Academic Awards, College Book Awards, and Scholarships were recognized and distributed on the last day of classes for the 2021-2022 academic year on Thursday, June 16, 2022. The following students in Grades 9 through 11 were celebrated.
Freshwomen receiving one academic award:
Libby Ansello, Excellence in Introduction to Physics
Julia Bergancia, Excellence in French 1
Natalie Estrella, Excellence in Global History
Isabella Fernald, Excellence in Introduction to Science
Colleen Hachey, Excellence in Introduction to Chemistry Honors
Jessica Laflamme, Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Apryl Michaels, Magna Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Tashleen Raymond, Academic Excellence in Algebra 1
Charlene Vu, Excellence in Spanish 1
Freshwomen receiving more than one academic award:
Hannah Duncan, Excellence in Chemistry Honors, Excellence in Algebra 2 Honors, Gold Medal Summa Cum Laude National Latin Exam, Delia Higgins Academic Excellence in Algebra 1, Magna Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Susan Leuchte, Excellence in English 1 Honors, Excellence in Theology 1, Gold Medal Summa Cum Laude National Latin Exam, Third place American Mathematics Competition 10
Ava Milligan, Excellence in English 1 CP, Excellence in French 2
Sophomores receiving one academic award:
Katarina Bloch, Excellence in Biology CP
Lilly Blow, Excellence in Spanish 3
Hannah Cox, Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Kalon Davis, Excellence in Art 1 Collage and Sculpture
Tiara Fallon, Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Amanda Garzon, Magna Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Jada Graham, Excellence in Algebra 1.5
Niamh McGillicuddy, Magna Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Colleen McGrath, Excellence in Theology 2
Nyara Sydney, Excellence in Graphic Design
Anya Voehl, Magna Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Sophomores receiving more than one academic award:
Justine Bergancia, Excellence in Spanish 3 Honors, Excellence in U.S. Lit Honors
Lauren Bowser, Excellence in Advanced Math Honors, Second Place American Mathematics Competition 10
Ava Donahue, Magna Cum Laude National Latin Exam, First Place American Mathematics Competition 10
Kalea Mon, Outstanding Effort and Excellence in Spanish 2 Honors, Excellence in Advanced Math CP
Rachel Washington, Excellence in Spanish 2, Excellence in Art 1 Advertising and Design, Excellence in English 2
Juniors receiving one academic award:
Camille Boursiquot, Academic Excellence in Algebra 2
Abigail Coughlin, Excellence in Theology 3
Jordan Crager, Excellence in Anatomy and Physiology
Julia Garvin, Excellence in Algebra 3
Annika Joseph, Excellence in Spanish 4
Sidney Leveille, Excellence in Chemistry CP
Xuanyu Lin, First Place American Mathematics Competition 12
Jiaqi Liu, Second Place American Mathematics Competition 12
Adrienne Machu, Excellence in French 2 Honors
Anna McA’Nulty, Silver Medal Maxima Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Dianais Rivera, Outstanding Artwork in the Statewide Youth Art Month Exhibit 2022
Juniors receiving more than one academic award:
Regan Ball, Certificate of Merit, Society of Women Engineers, Excellence in AP US History, Excellence in Masterworks of Literature Honors, Excellence in Pre-Calculus/Calculus Honors
Madison Blaho, Excellence in US History 1, Excellence in US Literature CP, Outstanding artwork in the Statewide Youth Art Month Exhibit 2022, Sayah Levene Academic Excellence in Algebra 2, Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Greta McEvoy, Excellence in AP US History, Magna Cum Laude National Latin Exam
Ava Robertson, MA Foreign Language Association Award for Excellence in French, President’s Choice Award for Artwork in the Statewide Youth Art Month Exhibit 2022
Sophomores receiving one leadership or service award:
Sierra Bausemer, Service to the Arts and Crafting Club
Hannah Cox, Service to Academy Tutors
Natalie Estrella, Service to K-Pop Club
Caroline Hennigan, Leadership in Fontbonne’s Newspaper Club
Rachel Washington, Leadership in K-Pop Club
Juniors receiving one leadership or service award:
Madison Blaho, Leadership on the Tulip Team
Sydney Carroll, Leadership in Admit 6 Mentors
Joby Frejuste, Service in Harvard Vision Club
Julia Garvin, Service to Retreat Leaders
Kayla Healy, Service to Community Circles
Bethanie Laguerre, Service to Community Circles
Hannah O’Brien, Leadership in Retreat Leaders
Juniors receiving more than one recognition:
Annika Joseph, Leadership in Harvard Vision Club, Service to Asian Affinity Circle
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal:
The Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal is awarded to promising secondary school juniors who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. This minimum $25,000 per year merit scholarship is guaranteed for four years for each Medalist who applies, is accepted, and chooses to enroll at Rensselaer.
This year’s Rensselaer Medalist is REGAN BALL ’23
BOOK AWARDS
Each year a number of our juniors are presented with Book Awards and Special Recognition from colleges and universities who have chosen to honor young women of outstanding achievement. The colleges and universities establish the criteria, and the honorees are selected through a process based on academic standing and nominations from the faculty.
It is a great honor for a student to be chosen for these awards. Criteria include academic excellence, co-curricular participation, personal integrity, and service to school and community. These young women also represent our school by living the 4 R’s of Respect, Responsibility, Reverence, and Reconciliation.
The Assumption College Book is awarded to a junior who is actively involved in their school community.
This year we have two recipients. This year’s Assumption College award goes to SYDNEY CARROLL and MEOLA BORGELLAS PIERRE.
The Bowdoin Book Award recognizes a high school junior who has demonstrated extraordinary service to the common good and an unusual passion for inquiry, discovery, and innovative thinking.
This year’s Bowdoin College Book Award goes to ABIGAIL COUGHLIN
The Brown University Book Award is presented to an outstanding junior. It is awarded to a student who exhibits excellent verbal and written communication skills.
This year’s Brown University Book Award goes to AVA ROBERTSON
The Dartmouth Alumni Club Book Award Program has two goals: to recognize and reward high school juniors who have excelled both academically and in their extracurricular activities; and to encourage these talented students to consider attending Dartmouth.
This year’s Dartmouth College Book Award goes to ANNIKA JOSEPH
The Harvard University Book Award is given to a student who demonstrates academic excellence, exemplifies service and commitment to Fontbonne, The Early College of Boston, and demonstrates exceptional achievement that makes her stand out among her peers.
This year’s Harvard University Book Award goes to GRETA MCEVOY
The High Point University Book Award goes to a junior that not only shows great academic and social prowess, but also models an intuitive growth mindset as well as demonstrates excellence and service in and out of the classroom. This individual embodies stellar performance in the classroom, but also serves and wants to make a difference in the community. This is an individual who leads by example, understands the importance of academic endeavors and has a commitment for improving today’s community.
This year’s High Point University Book Award goes to ADRIENNE MACHU
The Johns Hopkins Book Award is a prestigious award offered yearly to an exceptional junior who excels in academics as well as in her school community.
This year’s Johns Hopkins University Book Award goes to SIDNEY LEVEILLE
The Lasell University Book Award goes to a junior who has a minimum GPA of 3.0, who has actively participated in extracurricular activities. She is a student who takes advantage of the full program offered by her high school.
This year’s Lasell Book Award goes to MARGARET O’BRIEN
The LeMoyne College “Heights Award” recognizes a high school junior who is “reaching for the Heights” in the classroom and in service to her school and community. This award is intended to help promote and recognize academic achievement, service and leadership.
This year’s LeMoyne College Book Award goes to BETHANIE LAGUERRE
The Saint Anselm College Book Award is presented to a student who exercises a capacity for academic achievement and continued education, has an awareness of social responsibility, displays leadership qualities, and possesses strong character.
This year’s Saint Anselm College Book Award goes to ELLA CONNOLLY
The Saint Michael’s College Book Award recipient demonstrates a commitment to community service activities. Preference is given to students who have taken on leadership roles within their community service endeavors. In addition to the Book Award, several scholarships ranging from $5,000 to full-tuition will be awarded to the top Book Award recipients applying to Saint Michael’s College.
The Saint Michael’s College Book Award goes to HANNAH O’BRIEN
The Saint Lawrence University Book Award honors a student who has distinguished themselves in their communities by their significant commitment to community service and exceptional leadership within her high school and/or community.
This year’s Saint Lawrence University Book Award goes to SAYAH LEVENE
Stonehill College “seeks to impress upon its students the value of each person and to encourage them to work to safeguard the rights and dignity of all.” To that end, Stonehill College seeks to recognize the academic achievement of a high school junior who has demonstrated a commitment to learning as well as consistent dedication to the betterment of the surrounding community.
This year’s Stonehill College Book Award goes to NEVAEH TAMASANG
Suffolk University seeks to recognize a student who has been an active, enthusiastic and successful participant in her overall high school experience. She goes beyond what is expected, not only academically but especially in the scope and diversity of her extracurricular activities.
This year’s Suffolk University Book Award goes to JOBY FREJUSTE
The University of Massachusetts Boston Book Award is given to a junior who has exhibited academic excellence in historical studies. This student demonstrates exceptional enthusiasm and advanced critical thinking skills in both classroom discussion and written assignments. She analyzes and explains in depth the causation and significance of historical events and themes, connecting them to other historical time periods and to her world today. Committed to historical study and research, she has become an historian and a scholar.
This year’s University of Massachusetts Boston Book Award goes to MADISON BLAHO
The University of Rochester Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Humanities Award is given to a junior who has shown outstanding and consistent high achievement in the humanities.
This year’s University of Rochester Book Award goes to SABRINA THAI
Putting knowledge into action for the betterment of humanity is at the foundation of a University of Vermont education. The University of Vermont’s Citizen Scholar Book Award celebrates high school students who demonstrate the spirit of citizenship and scholarship. They may have campaigned for a cause, founded a community action group, or conducted research aiding social progress. These students are the movers, shakers, and change makers of the world.
This year’s University of Vermont Book Award goes to Darcy Lefever
The Villanova Alumni Association Book Award is presented to a high school junior who has demonstrated academic excellence in a challenging curriculum, a commitment to serving those less fortunate in their greater community, and embodies a sense of school and community spirit as an example to others.
This year’s Villanova Book Award goes to COLLEEN FOGARTY
The Worcester Polytechnic Institute STEM Leadership Book Award is presented to a junior who exhibits exceptional academic achievement in a rigorous college prep program with a focus on coursework in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. Shows commitment to leadership and is an engaged member of their school and community. She also has a strong ability to collaborate, innovate, and problem solve. She also has a preference for hands-on project-based learning in a collaborative environment.
This year’s Worcester Polytechnic Institute Book Award goes to JIAQI LIU
The Yale University Book Award is presented to a student who has demonstrated superior academic achievement and who actively embraces the university’s global perspective as well as its respect for individual initiative and accountability.
This year’s Yale University Book Award goes to REGAN BALL
NHS Scholarships
The Fontbonne Academy Chapter of the National Honor Society presents three scholarships to academically talented young women who exhibit the qualities to which all National Honors Society members are held.
In grade nine, the NHS scholarship is awarded to the student with the highest academic average: Hannah Duncan ’25
The Adult Learning Community nominated and then voted for the student in grade 10 who, as well as having at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, has shown outstanding service to Fontbonne and to her community by volunteering her time and talents: Caitlyn Murphy ’24
For the recipient of the NHS Scholarship in grade 11, the Adult Learning Community was again asked to nominate and vote for a student with at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, who is recognized as an outstanding student leader, who takes the initiative in class and in other school activities and who influences others to follow her good example: Annika Joseph ’23
KATHRYN CAULEY DRISCOLL Award
Two of our alums have established a scholarship to honor their Mother whom they felt, while not a graduate of Fontbonne, loved Fontbonne and served the Fontbonne community for many years. So the Kathryn Cauley Driscoll scholarship was established.
This award truly honors a woman who has been part of Fontbonne Academy for over twenty-five years as a parent, volunteer field hockey coach, a trustee and a very loyal supporter. She loves young people and has always wanted the best for them. She is enthusiastic, possesses a boundless energy and love of life. She has many interests and most especially, she wants the young women of Fontbonne to have the best in education and activities.
This year, the KATHRYN CAULEY DRISCOLL scholarship is presented to young women who:
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Contribute to the Fontbonne community by their kindness, sensitivity to and respect for others.
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Demonstrate an extreme sense of responsibility and manifest a determination to succeed by putting forth their best efforts in all that they undertake.
Bethanie Laguerre ’23, Tressa Murphy ’24, Julia Bergancia ’25
PATRICIA LAWLESS Award
Patricia Lawless graduated from Fontbonne Academy in 1977, went on to study at Emerson College and enjoyed a successful career in communications at WGBH TV (Channel 2). From childhood she coped with a chronic illness that resulted in near blindness and an early death. Patricia had a zest for life, worked throughout her life to “give life to her own dreams” and be a woman of courage who daily faced into her own personal challenges. Her mother wanted to keep Patricia’s memory alive at Fontbonne and created this scholarship.
The Patricia Lawless Scholarship is given to a young woman who:
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Exudes courage in the face of difficulty
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Practices patience in the face of powerlessness
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(Laughs at her limitations)
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Values working with a team
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Witnesses the values that Patricia lived as she wrote in her yearbook: “I must be happy with myself or I have nothing to offer you”
Niamh McGillicuddy ’24
JOHN MICHAEL FLYNN Scholarship
The John Michael Flynn Scholarship is given to a rising sophomore, junior or senior that is active in Fontbonne and community activities outside of Fontbonne. This person has been a leader by making a positive impact on others in the way she has participated in these activities.
Rachel Washington ’24
JENNIFER CHISTOLINI KELLY Scholarship
This morning, we are proud to present the Jennifer Chistolini Kelly Scholarship given in memory of Jennifer Chistolini Kelly, Fontbonne Class of 1990 who died in July, 2009. The award is given to a student showing a strong interest and academic ability to pursue a career path in the sciences reflecting Jennifer’s innate sense of creativity, curiosity, adventure and exploration, especially in the field of chemistry.
Presented by Jennifer’s mother, MaryLou O’Connor.
Lauren Bowser ’24
SISTER CAMELLA GAMBALE Award
The Sister Camella Gambale Award has been funded through the generosity of alumnae in honor of Sister Camella Gambale, a Sister of Saint Joseph, who taught music and conducted choral music at Fontbonne Academy for twenty-five years. The award recognizes a junior who has distinguished herself through her contributions to and achievements in the fine arts, especially music.
Hana Coppenrath ’23
SISTER MARILYN MCGOLDRICK Award
Sister Marilyn McGoldrick spent 27 years as a leader at Fontbonne Academy, as teacher, principal, and president. She has had a lasting imprint on the school and all the students who graduated during her tenure. When she stepped down in 2004, alumnae, faculty, staff and friends created a scholarship fund in her honor. When she served as president of the school, Sister Marilyn formulated the four R’s as core values of a Fontbonne education. She asked that the award be made to a young woman who models the four R’s: respect, responsibility, reconciliation, and reverence. The recipient of this scholarship is a wonderful example of a young woman living the four R’s and her presence in our community is a gift to all of us.
Susan Leuchte ’25
MARY BETH SANTRY Award
Mary Beth Santry was hard working, fun loving, inclusive, kind, and gentle, a spirited and gifted athlete, a good student, a loving daughter, a wonderful friend, and she absolutely loved Fontbonne….Yes she was ALL of this at the young age of 15.
Mary Beth’s dreams and her life ended in the fall of her sophomore year, when she was struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking with a friend to a neighborhood store on the same day she was confirmed. The driver never stopped and left this community, her friends and her family struggling to find a way to cope with such a tragic, painful and senseless loss.
Mary Beth would often tell ANYONE WHO would listen to her how much she loved this place and everyone in it and how she truly believed that EVERY GIRL should have a chance to come to Fontbonne.
Her mother Elaine created a scholarship fund to honor the memory of Mary Beth and the brief but exceptional life she lived.
Students are nominated by members of our learning community, keeping in mind the following criteria:
The student chosen makes life happier for others, contributes to the Fontbonne community by demonstrating Christian values of kindness, caring, acceptance of others, is inclusive and always puts her best foot forward in everything she does.
Presented by Mary Beth’s mother, Elaine Santry.
Gillian Jolley ’25, Jasyra Moreno ’24, Madison Blaho ’23
PATRICIA CERASUOLO LEADERSHIP Award
Patricia Cerasuolo devoted twenty-seven years of her life to Fontbonne Academy as a teacher, administrator and model of a Fontbonne Woman of Courage. Her leadership, compassion, and integrity inspired generations of Fontbonne women to become their best selves. She taught her students to live as women leaders of responsibility and reconciliation. She believed to be a great leader, you must honor and recognize that relationships are at the heart of our mission.
This award is given to a rising sophomore, junior or senior who Mrs. Cerasuolo would see potential in and inspire her to rise to the challenge of leadership. This student makes an impact on the Fontbonne Community and lives as a woman of integrity who respects all members of the community and works to build strong relationships with those she leads.
Kalon Davis ’24
NIKKI TISHLER Scholarship
Nikki Tishler was a graduate of the class of 2007. She passed away in 2018, but leaves behind a legacy of love and light. Nikki dedicated her life to issues of equity and social justice, advocating for the rights of women and the LBGTQA community. Her passion for advocacy and social justice started when she was a student at Fontbonne -- she organized the Ducks for Darfur fundraiser to aid refugees in the war-torn region of Sudan. She practiced what others have referred to as “radical kindness” and demonstrated that it's not enough to only care deeply about an issue, but that we must organize and take action to incite change. Everyone who crossed her path was inspired by her positivity, passion, and dedication to the fight against social inequality. This award/scholarship would go to a junior who has practiced radical kindness and has demonstrated a passion for advocacy and social justice during her time as a student.
Presented by Nikki’s father, Gary Tischler.
Joby Frejuste ’23
MARY ELLEN BARNES Scholarship
This scholarship was established to honor Mary Ellen Barnes, who served Fontbonne Academy for twelve years from 2002-2014 in a variety of roles: Principal, Acting President, and Head of School. Ms. Barnes always encouraged everyone, students and adults, to do their best.
The award is given to a student who has demonstrated a strong work ethic, and whose grades demonstrate that she has put forth her best effort.
Justine Bergancia ’24
