Prize Day 2026: Honoring Those Who Transform Potential Into Excellence

 

Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem presided over the program. In his opening remarks, he noted that the award recipients model Rivers’ core values of integrity, perseverance, empathy, curiosity, and joy. These individuals “elevate Rivers,” said Dahlem, “transforming potential into excellence, making Rivers an exceptional place to learn and work.”

Dahlem also acknowledged his gratitude for the entire Rivers community, including those not receiving awards on this occasion, emphasizing that all Rivers students and professional community members “collectively shape Rivers into the outstanding school it is today.”

Dahlem then honored professional community members who’ve completed five, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years of service to the school and presented three awards to professional community members. This year’s Mida van Zuylen Dunn Award for excellence in teaching was awarded to faculty members Kristin Harder and Meredith Caplan. The Bergen-Decker award, which is presented to “a member of the Rivers professional community who has set an example of leadership, compassion, and selfless spirit and who, through hard work and commitment, helps make the school a better place,” went to Director of Facilities Ben McGovern. 

Recognition of student achievements followed the professional community awards, starting with celebrating members of the graduating class who were elected to the Cum Laude Society: Esme Asaad, Samuel Blank, Lily Chung, Vivian Dykema, Henry Fang, Georgia Fruhan, Henry Goldstein, Angelina Ha, Rob Hargrove, Maylea Harris, Kate Hayes, Derrick Huang, Nolan Killman, Noelle Lee, Zimon Li, Will Lorion, Savannah Maldonado, Jason Minicozzi, Ben Schouten, and Callie Walsh.

The Faculty Prize, Rivers’ highest honor, went to Esme Asaad ’26, described as a Rivers superstar who has “that rare combination of intellectual rigor and soulful reflection.” After naming her many achievements, Dahlem stated, “She is, quite simply, a student whose mere presence deeply enriches the world around her.”

Student body co-presidents Lily Chung ’26 and Nolan Killman ’26 received the Dudley H. Willis Trustee Prize, awarded to a senior or seniors distinguished in their pursuit of excellence, integrity, contributions to the school, and the respect accorded to them by the Rivers community. Of Chung, Dahlem said, “This student is described as a ‘powerhouse’ and an ‘unstoppable’ leader who perfectly embodies our philosophy of Excellence with Humanity.” Of Killman, he noted, “In many ways, he is the heart of the senior class; he’s the one who steadies the group when things feel uncertain, who laughs easily but works seriously, and who demonstrates an inner goodness that rubs off on those lucky enough to be his peers.” 

The Jeremiah J. Sheehan Prize, given in recognition of a student who demonstrates “gentility, kindness, and all-around good sportsmanship,” went to Derrick Huang ’26, and the Hooper Lawrence Memorial Prize, given each year to a student with “a cheerful disposition, an unselfish nature, and a kind heart,” was awarded to Karim Eljamal ’26.

The F. Ervin Prince Award, which honors top Middle School students, was awarded to Grace Mitrokostas ’30 and Maggie Tompros ’30. In presenting the award, Head of Middle School John Bower P’31 described Mitrokostas as “a student who leads with deep kindness, a consistently welcoming spirit, and a steady integrity that elevates everyone around her.” Of Tompros, he commented, “She leads not through volume or self‑promotion, but through a quiet integrity that creates space for others to shine.”

Honors in musical achievements went to Anya Carroll ’26, who received the Choral Prize; Eddie de Souza ’26 and Robbie Hargrove ’26, who received the Classical Music Prize; Gabe Manasseh ’26 and Ben Schouten ’26, who received the David Killam Instrumental Music Prize; and Esme Asaad ’26 and Katherine Shaw ’26, who received the Nonesuch Players Prize.

Top honors in athletics went to Jason Minicozzi ’26, who received the James A. Navoni ’70 Athletic Prize, and Hanna Piché ’26, who received the Priscilla Wallace Strauss Athletic Prize. Ellie Beigel ’26 and Luke Morin ’26 were awarded the Independent School League Award of Excellence, and Ellie Beigel ’26, Chloe Chitkara ’26, and Hannah Piché ’26 earned the Senior Award for Exceptional Dedication to Athletics, given in memory of Matthew S. Epstein ’89.

Nick Pratt ’27 was awarded the Harvard Club Prize; Gavin Bollar ’27 received the Thomas P. Olverson Prize; Soren Brockman ’27 received the Brown University Alumni Book Award; Stephanie Keel ’28 was awarded the Johns Hopkins University Alumni Faculty Prize; Marcus Fonseca ’29 and Danique O’Mensah ’29 received the Kenneth F. Benjamin ’50 Citizenship Award; and Lily Chung ’26 and Katherine Shaw ’26 were awarded the Community Engagement Prize. 

The following departmental honors were also awarded to graduating seniors: