In 2005 Neil Chaudhary stepped up to a stage at Loomis Chaffee to receive his diploma. Now, 20 years later, he was called to a Loomis stage once again, this time to be honored as Teacher of the Year at the 2025 Celebration of Excellence Awards in the Olcott Center on Tuesday, May 20.

The annual Celebration of Excellence honors the achievements of juniors and seniors in many areas, and the Teacher of the Year is announced at the end of the celebration. This year, a new award was added: Amber Passardi of the Mailroom was recognized as Community Member of the Year.

The Teacher of the Year and Community Member of the Year awards are chosen by the Student Council based on student nominations. 

Amber was recognized for having a positive impact on the community and student experience. Outgoing Student Council President Sara Feged mentioned Amber’s “kind and helpful demeanor” and “dedication to the job.”

Neil, head of the Science Department, has had a positive influence on the lives of many students, Sara said. 

“Above all,” she said, “his clear dedication to students is portrayed through his countless hours spent collaborating and sharing his passion in the lab.” 

Sara read a couple of testimonials about Neil, one student saying that Neil takes complex concepts and makes sense of them, “even though what we’re learning is hard to visualize. From doing interpretive dances to making up clever and memorable acronyms, and showing us real-world applications, he always finds a way to make sure we grasp the material.” 

That day-in, day-out dedication to students is not difficult, Neil said after the assembly.

“If you love your work, there is some internal wellspring that is bottomless, so it doesn’t take any effort really,” he said. “It’s who you are.”

Presenting the two awards was Sara’s penultimate task as the 108th Student Council president. Her final act was to welcome junior Charlotte Preuss to the stage as the 109th Student Council president. Charlotte said that Sara and the council have been an inspiration to her, and she couldn’t wait for next year. “I’m incredibly honored,” Charlotte said, “and can’t wait to get to work.”

The 2025 Celebration of Excellence Award Winners:

CUM LAUDE SOCIETY (seniors)

Andrew Addo

Victoria Amador

Alexandra Barry

Ellen Chen

Guo Chen

William Chun

Bryan Chung

Natalie Crocker

Nina Cushman

Qintong Dai

Maren Forrest

Siena Gee

John Griffin

Akum Grover

Jingyi He

Isabella Heflin

Michaela Howe

Daniel Jiang

Yilian Jiang

Nicholas Kassab

Joonhyun Kim

Hei Yau Oscar Kong

Eli Krasnoff

Erik Lamphere

Saul Lawrence

Ethan Lee

Kenneth Lee

Zicheng Lin

Jessica Mulligan

Huy Thanh Nguyen

Harava Rahardjo

Grace Rodner

Kaden Schroeder

Hannah Smith

Idil Turkmen

Athip Twinvitoo

Ryan Wang

Olivia Westfort

Oliver Zhang

Eric Zhou

 

FOUNDERS PRIZES (juniors)

Sonia Barinskaya

Claire Cen

Maleah Cogle

Aster Conway-Reppert

Cookie Danchaivijitr

Nina Gitlitz

Will Hall

Shane Lischin

Emanuelle Marcus

Norah Pond

Sophie Singer

Abdoulaye Sow

 

JUNIOR and SENIOR DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS

Presented to members of the junior and senior classes chosen for academic, athletic, and artistic excellence:

 

Junior English Award

Nina Gitlitz

George Mirgorodskiy

Ben Whitehouse

Norah Pond

 

Norris E. Orchard Senior English Prize

Yilian Jiang

Charlotte Furia

Toby Chen

Jessica Mulligan

 

Sarai Ribicoff Senior Journalism Prize

Luke Han

Cindy Lin

 

Junior Art Award

Judy Kwon

Cookie Danchaivijitr

Alexa Gonzalez

Wyeth Andrews

Emanuelle Marcus

Julia Liu

Daphne Wong

 

Sanford B.D. Low Senior Art Prize

Michaela Howe

Bella Cardona

Rachael Lantner

Amy He

Syd Robinow

Christine Wu

Ellen Chen

Victoria Kenton

Eugenie Kim

Maisie Mueller

Laura Phyu

Liv Westfort

 

Junior Modern and Classical Language Award

Aanum Khan (Arabic)

Norah Pond (French)

Sophia Hughson (French)

Chris Zeng (Latin)

George Migorodskiy (Spanish)

Annabelle Chan (Spanish)

Cathy Zhang (Spanish)

 

Chéruy Senior Modern and Classical Language Prize

Eric Zhou (Chinese)

Siena Gee (Chinese)

Everett Denaro (Chinese)

Kaden Schroeder (Chinese)

Yilian Jiang (French)

Phoenix Ahipeaud (French)

Toby Chen (Latin)

Jack Griffin (Latin)

Grace Rodner (Arabic)

Catalina Tarantino (Spanish)

Maren Forrest (Spanish)

 

The Carling Prize

Matthew Becker

 

Koppleman Junior History Award

Brookie Olson

Alex Park

Norah Pond

Ben Whitehouse

 

Samuel C. Suisman Senior History Prize

Jack Griffin

Jordan Russell

 

Frederick G. Torrey Philosophy and Religious Studies Prize

Zaryjha Harrison

Erik Lamphere

 

Social Science Prize

Jessica Mulligan

Jordan Russell

Matej Kubinsky

Luke Han

 

Junior Dance & Theater Arts Award

Nina Gitlitz (Theater)

Sonia Barinskaya (Theater)

Zane Habig (Theater)

Ella Khan (Dance)

Natalie Pereira (Theater)

Sophie Singer (Theater)

Kara Wu (Dance)

 

Morris H. Brown Senior Dance & Theater Arts Prize

Boden Bubb (Technical Theater)

Ellen Chen (Theater)

Zaryjha Harrison (Theater)

Riley Ostroff (Theater)

Iris Sande (Theater)

Penelope Struthers (Dance)

 

Junior Mathematics Award

Emma Chu

George Mirgorodskiy

Cookie Danchaivijitr

Matthew Li

 

Donald M. Joffray Senior Mathematics Prize

Daniel Jiang

Eli Krasnoff

Kenneth Lee

Saul Lawrence

Idil Turkmen

 

Junior Science Award

Emma Chu

Cookie Danchaivijitr

Tintin Ding

George Mirgorodskiy

Alex Park

Cathy Zhang

 

J. Newfield Senior Science Prize

Lexi Barry

Toby Chen

Sally Hayes

Daniel Jiang

Saul Lawrence

Hannah Smith

 

William C. Card Junior Music Award

Sonia Barinskaya

Annabelle Chan

Tristan Buttimer

Matthew Li

Sophie Posamentier

 

Aaron P. Pratt Jr. Senior Music Prize

Jack Griffin

Matthew Whitehead Award

Christine Wu

Sydney Hallowell

 

Loomis Chaffee Senior Community Engagement Prize

Oscar Kong

Maren Forrest

Madeline Van Norman

Molly Bernardi

 

Junior Female Physical Education Award

Megan Hosman

 

Barbara W. Erickson Senior Athletic Achievement Prize

Natalie Crocker

Abby Congdon

Liv Westfort

Katie Sigrist

 

Junior Male Physical Education Award

Alex Fisher

Michael Brennan

 

Friends of Loomis Chaffee-Grubbs Prize

Genaro Pompano

Anthony Rodriguez

Harry Salters