News & Events

Lower School Closing Exercises closed Norfolk Academy's 2025-26 school year on June 4, celebrating sixth graders moving up to Middle School and highlighting a host of successes across grades 1 through 6 during this Year of Inquiry. 

In addition, a variety of awards were handed out:

James William Perkins Stewardship of the Earth Award, to the Lower School student who exemplifies an awareness of environmental issues and was most influential in motivating others to work at conserving natural resources and collecting recycling materials for Norfolk Academy Lower School. Claire Kosturko

Michel Pessar Athletic Award, to the fifth grade student who demonstrates outstanding achievement and excellent sportsmanship while participating in Physical Education. Ian Wetherington 

President of Student Council Award Grayson Whitehurst

Athletic Award, to a sixth-grade boy and a sixth-grade girl who demonstrate outstanding achievement in Physical Education. Jad Youssef, Laura Liebler

Bessie Craig Ramsey Lower School Music Award, to the sixth-grade student who has made an outstanding contribution to the musical life of the school. Ava Smith

Helen Thomas Massey Art Award, to the sixth-grade girl who demonstrates outstanding achievement in art. Addy Kohan

Virginia Morris Pollak Art Award, to the sixth-grade boy who demonstrates outstanding achievement in art. Zachary Bousman

Robert Baylor Tunstall Award, to the sixth-grade boy who shows excellence in English or original writing. Madhesh Pillai

Girl’s English Award, to the sixth-grade girl who shows excellence in English. Aanchal Patel

Robert S. Sergeant Creative Writing Award, to a sixth-grade boy and a sixth-grade girl who demonstrate excellence in creative writing. Clinton Enos, Waverly O’Brien

Simcoe and Celia Glasser Poetry Award, to the Lower School student who possesses a gift in writing poetry as exhibited by creativity, perception, freshness of expression and control and clarity of the language. Harper Holland

Robert L. Thomas Memorial Award, to the sixth-grade boy who shows excellence in social studies. Wes Blake

William Selden Memorial Award, to the sixth-grade student who shows excellence in the study of history. Mary Wright Anderson 

Lucy Singleton Penzold Award, to the sixth-grade boy who shows excellence in science. Donovan Kawwass

Betty F. Moore Science Award, to the sixth-grade girl who shows excellence in science. Teagan Baughman

William H. Smith Award, to the sixth-grade boy who shows excellence in math. Will Warburton

Charles J. Cumiskey Award, to the sixth-grade girl who shows excellence in math. Kamila Galiullina

Latin Award, to the sixth-grade girl and boy who demonstrate excellence in the study of Latin. Annaliese Wingert, Mason Jobe

Rachel C. Hopkins Creative and Lateral Thinking Award, to the sixth-grade girl and boy who demonstrate the principles of Creative and Lateral Thinking in academic and nonacademic endeavors by applying Lateral Thinking to search for alternative solutions, to resolve issues, and to generate creative thought and action. Emma Castaldo, Elliott Thompson

Lower School Scholastic Award, to the sixth-grade girl who has made the highest scholastic average. Annaliese Wingert

Lower School Scholastic Award, to the sixth-grade boy who has made the highest scholastic average. Grayson Whitehurst

Jeanne Atkinson Award, to the sixth-grade student who strives to promote peace and harmony in our world. Corie Gray

William C. Chewning, Jr. Award, to the sixth-grade boy who makes the best use of his natural talents and abilities, exemplifying the qualities of determination, tenacity, and perseverance. Grant Davenport

Lucille G. Sebren Award, to the sixth-grade girl who makes the best use of her natural talents and abilities, exemplifying the qualities of determination, tenacity, and perseverance. Adel Kostiuchenko

Bess Moore Citizenship Award, to the outstanding girl in the Lower School sixth grade, based on character, leadership, and citizenship. Avery Ward

Vickery Alfriend Award, to the outstanding boy in the Lower School sixth grade, based on scholarship, character, leadership, and citizenship. Grayson Whitehurst

Distinguished Mathematician Award, to one student in each class who is recognized as the distinguished mathematician for demonstrating a creative approach to problem-solving, tenacity, teamwork, and attention to detail.  

Distinguished Reader Award, to one student in each class who is recognized as the distinguished reader for an exemplary commitment to exploring and appreciating quality literature.  

Exemplary Citizenship  Award, to one student in each class for displaying the qualities of compassion, cooperation, respect, and responsibility.