Boston University)
Gavin Sanders (Northeastern University)
Isabella Sha (Dartmouth College)
Ryan Sharifov (Wake Forest University)
Richard Wang (University of Pennsylvania)
Alistair Wright (Princeton University)

Members of the Class of 2023 inducted into the Cum Laude Society as seniors in their spring semester are:

Kidder Bacon (Eton College)
Heidi Brown (Dartmouth College)
Max Cohen (University of Michigan)
Charles Englander (Yale University)
Morgan Gillies (Hamilton College)
Jacob Herman (University of Texas-Austin)
Justin Kelly (University of Southern California)

2023 National Merit Scholarship Commended Students: 

Catherine Barry (Princeton University)
Joshua Chen Johns (Hopkins University)
Mark Jennings (Washington University at St. Louis)
Richard Wang (University of Pennsylvania)

2023 National Merit Scholarship Finalists: 

Rachel Na (Barnard College)
Isabella Sha (Dartmouth College)
Yating Tang (University of Virginia)
Alistair Wright (Princeton University)

2023 National Recognition Hispanic Scholar Program: 

Max Cohen (University of Michigan)
Dylan Rorech (Villanova University)

Class of 2023 College Matriculations

Photos by Alvin Caal/Friends Academy

View more photos from Fourth Day Honors on our Flickr

Enrolling 705 students from age 3 through Grade 12, Friends Academy is guided by its Quaker heritage and the principles of integrity, simplicity, patience, moderation, and a peaceful resolution of conflict. The school is located on 65 acres at the intersection of Piping Rock and Duck Pond roads in Locust Valley/Glen Cove.