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Cultivating Curiosity and Learning: Cum Laude Chapel featuring Dr. Abounadi

  • Speaker Program
Cultivating Curiosity and Learning: Cum Laude Chapel featuring Dr. Abounadi

At the Cum Laude Academic Awards Chapel on October 7, 2024, Greg Schneider, Ronald M. Druker ‘62 Head of School began by welcoming 6 members of the Board of Trustees for Trustee Visiting Day, expressing gratitude for their contributions. He emphasized the importance of academic excellence at Belmont Hill, highlighting a culture where curiosity, risk-taking, and intellectual passion are valued. Mr. Schneider encouraged students to focus on self-improvement in academics and to celebrate their peers' successes as part of a shared academic journey.

The ceremony acknowledged students named to the honor roll and other academic achievements. AP Scholars were recognized for their success on Advanced Placement exams. 

Advanced Placement (AP) Scholars Named

AP Scholar with Distinction (granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all exams and a 3 or higher on 5 or more AP exams)

AP Scholar with Distinction: Form VI
Jack Barrett 
Leighton Calhoun
Connor Emmert
Juan Pablo Fernández del Castillo
Daniel Jones, Jr.
Jai Karande
Ernest Lai
Alejandro Laidlaw
David Luo
Maxwell Ramanathan
Maksim Roman
Adam Shaff
Kaidan Sheehan
Thomas Sheehan
John Stonestreet
Adrian Tan
Gabriel Umlas
Emerson Walker
William Walton
Alexandre White
Wesley Zhu

AP Scholar with Honor (average of at least 3.25 on all exams and a 3 or higher on 4 or more AP exams).

AP Scholar with Honor: Form VI
Stephen Agular
Brady Boudreau
Nathan Folker
Henry Hagedorn
James Keefe
Luis-Maximilian Kuehberger
Lucas Nuernberg
Ryan Pohl
Cooper Tarlie
William Umscheid
Andrew Waugh
Charles Webb
Davis Woolbert


AP Scholar with Honor: Form V
Eita Fuse
Luke Waldeck

AP Scholars (scored 3 or higher on 3 or more AP exams)

AP Scholars: Form VI
Benjamin Adams
Henry Buckley-Jones
Thomas Dolan
Michael Furey
Andrew Hildebrandt
Ryan Hoffman
Giacomo Kaplan
Jin Lee
John Mazur
Ross McKee
Vincent Mezzanotte
Chad Sidel
Alex Tosi

AP Scholars: Form V
Panos Gianoukos
Benjamin Gong
Jaiden Lee
Brandon Li
Justin Li
Timothy Snail
Ethan Xie
Alex Zhang
Nathan Zhang


The following academic awards were presented:

Donato Monaco American History Prize presented by Mr. Glenn Harvey: 

James Keefe ‘25, for his paper: “A Practice So Repugnant to Catholic Feelings: U.S. Catholic Anti-Slavery movements in the Ante-Bellum and Early Civil War Eras” 

Profile Prize presented by Mr. Christopher Zellner for their outstanding biographical narratives:

Samuel Flood '26: “From Rock Stars to the OKC Bombings: Gelzinis’s Journey Through Journalism”

Jaiden Lee '26: “Jon Ricci: The Man Who Sings, Wrestles, and has a Good Time”

Middle School Achievement Awards were presented by Mr. Tim Sullivan to the following Form IV students in recognition of their academic excellence and dedication while in the Middle School:

Class of 2027
Beckett Britt-Webb
Jonathan Hunnicutt
Jake Ma
Riley Marth
Patrick Nolan
Dante Roman
William Sandor
Hunter Steeves
William Trautz


Cum Laude Awards
The awards culminated with the induction of nine Form VI students into the Cum Laude Society, honoring their outstanding academic achievements. In the spring, additional members will join this group. The new Cum Laude honorees are:

Class of 2025
Leighton Calhoun
Connor Emmert
Alejandro Laidlaw
Maxwell Ramanathan
Maksim Roman
Adam Shaff
Gabriel Umlas
Emerson Walker
Andrew Waugh

Guest Speaker: Dr. Jinane Abounadi

The event concluded with an introduction of Dr. Jinane Abounadi, Executive Director of the MIT Sandbox Innovation Fund and a Belmont Hill parent of two graduates, as the Cum Laude guest speaker. Dr. Abounadi emphasized the importance of fostering a passion for learning, “Learning is not solely about grades, GPAs, or rankings; it’s about fostering a genuine enthusiasm for knowledge,” she said.

Dr. Abounadi, who shared her journey from Marrakech, Morocco, to becoming a leader in computer science and electrical engineering, reflected on her transformative experiences in education. Central to her message to students was the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern education. She challenged everyone to think critically about how they interact with AI tools, emphasizing that learners must take an active role in their education. Instead of relying on AI for quick answers, she encouraged them to ask deeper questions, thereby enhancing their understanding of complex topics, such as climate change and fracking.

By sharing examples, she illustrated how students can effectively utilize AI for research. Instead of simply seeking pros and cons of a topic, students should engage with AI to uncover foundational questions that guide their inquiry. She addressed the concept of prompt engineering, the skill of formulating effective questions to maximize AI's potential. She encouraged students to view AI as a valuable resource that, when used thoughtfully, can enhance their ability to think critically and independently.

Dr. Abounadi concluded with a reminder that, regardless of the technological advancements we face, the essence of learning—being adaptable and acquiring new skills—remains constant. “Your ability to learn and use the resources available to you will empower you to navigate whatever changes lie ahead,” she stated, urging students to embrace their role as lifelong learners in a world shaped by AI.

This celebration of academic excellence served not only as an acknowledgment of students’ achievements but also as a powerful call to cultivate curiosity and a commitment to learning in the face of technological change.


 

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