Convocation - Out in the Open, Everywhere to Go

He encouraged the audience to consider how we use language “Language is not an object. It is not a noun. It is an active verb, an ongoing exchange in response to experience. It is a conversation with multiple parties participating. It is a relationship, perhaps casual, perhaps deepening.” As he concluded, we were reminded left with a charge that “we are called to recognize and acknowledge our Mother, this Land, with our words and our actions.”

Stepping up to the podium next was Head of School Mike Peller to deliver his first Vermont Academy convocation address. Mike shared Gary Snyder’s poem about the journey of arrival, titled : The Trail is not a Trail

I drove down the Freeway

And turned off at an exit

And went along a highway

Til it came to a sideroad

Drove up the sideroad

Til it turned to a dirt road

Full of bumps, and stopped.

Walked up a trail

But the trail got rough

And it faded away—

Out in the open,

Everywhere to go.

Mike spoke to the enduring connection of place, and how this place will shape who are students are and who they will become. He shared the success of former Vermont Academy students spanning from Florence Sabin 1886 to Bruce Brown 2016. He encouraged us all to: hold one another capable; to be more curious than certain; to take your first step— and let it lead to the next. The audience listened closely as they absorbed the magnitude of his words and this moment— our 150th year is starting. (Full Convocation address can be found here.)

The Vermont Academy Student Association (VASA) Co-Presidents Pat Connors ’26 and Mia Ryder ’26 along with VASA treasurer Blake Postles ’26 shared a welcome that included the charge to “Let’s also remember that we’re part of a community that thrives on respect, kindness, and support. Be the reason someone feels welcome today.”

As is tradition at Vermont Academy, convocation is a moment to recognize academic achievements from the prior school year. Students recognized for achieving High Honors during the third trimester were asked to stand while their names were read. The presentation of the Anna Mae D. Fenney Medals was next. These medals are presented to those students who had a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.67 and achieved High Honors for each trimester during the prior academic year. The Harvard Book Prize, the Class of 1892 Award, and The Society of Women Engineers Award were presented as well. A full list of students earning recognition is listed following this article.

Dean of Students Adrian Diaz ’14 set the tone for the next important part of the program - the signing of the Vermont Academy Honor Code book by each new member, student and faculty, of our community. One of Vermont Academy’s Core Beliefs states that “each member of the Vermont Academy community acts with the highest level of honesty and integrity.” This particular Core Belief, the foundation of our school’s Honor Code, is one that can be applied to all aspects of a student’s experience while here at the Academy. The Vermont Academy Honor Code is Honesty, Trust, Respect, Responsibility. When the honor code book is signed, one is agreeing to the following statement: “As a member of the Vermont Academy community, I commit my honesty, trust, respect, and responsibility to uphold the core beliefs of this institution.”

Soon the opening strains of the Vermont Academy Evening Song were filling the Nita Choukas Theater. Yehoon Allen ’28, Casey Rhodes ’27, Nik Dunbar ’27 led the community in this beloved school song. 

It was a great day — and is a great year — to be a Wildcat.

Watch the full Convocation here. 

Achieving High Honors (awarded to students with a GPA of 3.67 or above) for Trimester 3 of the 2024-2025 academic year:

Class of 2026

Eli Boxer

Izabella Boyd

Wanhao Dai

Aloycia Deogratias

Asper Donath

Carley Guarino

Sartaj Harr

Jake Hedman

Hannah Holton

Kennedy Jensen

Tahira Kharoti

Oliver Norkun

Marley Odell

Nutthera Pattayakorn (Tammy)

Luke Pennell

Blake Postles

Xander Robertson

Mia Ryder

Kevin Summers

Class of 2027

Richard Berkfield

Lincoln Bernardin

Maya Carbone

Yundi Chen (Eric)

Nik Dunbar

Talia Engel

Duoyue Hu (Daisy)

Zhishun Min (Catherine)

Darien Rainey

Madelyn Spires

Elizabeth Thompson

Lyla Whigham

Class of 2028

Matai Engel

Haoxuan Guo (Ryan)

Ysabelle Houde

Alek Salzman

Angela Shi

Jacob Studin

The Anna Mae D. Fenney Awards are given annually to those students who maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.67 and have achieved High Honors for each trimester during the academic year.

Class of 2026

Eli Boxer

Aloycia Deogratias

Asper Donath

Carley Guarino

Sartaj Harr

Jake Hedman

Hannah Holton

Kennedy Jensen

Oliver Norkun

Marley Odell

Blake Postles

Xander Robertson

Kevin Summers

Class of 2027

Richard Berkfield

Maya Carbone

Yundi Chen (Eric)

Nik Dunbar

Talia Engel

Duoyue Hu (Daisy)

Zhishun Min (Catherine)

Madelyn Spires

Elizabeth Thompson

Lyla Whigham

Class of 2028

Matai Engel

Haoxuan Guo (Ryan)

Ysabelle Houde

Alek Salzman

Angela Shi

Jacob Studin

The Society of Women Engineers Award

This award is given by the Society of Women Engineers to young women who have completed three years of mathematics and three years of science with distinction, and who have made significant contributions to the school and community. 

Achieving High Honors: Carley Guarino

The Harvard Book Prize is awarded annually to a rising senior whose achievement in academic, extracurricular, and citizenship areas has been exemplary – a student of high personal standards who gives the promise of sound leadership in later life.

Recipient: Kennedy Jenson.

The Class of 1892 Award is awarded to the returning senior who earned the highest GPA during their junior year. 

Recipient: Eli Boxer.