On Friday, May 30th our Senior Class, the Blue Crew, officially graduated from Baldwin School and became Baldwin alumni. Ever so beautifully, Natalia McCormack sang the National Anthem for the last time in front of a Baldwin audience. Senior Class President, José Andrés Benítez gave an emotive speech on the accomplishment they had all achieved together and paralleled it with their meaning of success so far. He also reminded the classmates to enjoy each moment in the future and to never give up on a goal. From a class of 50 students, 19 received Fidelity medals for being at Baldwin since Pre-K, Kinder, or First Grade
Senior Class Special Awards
- Valedictorian: Hoiyan Leung
- Salutatorian and Presidential Scholar Award Candidate: Adriana Nigaglioni
- Student of the Quarter: Claudia Rodríguez Cadilla and José Luis Urquijo Otero
- Leadership Award: José Andrés Benítez and Janisha Rodríguez
- Citizenship Award: Michelle Hernández Pou
- Principal’s Award: José Juan Hermina
- Eugenio María de Hostos Essay Award: Michelle Hernández Pou and Alma Vázquez – Smith
Fidelity Medals
** Awarded to students who have been at Baldwin since Pre-Kinder, Kinder or First Grade
- Pre-Kinder: Rubén Benzaquen, Francisco Bresciani, Celeste Ferré, Carlos Guevara, José J. Hermina, Hoiyan Leung, Natalia McCormack, Fiorella Medina, Adriana Nigaglioni, José M. Pérez Molina, Claudia Rodríguez, Janisha Rodríguez, Rebecca Rodríguez.
- Kinder: Valerie Díaz, Michelle Hernández.
- First Grade: José Andrés Benítez, Sebastián De la Vega, Gonzalo Iglesias, Ronak Khemlani
Scholarship Award
** Awarded to students for their involvement with the Scholarship Program
- José Andrés Benítez, Monica Escribano, Iván Finkelstein, Carlos Guevara, José J. Hermina, Ronak Khemlani, Hoiyan Leung, Andrea López Alonso, Janisha Rodríguez, Alejandro Talavera, Alma Vázquez-Smith
National Hispanic Recognition Award
- Sebastián De la Vega, Michelle Hernández, Natalia McCormack, Adriana Nigaglioni, Alma Vázquez-Smith
2014 Stefano Steenbakkers Betancourt Foundation Award
- Gianpaulo Pons
- Award Finalists: Hoiyan Leung and John Moraskie
This is the first award of its kind to be given by the Stefano Steenbakkers Betancourt Foundation. Due to the fact that this would have been Stefano’s graduating class, it was decided by the Foundation’s Board of Directors that the first award should be given to a member of this very special class in his memory.
After reviewing all the nominations sent by all the Class of 2014 members, the Foundation’s President, Dr. Juan Carlos Pagán Ortíz personally handed the award Gianpaulo Pons for embodying all the positive qualities that represent the Foundation and that dignify receiving such an award. Amongst the many adjectives that Giapualo’s peers used to describe him were: compassionate, kind hearted, genuine, respectful, and having a positive impact within the community, amongst others.