News & Events

Dozens of Upper School students received honors on April 29, 2025, in the annual Tunstall Awards Assembly.

Head of School Travis Larrabee opened the assembly, noting that, while it highlights academic achievement, it also recognizes strong character, leadership, kindness, and other "unseen virtues that accompany a life of true learning."

The honorees:

MILITARY SERVICE:

• CJ Murray and Zach Wood will attend the United States Naval Academy;
• Brock Becker and Carol Earp received NROTC scholarships and will be commissioned as Navy Ensigns after college;
• Becca Kyler received a pre-med NROTC scholarship.

NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM:

Commendation Winners

• Zachary Armentrout
• Travis Carroll
• Rachel Cole
• Gabriel Hosu
• Anna Iacobucci
• Natalie Martin
• Kevin Park
• Taylor Purcell
• Anne Randolph Staub
• Lucy Staub
• Genevieve Stone
• Shuchi Vachhani
• Amanda Wong

Finalists

• Leo Tang
• Ray Wang

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

• ZACHARY ARMENTROUT
• ANNA BARTON
• JUDE CARROLL
• TRAVIS CARROLL
• IRO CATRAVAS
• NORA CLINGENPEEL
• FLETCHER CREECH
• MIKIE CREEDON
• COLLIN CRUM
• GRIFFIN DOBBS
• MEGAN EVANS
• WILL HOWERTON
• OWEN KULOW
• SCARLET SCHOENFELD
• AANYA SHAH
• ANNE RANDOLPH STAUB
• LUCY STAUB
• GENEVIEVE STONE
• LUCY WILSON
• JING JING ZHAO
• YING YING ZHAO

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLAR WITH HONOR AWARD: 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:

• CANA FASS
• BECCA KYLER
• ALANA MCELLIGOTT
• AASHI PATEL
• JACK POYNTER
• CLAUDIA TILLAR
• SHUCHI VACHHANI
• EMILY XU
• ERAJ ZAIDI

ADVANCED PLACEMENT SCHOLAR WITH DISTINCTION AWARD: 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:

• LIDIA BARROS DOS REIS
• XANDER DUKAS
• ALEX DUSA
• ADAM FAIRCHILDS
• LINCOLN HATCH
• GABE HOSU
• ANNA IACOBUCCI
• KEVIN PARK
• OLIVIA REID
• LEO TANG
• SPENCER THOMPSON
• RAY WANG
• AMANDA WONG

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 8 students were selected for this honor throughout the Hampton Roads area and this year we have one recipient. DAVID MARTIN

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. ZOFIA LEHMANN

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

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

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. MILLA AVERY

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

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. VIVI DEANS

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

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. CARSON GADDY

THE VMI BOOK AWARD is given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding honor, leadership, and responsibility during their time at Norfolk Academy. ADALINE SCOTT

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. AUBREY ROWLAND

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. HELEN MCCABE

THE WILLIAM PERRY MOORE IV AWARD is given annually to a tenth-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. CARTER MCGHEE

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. SYDNEY HUDDLESTON

The ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN PSYCHOLOGY AWARD is given by The American Psychological Association of Teachers of Psychology to seniors for excellence in the study of psychology. ALEXIS HUELSBERG,  HAYLEE WILSON

SUMMER RESIDENTIAL GOVERNOR'S SCHOOLS & WORLD LANGUAGE ACADEMIES: The following students have been accepted to the Governor's Schools and World Language Academies for the summer of 2025:

• MILLA AVERY: World Language Academy in French
• JANE EARP: World Language Academy in Spanish
• JAY FERNANDO: Governor’s School for Humanities
• AUBREY ROWLAND: World Language Academy in Spanish
• YAOYAO WANG: Governor’s School for math, Science, and Technology

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:

• CAROL EARP
• AASHI PATEL
• ERAJ ZAIDI

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. This year’s recipient is:

• LUKE DOBRIN
• LINCOLN HATCH
• GABRIEL HOSU
• GENEVIEVE STONE
• NOOR SWANSON

THE MATH AND SCIENCE AWARDS

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. TAYLOR MCDONALD

WPI INNOVATION AWARD, is a new award given to an outstanding junior who demonstrates potential in STEM fields. This award includes a $25,000 annual scholarship if the student chooses to attend WPI. The nominee must demonstrate excellence in STEM fields, and have the ability to apply theoretical concepts, as well as show curiosity and collaborative leadership skills. SIYA PATEL

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AWARD

THE G.S. HOBBS JR. SERVICE AWARD honors Tunstall organizations that have enhanced the life of the community through selfless service. Happy Club.

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY

Thirteen students in the Class of 2025 were inducted into our chapter of the Cum Laude Society last spring:

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

Newest members of Norfolk Academy’s Cum Laude Society for the Class of 2025:

• Nora Clingenpeel
• Mikie Creedon
• Brooke DiGeronimo
• Alexis Huelsberg
• Anna Iacobucci
• Natalie Martin
• Kevin Park
• Austin Sorrell
• Lucy Staub
• Genevieve Stone
• Noor Swanson
• Claudia Tillar
• Amanda Wong
• Emily Xu

And the first members of Norfolk Academy’s Cum Laude Society for the Class of 2026:

• Milla Avery
• Vivi Deans
• Aarush Desai
• Alex Lawson
• Zofia Lehmann
• David Martin
• Taylor McDonald
• Siya Patel
• Adaline Scott
• Aditya Thapa
• Yunzhu Wong