Darien High School Graduation 2017

Here Are the Post-Graduation Plans for Members of Darien High’s Class of 2017

Superintendent Dan Brenner’s 2017 Graduation Speech: Be Passionate and Curious

DHS Principal Ellen Dunn to Class of 2017: Overcoming Your Struggles Will Shape You

Darien High School’s Class of 2017 Graduates, Spirits Undampened

Darien High’s Graduation Ceremony: OUTSIDE at 5:15 PM: What You Need to Know

Police Issue Traffic Advisory for Middle, High School Graduations, Thursday & Friday

Darien High School Valedictorian, Salutatorian Named; Full List of Students Honored at Awards Ceremony

Education

By David Gurliacci | June 18, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | June 17, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | June 16, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | June 16, 2017

Education

By David Gurliacci | June 12, 2017

News

By David Gurliacci | May 24, 2017

Here’s where each member of Darien High School’s Class of 2017 is heading, now that they have their diplomas:

Buck Allen — Sewanee: The University of the South

Alexandra Alpeter — University of Miami

Susan Alptekin — University of Michigan

Matthew Andriunas — Sacred Heart University

Samantha Aparicio — Amherst College

Lucy Armstrong — Washington University

Catherine Arrix — Washington and Lee University

Christina Arstorp — Santa Clara University
See also:

Darien High School’s Class of 2017 Graduates, Spirits Undampened (June 16)
DHS Principal Ellen Dunn to Class of 2017: Overcoming Your Struggles Will Shape You (June 17)
Superintendent Dan Brenner’s 2017 Graduation Speech: Be Passionate and Curious (June 17)

Trevor Bailey — San Diego State University

Kyra Balenzano — Carnegie Mellon University

Colin Banks — Johns Hopkins University

Sophia Barbour — Pennsylvania State University

John Paul Barce — Pennsylvania State University

Amanda Barlow — Gettysburg College

Alexandra Barnard — Santa Clara University

John Beatty — Franklin & Marshall College

Thea Belak — Emerson College

Michael Belloli — Vanderbilt University

Andrew Benz — Yale College

Brendan Berrigan — California Institute of Technology

Benjamin Bidell — Providence College

James Bieler — United States Military Preparatory School

Theadora Bolton — Norwalk Community College

Logan Book — United States Naval Academy

Claire Borecki — Colby College

Elizabeth Borecki — Wellesley College

Michael Borecki — Bowdoin College

Elizabeth Bothwell — Syracuse University

Sarah Bowditch — Santa Clara University

William Brandon — Dartmouth College

Mary Beth Broadhurst — gap year

Avery Brook — Colgate University

Casey Brown — Fordham University

Brendan Bumgardner — Santa Clara University

Elizabeth Burke — Loyola University, Maryland

John Butcher — Purdue University

John Byrne — Northeastern University
See also:

Guidance Director Discusses Trends in Darien High School College Applications (June 7)
Darien High School Valedictorian, Salutatorian Named; Full List of Students Honored at Awards Ceremony (May 24)
90 Darien High School Students Inducted into National Honor Society (April 5)

Alberto Calderon — Concordia University

Escher Campanella — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Jack Campbell — Norwalk Community College

Shea Canaday — University of Denver

Julia Canora — California Institute of the Arts

Jessica Carlo — Franklin Pierce University

Peter Case — Hamilton College

Lesly Chamorro — Pace University

Charles Christensen — College of the Holy Cross

Jillian Clements — Bucknell University

Alexander Cohen — Clemson University

Arden Cohen — University of Notre Dame

Finlay Collins — University of Pennsylvania

Daniel Cone — Northeastern University

Henry Congdon — University of Miami

Aidan Connolly — James Madison University

James Conroy — Drexel University

Ryan Corcoran — Southern Methodist University

Madison Corman — Fairfield University

Julia Cornacchia — Stanford University

Ryan Cornell — University of Vermont

Isadora Coughlin — Worchester Polytechnic Institute

Kallianne Coughlin — Bucknell University

Kitty Crosby — University of Michigan

Katherine Cunningham — Tufts University
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Here’s Superintendent Dan Brenner’s speech, as delivered, at Darien High School’s 2017 graduation ceremony:

Members of the Board of Education, parents, friends and relatives, and most importantly the Darien High School Class of 2017, I am truly honored to be able to congratulate you on this momentous day. Early in my career I had the good fortune to watch a group of students share their English essays all titled, “This I believe.” In their honor, I thought I would borrow their writing prompt and begin my talk by saying:

I believe …
Passion and Curiosity
When people are interviewed for a job there are several character traits that are essential for employers to evaluate. Possibly the most important are embodied in the following question:

“Is the person passionate and curious about what they do?”

Let me explain what I think that implies. I would suggest it means we are looking for a person who approaches all situations with enthusiasm, regardless of the task, and that they possess an inquisitive mind that prompts them to question. It means if they are a doctor or a lawyer, they have a keen sense of commitment to provide each and every patient or client the best service possible, and they are forever seeking new ways to do so.

Here’s the full text, with a small exception, as prepared, of the speech Darien High School Principal Ellen Dunn delivered Friday at the 2017 Commencement:

[The exception was a passage about cell phones, which got a laugh from the audience and a few extra words from Dunn.]

Good evening, Members of the Darien Board of Education, Dr. Dan Brenner, colleagues, parents, grandparents, guests and most distinguished members of the Darien High School Class of 2017. There is a long standing graduation tradition at DHS of students presenting a small token to the principal as they receive their diplomas. Tonight, I am told, you will each hand me a beautiful paper butterfly. Change Is Inevitable, So Is Struggle
A butterfly is a perfect symbol for this occasion. Your childhood dreams were carried on the wings of these fragile creatures, and you let your imaginations wonder at their flight.

The phrase “the sky’s the limit” took on a whole new meaning for Darien High School’s Class of 2017 as the graduation ceremony got a little wet under a gray sky that threatened rain on Friday. But for the most part, the precipitation was so light that it evaporated about as soon as you could feel it. Umbrellas came out, briefly, a couple times when rain fell in drops.

Superintendent Dan Brenner had sent out an email to students and parents shortly after noon to explain that officials had decided not to move graduation indoors because they didn’t think rain would ruin the event, based on a meteorologist’s forecast for Darien, and the forecast proved true. Brenner did suggest that people dress appropriately for the weather and mentioned that some might be bringing umbrellas.

Darien High School’s graduation ceremony will be held outside at 5:15 p.m. Friday, in spite of the looming clouds, school officials have announced. UPDATE: Brenner’s Explanation
Here’s Schools Superintendent Dan Brenner’s announcement emailed to parents and students about the decision to hold graduation outside:
Dear Graduation Attendees,
We are faced with the most difficult of choices given the nature of the weather pattern we are confronted with. We must choose between going into the auditorium with limited seating and using the gymnasium for overflow seating, which is less than optimal, or risking the rain and the somewhat unpredictability of the current forecast. After much consultation with our meteorologist, who focuses directly on Darien, we know that:

Radar strongly suggests the rain should fully exit the area by 4 p.m.
Rain totals will be minimal with a fine mist likely to be the type of precipitation

As a result we have decided that in an attempt to be as inclusive to the families as possible we will be holding the ceremony outside on the Stadium field. The current weather is forcing a bit of a delay in setting up technically but we would anticipate no more than a 15-minute delay in the start time. We would ask you to dress appropriately given the conditions and if you choose to bring an umbrella to be sensitive to others sight lines where possible.

Expect crowds and crowded roads near Darien High School on Friday, June 16, and for Middlesex Middle School the day before because of 2017 school graduation ceremonies, and Darien police have issued special traffic regulations near those events. Both events take place at Darien High School, and the traffic regulations and rules are the same or nearly the same for each. Here’s the announcement from Darien Police Capt. John Lawlor of the department’s Field Services Bureau:
For Darien High School Graduation, Friday, June 16
Due to the traditionally large turnout for the Darien High School graduation, the Darien Police Department advises that the following traffic regulations are being put into effect for the area surrounding Darien High School on June 16, 2017 starting at 3:30 p.m.

All traffic will enter the High School grounds via Noroton Avenue. Vehicular traffic will not be permitted to enter the area via High School Lane, Nutmeg Lane, Holly Lane, or Libby Lane. Officers will be present to direct all vehicles to appropriate and designated parking areas.

« August 2022 »

At Darien High School’s graduation ceremony on Friday, June 16, Komal Dhull will be the valedictorian, and Indira Flores the salutatorian. Dhull and Flores were among the dozens of DHS students who were presented with 2017 awards at a ceremony held Thursday. Here’s the full list:

(The awards are shown here two ways — first, by student last names, then by awards, each in alphabetical order.)

See also: Letter: Darien High School Principal Ellen Dunn Thanks Scholarship Donors (May 24)
LIST IN ORDER OF STUDENT NAMES

Buck
Allen

Principal’s Award

Susan
Alptekin

CIAC Award of Excellence

Samantha
Aparicio

Principal’s Award

Lucy
Armstrong
Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Lucy
Armstrong

Senior Mathematics Award

Catherine
Arrix

Principal’s Award

Stina
Arstorp
Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Sara
Baldwin

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Kyra
Balenzano

Northeast Conference Award
for Spanish

Kyra
Balenzano

Principal’s Award

Thea
Belak

Principal’s Award

Andrew
Benz

Harold A. Peterson Math Award

Andrew
Benz

Math Team Award

Andrew
Benz

Northeast Conference Award
for Latin

Brendan
Berrigan

Debate Team Leadership and Excellence Award

Brendan
Berrigan

Principal’s Award

James
Bieler

Principal’s Award

James
Bieler

The Western Connecticut Military Officers Young American Award

Kerry
Blatney

Cornell Book Award

Kerry
Blatney

Society of Women Engineers Award

Amanda
Blaze

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Theadora
Bolton

Principal’s Award

Claire
Borecki

Theatre 308 Service Award

Claire
Borecki

Neirad Writing Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Music Service Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Faculty Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Paul Engemann Heart and Soul Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Superintendent’s Citizenship Award

Elizabeth
Borecki

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Michael
Borecki

CAS Student Leadership Award

Colleen
Brereton

Wellesley Club of Southern
Connecticut Book Award

Avery
Brook

Principal’s Award

Avery
Brook

The Depot Service Award

Avery
Brook

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Avery
Brook

Tom Ryan
Student Government Award

Casey
Brown

Faculty Award

Kaela
Buggy

Brandeis Book Award

John
Butcher

Computer Technology Achievement Award

John
Butcher

Principal’s Award

John
Butcher

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Fire Department

Alberto
Calderon

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

Charlotte
Campbell

Darien High School Parent’s
Association Award – Sophomore

Jack
Campbell

Faculty Award

Shea
Canaday

Faculty Award

Julia
Canora

Video Award

Keilani
Caruso

St. Michael’s College Book Award

Lesly
Chamorro

Faculty Award

Charles
Christensen

Art Department Ceramics Award

Alexander
Cohen

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Finlay
Collins

Principal’s Award

Aidan
Connolly

Faculty Award

Kallianne
Coughlin

Jim Smith Award

Kallianne
Coughlin

Mary McKee Award

Abigail
Cragin

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award

Catherine
Crosby

Art Department Photography Award

Antonia
Demopoulos

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Antonia
Demopoulos

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Komal
Dhull

Debate Team Leadership and Excellence Award

Komal
Dhull

Dr. Helen Merritt Award

Komal
Dhull

Dr. Stewart Atkinson
Valedictorian Award

Komal
Dhull

European History Award

Ria
Dhull

English 10 Award

Sean
Doran

Faculty Award

Sean
Doran

The Depot Service Award

Sean
Doran

The Depot Spirit Award

Gannon
Downs

Faculty Award

Mia
Dursht

CAS/CIAC Scholar Athlete Award

Mia
Dursht

English Department Award

Mia
Dursht

Faculty Award

Ethan
Ehlers

Faculty Award

Emily
Eppley

Faculty Award

Mila
Escajadillo

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

Ellen
Ferguson

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Indira
Flores

Salutatorian Award

Olivia
Fordyce

Theatre 308 Director’s Award

Lucas
Forlivio

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Heights Fire Department

David
Foster

Faculty Award

Cord
Fox

Principal’s Award

Jason
Gaaserud

Principal’s Award

Jason
Gaaserud

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Darien Fire Department

Ariel
Gianukakis

Art Department Ceramics Award

Ariel
Gianukakis

Principal’s Award

Emily
Gianunzio

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Ryan
Gifford

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Harrison
Gill

Principal’s Award

Trevor
Gilronan

DHS Technology and Engineering Award

Trevor
Gilronan

Principal’s Award

Alexandra
Glynn

Theatre 308 Award for Technical Theatre

Steven
Gomez

Delta Kappa Gamma Book Award

Natalie
Gorman

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

William
Granath

Northeast Conference Award
for Mandarin

William
Granath

Principal’s Award

Katherine
Greco

Global Art Award

Katherine
Gunya

Elaine Fattibene Book Award

Paul
Hager

Brown Book Award

Paul
Hager

Economics Book Award

Paul
Hager

Gettysburg College Book award

Malcolm
Hamilton-Hall

Principal’s Award

Michelle
Han

Art Department Ceramics Award

Leigh
Harrison

Faculty Award

Melissa
Hartunian

Faculty Award

Ben
Hayes

Principal’s Award

Timothy
Herget

Ralph M. Gibbs Award

Samuel
Hickey

Law and Government Award

Samuel
Hickey

Neirad Editorial Award

Nicholas
Hill

Kiwanis Award for Excellence in Technology Education

Granit
Hoti

Faculty Award

Isabella
Howe

Art Department Photography Award

Isabella
Howe

Darien High School Parent’s
Association Award – Senior

Isabella
Howe

Principal’s Award

Isabella
Howe

The Alicia Sillars
Depot Director’s Award

Katherine
Huffert

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Mary Lawrence
Huffman

Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizenship Award

James
Hunter

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Fire Department

James
Hunter

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

James
Johnson

Special History and
Social Science Award

James
Johnson

Veterans of Foreign Wars Award

Jordan
Kaloynides

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Madeleine
Keane

Art Department Photography Award

Brian
Keating

Jim Smith Award

Brian
Keating

Principal’s Award

Emma
Keleghan

Faculty Award

Daniel
Kelemen

Faculty Award

Emily
Knapp

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Peter
Kniffin

Faculty Award

Oliver
Knight

University of Chicago Book Award

Anjay
Kornacki

Theatre 308 Performance Award

Alexander
Kostrzewski

The Technology and Engineering Service Award

Thomas
Kreuch

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

David
Kristof

The Technology Student Association Award

Kaitlyn
Kutz

Faculty Award

Caroline
Lacy

American Field Service Award
for Excellence in Spanish

Caroline
Lacy

Connecticut Association of Schools Arts Award – Music

Caroline
Lacy

Outstanding Musicianship Award

Brooke
Laird

Music for Youth Scholarship Award

Brooke
Laird

The Darien Nature Center
Environmental Award

Lauren
Larizza

St. Lawrence Book Award

Forrest
Lazzara

Darien Board of Education Chairman’s Book Award

Forrest
Lazzara

Fairfield University School of Engineering & Sikorsky Aircraft Award

Valerie
Le

Art Department Graphic Design Award

Emma
Lesko

Principal’s Award

Olivia
Lew

Faculty Award

Olivia
Lew

Theatre 308 Award for Technical Theatre

Caroline
Lowder

Faculty Award

Courtney
Lowe

Faculty Award

Courtney
Lowe

Kiwanis Award for Excellence in Fine Arts

Caroline
Lui

Barnard College Book Award

Caroline
Lui

Special History and
Social Science Award

Jackson
Major

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Emily
Markham

Business Education Award

Emily
Markham

CAS Student Leadership Award

Jose
Martinez

Kiwanis Musicians Award

Juliana
Mazzotta
Art Department Drawing and Painting Award

Juliana
Mazzotta

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Juliana
Mazzotta

Principal’s Award

Ryan
McCarthy

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Post 53

Tanmay
Mehta

Society of Women Engineers Award

Gauri
Misra

Dariannus Award

Ryan
Morales

Art Department Ceramics Award

Kelly
Moran

Principal’s Award

Caleigh
Morr

Authentic Science Research Award

William
Morrill

Oberlin Book Award

Jake
Morro

Town of Darien Certificate of Appreciation
Noroton Heights Fire Department

Aria
Muchhal

Western Civilization Book Award

Laura
Murphy

Principal’s Award

Emily
Neuner

Smith Club Book Award

Theodore
Nolan

Faculty Award

Theodore
Nolan

The Technology Student AssociationAward

Kara
O’Rourke

Denison Book Award

Kara
O’Rourke

Trinity College Alumni Award

Camilo
Orozco

Faculty Award

Madeleine
Ostertag

Neirad Editorial Award

Madeleine
Ostertag

Northeast Conference Award
for French

Griffin
Ott

Fairfield University Book Award

Elizabeth
Palmer

Faculty Award

Elizabeth
Palmer

The Good Friend Scholarship Award in Memory of JR and Jacob

Cade
Pankowski

Darien Community Association Community Service Award

Daniel
Pfrommer

Bausch and Lomb
Honorary Science Award

Julia
Pfrommer

Debate Team Novice Debaters Award

Daniel
Pfrommer

Junior Mathematics Award

Samuel
Pfrommer

Principal’s Award

Daniel
Pfrommer

Yale Award

Clare
Phelps

Mt.