Student Achievements
The faculty of James River Day School is pleased to report the following achievements by our students during the past year.
Edna Gilchrist Scholarship Award was won by John Cook. Established by Joseph A. Gilchrist in 1996, this recognizes the fourth grade student who has achieved the highest academic success based on standardized test scores, report cards, and teacher recommendation.
Chatham Hall Book Award & Scholarship was awarded to Delaney Evans. This award recognizes a seventh-grade girl who is in excellent academic standing, demonstrates leadership and character, and exhibits a love of learning. This year’s recipient received Georgia O’Keefe: An Eternal Spirit, by Susan Wright, and a scholarship which is renewable for each year she is enrolled at Chatham Hall.
Chatham Hall Science Book Award was given to Preston Williams. This award honors a sixth-grade girl who is in excellent academic standing and exhibits a love of science. This year’s award will be Girls Think of Everything, by Catherine Timmersh, and a scholarship to the Chatham Hall Science Camp.
William and Nancy Coursey Writing Award went to Caroline Taylor. Established by Mr. and Mrs. Coursey in 2005 to underscore the value of writing in the curriculum of the middle school as a part of the “Writing to be Read” initiative. The members of the faculty select the student who best demonstrates the craft of writing, especially the formal essay.
In testing by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, Justin Mitchell earned the State Award with High Honors (SCAT Verbal Test), while
Chris Chueh achieved the State Award with Distinction (Math SAT).
The Scholar Award, which honors the eighth grade student with the highest grade point average, was achieved by Haley Hiller for the 2009-10 school year.
Mary DuVal Horner Leadership Award was given to Cynthia Beasley. Established at the time of the first middle school graduation in 1999, this honors Mrs. Horner’s influence in establishing the school. The faculty selects the student in grades 5-8 who demonstrates in his/her actions the qualities of leadership, devotion to James River Day School, and a sense of service to others.
The Sheree H. Bowen Award was created by her peers on the 1998-99 Board of Trustees, this award honors Sheree’s sterling leadership at a time of dynamic growth in the school. Selected by the faculty, the recipient is a student from grades 5-8 who exemplifies the characteristics of Mrs. Bowen’s legacy: tenacity, optimism, loyalty and industry. The recipient for 2009-10 was Haley Hiller.
Edwin Nelson James, Jr. Athletic Award: This award, established in 2009, is in honor and memory of the many years Nelson celebrated at James River Day School. He was a 2005 graduate with a passion for all sports on and off the field. This award is given "to the natural athlete who gives his or her heart to every game, not for the sake of winning, but for the pure joy of sports, the exhilaration of physical activity and the camaraderie that team sports provide." Brant Manning was selected for this award in 2009-10.
Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) Citizenship Medal recognizes and rewards an eighth grade student who possesses the good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism at home, at school, and in our community. Mackenzie Frackleton was chose for this award.
Citizenship Awards: In a long-standing tradition at James River, the students in the third and fourth grades vote for the student in their grade who has exemplified the behavior and attitude of good citizenship during that academic year. BeBe Brogan and Sarah Gordon Duerson were chosen for their oustanding citizenship.
Alma McCarthy Award was established in 1979, in honor of Mrs. McCarthy. This award is given each year to a student in grades 1-4 who has worked unfailingly to achieve his or her greatest potential. Mrs. McCarthy, the school’s first secretary, worked tirelessly to help parents, students, and the Board of Trustees in any way that she could. Her goal was to make James River Day School a place where children could realize their potential. Sackett Wood, Jr. received this award based upon his outstanding work ethic.
Clunet Pettyjohn, Jr. Award was established in 1989 in honor and memory of Clunet. The Pettyjohn Award recognizes outstanding traits of character. The recipient is chosen by the faculty and administration on the basis of a strong character influenced by moral values, a lively sense of humor, a love of sports, including a sense of fair play and a desire to participate, honesty in every aspect of life, and a record of kindness to others. Haley Roeser was honored with the Pettyjohn Award.
The Neil Dooley Award commemorates Mr. Dooley’s gentle manner, his devotion to the school, and his love for the students, faculty, and staff. This annual award was given by the faculty to Gillian Gondi and Marion Butler because they demonstrated those qualities we so admired in Mr. Neil: kindness, conscientiousness, devotion, and pride in being a part of the James River Day School community.
