--- title: Academic and Service Awards Announced at Fourth Day Honors description: Friends Academy’s seniors were feted with awards, scholarships, and recognition at the school’s Fourth Day Honors ceremony. --- [News at Friends Academy ](https://www.friendsacademy.org/news) # [Academic and Service Awards Announced at Fourth Day Honors](https://www.friendsacademy.org/news/fourth-day-honors-ceremony-academic-service-awards-2026) Written by [Matt Gagne](https://www.friendsacademy.org/news/author/matt-gagne) | Jun 11, 2026 10:36:08 PM Friends Academy’s graduating seniors (along with a handful of students from other classes) were feted with awards, scholarships, and recognition at the school’s Fourth Day Honors ceremony on Wednesday morning. The event celebrated students’ achievements across academics, arts, and athletics, with 17 members of the Class of 2026 being inducted into the school’s chapter of the prestigious Cum Laude Society. The ceremony inside the Dolan Center Theater opened with Head of School Mr. Paul Stellato welcoming 1990 Friends Academy graduate Mr. Jeff Daniels as the recipient of this year’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Mr. Daniels, the father of three Friends Academy graduates, serves as the treasurer on the school’s Board of Trustees. He is the deputy mayor for the Village of Hempstead, where he is affectionately known as “Hempstead’s Son” for his deep commitment to community-centered development, housing equity, and neighborhood revitalization. “My friend, Jeff Daniels, is leading a life of service to his community and his school,” Mr. Stellato said. “That we honor Jeff today is to illustrate a simple truth for each of you who will graduate from Friends Academy: that to function well and fully, our school must rely and call upon the service, the wisdom, and the experience of its alumni — for it is in the lives of alumni that the school’s mission fully reveals itself.” Being on stage to receive the honor, Mr. Daniels said, “felt like coming home.” In his speech, he described how his time at Friends Academy, especially those quiet times of reflection inside The Meeting House, taught him “how to pause, how to reflect, how to listen, not just to others, but to myself” and ultimately helped shape the arc of his life. “The description of this award says it goes to alumni who let their lives speak,” he said. “That's a really powerful idea, because it suggests that what matters most isn't what you say about yourself or what others say about you, but how you live over time. At Friends, we all know the central theme is that each person has a light inside of them. As a student, I understood that in a very abstract way. But over time I've come to see the light as something very real. It’s your conscience, it’s your talent, it’s what makes you uniquely you — and the work of your life is to recognize that light, to develop it, and to live in alignment with it.” * * * * * ### **Headmaster’s Awards** The James E. Gardner Headmaster’s Award is presented to two students in the graduating class who have demonstrated in their Upper School years the qualities of kindness, integrity, cooperation, effort, cheerfulness, participation in school activities, and unselfishness. Though recipients may be exceptional students, athletes, and artists, it is the qualities of heart, mind, and spirit that distinguish winners of this annual award. This year’s winners are Cynthia Eustache (Wesleyan University) and Kody Mitchell (Berklee College of Music). A standout sprinter on the girls’ track team, Cynthia is a two-time Nike All-America; a state champion; a two-time Long Island champion; and a 13-time Nassau County champion. “Though her athletic accomplishments will place her in the pantheon of Friends Academy greats,” Mr. Stellato said, “we will remember her for her striving after other enduring things: community and conscience; ethical and spiritual action and awareness; and a moral clarity that compels her to advocacy and involvement. It is a true measure of this young woman’s character that, for so many here, it is Cynthia’s joyful, generous spirit and striving after justice that distinguishes her as much as her trove of medals.” A regular on the Friends Academy stage, Kody’s award nomination included a deep observation from a faculty member: “Though he is often called upon to take on characters and personas that are nothing like him — from the Big Bad Wolf to Benvolio — nothing can dim his inner light. It shines through everywhere.” He and his guitar were regulars at coffee houses, peace vigils, and even late-night hangouts with groups of friends on the Quad. True to form, Kody performed the guitar arrangement “Blue Bossa” at the beginning of the ceremony with bassist Teddy Dorego ’28. “I am reminded of Shakespeare’s wonderful observation that all the world is a stage,” Mr. Stellato said. “But this young man has turned it upside down, making a world of the stage and inviting us all to join him. Whether you have been here for nine months or four years, you likely have a Kody Mitchell moment in which you were enriched by his kindness, decency, and integrity. He has taken his obligation as a citizen of Friends Academy very seriously, and his example has been a guide to the many whose lives he has touched.” * * * * * ### Cum Laude Induction Bryan Bin (Harvard University) Amanda Gimbel (New York University-Shanghai) Ava Jaklitsch (Boston College) Pia Jauhar (University of Chicago) Nicholai Jordan (University of Miami) Jacob Kim (Emory University) Aaron Labelson (Duke University) Mason Linken (Wesleyan University) Mircea Manu (Williams College) Charles Nevin (Williams College) Sofia Schwarz (Brown University) Winston Vance (University of California-Los Angeles) Meher Walia (Cornell University) Julang “Jerry” Wang (Cornell University) Charlotte Yanke (Haverford College) Charli Zahtila (Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University) Daren Zhong (University of California-LosAngeles) * * * * * ### Academic Disciplines Roger Erickson English Award Mackenzie Breg (University of Southern California) Angelina Posada (Savannah College of Art and Design) Charli Zahtila Chinese Award** **Arielle Roberts (Colgate University) French Award** **Blake Doan (Class of 2027) Latin Award** **Sofia Schwarz Charlotte Yanke Spanish Award Aidan Lloves (Trinity College-Dublin) Sofia Schwarz Elizabeth Roosevelt History Award** **Shuoming “Ryan” Chang (University of Chicago) Taylor Price (Williams College) Charlotte Yanke Mathematics Award** **Sofia Schwarz Science Award** **Aaron Labelson Sofia Schwarz Julang “Jerry” Wang Computer Science Award** **Aaron Labelson Vir Vinnay Singh (Carnegie Mellon University) * * * * * ### Elizabeth Durante Community Service Award Jordan Eisbruck (University of Texas at Austin) The Elizabeth Young Durante Community Service Award is presented in honor of Elizabeth Durante ’06, who passed away in 2009. This Community Service Award is given to a senior who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to serving those in need.   Roger Erickson Humanities Award Charli Zahtila Sydney Wang (Class of 2027) Jack Costagliola (Class of 2027) Shayla Durrett (Class of 2028) The Roger Erickson Humanities Scholarship enables students to pursue their interest in the humanities (philosophy, literature, religion, art, music, history, language, and more) during the summer months, ensuring that a love and appreciation for literature and the performing arts flourishes in our community to honor the memory of longtime English teacher Roger Erickson. * * * * * ### **Arts** Those Who Participated in an Arts Program for Four Years Raghav Bansal Tyler Bragoli Mackenzie Breg Henry Brett- Chin Jack Byrnes Ryan Chang Lexi Cohen Jemima Constantino Juliette D’addario Sophia Diaz Aiden Dufford Cynthia Eustache Abby Frazer Natalia Gambino Amanda Gimbel Chelsea Gordon Andie Herman Ethan Kalimian Komal Kaur Marley Kraska Marina Krichmar Nicole Kuchta Honoria Lawton Flatters Dylan Leon Daphne Li Mircea Manu Kody Mitchell Charles Nevins Olivia Peng Angelina Posada Blaise Saad Sofia Schwarz Winston Vance Jared Williams Jaime Yeung Charli Zahtila * * * * * ### **Athletics** Outstanding Female Athlete** **Emma Brock (Pitzer College) Outstanding Male Athlete** **Cooper Mott (Lehigh University) * * * * * ### **National Merit** National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists Bryan Bin Jacob Kim (Emory University) Jaime Yeung (Washington University in St. Louis) Daren Zhong National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Students** **James Byrnes (University of Wisconsin-Madison) Alvin Deng (Carnegie Mellon University) Aiden Dufford (Cornell University) Pia Jauhar Aaron Labelson Honoria Lawton Flatters (Interlochen Center for the Arts) Mircea Manu Meher Walia Charlotte Yanke National Merit Scholarship Program Emory University Scholarship** **Jacob Kim National Merit African American Recognition Program Award Taylor Price Arielle Roberts National Merit Hispanic Recognition Program Award Crystal Mendoza (George Washington University) Sofia Schwarz * * * * * ### **Martin Jacobson Award** Christian Byron (Class of 2027) The Martin Jacobson Scholarship Award is presented in honor of Marty Jacobson, a devoted teacher, coach, mentor, and athletic director for 38 years. This scholarship goes to the student who exemplifies those leadership qualities that Marty sought to instill: integrity, commitment, inner strength, resiliency, vision, intensity, empathy, and caring service. ### **Brian James Hom Award**** ** Chace Edwards (Class of 2027) The Brian James Hom Scholarship Award is presented in honor of Brian Hom ’11, who passed away in 2011 and left a lasting impact on all who knew him through his passion for social equity and justice, innate generosity and personal warmth, wonderful sense of humor and smile, and unparalleled commitment to excellence as a runner and scholar. He genuinely respected all people and sought to restore dignity and hope to the world. This scholarship honors a student who embodies Brian’s qualities and lives according to his motto, “I am the me I choose to be.” * * * * * ### **Fahey Master Teacher Award** Mrs. Brie Kraska ’93 [This award is given annually to a faculty member](https://www.friendsacademy.org/news/friends-academy-convocation-2026) who demonstrates exceptional talent and a deep commitment to students; is widely recognized by peer colleagues for mastery in teaching; embodies the highest standards of the school through character and action; and has been a member of the Friends Academy community for at least seven years. ### **Fred Smith Memorial Coaching Award** Mr. Owen Kassimir [This award is given annually to recognize excellence](https://www.friendsacademy.org/news/friends-academy-convocation-2026), guidance, and leadership in the realm of athletics. *** * * * *** ### **Class of 2026 College Matriculations** Barnard College Berklee College of Music Boston College Brown University Bucknell University Buffalo State University-SUNY Carnegie Mellon University Coastal Carolina University Colgate University Cornell University Duke University Elon University Emory University Fairfield University Fashion Institute of Technology Hartwick College Harvard University Haverford College Interlochen Center for the Arts Lehigh University Middlebury College New York University New York University-Shanghai Northeastern University Penn State University Park Pitzer College Savannah College of Art and Design Schreyer Honors College at Penn State University Skidmore College Southern Methodist University Syracuse University Temple University-Japan The George Washington University Trinity College Trinity College Dublin Tulane University Union College University at Albany-SUNY University of California-Los Angeles University of Chicago University of Florida University of Maryland University of Miami University of Michigan University of Notre Dame University of Southern California University of St. Andrews-Scotland University of Texas at Austin University of Wisconsin-Madison Vanderbilt University Wake Forest University Washington University in St. Louis Wesleyan University Williams College *Photos by Alvin Caal / Friends Academy* [View full post](https://www.friendsacademy.org/news/fourth-day-honors-ceremony-academic-service-awards-2026) ```json { "@context" : "http://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Matt Gagne" }, "dateModified" : "2026-06-24T17:51:45.862Z", "datePublished" : "2026-06-11T22:36:08Z", "headline" : "Academic and Service Awards Announced at Fourth Day Honors", "image" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 800, "url" : "https://admissions.fa.org/hubfs/Friends%20Academy%20Fourth%20Day%20Honors%202026%2015.png", "width" : 1200 }, "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://www.friendsacademy.org/news/fourth-day-honors-ceremony-academic-service-awards-2026", "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "height" : 60, "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png", "width" : 60 }, "name" : "FA News" } } ```