Miss Hall's School Graduates 42

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Forty-two graduates, including nine students from Berkshire County, graduated on Sunday, May 31, during Miss Hall's School's 128th Commencement.

The ceremony took place under a large tent behind the Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Arts Center on the School's Holmes Road campus and was broadcast worldwide via Zoom.

Hosted by Miss Hall's Head of School Julia Heaton, the ceremony included remarks from School President Idia Enoma, of Chester, N.Y.; Senior Class President Pimpisa Jongjaroonrungson, of Bangkok, Thailand; School Vice President Akshara Muthavarapu, of Pittsfield; and MHS Board of Trustees President Nancy Gustafson Ault, Miss Hall's School Class of 1973.

This year's Commencement Remarks were delivered by Her Excellency Madam Rulan Samara, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the Republic of Kenya. Ambassador Samara was introduced by her niece, Class of 2026 graduate Noya Samara, of Amman, Jordan.

Local graduates in the class of 2026 are Eva Sopia Allen Vargas, of Richmond; Emersyn Bray, of Dalton; Madelyn Craig, of Williamstown; Beatrix Gilb, of Pittsfield; Fiona Gordon, of Lenox; Kara Kisselbrock, of Dalton; Simma Krantz, of Pittsfield; Akshara Muthavarapu, of Pittsfield; and Mea Richardson, of Cheshire.

The following awards were also bestowed on members of the Class of 2026:

• Joseph F. Buerger Memorial School Spirit Cup: Akshara Muthavarapu, of Pittsfield

• Faculty Commendation Award: Rafi Hernandez Unger, of New York, N.Y.

• Christine Fuller Holland '33 Service Prize: Fabiana Romero, of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

• Meus Honor Stat Keys Awarded for MHS Core Competencies: 

  • Vision: Noya Samara, of Amman, Jordan
  • Voice: Idia Enoma, of Chester, N.Y.
  • Interpersonal Efficacy: Nguyen Yen Phuong, of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; and Mea Richardson, of Cheshire
  • Gumption: Rebecca Kitonga, of Nairobi, Kenya

• Margaret Witherspoon Award: Xingru Chen, of Shanghai, China, and Hyeon Jung, of Seoul, South Korea

• Engineering and Technology Innovation Award: Jaimie Corpuz, of Stamford, Conn.

• Doris E. Pitman English Prize: Idia Enoma, of Chester, N.Y.

• Virginia Breene Wickwire '67 Reading Prize: Rafaela Romanini, of Campo Grande, Brazil

• Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Studio Art Prize: Pimpisa Jongjaroonrungson, of Bangkok, Thailand

• Angela Kalischer Theater Prize: Isabella Aponte, of Bronx, N.Y.

• Susanna McCreath Music Prize: Trinity Ren, of Beijing, China

• Paul C. Cabot, Jr. History Prize: Mea Richardson, of Cheshire

• Horizons Award: Xinyue Ren, of Shanghai, China

• Monique Jalbert French Prize: Nefertiti Williiams-Jack, of Brooklyn, N.Y.

• Spanish Award: Kara Kisselbrock, of Dalton

• English for Speakers of Other Languages Award: Nguyen Yen Phuong, of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

• James K. Ervin Mathematics Prize: Akshara Muthavarapu, of Pittsfield

• Iive Rouse Science Award: Xingru Chen, of Shanghai, China

• Sylvia "Rusty" Shethar Everdell '38 Prize: Simma Krantz, of Pittsfield

 


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Taconic High Names Top Students of the Class of 2026

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Taconic High School Principal Matthew Bishop has announced the valedictorian and salutatorian of the class of 2026. 
 
They will speak during the graduation ceremony on Friday, June 12, at 4 p.m at Tanglewood in Lenox. 
 
Gavin O'Donnell, son of Kevin and Colleen O'Donnell of Pittsfield, has been named valedictorian with a grade average of 103. Hunter Bentz, son of Heidi Bentz of Pittsfield, has been named salutatorian with a grade average of 102.4.
 
Throughout his high school career, O'Donnell has exemplified the values of leadership, commitment, and excellence that define the Taconic community. He achieved high honors all four years and made significant contributions to both the school and the wider community. He was an active member of the Link Crew, Green and Gold, and Class Council, just to name a few of his activities. 
 
A dedicated athlete, O'Donnell played soccer and baseball all four years and was named captain of the varsity soccer and baseball teams both junior and senior years. His commitment to service extended beyond athletics, as he volunteered with Unified Games and was a math tutor at Taconic. He has also been an active part of Pittsfield Soccer Club, where he has helped
referee youth soccer games and assisted in getting the fields ready for game days.
 
He has earned several awards, including being a member of the National Honor Society,  the John and Abigail Adams Award, and being an AP Scholar and an AP Capstone Graduate. 
 
O'Donnell plans to pursue a degree in finance at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he will continue to play baseball and hopes to excel as a student. 
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