Rectory's 9th-Grade Graduation
Class of 2020
Rectory School closed out a unique 2019-2020 school year celebrating the Class of 2020 with a virtual Commencement Ceremony. Graduates were celebrated for their positivity, resourcefulness, kindness, perseverance, athleticism, and academic achievements. The Rectory School Class of 2020 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--even at a distance.
2020 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.
Mary-Aliya Turay, Rogers, CT
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.”
Justin Medeiros, Douglas, MA
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.”
James D'Alleva-Bochain, 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.
Annabelle Biondi, Cranston, RI
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.
Yufei "Fiona" Jiang, 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.
Bingrong "Bob" Dong, China
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.
Ximena Gutierrez Pinto, Mexico
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.
Aria Adams, Arlington, WA
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.
Brianna Lucero, Bronx, NY
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.
Yufei "Fiona" Jiang, 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.”
Yoon Seo "Eric" Han, Korea
2020 9th-Grade Academic Awards
Academic Honors
Academic average of 95-100
- Miles Burrello, Ashford, CT
- Kerui "Sam" Chen, China
- Jiyun "Jason" Cheng, China
- Bingrong "Bob" Dong, China
- Letian "Teddy" Fang, China
- Samantha Rose Fieldman, Highland Park, IL
- Jeongwon "Lucia" Han, Korea
- Seoyeun "Jennifer" Han, Korea
- Hyeon "Justin" Kang, Korea
Effort Honors
Effort average of 1-1.4
- Brianna Lucero, Bronx, NY
- Mary-Aliya Turay, Rogers, CT
- Yefei "Kimi" Weng, China
Effort and Academic Honors
Academic average of 95-100 and Effort average of 1-1.4
- Aria Adams, Arlington, WA
- Aitana Cerdeira Gonzalez, Mexico
- Xiaoping "Kyle" Chen, China
- James D'Alleva-Bochain, Pomfret Center, CT
- Ximena Gutierrez Pinto, Mexico
- Yoon Seo "Eric" Han, Korea
- Yufei "Fiona" Jiang, China
- Taehyung Kim, Korea
- Justin Medeiros, Douglas, MA
- Adam Tillinghast, Killingly, CT
Photography Award
- Inaki Ramos Casir
Art Award
- Yufei "Fiona" Jiang, China
Digital Arts Award
- Taehyung Kim, Korea
Guitar Award
- Zhifan "Jeff" Wang, China
Chorus Award
- Mary-Aliya Turay, Rogers, CT
Five-Year Award
- HaoWen "Tony" Chen, China
- Justin Medeiros, Douglas, MA
- Adam Tillinghast, Killingly, CT
- Mary-Aliya Turay, Rogers, CT
Music Award
- Seoyeun "Jennifer" Han, Korea
Drama Award
- Adam Tillinghast, Killingly, CT
Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Lewis Prize for Greatest Gain in Language Skills
- Zhen "Jim" Ren, China
Leroy Anderson Foreign Language Award for Spanish
- Adam Tillinghast, Killingly, CT
Leroy Anderson Foreign Language Award for Computer Science
- Xiaoping "Kyle" Chen, China
Ninth-Grade English Prize
- Jeongwon "Lucia" Han, Korea
Townshend Science Award
- James D'Alleva-Bochain, Pomfret Center, CT
Roure History Award
- James D'Alleva-Bochain, Pomfret Center, CT
Jackman Math Award
- Bingrong "Bob" Dong, China
Best All-Around Athlete
- Male: Ryder Andersen, Jamestown, RI
- Female: Wenxi "Grace" Zheng, China
The Ricci Prize
- Justin Fermin, New York, NY
Class of 2020 Matriculation
- Avon Old Farms School
- Blair Academy
- Brooks School
- Concord Academy
- Cranbrook Schools
- Culver Academies
- Deerfield Academy
- Dublin School
- Episcopal High School VA
- Georgetown Preparatory School
- Gunnery School
- Hill School
- Hotchkiss School
- Kent School
- Lawrenceville School
- Loomis Chaffee School
- Mercersburg Academy
- Moses Brown School
- Northfield Mount Hermon School
- Pomfret School
- Proctor Academy
- St. Andrew’s School RI
- St. George’s School
- St. Mark’s School
- St. Paul’s School
- St. Stephen’s Episcopal School
- Suffield Academy
- Tabor Academy
- Tilton School
- Vermont Academy
- Westminster School
- Westover School
- Westtown School
- White Mountain School
- Woodstock Academy