An experiment proposal from members of Exeter’s Physics Club has been selected as one of three winners in the 2023 CERN Beamline for Schools competition, earning eight Exonians a trip to Switzerland to put their hypothesis to the test.

Known as “Myriad Magnets,” the team consisting of recent graduates Isabella Vesely ’23, Aubrey Zhang ’23, and Daniel Jeon ’23 and current students Ishaan Vohra ’24, Achyuta Rajaram ’24, William Lu ’24, William Soh ’24 and Peter Morand ’25 will be invited to Geneva for a two-week stay in September to use one of the European Organization for Nuclear Research’s (CERN) particle accelerators. CERN operates the largest particle physics laboratory in the world.

The group’s proposal involved building an adjustable arrangement of permanent magnets for steering and focusing a beam of high-energy particles, which are traveling at nearly the speed of light.

“We sought to investigate alternative, more sustainable technologies, for bending and focusing beams. Our design uses only permanent magnets, thus requiring no electricity to operate,” Vohra said. “The design would serve as a proof of concept for future multi-functional and environmentally friendly electromagnet alternatives in particle accelerators.”

The 10^th edition of the annual competition, put on by CERN and the German Electron Synchotron (DESY), received 379 entries from secondary schools in 63 countries. One team from the Netherlands, and another from Pakistan joined Exeter as winners of the competition. The winners were selected by a committee of CERN and DESY scientists.

“Beamline for Schools supported us to directly explore and apply new skills, particularly in the intersection of physics and engineering,” said Vesely. “We are excited to put our design to the test in CERN’s cutting-edge facilities and, most of all, work with and learn from some of the world’s best physicists and engineers.”

The team from Exeter built on last year’s experience, when they finished as a runner-up, and worked for months, consulting with experts both on-campus and afar, to design an even more ambitious proposal. Science instructors Jim DiCarlo and Scott Saltman mentored the club members through the process.

“Mr. DiCarlo and Mr. Saltman provided invaluable advice that helped us refine our magnet design and experimental setup, and we also sought advice from external physicists and engineers at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, the Denmark Technical University, and the University of Liverpool,” Vohra said.

A slumbering Academy campus stirred back to life Monday with the arrival of hundreds of eager learners and the beginning of the 105th session of Exeter Summer.

For the next five weeks, students ranging between the eighth and 12th grades will gather around Harkness tables and explore the New Hampshire seacoast in a stress-free learning environment filled with almost everything but grades.

What began in 1919 as remedial instruction for deficient Exonians — replete with five levels of Latin — today is a summer smorgasbord of discovery through more than a hundred courses available to its high school-aged students and 10 pre-designed academic “clusters” for its middle school learners. The course catalogs bulge with offerings with names like “Entrepreneurship: Moral Money Making,” “Basic Principles of Criminal Justice” and “Understanding War and Peace.” Latin is still in the curriculum, but students also can study French, Chinese, German, Italian and Spanish, as well as Japanese through anime.

Nearly 600 students arrived Monday. They hail from 37 states and 46 countries — not dissimilar to PEA’s cosmopolitan regular-session enrollment that left campus in early June for summer break. In fact, history shows that dozens of these Exeter Summer students will evolve into Exonians after deciding to apply to the Academy once their summer session ends. The summer mix, however, is far more multinational than its regular-session cousin: Nearly half of the summer attendees come from outside the U.S.

They will be taught and supported by 125 faculty — a balance of PEA instructors and educators from across the country, many of whom return year after year — and myriad staff. Most of the community will dwell on campus in Academy dorms.

Exeter Summer runs through Aug. 4.

Loughlin family legacy endures through generations.

Philip Loughlin III ’57; ’76 (Hon.) sits behind a desk in the study of his Massachusetts home. Bookcases filled with books and keepsakes frame him. Together with plaques, certificates, and photographs, they detail a family legacy that spans a century at the Academy. This includes Thomas Loughlin, Phil’s son, who graduated from Exeter in 1987.

Phil recently welcomed visitors from the Academy to his home to discuss these items and Exeter’s impact on his family. To recognize his 65th reunion and honor what would have been the 100th reunion of his father, Philip Loughlin Jr. ’22, he made a gift to support financial aid at Exeter. When asked why he donated to recognize his father’s milestone, Phil explained, “I have so much for which to thank him.”

Philip Loughlin Jr. started his family’s long-standing relationship with Exeter. He came to the Academy as an upper in 1920, residing in Soule Hall and serving as a manager for the track and tennis teams and as a church monitor. After Exeter, Philip Loughlin Jr. enrolled at Yale University. He later married Adelaide Jackson; their sons were Philip III and John.

Phil followed his father to Exeter and entered during the summer session of 1953. He has a formal photograph of the students that summer framed and hung on the wall near his 1957 diploma.

Phil attended Cornell after Exeter, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and later an MBA. However, he says the most important thing about Cornell is there he met his wife-to-be, Caroline Keller.

They married after graduation. Phil was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Navy Medical Service Corps and served a three-year tour of duty. Phil and Caroline next appear in St. Louis. He had a civilian job for a few years but left that to earn a doctorate in business from Saint Louis University. He entered academia in 1976 and taught courses in economics and finance at Maryville University for 23 years.

Phil and Caroline, who passed away in 2013, liked to read, though with different methods of completing books. Phil, a slow reader, enjoyed collecting books to own and eventually read, whereas Caroline would burn through books and donate them. Phil finally told her, “Just give me all the books you finish!”

His legacy as an Exeter alumnus includes six years as an Academy Trustee, the 1996 Founder’s Day Award, and longtime financial support for the Class of 1945 Library. In 2019, to honor his friend and late Academy instructor Polly MacMullen, Phil established a permanent fund in her memory: the Priscilla (Polly) MacMullen, Class of 1976, Library Fund.

Now, he has reinforced his family’s bond with the Academy with a gift to honor his father.

General Alumni Association President, Trustee and Awards Committee Chair Betsy Fleming ’86 has announced that Roxane Gay ’92 will receive the 2023 John and Elizabeth Phillips Award, which recognizes an Exonian who has contributed significantly to the welfare of community, country or humanity.

As a writer, editor, and cultural critic, Gay has built a reputation as one of the preeminent commentators on contemporary society and its most pressing issues. Her books, including her bestselling essay collection Bad Feminist and her searing memoir Hunger, have earned international acclaim, and she made history by becoming the first Black woman to write a Marvel comic book (the Black Panther companion series World of Wakanda). Gay was awarded a Guggenheim fellowship in 2018 and has been the recipient of numerous literary awards. More recently, she has partnered with Grove Atlantic to launch Roxane Gay Books, a publishing imprint that focuses on underrepresented voices.

Gay has taught creative writing at Occidental College, Eastern Illinois University, Purdue University and Yale University, among other institutions. She currently holds the Gloria Steinem Endowed Chair in Media, Culture, and Feminist Studies at Rutgers University.

Roxane Gay will receive the John and Elizabeth Phillips Award and speak during assembly on October 27.

Byron Grevious ’24 put an exclamation point on his upper-year campaign over the weekend, claiming the national title in the boys 5,000 meters at Nike Outdoor Nationals on historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon. Grevious ran away from the pack early and was all by himself for the final 3,200 meters before crossing with a time of 14:24.04, 18 seconds faster than the second-place finisher.

The top-seeded runner in the event’s elite 50-runner field, Grevious ran with the lead pack for the opening lap before jumping into the first position. He remained at the head of the pack and started to push his pace at the one-mile mark and quickly built separation from the crowd and won with an unprecedented lead.

“This was the first time at a national level race where I was the top seed in an event,” said Grevious. “All these guys proved that they can race on a national stage, they are all fast, and you can’t become content. Running at Hayward Field can be overwhelming, but the atmosphere was really cool. When I ran last year, it felt so big. This year I was a bit more prepared for it. They let fans down on the track in lanes six and seven, they were ringing cowbells. The last lap felt a little bit like a victory lap which was really nice. Coming down the final straightaway was so amazing.”

“We’re so happy for Byron,” said Hilary Hall, head coach of Exeter track and field. “There is so much that goes into reaching an accomplishment like this, and he is so deserving. His teammates were down on the track in the final straightaway ringing cowbells and cheering him on the entire race. Winning a national championship is a rarity and we all just want him to savor the moment.”

His runaway performance comes just two weeks after he broke a 48-year-old New England record in the 5,000 meters when he competed at the New Balance Battle Road Twilight series and crossed the finish at 14:04.44. Grevious’ record, which was timed with video Full Automatic Timing (FAT) — a standard today at competitive meets — tops the record of former Olympian Alberto Salazar, who ran a hand-timed 14:04 in 1975. His time also broke the Age-16 national record of 14:12 set by another former Olympian, Craig Virgin, in 1972.   

“I was not totally expecting the caliber of athletes that I was racing against at Battle Road,” Grevious said of the several college runners in the field. “When we went through 2,000 meters I heard the announcer say we were at 14:05 pace, so then that was goal for the day. The pacer was starting to fall off a bit, so I decided to go around him and make it my own race. With 200 meters to go, I had a guy on my shoulder and had to battle it out and really push. When I crossed the finish, I didn’t really realize what I had just run.”  

Grevious has been building towards this milestone with a crescendo of high stakes performances in the past few seasons. He led Exeter to a Division I New England prep outdoor championship this spring, earning MVP honors while snapping a 39-year-old record in the 1,500 (3:53.95) and his own record in the 3,000 (8:32.72) in the process.

“Byron has a history of showing up in big moments and running big in those moments,” Hall said. “Byron has a skill set that he has developed of how to handle emotions in big races and he is as skilled at that as he is at running. He is at an advanced level of being present and executing his plan. He was deeply in focus prior to the start of the race. He did not appear nervous; he looked prepared. He seeks out top competition and wants to put himself up against the best.”  

This past winter, Grevious was a three-time All-American at the New Balance Indoor Nationals with a sixth-place finish in the two mile (8:51.00) and a pair of fourth-place finishes in the distance medley (10:11.63) and 4×800 (7:47.45) relay’s, while also finishing sixth overall in the one mile (4:12.95) at the historic Millrose Games. This came after a second straight New England team and individual cross country title, a second-place finish at Nike Cross Country Regionals, and a 12^th-place finish at Nike Cross Country Nationals. Last spring at Hayward Field, he claimed fifth overall in the 5,000 (14:36.14) and 12^th overall in the two mile (9:04.02).

Exeter had an unprecedented 28 students qualify for national competition following a season in which the boys captured a New England title while the girls nabbed second place. Nike Outdoor Nationals hosts timed qualifying sections for both Emerging Elite sections and Championship sections of racing. Qualification for either section requires top level performance rated against track athletes from around the country.  

Tanner Boulden ’24 earned All-American status and finished sixth overall in the javelin at New Balance Nationals with a heave of 187 feet, 1 inch. Jaylen Bennett ’25 raced to a 14^th-place finish in the championship’s 400 meters with a time of 48.65 while taking a 25^th place in the 100 meters (11.01) and 27^th place in the 200 meters (22.10). Oliver Brandes ’23 competed in championship sections of the 800 meters (1:54.72) and one mile (4:18.86), while Max Lacombe ’24 competed in the Emerging Elite section of the one mile (4:29.65). Edward Hawkson ’23 finished 10th overall in the Emerging Elite 100 meters (11.07) and placed 21^st in the Emerging Elite 200 meters (22.40).

On the girls side, Tenley Nelson ’24 posted a pair of top-10 finishes, coming in eighth overall in the Emerging Elite one mile (5:01.04) and 10th overall in the Emerging Elite 800 meters (2:14.30). Jannah Maguire ’25 claimed 24^th overall in the Emerging Elite 400 meter hurdles (1:08.54) and Melani Dowling ’25 finished 30^th overall in the Emerging Elite javelin (77’5’’).

Director of Institutional Research Kari Hart has been at Exeter less than a year but she’s already making a difference. The primary designer, distributor and analyst of surveys related to student behavior, Hart is uncovering answers to such questions as how much sleep students are getting or how homework load varies by department and instructor. The answers help create a more complete picture of student experiences at Exeter. “My role is to design, manage and conduct research projects that are in-line with Exeter’s mission and its institutional priorities,” she says.

Institutional research (IR) is not new; it’s a data collection method used for years by colleges and universities to support admissions and accountability. Increasingly, private secondary schools like Exeter are using IR to help assess institutional priorities. Exeter has a data scientist who compiles statistics for admissions and alumni development purposes; Hart’s focus on student experiences, however, is unique. Assistant Principal Karen Lassey championed Hart’s position at Exeter, insisting that the IR director be part of the school’s decision-making process when designing new priorities and programs. “When we design an initiative, from the beginning we have to decide how we’re going to measure its success and how we’ve met that objective,” says Lassey. “Kari is focused on students’ core experiences. She’s collecting and analyzing data and helping us decide whether we have clearly defined goals aligned with our strategic priorities. Many schools don’t have IR positions like that, so we’re really fortunate.”

Hart came to Exeter after 15 years in higher and secondary education, most recently as a teacher, dorm advisor and coach at The Peddie School in Hightstown, New Jersey. She has a doctorate in biostatistics, and taught statistics in a collegiate setting before delving into IR, which combined her passions for statistics and education. “My experiences in the secondary school world outside of research and analytics really inform my approach to my work,” she says. She’s especially committed to framing her research and analysis in ways that are inclusive and respectful of diversity and equity. “I’m excited about being at Exeter because I’m interested in working in a community that recognizes the importance of incorporating diversity of student identities and experiences in research,” Hart says.

Surveying the student experience

On Hart’s to-do list from her first weeks at Exeter was developing thoughtful, strategic ways of surveying students and collecting data. In fall 2022, Hart launched a survey, comprised of several pilot studies, to better understand how students use their time, and on a larger scale, how they interact with the school’s mission and values. In addition, she analyzed existing schedule data and worked with Exeter’s Center for Teaching Learning to issue a companion study on homework from a teacher perspective. The studies were administered last fall and included a shadow day experience: faculty and administrators followed 13 students throughout the course of their classes and afterwards. They took detailed notes and reflected on what they saw. Hart later presented results of the overall survey to students and faculty. “Behind some of the aggregate data from the survey, there are unique student experiences,” Hart says. “They have individual needs in terms of their time and spend it in different ways, so they need different supports.” Her work complimented the annual all-student survey, also administered in the fall.

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The Exeter Athletics Department is excited to announce individual team award winners and those student-athletes who have been honored by the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC) for their contributions during the 2023 spring season.

These student-athletes were impact players on their teams throughout the season. They are highly skilled athletes, dedicated leaders, and have proven to be among the best in New England. Below is the list of Exeter team awards and All-NEPSAC honorees.

Class Awards
The Yale Cup, awarded each year by the Aurelian Honor Society of Yale University to that member of the senior class who best combines the highest standards of character and leadership with excellence in his studies and in athletics.
Nathan Puchalski ‘23

The Ruth and Paul Sadler ’23 Cup, awarded each year to that member of the senior class who best combines the highest standards of character and leadership with excellence in her studies and in Athletics.
Eden Welch ‘23

Philip Curtis Goodwin ’25 Athletic Award, award to the four-year student who best embodies the qualities of sportsmanship and participation.
Samantha Smith ‘23
Cameron Guthrie ‘23

Baseball
Dana J.P. Wingate Memorial Baseball Trophy, for excellence on the diamond.
Gabriel Marcoux ‘23

All-NESPSAC Honorable Mention
Gabe Marcoux ’23

Boys Crew
Charles M. Swift Coaches’ Trophy, awarded annually to that senior who in spirit and action has done most to enhance the traditions of Boys’ Rowing at Exeter.
Ryan Kim ‘23

The Philip A. Lyster Award, Given annually to that athlete who best exemplify Phil Lyster’s gifts as PEA Boatman to Exeter Rowing: encouragement, humor, enthusiasm and commitment to teamwork.
Haakon Kohler ‘23

Girls Crew
E. Chandler Sanborn Trophy, awarded annually to that senior who in spirit and action has done most to enhance the tradition of Girls’ Rowing at Exeter.
Matilda Damon ‘23

Cycling
Rider of the Year
William Lu ‘24

Golf
J. Eric Shellabarger Memorial Golf Trophy
Morgan Smith ‘23
Michael Nardone ‘24

NEPSAC Girls Golf MVP
Morgan Smith ‘23

All-NEPSAC
Morgan Smith ’23
Angelina Gong ’25
Ananya Ray ‘26

Boys Lacrosse
Joseph T. Gifford Memorial Lacrosse Trophy, Most Valuable Player.
Ryan Nagle ’23
Aidan Olazabal ‘24

Class of 1947 Robert W. Kesler ‘47 (Hon), Boys’ Lacrosse Award, awarded to a deserving player who by his/her daily performance and overall commitment to Exeter Lacrosse best typifies the spirit and dedication for which coach Kesler is remembered.
Aidan Olazabal ‘24

All-NEPSAC
Ryan Nagle ’23
Aidan Olazabal ‘24

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Drew McClutchy ’23
Casey Realini ’23

Girls Lacrosse
Holleran Family Girls’ Lacrosse Most Valuable Player, awarded annually to that player who best embodies leadership, team spirit, and excellence in performance.
Eden Welch ‘23

Class of 1947 Robert W. Kesler ‘47 (Hon), Boys’ Lacrosse Award, awarded to a deserving player who by his/her daily performance and overall commitment to Exeter Lacrosse best typifies the spirit and dedication for which coach Kesler is remembered.
Allie Bell ‘25

All-NEPSAC
Eden Welch ‘23
Allie Bell ’25

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Hannah Hoyt ‘25
Esme Shields ‘24

Softball
Softball Most Valuable Member
Haley Alden ‘24

All-NEPSAC
Haley Alden ‘24

Boys Tennis
Arthur H. Lockett Memorial Tennis Trophy, Most Valuable Player.
Clark Pearson ‘23

Girls Tennis
Girls Tennis Most Valuable Member
Cassia Lee ‘25

Boys Track and Field
Stephen Potter Memorial Outdoor Track Trophy, Leadership, Team Spirit, and Excellence in Performance.
Jaylen Bennett ‘25
Byron Grevious ‘24

NEPSAC Division I MVP
Byron Grevious ‘24

All-NEPSAC
Dylan Almeyda ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – High Jump     
Mateo Bango ’23 – All-NEPSAC – 3000m
Tanner Boulden – ’24 – All-NEPSAC – Javelin
Jaylen Bennett ‘25 – All-NEPSAC – 200m, 400m                  
Oliver Brandes ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – 800m                
Owen Dudley ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – 800m  
Jackson Giampa ’23 – All-NEPSAC – Long Jump, Triple Jump         
Byron Grevious ‘24 – All-NEPSAC – 1500m, 3000m            
Edward Hawkson ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – 100m           
Max Lacombe ‘24 – All-NEPSAC – 1500m               
Maxwell Li ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – 300m Hurdles       
Gbemiga Salu ’23 – All-NEPSAC – Discus
Brandon Wong ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – 100m

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Tanner Boulden ’24 – Honorable Mention – Shot Put
Charles Clavel ‘25 – Honorable Mention – 400m
Ethan Driscoll ‘23– Honorable Mention – Shot Put
Cordel Epale ’24 – Honorable Mention – High Jump
Carter Johnson ‘26 – Honorable Mention – Javelin            
Maxwell Li ‘23 – Honorable Mention – 110 Hurdles

Girls Track and Field
Girls Track Most Valuable Member
Tenley Nelson ‘24

All-NEPSAC
Tenley Nelson ‘24 – All-NEPSAC – 800m, 1500m
Daria Ivanova ‘24 – All-NEPSAC – 3000m
Annika Finelli ’24 – All-NEPSAC – 3000m
Jannah Maguire ’25 – All-NEPSAC – 100m Hurdles, 300m Hurdles
Willa Hock ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – 300m Hurdles, Long Jump, Triple Jump
Ina Mason ‘23 – All-NEPSAC – Pole Vault
Sydney Anderson ‘24 – All-NEPSAC – Shot Put

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Sydney Anderson ‘24 – Honorable Mention – Discus

Boys Volleyball
Boys Volleyball Most Valuable Members
Rodrigo Spinola e Castro ‘23
Arhon Strauss ‘23

Girls Water Polo
Most Valuable Member, Girls’ Water Polo Team 
Claire Fu ‘23

All-NEPSAC Honorable Mention
Sophie Phelps ’25

Family, friends and faculty celebrate graduating seniors at Exeter’s 242nd commencement ceremony

Spirits ran high on an unseasonably chilly morning as Exeter held its commencement ceremony for the class of 2023 on the lawn of the Academy Building on Sunday.

The 297 seniors crossed Front Street in a single line to begin the event, with faculty and family members offering congratulations along the way. The processional down the middle of the lawn was a change from prior years, allowing for a more unified entrance.

“Thank you to my wonderful classmates — congratulations on making it here,” said Minseo Kim ’23, president of the senior class, after welcoming parents and expressing gratitude to families as well as Exeter’s faculty and staff.

Kim went on to speak of the various challenges the class of 2023 had weathered together, notably the COVID-19 pandemic and the period of remote instruction that for many began in the spring term of their prep years. She admitted consulting ChatGPT while preparing her commencement speech, asking the artificial intelligence chatbot to give her “the most awe-inspiring motivational grad speech” for the occasion.

“It started off by saying ‘Hello, comrades,’” she recounted, to a laugh from the crowd. “I didn’t read any further. But I did ponder over that word more — comrade. Something in there implies the connections that we have created between one another, and that we have overcome challenges together.”

While she and many of her classmates may have come to Exeter with “various assumptions about each other,” Kim said, the experience of encountering diverse perspectives around the Harkness table enabled them to move beyond existing biases. “I found that the people we’ve met here have given us a chance, taking the values of Harkness into the broader context of our lives beyond this campus,” Kim said.

Near the end of her remarks, Kim spoke of the memorable moments that she and her fellow seniors had been experiencing over the past few weeks. “Everything feels like it went by so fast now that we’ve reached the end,” she said. “[But] what I’ve learned from this school is that sometimes it’s even better to leave a classroom or a space with more questions than answers, and that there are many more things I’d like to learn and do.”

Principal’s farewell

In his farewell remarks, Principal William K. Rawson ’71; P’08 welcomed the class of 2023 into a community of Exeter alumni that spans generations, including his own.

“When I think back on my days as a student, my strongest memories are not about individual or group accomplishments,” Rawson said. “I remember a few triumphs pretty vividly, and I remember a few disappointments, yet the sense of what it meant to be part of this community…and the lifelong friendships that came along with it, are what have had the greatest meaning and most enduring impact for me over the years.”

After honoring the “indomitable spirit” and “resilience” of the graduating class, he reflected on the countless individual stories that together comprise Exeter’s rich history. “It has been a great pleasure for me, for your teachers, and for all the adults on campus, to witness your stories unfolding, individually and as a class, and to observe firsthand your growth and your many contributions to the life and spirit of the school,” Rawson said.

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Recalling the classic country music song “Don’t Get Above Your Raising,” written by Earl Scruggs, Rawson stressed the importance of remembering your “roots,” and not forgetting where you came from. He spoke of his own roots in the small mill town of Harrisville, Rhode Island, where his father grew up, and where Rawson used to visit his grandmother, aunts and uncles while a student at Exeter. “Phillips Exeter Academy might have seemed worlds apart from my relatives who still lived in Harrisville, but in my mind, they stood for the same things: integrity, hard work and respect,” he said.

Looking ahead, Rawson spoke of the graduates’ readiness to take their place in the world and work to confront its many pressing challenges with the abilities, skills, and combination of knowledge and goodness they developed at Exeter.

“You are ready to follow the examples of Exonians who have come before, and write your own non sibi stories,” he said. “Wherever your lives may take you, you will always be Exonians, and you will always belong to each other.”

Honors and awards

Rain began to fall intermittently during the ceremony, prompting the emergence of plastic ponchos among the graduates and colorful umbrellas in the crowd. As she rose to announce an array of scholarships, honors and special awards, Dean of Faculty Eimer Page P’22 remarked that she had been preparing for that moment all her life.

“If there’s ever someone who can talk in the rain, it’s an Irishwoman,” Page said.

Page and Trustee Deidre O’Byrne ’84; P’18, P’20, P’23 went on to present various graduating seniors with this year’s endowed college scholarships, as well as a number of special awards and prizes:

The Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence: Aaron Joy

The Cox Medals: Aaron Joy, Cedric Moecklin, Hannah Rubin, Aubrey Zhang, Chloe Zhu

The Yale Cup: Nate Puchalski

The Ruth and Paul Sadler ’23 Cup: Eden Welch

The Perry Cup: Reggie Harris

The Williams Cup: Yasmin Salerno

The Eskie Clark Award: Brandon Wong

The Thomas H. Cornell Award: Nicholas Rose

The Multicultural Leadership Prize: Kodi Lopez

Ceremony program

A string quartet composed of seniors Aruli Pillai and Bai Xue on violin, senior Jade Pierce on viola and upper Indigo Ogiste on cello played before the ceremony and during the processional.

At the outset of the ceremony, Rawson recognized Alison Hobbie of the Science Department, who retired this year after 22 years of service, and Robert Morris of the Health and Human Development Department, who spent 31 years at the Academy.

After the announcement of the prizes, Music Instructor Kristofer Johnson led a performance of “The Road Home,” composed by Stephen Paulus, by the seniors in Exeter’s Concert Choir, including Stellan Aalto, Charles Knight, Christine Staller, Chloe Becker, Haakon Kohler, Polly Vaillant, Maya Cohen, Delaney Miller, Clark Wu, Madeleine Cron, Lara Muyombwe, Angela Zhang, John Henry Holcomb and Oluwagbemiga Salu.

Seniors Andrea Hernandez, Nina Kellogg, Jack Kugler and Holden Quaresma assisted Rawson in handing out diplomas.

The final day of competition for the spring season — and for the school year — saw championships earned, medals won, records broken, and a spirited day of competition with rival Andover.

Exeter boys tennis enjoyed an exciting cap to their season as Kiran Raval ’24 took home the New England Prep School Invitational Tennis Championship. The top-seed heading into the tournament, Raval marched through the bracket in impressive form before earning a 6-2, 6-2 victory in the championship match over Andover rival Ethan Wong. Clark Pearson ‘23 and David Dai ’26 also enjoyed success on the day, as Pearson climbed through to win the “A” consolation bracket, while Dai earned the “B” singles championship, winning his semifinal match 8-1 and the title match 6-0, 6-0.

Exeter crew brought home some more hardware at the New England Interscholastic Rowing Association (NEIRA) Championships. The girls first boat earned a third-place medal, while the girls second boat won a second-place medal. On the boys side, the first boat won the petite final to finish in seventh place overall, while the boys second boat earned a third-place medal. The boys third boat claimed fifth overall.

Back on campus, the rest of Big Red played host to Andover in the annual battle to close out the athletics calendar.

The boys track and field team, fresh off their 2023 New England Championship last weekend, topped the Blue 90-55. Byron Grevious ’24 set an Exeter/Andover meet record in the 1,500 meters with a blistering time of 3:52.50. Jaylen Bennett ’25 added another meet record in the 400, crossing at 48.77. Bennett, Brandon Wong ’23, Jackson Giampa ’23 and Enzo Nakornsri ’23 teamed up for another meet record in the 4×100 with a time of 42.70. Grevious also finished first in the 800 with a time of 1:58.25. The boys also swept the javelin, as Tanner Boulden ’24 (180 feet, 9 inches), Carter Johnson ’26 (161-5), and Will Simpson (150-10) each had monster throws.

The girls team, who finished second at New England’s a week ago, fell to Andover 77-68, but not without fireworks. Willa Hock ’23 broke the school record in the long jump with a leap of 19-1 while also placing first in the triple jump with a distance of 35-5.75. On the track, Hock finished first in the 100 hurdles with a time of 15.53 and teamed up with Kaylee Bennett ’23, Tenley Nelson ’24 and Jannah Maguire ‘25 for a first-place finish in the 4×400 relay with a time of 4:10.13. Nelson also enjoyed a fantastic day, as she took home victories in the 800 (2:20.22) and the 1500 (4:45.99).

On the diamond, Exeter baseball came through with a thrilling 1-0 victory over Andover. Captain Andy Houghton ’23 struck out 11 over six innings before Beau Elson ’24 came in to close the door with three shutout innings of his own as the duo kept the Big Blue offense at bay. Malachi Johns ’23 reached with a single in the seventh inning, stole second, and came home on a double to right field by Dylan Shapiro ’23 to supply the lone run of the game. 

Boys varsity lacrosse also nabbed a big win with a 15-6 decision. Ryan Nagle ’23 (five) and Casey Realini ’23 (four) combined for nine goals to power the Exeter offense, while Aidan Olazabal ’24 was sharp in between the pipes to anchor a solid defensive effort.

Boys JV baseball earned a 6-2 win over the Blue on the back of Jack Dougherty ’26, who pitched a complete game. Boys JV lacrosse rolled to a 15-5 victory, while a goal from Eveland Sherman ‘25 in the final minute earned a 7-7 tie for girls JV lacrosse. Andover softball bested Big Red 9-0, while Big Blue girls varsity lacrosse topped Exeter 13-7 in their annual tilt on Friday night.