• Celebrating the Class of 2022 at Closing Exercises

    Celebrating the Class of 2022 at Closing Exercises

    On June 4, the 377th year of The Roxbury Latin School culminated with Closing Exercises and the graduation of the Class of 2022. For the first time in two years, the school was able to hold its traditional, intimate ceremony—which includes the seniors, their families, the faculty and trustees—in Rousmaniere Hall. Immediately after the ceremony, under bright and sunny skies, the 53 newest alumni of The Roxbury Latin School celebrated on the Senior Grass with classmates, family members, and members of the faculty. (View a gallery of images from the morning.)

    Beginning with opening remarks from Headmaster Kerry Brennan—which acknowledged the challenges and triumphs of this particular group of boys, and also noted their many, worthy accomplishments—the ceremony included the singing of traditional songs America The Beautiful, Commemoration Hymn, and The Founder’s Song, as well as a performance of Come Fly With Me sung by The Latonics, with a solo by graduating senior, Eli Bailit. The ringing of the school bell, chiming 3-7-7, officially concluded the school year.

    Class valedictorian, voted by his classmates, was Vishnu Emani who delivered a personal, poignant, powerful speech that drew a standing ovation from his classmates.

    Vishnu’s address began with his recounting of a parable originally written by German author Heinrich Boll, about a fisherman enjoying his humble catch on a sunny beach. A businessman comes along, extolling the value of the fisherman starting a company, enlisting distributors, and making lots of money so that he can, one day, relax on a beach without a care in the world. The fisherman ultimately replies, “What do you think I’m doing right now?”

    “The parable of the businessman and the fisherman underscores a crucial tension that we all inevitably experience,” explained Vishnu, “and that is the trade-off between ambition and contentment. The businessman exemplifies the mindset of ambition, because he sees every moment as an opportunity to accomplish more and grow in the future. But his hunger for success in the future comes at the expense of living in the present. Now, while it may not be obvious, the fisherman also makes some sacrifices. Although he is satisfied in his life, the fisherman has intentionally foregone opportunities to contribute to society and make a greater impact.

    “This fundamental tradeoff is central to life’s most important decisions, for instance setting our work-life balance: do we spend our nights preparing presentations, or do we enjoy a home-cooked dinner with our family? Do we take the corporate promotion that would have us traveling every weekend, or do we settle down in a place we call home?… These are the sobering questions that high-achieving students like us, eager to make an impact in the world, are forced to confront… We have to ask ourselves: why are we making the decisions that we are, what is our intended goal, and what sacrifices are we willing to make to get there? So I say, let us dream big, let us take on life with vigor and passion, but, most importantly, let us keep our perspective, even as it’s so easy to get lured into the rat race that surrounds us.”

    The commencement address was delivered by Ron Liebowitz, president of Brandeis University, and father to graduating senior Heshie Liebowitz.

    “It would be tempting to join the legions of graduation and commencement speeches this year that have presented a variety of interpretations of the Jarvis Refectory maxim—from those to whom much has been given much will be expected,” Mr. Liebowitz began. “Such a speech would have me sharing words of wisdom that explains why your generation faces the toughest challenges ever, and, because you are so talented, to then exhort you to be bold and go out and fix all that is wrong with the world—from climate change to racial injustice to antisemitism to poverty to emerging diseases to growing mental health challenges. This has become a common mantra this year, most likely because we old folks are out of good ideas or haven’t the energy to do anything more. But I won’t go down that path.

    “Having watched first-year students arrive at college for the past 38 years, I advise you—in fact, urge you—to dedicate the next four years to personal growth. My point is that the world’s great problems can wait—despite what we Boomers and Gen X’ers say—until you have done the hard and hopefully satisfying work that it will take to be in the position to make a difference. To be successful, you will first need to be deliberate, thoughtful, and even brave in how you navigate your way through college.”

    At the conclusion of Mr. Liebowitz’s address, Headmaster Brennan and President of the Board of Trustees Bob O’Connor ’85 awarded diplomas to the newest alumni of The Roxbury Latin School.

    Three major Class I prizes were also awarded during Closing Ceremonies:

    The Richard A. Berenberg Prize, for generosity of spirit and concern for others, was presented to Alejandro Denis.

    The Class of 1913 Award, for significant contributions to the life of the school, was presented to Mark Henshon.

    The William Coe Collar Award, for achievements and contributions to the school that are deemed by the faculty as most deserving of recognition, was presented to Vishnu Emani.

    Erin Berg

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  • Track and Field Places Second in ISL and Ties For Second in New England

    Track and Field Places Second in ISL and Ties For Second in New England

    On May 14, Roxbury Latin’s Track & Field team had a remarkable showing in the 2022 ISL Championship meet, held at Thayer Academy. The team finished in second place, earning 79 points—RL’s best finish since 2013. The event included several highlights and strong performances from RL athletes.

    Senior co-captain Jedidiah Nelson scored in three events, including a second place finish in the long jump and pole vault. Jed now sits third all-time at RL in the pole vault with a massive one-foot personal best (12’0″). Senior co-captain Armando Walters now holds the second best all-time RL record in the 400m dash (51.30).

    At the meet, Cross Country team stand-out Kofi Fordjour (II) set a new school record in the 1500m (4:01.43), besting the previous record set by Joey Mullen ’15 by a full three seconds.

    Zak Bashir (I) and Carter Crowley (II) both scored in two events each—Zak in the high jump and triple jump, and Carter in the 300m hurdles and javelin.

    View photos from the ISL Championship meet, taken by Adam Richins.

    On May 21, at Governor’s Academy, the team competed in the New England Championship meet where they tied for second place with Suffield Academy, falling short only to first-place Middlesex. This was the team’s first year competing in Division II.

    Individuals successes from RL athletes at the New England meet were many:

    – Seven boys set lifetime personal bests.
    – Kofi Fordjour (II) was a double event winner/champion, in both the 3,000m and 1,500m. He also placed second in the 800m (his third event of the day) and recorded a school record in the process (1:57.14). Kofi was named Outstanding Performer of the Meet on the boys’ side.
    – Scoring in an incredible four events was senior co-captain Armando Walters (4×100 anchor leg, 400m, 200m, 4x400m anchor leg).
    – Scoring in multiple events were senior co-captain Jedidiah Nelson (long jump, 4x100m), senior Zak Bashir (high jump, triple jump), junior Adam Kuechler (800m, 4×400), and sophomore Alejandro Rincon (pole vault, 110m hurdles).
    – In a positive sign of the future, Benji Macharia set the freshman record in the 400m (54.94)!

    Erin Berg

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  • Two Seniors Awarded National Merit Scholarships

    Two Seniors Awarded National Merit Scholarships

    The National Merit Scholarship Program recently announced its selection of 2,500 scholarship winners, chosen from a pool of 15,000 talented high school senior finalists across the country. These members of the Class of 2022 will each receive $2,500 scholarships toward college next year. Among these outstanding students, nation-wide, are two Roxbury Latin seniors: Liam Finn and Max Williams.

    The National Merit Scholarship Program selection process began in October 2020, when more than 1.5 million juniors took the PSAT, or the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. In addition to Liam and Max being identified as semi-finalists, representing less than one percent of the nation’s highest scores, sixteen additional RL students received commendations, meaning their scores placed them in about the top 4% of all test-takers. Those students are Eli Bailit, James De Vito, Vishnu Emani, Teddy Glaeser, Liam Grossman, Mark Henshon, Colin Herbert, Josh Krakauer, Brodie Lee, George Madison, Kayden Miller, Ale Philippides, David Sullivan, Theo Teng, Oliver Wyner, and Alex Yin.

    It is a great honor to have two National Merit Scholarship winners in a graduating senior class of 53. Congratulations to all 18 boys who received recognition from the National Merit Scholarship Program this year.

    In this 67th annual National Merit Scholarship competition, awards are supported by the organization and approximately 400 businesses and educational institutions, to “honor the nation’s scholastic champions and encourage the pursuit of academic excellence.” About 1.5 million juniors in more than 21,000 high schools entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship program by taking the 2020 PSAT, which serves as an initial screen of program entrants. Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for academic success at the college level.

    Erin Berg

  • A Sunny, Joyful Reunion and Spring Family Day

    A Sunny, Joyful Reunion and Spring Family Day

    Thank you to the hundreds of alumni and families who gathered on Roxbury Latin’s campus over the weekend to celebrate Reunion and Spring Family Day. Festivities began on Friday, May 13, with the Spring Instrumental Concert—featuring RL’s Chamber musicians, Jazz Band, and Guitar Ensemble—and with the 25th Reunion Family BBQ, honoring members of the Class of 1997.

    On Saturday morning, alumni from across decades returned to the RL classroom, in lessons led by Mo Randall (English/Classics) and John Lieb (Mathematics), and heard from members of Class I in a student panel and from Headmaster Kerry Brennan, who offered a sense of Roxbury Latin today. Alumni, students, families, and faculty flocked to enjoy a BBQ lunch under the arches of the IAF and cheered on members of our Varsity Baseball, Lacrosse, and Tennis teams as they competed in athletic contests through the afternoon.

    Finally, on Saturday evening, in the Gordon Fieldhouse, more than 300 guests celebrated a Reunion which honored, in particular, classes ending in 2 and 7. There guests enjoyed good food, drink, and fellowship into the evening.

    View a gallery of photos from Spring Family Day.

    View a gallery of photos from Reunion Weekend.

    Erin Berg

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  • RL Presents the Junior Play, “Chalk is Cheap”—A Production by RL, about RL!

    RL Presents the Junior Play, “Chalk is Cheap”—A Production by RL, about RL!

    On May 6 and 7, this year’s Junior Play—a production two years in the making—filled the Smith Theater stage at 7:30 p.m. both evenings. Chalk Is Cheap, an original play written by Associate Headmaster Mike Pojman, was intended to be produced in 2020, as part of the school’s 375th anniversary celebration. As with so many other plans, the production had to be put on hold.

    Playwright Mr. Pojman writes in the program notes, “I am thrilled and grateful that my friend Derek Nelson took a leap of faith and offered to produce it now, with a little freshening up, to celebrate the school’s 475th—albeit a century early. Without his blind faith, imagination, foresight, and expert direction, Chalk is Cheap would have remained in COVID quarantine permanently.

    “I also want to extend my thanks to Brian Buckley, Cass Martyn-Seidl, David Sullivan ’22, Joy Adams, James Allan, Michael Beam, and the many student actors, set builders, and techies who made this production possible. I felt some urgency about writing Chalk is Cheap because, being rather fond of the title, I thought it important that the work be staged before a reference to ‘chalk’ was as unfamiliar to a teenage audience as a rotary phone. It may already be too late—my Fifthie English students have been asking me, ‘We know it’s a pun, but what does it mean?’

    “As you will see, my esteemed colleagues Elizabeth Carroll and Jamie Morris-Kliment are fully on board with their loving portrayals in this production, as are my friends Brian Buckley, Jim Ryan, Billy Quirk, George Matthews, Nick Poles, Darian Reid, and Paul Sugg. (Or, they would have been had I consulted them.)

    “Finally, let me apologize ahead of time for any inside jokes that may leave you grown-ups baffled. And regarding those that simply fall flat, I would also ask you to allow the equally mystified actors to step over them and move on.”

    Erin Berg

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  • Class V Takes On Ecological Research At Woods Hole

    Class V Takes On Ecological Research At Woods Hole

    Class V boys were eager to return to the annual, springtime science investigation trip to Woods Hole, after a two-year, pandemic-induced hiatus. Roxbury Latin’s hosts for this trip are affiliated with Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute (WHOI), located on the southeastern point of Cape Cod. For nearly 20 years, this hands-on experience has been a popular culmination of students’ fourth marking period studies in their Introduction to Physical Science (IPS) course, providing a complement to a spring unit focused on freshwater quality and local/global challenges that relate to this critical resource.

    While in Woods Hole, students—accompanied by IPS faculty Paul Sugg and Jackie Salas—spent an hour on a boat used by WHOI for its scientific research. Using sampling nets they collected organisms from the sandy ocean bottom close to shore to handle, examine up close, and learn about some of the oceanic flora and fauna. Students were also treated to a fascinating talk by Bill Mebane, a leader at WHOI in the field of sustainable aquaculture. He shared with the group his team’s successful efforts in providing a sustainable source of protein for rural Haitians.

    “The entire day has great value to the boys,” says Mr. Sugg. “They enjoyed a chance to learn and to get out on the water after being cooped up by the pandemic. Just being away from campus, as a class, is a good way to spend a day, but being able to experience, firsthand, the life and work of a major research community—that’s invaluable. They get a sense of how significant Woods Hole is in the world of biological research, and this exploration is a terrific, real-life extension of what we’re discussing in class.”

    Erin Berg

  • One Love Helps RL Students Explore Healthy Relationships

    One Love Helps RL Students Explore Healthy Relationships

    On April 28, Roxbury Latin welcomed Claire Giampetroni, local representative of the national One Love organization, focused on educating young people about healthy and unhealthy relationships, empowering them to identify and avoid abuse and learn how to love better.

    The organization was founded in honor and in memory of Yeardley Love who—three weeks shy of graduating from the University of Virginia—was beaten to death by her ex-boyfriend. The shock of learning that news will stay with her mother, Sharon, forever. Like all mothers, Sharon sometimes worried that something bad would happen to her child—an injury on the lacrosse field, for example, or a car accident. That Yeardley would get hurt by her partner had never crossed her mind. “I didn’t know then what I know now, that relationship abuse is a public health epidemic and that young women in Yeardley’s age group are at three times greater risk than any other demographic.”

    Sharon Love turned her grief into action and founded One Love, which to date has educated more than 1.8 million young people through in-person workshops and more than 100 million through educational video content. In Hall, students in Class I through Class VI heard a brief introduction from Ms. Giampetroni and then broke down into smaller groups for continued discussion. Class VI and Class V joined together in the Choral Room for a session led by Ms. Giampetroni, and students in Class I through Class IV broke down into small discussion groups, led by a specially-trained student facilitator, and joined by two faculty members. Older students viewed the 15-minute film titled Amor del Bueno, which depicts two high school students over the course of what becomes an abusive relationship. After viewing the film, students reflected together about what they saw, felt, and learned. What were the signs? What could the characters’ friends have done to step in? How might these situations look and feel different from different perspectives? Was what we saw depicted on screen love? How do you know?

    Finally, groups walked through together and discussed ten signs of a healthy relationship (e.g. honesty, respect, independence, trust, equality, fun), and ten signs of an unhealthy relationship (e.g. manipulation, volatility, betrayal, isolation, possessiveness).

    These conversations reinforce how early awareness of healthy and unhealthy relationship patterns can shape safer outcomes later in life, especially when warning signs are recognized and addressed before they escalate. When those patterns persist into adulthood, unresolved conflict or emotional harm can eventually surface in marriages and families, making professional guidance essential during moments of transition. Navigating separation, custody, or protection concerns requires both legal insight and an understanding of the emotional weight behind these decisions, a balance often provided by Lakewood family lawyers who work closely with individuals seeking stability and clarity. By approaching family law matters with empathy and a focus on long-term wellbeing, legal support becomes an extension of the same education and advocacy that encourages respect, safety, and healthier relationships at every stage of life.

    Building on this foundation, it becomes clear that the same principles used to identify and foster healthy relationships—such as respect, communication, and accountability—also play a critical role when relationships reach a point of legal transition. As individuals move through complex decisions involving separation or family restructuring, having access to steady, informed guidance can help ensure that these moments are handled with care rather than conflict.

    Thoughtful legal support provides a framework for addressing practical concerns while still acknowledging the emotional realities involved, helping individuals move forward with clarity and confidence. In this context, professionals often recognized among the best Murphys, CA divorce attorneys contribute not only their legal expertise but also a measured, solution-focused approach that aligns with long-term wellbeing. Their mission is to provide exceptional legal services, utilizing their professionalism and deep knowledge to secure positive outcomes for their clients, reinforcing the idea that even during difficult transitions, outcomes can be guided by structure, understanding, and a commitment to stability.

    Founded to honor the unnecessary and tragic death of Yeardley, One Love works to engage young people through compelling, relatable films and honest conversations about healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors. We are grateful to have had Ms. Giampetroni and One Love help us to engage meaningfully in these important conversations with RL’s boys.

    Erin Berg

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  • Honoring the Life of the Mind: Twelve Seniors Inducted Into Cum Laude Society

    Honoring the Life of the Mind: Twelve Seniors Inducted Into Cum Laude Society

    On April 21, Roxbury Latin celebrated in Hall the 12 members of Class I whose efforts and accomplishments have earned them membership in the Cum Laude Society. Each spring, the all-school Cum Laude ceremony honors the life of the mind—affirming that at the heart of a good school is scholarly engagement.

    “This special event is intended principally to do two things,” began Headmaster Kerry Brennan. “The first is to recognize the most distinguished scholars of the First Class. In their efforts and in their accomplishments, they have put to good use the gifts they have been given… The second purpose of this annual ceremony is in many ways the more consequential, for it involves everyone else in this room. In honoring these 12 boys, we are honoring the life of the mind; we are honoring trying hard and doing well; we are affirming that at the heart of a good school is scholarly engagement. I admonish you to take to heart the example of the inductees… All of you boys have the capacity to strive, to grow, to change, and to know the satisfaction of ideas unearthed and potential realized.”

    The school was honored to welcome Dr. Cathy Hall, Head of School at Noble and Greenough—RL’s friendly rival and neighboring independent school—to deliver the induction address.

    “Those of us who lead schools lose a lot of sleep these days,” said Dr. Hall. “As we worry about the many challenges that surround our students and our faculty, we are also—as educators—inherent optimists, always seeking out the silver lining and the great hope around the corner. Our great hope, of course, lies in you… While there has never been a more challenging time to be an educator, I believe the same is true about being an adolescent. Your world as teenagers is threaded with complexities and challenges I never envisioned when I was your age. You are surrounded by a climate riddled with hateful accusations and woefully lacking anyone seeking to give one another the benefit of the doubt. Your news feeds highlight people who simply shout louder when they disagree, where anonymous and angry attacks through social media are the norm and kindness from strangers is harder and harder to find. It is increasingly difficult to have a shared belief in what the truth actually is, as facts that felt non-negotiable a decade ago are now politicized and confused. As teenagers, you also see all around you the cost of mistakes, even unintentional small mistakes, in society’s eagerness to label, malign, and marginalize one another. With that less than upbeat backdrop, it is easy to feel helpless to make a difference. The forces that have created this toxic climate extend so far beyond our reach, right? 

    “This is when my inherent optimism kicks in, when I look to our students—to my Nobles students and to each of you—with great hope, but also with great need. When you head forth from Roxbury Latin as graduates, whether that is later this spring or in five years, it will come at a time when the world needs your leadership and service, your kindness and compassion, like never before. Now, more than ever, when you live out the missions of our schools, you will be making an impactful difference in the lives of others and the world around you.” Dr. Hall went on to implore students to do five things along their journey: find their unique voice; listen well; disagree respectfully; be honest and kind; and take care of themselves, mentally and emotionally, as well as physically.

    “You are surrounded by a world that is simultaneously hurting, healing, and hopeful—a world still reeling from the pain wrought by the pandemic and our reckoning with systemic injustices, one that is increasingly fractured and fighting. It is also a world that is lifting its head up optimistically as you step forward to lead and to serve, filled with so much light and hope for what your future will bring.”

    With lively renditions of Gaudeamus Igitur and The Founder’s Song as bookends to the celebration, Mr. Josh Cervas, president of RL’s Cum Laude chapter, provided a history of the organization before he awarded the twelve inductees their certificates: “By formally recollecting our origins each year, we also reaffirm our commitment to the Society’s original and abiding motto—three Greek words inspired by the three letters of the old Alpha Delta Tau name: Alpha stands for Areté (Excellence), Delta for Diké (Justice), and Tau for Timé (Honor). These three words, with deep roots in our past and far reaching implications for our future, raise qualities of mind and character which, ideally, each member of the Society will espouse as his own values and strive to instill in others throughout his life.”

    The following seniors were inducted into the Cum Laude Society this year:

    Eli Bailit
    Vishnu Emani
    Liam Finn
    Liam Grossman
    Frankie Gutierrez
    Mark Henshon
    Colin Herbert
    Josh Krakauer
    Kayden Miller
    David Sullivan
    Theo Teng
    Alex Yin

    Erin Berg

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  • Dr. Winifred Frick Helps Separate Bat Facts From Fiction

    Dr. Winifred Frick Helps Separate Bat Facts From Fiction

    Bats often get a bad rap. They’re construed as the spooky creatures that haunt us on Halloween, accompanying vampires and the like. They’re falsely assumed to always carry rabies and drink blood. When in fact, bats—the world’s smallest mammal, and the only one that can fly—of which there are more than 1,400 species, make up a quarter of all mammalian diversity, and they play a key role in insect control, plant pollination, and seed dispersal.

    On April 19, Dr. Winifred Frick—one of the world’s foremost experts on bats—spoke to students and faculty in the Smith Theater to sort fact from fiction when it comes to these creatures, and to illuminate the critically important role that bats play in our ecosystem—why it’s important that we work to protect them, and how we might do just that.

    Dr. Frick is the Chief Scientist at Bat Conservation International, an organization working to protect bats and their habitats through conservation, education, and research efforts. Dr. Frick is also an associate research professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at University of California, Santa Cruz, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in environmental studies. Her research focuses on how bat populations respond to both human-generated and natural stressors, and how we can best use science to inform conservation efforts. Dr. Frick and her team combine quantitative approaches with empirical field research—primarily in the Sonoran Desert, Sea of Cortez, and Baja California Peninsula—investigating disease ecology, population and behavioral ecology, and aeroecology.

    In Hall, Dr. Frick focused on the great diversity in bat populations—on where the animals live and what they eat, on how their physical features and physiology vary from species to species, and how humans contribute, positively or negatively, to their protection and habitat conservation.

    One illuminating story that she shared, about the nature and rewards of her work, featured her team’s collaboration with Rwandan conservationists and officials as they sought to find the elusive (and potentially extinct) Hills’ horseshoe bat, last seen in 1981 in Rwanda’s Nygunwe National Park. With the help and guidance of a generous team of local collaborators, and a harp trap, on the tenth morning of their ten-day exploration, Dr. Frick and her team trapped and successfully identified the first Hills’ horseshoe bat seen in the wild in four decades. 

    “I find scientific research incredibly rewarding and satisfying in many ways,” Dr. Frick has said. “I love all aspects of research—from being in the field and observing nature, to designing a study, to answering interesting or important questions, to analyzing the data we’ve collected in the field, and finally writing up what we’ve learned to share with others. People often think science isn’t creative, but I find research to be an incredibly creative process. Good science combines natural curiosity, a dedicated work ethic, and remembering to have fun.”

    Dr. Frick earned her Ph.D. at Oregon State University and is internationally renowned for her research on the disease ecology and impacts of White-nose Syndrome, a fungal disease that has killed over six million bats in North America. After her presentation she answered students’ many questions about bats and about her work with them.

    Erin Berg

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  • Three RL Students Earn Accolades For Their Creative Writing

    Three RL Students Earn Accolades For Their Creative Writing

    Each year, the Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, in partnership with more than 100 visual and literary arts organizations across the country, accept submissions from teens in grades 7 through 12 for their Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Hundreds of thousands of art and writing submissions across 28 categories are judged based on originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice. Roxbury Latin junior, Kevin Wang, not only earned Gold Key recognition in the regional competition for his personal essay/memoir submission titled Jab, but his writing also earned him one of only five nominations in the country selected to compete for the 2022 American Visions Award. This award is one of the highest honors presented annually by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, exceeding even the expectations of Gold Key honors. Kevin’s personal essay, Jab, grapples with the family dynamics at play in considering whether or not to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Two other RL students found success in this year’s Scholastic Regional competition: James McCurley (II) earned a Gold Key for his flash fiction writing submission titled The Old Forest and an Honorable Mention for his science fiction/fantasy submission The Old Well. Eric Zhu (III) earned two Honorable Mentions, one for his short story submission The Victors Write History, and another for his poem Did Anything Change At All?

    Several talented Roxbury Latin students earn regional honors for their art and writing in the Scholastic competition each year. For nearly 100 years, the Awards have empowered creative teens and celebrated their voices. The Scholastic Awards continue to champion and support teens’ originality and creativity, as well as bolster their artistic and literary futures through opportunities for publication, exhibition, and scholarships. The Awards encourage students to build confidence as creative individuals and to trust that their voice is important.

    Kevin will learn this spring how his personal essay/memoir submission, Jab, fared among the four other national nominees in the American Voices Medal competition. That honor includes being recognized at the National Awards Ceremony at Carnegie Hall in New York City this June.

    Erin Berg

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