Harwood 2026 senior awards, scholarships, accolades & farewell tour
June 16, 2026 | By Waterbury Roundabout 
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
A highlight of the last week of school for Harwood’s class of 2026 was Senior Awards Night. On Thursday, June 11, seniors, their family members, teachers, guidance counselors and principals gathered under the graduation tent for the ceremony to recognize members of the class for their achievements. Awards and scholarships were announced, acknowledging their academic success, their commitment to service, their musical and athletic achievements and dedication.
Some of the honors are annual recognitions from Harwood teachers, coaches and staff. Others are bestowed by community organizations and private foundations. A full list is published below.
On the final day of the school year, the class received their caps and gowns, put them on, then boarded school buses to visit the district’s elementary schools that many of them attended. At each stop, the soon-to-be graduates had a chance to reminisce, greet some former teachers, and give the youngsters following in their footsteps a chance to see what lies ahead. (see below)
Retracing old footsteps
Post-graduation plans
Art for the awards night program by Harwood senior AJ Brooks.
The Harwood Guidance Department shared the list of the colleges and universities that seniors are planning to attend after graduation. Those with more than one Harwood student enrolling are noted below.
In addition to college, students’ post-graduation plans also include entering apprenticeship programs, furthering their career and trade education, participating in a gap or service year, and entering the workforce. “We are proud of each and every one as they continue on their journey,” school counselor Erin Dezell said.
Bard College, Coastal Carolina University, Colby-Sawyer College (2), Colorado State University, Columbia University, Community College of Vermont (2), Cornell University, Georgia Institute of Technology, Indiana University Bloomington, Ithaca College (3), James Madison University, Lehigh University, Montana State University, Northeastern University, Northern Arizona University, Northwestern University, Norwich University, Paul Smith's College (2), Plymouth State University, Queen’s University (Canada), Queens University of Charlotte, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Roger Williams University (2), Roosevelt University, Saint Michael's College (2), San Diego State University (2), Savannah College of Art and Design, St. Lawrence University, State College of Florida - Venice, State University of New York Polytechnic Institute, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Tulane University, Union College (2), University of Denver, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, University of New Hampshire (5), University of Oregon, University of Rochester, University of South Carolina-Columbia, University of Vermont (11), University of Gdańsk (Poland), Utica University, and Vermont State University.
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
AWARDS
HARWOOD DEPARTMENT AWARDS
Harwood Artisans Honor
The Artisan Art Awards are awarded to senior artists whose passion, creativity and dedication have made a lasting impact on the school’s artistic community.
Recipients: AJ Brooks, Casey Klus, Indigo Leese, Savannah Pursel, Pippa Diller, Sawyer Popwicz, Jessica Pan, Mackenzie Russell
Connected Learning: Award for Excellence and Engagement, Explorer Award
The Connected Learning Department encourages students to create meaningful learning experiences for themselves. Students learn to reflect on their own learning, use their time and resources effectively, and communicate effectively with peers, teachers and community members. Recipients of these awards have demonstrated a commitment to these goals through their comprehensive work inside and outside of Harwood, and their curiosity, engagement, and self-direction have served both their own future and the larger community well. This year’s recipient received both the Connected Learning Award for Excellence and Engagement and the Explorer Award.
Recipient: Savannah Pursel
Outstanding Achievement in Internship Awards
These awards go to seniors who have creatively met their learning goals and in doing so have vastly improved our school community and workplace settings.
Recipients: Jessica Pan and Noa Ibson
Achievement in Social Studies and History Awards
Teachers in the Social Studies Department present this award to a student who has shown excellence in this field of academics during their time at Harwood.
Recipients: Aspen Linskey and Sergiu Trinca
Literary Perseverance Award
This award recognizes outstanding effort and improvement in the realm of literary analysis.
Recipient: Robert Nucci
Math Excellence Awards
An excellent mathematician has the ability to make connections, reason logically, and use the tools in their arsenal to solve problems. They also have a drive for understanding why things work and for stretching their mathematical thinking. This award honors students who have achieved high course scores and who show a willingness to share their knowledge with others.
Recipient: Lessa Dreimiller
Excellence in Science Awards
This award recognizes students who demonstrate a high level of scientific reasoning and problem-solving skills and are persistent in their quest to know and understand science.
Recipients: Mackenzie Russell, Brycen Scharf, Claire Pomer
Systems Thinker Awards
This award goes to a student who makes strong cross-curricular and interdisciplinary connections.
Recipient: Lessa Dreimiller
Seal of Biliteracy Award
Students are eligible to attain the Seal of Biliteracy based on evidence of achieving the required level of language proficiency in English plus one or more languages during their high school years, whether that be a Heritage (Native) language or a language learned in school or another setting. Biliteracy refers to having a functional level of proficiency in each language; the level of proficiency for all languages need not be identical.
Recipients: Savannah Fulton, Leo Costanza, Nicky Service, Lessa Dreimiller, Nolan Larkin, Claire Pomer, Eli Herrington, Mackenzie Russell
Harwood Way Award
Harwood Principal Megan McDonough at graduation on Saturday, June 13, announced the recipient of the Harwood Way Award, a new honor begun in 2025. It’s given in honor of Dr. Charles E. Harwood (1908-1962), a longtime Waterbury family physician for whom Harwood Union High School was named in 1966. Harwood was known for his unflagging dedication to his patients, including making regular house calls and delivering hundreds of babies. “It is said that Dr. Harwood personally delivered nearly every student in this school’s very first graduating class,” McDonough said.
The new award recognizes a senior who follows in Dr. Harwood’s tradition, referred to as the Harwood Way, for respecting his community, taking responsibility for their well-being, and being dedicated to his work. McDonough described this year’s recipient, senior Leo Costanza, as “someone who responsibly does the right thing when no one is watching.” The names of The Harwood Way Award recipients are to be engraved on a plaque near the school’s auditorium.
Recipient: Leo Costanza
File photo by Lisa Scagliotti
ATHLETIC AWARDS
Harwood Scholar-Athlete Award
Recognizing outstanding scholastic and athletic achievement, these awards are presented to seniors who have attained an accumulative grade average of 3.0 over their four years at Harwood and have a minimum of four varsity letters in at least two sports.
Recipients: Brycen Scharf and Savannah Fulton
Robert F. Fielder Athletic Memorial Award
Given in memory of Robert F. Fielder, this honor is chosen by the coaching staff and awarded to the seniors who in addition to being outstanding athletes, have demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship throughout their years of athletic competition at Harwood. Eligible students must have completed at least two years in the Harwood Athletic Program.
Recipients: Eli Herrington and Addison Olney
Harwood Outstanding Sportsmanship Award
This honors the seniors who, in the estimation of their coaches, have exemplified the highest ideals of sportsmanship in varsity competition.
Recipients: Nicky Service and Roanha Chalmers
Harwood Unsung Hero Award
Coaches select senior student-athletes who have made an outstanding contribution to the Harwood Athletics program.
Recipients: Owen Farr and Aspen Linskey
Concept 2 Scholarship
This honors two students who have shown academic excellence and have participated in sports during their school career.
Recipients: Nicolas Casey and Pippa Diller
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
MUSIC AWARDS
Each year the Harwood Music Department recognizes seniors who excel in both talent and leadership in the Chorus, the Jazz Band and the High School Band.
National School Choral Award
This is the highest honor for high school choral performers and recognizes outstanding accomplishments in singing while demonstrating advanced musicianship and dedication to the school music program.
Recipient: Nina Henzel
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award
This honor goes to the top graduating student in the Jazz Band and Assembly Band program, recognizing excellent musicianship, dedication to the program, and high artistic achievement.
Recipient: Acer Thompson
Qunicy Jones Musicianship Award
This honors outstanding students for their creativity and musicianship. In his long musical career, Quincy Jones has done it all as a composer, arranger, performer, producer, and teacher. Every music program has those students who share this boundless energy and musical versatility. With his approval, we initiate this award to encourage students in their pursuit of music.
Recipient: Sawyer Popowicz
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
SCHOLARSHIPS
Harwood Community Scholarships
The following three scholarships are awarded by the Harwood community to students nominated and selected by their teachers.
Ames Scholarship
This award is given in honor of longtime Waterbury resident Florilla Ames, who died in 2021 at age 110 and was Vermont’s oldest resident. She was a lifelong learner and activist. This scholarship is given to a student who has shown a commitment to civic engagement and education.
Recipient: Jessica Pan
Eunice B. Farr Award
Born in Warren and widowed in 1940, Eunice Farr used her talents to raise her family and run a telephone company. She was one of the first women to run a utility in the United States. With her spirit and determination in mind, Waitsfield and Champlain Valley Telecom present this award in memory of Eunice B. Farr.
Recipient: Jadhyn Walls
Brian Thomas Sweet Memorial Scholarship
This award recognizes ongoing stewardship of the land and its resources that we all depend on by assisting a student’s higher education. The award is given to a student interested in studying forestry, land management, or environmental science.
Recipient: Savannah Pursel
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Community Scholarships
The following are scholarships awarded by local, regional and national organizations and institutions.
Alchemist Opportunity Awards
The Alchemist Opportunity Awards are designed for students who aren’t sure what their field of study will be – who might be late bloomers – or who are quiet leaders and lifelong learners, interested in furthering their education.
Recipients: Lydia Fowler, Jessica Pan, Savannah Pursel, Jadhyn Walls
Dascomb P. Rowe Scholarship
Given by the Waterbury High School Alumni Association, these scholarships are a living memorial to Dascomb Rowe, a principal, teacher, coach and counselor at Waterbury High School for 40 years, who encouraged students to reach their full potential both academically and in the community. This year’s awards are each $4,500.
Recipients: Zoe Duffy, Haley MacDonald, Sofia Trinca, Taylor Berno
Merry Rowe Hermans Scholarship
From the Waterbury High School Alumni Association in memory of Merry Rowe, Dascomb Rowe’s daughter. Her legacy, including being a member of the 1954 state basketball championship team and valedictorian of Waterbury High School, can inspire today’s youth. This year’s awards are each $4,500.
Recipients: Pippa Diller, Sergiu Trinca
Father Logue Scholar Award
The Waterbury Knights of Columbus present an award in honor of Father Logue, recognizing a student who has excelled in academics.
Recipient: Claire Pomer
Gov. Phil Hoff Vermont Honors Scholarship
Created by the Vermont State Legislature and Vermont Student Assistance Corporation, this goes to one student in recognition of their scholastic excellence.
Recipient: Haley MacDonald
Griffin and Rutledge Construction Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was created in honor of Jerry Rutledge, owner and operator of Griffin and Rutledge Construction. The recipient of this scholarship was chosen due to their motivation to pursue welding as a career.
Recipient: Jacob Ladue
Mad River Valley Rotary | multiple awards
The Harwood International Distinguished Scholarship Award recognizes a student whose academic achievement, character, leadership, and commitment to service distinguish them among their peers. It honors a student who has demonstrated not only success in the classroom but also the qualities of citizenship and global awareness that reflect Rotary’s ideal of Service Above Self. This scholarship is a one-time award of $10,000.
Recipient: Cashel Higgins
The Harwood International Merit Scholarship Awards recognize students who have demonstrated academic excellence, strong character, leadership, and a commitment to making a positive difference in their school and community. The recipients have distinguished themselves through their hard work, perseverance and contributions to others. Each is an award of $2,500.
Recipients: Nicholas Casey, Haley MacDonald, Taylor Berno, Cally Young
The Dr. Roger and Candace Porter Fund STEM Scholarship is given through the generosity of Dr. Roger and Candace Porter, longtime champions of education and student opportunity in the Mad River Valley. Both have a deep appreciation for the arts and sciences, and Dr. Porter enjoyed a distinguished career in medicine that included significant research contributions at the National Institutes of Health. Through this $5,000 scholarship, they seek to encourage the next generation of innovators, problem-solvers and leaders by recognizing a student whose curiosity, achievement, and potential reflect the spirit of innovation and discovery that STEM fields represent. The recipient has demonstrated exceptional promise in these areas and a commitment to continued learning and innovation.
Recipient: Sergiu Trinca.
The Thorsen/Brightenback Award Scholarship has funded many local graduating seniors over the years, thanks to donations from a generous donor and a former Rotarian committed to supporting youth and education. This $5,000 scholarship was awarded to Sofia Trinca, a hard-working student and committed Harwood Rotary Interact Club volunteer.
The Bob Holden Memorial Scholarship honors Bob Holden, a first-generation college student who built an enduring accounting business in the Mad River Valley. He was deeply committed to his wife, a beloved home economics teacher at Harwood, and to his two sons. Bob always made time for serving his community and was an active member and leader in the Mad River Valley Rotary from 1976 until his death in 2023. For many years, he led our Rotary scholarship program. Bob was dedicated to public education and student success and also served long hours on Harwood’s school board. This year’s $2,500 scholarship goes to Milo Lavit, a student with demonstrated academic and athletic leadership and an interest in business.
Photo by Lisa Scagliotti
Mountain Gardner’s Scholarship
Presented on behalf of the Valley Garden Club in honor of Rena Chernick, this award goes to a senior pursuing environmental-related studies after high school.
Recipient: Savannah Pursel
Rebecca Peatman Scholarship
Presented by the Warren United Community Church, this award is given to a student whose involvement in service has resulted in positive outcomes for their community.
Recipient: Sofia Trinca
Red Cross of Vermont
Each year, the senior class organizes blood drives with the Red Cross of Vermont. A scholarship is awarded by the Red Cross to a student who was instrumental in the success of these events.
Recipient: Grady Hagenbuch
Robert M. Boyce Memorial Scholarships
Begun in 2025, the Robert M. Boyce For the Love of the Game Heart and Soul Memorial Scholarship was created by the family of Robert Boyce in loving memory of U.S. Air Force veteran Robert M. Boyce. It’s intended to honor Bob’s guidance and mentorship to athletes of all ages. But this is given in particular to recognize a student’s genuine love of organized, competitive baseball—the game which was Bob’s first and true passion.
Recipient: Nick Casey
Waitsfield High School Alumni Scholarship
Waitsfield High School Alumni selects deserving seniors to receive their annual scholarship.
Recipient: Nick Casey and Robert Nucci
Waterbury Grange Scholarship
This award recognizes the academic excellence of one Harwood senior.
Recipient: Sergiu Trinca
Waterbury Rotary Club Awards
The Waterbury Rotary Club presents three MacBook Air Awards to graduating seniors instead of a financial scholarship. Recipients must be enrolled in a college, university or technical school for the 2026-27 academic year.
Recipients: Sofia Trinca, Jessica Pan, Nicolas Casey
Lise Bornstein-Malter Community Service Award
The Waterbury Rotary Club presents this award to a graduating senior who demonstrates a high level of commitment to service in the greater Waterbury area.
Recipient: Olivia Cooling
Winooski Masonic Lodge #49 Scholarship
This recognizes three students from Waterbury or Duxbury who show a desire to further their education in the service of their community.
Recipients: Taylor Berno - Zoe Duffy - Haley MacDonald