Senior Awards Announced

On Friday, May 25, 2012, the Marksmen of the Class of 2012 donned their white tuxedos and walked across the stage on the Commencement Green, crossing the threshold between student and alumni. That evening Eugene McDermott Headmaster Arnie Holtberg announced the recipients of the three Special Awards:

The J.B.H. Henderson Citizenship Cup Award is made by the faculty and presented by the Head of Upper School to the senior who has genuine concern for others and who is dedicated to the ideals of honor and justice.

This year’s recipient of the Citizenship Award began his St. Mark’s career in fifth grade. He listens first, processes second, and speaks third. He models the behavior and values we hope that all our students embrace. Member of the Cum Laude Society, recipient of the Richard and Nancy Fisher Community Service Award as a junior, Presidential Community Service Award Winner, varsity athlete, co-chair of the Community Service Board, managing editor of the Marksmen, and effective participant in Telos II, he exemplifies the wording of this prize – honor and justice – by putting others first. Richard Freling ’12 is this year’s Citizenship Cup Honoree.

The School Flag is awarded by the faculty and presented by the Head of Upper School to a senior for loyalty, dedication, and distinguished service to the School.

This year’s recipient started at St. Mark’s in the seventh grade.  Described by members of the faculty as a joyful person who lives life to its fullest extent, he has dealt with adversity with amazing fortitude, positive energy, and a unique ability to twist a difficulty into a lesson learned. A musical talent beyond compare, he is a virtuoso pianist and organist who has made life at 10600 Preston Road more pleasurable, lively, and meaningful. He is everywhere. Everyone knows him. This year, he founded and directed the St. Mark’s Gospel Choir, which immediately took the campus by storm. He has, indeed, made this school a far better place for all. Roderick Demmings ’12 is the recipient of The School Flag.

The Headmaster's Cup is awarded by the Headmaster with the advice of the faculty to the senior who best exemplifies the traits that St. Mark's seeks to foster in its students: the quest for excellence, intellectual curiosity and commitment, service to the School and community, and concern for others.

This year’s recipient provides us with a baseline for measuring excellence. A member of the Cum Laude Society, his work in the classroom demonstrates that he not only understands the material presented, but also that he has applied this understanding to multiple arenas. Community Service board co-chair, he received a President’s Volunteer Service Award three years running. He is an Eagle Scout and founding member of the Telos Society. An accomplished athlete, he quarterbacked and captained the football team, earning All-SPC honors and contributed to the baseball team. He has won acclaim and earned our respect simply by doing what is right and fulfilling his every responsibility. Joseph Bush ’12 is the recipient of The Headmaster’s Cup.

Additionally, numerous students received recognition for their outstanding accomplishments during the 2011-12 school year at the Upper School Final Assembly. The Headmaster announced the following 2012 senior award recipients:

For his creative involvement in the UTD summer nanotechnology program and his work that helped enable five more boys to participate this year, for his sterling academic performance, culminating in his selection as a Presidential Scholar, for his doggedness and determination in water polo resulting in his becoming a team captain – for his all-around excellence in sports as well as academics, the faculty presents a special award to Galen Gao ’12.

For setting and achieving the highest academic standards, for his outstanding accomplishments in journalism, community service, and in promoting school spirit, for his leadership and sportsmanship in both soccer and lacrosse, for his continued modesty, poise, and exemplary maturity, the faculty presents a special award to Nick Mahowald ’12.

For his supreme passion in making others feel at ease and welcome, for his continuing commitment to the Community Service program, serving others less fortunate and doing so with grace and diligence, for his efforts to make St. Mark’s a better place, for being in his daily life and work a model for others to emulate, the faculty presents a special award to William McGee ’12.

For his successful efforts in unifying the St. Mark’s community, for his enduring sense of honor and leadership, for his healthy ability to laugh at himself and amuse others, for his continued excellence as President of the Student Council, both in the Council’s projects and every Friday morning in assembly, the faculty presents a special award to Peter Montgomery ’12.

For the diligence and care he gives to every task, academic, athletic, and artistic, for his ability to defer short-term gratification for long-term success, for his excellence as an editor of the Marque, for his tenacity and leadership in the crew program, and for his exemplary achievements as a musician, the faculty presents a special award to Patrick Ng ’12.

For his dedication to helping other Marksmen, for his sustained drive to excel, especially in Mandarin Chinese, culminating in his pursuit of the world Chinese competition, for his admirable participation in wrestling and crew, for earning all of the Boy Scout merit badges and seventeen Palm Awards, the faculty presents a special award to Roland Salatino ’12.

For his compassion and dedication in working with younger students as well as his peers, for his steadfast work ethic, especially evident in his contributions to and leadership in the robotics program, for bringing beauty and enthusiasm into our lives as a fine musician, at football games as well as in concerts, the faculty presents a special award to Nick Uebele ’12.

For excelling in academics, athletics, and fine arts, becoming a robust virtuoso in all of these endeavors, for his sterling athletic performance in cross country, hockey, and track, earning seven varsity letters and all SPC recognition, for creating beauty in our lives by his work in ceramics for which he earned an Honorable Mention as a potential Presidential Scholar, for being an exemplary Marksman in both his personal and professional life and work, the faculty presents a special award to Garrett Watumull ’12.

For his love of learning, for his modesty in his quest of academic excellence, for his outstanding support of the athletic program as a student trainer, for his leadership in robotics, for his selfless commitment to guiding and mentoring younger students, for his loyalty, dedication, respect, and sustained positive leadership, the faculty presents a special award to Spencer Williams ’12. 

The following seniors also received commendation for their athletic achievements:

The Tom Adams Athletic Plaque is awarded for consistently fine contributions to the attitudes, the performance standards, and the sportsman-like conduct of the St. Mark's Varsity Athletics. This is the highest athletic award presented to a senior at the Athletic Banquet and again at the Final Assembly. The boy is chosen by the Athletic Director after extensive consultation with coaches and teachers. Selected and awarded by the Athletic Director, Dillard Pinkston ’12 is the winner of the Tom Adams Athletic Plaque.

The Red Barr Award is presented to a senior who has demonstrated the ideals by which Red Barr lived: patience, understanding, sportsmanship and dedication to excellence in the classroom, as well as the playing field. Selected by the varsity coaches and awarded by the Athletic Director at the Athletic Banquet Will Morris ’12 is the winner of the Red Barr Award.

The Tony Briggs Spirit Award is presented to a senior who (1) has been constructively active in creating spirit and enthusiasm among the student body to the support of athletic teams and events, (2) has been engaged in a variety of athletics as a competitor, (3) has displayed, as a participant, enthusiasm and dedication, (4) has shown sportsmanship among the students and athletes of school with which we compete. Selected and awarded by the Athletic Director at the Athletic Banquet, Connor Anderson ’12 is the winner of the Tony Briggs Spirit Award.