The final weeks of the school year move quickly at Proctor – awards assemblies, Senior Recognition Night, and Commencement arrive almost on top of one another. It is in that stretch that the year comes into focus, and that we pause to recognize the seniors and educators who guided them. Each graduating class leaves a distinct impact on our school, shaped by their personality and the collective journey that unfolded over their years at Proctor.
Today, we highlight members of the Class of 2026 who earned individual recognition, as well as three members of our professional community honored for their service.
Allan S. Bursaw Chapter of the National Honor Society
As noted last fall, Head of School Amy Smucker led the induction of nine seniors into Proctor's Allan S. Bursaw Chapter of the National Honor Society. A selection committee made up of a representative from each academic department chose the inductees based on their contributions to the Proctor community through scholarship, service, leadership, and character. We congratulate the following members of the Class of 2026:
- Axel Black
- Mia Canales
- Hazel Curry
- Lauren Kaswan
- Luke Long
- Amena Martinez-Paris
- Dylan Menard
- Georgie Nichols
- Hailey Pastel
Proctor's Chapter of the National Art Honor Society
- Hannah Churchill
- Annie Johnson
- Anna Warzocha
The following awards were presented at Commencement 2026:
Charles Levy Award (Valedictorian)
Presented to the valedictorian of the graduating class.
Citizenship Award
Presented to the best all-around citizens in the senior class.
Charles A. Jones Outstanding Athlete Award
Awarded to the most outstanding athletes in the graduating class.
Allan S. Bursaw Award
Presented for high effort and citizenship.
Carl B. Wetherell Award
Presented for faithful and willing performance of all extracurricular responsibilities.
Fred Elroy Emerson 1886 Award
Presented to the student who, during the junior and senior years, has shown the greatest development in attaining the ideals of Proctor.
Robert J. Livingston Community Service Award
Presented to the student who has made outstanding contributions to the community through volunteer service to others.
Lyle H. Farrell Award
Presented to the senior who has performed outstanding service to the school and to fellow students.
Philip H. Savage Award
Presented for outstanding leadership qualities.
Andover Service Club Award
Alice S. Fowler Award
Presented to the student in the graduating class who best exemplifies strength of character, personal dedication, and commitment to the Proctor community.
John O'Connor '79 Award for Excellence in Teaching
Alumni two and five years out of Proctor vote for the individual among the current faculty who, in their opinion, is most deserving of this Excellence in Teaching Award. The quality of a teacher is the key to good education: quality defined by the love of learning, curiosity, self-discipline, intellectual honesty, and most importantly, the ability to meaningfully and responsibly connect with other people.
Head of School Amy Smucker notes, "JB brings unmatched enthusiasm, authenticity, and joy to this community, and you cannot help but smile when you see him because his energy is so genuine and contagious. JB shows up for the greater good of Proctor and approaches everything with thoughtfulness, heart, and deep commitment, making this community a warmer and more connected place."
Dean of Teaching and Learning Derek Nussbaum Wagler shared, "Known for the warm smile that greets every student, this year's O'Connor Award winner does more than just teach—he mentors. By sitting side-by-side with his students, he helps them find their voices as writers and their courage as scholars. With a wit as sharp as his signature grin, he models a true lifelong love of learning, whether he's working in the woodshop or mentoring the guitar club. Congratulations to our resident poet, John Bouton."
Renaissance Teacher Award
Established in 2001 by Andy Klein from the class of 1996, the Renaissance Teacher Award was created to recognize a Proctor faculty or staff member who has gone above and beyond to make the experiences of students at Proctor more meaningful through their encouragement and support. Voted on by the graduating class, the recipient should be someone who is a teacher in the broader context -- someone who you feel has helped shape and change your life and the lives of those around you in a positive way. The ideal recipient would be known as the Renaissance Teacher.
Head of School Amy Smucker shares, "Shauna is the kind of educator who reminds us what this work is truly about. Teaching is not simply her profession, it is clearly her calling, and she brings passion, rigor, wisdom, humor, and deep care to her students and this community every single day, inspiring all of us to hold the standards for teaching and learning at Proctor extraordinarily high."
Dean of Teaching and Learning Derek Nussbaum Wagler notes, "A cornerstone of the Proctor community since 2008, Shauna has spent nearly two decades modeling what it means to be an educational leader. In her English classroom, she challenges students to dig deeper, think broader, and question everything—always pairing her fierce advocacy with high standards. Years before the school adopted a formal policy, she pioneered the 'Threshold Rule,' teaching her students the value of being truly present and disconnected from their technology when entering her classroom."
Nance Barrett Service Award
Honors the loyal services of non-faculty staff. This award seeks to achieve two goals: to recognize extra-ordinary service to the Proctor Community by a non-faculty member and to heighten awareness of the dedication, hard work, and loyalty of all its employees which makes possible the smooth operation of this institution.
Director of Athletics Gregor Makechnie '90 shared, "To external constituencies, Becky Walsh is an impeccable ambassador for Proctor. She is held in high regard by athletic directors across New England for her professionalism. She is the first point of contact with Proctor Academy for many people, fielding all kinds of questions about game day logistics and communicating with officials about last minute schedule changes. To internal constituencies, Becky is the queen of logistics both for athletics and across campus. Becky is constantly finding ways to support other departments on campus. At any given moment, she might be spotted helping to sort mail, administering an AP test, or working through a seemingly endless list of Orah Pass requests. To the Athletic Department, Becky is our 'glue.' Her desk is a gathering spot where department members congregate -- in part because she likely has the answer to a question they are holding but also because they simply enjoy being in her presence. She quickly jumps into action to ensure the smooth functioning of our department. Why does she do all this? What is her raison d'être? Becky will tell you that she enjoys helping people. It both drives and fulfills her. She is observant of needs as they arise and quickly works to help solve issues. We are so fortunate to have her as part of our team and community."
The following members of the Class of 2026 were also recognized at Senior Recognition Night:
- Clara May Currier Distinction in English – Hazel Curry, Ada Goren, Sophia Lebda, Amena Martinez-Paris, Dylan Menard, Georgie Nichols, Abbey Perkins, and Sedona Read
- Connie Appel Award for Writing Excellence – Sedona Read
- June and William Noble Award for Creative Writing – Virginia Arnold
- Stanley V. Wright Distinction in History – Ada Goren, Amena Martinez-Paris, Sedona Read, and Riley Christopher
- Distinction in Science – Hailey Pastel, Dylan Menard, Amena Martinez-Paris, Ada Goren, Sedona Read, Georgie Nichols, and Riley Christopher
- Lee Carvalho Distinction in Mathematics – Georgie Nichols, Mia Canales, Max Preuss, Adele Ziemba, Amena Martinez-Paris, Hailey Pastel, Burke Pekala, Lauren Kaswan, Cooper Zapton, and Linden Morgan
- Distinction in World Language, Mandarin – Huyen Nguyen
- Distinction in World Language, French – Lauren Kaswan
- Distinction in World Language, Spanish – Riley Christopher, Amena Martinez-Paris, Penelope Garth, Hazel Curry, Adele Ziemba, and Hailey Pastel
- David Fowler Award for Mountain Classroom – Christina Fossum
- Distinction in Visual Arts – Anna Warzocha, Hailey Pastel, and Mia Canales
- Distinction in Industrial Arts – Christina Fossum, Evan Houser, and Hannah Churchill
- Distinction in Performing Arts, Music – Ada Goren
- Distinction in Performing Arts, Theater – Hazel Curry, Alice Ryan, and Knox Thompson
- Renaissance Arts Award – Eleanor Labrie
- Charlie Durell Green Key Award – Jake Lantis, Kyara Cruz, Hazel Curry, and Abbey Perkins
- Doc Howard Sportsmanship Award – Mia Canales and Édouard Belval-Turmel
- Spencer Wright Team Player Award – Christina Fossum and Burke Pekala
- Varsity Award – Hannah Sweatt, Reagan Martens, Rayanna Wagaman, Max Preuss, Ollie Grotnes, and Scotty Connors
- Proctor Academy Athletics Award – Georgie Nichols, Bella Simeone, Brodie Frink, and Layk Quackenbos
- John Schoeller Award – Arman Bast
Watch the Senior Recognition Night Livestream Recording
Congratulations to the members of the Class of 2026 recognized this spring, and to John Bouton, Shauna Turnbull, and Becky Walsh, who earned the gratitude of the students and colleagues they show up for every day.
- Commencement
- Faculty/Staff
- Student Work