Rectory's 9th-Grade Graduation
Class of 2021
Rectory School's Class of 2021 consisted of 51 young men and women--35 finished the school year in person and 16 online. For the first time in the School's 100-year history, Rectory's graduation ceremony was held in person while being live-streamed and Zoomed so the online graduates could participate in the celebration. Graduates were celebrated for their positivity, resourcefulness, kindness, perseverance, athleticism, and academic achievements. The Rectory School Class of 2021 will go down in the history of the School, not only for their triumph over the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic but for their continued success in living the tenets of the Rectory School Creed of Honesty, Responsibility, Respect, and Compassion--whether in person or at a distance.
2021 Graduation Award Recipients
The Mabel B. Bigelow Memorial Cup
Named in honor of the School’s co-founder, this cup is awarded to a female member of the graduating class who displays outstanding excellence in character and who has shown great interest in and has contributed toward the welfare of the School.
Shurui "Julia" Zhao, Southbridge, MA
The Father Bigelow Memorial Cup
Presented to that male student in the graduating class who best exemplifies those human characteristics Father Bigelow sought to cultivate in all students. These characteristics are best articulated by John Bigelow’s “Prayer for Rectory,” which reads, “To work well, to play well; to think clearly, to speak truth; to win without pride, to lose without rancor; to have courage, and to be kind. This is a goal for the greatest. It is a goal that the least may reach. To teach this is the whole purpose of schools; To know this is the whole meaning of life.”
Yihan "Carson" Ling, Dalian, China
The Mr. and Mrs. John Character Cup
Donated in 1952 in honor of Mr. & Mrs. John Bigelow, this cup is intended for a member of the graduating class who has made great progress in all areas of school life and who has displayed the kindness, compassion, and spirit which is exemplified in the “Rectory child.”
Maxtin Hart, Pomfret Center, CT
The Thomas B. Harrison Cup
Presented for outstanding sportsmanship and consideration for others, not only on the playing field but in all areas of school life.
Manuel Martin del Campo Arceo, Morelia, Mexico
The Alexander C. Vasiloff Memorial Award
Presented to that Rectory student who best exemplifies those eclectic characteristics which Mr. Vasiloff lovingly brought to his community. They include interest in history, science and mathematics, arts, and literature.
Yuping "Nessa" Tang, Shanghai, China
The John Frazar Austin Cup
Given by John Frazar Austin, a member of the class of 1949, this cup is awarded annually to a student who best exemplifies the “fighting spirit” which will not permit him/her to quit, whether in sports, studies, or in striving for general improvement.
Brody Zahansky, Pomfret Center, CT
John Bloodworth Mobley, Jr. Class of 1991 Cup
Given by his parents, the Mobley Cup is awarded to the proctor who, while wholeheartedly embracing all of the responsibilities associated with the proctor position, best represents the characteristics by which John is recalled here; specifically, tolerance toward, support of, and enthusiasm for his/her peers throughout his/her career in the School.
Tyler Mangual, Willimantic, CT
The Adam B. Silver Scholar-Athlete Cup
Established in honor of Adam, class of 1982, by his parents, this cup is given to that student who demonstrated not only spirit, energy, inquisitiveness, and vigor in the classroom, but determination and commitment on the athletic fields.
Carson Ames, Pomfret Center, CT
The John and Millie Green Cup
Presented to the student who, in the opinion of the faculty, has brought an uplifting spirit and a sense of joy to the school community.
Zitong "Prajna" Wang, Xi'an, China
The Goodridge-Barber Academic Cup
Presented to Father Bigelow over forty years ago by a gentleman who said he was tired of seeing the most handsome cups at graduation exercises everywhere go to the best athletes, rather than the best scholars. He was determined that Rectory would have a truly splendid looking cup to present to its top student. This cup is presented to the student with the highest academic average in the graduating class.
Minran "William" Wang, Shanghai, China
The Charles Rockwell Cup
Donated by Mr. Charles Rockwell, the father of three Rectory graduates: Charles Jr., 1928; Henry, 1930; and Paul, 1935. The Rockwell Cup is awarded to “that person in the graduating class who has done the most for Rectory.”
Cesar Rodas, Newark, NJ
2021 9th-Grade Academic Awards
Academic Honors
Academic average of 95-100
- Hans-Peter Hansen, Wallingford, CT
- Minseo "Ryan" Kim, Seoul, Korea
- Colby Mills, Danvers, MA
- Zhonghao "Stanley" Zhang, Waltham, MA
Effort Honors
Effort average of 1-1.4
- Zhi "Jesse" Huang, Wuhan, China
- Yuping "Nessa" Tang, Shanghai, China
- Xianyang "Max" Zou, Weston, MA
Effort and Academic Honors
Academic average of 95-100 and Effort average of 1-1.4
- Carson Ames, Pomfret Center, CT
- Maxtin Hart, Pomfret Center, CT
- Boyao "Leon" Kong, Beijing, China
- Yihan "Carson" Ling, Dalian, China
- Sooyeong Park, Seoul, Korea
- Cesar Rodas, Newark, NJ
- Liang Tao "Tony" Song, Beijing, China
- Minran "William" Wang, Shanghai, China
- Zitong "Prajna" Wang, Xi'an, China
- Kaitlyn Yoon, Sungnam Si, Korea
- Ethan Yuan, Beijing, China
- Shurui "Julia" Zhao, Southbridge, MA
Newspaper Award
- Shurui "Julia" Zhao, Southbridge, MA
Photography Award
- Yihan "Carson" Ling, Dalian, China
Art Award
- Brody Zahansky, Pomfret Center, CT
Digital Arts Award
- Taehyung Kim, Korea
Drama Award
- Hans-Peter Hansen, Wallingford, CT
Music Awards
- Kaitlyn Yoon, Sungnam Si, Korea
- Shurui "Julia" Zhao, Southbridge, MA
Ten-Year Award (K-9)
- Peter Hale, Pomfret Center, CT
- Maxtin Hart, Pomfret Center, CT
- Adam Lee, Brooklyn, CT
- Brody Zahansky, Pomfret Center, CT
Five-Year Award (5-9)
- Carson Ames, Pomfret Center, CT
- Henri Bessette, Woodstock, CT
- Dylan Lavallee, North Grosvenordale, CT
- Julia Zhao, Southbridge, MA
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lewis Prize for Greatest Gain in Language Skills
- Shaoquan "Jerome" Chen, Shanghai, China
Leroy Anderson Foreign Language Award for Spanish
- Shurui "Julia" Zhao, Southbridge, MA
Leroy Anderson Foreign Language Award for Computer Science
- Cesar Rodas, Newark, NJ
Ninth-Grade English Prize
- Ethan Yuan, Beijing, China
Townshend Science Award
- Xianyang "Max" Zou, Weston, MA
Roure History Award
- Hans-Peter Hansen, Wallingford, CT
Jackman Math Award
- Zhonghao "Stanley" Zhang, Waltham, MA
Best All-Around Athlete
- Male: Carson Ames, Pomfret Center, CT
- Female: Fanny Suarez, Bogota, Columbia
The Ricci Prize
- Eric Mathewson, Eastford, CT
Class of 2021 Matriculation
- Asheville School
- Brooks School
- Choate Rosemary Hall
- Church Farm School
- Culver Academies
- Deerfield Academy
- Eagle Hill School
- Episcopal High School VA
- Frederick Gunn School
- Hebron Academy
- Hill School
- Kent School
- Lawrenceville School
- Loomis Chaffee School
- Marianapolis Prep
- Masters School
- Middlesex School
- New England Innovation Academy
- New Hampton School
- Northfield Mount Hermon School
- Pomfret School
- Portsmouth Abbey School
- Proctor Academy
- St. Mark’s School
- Salisbury School
- Suffield Academy
- Tabor Academy
- Taft School
- Vermont Academy
- Westminster School