O’Neal Upper School Celebrates Student Achievement at 2026 Awards Ceremony
The O’Neal School honored the accomplishments of its Upper School students during the 2025–26 Upper School Awards Ceremony held May 20. The annual event recognized academic excellence, leadership, character, and contributions to the school community.
Head of Upper School Sandy Boyd welcomed students, families, faculty, and guests, emphasizing that success at O’Neal extends beyond grades to include impact, growth, and engagement within the community. “While we recognize individual achievements today, the success we celebrate is shared across our entire community,” Boyd said. “Each student is known, supported, and encouraged to reach their personal best.”
A highlight of the ceremony was the induction of new members into the Cum Laude Society, O’Neal’s highest academic honor. Membership in the nationally recognized society is limited to the top percentage of juniors and seniors in each class. O’Neal is one of only 11 schools in North Carolina that holds a Cum Laude Society Chapter.
Special honors were presented during the program, including the Yale Book Award, awarded to Maddie Hostler, and the Wood Foundation Scholarship, awarded to Caitlyn Blocklinger and Nathan Reifenstahl. Andrew Hobbs received a prestigious four-year Army ROTC Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Student leadership and service were also recognized. Members of the Student Forum Executive Board — Caitlin Blockinger, Christina Acker, Jane Nguyen, and Matthias Davis — were honored for their contributions to student life. Members of the Honor Council were also acknowledged for their commitment to integrity and accountability within the Upper School.
Department awards celebrated excellence across academic and artistic disciplines:
- Fine Arts Award: Zoe Mount
- English Award: Caitlyn Blockinger
- History Award: Peter Sundborg
- Math Award: Jacob Tracy
- Science Award: Paige Greytak
- World Language Award: Christina Acker
Student body awards highlighted character and leadership:
- Franklin Curtis Volunteer Award: Rachel Lian
- Falcon Award: Kennedi Hamner
- Bud Holmberg Most Influential Student Award: Caitlyn Blocklinger
- Amelia Cagle Underclassman Award: Vivienne Rhue
- Most Influential Teacher Award: Melissa Vaswani
Additional Upper School honors included:
- Head of School Gallery Award: Addie Tauch
- Sandhills Athletic Conference Scholar-Athletes of the Year: Kennedi Hamner and Matthias Davis
- Achievement Awards: Sophie Itegie (Grade 9), Harrison O’Connor (Grade 10), Lilly Hobson (Grade 11), and Paige Greytak (Grade 12)
- Dominique Gray Student Improvement Award: Harper Hairston
- Anne M. Ewing Spirit Award: Joseph Lucas
- Edna E. Simmons Award: Andrew Hobbs
- Robert N. Haarlow Award: Nathan Reifenstahl
- Charles W. Lowry Award: Kennedi Hamner
Academic distinction among the senior class was also recognized. Caitlin Blockinger was named salutatorian, and Ethan Kim was named valedictorian.
The ceremony also included presentation of the Board of Trustees Leadership Award given to Caitlyn Blocklinger and recognition of the senior class gift. The Class of 2026 donated outdoor furnishings and recreational equipment to enhance student gathering spaces on campus, reflecting their desire to support connection and community for future students.
In remarks shared during the program, student leaders expressed gratitude to the O’Neal community, including parents, faculty, coaches, and fellow students, for their support and encouragement. They also recognized the participation of younger students who partnered with seniors throughout the year, reinforcing the school’s culture of mentorship and belonging.
“As we celebrate today, we are reminded that the lessons learned at O’Neal extend far beyond the classroom,” Boyd said. “They prepare our students not only for college, but for lives of purpose, leadership, and service.”
The O'Neal School
The O'Neal School admits students of any race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
© The O'Neal School