Darien High School 2015-2016

Education

DHS Graduation Speech: Principal Ellen Dunn

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2016

Darien High School Principal Ellen Dunn gave this “Presentation” speech (as prepared), for the Class of 2016 at their DHS graduation ceremony Thursday:

Good afternoon Members of the Darien Board of Education, Dr. Dan Brenner [superintendent of schools], colleagues, parents, grandparents, guests and most distinguished members of the Darien High School Class of 2016 … There is a long tradition at Darien High School of the graduates handing the principal a small gift as they receive their diplomas. I have been informed that the plan tonight is for each of you to give me a tiny origami star. You have selected the perfect gift. Stars capture our imaginations; they fuel our dreams and carry our wishes.

Education

DHS Graduation Speech: Katie Tsui, Co-Salutatorian

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2016

Here’s Co-salutatorian Katie Tsui’s speech (as prepared) at Darien High School’s Class of 2016 graduation ceremony on Thursday:

Good afternoon. On behalf of the rest of the Class of 2016, I would like to thank the faculty, staff, and teachers of Darien Public Schools, who have helped us transform from kindergarteners who once ate paper (you know exactly who you are) to more mature young adults about to receive the most important slip of paper, a diploma. I’d like to extend that gratitude to all the parents and friends, whether present or absent today, who have guided us thus far and will continue to serve as our anchors. And of course, I would be the worst co-salutatorian in history if I failed to congratulate the Class of 2016 before me. We’ve made it, and I am so proud to be graduating with you all.

Education

DHS Graduation Speech: Christian Ostberg, Co-Salutatorian

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2016

Here’s Co-salutatorian Christian Ostberg’s speech (as prepared and as he slightly revised it) at Darien High School’s Class of 2016 graduation ceremony on Thursday:

Good evening. I’d like to begin today by telling you a story. A story that has had a profound impact on my young life. One morning, this past fall, I was on duty with Post 53. Around 8 a.m., my crew was called to the scene of a home.

Education

DHS Graduation Speech: Valedictory Address by Chloe Zhou

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2016

Here’s Chloe Zhou’s valedictory address at the 2016 Darien High School graduation ceremony on Thursday, as prepared:

Hi everyone. I’d like to thank Mrs. Dunn and the administration, my dear friend Sarishka for her introduction, and my friends in the audience. I’d like to thank the narcs for keeping us straight, the cafeteria for serving giant cookies, and our Blue Wave sports teams for making it so I get looks of fear and disgust whenever I’m in New Canaan. And, of course, I’d like to thank my teachers, especially those who’ve been truly inspiring, and my amazing family. Thank you, Mom, Dad, Kai, Luka.

Education

DHS Graduation Speech: Breana Del Gatto

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2016

Breana Del Gatto, DHS Community Council president, gave this speech at Darien High School’s graduation Thursday (as prepared):

Welcome everyone and good afternoon. I would like to welcome Mr. Harman, the Board of Education chair and the members of the Board of Education, Dr.Brenner our superintendent, Mrs. Dunn, our incredible principle, and our amazing vice principles Mr.Sullivan, Dr.Greenwood, and Mrs. Spark, the faculty, staff, and the parents and members of the class of 2016. This is it. We aren’t teenagers anymore. In the eyes of society, and the law, we’re adults.

Education

Mortar boards in air DHS graduation 6-16-16

Farewell and Good Luck, DHS Class of 2016!

By David Gurliacci | June 16, 2016

Here’s the outline of the story of the graduation of Darien High School Class of 2016, as we posted it on Twitter during the event:
[View the story “Darien High School Class of 2016 Marches Off” on Storify]

Darien High School 2015-2016

Darien High School Graduation Starts at 5 PM

By David Gurliacci | June 16, 2016

Graduation is Thursday, June 16 at 5 p.m. on the DHS Stadium Field. No tickets are needed if the ceremony is held outdoors, and seating is unlimited. According to this Darien High School Web page on the graduation ceremony:

“Gates open at 4 p.m. and seats are first-come, first-served. There will be folding chair seats on the field, as well as the entire home side bleachers. The stage is elevated so all seats on the field and bleachers have good sight lines.

Education

Darien High School Graduation is at 5PM OUTSIDE Today

By David Gurliacci | June 16, 2016

Graduation is at 5 p.m. today, Thursday, on the DHS Stadium Field. It will be held outdoors. No tickets are needed if the ceremony is held outdoors, and seating is unlimited. According to this Darien High School Web page on the graduation ceremony:

“Gates open at 4 p.m. and seats are first-come, first-served. There will be folding chair seats on the field, as well as the entire home side bleachers.

Darien High School 2015-2016

Darien High School Internship Fair

By David Gurliacci | June 14, 2016

On Tuesday, June 14 the members of the DHS Senior Internship Committee, along with the school’s administration, faculty, and staff, will welcome the public to the school gymnasium for the seventh annual Senior Internship Fair. The event will begin at 12:30 p.m., and it will feature individual and group presentations done by those Class of 2016 seniors who participated in the Senior Internship Program this spring. As always for this event, underclassmen will be there along with faculty members, parents, and representatives of the many sites that generously took on DHS seniors as interns. ______________

— an announcement from Darien High School

______________

This year, with the highest participation rate in seven years, 326 members of the Class of 2016 participated in the program, most of them interning at local sites in Darien and Fairfield County, while a few interned in New York City. Program participants are required to work at least 25 unpaid hours per week for the five weeks of the internship experience.

Sports

DHS Boys & Girls Lacrosse State Championships Hype Video

By David Gurliacci | June 9, 2016

Here’s Jack Book’s latest Darien High School Lacrosse hype video — this one for both the boys and the girls playing for the state championships:

As the video says: The state championship games are Saturday, June 11:

The girls, with a 20-1-1 record, are playing Fairfield Prep at 10 a.m. at Jonathan Law High School
The boys, with a 22-0 record, are playing Simsbury at 1 p.m. at Brien McMahon High School

This Twitter feed has every Darien sports Twitter account we could find (it appears every day in the right-hand column of Darienite.com Web pages:

Tweets from https://twitter.com/TheDarienite/lists/darien-sports
!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],p=/^http:/.test(d.location)?’http’:’https’;if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src=p+”://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js”;fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,”script”,”twitter-wjs”);

Darien Library

Darien Library Extends Hours Thursday, Monday for Final Exams

By David Gurliacci | June 8, 2016

To help Darien High School students maximize their study time, the Darien Library will once again offer extended hours the week of final exams.

Hours were extended on Wednesday and the library will be closing later on these days:

Thursday, June 9 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday, June 13 from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Getting Help While You Study
The Library offers many resources to students, including spaces for both quiet and group study, school supplies, and power cords. Librarians are also on hand to answer reference questions in person, by IM, email or phone. Study Rooms: Study Rooms may be reserved one month in advance in two hour increments. Students will be asked to give their name, phone number, and show their student ID. Reservations will be held for 15 minutes before being made available to others who are waiting.

Education

New DHS Unified Sports Team Brings Together Athletes with & without Disabilities

By David Gurliacci | June 7, 2016

Amid the field of Spring sports teams, there was one group of Darien High School athletes that made a debut wearing their Darien blue. The DHS Unified Sports team participated in their first track and field event at Fairfield Ludlowe High School recently, competing against seven other area schools. Led by Coach and DHS staffer Paul Brager, the team (pictured) participated in a variety of events, including: 2 x 25, 2 x 50, 4 x 100, 4 x 200 meter relays, turbo javelin, shot put, tennis ball throw, long jump and running long jump. “We competed side by side with other teams for the races, but then traveled as an individual team where all students participated in the throwing and jumping events,” said Brager. “The Ludlowe meet was our only track event and all athletes were recognized for their athletic accomplishments.”

Unified Sports brings together individuals with and without disabilities to inspire inclusion and respect for everyone on and off the field.

Arts & Entertainment

Michelle Han's artwork DPS website 6-3-16

DHS Student Michelle Han Recognized in 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing Contest

By David Gurliacci | June 5, 2016

The Darien Public Schools Art Department is proud to announce that Michelle Han has earned national recognition in the 2016 Scholastic Art and Writing contest. Students winning this recognition have been identified by panels of creative professionals as the most talented young artists and writers in the nation. _______________

— an announcement on the Darien Public Schools website

_______________

Nearly 320,000 works of art and writing were submitted by students in grades 7-12 this year. This national medal places Han within the top 1 percent of all submissions. She has been invited to attend a ceremony at Carnegie Hall on Thursday, June 2.

Education

More than 230 Student Awards Given at Darien High School Ceremony

By David Gurliacci | May 24, 2016

At a Darien High School awards ceremony on Thursday, these awards — more than 230 of them — were given out to students in recognition of their achievements in areas such as academics, sports, music, the arts and community service:

Award

Recipient

American Chemical Society Award

Daniel Pfrommer

American Field Service Award for Excellence in French

Sarah LeHan

American Field Service Award for Excellence in Spanish

Christian Ostberg

Art Department Ceramics Award

Christopher Graves

Art Department Ceramics Award

Savannah Chaput

Art Department Ceramics Award

Dillon Foley

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Mary Myers

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Claire Lincoln

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Cassandra Lopiano

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Jane Firmin

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Murphy Grady

Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Jeremy Howe

Art Department Graphic Design Award

Jack Thornbury

Art Department Photography Award

Lucas Whittaker

Art Department Photography Award

Cassandra Lopiano

Art Department Photography Award

Ella Moore

Authentic Science Research Award

Sarishka Desai

Barnard College Book Award

Tianjia Du

Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award

Colin Shaughnessy

Brandeis Book Award

Samantha Wind

Brown Book Award

Candice Wang

Business Education Award

Paige Adams

CAS Student Leadership Award

Isabella Johnston

CAS Student Leadership Award

Carson Stewart

CAS/CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Sarah LeHan

CAS/CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Christian Ostberg

CIAC Award of Excellence

Daphne Budd

CIAC Award of Excellence

Baylor Stewart

Columbia Book Award

Komal Dhull

Computer Technology Achievement Award

Samuel Evans

Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Award – Art

Ella Moore

Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Award – Music

Drake Corrigan

Cornell Book Award

Andrew Benz

Current Award

Nicholas Hartunian

Dariannus Award

Sarah Garijo-Garde

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Helena Cush

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Thomas Kreuch

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Olivia Lew

Darien Community Association Community Service award

Robert Waters

Darien Board of Education Chairman’s Book Award

Gauri Misra

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award- Junior

Elizabeth Borecki

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award – Freshman

Chloe Sheehan

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award – Senior

Chloe Zhou

Darien High School Parent’s Association Award – Sophomore

Ari Singer-Freeman

Dartmouth College Book Award

Colin Shaughnessy

Daughters of the American Revolution

Samantha Wind

Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award

Breana Del Gatto

Debate Team Leadership and Excellence Award

Chloe Zhou

Debate Team Novice Debaters Award

Paul Hager

Delta Kappa Gamma Book Award

Maxwell Romeyn

Denison Book Award

Hannah Ferguson

DHS Technology and Engineering Award

Charles Attisani

DHS Technology and Engineering Award

Luke O’Neil

Dr. Helen Merritt Award

Molly Bell

Dr. Stewart Atkinson Valedictorian Award

Chloe Zhou

Economics Book Award

Nicholas Hartunian

Elaine Fattibene Book Award

Helen Wolf

English Department Award

Emilio Rivero

English Department Award

Katie Tsui

European History Award

Sarah LeHan

Faculty Award

Roisin Burke

Faculty Award

Savannah Chaput

Faculty Award

Cheyenne de la Rivera

Faculty Award

Colin Donovan

Faculty Award

Sarah Garijo-Garde

Faculty Award

Murphy Grady

Faculty Award

Tyler Grant

Faculty Award

Herbert Hazelton

Faculty Award

Jeffrey Hingst

Faculty Award

Olivia Hoyda

Faculty Award

Katie Jarrett

Faculty Award

Dana Kolderup

Faculty Award

Steven Kreuch

Faculty Award

Santosh Krishnan

Faculty Award

Graham Littell

Faculty Award

Sabrina McDonnell

Faculty Award

Lauren Murphy

Faculty Award

John Murray

Faculty Award

Mary Myers

Faculty Award

Hayden Nackley

Faculty Award

Christian Nickerson

Faculty Award

Michael Armstong Noonan

Faculty Award

Gavin Okun

Faculty Award

Marcus Pagliarulo

Faculty Award

Kevin Pidgeon

Faculty Award

James Schofield

Faculty Award

Jacob Smith

Faculty Award

Matthew Smith

Faculty Award

Isabelle Taylor

Faculty Award

Sophie Tsui

Faculty Award

Noah Vetter

Faculty Award

Seth von Schmidt

Faculty Award

Michael Walter

Faculty Award

Margaret Weinstock

Faculty Award

Finley Wetmore

Faculty Award

Niamani Williams-Coles

Faculty Award

Andrew Winsch

Faculty Award

Grace Wohlberg

Fairfield County Association of Secondary School Principal’s Scholar Leader Award

Alison Greene

Fairfield County Association of Secondary School Principal’s Scholar Leader Award

Ken Yamaguchi

Fairfield University Book Award

Keenan Warble

Fairfield University School of Engineering and Sikorsky Aircraft Award

David Kristof

Gettysburg College Book award

Colin Shaughnessy

Global Art Award

Kaeleigh Morrill

Harold A. Peterson Math Award

Chloe Zhou

Harvard Club Book Award

Mila Escajadillo

John Rallo Award for Excellence in Two World Languages

Nicole Caputo

Junior Mathematics Award

Samuel Pfrommer

Kiwanis Award for

Arts

Excellence in Fine

Lucas Whittaker

Kiwanis Award for

Technolgy Education

Excellence in

Henry Hathaway

Kiwanis Award for

Technolgy Education

Excellence in

Noah Vetter

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Laine Blummer

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Drake Corrigan

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Chloe Zhou

Law and Government Award

Nicholas Hartunian

Mary McKee Award

Baylor Stewart

Math Team Award

Andrew Benz

Mt. Holyoke Book Award

Emma Lesko

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Indira Flores

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Vivienne Le

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Eden Wright

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Wen Yan Toh

Music Service Award

Mone Takeda

Neirad Editorial Award

Britton Barthold

Neirad EditorialAward

Christopher Drake

Northeast Conference Award for French

Chloe Zhou

Northeast Conference Award for Mandarin

Colin Donovan

Northeast Conference Award for Spanish

Katie Tsui

Oberlin Book Award

Paul Hager

Outstanding Musicianship Award

Dominick Wood

Paul Engemann Heart and Soul Award

Finley Wetmore

Princeton Alumni Association of Fairfield County Award

Candice Wang

Principal’s Award

Paige Adams

Principal’s Award

Jane Bredahl

Principal’s Award

Charles Carroll

Principal’s Award

Andrew Clarke

Principal’s Award

Emily Coyle

Principal’s Award

Brandon Del Gatto

Principal’s Award

Matthew Delora

Principal’s Award

Morgan Desautelle

Principal’s Award

Matthew Drake

Principal’s Award

Alyssa Findlan

Principal’s Award

Robert Foresta

Principal’s Award

Shelby Grant

Principal’s Award

Teagan Gray

Principal’s Award

Thomas Hall

Principal’s Award

Giana Kamensky

Principal’s Award

Chandler Kirby

Principal’s Award

Lindsay Kirby

Principal’s Award

William Kirby

Principal’s Award

John Kniffin

Principal’s Award

Samuel Knowlton

Principal’s Award

John McCann

Principal’s Award

Samantha Millette

Principal’s Award

Colin Minicus

Principal’s Award

Robert Osborn

Principal’s Award

Alyssa Pagliuco

Principal’s Award

Zachary Pear

Principal’s Award

Felix Rooney

Principal’s Award

Jennifer Schrenker

Principal’s Award

Oliver Smith

Principal’s Award

Caroline Sullivan

Principal’s Award

John Thacher

Principal’s Award

Christian Trifone

Ralph M. Gibbs Award

Jennifer Schrenker

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award

James Johnson

Salutatorian Award

Christian Ostberg

Salutatorian Award

Katie Tsui

Sam Hougas Memorial Award

Grace Feingold

Senior Excellence in Athletics Award

Georgia Cassidy

Senior Excellence in Athletics Award

Mark Evanchick

Senior Mathematics Award

Christian Ostberg

Smith Club Book Award

Madeleine Ostertag

Society of Women Engineers Award

William Russell

Society of Women Engineers Award

Emily Torrente

Special History and Social Science Award

Krya Balenzano

Special History and Social Science Award

Caroline Lui

St. Lawrence Book Award

Kristen Picard

St. Michael’s College Book Award

Mia Dursht

St. Michael’s College Book Award

Brendan Berrigan

Superintendent’s Citizenship Award

Michael Armstrong Noonan

Superintendent’s Citizenship Award

Jennifer Schrenker

The Alicia Sillars Depot Director’s Award

Caroline Tortorella

The Board of Education Award

Claire Borecki

The Darien Nature Center Environmental Award

Laura Schwartzman

The Depot Service Award

Matthew Alvarado

The Depot Service Award

Sean Doran

The Depot Spirit Award

Jacob Smith

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

John Thacher

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

Finley Wetmore

The Technology Club Award

Matthew Arcamone

The Technology Club Award

Thomas Kyritz

The Western Connecticut Military Officers Young American Award

Stephen Cavoli

Theatre 308 Award for Technical Theatre

Samantha Millette

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Kristen Moran

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Carson Stewart

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Breana Del Gatto

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Sofia Sheldon

Theatre 308 Service Award

Paige Adams

Theatre 308 Service Award

Drake Corrigan

Tom Ryan
Student Government Award

Breana Del Gatto

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Darien Fire Department

Molly Bell

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Fire Department

Matthew Delora

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Fire Department

David Woll

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Matthew Arcamone

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Robert Marchesi

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Liam Tracey

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation Noroton Heights Fire Department

Dominick Wood