News & Events

Dozens of Upper School students received honors on April 24 in the annual Tunstall Awards Assembly.

Head of School Travis Larrabee opened the assembly, noting that, while it highlights academic achievement, it also recognizes successes in community service, the fine arts, and more. On that note, the assembly began with an array of songs from Tunstall Choral students.

“These recognitions also reflect commitments of a different level," Mr. Larrabee said. “We are also acknowledging passion, commitment, perseverance, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge, truth, and the ideal that a life of learning is one well led. In a world that often measures success by external markers, we mustn't forget the importance of character, integrity, and kindness. Today, we not only recognize academic achievements but also applaud acts of compassion, leadership, and service that can often go unnoticed."

The honorees:

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY:

Class of 2024 (previously inducted in spring 2023)

• Lizzie Adams
• Brooke Bettencourt
• Jack Copeland
• Van Deans
• Srivarun Hathwar
• Kate Jarvis
• Zoe Jones
• Gretchen Scott
• Lily Stockwell
• Areen Syed

Class of 2024 (inducted in spring 2024)

• Joe Bakkar
• Sarah Bazil
• Sam Bibeau
• Rachael Buchanan
• Julian Burke
• Anne Earp
• Ethan Eveleigh
• Jacob Ezieme
• Bree Faulkner
• Ann Gray Golpira
• Isabella Leon
• Sarah Morolari
• Sophie Pollio
• Hannah Stredler

Class of 2025 (inducted in spring 2024)

• Anna Lise Barton
• Jude Carroll
• Travis Caroll
• Alexander Dusa
• Lincoln Hatch
• Gabriel Hosu
• Aashi Patel
• Taylor Purcell
• Olivia Reid
• Leo Tang
• Spencer Thompson
• Shuchi Vachhani
• Ray Wang

MILITARY ACCEPTANCES: 

• Tommy Tan '24, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy
• Andrew Kim '24: U.S. Military Academy
• Matthew Camardella '24: U.S. Naval Academy
• Sean Trudell '24: U.S. Naval Academy

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM: In October 2022, the current senior class took the PSAT in competition for a National Merit Scholarship. The following students, as Commendation Winners, have been recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Program as among the top 5% of the 1.4 million participants in the program:

• LIZZIE ADAMS
• SARAH BAZIL
• BROOKE BETTENCOURT
• RACHAEL BUCHANAN
• JULIAN BURKE
• BREE FAULKNER
• SRIVARUN HATHWAR
• HOLDEN NELSON
• GRETCHEN SCOTT
• AREEN SYED

FINALISTS are those seniors who scored in the top half of l% nationally, and who have met various requirements of the College Board for inclusion in the competition for a National Merit Scholarship:

• VAN DEANS
• JACOB EZIEME
• ANN GRAY GOLPIRA
• ZACHARY HARBISON
• ZOË JONES

The ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLAR AWARD is granted to students who received a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP examinations:

• LIDIA BARROS DOS REIS
• LUCY BAUGHMAN
• ANNE EARP
• CARTER LUCAS
• HOLDEN NELSON
• HANNAH STREDLER
• LEO TANG

The ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLAR WITH HONOR AWARD is granted to students who received an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and a score of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams:

• SAM BIBEAU
• JACK COPELAND
• WILL CROUCH
• JACOB EZIEME
• ZOË JONES
• RYAN MONNET

The ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION AWARD is granted to students who received an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and a score of 3 or higher on five or more exams:

• ZACHARY HARBISON
• SRIVARUN HATHWAR
• AREEN SYED

THE PRINCETON BOOK AWARD is given by the Princeton Club of South Hampton Roads to a student demonstrating exceptional talent, competence, and leadership in both academic and non-academic pursuits, while displaying concern for the opinions of others. Only eight students were selected for this honor throughout the Hampton Roads area and this year Norfolk Academy has one recipient. LEO TANG

THE HARVARD BOOK AWARD is presented by the Harvard Alumni Association to an outstanding student in the junior class who displays excellence in scholarship and high character, combined with achievements in other fields. OLIVIA REID

THE YALE BOOK AWARD is presented by the Yale Alumni Association to a member of the junior class for outstanding personal character and intellectual promise. ALEXANDER DUSA

THE JEFFERSON BOOK AWARD is given to a junior who best represents the Jeffersonian qualities of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship. ANNA LISE BARTON

THE WILLIAM & MARY LEADERSHIP AWARD is presented to a student who exemplifies the spirit of Norfolk Academy through inspirational leadership, outstanding scholarship, and unwavering loyalty to his or her high school and community. SHUCHI VACHHANI

THE BOWDOIN BOOK AWARD for Serving the Common Good is given each year to the high school junior demonstrating strong leadership in community service. AASHI PATEL

THE SMITH BOOK AWARD is presented to an outstanding junior who exemplifies academic achievement, especially in the sciences. This student also has leadership qualities and concern for others that characterize the thousands of women who have graduated from Smith College. TAYLOR PURCELL

THE TULANE BOOK AWARD is given to a junior in recognition of excellence in academics, leadership, and public service. TRAVIS CARROLL

THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT CITIZEN SCHOLAR BOOK AWARD is awarded to a deserving junior who has demonstrated both outstanding dedication to scholarship inside the classroom and impressive duty to citizenship and activism outside the classroom. CAROL EARP

THE VMI BOOK AWARD is given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding honor, leadership, and responsibility at Norfolk Academy. LINCOLN HATCH

THE SWEET BRIAR COLLEGE BOOK AWARD is awarded to a junior girl in recognition of her leadership skills and academic achievement. Also, a student who is independently minded, community driven, intellectually curious, and fiercely determined to set and achieve goals. BROOKE DIGERONIMO

THE HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY BOOK AWARD is presented to a sophomore who models a growth mindset and who demonstrates excellence and service in and out of the classroom. This student leads by her example of service and has a desire to make a difference in her community. ZOFIA LEHMANN

THE WILLIAM PERRY MOORE IV AWARD is given annually to a 10th-grade girl or boy in honor of Perry Moore '90, whose love of film, language, and literature led him on an incomparable journey of the imagination throughout his life. KB CHAMBLISS

THE STATESMAN AWARD is presented to the senior with the greatest potential for outstanding leadership and service in public affairs, government, and the promotion of the common good. GRETCHEN SCOTT

The ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PSYCHOLOGY AWARD is given by The American Psychological Association of Teachers of Psychology to a senior for excellence in the study of psychology. LOGAN SIMON 

SUMMER RESIDENTIAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS & WORLD LANGUAGE ACADEMIES: The following students have been accepted to the Governor's Schools for the summer of 2024:

• ZACHARY ARMENTROUT: World Language Academy in German 
• NATALIE MARTIN: World Language Academy in French 
• KEVIN PARK: Governor’s School for Math, Science & Technology 
• AASHI PATEL: World Language Academy in Spanish 
• OLIVIA REID: Governor’s Mentorship in Engineering  
• DAVID SALTER: World Language Academy in Spanish 
• SCARLET SCHOENFELD: World Language Academy in German 
• NOOR SWANSON: Governor’s School for Humanities 
• LEO TANG: Governor’s School for Medicine and Health Sciences 

THE LITERARY AWARDS: The Tunstall faculty established the Renaissance Reading Program to motivate students to develop reading habits that will nourish intellectual growth and to provide an opportunity for students and faculty to discuss books in an informal and collegial atmosphere. To qualify as a Renaissance Reader, a student must read a minimum of five works beyond the curriculum and receive satisfactory evaluations from faculty sponsors. They must include at least one fiction and one non-fiction book, and no more than two books may be by the same author. Also, no more than two discussions may be held with the same teacher. Senior participants: LUCY AVERY, CHARLES HOPE

To qualify as a Renaissance Scholar, a student must read a minimum of eight works beyond the curriculum and receive satisfactory evaluations from faculty sponsors. MACK PANKO

THE RENSSELAER MEDAL, first presented in 1916, is given to a rising senior for academic excellence in math and science. A minimum $40,000 per year scholarship will be awarded to this student should he pursue study in architecture, engineering, management, science, or the humanities and social sciences at Rensselaer. Nearly 10% of Rensselaer’s Class of 2025 are recipients of the Rensselaer Medal. JUDE CARROLL

The Technology Student Association (TSA), a national, non-profit association dedicated to students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, sponsors an annual national Test of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science — better known as the TEAMS competition. This year the focus was on Engineering Another World — Norfolk Academy’s team members learned about topics essential to colonizing another world such as resource management and power generation.   

This year the TEAMS competition consisted of a single division for grades 9-12. The Upper School was represented by six teams this year, two teams of four students for each grade. One team of seniors earned the top ranking in the state and five of the top six teams in the state were from Norfolk Academy.

Class of 2024: 

• SAM BIBEAU 
• JULIAN BURKE 
• ANN GRAY GOLPIRA 
• ZOË JONES 
• SRIVARUN HATHWAR 
• GRETCHEN SCOTT 
• MARIN SODERBURG 
• AREEN SYED

Class of 2025:

• ALEXANDER DUSA 
• LINCOLN HATCH 
• ANNA IACOBUCCI 
• AYA MUSSELMANI 
• AASHI PATEL 
• TAYLOR PURCELL 
• LEO TANG 
• RAY WANG 

Class of 2026:  

• MILLA AVERY 
• MICHAEL LONG 
• DAVID MARTIN 
• ADALINE SCOTT 
• ANNA PANG 
• QUINN PARVIN  
• SIYA PATEL 
• SOPHIA YANG 

COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD:  The following seniors have completed 30 or more hours of community service this year: 

• LUCY AVERY 
• JOE BAKKAR 
• JULIAN BURKE 
• JACOB EZIEME 
• ANN GRAY GOLPIRA 
• RHEA KHANNA 
• ISABELLA LEON 
• CARTER LUCAS 
• EMERSON MARLING 
• SOPHIE POLLIO 
• LOGAN SIMON 
• AREEN SYED 
• NATALIE TAJAN 
• OWEN YEUNG 

THE G.S. HOBBS JR. SERVICE AWARD honors Tunstall organizations that have enhanced the life of the community through selfless service. This year’s winner is the Livestrong Club. The President is Logan Simon and Mrs. Maria Moore is the sponsor.

Mr. Larrabee closed the assembly, recognizing all the outstanding achievements one more time.

“Know that your commitment to excellence sets a shining example for your peers and inspires us all. But let us also remember that behind every award, there are countless individuals who have supported, encouraged, and believed in you. So, as we celebrate your accomplishments, let us also extend our gratitude to teachers, advisors, coaches, family, and friends who have walked alongside you on this journey."