Sewickley Academy student achievements for the week of May 13, 2025
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Sewickley Academy celebrated the outstanding achievements of its Senior School students at the annual Senior School Awards Ceremony held on April 15 in the Rea Auditorium on the Academy’s campus. The event recognized students for their academic excellence, leadership and community service.
More than 35 awards were presented during the ceremony, honoring students who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to their studies and school community throughout their high school careers.
A special highlight was the ceremonial “Passing of the Light,” a longstanding tradition at Sewickley Academy. In this moving moment, the class of 2025 passed a flame from candle to candle to members of the class of 2026, marking the transition of leadership and responsibility as they prepare to step into their new role as the senior class.
Awards given:
Hearts Award: Emma Di Domenico ’26
Minds Award: Emma Ehan ’26
Hands Award: Swetha Menon ’26
Ceramics Award: Caleb McAdams ’25
Drawing and Painting Award: Aurora Taylor ’25
National School Orchestra Award: Iman Mahmood ’26
John Philip Sousa Band Award: Lucas Ceccarelli ’26
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Jason Chen ’25
Excellence in Technical Theater: Rocco Colditz ’25
Theater Arts Award: Avni Kathju ’25
Dance Award: Severin Harmon ’25
Milton M. Fenner IV Prize: Swetha Menon ’26
Computer Science Award: Jonathan Cheng ’25
Manson Campbell Memorial Writing Prize: Diya Manuel ’28
Sophomore English Award: Sofia DiCicco ’27
Junior Reading Award: Eshal Ahmad ’26
Alden Sector Award: Rachel Johnson ’28
Calvert Magruder Award in History: Severin Harmon ’25
Social Sciences Award: Sebastian Tan ’25
Claudia Gallant Global Scholar Award: Avni Kathju ’25
John Basinger Award: Dov Kanner ’25
Mathematics Award: Jack Xu ’25
Outstanding Biology Student: Caroline Kain ’26
Outstanding Chemistry Student: Eshal Ahmad ’26
Outstanding Physics Student: Rocco Colditz ’25
Taylor Science Prize: Emma Ehan ’26
Science Award: Karan Kad ’25
Dr. Karen L. Coleman French Award: Rocco Colditz ’25 and David Zuluaga ’25
Sira Metzinger Italian Award: Jade Rychel ’25
Spanish Award: Jason Chen ’25 and Severin Harmon ’25
Chinese Award: Jaydon Kurian ’25
Tuck McClintock Community Service Award: Jack Xu ’25
Senior School President’s Award: Rayna Thakkar ’25
Grade 9 McKallip Award: Fatou Wane ’28
Grade 10 McKallip Award: Adam Ikamba ’27
Grade 11 McKallip Award: Luke Palguta ’26
Grade 12 McKallip Award: Marie Bigi ’25
Grade 8 Commencement Speaker: Landon Dishart ’25
Eight outstanding members of the class of 2025 at Sewickley Academy have been inducted into the prestigious Cum Laude Society, an honor reserved for students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, intellectual curiosity and integrity throughout their high school careers.
This year’s inductees are: Jason Chen, Rocco Colditz, Hallie Dong, Severin Harmon, Karan Kad, Avni Kathju, Sebastian Tan and Rayna Thakkar.
The Cum Laude Society was established in 1906 as a scholastic achievement organization for secondary school students, modeled after Phi Beta Kappa at the collegiate level. Sewickley Academy is one of 382 chapters of the Society worldwide.
“We are extremely proud of these students for their hard work, discipline and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge,” said Head of School Dr. Ashley Birtwell. “They exemplify the values of the Cum Laude Society, and we are eager to see what the future has in store for them in college and beyond.”
This year’s inductees were recognized during a special assembly in the fall, and were formally inducted into the Cum Laude Society during the Academy’s annual Senior School Awards Ceremony on April 15.