Eleven Wellesley residents graduate from The Rivers School in Weston

WESTON, MA— Eleven Wellesley residents were among 93 students to graduate from The Rivers School in Weston on Friday, June 10.

Christian G. Capello was awarded the Interdisciplinary Studies Prize on Prize Day. He was a member of Red Key, which provide tours to prospective families, and sang in the Rivers a cappella club. A Scholar-Athlete Award recipient and honor roll student, he co-captained the varsity hockey team which won the 2016 Eberhart Championship and was chosen for the all-ISL team. He also managed the girls’ lacrosse team. The son of Jeff and Tanya Capello, Christian will attend Bowdoin College in the fall.

Grace A. Carlin was a high honor roll student and served as co-president of Red Key, training and scheduling students to provide tours for prospective families. She organized an annual dodgeball tournament as a fundraiser for a girls’ school in Africa, and was active on campus as a manager of the varsity lacrosse team and as a member of the Nonesuch Players. The daughter of Jamie and Susan Carlin, Grace will attend Villanova University in the fall.

Madeleine R. Carlin was a member of the Red Key tour guide group and manager of the varsity football team. An honor roll student, she also played soccer and lacrosse as an underclassman, and did extensive volunteer work with special needs children, both at Camp Arrowhead and with the Tops Soccer team in her hometown. The daughter of Jamie and Susan Carlin, Maddie will attend Elon University in the fall.

Samuel F. Denomme, an honor roll student and Scholar-Athlete Award recipient, was a member of the varsity baseball team and a local club team, and manager of Rivers’ hockey team. He also played trombone in the award-winning Big Band. With a strong commitment to community service, he worked with the Cannonball Foundation, an organization that makes baseball accessible to youth from underprivileged homes, with the Special Olympics, and with other youth baseball camps. The son of Mark and Joy Denomme, Sam will attend Wake Forest University in the fall.

Marcie R. Lowenstein was a member of the yearbook staff for four years, and served as co-editor this year. She was a representative on the school’s Alumni Council, serving as liaison between current students and alumni, and a high honors student who participated in the school’s immersion program in Spain last summer. Outside of Rivers, she was a competitive gymnast, and volunteered for the “Give Kids A Smile” program through the American Dental Association. The daughter of Jeff Lowenstein and Robin Eliasberg, Marcie will attend Tulane University in the fall.

Elizabeth K. Magnan was awarded the Two-Dimensional Arts Prize on Prize Day. Her artwork earned her a Silver Key award from the Scholastic Art Award and two honorable mentions at Small Independent School Art League Exhibitions. A high honors student and dedicated dancer and dance instructor away from Rivers, Elizabeth was involved in many community service events on campus and was a member of Red Key. The daughter of Rick and Wendy Magnan, Elizabeth will attend Connecticut College in the fall.

Ryan C. Parsons was a four-year member and senior captain of the varsity boys’ lacrosse team, helping the team to a program record of 15 wins. Off the field, Ryan was instrumental in organizing the big brother/big sister program on campus that paired juniors and freshman for community building events. In the offseason, he gave back to the sport he loves by coaching youth teams in the area. The son of John and Karen Parsons, Ryan will attend Bucknell University in the fall.

Emily M. Saperstone served as a teacher’s assistant in the math department, was one of the senior editors of Rivers’ yearbook, and was a member of Red Key. A high honors student, she was a three-year member and senior captain of the girls’ varsity tennis team, earning the Coaches’ Award as a senior. She also earned the Most Improved Skier Award as a senior with the varsity alpine skiing team. The daughter of Peter and Nancy Saperstone, Emily will attend Vanderbilt University in the fall.

Isabel A. Sharpe was awarded the Otto Alcaide Language Prize for French on Prize Day. She was the president of the Rivers Integrated Cultural Awareness Club, championing many social justice and inequality issues while helping to organize the Day of Consideration, the Gay Straight Alliance’s Coming Out Day, and the Day of Silence. Isabel received the Duke of Edinburgh Award, for completing a community service and wilderness tripping program in Scotland. The daughter of David and Nancy Sharpe, Isabel will attend Tulane University in the fall.

Colby Q. Slifka was a member of Rivers Givers, the school’s youth philanthropy program, as both a junior and a senior where he helped raise funds and distribute grants to local non-profit organizations. He was also a member of the Entrepreneurship Club and a two-year varsity football player. The son of Laurie and Eric Slifka, Colby will attend Georgetown University in the fall.

Julia M. Slifka was a high honor roll student who was awarded the Otto Alcaide Language Prize for Spanish on Prize Day. She spent her time away from Rivers working at Second Step, an organization that helps women and children who have been victims of abuse, while her time on campus was devoted to the big brother/big sister program for juniors and freshman. Julia was also a two-year member of the varsity girls’ tennis team. The daughter of Andrew and Jodi Slifka, Julia will attend Georgetown University in the fall.