Harwood Union’s Class of 2023 crosses the stage on Saturday
June 9, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti
Harwood Union High School’s graduation tent awaits Saturday’s ceremony which starts at 10 a.m. Photo by Gordon Miller
Use this code to watch Harwood’s graduation starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 10, on YouTube Live. If the live event is not playing, refresh the page at or after 10 a.m.
Harwood Union High School’s 2023 commencement will be held Saturday morning starting at 10 a.m. under the tent on the school’s front lawn.
The class of 2023 has 126 graduates who will receive their diplomas in the morning ceremony to be livestreamed online on YouTube. (click the link or use the QR code in this post)
The program for the ceremony is below. It will include the traditional bagpipe prelude and opening tunes and music by the school’s concert and assembly bands, and chorus.
The featured speaker addressing the senior class and their friends and family is Harwood English teacher and department Chair Kate Youngdahl-Stauss, who is retiring this year after eight years at Harwood.
Graduation details including the livestream link are online at harwood.org. Guests may begin to arrive at 8 a.m.
Below is a gallery of senior portraits of the graduates. At a Thursday evening ceremony, numerous seniors were presented with school and community honors and scholarship awards. The list of recipients is below as well.
Vermont Public features Harwood seniors
Finally, Vermont Public this week presented a series of five individual interviews with graduating Harwood seniors Adam Porterfield, Ellie Hammond, Arianna Clark, Xavier Brookens and Addey Lilley. Find those recordings and transcripts online at vermontpublic.org/local-news. Reporters Kevin Trevellyan and Harwood alumna Anna Van Dine produced the series.
Commencement Program
CLASS OF 2023
Best viewed on a computer to see names in photo captions.
Graduates not pictured are:
Owen Bouchard • Francesca Campanile • Ismael Cruz • Emma Holderfield • Dominic Mazzilli • Michelina Merriman • David Rivera-Ollenburger • William Rush • Austin Streeter • Anlu Thamm
AWARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS
Harwood seniors along with their family members and teachers gathered on Thursday evening, June 8, for the annual senior awards ceremony.
A number of students were recognized for their achievements and presented with a variety of awards and scholarships from both community organizations and the school staff.
DASCOMB P. ROWE SCHOLARSHIP
Given by the Waterbury High School Alumni Association, this scholarship is a living memorial to Dascomb Rowe, a principal, teacher, coach and counselor at Waterbury High School for 40 years who encouraged students to reach their full potential both academically and in the community.
Recipients: Piper Boudreau, Avery Bouchard, Ross Wade
MERRY ROWE HERMANS SCHOLARSHIP
From the Waterbury High School Alumni Association in memory of Merry Rowe, Dascomb Rowe’s daughter. Her legacy, including being a member of the 1954 state basketball championship team and valedictorian of Waterbury High School can inspire today’s youth.
Recipients: Arianna Clark, Jeswin Antony
GOV. PHIL HOFF VERMONT HONORS SCHOLARSHIP
Created by the Vermont State Legislature and Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, this goes to one student in recognition of their scholastic excellence.
Recipient: Ciera Fiaschetti
VERMONT SCHOLAR AWARD
Awarded by the University of Vermont, this honor recognizes a top-ranked senior with a $10,000 per year scholarship.
Recipient: Arianna Clark
GREEN AND GOLD SCHOLARSHIP
The University of Vermont honors a high-achieving senior with a full-four year tuition scholarship.
Recipient: Maisie Franke
LISE BORNSTEIN-MALTER COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD
This is presented to a Harwood graduating senior who demonstrates high commitment to service in the greater Waterbury area.
Recipients: Arianna Clark, Michelena Merriman
REBECCA PEATMAN SCHOLARSHIP
Presented by the Warren United Community Church, this is awarded to a student whose involvement in service has resulted in positive outcomes for their community.
Recipient: Amy Cook
WATERBURY ROTARY CLUB AWARDS
The Waterbury Rotary Club presents three Macbook Air Awards to graduating seniors instead of a financial scholarship. Recipients must be enrolled in a college, university or technical school for the 2023-24 academic year.
Recipients: Arianna Clark, Michelina Merriman, Abby Young
MOUNTAIN GARDNER SCHOLARSHIP
Presented on behalf of the Valley Garden Club, this honor goes to a senior pursuing environmental related studies after high school.
Recipient: Amy Cook
VERMONT BASKETBALL COACHES’ ASSOCIATION
Scholarship goes to an athlete nominated by their high school basketball coach.
Recipient: Abby Young
NEFCU STEM SCHOLARSHIP
New England Federal Credit Union award to a student pursuing studies in a mathematics- or science-related field.
Recipient: Jeswin Antony
HARRY N. CUTTING AWARD
Waterbury American Legion Post #59 recognizes a Harwood senior for their outstanding citizenship and academic achievement.
Recipient: Sophia Henzel
WINOOSKI MASONIC LODGE #49 SCHOLARSHIP
This recognizes students from Waterbury or Duxbury who show a desire to further their education in the service of their community.
Recipients: Owen Duffy, Jeswin Antony
EVALENA BREEN SERVICE AWARD
The St. Andrew Parish Altar Society of Waterbury recognizes a student who has exhibited outstanding service to the community.
Recipient: Sarah Bevacqui
MAD RIVER VALLEY ROTARY
Seniors from Moretown, Fayston, Waitsfield, Warren or Granville who have maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher are chosen for these awards. One student receives an award for each year of their college attendance - up to four years. Two students are chosen to receive a generous one-time award.
Recipients: Ciera Fiaschetti (four-year scholarship); Kathryn Cox, Iyah Lavit (single awards)
MAD RIVER MASONIC LODGE #77
A scholarship is awarded to a senior whose academic performance matches the ideals of Freemasonry.
Recipient: Jillian Rundle
VALLEY PLAYERS PERFORMING ARTS SCHOLARSHIP
A Harwood senior who is intending to pursue secondary education in performing theater, music, dance, as well as stage management, directing, and costume or set design is chosen for this honor.
Recipient: Abby Holter
HARWOOD BOOSTER CLUB SCHOLARSHIPS
These are awarded to students who demonstrate a desire to further their education and support their community as they move beyond high school.
Recipients: Piper Boudreau, Arianna Clark
GRIFFIN & RUTLEDGE CONSTRUCTION MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
This is awarded to a deserving Harwood senior.
Recipient: Arianna Clark
ALCHEMIST OPPORTUNITY FUND SCHOLARSHIPS
These awards seek out students who aren’t sure what their field of study will be, who might be late bloomers, or who are quiet leaders and lifelong learners, interested in furthering their education.
Recipients: Avery Bouchard, Owen Bouchard, Chloe Joslin, Zackary Sherman
NATIONAL SCHOOL CHORAL AWARD
This is the highest honor for high school choral performers and recognizes outstanding accomplishments in singing while demonstrating advanced musicianship and dedication to the school music program.
Recipient: Abby Holter
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA MUSIC AWARD
This honors the top graduating student in the high school band and recognizes superior musicianship, outstanding dedication and achievement in music.
Recipient: Molly Caffry
LOUIS ARMSTRONG JAZZ AWARD
This honor goes to the top graduating student in the Jazz Band and Assembly Band program recognizing excellent musicianship, dedication to the program and high artistic achievement.
Recipient: Jonah Halter
HARWOOD SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARD
These awards recognize outstanding scholastic and athletic achievement. They are presented to seniors who have attained an accumulative average of 3.0 over their four years at Harwood and have a minimum of four varsity letters in at least two sports.
Recipients: Ciera Fiaschetti, Lewis Clapp
ROBERT F. FIELDER ATHLETIC MEMORIAL AWARD
Given in memory of Robert F. Fielder, this honor is chosen by the coaching staff and awarded to the seniors who, in addition to being outstanding athletes, have demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout their years of athletic competition at Harwood. Eligible students must have completed at least two years in the Harwood Athletic Program.
Recipients: Cierra McKay, Cole Hill
HARWOOD OUTSTANDING SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
This honors the seniors who in the estimation of their coaches have exemplified the highest ideals of sportsmanship in varsity competition.
Recipients: Abigail Young, Adam Porterfield
ATHLETICS AWARD OF EXCELLENCE
On behalf of the Vermont Principals Association and the National Federation of High Schools, two Harwood student-athletes are recognized for having treated teammates and opponents with respect, who respect the judgment of officials and coaches, and who live up to the high standard of sportsmanship established by their school.
Recipients: Maisie Franke, Jordan Shullenberger
HARWOOD UNION COACHES UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Coaches select student-athletes who have made an outstanding contribution to the Harwood Athletics program.
Recipients: Mia LaPointe, Adin Combs
CONCEPT 2 SCHOLARSHIP
This honors two students who have shown academic excellence and have participated in sports during their school career.
Recipients: Charlie Flint, Iyah Lavit
SUE DUPRAT SPIRIT OF HARWOOD AWARD
To recognize exceptional school spirit, this award was created this year and named for the 14-year Harwood Athletic Director who came out of retirement to return to the position when the athletic director left mid-year. It recognizes the senior who brings unflagging support, unbridled joy, and contagious school spirit to all Highlander teams and athletes.
Recipient: Owen Duffy
ALLEN TINKER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
In honor of bus driver Allen Tinker, this awarded goes to a senior who has demonstrated a love of science, has a special interest in the outdoors, and who plans on attending college.
Recipient: Charlie Flint
FLORILLA AMES SCHOLARSHIP
This award is given in honors of longtime Waterbury resident Florilla Ames, who died in 2021 at age 110 and was Vermont’s oldest resident. She was a lifelong learner and activist. This scholarship is given to a student who has shown a commitment to civic engagement and education.
Recipient: Arianna Clark
EUNICE B. FARR AWARD
Born in Warren and widowed in 1940, Eunice Farr used her talents to raise her family and run a telephone company. She was one of the first women to run a utility in the United States. With pride and best wishes for the future, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom present this award in memory of Eunice B. Farr.
Recipient: Iyah Lavit
HARWOOD AWARD
This honor goes to a graduating senior who through outstanding dedication, courage and purpose, best reflects the Harwood philosophy in the classroom, on campus, in extracurricular activities, and in the community.
Recipient: Maisie Franke
HARWOOD FACULTY AWARD
One senior is honored for their academic and extracurricular achievements as well as their loyalty to the values of the Harwood community.
Recipient: Adam Porterfield
PARKER CREATIVITY AWARD
Given in memory of former Harwood Union High School staff member Marianne Parker, this honor goes to a senior who has exhibited exceptional creativity, talent, and effort in the areas of art and science.
Recipient: Gabe Frankel
RICHARD CHARLES WEIN AWARD
This art award is given in memory of longtime Warren resident Richard Charles Wein, an avid landscape painter and sculptor who was inspired by his friends and surroundings. This recognizes a Harwood senior whose artistic talent is truly inspired.
Recipient: David Boucher
UVM EXAMINATION IN MATHEMATICS PRIZE
Held by the University of Vermont for Vermont high school students for the past 59 years, the UVM Math Exam is a two-hour challenging competition, not even intended to be finished in the time provided. It often has problems from concepts not covered in traditional high school math classes. Students must challenge themselves to apply what they know and extend beyond what they have learned.
Harwood senior Astrid Kahn placed 7th overall in the state on the exam and fellow senior Adam Porterfield earned a certificate of merit for scoring in the top 10% of students on the exam.
EXCELLENCE IN MATHEMATICS
The Harwood Math Department honors several students who exhibit the qualities of a true mathematician including the ability to make connections, reason logically to solve problems and have a drive for understanding why things work and for stretching their mathematical thinking. This award honors students who not only have achieved high course scores in math class, but who also have a drive to succeed, a curiosity about mathematics, and a willingness to share their knowledge with others.
Recipients: Leonardo Carra, Adam Porterfield, Miranda Rayfield
EXCELLENCE IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION AWARD
This honor goes to seniors who throughout their high school career and in particular in their final semester, have shown they truly appreciate and value physical activity in their lives. They are recognized for exceptional dedication including having a respectful and positive attitude, a willingness to collaborate, a hard work ethic, sportsmanship, and creativity in coming up with unique challenges. Both attended classes this semester despite not needing the credits to graduate. The PE Department salutes them for their contributions.
Recipients: Parker Davey and Dylan Sylveria