Miss Hall's School Graduates 44 in Class of 2023

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Miss Hall's School graduated 44 seniors, including 13 local students, on Sunday, June 4.
 
The school's 125th ceremony took place under a large tent behind the Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Arts Center on the school's Holmes Road campus and was shared worldwide via Zoom and Facebook Live.
 
Hosted by Head of School Julia Heaton, the ceremony included remarks from Senior Class President Jena Alam, of Dhaka, Bangladesh; School President Cherish Buxton, of Jersey City, N.J.; School Vice President Viola Quiles, of Dalton; and Board of Trustees President Nancy Gustafson Ault, Class of 1973.
 
This year's remarks were delivered by Wendy Garcia, deputy commissioner for equity and inclusion for the New York Police Department. Garcia was introduced by her niece, Jenelee Saldaña, of New York City.
 
Christopher Himes, the school's director of engineering and technology innovation and STEAM coordinator, was named the Leonhardt Family Teaching Chair. 
 
Bestowed every four years, the Leonhardt Chair recognizes a Miss Hall's faculty member who possesses the highest personal and professional ethics, who has made a lifelong commitment to young people, whose skillful instruction enlivens the experience of learning, and whose wise counsel and guidance to students extend beyond the classroom. Faculty, staff, and students submit nominations for the honor.
 
Among this year's graduates are the following local students: 
  • Grey Carmel of Pittsfield
  • Lucy Garrison of Pittsfield
  • Kenja Harley of Stamford, Vt.
  • April Harwood of Lenox
  • Malina Jackson of Sheffield
  • Viviana Lanphear of Hinsdale
  • Solitaire Niles of Shaftsbury, Vt.
  • Viola Quiles of Dalton
  • Bethania Robertson of Becket
  • Tanya Sheinkman of Becket
  • Francesca Tesoro of Windsor
  • Ollie Walter of Lanesborough
  • Anna Zheng of Pittsfield
 
The following awards were also bestowed on members of the class of 2023:
 
Joseph F. Buerger Memorial School Spirit Cup: Jenelee Saldaña of New York City
 
Margaret Witherspoon Award: Yiyan Dong of Shanghai
 
Christine Fuller Holland '33 Service Prize: Viola Quiles of Dalton
 
Faculty Commendation Award: Annais Vallejo of Boston
 
Meus Honor Stat Keys Awarded for MHS Core Competencies: Vision: Viviana Lanphear of Hinsdale and Fernanda Morais Laroca of Curitiba, Brazil; Voice: Peiran Zhang of Beijing and Cherish Buxton of Jersey City, N.J.; Interpersonal Efficacy: Kali Sears of New York City and Lucy Garrison of Pittsfield; Gumption: Grey Carmel of Pittsfield and Bethania Robertson of Becket
 
Sylvia 'Rusty' Shethar Everdell '38 Prize: Bethania Robertson of Becket
 
Paul C. Cabot Jr. History Prize: Peiran Zhang of Beijing
 
Senior Prize in Engineering and Tech Innovation: Lily Rhoades of Tarrytown, N.Y.
 
Live Rouse Science Award: Kaiyue Wang of Beijing and Bethania Robertson of Becket
 
James K. Ervin Mathematics Prize: Fernanda Morais Laroca of Curitiba, Brazil
 
Horizons Prize: Malina Jackson of Sheffield
 
English for Speakers of Other Languages Award: Nguyê?n Hoang Thao Vy of Ho Chi Minh, Viet Nam
 
Mansfield E. Pickett Latin Prize: Yiyan Dong of Shanghai
 
Spanish Prize: Xia (Emily) Meng of Beijing
 
Monique Jalbert French Prize: Ollie Walter of Lanesborough
 
Virginia Breene Wickwire '67 Reading Prize: Lucy Garrison of Pittsfield and Bianca Kerr of Feeding Hills
 
Doris E. Pitman English Prize: Lucy Garrison of Pittsfield
 
Photography Award: Ollie Walter of Lanesborough
 
Susanna McCreath Music Prize: Peiran Zhang of Beijing
 
Angela Kalischer Theater Prize: Performance: Yiyan Dong of Shanghai; Technical: Grey Carmel of Pittsfield
 
Ceramics Award: April Harwood of Lenox
 
Elizabeth Gatchell Klein Studio Art Prize: Viviana Lanphear of Hinsdale

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Possible Measles Exposure at Boston, Logan

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in Boston and Westborough earlier this month was diagnosed with measles and was present in a number of locations.
 
This could have resulted in other people being exposed to measles virus.
 
The visitor arrived at Logan International Airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m. They stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Boston-Westborough in Westborough and departed the state on Dec. 12 via Logan at 9:19 p.m. on JetBlue flight 117 to Las Vegas.
 
DPH is working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and local partners to identify and notify those who may have been exposed to measles from this individual.
 
"Measles is a highly contagious, airborne disease, which has increased significantly in the United States because of the unfortunate decrease in vaccination rates. It is also a preventable disease," said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein. "This current situation serves as an important reminder of the critical role vaccination plays in protecting our communities. While Massachusetts has not had a measles case this year, 2025 saw the highest number of nationwide cases in more than a decade — nearly 2,000 in 44 jurisdictions, and sadly, three deaths. 
 
"Fifteen years ago, measles had been considered eliminated in the United States, but that tremendous progress is at risk. Vaccines are one of the most important public health interventions ever — they are safe, effective, and lifesaving."
 
Measles is very contagious. However, the risk to most people in Massachusetts is low because the vaccination rate in the state is high. People who are not immune and visited any of the locations on the following dates and times may be at risk for developing measles.
 
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