43 US Students Receive Year-End Awards

For earning a range of year-end awards, more than 40 Upper School students were celebrated by Penn Charter faculty, staff, classmates and family members at the annual Upper School Prize Assembly on May 26 in the Graham Athletics and Wellness Center.

Thirteen seniors were also recognized for completing Penn Charter certificate programs in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (four students); Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability (five); and Global Culture and Language (four).

The ceremony concluded with the naming of this year's Commencement speakers, Chet Kempinski and Chloe Pinto, and the formal dedication of the 2023 Class Record (yearbook) to Head of School Darry J. Ford, Assistant Head of School Travis Larrabee, and Director of The Center for Public Purpose Alyson Goodner. 

Congratulations to all!

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Caption, From Left to Right: Row 1: Isabella & Maya Brightbill, Eva McIver-Jenkins, Isaiah Grimes, Juan Tovar, Oliver Zulick, Renee Fernendes, Luke Fiss, Sammy Davey, Payton Handler, Grace Neurwirth and Leilani Bacchus. Row 2: Zady Hasse, Grace Agosto, Lucy Cullen, Magnolia Huynh, Charlotte Baker, Lindsay & Merrill Gadsden, Grace Jordan-Weinstein, Ege Gungor, James Langham, Elijah Leckerman, Zahir Id-Din and Mariam Stewart. Row 3: Ellie Choate, Alice Allsopp, Alice Ingram, Maisie Optenberg, Lauren Pachter, Alexandra Will, Steven Bernstein, Harrison Signorello, Matthew Clarke, Jack Frank, Henry Greenberg, Rainer Malhotra, Braden Cross, Cliff Harling and Colin Schumm. Row 4: Benji Solomon and Louella Whitaker.

CHERYL IRVING DIVERSITY AWARD
Given to a member of the Senior Class who has made significant contributions to the work of equity and justice and has participated and led in the organization of discussions, workshops and activities to further making Penn Charter an inclusive environment. 

Leilani Bacchus

LEHR FAMILY PUBLIC PURPOSE AWARD
To the student(s) who most closely fulfilled the ideals of public purpose to the community through active participation in the Center for Public Purpose addressing the most pressing social issues in the Greater Philadelphia area.

Isaiah Grimes

JACOB SNIPES TECHNOLOGY AWARD
Awarded in memory of Jacob Snipes OPC '14, recognizing the student or group of students showing passion for technological exploration and making the best use of technology to complete a major academic assignment.

Henry Greenberg

D.J. WILLIAMS AWARD
To a student who has made a significant contribution to journalism at Penn Charter in memory of D.J. Williams, OPC '77.

Grace Jordan-Weinstein

W. RAYMOND EVANS, JR. MEMORIAL PRIZES IN MATHEMATICS

Ninth: Alice Allsopp and Alice Ingram
Tenth: Braden Cross and Lucy Cullen
Eleventh: Grace Agosto and Payton Handler
Twelfth: Steven Bernstein and Matthew Clarke

MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE
To a member of the Junior Class who has demonstrated the highest level of motivation, commitment and achievement in science and math classes.

Ege Gungor

AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY AWARD
For excellence in Chemistry.

Louella Whitaker

THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF PHYSICS TEACHERS’ AWARD
To the outstanding student in the first year Physics course.

Sammy Davey and Ellie Choate

THE ROBERT D. TORREY AWARD
Honors an Upper School student who has shown dedication and achievement during his or her years in the science program.

Matthew Clarke

THE ROBERT F. CHAPMAN OPC ’36 FUND FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP PRIZE 
To a member of the Junior class whose talents in the sciences and passion for nature recall Robert F. Chapman’s lifelong application of scientific understanding to environmental issues.

Grace Agosto
Zady Hasse

J.P. HARLAND PRIZE
To a member of the Junior Class or Senior Class who has been the best student in Latin during their years at Penn Charter.

Jack Frank

SPANISH PRIZE
To a student(s) that has clearly demonstrated a true commitment to understanding the culture of Spanish speakers, as well as mastering the Spanish language.

Maya Brightbill

CHINESE PRIZE
To the student who has most clearly demonstrated a commitment to mastering the Chinese language, understanding the culture and using what they learn to communicate with others.

Isabella Brightbill
Oliver Zulick

S. WEIR LEWIS, 3rd MEMORIAL PRIZE
To an outstanding member or members of the Junior Class, in English and French, as a tribute to Clifton Lisle and to Oliver P. Hodge who were his teachers in these subjects.

Grace Agosto (English)
Lauren Pachter (French)

RELIGIOUS STUDIES and PHILOSOPHY DEPARTMENT AWARD
This award is given to a member of the student body who has shown significant scholarly interest and pursuit in the field of religious studies and philosophy in their time at Penn Charter.

Isabella Brightbill and Mariam Stewart

HISTORY PRIZE
To the Senior who has demonstrated general excellence throughout the U.S. History course during their Junior year.

Merrill Gadsden

LAWRENCE W. KUNKLE AWARD
To a senior who best exemplifies the qualities of creative ability, diligence and service that Lawrence Kunkle exhibited as a teacher at Penn Charter.

Charlotte Baker

LOUIS SAVINO CHORAL AWARD
Given to an upper school student who has distinguished him/herself through an extraordinary commitment to Penn Charter’s choral musical program.

Oliver Zulick

MUSIC AWARD
To a member of the Upper School who has made an outstanding contribution to the music program through both talent and leadership.

Matthew Clarke (Choral)
Harrison Signorello (Instrumental)

LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARD
Given to a student in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field of jazz, as demonstrated through superior musicianship character, and individual creativity. 

Juan Tovar

JOHN PHILIP SOUSA BAND AWARD 
Given to a student in recognition of outstanding achievement and interest in instrumental music, for singular merit in loyalty and cooperation, and for displaying those high qualities of conduct that school instrumental music requires.

Lindsay Gadsden

DRAMA PRIZE
Awarded to an Upper School student who has made an outstanding contribution to the dramatic arts at Penn Charter.

Elijah Leckerman

PETER KISHINCHAND MEMORIAL PRIZE
Awarded in memory of Peter Kishinchand OPC '91, to a student who has made a major contribution to the arts programs at Penn Charter through dedication to the technical aspects of artistic productions.

Magnolia Huynh

WILLIAM C. SHIELDS, 3rd MEMORIAL PRIZE
To a student who has completed Ninth Grade with an outstanding record in character, scholarship and sportsmanship.

Rainer Malhotra
Harbor Campbell

THE ROBERT C. PORTER BOWDOIN PRIZE
To a member of the Sophomore Class who has demonstrated leadership in academics and who has made a significant contribution to school life.

Eva McIver-Jenkins
Benji Solomon

HENRY A. DRESSER MEMORIAL PRIZE
To an outstanding member of the Tenth Grade.

Maisie Optenberg
Luke Fiss

CLASS OF 1897 PRIZE
To a member of the Junior Class who has combined high scholarship with character and leadership in school activities.

Renee Fernandes
Grace Neuwirth

THE COLBY COLLEGE BOOK PRIZE IN HONOR OF ANDREW PEFF OPC ’07
To a member of the Junior Class who has shown outstanding academic achievement and has made substantial contributions to the school and local community.

James Langham

RICHARD S. CROSS JEFFERSON SCHOLAR AWARD
To an outstanding Junior Class student in academics and extracurricular activities given by the University of Virginia Club. 

Zady Hasse

WILLIAMS COLLEGE AWARD
To a member of the Junior Class who has demonstrated intellectual leadership and has made a significant contribution to the extracurricular life of the school. 

Zahir Kalam Id-Din

HARVARD CLUB AWARD
To that member of the Junior Class who is deemed the most worthy by reason of his/her scholarship, character, school spirit, influence upon his/her fellows, and general ability.

Alexandra Will

CLASS OF 1980 AWARD
To a senior who does the most to promote unity within the class.

Cliff Harling 

JONATHAN HOLMAN SMULLENS AWARD
Awarded in memory of Jonathan Smullens, Class of ‘79, to a senior who has made particularly significant progress during their senior year.

Colin Schumm

SERVICE AWARD
To any member of the student body who has given continuous service to Penn Charter over a period of years.

Leilani Bacchus

KENNETH A. GERBER AWARD for OUTSTANDING INTELLECTUAL ACHIEVEMENT
To the student who achieves the type of broad-based intellectual accomplishment that characterized Ken Gerber, OPC’85.

Jack Frank

DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION AND JUSTICE CERTIFICATES
Emelia Malhotra
Georgie O'Gallagher
Ella Parke
Wesley Trautwein

ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP AND SUSTAINABILITY CERTIFICATES
Noah Dacanay
Emerson Drake
Jenna Fattore
Jamison La Barge
Brooklyn Trevisan

GLOBAL CULTURE AND LANGUAGE CERTIFICATES
Matthew Clarke
Merrill Gadsden
Chloe Pinto
Grant Watson