The 1902 Emblem
The Class of 1902 Emblem is awarded to Josephine Cummings of the Class of 2018, who, while at The Pingry School, by the efficiency and the amount of service and loyalty of attitude has done the most for the school, and who has been judged therefore by schoolfellows and faculty to have shown of them all the greatest amount of school spirit.
The Class of 1902 Emblem represents the highest ideals of The Pingry School. The nominees chosen by their classmates and faculty are considered to embody the very principles of integrity and service that lie at the heart of the institution. Thus, even to be nominated for this award is regarded as a paramount honor.
Years at Pingry: 4
Trademark Characteristics: Hard-working, compassionate, adventurous
Activities: Student Government, Field Hockey, Lacrosse, Winter Track, Green Group, fyi sci, Outing Club
College Plans: Yale (after a gap year!)
Career Possibilities: Something that makes me happy (hopefully!) Favorite Memory at Pingry: Lying on the turf with the Field Hockey team after our last game and listening to music and talking about all “the moments of gold” that we had together. (and crying)
What I’ll Take Away: Sleep deprivation… but also a love of learning beyond anything I could have imagined, amazing memories, and the knowledge that being a good person matters more than pretty much anything.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Don’t let the stress overwhelm you. Before you know it you’ll be asking yourself where the time went and why you spent just a littttttle too much time studying. The friendships and memories you make will be the things you want to remember after high school ends.
Josephine Cummings
Clyde Leef
The Magistri Laudandi Emblem
In every class, there is one student who graciously gives of him/herself to help theschool and fellow students, who demonstrates a personal integrity and generosity that inspire thebest in others. This person’s own achievements are many, yet his/her sense of purpose is to the greater good. While others may be identi ed as”the student most likely to succeed,” this person is prized as “the student who helps all succeed.”
The Magistri Laudandi Award is awarded to Clyde Leef.
Years at Pingry: 13
Trademark Characteristics: Green water bottle, Math help
Activities: Football, Peer Leadership, Pottery, Tutoring
College Plans: Georgetown University
Career Possibilities: Hopefully Favorite Memory at Pingry: Football season, especially preseason. Spending all day with the closest group of people and working hard in a common pursuit of the same goal is extremely rewarding
What I’ll Take Away: It’s about how hard you work, not the end product. My most ful lling classes were de nitely not my best grades. Separately, it’s not all about working. Taking time for yourself and whatever makes you happy is the key to staying on track.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: It’s ok to not be ok — find a person/people you can trust and allow yourself to be open.
Nominees for 1902 Emblem (E) and Magistri Laudandi (M) Awards
Arnav Agrawal (M)
Years at Pingry: Only 3 🙁
Trademark characteristics: Outgoing, copious amount of nicknames, honest, wears nothing but Pingry Soccer shirts
Activities: Soccer, Tennis, Entrepreneurship Club, FBLA
College Plans: Cornell!
Career Possibilities: No idea
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Singing ‘Coming Home’ on the bus on the Soccer Trip in Spain, playing in the Student-Faculty Basketball game
What you’ll take away: The amazing community I’ve met at Pingry, from friends to teachers to coaches. Coming to Pingry sophomore year was the best decision of my life.
What piece of advice would you give to under- classmen? You’re so lucky to be attending Pingry. Make the most of it by getting to know your teach- ers and the rest of the students. Don’t be afraid to try new things or talk to someone you don’t know. Also, you can always relearn coursework, but you can never re-attend the party you missed.
Naiyah Atulomah (M)
Years at Pingry: 7
Trademark Characteristics: Kind, helpful, and relatively optimistic
Activities: Swimming, Community Service Club, iRT, Girl Scouts, Baking
College Plans: Johns Hopkins University
Career Possibilities: As of now, I’m thinking of becoming a Biomolecular Engineer or a medical researcher
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Winning Prep Championships and seeing the entire girls swim team at the edge of the pool cheering on our team- mates. It was amazing to see everyone swimming their fastest and showing great sportsmanship.
What I’ll Take Away: I have learned to havecon dence in the work I do because Pingry hastaught me that if I put the time and effort into my work, I will see the results.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Don’t be scared to join different clubs and talk to new people, you never know when else you will have this opportunity.
Ouarida Benatia (E, M)
Years at Pingry: 7
Trademark Characteristics: Always smiling, Always laughing until my sides hurt, Always exchanging life stories with strangersActivities: Stage manager for the Fall Play and the Winter Musical, FYI SCI Blog Manager, AFS Leadership, Peer Leadership, Blue Key, Outing Club, Daphnia Research Enthusiast, Babysitter for the (wonderful) Webster Family, Volunteer EMT
College Plans: Northeastern University!!!
Career Possibilities: Itinerant surgeon serving underprivileged areas abroad, A judge after that
Favorite Memory at Pingry: The day I gave my speech on honor for the Honor Board Speaker Series, I was also asked to provide the closing word for The Pingry Review. Everyone around me was so supportive and so wonderful and I truly felt the Pingry love.
What I’ll Take Away: Growing up, I was notoriously shy and kept to myself (it was written in every single report card comment I had received in elementary school). By being at Pingry and learning from the people I look up to in this environment, I have been able to step out of my bubble and get to know more of the people in our community. I will take away my newfound passion for wanting to know more about people in my life that I might not have stopped to talk to before, whether that be a teacher or a maintenance worker or a student I smile at every day in the halls.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Say “YES” more. During my junior year, I decided that I would “say yes” and sign up for almost everything announced at each morning meeting- whether that be an Outing Club campout or a Bridges Run or an opening for an FYI SCI position. That is how I got involved with 90% of the activities I participate in today- I can’t imagine how dull my life would be without that. Also, go tothe after-talks/ discussions for every in uential speaker at Pingry.It’s a whole other presentation in itself and the wealth of knowledge you can attain from these people is unbelievable. So just ask yourteachers to go and let the in uence ensue! You never know whatpiece of advice can change the path of your life forever.
Jacqueline Chang (E, M)
Years at Pingry: 8
Trademark Characteristics: shortest in the grade (hi Shruti!), amicable, spirited, caringActivities: EMT, Student Government, iRT, Hu- mans of Pingry, Varsity Track & Field, Varsity Swim Team (manager)
College Plans: Johns Hopkins University 2022! #gobluejays (Hi Naiyah!)
Career Possibilities: Med school? Doctoring? I’m only 18!! (help)
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Heelying [with red and green lights] around the school the last day before winter break
What I’ll Take Away: life-long friendships <3, dope selfies with the Class of 2018, bragging rights on my Membean level (5)
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Take it all in. It’s over faster than you would expect. Also, always say hi to Mr. Keating in the hallway.
Sehyr Khan (M)
Years at Pingry: 8
Trademark Characteristics: Avid proponent of whole- some memes, hummus memes, and dog memes. I am always running in the hallways probably because I think I’m late because my watch is two minutes ahead of the Pingry clocks. I describe people I admire as “cinnamon rolls” and I love and hate myself for it.
Activities: Balladeers, Fyi-Sci, SDLC, Pingry Girls XC and Track, Peer Leadership, and Blue Key
College Plans: Wellesley College
Career Possibilities: I am obsessed with ophthalmol- ogy and world languages, hopefully I do something that combines the two.
Favorite Memory at Pingry: That’s hard, but it’s most likely the day the girl’s XC team came third at states this past fall. I had nothing to do with the win, but I was so proud to see my peers attain their goals together and be a witness of the culmination of everyone’s hard work. It made me so proud as a young woman and Pingrian. I also really loved the mornings I spent in the Chemistryand Physics of ce with Mr. Grant and the coolest groupof teachers ever, they made a tough year so much better without realizing it. Another was when my hummus pa- nini didn’t stick to the parchment paper sophomore year, it hasn’t happened since. Sorry, I didn’t stick to only one.
What I’ll Take Away: The wonderful educational ex- periences I had with all of my teachers, I am eternally grateful for them. Also, a fork from the cafeteria.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: I cannot give just one piece so here are two: talk to everyone, give every person and every thing a shot, you never know who or what could positively impact you. Also, eat well, drink water, and take no one’s non- sense, you have a world to change.
Jared Lefkort (M)
Years at Pingry: 8
Trademark Characteristics: always laughing, scientist, friendly, kind, intelligent, outgoing
Activities: FYI Sci, tennis, Junior Academy of the New York Academy of Sciences, Peer Leadership, SMART Team, Blue Key, Journal Club Presenter, Volunteer at Trinitas Hospital
College Plans: University of Pennsylvania – planning on majoring in Health and Societies with a concentration in Global Health
Career Possibilities: Doctor/public health/health policy
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Boundary breaking on the Senior Peer Leadership retreat, I have never felt closer or more supported by my peers in all of my time at Pingry.
What I’ll Take Away: Pingry has provided me with many unique opportunities and the skills to positively impact the people around me and has taught me to pursue what makes me happy.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Take advantage of all of the opportunities you can at Pingry, try new things and reach out to people you never thought you would be friends with, you’ll be surprised how much life can change in four years.
Shruti Sagar (M)
Years at Pingry: 10
Trademark Characteristics: passionate, trustworthy, practical, friendly
Activities: field hockey, peer leadership, IRT
College Plans: Tufts University
Career Possibilities: Something public health, biology, or research related. I’m not really sure, I just know that I want to use my interests to help people and make the world a better place.
Favorite Memory at Pingry: There are so many, but two that stand out are the senior peer leadership retreat in June or singing “Maybe I’m Crazy” and “Phoenix” with our entire grade on the last day before winter break and ISP.
What I’ll Take Away: Getting to know people and having meaningful conversations with them is more important than any academic or extracurricular accomplishment or accolade. In other words, it’s nice to be important, but it is way more important to be nice. Every single person at Pingry has a story, and there is something really cool and unique to be learned by everyone about everyone if you let yourself do so.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Your happiness, stress, sadness, or excitement is just as valid as the person next to you. Don’t compare yourself to others, because you are just as worthy of success and even of failure as the people you surround yourself with. Also, go to as many games, concerts, performances, and research exhibits as you can, and just try to get to know as many people as you can. It’s really cool to see your classmates get excited about the things they love, and it’s really inspiring to know that you are surrounded by a generation of future change makers. You never know what or who you will nd that will impact your life in the most random yet meaningful way.
Rachel Chen (E, M)
Years at Pingry: 7
Trademark Characteristics: Smiling a lot, always on my way to a meeting, writing sappy goodbye letters, listening to Disney and showtunes unironically, napping in the library, liking dogs more than babies
Activities: Squash, The Record, IRT, Student Gov- ernment, SDLC, Pingry Politics, Lebow
College Plans: Harvard University
Career Possibilities: Open to anything! Possiblymedicine, probably not nance
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Competing in Lebow: the first year because I found an empowering passionin public speaking, and the second year because afterwinning the rst year, I had the platform to deliversome real talk (and defend SAGE dining!) to the whole school.
What I’ll Take Away: An appreciation for thedif culties of zebra sh husbandry and newspaperediting; the ability to crank out essays under time pressure; love and respect for the patience of some teachers; and six years of unforgettable friendship and memories.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Find something that you love and devote yourself to it! And then, more importantly, go out of your way to support other people in the things that they love.
Jennifer Coyne (E, M)
Years at Pingry: 4
Trademark Characteristics: Blunt, overly- friendly, short, extra-gluten, always on Membean
Activities: Field hockey, Handbells, Credit Union, IRT, Swimming (ha!), Lacrosse, Outing Club
College Plans: Yale University
Career Possibilities: Honestly anything except a doctor (thanks mom and dad!)
Favorite Memory at Pingry: That time we all sang Phoenix and Maybe I’m Crazy before winter break
What I’ll Take Away: Forming and nurturing relationships with people supersedes everything
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Fail early and fail often! Getting consecutive 62% and 58% on math exams is not the worst thing in the world (I speak from experience, and I am sorry, Trem.). Remember to have fun, because the good ol’ days are now!
Alexis Elliot (E, M)
Years at Pingry: 13
Trademark Characteristics: Compassionate, driven, confident, outgoing, humble, savvy
Activities: The Pingry Record, Founder of EduPair, Peer Leader, Varsity Soccer, Honor Board, SDLC, BasketballCollege Plans: Harvard University
Career Possibilities: Diplomacy and International Business
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Playing on the World Cupeld with all of my sisters from PGS
What I’ll Take Away: Some of the best friendships and most interesting people! And if you set your mind on a goal, the path to get there may not be straight, and you may not even reach it. But if you keep working at it, you’ll look back on the growth you’ve achieved and be a better person for it.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Find out what you’re good at, and try to capitalize on it as much as possible. It not only will help you be successful, but will also give you something positive to add to the Pingry community. And while you go through high school, it’s easy to fall into the trap of being focused on your individual pursuits. Try and break out ofthat mold and be sel ess with your actions. Take time tolearn about other people and build lasting relationships because at the end of the day, those are what matter most.
Iman Khan (M)
Years at Pingry: 8
Trademark Characteristics: Kind, loving, wise caring
Activities: Community service work/helping others, singing, ahhh idk what else to putCollege Plans: TBD, but as of now, Rutgers University NBCareer
Possibilities: International human rights lawyer or working for the UN
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Mohammad al Samawi coming to speak
What I’ll Take Away: The importance of having people who genuinely care about you in the faculty and staff — how transformative it can beespecially when you are going through a difficulttime in life in general and school is feeling the strongest consequence of it
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Work hard, love harder and be kind to one another. You all need each other. This is such a sensitive time for many of you and just that one smile or one conversation with another person can make the biggest difference in someone’s life.
Jackson Proudfoot (E)
Years at Pingry: 4
Trademark Characteristics: Driven, passionate, that computer kid
Activities: Outing Club, Robotics, STC, iRTCollege Plans: Duke University
Career Possibilities: Computer Engineer
Favorite Memory at Pingry: The backpacking trip to Grand Gulch, Utah during Spring Break of my Junior year.
What I’ll Take Away: The realization that everyone has their own story and an appreciation for all of the people who have helped me get to where I am today and who will help me get to where I am going tomorrow.
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: If you stop trying new things you may never discover some hidden passion trapped inside of you waiting to be released.
Alexandra Pyne (E, M)
Years at Pingry: 7
Trademark Characteristics: Kind, passionate, genuine, and lively
Activities: Honor Board, Soccer, Basketball, Fyi Sci, Peer Leadership 🙂
College Plans: Yes, I plan to go to college!
Career Possibilities: I’m open to anything…may- be something in biology, psychology, or education?
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Soccer practices and games with my PGS sisters and basketball workouts in the BAC!
What I’ll Take Away: Incredible friendships,insights from great teachers, self-con dence, andan unhealthy number of bagels consumed
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Be kind, work hard, and do what makes you happy.
Madeleine Parrish (M)
Years at Pingry: 8
Trademark Characteristics: Loves everyone, optimistic, kind, coffee addict
Activities: Peer leadership, softball, student government, humanities research
College Plans: University of Chicago
Career Possibilities: Something in government or public service, or maybe law, maybe journalism, we’ll see
Favorite Memory at Pingry: Peer leadership retreat, and the time we blasted Maybe I’m Crazy, Phoenix, and Silence in the senior area and all knew every lyric.
What I’ll Take Away: Lifelong friendships and a community of people to always root for
What Piece of Advice Would You Give to Underclassmen?: Every single one of your classmates has something they are passionate about and you have so much to learn from them – foster relationships with as many of them as you can