Ransom Everglades welcomed its rising ninth graders to the Upper School on May 29 with the annual Eighth-Grade Send-up, a ceremony that featured the announcement of each student's name, the distribution of special awards and encouraging words from student government president Natasha Rodriguez '23, who told her peers: "I know how extraordinary of a class we are ... We are always cheering each other on ... I believe we have done our best to treat each other with respect and compassion." Photo Gallery
The send-up for the Class of 2023 at the Lewis Family Auditorium also included a number of musical performances and opened with a welcome from Head of School Penny Townsend, who reminded that each student brought something special to the class, and each student had won the faculty's appreciation. "All of you," she emphasized, "have earned our respect, our affection and our gratitude."
Head of the Middle School Rachel Rodriguez offered reflections on the students' time at the RE Middle School and also acknowledged the work of several exceptional adults. She summoned Assistant Head of the Middle School Shelly Stamler to the stage, thanking her for her years of service as she heads into retirement. "I thank you for leaving your mark as the consummate professional that you are," Rodriguez said. "Mrs. Stamler is a role model for all of us."
Rodriguez also presented the Arthur Moses Faculty Award, an annual award determined by a vote of faculty, to history and social sciences teacher Alicia Fisher, and recognized math teachers John Lewis and Ginny Onorati for 35 and 45 years of service, respectively. All received standing ovations.
Townsend presented the highest student awards, the Ransom Cup and Swenson Cup to Rogelio Munoz-Franco '23 and Natasha Rodriguez '23, respectively. Rodriguez presented the Faculty Award to Liv Steinhardt '23 and Dean of Students Pete Dipace presented the Citizenship Award to Nicolas Maynulet '23. Stamler presented the Service Award to Antonia Awad '23 and Director of Athletics and Physical Education Corey Goff presented four awards: Outstanding Male and Female Athletes (Parker Alhadeff '23 and Grace Burke '23) and Male and Female Scholar Athletes (Victor Perez '23 and Lauren Howard '23).
Among the student performances throughout the event was a performance of "Our Journey" by string students; the song was written by Ian Barnett '23.
Founded in 1903, Ransom Everglades School is a coeducational, college preparatory day school for grades 6 - 12 located on two campuses in Coconut Grove, Florida. Ransom Everglades School produces graduates who "believe that they are in the world not so much for what they can get out of it as for what they can put into it." The school provides rigorous college preparation that promotes the student's sense of identity, community, personal integrity and values for a productive and satisfying life, and prepares the student to lead and to contribute to society.