The 2021 First Quarter President’s List recipients were announced during a virtual convocation October 22.

Each quarter during the academic year, upper school faculty and staff nominate students for the award. A faculty committee receives the submissions and identifies stand-out student candidates who best exemplify The Bolles Way by pursuing excellence through courage, integrity and compassion. The selected students are announced during a special convocation four times a year.

This year’s First Quarter President’s List recipients are:

• Ian Wilkinson ’22, Rylie Ringhaver ’22 and Leah Zimmerman ’22 for helping organize and implement a successful new student orientation this year. These students led the task of organizing volunteers and ambassadors for orientation day. This responsibility extended throughout the summer as they worked to pair ambassadors and new students. The students also implemented a new welcome pep rally this school year. They worked on the schedule of the rally, produced a play list of the day, decided on games and races and managed the pep rally itself – and cleaned up afterward. It was a wonderful experience for our freshman and new students.
• Katie Sollee ’22 and Ava Sickler ’22 for helping organize and implement the successful new Wonderful Whitehurst Wednesdays program this year. This was the first year our lower school campuses had late-start Wednesdays and there was a much higher than anticipated need for early drop-off by parents at the lower schools. Because this time was set aside for faculty to meet, there were not enough adults to monitor lower school students while teachers met. Upper School San Jose Campus Head Moya Marks reached out to the senior class to see who might help watch the children during this time and Katie and Ava jumped in to lend a hand. These students have gone above and beyond, getting input from fellow students about when they would be available, creating a schedule and sending out reminders. Katie and Ava have done tremendous work as a servant-leader for this new program.
• Livi Edwards ’22, for initiating the student-led Spirit Committee this year. Her help has transformed Spirit Days. Mrs. Bruns first approached Livi at the start of school wanting to continue efforts set forth in previous years. But Livi went above and beyond. She worked with Mrs. Bruns to schedule music for the bells and created a playlist for us to use during Activities period on Spirit Day. She rounded up student volunteers and gave up her free period to help set up beforehand and pick up afterward.
• Deiya Pandya ’22 and Aarushi Sinha ’22 for the work they have accomplished in reviving the Bolles National Honor Society tutoring program. These students sought to resurrect the program which had fallen into disuse during the past two years. They met with Upper School Head Moya Marks and Dr. Kostandarithes to discuss how to best connect students and tutors, which led to their creation of an online spreadsheet to coordinate linkups. Whether during school or on nights and weekends, Deiya and Aarushi always answer and follow-up to make sure the student-tutor connection has been initialized. They have helped many students further their understanding of coursework and reach their full potential, and for this we are so grateful. Their valuable service to the entire student body is greatly appreciated.
• Deklan Dougherty ’22 for organizing a table in Verlander Hall to honor the 13 soldiers lost in a recent attack in Afghanistan. Deklan worked with FLIK Dining Services manager Paul Matthews to prepare the table, which recognized soldiers by name and honored them for the sacrifice they made for our country.
• Kayleigh Kasinger ’24 for organizing the collection of supplies for Afghan refugees who recently arrived in Jacksonville. Kayleigh recognized these refugees were arriving with few personal possessions and decided to help make a difference. She contacted Lutheran Social Services to determine the need, then placed collection boxes around campus and advertised a drive. Her personal delivery of the items made a tremendous difference in the lives of many.

Congratulations to these students for their inspiring demonstration of The Bolles Way! Enjoy a video presentation of the President's List winners here.