Linsly School Celebrates 211th Commencement 

The Linsly School held its 211th Commencement on Sunday, May 25 at 11:00 a.m. at the Stifel Field House, graduating ninety-nine seniors from the Class of 2025.

---

Pictured, seated Left to Right:  Caroline Martin: The Theodore Scott Owens Award and the Gilleland Latin Award; Evan Zido: The Hofreuter Award and the Theodore Scott Owens Award; Dylan Lucas: Valedictorian; Alex Michalo: Salutatorian and Anwar Spanish Award; Caroline Higginbottom: Head of School Award and the Max W. Laborde English Award.

Pictured, standing Left to Right: Rocco D’Aquila: The Guenther Award, the Linsly Science Award, and the Linsly Mathematics Award; Zoe Zatezalo: The Guenther Award; Andrea Moreno Navarro and Heesoo Choi: The Buncher Boarding Award; Rachel Rutherford: The Linsly Social Studies Award; Olivia Rosenthal: The Max W. Laborde English Award

---

During the commencement ceremony, several graduates were presented awards in recognition of their outstanding qualities in leadership, citizenship, and character.

Dylan Lucas, son of Drs. Tad and Jessica Lucas of St. Clairsville, was named Valedictorian of the Senior Class of 2025 for having the highest upper school cumulative grade point average in the senior class. He will attend The Ohio State University in the fall. 

Alex Michalo, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Michalo of Rayland, Ohio, was named Salutatorian of the Senior Class of 2025 for having the second highest upper school cumulative grade point average in the senior class. He will attend Denison University in the fall.

The Head of School Award, given to that member of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, through her display of leadership, academic excellence, and willingness to serve, acted as a model for all Linsly students, was presented to Caroline Higginbottom, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Ryan Higginbottom of Washington, PA.  She will attend Swarthmore College in the fall.

The Hofreuter Award, given to that member of the senior class who has been exemplary in his service to the school and community, in the tradition of the late Dr. Donald H. Hofreuter, Linsly Cadet Major, community leader and longtime Chairman of Linsly’s Board of Trustees, was awarded to Evan Zido, son of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Zido of St. Clairsville. He will attend the University of Cincinnati in the fall.

The Guenther Award, given to those members of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, exhibit outstanding leadership, citizenship and character, given in memory of former Linsly student David Guenther, was awarded to Zoe Zatezalo, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Zak Zatezalo of Wheeling and Rocco D’Aquila, son of Mr. Edward D’Aquila and Ms. Crissy D’Aquila of Barnesville. Zatezalo will attend West Virginia University in the fall. D’Aquila will attend Northwestern University.

The Theodore Scott Owens Award, given to those members of the senior class who, in the opinion of the faculty and Head of School, exhibit the qualities of determination, seriousness, and persistence respected by all, given in memory of former Linsly student Theodore Scott Owens, was awarded to Caroline Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Greg Martin of Barnesville and to Evan Zido. Martin will attend The Ohio State University in the fall.

The Albert and Martin Buncher Award, given to those resident students, who in the opinion of the Dormitory Masters, Resident Faculty, and Head of School, exemplify that which is looked for in every boarding student, given in memory of the late Albert Buncher, father of Martin Buncher, former Linsly student, was awarded to Andrea Moreno Navarro, daughter of Mr. Jose Moreno Pinilla and Mrs. Begona Navarro Garcia of Spain and Heesoo Choi, daughter of Mr. Inyong Choi and Mrs. Yunjung Lee of Korea.

A program continued by President Trump known as the “President’s Education Awards” is intended to recognize students who have attained a high level of academic achievement while pursuing a solid core of academic courses. Receiving this award were members of Linsly’s National Honor Society: Ava Bartlett, Braden Beckett, Jackson Bond, Heesoo Choi, Haylen Cook, Olivia Creely, Rocco D’Aquila, Sidney Esposito, Cameron Fowkes, Addison Grubler, Caroline Higginbottom, Alana Inthirath, Jessica Lehrke, Dylan Lucas, Caroline Martin, Alex Michalo, Tessa Moore, Andrea Navarro, Ilayna Murray, Noelle Murray, Sophia  Murray, Jessica Nissley, Jade Purpura, Avery Riesbeck, Olivia Rosenthal, Rachel Rutherford, Simon Schiebel, Katerina Spanos, Danica Stoffer, Adalynn Strauss, Victoria Walsh, Zoe Zatezalo and Evan Zido.

The Linsly Social Studies Award is given to that member of the Senior Class who has achieved an outstanding perception of Social Studies, and has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during her Upper School career at Linsly. This year’s recipient was 

Rachel Rutherford, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Rutherford of Wheeling. She will attend Xavier University in the fall.

The Linsly Mathematics Award, given to that member of the Senior Class who, determined by the Mathematics Department has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during his Upper School career at Linsly was awarded to Rocco D’Aquila. D’Aquila was also named the recipient of The Linsly Science Award given to that member of the Senior Class who has attained the highest cumulative average in that discipline during his Upper School career at Linsly. 

Caroline Martin was named the recipient of The Gilleland Award, established in memory of Professor Brady Gilleland, recognizing a graduating senior who studied Latin and succeeded in her study. 

The recipients of The Max W. Laborde Award, given to those Senior English students who, in the opinion of the English Department, best met the standards set forth in the department were 

Caroline Higginnbottom and Olivia Rosenthal, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Kyle Rosenthal of Wheeling. Rosenthal will attend the University of Michigan in the fall.

The John Anwar Spanish Award is given in memory of Dr. and Mrs. Anwar’s eldest son, John, who passed away in 1991 when he was a senior at Linsly. This award recognizes the graduating senior who, through consistent dedication and hard work, has distinguished himself in the study of Spanish. Receiving the John Anwar Spanish Award was Alex Michalo.

Among the Linsly graduates of the Class of 2025, eighteen members of the Class of 2025 began their careers at Linsly in the fifth grade, completing grades five through twelve at The Linsly School.  Those graduates, also known as “Linsly Lifers,” are: Arabella Andy, Rocco D'Aquila, Darrian Bertram, Olivia Creely, Isaac Depew, Adam Gill, Addison Grubler, Charli Griffith, Caroline Higginbottom, Jess Lehrke, Caroline Martin, Sophia Murray, Ilayna Murray, Rhys Poole, Seve Smathers, Abby White, Zoe Zatezelo and Evan Zido.

 

The following students will receive their diplomas as part of The Linsly School’s graduating Class of 2025:

Graduates from West Virginia: Wheeling: Lia Del Pilar Barros, Darrian Wade Bertram, Brody Scott Cottrill, Olivia Lynn Creely, Isaac Benjamin Depew, Caleb Joshua Dodd, Cameron Nicole Fowkes, Kaleb James Gardill, Carson Robert Gessler, Brianna Catherine Ghaphery, Colby James Gibbons, Adam Gene Gill, D’arrae Monquel Goodwin, Addison Marie Grubler, Hunter Alexander Hersey, Micah Wayne Kramer, Jessica Marie Lehrke, Taven Terrell Mayo, Tessa Lyn Moore, Sophia Katerin Murray, Rhys Edison Poole, Jade Anastasia Purpura, Carter Hayes Remp, Amanda Renee Richmond, Olivia Ann Pangilinan Rosenthal, Rachel Elizabeth Rutherford, Simon Oliver Schiebel, Katerina Sophia Spanos, Danica Marie Stoffer, Jensyn Rylie Tush, Abagail Lynn White, Zoe Emerson Zatezalo; Bowden: Sarah Linnea Ratnakar; Glen Dale: Victoria Grace Walsh; McMechen: Jackson Jeremiah Bond; Moundsville: Reagan Ann Scherich, Johnna Elaine Van Scyoc; Triadelphia: Alana Vanna Inthirath, Ilayna Xinchun Murray, Dylan Charles Och

Graduates from Ohio: Barnesville: Rocco Edward D’Aquila, Caroline Bea Martin; Bellaire: Rocco Alfonso Paolina; Belmont: Brock Jacob Kuttie; Caldwell: Patrick John Christ;  Flushing: Adam Lewis Kotson; Martins Ferry: Juliana Karolina Elerick; Rayland: Alexander Joseph Michalo, Vincent Henry Zaccirey; Senecaville: Jessica Xiaomei Nissley; St. Clairsville: Ava Rhiannon Bartlett, Haylen Avery Cook, Sidney Layne Esposito, Dylan Carter Lucas,  Noelle Christine Murray, Avery Elaine Riesbeck, Evan James Zido; Shadyside: Braden James Beckett, Griffen Ray Kernik, Severino Mason Smathers

Graduates from Pennsylvania: Canonsburg: Sadie Reese McCall; Greensburg: Annika Elizabeth Greene, Adalynn Marie Strauss; Washington: Arabella Audia Andy, Vaughn Duane Crile, Charli Elizabeth Griffith, Caroline Isabelle Higginbottom

Graduates from out of the Tri-State Region: Miami, Florida: Ramello James Derr; Ashburn, Virginia: Sohum Santosh Joshi; Lake City, Michigan: Hunter Mason Rainier; Saratoga, California: Carlin Jialin Wong

International Graduates: Angola: Luanda: Jasmine Celeste Almada Lourenco; Bahamas: Nassau: Aiden Meckhi Brooks;  Canada: Cambridge: Nathan Francis Clifford; China: Beijing: Chengxuan Tian; Qingdao: Fangrui Zhang; Czech Republic: Ricany: Veronika Havlickova; Finland: Espoo: Peik Christian August Abrahamsson; Italy: Cividale del Friuli: Riccardo Piccini; Livorno: Cassio Bendinelli; Milano: Beatrice Cavallini; Rubano-Padova: Greta Temporin;   Korea: Gyeonggi-do: Heesoo Choi; Seoul: Junje Lee, Seoyeon Ryu; Rwanda: Kigali City: Tonatiana Baritonda; Serbia: Belgrade: Uros Petrusic, Vuk Ristovic, Dina Stojic; Spain: Avila: Adrianna Oromi Sanchez; Barcelona: Mario Aguilera Pino; Donostia: Kenzo Iriondo Lasa; Estepona-Malaga: Ruben Salazar Galera; Madrid: Alvaro Abitbol Licer, Martina Hortas Carmona; Manacor: Andrea Moreno Navarro; Murcia: Ana Maria Garcia Garcia;  Switzerland: Flims Dorf: Angus Jeremias Januth; Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh City: Minh Tue Pham

In his Commencement speech, Linsly Head of School, Mr. Justin Zimmerman, addressed the West Virginia private school graduates, reflecting on what has been a successful and memorable year. He recognized the numerous accomplishments of the Class of 2025, recalling their many academic and athletic accomplishments, including being named National Merit Finalists, AP Scholars, winning OVAC Championships, and serving their community through volunteer work. 

Mr. Gary Glessner, Linsly Class of 1985 and Chairman of the Linsly Board of Trustees, also addressed the graduates, welcoming them as the newest members of Linsly alumni. 

Looking to be a part of future Linsly graduates?  Apply at Linsly.