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The Class of 2005: Frank Dye, Stephen Lieberman, Levi Bickford, Brendan Toomey,
Josh Schulman, Erin Vachon-Vierra, Frank Jeffery, Frannie Hall, and Herschel Wolff.
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GRADUATION 2005
Franklin Academy is the fulfillment of a long-held dream among educators, parents, and consultants who understand that schools across the country are not yet ready to meet the complex, multi-faceted needs of children with nonverbal learning differences who are seeking a comprehensive, college preparatory education. Indeed, Franklin Academy is the only college preparatory boarding school in the country that exclusively serves students diagnosed with NLD.
Students in our first two graduating classes were accepted at the following colleges and universities: Arizona State University, Barry University, College of the Atlantic, Dean Junior College, Drew University, Eckerd College, Emerson College, Emory and Henry College, George Washington University, Landmark College, Lynn University, Mitchell College, Ocean County Community College, Roanoke College, Southern Vermont College, State University of New York at Binghamton, and Union College.
We are proud of the success of our students as they pursue an expanding range of opportunities for college and career, and every graduation at Franklin Academy is a celebration of accomplishments and possibilities.
Here are the remarks of Frederick Weissbach, Headmaster, during the school's second graduation ceremony on June 11, 2005.
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GREETINGS
Distinguished Guests, Colleagues, Parents, and Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Brothers and Sisters, Friends, Seniors, and Students - welcome to the 2005 graduation exercises of Franklin Academy. On this happy occasion, which marks the conclusion of Franklin Academy's second year, we are delighted to see such a huge crowd that has turned out to honor our graduating class.
Our seniors stand tall. They have come through the crucible of experiences to prepare mind, body, spirit and character in anticipation of the next set of challenges which loom large in their lives.
Seniors, you have persevered and prospered during this past year, and, as you go off to college or new challenges in the fall and prepare for careers and lives filled with wonderful opportunities, I hope that you will discover Franklin Academy has prepared you well.
While you deserve a majority of the credit for your success, let us not forget your parents - there at every step to support and encourage you on your journey through childhood to this special moment - yes, the earning of a Franklin Academy diploma, but more importantly, the beginning of adulthood. Truly, your education has been a partnership, and your most important collaborators have been those wonderful teachers in and out of the classroom who have helped to shape you as a student and valued member of this school family.
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FACULTY SPEECH
Let us now recognize a young and talented teacher who has been selected by the Franklin seniors to speak at their graduation. Sam Melin, our newcomer from Texas, please come to the podium to share a teacher's perspective about our year together.
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BOOK AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES
We now want to recognize students throughout the school who have demonstrated significant academic achievement, exhibited tremendous personal growth, or contributed mightily to the life of the Franklin community. Students, as I call out your names, please come forward to receive a book award and certificate from Dr. Tom Hays.
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Literature & Arts
Our first award is named for the world's first true historian - Thucydides - an Athenian of the fifth century BC - who fought in and wrote about the Peloponnesian War. Unlike anyone before him, Thucydides gathered all available evidence about an event, decided what he thought was the truth, and then shaped his written presentation to emphasize that truth
The Thucydides History Award is given to an upper and lower level student for best project on a non-fiction topic. This project may be a written paper, presentation, or demonstration on a topic of historical importance that connects historical events to our current lives.
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Winners |
Upper: |
Alex Griswold |
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Lower: |
Matthew Fishman |
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The next award is named for history's quintessential renaissance man - Leonardo daVinci - artist, inventor, and scientist. His desire to paint people and objects realistically was bold and fresh. The range of topics that came under his inquiry was staggering. He took the startling approach of actually observing and asking deceptively simple scientific questions like - "How do birds fly?' And, he had the brains and bravado to break new ground, creating new machines for a new world.
The DaVinci Creativity Award is given to an upper and lower level student for a demonstation of creativity. These demonstation of creativity can include works of creative writing, drawing, or sculpting and should incorporate elements of unusual combinations and imagination.
| 04-05 Winners |
Upper: |
Kieran Thomson |
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Lower: |
Dessa Wideman |
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Philosophy & Science
Our next award is named for the most famous woman of physics - Madam Marie Curie, winner of two Nobel prizes in Science. She is responsible for opening up the science of radioactivity, and her radium was a key to a basic change in our understanding of matter and energy.
The Marie Curie Precision Award is given to an upper and lower level student for accuracy and rigor of measurement. This award goes to the student who consistently and accurately follows laboratory and field protocols, presents valid and reliable data, and data that is easily explained and understood.
| 04-05 Winners |
Upper: |
Jackie Krozy |
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Lower: |
Rachel Riggle |
Our second award in Science is named after Galileo. As a professor of astronomy at the University of Pisa in Italy, Galileo was required to teach the accepted theory of his time that the sun and all the planets revolved around the Earth. He was then exposed to a new theory, advanced by Copernicus, that the Earth and other planets revolved around the sun. Galileo built his own telescope and discovered that Copernicus was right. While the Church then convicted him of heresy, Galileo is rightly hailed as the father of modern mathematical and experimental physics.
The Galileo Science Award is given to an upper or lower student for their advocacy of scientific issues. In receiving this award, the student must demonstrate an excellent knowledge of science, the ability to clearly present and articulate scientific findings, and explain the relevance of those findings as they relate society.
| 04-05 Winners |
Upper: |
Brad Dworin |
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Lower: |
Matthew Fishman |
Individual & Community
The first award under the category of Individual and Community is named in honor of this country's 39th president - Jimmy Carter. As president, he aspired to make Government "competent and compassionate." However, his greatest accomplishments have occurred since leaving office as he has invested decades of untiring effort in pursuit of peaceful solutions to international conflicts around the world. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
The Carter Mediation Award goes to an upper or lower level student who has best demonstrated both in and out of class the ability to address and solve conflict. This student has learned the art of negotiation and is able to resolve disputes he has with others as well as to help others resolve their conflicts.
| 04-05 Winners |
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Dean Devejian |
Our second I & C Award is named for one of the world's great moral and political leaders - Nelson Mandela - who was jailed for 27 years because of his lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa. Revered everywhere as a vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality, Mandela secured his freedom from prison, was elected president of his country, and received the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Mandela Award is given to an upper or lower level student who has made the greatest personal strides in taking what they have learned in Individual & Community class and applying these lesson to their everyday life. In receiving the Mandela award, this student has challenged his or her personal comfort zones in and outside the classroom. The student has gained social confidence, respect, and improved social relationships.
| 04-05 Winners |
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Joshua Schulman |
Math
In the category of mathematics we present the e award, named not for Albert Einstein, but for the mathematical constant e, occasionally called Euler's (Oiler's) number after the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler who is credited with being one of the first to apply calculus to physics, or Napier's constant in honor of the Scottish mathematician John Napier who is the inventor of the logarithm. Simply stated, e is the base of the natural logarithm.
The e Award is given to an upper and lower level student for their advanced mathematical abilities. In receiving this award the student must demonstrate both a strong understanding of mathematical processes, but also the application of those math calculations.
| 04-05 Winners |
Upper: |
Josh Schulman |
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Lower: |
Cameron Webb |
I predict that our last book award will become over time one of Franklin Academy's highest awards. It is named the Phoenix Award, and it is given to a student for his or her ability to learn about life and relate to the world. Like the mythical bird that rises from its ashes, the recipient of this medal has learned to overcome life's challenges and adversity, applying lessons learned from the past to lead a thoughtful life. In receiving this award the student must exemplify service to the community beyond the classroom, providing a role model for younger students, a friend to peers, and an inspiration to adults. The recipient of Franklin Academy's second Phoenix Award is
We are instituting three new awards to recognize outstanding seniors.
The first award is designated the Headmaster's Excellence Award. It is given to that senior who has embraced the highest standards for academic performance and community leadership. The Headmaster and administration acknowledge that Stephen Michael Lieberman is the worthy recipient of this award.
The second award is the Headmaster's Spirit Award. It is given to that senior who has generously shared his talents, enthusiasm, and good will with the entire Franklin family. The Headmaster and administration acknowledge that Frank W. Dye is the worthy recipient of this award.
The third award is the Headmaster's Citizenship Award. It is given to that senior who conscientiously and reliably meets every commitment across campus each and every day and lives his life according to Franklin Academy's Code of Conduct. The Headmaster and administration acknowledge that Brendan R. Toomey, Jr. is the worthy recipient of this award.
Our final award is the Franklin Founders Award, given to those seniors who have been with the school since the beginning. In future years, this award will be given to those students who have been with the school throughout the four years of high school. Our first recipients of the Franklin Founders Award are: Levi Bickford, Frank Dye, Frank Jeffery, Stephen Lieberman and
Erin Vachon-Vierra.
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SENIOR SPEECH
A highlight of any graduation is that moment when we hear from one member of the senior class who has been chosen by classmates to provide perspectives on the road that has been traveled together this year and the many different paths of life that beckon before us. It is my distinct pleasure to invite Stephen Lieberman to the podium for the Senior Speech.
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DIPLOMAS
We are about to turn our attention to the
real business of this Saturday morning -
the awarding of diplomas to Franklin Academy's
second class of graduating seniors. Before
I begin, however, there are just a few announcements.
Following this ceremony, our faculty and
seniors will stand in a receiving line outside
of the community center to greet you and
receive your best wishes. Then, everyone
is welcome to join us for a luncheon buffet
down at the dining hall. If there are any
questions about departure from campus this
afternoon, please see Tom Hays or Mary Murphy.
I would also like to take a brief moment
to say thank you and goodbye to three of
our teachers who will be leaving the Franklin
family for graduate school in the fall.
Will the following please stand and accept
our applause for a job well done: Laura
Bonem, Jeanne Calloway, and Jason Morin.
This will be our last graduation in this
building. It is my expectation that when
school begins again in September, this space
will be transformed into a spectacular library
and media center. Costing $135,000, we have
already raised half of this total with generous
gifts from the Denunzio, Rahal, Gillespie,
Owens, Beck, and Lieberman families. I hope
that other families will get behind this
important effort and help us complete the
funding for our new library - a resource
that will benefit every student and teacher
at the school.
Seniors, now we come to the big moment.
As I call out your names individually, please
come forward to receive your diploma. Family
and friends - you may applaud vigorously
and take plenty of photographs.
GRADUATING SENIORS
Levi James Bickford
Frank W. Dye
Frances Brown
Hall
Francis Fassler
Jeffery
Stephen Michael
Lieberman
Joshua F. Schulman
Brendan R. Toomey,
Jr
Erin Vachon-Vierra
Herschel E. Wolff
Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure
to present to you the nine graduates of
Franklin Academy, class of 2005!!!!
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click the images for a larger view
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