In his welcoming remarks, Dr. Watson addressed the whole US school student body, their teachers, and the proud parents of award recipients.  He began by saying, “It is important to acknowledge how difficult the last two years have been, and to express my gratitude to all of the remarkable people that ensured that Community School could continue to provide a safe, normal, happy environment for the education of all our students.”  He continued, “The benefits of your knowledge and expertise will be greatly needed now and in the future. We are celebrating those things here this morning. But it is not just your academic expertise. It is your personality, your work ethic, your passion, your awareness of right and wrong; your best self, your character which is also so important to those around you.”

This year, in the course of 90 minutes, we handed out 263 awards to 145 students, along with over $250.000 of potential scholarships. Click here for photos.  A few notable awards and students deserve special recognition, including:

Student of the Year (most class awards)

• 9th Grade: Riley Confer
• 10th Grade: Charlotte Norman
• 11th: Grade: Caroline Rubin
• 12th Grade: Heloise Hoffmann

Citizenship Award (voted on by entire faculty)

• 9th Grade: Josie Byers
• 10th Grade: Anya Brenner
• 11th Grade: Henry Donath
• 12th Grade: (to be announced at Graduation)

Departmental Award (top senior, voted on by each department)

• Computer Science: Brent Bartholomew
• English: Ella Cartwright
• Fine/Performing Arts: Lee Boutet
• Math: William Bedford
• Science: Heloise Hoffmann
• Social Science: Ethan Gable
• World Languages: Caroline Costa

Valedictorian & Salutatorian (top two seniors, by core weighted GPA)

• Valedictorian: Heloise Hoffmann
• Salutatorian: Sophia Pezeshkan

In addition to CSN awards, students received recognition for awards received from outside organizations such as:

• Regeneron
• American Meteorological Society
• Scientist Society of Southwest Florida
• Thomas Alva Edison Regional Science and Engineering Fair
• Florida Association of Science Teachers
• Florida State Science and Engineering Fair
• ASM Materials Education Foundation
• Health Occupations Students of America (State Conference)
• The Cum Laude Society
• National Merit Scholarship Corporation
• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
• University of Rochester
• Seal of Biliteracy
• International Thespians Society
• Florida Vocal Association - All-state Chorus