Wellesley residents graduate from The Rivers School in Weston

WESTON, MA— Ten Wellesley residents were among 90 students to graduate from The Rivers School in Weston on Friday, June 12.

William J. Carlin was an extremely involved member of the Rivers community who gave of his time to serve his peers in nearly every way available to him. Will was a passionate member of both Rivers Givers, the school’s youth philanthropy program, and the Student Advisors, where he helped bridge the gap between students and faculty while mentoring younger students as they transition into 9th Grade. He was a three-year member of the varsity ice hockey team and two-year member of the varsity soccer team. The son of Jamie and Susan Carlin, he will attend Fairfield University in the fall.

Nicholas H. Churchill was a four-year member of the varsity lacrosse team whose passion for the sport has led him to coach youth teams and he ran a clinic for middle schoolers for his senior project. Additionally, Nick was a Red Key campus tour guide, serving as an ambassador for the school to prospective families. The son of Eric and Ginny Churchill, he will attend College of Wooster in the fall.

William D. Cohen was a high honor roll student whose Rivers career culminated with National Merit Commended Scholar recognition and an All-ISL selection in baseball. He was a three-year member of the varsity baseball team and two-year member of the varsity cross-country team, serving as a captain and receiving the F.E. Allison Memorial Award as a senior. Will also served as one of three Co-Presidents of the Red Key tour guide program. The son of Brad and Susan Cohen, he will attend Colby College in the fall.

Nicholas P. Hawkins was a high honor roll student whose commitment to excellence across multiple disciplines earned him the Dudley H. Willis Trustee Prize and Modern Language Prize for Chinese at Prize Day on June 11. He also was elected to the Cum Laude Society at the ceremony. He was a three-year member of the varsity soccer team, helping them to ISL and NEPSAC Championships in 2012. As a senior, Nick was named a Student Advisor. The son of David and Mary Hawkins, he will attend Wesleyan University in the fall.

Samantha A. Milne, a high honor roll student, served as the school’s co-president this year and was elected to the Cum Laude Society at Prize Day on June 11. She was a member of Rivers Givers, the school’s youth philanthropy group which raises funds for local nonprofits serving young people, as well as the school’s Service Council. She also served as campus representative of an international service group that supports sustainable job opportunities for African women. She was a four year member of the ski team, and captained the girls’ team this winter. Last summer she held one of Rivers’ summer internships at Tufts Biomedical Engineering Lab doing research on 3D tissue engineering. The daughter of David and Gina Milne, she will attend Dartmouth College in the fall.

Christopher K. Minklei, a high honor roll student and member of the Conservatory Program for talented musicians, earned a Level III Young Artists Diploma from The Rivers School Conservatory last year. He played bass for the award-winning Jazz Band and the Select Combo, building on his foundation on the cello and bass guitar. He was a four year member of the ski team and also ran cross-country for a number of years. He enjoyed participating in the school’s Investment Club, and volunteered on the school’s service trip to New Orleans over spring break. The son of Kenneth and Joan Minklei, he will attend Colby College in the fall.

James S. Nydam, a high honor roll student and National Merit Commended Scholar, was a member of Rivers’ Conservatory Program for gifted musicians. He performed with the Men’s and Mixed Choruses, and was invited to sing with the All-State chorus in 2013, 2014, and 2015. He was elected to the Cum Laude Society and received the Choral Prize at Prize Day on June 11. He also received the Brown University Alumni Book Award as a junior, in recognition of his ability as a writer. He held major singing roles in the Upper School musicals each year, including Jesus in “Godspell” and Charlemagne in “Pippin.” He was also a member of the a capella club and Encore, a service learning group that performs at local senior centers. The son of Mark and Emily Nydam, he will attend Yale University in the fall.

John S. Nydam, a high honor roll student, was an award-winning pianist and composer who received the David Killam Instrumental Music Prize and was elected to the Cum Laude Society at Prize Day on June 11. He was a member of Rivers’ Conservatory Program and performed with the Big Band and Select 1 Combo, winning numerous individual musicianship awards at competitions including the Mingus, Berklee, MAJE, and District festivals, while the ensembles themselves picked up many awards. He was chosen to play with the All-National Jazz Ensemble and was one of six international winners of the MATA Jr. composition competition. He also attended summer programs at Tanglewood, Stanford, and Interlochen. The son of Mark and Emily Nydam, he will attend Princeton University in the fall.

Rhea W. Teng, a high honor roll student and National Merit Commended Scholar, was elected to the Cum Laude Society and received the Dudley H. Willis Trustee Prize at Prize Day on June 11. She also received the coveted F. Ervin Prince Prize in Middle School. She was enrolled in the Conservatory Program for talented musicians at Rivers, and received Rivers’ Classical Music Prize for her performance on the cello with Rivers’ chamber ensemble and Youth Symphony Orchestra. Rhea was co-president of the Gay Straight Alliance on campus with a passionate commitment to social justice and diversity issues. The daughter of Yang Teng and Yongqin Wu, she will attend Yale University in the fall.

Kendall A. Young was a high honor roll student and a National Merit Commended Scholar. She was co-director of the Debate Team as well as a student member of the school’s Discipline Committee. She founded a campus Improv Club, putting into practice skills she learned during summer classes at Brown and UCLA, and wrote a humor column for the school newspaper, The Edge. The daughter of Mike and Debbi Young, she will attend Northwestern University in the fall.