Head of School Dr. Michael E. Cooper delivered welcoming remarks to the students and faculty. Math Department Chair Bret Barnett then spoke about why the words “moving up” in the title of the ceremony are appropriate, encouraging students to move up in their future pursuits. He talked about ways to move up in student life, such as learning from mistakes, doing better in school or on the playing field, choosing different people to hang out with, and keeping in touch with old friends.

At the ceremony, the following students were inducted into the National Honor Society: Luke Apfeld '09, Alea Argue '09, Hung-Ji Chung '09, Megan Edson '09, Robert Koger '08, and Alison Waldorf '08. These students joined returning members Young Eun Choi '08, Teagan Lewis '08, Derek Senor '08, and Kate Shavel '08.

With Commencement just five days away, it was announced that the valedictorian for the Class of 2008 is Sung Ji Choi of Seoul, Korea. Kate Shavel of North Yarmouth, Maine, is the salutatorian. Young Eun Choi, also of Seoul, the third-highest-ranked student academically, will be one the speakers at the annual Ivy Address on May 23. Thitaphat Ngernsutivorakul of Bangkok, Thailand, is the top postgraduate student and will also deliver remarks at the Ivy Address.

Gold tassels for achieving honor roll status were awarded to the following seniors: Nathaniel Billings, William Bowen, Sung Ji Choi, Young Eun Choi, Allison Duffy, Friedrich Kleinhempel, Robert Koger, Nikolas Krainchich, Teagan Lewis, Griffin Markey, Chris McKeown, Thitaphat Ngernsutivorakul, Lee-Ann Pullar, Chanelle Roy, Derek Senor, Kate Shavel, Susan Smith, Chanut Utarawanich, Alison Waldorf, and Teraysa White.

The following students received awards and prizes during the ceremony:


David Nieman '11 Myrtle Dodge Scholarship	*Katie Samuelson '10* Esther Lord Page Scholarship Lower School English Prize Lower School Math Award	Luke Apfeld '09 Catherine Lord Scholarship

Sam Brown '08 Thomas A. Palazzo '75 Scholarship	George Newhall '09 Warren P. Tyler Memorial Scholarship Upper School IS Award	Megan Doyen '09 Dartmouth Book Prize

Hyun-Ji Chung '09 Colby Book Prize	Megan Edson '09 Holy Cross Book Prize Bausch-Lomb Science Award	Alea Argue '09 Brown University Book Award Harvard Book Prize

Adejah Taylor '09 Robert Richardson History Award	Will Bowen '08 Shirley Richardson History Award	Alison Waldorf '08 Jon Konheim Journalism Award

Grace Apfeld '10 Lower School History Award Lower School Science Award	Chris McKweon '08 Upper School Science Award	Nicolas Garzon '09 Upper School Math Award

Po-Wei Lin '10 ESL Award	Jacob Weinroth '11 Lower School IS Award	Laura Kingston '08 Drama Award

Alex Moulton '08 Britton-Coyle Music Award	Brooke Webster '08 Albert S. Munnis Visual Arts Award