La Lumiere School honored its top students and student-athletes during the School’s annual Academic and Athletic Convocation that was held on Wednesday, May 18. Students were recognized for their outstanding academic and athletic achievement.
JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS
Traute and Miller Bransfield Award — Zoe Surma, La Porte, Ind.
La Lumiere School’s mission is to develop the fundamental principles of character, scholarship, and faith in its students as it prepares them for the responsibilities and opportunities of adulthood. This award honors the 11th grade student who best portrays the La Lumiere ideal as expressed in its mission statement. This is the highest award La Lumiere School bestows on an underclassman.
Leadership and Service Award — Andi Breitowich, La Porte, Ind.
Awarded to the 11th grade student who has demonstrated exemplary leadership and character, and who has chosen to serve both the La Lumiere community and the greater community with his or her talents, whether or not he or she has held a student leadership position at the School.
Excellence in Humanities Award — Jenna Rifai, Valparaiso, Ind.
Awarded to the 11th grade student(s) who has excelled in his or her study of the humanities, and who has demonstrated a genuine passion for the subject.
Excellence in 21st Century Math and Science Award — Shunzhang (Lee) Li, Shanghai, China
Awarded to the 11th grade student(s) who has demonstrated a commitment to his or her studies in mathematics and the sciences, and whose insights into these subjects signal the potential to contribute to advancements in the 21st Century.
HIGHEST ACADEMIC GPA
12th GRADE
Senior recipient will be honored at commencement on Friday, May 27.
11th GRADE
Jenna Rifai, Valparaiso, Ind.
10th GRADE
Olivia Dybing, La Porte, Ind.
9th GRADE
Sabrina Ali, Chesterton, Ind.
Haley Harkness, Chesterton, Ind.
ACADEMIC AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
The following awards were given to outstanding seniors for excellence in each particular area of study.
Excellence in the Study of Multicultural Literature and Composition
Dana Rafferty, Michigan City, Ind.
Haohao (Maggie) Chen, Suzhou, China
Excellence in the Study of AP English Literature and Composition
Megan Gillen, La Porte, Ind.
Rachael Yemc, Long Beach, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of ESL English 1
Begoña Gomar Pérez-Manglano, Rocafort, Spain
Excellence in the Study of Engineering
Yuyang (Peter) Zhang, Bejing, China
Excellence in the Study of AP Environmental Science
Damaris Smith, Niles, Mich.
Excellence in the Study of Advanced Logic
Mason Newbanks, Michigan City, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of AP Statistics
Karalyn Knight, Beverly Shores, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of AP Calculus BC
Rachael Yemc, Long Beach, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of AP Physics 2
Zicheng (Tom) Ren, Wuxi, China
Excellence in the Study of Physics
Karalyn Knight, Beverly Shores, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of AP Psychology
Rachael Yemc, Long Beach, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of International Relations
Amelia Sauers, La Porte, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of AP Comparative Government
Nick Grandfield, La Porte, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of AP U.S. Government
Hannah Fogel, Manteno, Ill.
Excellence in the Study of Spanish 1
Rachael Yemc, Long Beach, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Advanced Spanish Literature
Violet Potter, Chicago
Excellence in the Study of French 1
Violet Potter, Chicago
Excellence in the Study of Chinese 1
Dana Rafferty, Michigan City, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Latin 4 – Literature
Megan Gillen, La Porte, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Russian Culture and History
Grace Dybing, La Porte, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Ethics
Grace Dybing, La Porte, Ind.
Megan Gillen, La Porte, Ind.
Nick Grandfield, La Porte, Ind.
Rachael Yemc, Long Beach, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Biochemistry
Grace Dybing, La Porte, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Anatomy and Physiology
Dana Rafferty, Michigan City, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Catholicism
Elizabeth McGuckin, Long Beach, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Drama Performance
Mason Newbanks, Michigan City, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Art Studio 2-D
Zicheng (Tom) Ren, Wuxi, China
Ming (Stephanie) Sun, Weifang, China
Excellence in the Study of Photography
Rachael Yemc, Long Beach, Ind.
Excellence in the Study of Yearbook
Rachael Yemc, Long Beach, Ind.
SCHOLAR-ATHLETE AWARDS
This award recognizes students who have demonstrated excellence in their academics and exceptional performance and contribution in athletics. An award is given to a male and female student in each class.
12th GRADE
Senior recipient will be honored at commencement on Friday, May 27.
11th GRADE
Lucy Caplice, Michigan City, Ind.
Vladimir (Lad’a) Rak, Prostejov, Czech Republic
10th GRADE
Lily Kennedy, Chicago
George Eisenhauer, Beverly Shores, Ind.
9th GRADE
Leily Jalinous, Granger, Ind.
Julian Trejo Bax, South Bend, Ind.
ATHLETIC AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE
The following awards were given to outstanding seniors for excellence in each particular sport.
FALL
Crew (Boys)
Excellence in Performance: Austin Pitchford, New Buffalo, Mich.
Excellence in Contribution: Nick Grandfield, La Porte, Ind.
Cross Country (Boys)
Excellence in Performance: Holden Potter, Chicago
Cross Country (Girls)
Excellence in Contribution: Megan Gillen, La Porte, Ind.
Football
Excellence in Contribution: Jake Stimley, Michigan City, Ind.
Golf (Girls)
Excellence in Contribution: Blair Arnell, Chesterton, Ind.
Soccer (Girls)
Excellence in Contribution: Nerissa Siwietz, Michigan City, Ind.
Volleyball
Excellence in Performance: Dana Rafferty, Michigan City, Ind.
Excellence in Contribution: Kate Collins, Riverside, Ill.
WINTER
Basketball (Boys Varsity Blue)
Excellence in Contribution: Hunter Dunifon, La Porte, Ind.
Basketball (Boys Varsity White)
Excellence in Contribution: Brandon Cyrus, Carlsbad, Calif.
Cheerleading
Excellence in Contribution: Frannie Eisenhauer, Beverly Shores, Ind.
SPRING
Baseball
Excellence in Contribution: Christian Vasquez, Portage, Ind.
Golf (Boys)
Excellence in Performance: Patrick Smith, Muncie, Ind.
Excellence in Contribution: Hunter Dunifon, La Porte, Ind.
Soccer (Girls)
Excellence in Performance: Abigail Babcock, La Porte, Ind.
Excellence in Contribution: Amelia Sauers, La Porte, Ind.
Tennis (Girls)
Excellence in Contribution: Begoña Gomar Pérez-Manglano, Rocafort, Spain
Track & Field (Boys)
Excellence in Contribution: Iyad Ali, Chesterton, Ind.
About La Lumiere School
La Lumiere School is a college preparatory boarding and day school located on a spectacular 190-acre campus 25 miles west of South Bend, Indiana; eight miles from La Porte, Indiana; seven miles from New Buffalo, Michigan; and about an hour southeast of Chicago. The School holds students to rigorous academic standards while focusing on each student’s full development of Character, Scholarship, and Faith. We prepare students to attend some of the best colleges in the country, including: Stanford University, Northwestern University, Rhode Island School of Design, University of Notre Dame, Wake Forest University, Middlebury College, Georgetown University, Cornell University, Colgate University, University of Michigan, and the University of Chicago. La Lumiere School is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement (NCA). Learn more about La Lumiere School at lalumiere.org.