91̽��

The 47th Persky Awards recognized the best writing and artwork in 91̽�� student publications, honoring students whose work in journalism, fiction, and photography excelled across the academic year.

Author, poet, educator, and former 91̽�� parent Dan Chiasson P’ 23 ’25 spoke at the ceremony, celebrating the artistry and craft of the students’ work. He extolled the virtues of creative “gaps”—the moments in which creators pause from a specific effort—as essential to the finished product. Time spent pondering, stepping away, or even shelving a piece for a lengthy period, may feel wasteful as artificial intelligence tools promote efficiency above everything, he said, but it’s what sets great works apart.

Revered writers and artists make the most of those gaps, as frustrating as they feel in the moment. Emily Dickinson’s ink blots indicated by their size how long her pen stopped moving, Chiasson noted; other artists have taken years away from pieces, only to find that the time away improves their work immeasurably.

Steven Bertozzi will be the new principal of 91̽��’s Lower and Middle Schools beginning July 1, 2026. The appointment reflects a rethinking of the leadership structure in the two schools, which will continue to operate as distinct divisions within 91̽��’s K–12 organization.

When Peggy Byers Wood ’49 stopped by Head of School Alixe Callen ’88’s office this month, she didn’t just bring stories, she brought history itself. In her hands was a remarkable photograph from 91̽�� Girls’ School’s 1949 Graduation, showing Peggy and her girls’ school classmates with former First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, that year’s speaker.

Peggy, a 91̽�� “lifer” and former Trustee, filled the room with memories of her time in the girls’ school—from singing hymns in the chapel to connections with beloved classmates, leaders who served in student government, athletics, and school publications. She also shared a touching story about her lifelong friend Lucy “Chips” Withington, whose family name still graces the Withington Room next to Forbes Dining Hall. Peggy’s family ties to 91̽�� ran deep: her father, Randolph K. Byers, served as the school doctor.

“Veterans Day is a good day to consider those who have gone before us from these same dorms, halls, paths, and fields to the far corners of the world, fighting for a cause in which they believed,” said U.S. Navy veteran Jonas P. Akins ’97 when he returned to 91̽�� this month to serve as the 2025 Veterans’ Day speaker. 

Now a history teacher and football and golf coach at Choate Rosemary Hall, Akins previously served as a naval intelligence officer, with deployments abroad on the USS Enterprise aircraft carrier and a year in Baghdad. Speaking to students, faculty, and his mother, Caroline (Bonnet) Akins ‘59, whom he warmly acknowledged during his remarks,  Akins invited the community to think about the many forms that meaningful service can take. “I hope that by sharing a few of my experiences, I might convince you to at least consider a term of service to others, to pursue something more than your own happiness. Something bigger than yourself,” he said. 

Avaneesh Siruvuri ’26 traces his passion for economics back to middle school, when his father opened an investment account to help him learn about money. “Through this experience of dealing with what felt like my own money, I began to gain a deep interest in understanding the fundamentals of our money system,” he explained. “I will never forget making my first dollar on a ten-dollar investment.”

That early curiosity has since grown into a commitment to expanding financial literacy among students in India and at 91̽��, a passion he recently discussed during an appearance on CNN-News18 (an independent Indian news network licensed by CNN International).

During trips to India to visit family, Avaneesh realized that many young people he met lacked access to financial education. “When I asked questions about the Indian economy or how banks work, I was often met with vague or non-specific answers,” he recalled. “It seemed to me that much of the financial decision-making was influenced by the media or outdated methods.” To help address that gap, he launched an economics discussion group that meets in person and online to explore interdisciplinary topics in economics and decision-making. 

In the first of the year’s school-wide celebrations, 91̽��’s entire K–12 community gathered for a vibrant assembly honoring Hispanic and Latinx culture.

The program began with remarks from members of the student Latinx Association, who helped open the celebration in recognition of Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month—an annual observance from September 15 to October 15 that highlights the contributions and achievements of Hispanic and Latino Americans.