May 27, 2026
Upper School students at Mounds Park Academy dedicate tremendous time and energy to their work, embodying the values that make our community proud. In recognition of their accomplishments, MPA held the Upper School Awards Assembly on Friday, May 22, in the Nicholson Center. The event celebrated students who earned distinctions in areas such as Academics, National Merit, Scholarships, Yearbook, Choir, Band, Orchestra, Visual Art, Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Forensics, French, Spanish, Drama, Athletics, the Spirit of ’86, Certificates of Distinction, and the Alumni Association. Join us in congratulating these outstanding students! View the full photo gallery from the awards here.
Cum Laude Inductees
- Nom-Ujin Byambatsogt
- Thomas Dickson
- Theta Doffing
- Piper Hubert
- Mina Kim
- Liam Kimmerle
- Ash Klann
- John Shilcox
- Matthew Tan
- Cosmo Vanzyl
- Soren Winikoff
Valedictorian
- Liam Kimmerle
- Ash Klann
- Soren Winikoff
Salutatorian
- Thomas Dickson
National Merit Finalists
- Thomas Dickson
- Mina Kim
- Liam Kimmerle
National Merit Commended
- Boyd Mayfield
Class of 2026 National Merit Entrants
- Hannabella Li
- Kelvyn Boddipalli
- Oslo Norcross
- Sidd Sastry
- Evie Minear
Quill & Scroll New Members
- Jake Wyant
- Oslo Norcross
- Peyton Pettipiece
- Megan Snider
- Lucy Sherwood
Quill & Scroll Continued Commitment
- Cosmo Vanzyl
- Rosie Bergh
- Hope Burnett
Quill & Scroll Outstanding Service
- Nom-Ujin Byambatsogt
- Mina Kim
Choir Outstanding Senior Awards
- Truman Wilgocki
Choir Director’s Award
- Emmett Johnston
- Grace Nelson
All-State Choir
- Grace Nelson
- Warner Reid
- Truman Wilgocki
National Orchestra Award
- Andrea Pugh
Orchestra Director’s Award
- Theta Doffing
All-State Orchestra
- Lilly Liao
John Philip Sousa Award
- Chali Yang
Louis Armstrong Jazz Award
- Luka Nelson
All-State Band
- Boyd Mayfield
- Chali Yan
French Department Award
- Rosie Bergh
- Liam Kimmerle
- Cosmo VanZyl
Spanish Department Award
- Hanna Egal
Bilingual Seals Showing Proficiency In A World Language
- Alona Vietrova (Russian and Ukrainian)
- Yusuf Ali (Somali)
- Yujin Byambotsogt (German)
- Mina Kim (Korean)
- Cosmo VanZyl (French)
- Lara Bodylawson (French)
English Department Award
- Amelia Vale
Graduate Certificates of Distinction
Global
- Mina Kim
- Alona Vietrova
- Thomas Dickson
- Yusuf Ali
STEM
- Piper Hubert
- Soren Winikoff
Literary Arts
- Amelia Vale
Fine Arts
- Camille Hirsch
Visual Department Award
- Camille Hirsch
Math Department Award
- John Shillcox
Science Department Award/Lois Williams Scholarship Award
- Ash Klann
Social Studies Department Award
- Mina Kim
Forensics Award
- Ash Klann
Drama Director’s Awards
- Grace Nelson
Jen DeGolier Award for Excellence in Technical Theatre
- Thomas Dickson
Hudson Theater Impact Award
- Andrea Pugh
Rookie of the Year Award
- Veronica Finc
- Gabi Appert
Player of the Year Award
- Thomas Dickson
Senior Panther Award Recipients
- Alex Larson
- Soren Winikof
- Hope Burnett
- Piper Hubert
Maplewood Rotary Student of the Year Recipient
- Ameila Vale
Spirit of ‘86 Award
- Sidney Lundeen
Future Alumni Leader Award
- Peyton Pettipiece
Alumni Association Award
- Adrienne Zertuche ‘03
Think Independently Award
- Nicholas Bergh
Effective Communication Award
- Elizabeth Jacobson Faye
Act with Respect and Integrity Award
- Josh Murr
Intellectual Ambition Award
- Sidd Sastry
Global Responsibility Award
- David Ysunza Wolburg
Joy of Learning Award
- August Godfrey
