On the eve of graduation, seniors gathered in Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts to celebrate the achievements of outstanding classmates, to collectively present the School with a class gift, and to look back at the 2017-2018 school year in video retrospective. 

Head of School Chris Fortunato and Dean of Academics Nathan Molteni welcomed attendees to the Class of 2018 Assembly, recognizing senior leaders and cum laude society members before introducing the faculty members who presented named prizes (see a full list of award winners at the end of this story). Teachers and administrators alike praised award recipients for their contributions to the community over the course of their Blair careers. 

To watch a video of the assembly, click “play” below.

When the eighth and final prize was given, members of the Senior Class Council presented Mr. Fortunato with a check for $3,609.76, the amount raised by 93 percent of seniors who made gifts to the Blair Fund. Assistant Director of Annual Giving Anna Matthews worked throughout the year to raise awareness among the senior class about the importance of alumni Blair Fund support. For the 17th year, Trustee Emeritus Jim Krugman '65 and his wife, Connie, maximized the class gift by generously contributing a 3:1 match of every dollar raised by seniors. 

After accepting the check and thanking seniors for their generosity, Mr. Fortunato closed the ceremony with a short introduction to the class of 2018 video perspective and his advice to the soon-to-be-graduates as they anticipated commencement and life after Blair.

“We applaud you for your achievements, and we know they are the result of incredibly hard work, dedication and great care,” he said. “The accomplishments of the class of 2018 are many. They are exceptional and worthy of our pride because they are a product of individual determination, talent and the support of so many—your teachers, roommates, parents, siblings, coaches, and everyone inside and outside the Blair community, past and present, who have created a culture of achievement and care for one another. We are so proud of them, the School and all of you.”

2018 prize winners:

The Franklin Prize is awarded to the senior who has shown the greatest development and improvement over the course of his or her Blair career. 

Ethan Amato and Veronica Blair

The Elaine & James Kelley Prize is awarded to that student who best represents the spirit of the postgraduate program by strengthening academic skills and his or her horizons through meaningful participation in the life of the community.

Thomas Menoni

The Selena & James Howard Prize is awarded to a member of the senior class who has made significant contributions to the life of the School.

Onome Akinobode-James and Apaar Anand

The Lee Rose Memorial Trophy is awarded to the senior, who, while performing with merit in the classroom, has made significant contribution to Blair life.

Savannah Doelfel and Elisabeth Pinkerton 

The Harold F. Walker Memorial Prize is awarded to a member of the senior class who has made significant contributions to the life of the School.

Luigi Pasquariello and Daniel Sysler

The Robert Dalling Prize is presented to the male athlete who has best represented Blair Academy in athletic competition.

William Kaiser

The William Zester Memorial Award is presented to the female athlete who has best represented Blair in athletic competition.

Katherine Douglas

The Herbert J. Siegel Sportsmanship Prize is presented to that senior whose sportsmanship, spirit, and selfless dedication to his or her teams best represents Blair athletics.

Clio Bersani and Dy-Jae Pearson