We all have challenges in front of us, and thatmakes life worth living,” declared schoolPresident Will Royal as he addressed the

audience at the 82nd Graduation Exercises held on June 10.Sixty-nine students—twenty-nine ninth graders and fortyeighth graders—received diplomas, and prizes were awardedfor excellence in character, service, academics, athletics, andcitizenship. Additional awards and citations were presented atPrize Day on June 8 in Robb Hall.

The Fenn Concert Band played a rousing rendition of theoverture “Abington Ridge“ by Ed Huckeby, and the Treble

Chorus performed.Headmaster Jerry Wardprovided personalreflections of thegraduates, capturing eachboy’s character andexperiences at Fenn, andthe outgoing schoolpresident and vice-president spoke to theirclassmates, teachers,Fenn staff, families, and friends.

The audience applauded retiring faculty members JosephHindle, who has taught science for thirty-two years and servedin a variety of other roles, Kirsten Gould, who has directeddrama productions and been a guiding hand behind the Artsprogram at Fenn for twenty-seven years, and Lorraine Ward,who has been an English teacher and department chair foreleven years.

This special publication captures the highlights of PrizeDay and Graduation and the eighth and ninth gradecelebration dinners.

Graduation 2011

“

GRADUATION 2011Each year, before diplomas are awarded at graduation, the headmaster presents, on behalf of the faculty, sixprizes that recognize in different ways members of the eighth and ninth grade classes for their exceptionalcharacter, effort, achievement, and growth, all vital elements of a Fenn education. The recipients are chosen onthe basis of recommendations and votes of the Fenn School faculty.

2

FACULTY PRIZE

The Faculty Prize is Fenn’shighest honor. It recognizes aninth grade student orstudents whose breadth,character, and consistency ofinvolvement in the life of theschool have best exemplifiedthe faculty’s ideals for Fennstudents. This year theFaculty Prize was conferredupon Sisowath K. Chea andMiles H. Petrie.

Recipients of the Lovejoy Prize (left to right): Parker Zimmerman, Matt Hrabchak, Alaric Krapf, andJohnny Lamont

Faculty Prize winners (left toright): Miles Petrie and KennedyChea

LOVEJOY PRIZE

Created in 1998 by TrusteeEmeritus Frederick H.Lovejoy Jr. ’51 and his family,the Lovejoy Prize honors agraduating eighth gradestudent or students whoseexceptional character, effort,and achievement have soenriched the life of the schoolas to merit special recognitionfrom the faculty upon theirdeparture from Fenn. Theprize is awarded only in yearswhen there are students ofextraordinary merit. This yearthe Lovejoy Prize waspresented to four members ofthe Class of 2012: MatthewR. Hrabchak, Alaric M. Krapf,John L. Lamont, and ParkerG. Zimmerman.

3

MARK BISCOE AWARD

Named for retired master teacher Mark Biscoe H’95, who gavethirty-six years of service to the school, the Mark Biscoe Awardhonors the extraordinary example that Mark set for his colleaguesand students. The award is presented to a ninth grade student orstudents, who, through their personal growth in their years at Fenn,have come to value and live out the ideals of school citizenshipwhich Mark Biscoe, as teacher and coach, inspired generations ofFenn students to embrace. This year these students were honored:Conor S. Ingari, James J. Jennings, and Thomas R. Morrison.

Biscoe Award recipients (left to right): James Jennings, ConorIngari, and Tom Morrison

Burbank Prize winnters (left to right): Conor Ingari, Carter Reed, andMorgan Brennan

BURBANK PRIZE

The Burbank Prize is awarded by the teacher-coaches of Fennto those graduating athletes who have distinguished themselvesthrough their generous and unselfish spirit, which fostered thesuccess, happiness, and self-esteem of their teammates. Thisyear the prize was awarded to Morgan S. Brennan, Conor S.Ingari, and Carter B. Reed.

Receiving the Fleming Prize (left to right): Blaise Foley,Angelo Eliopoulos, and Paige Sanderson

DR. SAMUEL C. FLEMING MEMORIAL PRIZE

Established by members of the Class of 1965 on the occasion of their25th Fenn reunion, the Dr. Samuel C. Fleming Memorial Prizehonors their classmate and friend who wore a “wonderful, everpresent smile.” The prize is awarded each year to an eighth or ninthgrade student or students who merit recognition for theirdetermination and perseverance in meeting the academic challenge,whose efforts never languished, and who contributed to the schoolthrough qualities of friendliness, unselfish conduct, and sensitivity andwarmth to their classmates. This year the faculty honored ninthgraders Blaise C. Foley and Paige I. Sanderson, and eighth graderAngelo P. Eliopoulos.

WALTER W. BIRGE III PRIZE FOR PHILANTHROPY AND SUPPORT OF THE FENN COMMUNITY

Nominated by the faculty and selected by the headmaster, the recipient of the Birge Prize demonstrates qualities that were championed byWalter Birge, Fenn’s fourth headmaster (1983-1993). The prize recognizes one or more members of the ninth grade class who havecontinually distinguished themselves through their support of Fenn School community service projects, their helpfulness to teachers, andtheir support of their peers. The prize was awarded toMiles H. Petrie.

Each year, the P.G. Lee Memorial Prize is awarded at Prize Day to honor a member or members of the graduating class whocontributed outstanding determination, hard work, positive spirit, and cheerfulness to their athletic teams. Established in memoryof P.G. Lee ’87, the award honors the spirit of a boy who was a true competitor but is perhaps best remembered for “his smile andhis ability to make people laugh, and the happiness he brought to people around him.” This year’s eighth and ninth graders votedto honor Kamal A. Hreib, Conor S. Ingari, and William J. Royal III. Leslie Warner, P.G. Lee’s mother, attended the Prize Dayceremony to congratulate the winners.

AUSTEN FOX RIGGS AWARD

First awarded by the Class of 1951 as their partinggift to Fenn, the Austen Fox Riggs Award is givenin memory of Austen, a Fenn student from theClass of 1955 who lost his life attempting to savehis younger brother from drowning in the ConcordRiver. Determined by vote of the Lower Schoolfaculty, the award is given to the student orstudents who most resemble “Autie” in the helpfuleffort he contributed in work and in play. This yearthe Austen Fox Riggs Award was presented to fifthgraders Walker L. Davey, Charles J. Fitzsimmons,and Paul P. Michaud.

Recipients of the Austen Fox Riggs Award (left to right):Paul Michaud, Walker Davey, and Charlie Fitzsimmons

PRIZE DAY 2011

P. G. LEE MEMORIAL PRIZE

P.G. Lee Prize winners with Leslie Warner (left to right): Will Royal, Conor Ingari, and Alex Hreib

P.G. LEE MEMORIAL PRIZE

4

5

For the past year I have been honored to serve as The FennSchool’s president, along with my great vice president, JackBarron. It seems astonishing that we are now about to be

graduating, so on behalf of my fellow students, thank you so muchfor coming to celebrate this day with us.

With so many competing ideas and feelings about the year thatmy classmates and I have, putting every single one of them in aspeech would stretch a light year. I know that all of us feel the sameway; we are ready to graduate, happy for what we’ve accomplishedduring our time at Fenn, but we are also excited for what lies ahead.

This year has seen major changes at Fenn with the constructionof the new Meeting Hall and turf field. It seems strange to thinkback to when there were no bulldozers and trucks everywhere onthe Fenn campus.

Starting the year in September, I was nervous. I remember ourfirst All School Meeting, with melooking around thinking, “Are wereally seniors?” It was a strangeand interesting feeling. Just as theschool has undergone changes, sohave we as a graduating class.Whether we’ve liked it or not,we’ve learned how to think andact in an organized manner, toreach out and try new things, and to becomfortable with who we are as individuals.This year I’ve also felt much closer to all theteachers at Fenn. Now they’re people whomI don’t just see as teachers, but as friends.

Our ninth grade class was special. I don’tbelieve I’ll meet another group of guys as different and as fun to bearound as they have been. Every one of them has played such animportant part in my life, and in the lives of everyone around him.Everything that happened this year, in my opinion, was a great time.

Even the times that weren’tso great were fun. How canthat be? I’m not sure, but Ican tell you this: when youwalk into school and youfind your locker has beentaped shut, you either learnto see the funny side of itor you realize you shouldreconsider your friends.

Fenn has taught me alot, and it has also been aplace where I’ve tried new

things in a safeenvironment. Back infourth grade, I was anervous, scared, andunsure ten-year-old. Iwould never haveexpected that I’d turn outthe way I have. I’m stillnot sure if that is a goodthing or not, but I haveenjoyed the ride so far.

I remember many things about Fenn, but one that stands out isthe Eaglebrook Soccer Tournament this year. It was in the finalgame that I realized that it had never been about me; it was abouteveryone else. We ended up losing 1-0, but our Fenn team played ashard as anyone can play. By the second half of the game, due to calfinjuries I could barely take a step without pain, but I kept going.Not for myself, however. I looked around at the team and saw that Ijust couldn’t stop playing.

Now that we are graduating, our future holds much in store forus. It’s very exciting to move on because I know that our class isgoing to be just fine. Some of us might be living close by, in

surrounding towns, while others might bein boarding schools in different states.While we might change, one thing willstay the same: We all went to Fenn. Wehad a ball here, and we always rememberednot to throw snowballs on Fenn grounds,because it’s just not safe.

All of us have mixed feelings aboutleaving. It is sad to say goodbye to everyone, but at the same time,we’re ready for new things. Fenn has been a good portion of ourchildhood, and I’m proud to say that.

The skiing legend Warren Miller, whose dramatic films you mayhave seen, once said, “If you don’t do it this year, you’ll be one yearolder when you do.” I believe this holds true for everyone. We willall have challenges ahead of us, and that’s what makes life worthliving. If nothing was hard, we’d all be sitting around wonderingwhen it was time to take the Hot Pocket out of the microwave.That’s why we try new things; we push ourselves because that’sliving right there. If you fail once, that doesn’t mean that failure isyour thing. Keep moving. That’s how greatness occurs in life.

I want to thank everyone for coming today. It’s been an honorspeaking to you, and I hope all of you have an enjoyable summer.Thank you, Fenn. Thank you, Mom, Dad, and Spencer. And thankyou, the Class of 2011.

“We’ve learned how tothink and act in an organizedmanner, to reach out and try newthings, and to be comfortable withwho we are as individuals.”

Challenges “Make Life Worth Living”By Will Royal ’11

President Royal welcomes hissuccessor, Max Gomez ’12.

6

Patrick O’Brien (left) and Miles Petrie wereawarded the Eleanor B. Fenn ModernLanguage Prize.

LENNOX LINDSAY LATIN PRIZE Lennox Lindsay was Fenn’s first Latin master,who taught at the school from 1929 to 1939.Mr. Lindsay, according to Roger Fenn, “madeLatin a living language, not a dead one” throughhis explorations of Roman manners, culture, andartifacts. Initially conferred on the boy whoshared Mr. Lindsay’s passion for these areas ofthe curriculum, today the Lennox Lindsay LatinPrize is awarded for overall excellence in thestudy of Latin. This year the prize went to ninthgrader Samuel P. Stogdon and eighth graderAlaric H. Krapf.

Alaric Krapf (left) and Miles Petrie werehonored with the Alan S. MoatsMathematics Prize.

MILLAR BRAINARD SCIENCE PRIZE The Millar Brainard Science Prize was established byEdward C. Brainard II ’46 in memory of his father, anold friend of Robert Fenn’s at the time the school wasfounded. The prize is awarded to a member or membersof the ninth grade class who have not only demonstratedan outstanding knowledge of science but have alsodisplayed enthusiasm, creativity, and an impressiveunderstanding of the scientific method. This year thewinner of the Brainard Science Prize was Miles H.Petrie.

Receiving the Lennox Lindsay Latin Prize were(left to right):Alaric Krapf and Samuel Stogdon.

GOULD ARTS AWARDThe Arts Award was renamed this year for Kirsten Gould, who retired in the spring aftertwenty-seven years at the school, for her “visionary shaping of Fenn’s Arts program in its richand full dimensions.” The award is given by vote of the Arts department faculty, and in itsfirst year was presented to three students who have demonstrated throughout their careers atFenn exemplary dedication and accomplishment respectively in music, drama, and the visualarts. This year, from the Class of 2011, the following students were honored: Joseph D.Pacheco for distinction in music; Miles H. Petrie for distinction in drama; and Morgan S.Brennan for distinction in the visual arts. Winners of the Gould Arts Award were (left to right): Joseph Pacheco, Morgan Brennan,and Miles Petrie.

ALAN S. MOATS MATHEMATICS PRIZE

The parents of Alan S. Moats ’62established the Moats Mathematics Prizein 1966 out of their appreciation forFenn’s excellence in preparing their sonfor the rigors of Phillips ExeterAcademy. In its first year, the prize wasgiven “for the curiosity which raisesquestions, the perseverance which seesthrough to the answers, and thethoroughness which is the mark ofexcellence in any field.” This year, theMoats Mathematics Prize was awardedto ninth grader Miles H. Petrie andeighth grader Alaric M. Krapf.

ACADEMICHONORS2011

ELEANOR B. FENN MODERNLANGUAGE PRIZE

Originally a prize for achievement in French,theEleanor B. Fenn Modern Language Prizecommemorates the many contributions ofEleanor Fenn, the school’s first Frenchteacher and the dedicated wife of founderRoger Fenn. Today, with this prize, Fennrecognizes its most accomplished Spanishstudents for their talent and interest in thelanguage and culture of Spain and for theirexemplary academic work in the Spanishlanguage. This year, ninth grader Miles H.Petrie and eighth grader Patrick H. O’Brienwere honored with the prize and eachpresented with a copy of Miguel Cervantes’epic novel Don Quixote.

7

WILLIAM O. TRAVERS WRITING CONTESTAt graduation in 1979, the Fenn School Board of Trustees established anEnglish prize to honor the long and dedicated service of William O. Travers,English teacher and assistant headmaster from 1956 to 1979. Mr. Travers’ keeninterest in writing and his long-held desire for a composition prize prompteda contest to be created in each division of the school for which submissions ofimaginative, creative, and descriptive writing were sought. This year, in theLower School, Jack C. Tyrie, a fifth grader, received the Travers Prize, withHonorable Mention awarded to fifth grader Paul P. Michaud. In the MiddleSchool, the winner was sixth grader Daniel P. Kramer, with HonorableMention awarded to seventh grader Zahin S. Das. In the Upper School, AlaricM. Krapf, an eighth grader, received the prize, with Honorable Mentionawarded to ninth grader August M. Voelk.

4TH GRADE

Kadin O. AliKevin C. EwingSamuel J. FarleySamuel E. Winneg

5TH GRADE

Nathan P. CunninghamNicholas E. SchoellerNicholas R. SteinertConor A. Zachar

6TH GRADE

Joseph E. ConroyAlexander W. CzarneckiRyan A. EwingAlec M. Reiss

7TH GRADE

Jackson T. BoyleEdward J. FitzsimmonsAustin W. HoeyGavin T. KennedyLucas MundelLeo J. SaracenoEthan J. vanderWildenCole R. Winstanley

8TH GRADE

Andrew C. AndersonTimothy R. JoumasJivan H. Purutyan

9TH GRADE

Matthew A. BoudreauMorgan S. BrennanSamuel P. Stogdon

CITIZENSHIP PRIZESAwarded by faculty to students in their divisions,Fenn School Citizenship Prizes honor boys who showexceptional citizenship traits: they are especially hardworking in their school activities, they areparticularly cheerful, positive, and supportive toother students, and they are relied upon by faculty tolend a hand when important jobs need to be done.This year, the following students were honored withCitizenship Prizes on Prize Day:

Winners of the Band Award with Instrumental Music Director Maeve Lienwere (left to right): Joseph Pacheco, Carter Reed, and Nicholas Demsher.

Recipients of the Carter Prize for History and SocialStudies with Jim Carter were (left to right): DanielMeyerhoff and Alaric Krapf.

THE CARTER PRIZE FOR HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIESTheCarter Prize for History and Social Studies, named in honor of Jim Carter ’54 forhis distinguished forty years of teaching history and social studies at Fenn, is awarded toa graduating student or students who in their years at Fenn have shown exceptionalinterest, knowledge, and diligence in their study of history and social studies. This yearthe recipients of the Carter Prize were ninth grader Daniel Meyerhoff and eighth graderAlaric M. Krapf.

JOSEPH A. HINDLE JR. SCIENCE RECOGNITION PRIZE

The Joseph A. Hindle Jr. Science Recognition Prize was established thisyear in honor of Mr. Hindle, who retired this spring after thirty-twoyears at Fenn. The prize is awarded to the ninth grade student orstudents who consistently demonstrate mastery of laboratory skills andwho creatively apply critical thinking skills to the field of biology. Thisyear the recipients of the first annual Hindle Science Recognition Prizewere John R. Barron and Samuel P. Stogdon.

Winners of the William O. Travers Writing Contest were(left to right): Alaric Krapf, Jack Tyrie, and DanielKramer.

BAND AWARDThe Band Award is presented for leadership and dedication. This year’s recipients are ninth graders Nicholas P. Demsher, Joseph D. Pacheco,and Carter B. Reed.

Ryan S.F. AlipourSt. Mark’s School

Alexander S. AmorelloConcord-Carlisle High School

Jacob B. AmorelloConcord-Carlisle High School

John R. BarronSt. Mark’s School

William C. BlackGovernor’s Academy

Matthew A. BoudreauBrooks School

Morgan A. BrennanLawrence Academy

Sisowath K. CheaLowell High School

Nicholas P. DemsherBrooks School

Blaise C. FoleySt. George’s School

Kamal A. HreibSt. Mark’s School

Conor S. IngariSt. George’s School

Samuel L. IsaacsKimball Union Academy

James P. JenningsRivers School

Benjamin R. MarchandMiddlesex School

Daniel MeyerhoffBoston University Academy

Thomas R. MorrisonNoble and Greenough School

Joseph D. PachecoActon-Boxborough High School

Miles H. PetrieMiddlesex School

Lucas A. RandleHolderness School

Carter B. ReedConcord-Carlisle High School

William C. ReynoldsSt. Mark’s School

William J. Royal IIIConcord-Carlisle High School

Paige I. SandersonSt. Sebastian’s School

Sebastian F. SidneyLawrence Academy

Nathaniel D. SintrosBrooks School

Samuel P. StogdonConcord Academy

August M. VoelkSt. Mark’s School

Andrew R. WilsonCushing Academy

F E N N G R A D U A T I N G C L A S S O F 2 0 1 1

8

Graduation Moments

As I look out to my right and see all of the young faces, Ithink back to when I was sitting out there thinking,“Man this is boring.” Well, to start, I would like to inform

you that my speech will be short, to the point, and, I hope, not tooboring.

As I was writing this speech, I was havingtrouble filling up the space on the paper. Thisis not because I had a lack of things to writeabout, but that I had an abundance of them.The memories and friends that you make atFenn are countless and unforgettable. Just lastweek I was talking to my uncle [S. DevlinBarron ’82], who recalled several memories about his Fenn careerin vivid detail.

From my first day at school, when I stepped out of the carwith a lack of confidence and an excess of swag, to this verysecond, as I stand before you, surprised that I have not yetbotched this speech, I have felt at home at Fenn. This feeling ofcommunity could not have been possible without the spirit andcharisma of the students and faculty here.

While I can think of at least one hundred people I would liketo thank and talk about, it would be unfair to every student,teacher, and friend in the school to single out anyone. I will,however, say that I could not have made it through my years herewithout all the help I received from my advisors. Advisors arehere to push you on, yell at you, and most important, to pick you

up when you are down. On behalf of myself and the entiregraduating class, I would like to thank all the teachers andadvisors in the audience who have had an impact on ourlives.Teachers and parents are always reminding us that we are

blessed to get such a great education here. They sayit is important to give thanks and acknowledge ouropportunities. I believe that it is even more

important to take advantage ofthese opportunities. Being Fennboys, we all have the capability toachieve almost anything we set oursights on. In the spirit of theschool’s motto, Sua Sponte, it is upto us to reach out and grab thoseopportunities.

I have memories from every grade, and each is clearer thanthe previous one. While I have far too many memories to speakof here, I will say to all of you that you should cherish each andevery one. I would encourage you to talk to someone you knowabout his time at Fenn or at any other school. I can guaranteethat he will be more than happy to talk, for telling another abouta memory is re-living it yourself.

While putting pen to paper, I thought back to last year whenGabe Arnold said, “Fenn has been an amazing dream and sadly Ihave just woken up.” Unfortunately, this could not have beentruer for me this year. It seems as if we don’t realize how magicalFenn is until we’re gone. I remember hearing something verysimilar to this statement every year I have been at graduation. Ialso remember disregarding it as unimportant. Well, this year Iwould like to urge all of you returning students to love everymoment and appreciate Fenn before it’s too late. I sincerely hopethat you all take this to heart. And if not…I hope you are nottoo angry at me for lecturing you hours before summer vacation.

Fenn is a place where classes become bearable, work becomesdoable, years become months, teachers and peers become friends, and school becomes fun. Fenn is a place where boysbecome men.

Even though I will not be a Fenn student forever, thememories that I have made here will always be with me in myheart, in my head, and in my soul. To all graduating students, Iwould like to wish you good luck in life, wherever it may takeyou. And to the other students and to the teachers, I lookforward to seeing what comes next for you all personally and forthe school as a whole.

I thank you for your time and, more important, I wish you allan exciting and happy summer.

“Being Fenn boys, we allhave the capability toachieve almostanything we setour sights on. ”

“A Place Where Boys Become Men”by Jack Barron ’11

10

Outgoing Vice President Barron hands the gavel to his successor,Jonathan Tesoro ’12.

11

Garnet Alex-BartonChapel Hill-Chauncy Hall

Aneesh S. AshutoshPhillips Academy, Andover

Griffin R. BishopConcord-Carlisle High School

Frank M. BruniGroton School

Daniel P. CarlsonMiddlesex School

Joseph C. CrowleyConcord-Carlisle High School

Henry B. DalbyBelmont High School

Brandon C. DavidLincoln-Sudbury High School

Asher B. DawsonNoble and Greenough School

Sameer DudduConcord Academy

Angelo P. EliopoulosConcord Academy

James D. EmelloSuff ield Academy

Max F. FitzgeraldSt. John’s High School

Austin R. GaluszaPomfret School

Calyton S. GilmourWinchester High School

Matthew R. HrabchakDeerf ield Academy

Wilson R. IndermuehleConcord-Carlisle High School

Andrew J. KielarConcord-Carlisle High School

Paul A. KinardPhillips Academy, Andover

Alaric M. KrapfGroton School

John L. LamontGroton School

Benjamin S. MacShaneHotchkiss School

Michael B. McLeanGroton School

Alexander S. McNultyConcord-Carlisle High School

Ryan S. MetroGroton School

Yoon Kun NamGyeonggi Suwon InternationalSchool

Patrick H. O’BrienConcord-Carlisle High School

Tyler D. ParkeConcord Academy

Robert M. Reardon Jr.St. Sebastian’s School

Matthew S. RichmanLincoln-Sudbury High School

Owen W. Sette-DucatiBrooks School

Matthew H. SimonConcord Academy

Jordan D. SwettPhillips Academy, Andover

Neel A. TanejaMilton Academy

Christopher T. B. ThomasBrooks School

Jonathan P. TrusheimActon-Boxborough High School

Cole R. TurissiniRivers School

Stefano Viacava VeraGroton School

Erik C. ZimmerConcord Academy

Parker G. ZimmermanFrancis Parker School

F E N N G R A D U A T I N G C L A S S O F 2 0 1 2

12

EIGHTH GRADECELEBRATION

During graduation week, eighthgraders and their parents andteachers gather for an evening

celebration of the class, to honor thosestudents who are leaving Fenn and toallow those who are returning an

opportunity to come together and look towards their future as seniors at the school.Headmaster Ward offers a personal reflection about each student, capturing memorablemoments from that boy’s years at Fenn. This year, four student speakers, two departingboys and two returning ones, were chosen by their classmates to address the gathering.

Derek Boonisar, head of the Upper School, welcomed the guests and spoke to theeighth grade, saying “You have successfully navigated the most challenging part of aboy’s life, the middle school years, and you have won the hearts of people along theway.” He offered three pieces of advice: “Be nice, for kindness and respect are essentialmeasures of character and should not be compromised. Give your best at all times, forwhatever you are doing, it is important and deserves your best effort. Be resilient, for lifecan be disappointing, challenging, and confusing. Hang in there and keep going.”

The four students who addressed their classmateswere Max Gomez, next year’s president of the school, JohnLamont, Jivan Purutyan, and Matthew Simon. Here areexcerpts from their speeches:

CONTINUINGTHETRADITIONby Max Gomez ’12

It’s about time to part ways with many of you, most of whom I have known for fiveyears. It is going to be tough to say goodbye, especially because, whether I like it or not, you guys are going to be my childhoodmemories. This has definitely been a memorable class, and we are going to continue that tradition. I will always remember being in the ILP (Intensive Language Program), a crazy class of eight students who spent half their classes

together for two years. I remember being appalled in sixth grade when I was mercilessly separated from my comrades and throwninto classes with a whopping sixteen students. Somehow I was able to get acquainted with the overwhelming masses of people, andI will remember every one of them.

Though we hope to be great leaders next year, we will never forget our teachers and peers who have enriched our lives and madeus better people. Plato said, “People are like dirt. They can either nourish you or help you grow as a person, or stunt your growthand make you wilt and die.” Keeping this quote in mind, I think that the people of Fenn have been rich and fertile soil for me.

I have grown so much since I was a wild fourth grade child, and I cannot stress enough how much I cherish the opportunity tohave done so with the rest of you here. I hope to continue growing with the senior class as we move on and make more greatmemories here at Fenn.

13

THETIESTHATBINDby John Lamont ’12

Since I joined the sixth grade here at Fenn, I have met new friends in the classroom, on the sports field, and in the hallways.Now I’m leaving those classrooms, fields, and buildings, and I’m leaving the friends I made here. With only a few days left inmy Fenn career, my mind has constantly flashed back to my first days at Fenn, when I was a shy new boy.

The first kid I met was a boy with a head of long, curly red hair that made my jaw drop. After my time at Fenn with that boyand his hair, my jaw no longer drops at the sight of it. Every one of you was a stranger to me at that time, just as strange as thatcurly red hair. But now, I can’t even remember speaking to you guys when I didn’t know you. I felt welcomed by everyone, as if Iknew you as soon as I walked through the doors of Fenn. The ties I made with all of you that first year have only strengthened aswe have moved up through the grades.

Our class was close when I came to Fenn, but I feel that it is an even closer one as I leave. Every one of us has grown andmatured from a small, trouble making sixth grader to a member of the class we are now. We’ve developed into a group of kids thatI’m proud to be part of. You guys will always be missed. I’ll make new friends at high school, like we all will. But the friends I havehere at Fenn can’t be replaced. When I see you again, whether it is on the street or at a reunion, I’llremember the great group of friends with whom I spent my time at Fenn.

A CLASS OF LEADERSby Jivan Purutyan ’12

Ever since fourth grade our class has been growing like a family. We have gone from being shyfourth graders who barely knew each other to eighth graders who will never forget each other. I will miss everyone who is leaving and I hope that you are happy at whatever

school you have chosen to attend. All of you are the reason I have so many memories from my yearsat Fenn.

I remember my first field day relay, when I raced against a speedy Cole. I remember Mr. Thompson’s seventh grade IntegratedStudies class, in which Brandon and I wore the same colored shirts for over a hundred days. I remember going to restaurants withMrs. Hernandez-Skayne’s Spanish class, and perhaps my most memorable experience is the Galapagos Islands trip.

My time at Fenn has been extremely enjoyable, but I know it is not done. The future senior class will have to take theresponsibility of leading the school. We need to lead each in our own way, no matter if it is big or small. I hope that those of youwho are leaving will take the values and lessons that you have learned at Fenn and apply them in your new school community. Ilook forward to seeing how my classmates and I use what we have learned over our time at Fenn to help lead the school to what Iknow will be one of its best years yet.

“THERE’SNOPLACELIKEHOME”by Matt Simon ’12

Ahome is a place where you spend most of your time, a place where you learn the lessons of life and turn from a child intoan adult. A home holds the people that you love and care about most, and a home is a place that you have hundreds offond memories of.

For most of us in this room tonight, Fenn is our home. Many of us will have spent four, five, or even six years here. That is themost time that we will ever spend at any single school. And well, there’s no place like home.

I remember arriving on New Boys’ day and meeting my first advisor group ever. My fourth grade advisor, Mr. Smith, willalways have a special place in my heart. Under his command, our advisor group learned the ins-and-outs of Fenn.

However, if there is one thing that I will never forget about Fenn, it is the friendships that I’ve made. I will forget the hundredsof All-School Meetings that I grudgingly sat through, anxious to get to recess. I will forget what Mr. Giles was trying to teach meon May 25th, as bright, warm sunshine poured through the windows of his classroom. I will forget the super-irregular verbs that Itried to learn as Andrew Kielar pleaded with Mrs. Hernandez-Skayne, “PLEASE, Mrs. Gisela, can’t we watch the Con Bro Chillvideo just one more time?”

But I will never forget the people at Fenn. The connections that I’ve made here, from students, to teachers, to athletic directors,to division heads, will last forever. These bonds are truly what make Fenn a special place. The friendships that I’ve had make mefeel as if I am part of a giant family, which makes sense, because Fenn is truly my home.

62

Graduation Moments

63

64

Congratulations,Graduates!