Linsly Graduates 85 at 2023 Commencement Ceremony

The Linsly School held its 209th Commencement on Sunday, May 28 at 1:00 p.m. at the Stifel Field House, graduating eighty-five seniors from the Class of 2023. During the commencement ceremony, several graduates were presented awards in recognition of their outstanding qualities in leadership, citizenship, and character.

Sarah Wilson, daughter of Ms. Cassandra Wilson of Wheeling and Dr. Mark Wilson of West Point, Mississippi, was named Valedictorian of the Senior Class of 2023 for having the highest upper school cumulative grade point average in the senior class. She will attend West Virginia University in the fall.

Giana Falbo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jon Falbo of St. Clairsville, was named Salutatorian of the Senior Class of 2023 for having the second-highest upper school cumulative grade point average in the senior class. She will attend The Ohio State University in the fall.

The Head of School Award, given to that member of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, through her display of leadership, academic excellence, and willingness to serve, acted as a model for all Linsly students, was presented to Grace Ridenhour, daughter of Ms. Lea Ridenhour of Wheeling and Rev. William Ridenhour of Wheeling. Ridenhour will attend Bucknell University in the fall.

The Hofreuter Award, given to that member of the senior class who has been exemplary in his service to his school and community, in the tradition of the late Dr. Donald H. Hofreuter, Linsly Cadet Major, community leader and longtime Chairman of Linsly's Board of Trustees, was awarded to Brenden Moore, son of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Moore of Wheeling. He will attend the University of Miami in the fall.

The Guenther Award, given to those members of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, exhibit outstanding leadership, citizenship and character, given in memory of former Linsly student David Guenther, was awarded to Kelsey Glessner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gary Glessner of Valley Grove and Brenden Moore. Glessner will attend Clemson University in the fall.

The Theodore Scott Owens Award, given to those members of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, exhibit the qualities of determination, seriousness, and persistence respected by all, given in memory of former Linsly student Theodore Scott Owens, was awarded to Olivia Kiger-Camilo, daughter of Mr. Ramon D. Camilo Reyes of Wheeling and Ms. Rebecca L. Kiger of Wheeling, and Landin Blakely, son of Mr and Mrs. Ryan C. Blakely of St. Clairsville. Kiger-Camilo will attend the United States Naval Academy in the fall and Blakely will attend The Ohio State University.

The Buncher Award, given to that resident student, who in the opinion of the Dormitory Masters, Resident Faculty, and Head of School, exemplify that which is looked for in every boarding student, given in memory of the late Albert Buncher, father of Martin Buncher, former Linsly student, was awarded to Liv Torner, daughter of Mr. Sven Torner and Mrs. Jill Vincent-Torner of Germany. Torner will attend University College Maastricht in the fall.

A program continued by President Biden known as the "President's Education Awards" is intended to recognize students who have attained a high level of academic achievement while pursuing a solid core of academic courses. Receiving this award were members of Linsly's National Honor Society: Jane Alexander, Sharon Aristizabal Botache, Rumer Beazel, Landin Blakely, Sara Campsey, Mara Cartwright, Aiden Christ, Jose Pedro Coimbra, Cheyanne DeLong, Celia Demarchi, Giana Falbo, Xavier Fankhouser, Kelsey Glessner, Kaden Hiryok, Noah Jenewein, Jy'leik Johnson, Olivia Kiger-Camilo, Caitlin Lewis, Bridget Lofstead, Sol Macera Carsetti, Megan Maroney, Brenden Moore, Cameron Neighoff, John Papadimitriou, Leah Pfister, Trey Prather, Taylor Remp, Grace Ridenhour, Connor Roberts, Sofia Robertson, Jack Scouvart, Supasinee Siripun, Liv Torner and Sarah Wilson.

The Linsly Social Studies Award is given to a member of the senior class who has achieved an outstanding perception of social studies, and has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during her Upper School career at Linsly. This year's recipient was Bridget Lofstead, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald E. Lofstead, Esq of Wheeling. Lofstead will attend University of Michigan in the fall.

The Linsly Mathematics Award, given to that member of the Senior Class who, determined by the Mathematics Department has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during her Upper School career at Linsly was awarded to Grace Ridenhour.

Xavier Fankhouser, son of Mr. and Mrs. Erik B. Fankhouser of Wheeling, was named the recipient of The Gilleland Award, established in memory of Professor Brady Gilleland, recognizing a graduating senior who studied Latin and succeeded in his study. Fankhouser will attend West Virginia University in the fall.

John Papadimitriou, son of Mr. and Dr. John Massey of Wheeling and Dr. Paul B. Papadimitriou was named the recipient of The Linsly Science Award given to that member of the Senior Class who has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during his Upper School career at Linsly. Papadimitriou will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall.

The recipients of The Max W. Laborde Award, given to those Senior English students who, in the opinion of the English Department, best met the standards set forth in the department were Kelsey Glessner and Sarah Wilson.

The John Anwar Spanish Award is given in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Anwar's eldest son, John, who passed away in 1991 when he was a senior at Linsly. This award recognizes the graduating senior who, through consistent dedication and hard work, has distinguished herself in the study of Spanish. Receiving the John Anwar Spanish Award was Supasinee Siripun, daughter of Mrs. Panchalee D. Ayudhaya of Thailand. Siripun will attend Dickinson College in the fall.

The Robert W. Schramm Physics Award, given to that member of the senior class who has attained the highest average in Physics, was given to Landin Blakely.

Among the seventy-five Linsly graduates of the Class of 2023, thirteen members of the Class of 2023 began their careers at Linsly in the fifth grade, completing grades five through twelve at The Linsly School. Those graduates, also known as "Linsly Lifers" are: Baeleigh Burwell, Sara Campsey, Mara Cartwright, Aiden Christ, Parker Griffith, Wyatt Haynes, Bridget Lofstead, Quinn McKenzie, John Papadimitriou, Collin Paull, Chloe Ratcliffe, Sofia Robertson and Matthew Turak.