Gratitude Abounds at the 2025 Ivy Address
By Suzanne Morrissey
Brewster’s 2025 Ivy Address took place Friday, May 23, the day before Commencement, in Anderson Hall. “The Ivy Address is a long-standing Brewster tradition, a chance to arrive, gather, connect, reflect, and celebrate the accomplishments of our graduates,” Head of School Kristy Kerin began before an audience of Class of 25 graduates, their families and friends, faculty and staff, and (new this year) many Juniors who were invited to stay on campus and experience Commencement Weekend events.
“Today, we will have an opportunity to hear from some of the highest-achieving members of the class, with remarks from our First Postgraduate and our Salutatorian—both remarkable representatives of their class and our school,” Ms. Kerin continued, noting that the spring term is always a blur of special events and activities, including Spring Fling, Moving Up Day, Prom, packing, goodbyes, and travel for our families and guests. “Despite the rain and chilly weather,” she said, “our graduates have made the past few weeks a time of warm friendship and heartwarming traditions,” then inviting everyone to pause, center themselves in the ceremony, and settle in to celebrate our graduates in the Class of 2025.
Next, master of ceremonies Academic Dean Matt Butcher took the podium to explain the significance of ivy in this special event. “The power of the ivy lies in its ability to cling and bind, making it a potent symbol of determination and strength to the Druids. In the Irish tradition, ivy is considered a symbol of remembrance. In academic traditions, it represents the intertwining of intellectual, philanthropic, and social pursuits. Poetically, it is symbolic of the way in which our lives become intertwined with one another's,” he said.
Mr. Butcher introduced the day’s first speaker, Korravit “Neo” Nusom, who earned the title of top post-graduate student, or “First PG.” A Royal Thai Scholar, Neo participated as a member of the sailing team in the fall, Robotics in the winter and spring, and could also be found performing at Coffee Houses, volunteering his expertise at the Math Tutor Center, and making people smile as a member of the Random Acts of Kindness Club. “He graduates with a GPA of 4.213,” Mr. Butcher said, “and will attend the Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall.”
First PG Speech
Neo revealed that just three years ago, his destiny was to become a soldier in the Royal Thai Army, which he explained is akin to being a cadet at West Point. “In the first year, I failed because my academic score was too low. In the second year, I didn’t pass the physical test. In the third, the army rejected me because of my hearing loss. I knew it was the end of the world when I found myself crying in bed, listening to ‘My Heart Will Go On’,” he shared. He switched his goal to attending a university in Thailand but still asked himself every day, “What had I lost by not joining the army?”
Neo’s dad encouraged him to apply for a Royal Thai Scholarship. Passing the test came as a surprise, and he began the process of becoming a student in the United States even as he still wondered about opportunities lost in the army. “However, after a year at Brewster, I have changed the question I ask myself, and I now wonder how much I would have lost if I had joined the army instead of Brewster,” Neo exclaimed. “I would lose the chance to have hearing aids from the kindest person, Christine Brown, who also helped me have a wonderful experience in the Royal Thai Scholar program last summer. With the hearing aids she gave me, I was able to learn audio production with Mr. Mathison pretty well. If I had joined the army, I would not have had the chance to know how energetic Mrs. Found is, and I would have missed all the times she made me smile. I would not know that Spider-Man could be on a Physics exam if I didn't get to be taught by Mr. Lui. Without Mr. Hill’s help, I would not have been able to build a Batman robot.. When my robot didn’t work, he was the one to remind me, ‘to turn on the controller.’ Thanks to Mrs. Guzauckas and her 2,000-word research paper assignment, I will never fear writing a research paper again.”
The warm gratitude of Neo’s words brought smiles across the theater as he added, “If I had joined the army, I also would miss so many moments with my friends. I would miss a laugh from my best friend, Margo Morozova. I would not have discussed how I love Batman with Anna Simon and Fatma Al Hooti. I would not have been able to hang out in the Robotics lab with Robert Hubner and Oliver Raymond. I would not have had hibachi with my beloved Sargent 2 and Mrs. Roun. I would not have met such a sweet person as Carina Kraft, and I would not have been able to sit with my friends Logan Cliche and Randall Preston on Moving Up Day. If I had joined the army, I would have missed everything, and I don’t want to miss any moment I have had with you.” (Is someone slicing onions?!)
Salutatorian Speech
Closing with words of gratitude, Neo left the stage to thunderous applause as Mr. Butcher took the podium to introduce the next speaker, Salutatorian Randall E. Preston II. Randall, a Curvey Scholar who made the most of every opportunity at Brewster, was a three-sport varsity athlete participating in boys’ soccer, alpine skiing, and tennis. He was known as a determined leader and a model of good sportsmanship and tough play. “He gave generously of his expertise and talents, leading community service projects for the National Honor Society, volunteering regularly at the Math Tutor Center, serving as a Gold Key tour guide, and helping local kids get on the slopes with the Abenaki Learn to Ski program,” Mr. Butcher said. “Our Salutatorian graduates with a GPA of 4.264 and will attend Villanova University in the fall.”
Randall, who hails from nearby Alton, spoke eloquently of the sites and sounds of games at Brewster, which he attended as a child with his dad—not realizing he would be a Bobcat one day. He shared how he now realizes all that goes into the life of a Brewster student—the sports and the studying, the rehearsals and the service projects. “I honestly could not tell you what I had for breakfast yesterday, but the memories of the atmosphere that this community is capable of creating have always stuck around clearly in my mind,” he shared, “which speaks volumes about what type of place Brewster is, and what amazing opportunities it provides.”
He spoke about how special Brewster’s campus community is…because of its people. “Whenever I’m giving a tour, or talking to someone about Brewster, and they ask me what my favorite part is, my answer is always the same: the people. I’ll admit, I’m a bit worried now for the real world, because I realize that here, we’re all spoiled rotten by the most supportive teachers, coaches, and peers I think I’ll ever have the pleasure of knowing, anywhere.”
He added, “The perspectives my friends, classmates, teachers, and coaches have shown to me here, have widened my outlook on life from the scope of a rural town in New Hampshire, with a population of maybe 5,000 people, to literally, the scope of the whole world. The stories I have heard, and the lessons I have learned from them, have made me realize just how vast and various the opportunities to go somewhere, to do something, and to be someone are in life.”
Randall expressed hope that his classmates will find new communities that foster growth and camaraderie like Brewster does, and are filled with more people who all have their own new perspectives and stories to share. “And if you can’t find it, I hope you can help to build a new community like it. I’ll miss you all, but hopefully I’ll sleep a little better at night, knowing that it is my peers from here who are going out into the world and leaving their mark wherever they find themselves,” he ended.
Scholar Program Presentations
Again, a roof-shaking round of applause rang out as the Salutatorian returned to his seat, and Dr. Marta Filip-Fouser announced the students who earned Global, Art, and STEM Scholar status. Each received a special cord to wear at graduation the following morning. Those scholars for 2025 are
Arts Scholar
Logan Cliche
Global Scholars
Maverick Bennett
Logan Cliche
Anna Leroux
Tonaor Kanoklag
Eliza Spindler
STEM Scholars
Fatma Al Hooti
Gabriel Falco
Neo Nusom
Amp Padungsak
Oliver Raymond
Anna Simon
Ian Smith
Award Presentations
Several Awards are presented at the Ivy Address, and faculty from each area called upon the surprised winners to receive their honors on the stage. Those students are
Randall Preston and Luce Colcord: Kate Turner Athletic Director’s Awards, given to two students who have each made a positive consistent contribution to Interscholastic Sports.
Logan Cliche: The Fine and Performing Arts Award given to a senior or PG who has made an outstanding contribution to Brewster Academy in the fine or performing arts—such as music, theater, dance, film, or other visual media—throughout their career.
Dylan Tal: The Lives of Purpose Graduate Award presented to a graduating student who has made significant contributions to their school and community through their time, actions, talents, and dedication. The recipient serves as a role model for service and compassion and strives to help make the world a better place, demonstrating a passion for helping others at Brewster, in the local community, and beyond. This honor goes to a person who gives back to their community and does so willingly with no other expectation than that of serving others.
Moasiah Bility: The Melissa Roja Lawlor Social Justice Award presented to the student who does the most for the school in terms of building acceptance, awareness, and inclusion.
The Class Gift and Presentation of the Ivy
Outgoing Senior Prefects Luce Colcord and Aya Brown presented the Class Gift for 2025, a donation to an existing student scholarship established by the Class of 2014. The dynamic duo shared that by contributing to the scholarship fund, their class gift will leave a lasting legacy, helping to provide access to a Brewster education for deserving students and their families for years to come.
Mr. Butcher closed the event, saying, “Our senior prefects accept the ivy on behalf of their class. It will be planted, along with the ivies of years past, so that it may grow and entwine, symbolic of the way our lives are forever connected” and sharing congratulations to all the award recipients.
