Millbrook Names top 2024 scholars



Hannah RossProvided

Hannah Ross

Valedictorian

Excelling in academics while pursuing other school-based activities including athletics contributed to making Hannah Ross an outstanding member of the Senior class and earned her the honor of being named Valedictorian for the Class of 2024 at Millbrook High School.

Hannah’s path toward recognition began in Kindergarten in the Millbrook School District following in the footsteps of her two older brothers. She had attended preschool at the Millbrook Early Childhood Education Center.

The small community perspective was important to her success, Hannah said, offering comments on Sunday, April 21, and reflecting on the relationships she developed with teachers, coaches and staff.

Serving as president of the National Honor Society at Millbrook, Hannah was active in Student Council and the Yearbook Club. She has enjoyed tutoring students in the community as well.

Presently undecided about her choice of college, Hannah said that she plans to major in Kinesiology (the science of exercise) toward the goal of becoming a Physical Therapist.

“Make connections with your teachers,” is Hannah’s advice to Millbrook freshmen beginning their high school years. “Having teachers that you can go talk to anytime or seek their advice is very important,” she added, “particularly during your senior year.”

“All you have to do is keep up with your work and ask questions to understand the material,” Hannah advised. “And turn assignments in on time,” she added.

Classes she enjoyed most within the Millbrook curriculum were math, science and engineering, Hannah said, along with economics during her senior year.

Outside of school, Hannah enjoys tutoring others, working at a local ice cream truck and serving as a line cook at the Millbrook Golf and Tennis Club.

“I am so grateful for the opportunities I have been given and I’d like to thank my teachers and staff for the constant support that has allowed me to be successful,” Hannah said.



Natalie FoxProvided

Natalie Fox

Salutatorian

Having begun her academic career when she was enrolled for Kindergarten in the Millbrook School District, Natalie Fox has excelled along the way and studied diligently, deserving of the honor of being named Salutatorian for the Class of 2024 at Millbrook High School.

“I have always enjoyed school and challenging myself in everything I do,” Natalie said on Tuesday, April 23, reflecting on her educational path and the present honor.

“Don’t rush through high school,” was Natalie’s advice to young students at the dawn of their high school years. “It can be such a great experience if you take advantage of it,” she added.

Throughout her middle and high school years, Natalie said that she participated in several extracurricular activities and athletics, including basketball and volleyball. Outside of school, Natalie has pursued AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) competitive basketball and plans to continue in college.

Natalie will be attending William and Mary College in Williamsburg, Virginia, with a major in marketing and business. Chartered in 1693, William and Mary is one of the oldest collegiate institutions in the U.S.

“The secret of my success was that I did all of my homework to the best of my ability. I never handed in work late or missed any assignments,” Natalie said. “I also tried to finish as much work in school as possible. That way, I did not have work to do when I got home.”.

Outside of school, Natalie worked for the Town of Washington Recreation Department as a lifeguard and as a basketball referee.

“I am grateful for all the opportunities, experiences, and individuals that I’ve encountered throughout my years in the Millbrook schools,” Natalie said, feeling prepared for what will come next.

Latest News

Crescendo’s upcoming tribute to Wanda Landowska

Kenneth Weiss (above) will play a solo recital performance in honor of Wanda Landowska, a harpischord virtuoso, who lived in Lakeville for many years.

Provided

On Sept. 14, Crescendo, the award-winning music program based in Lakeville, will present a harpsichord solo recital by Kenneth Weiss in honor of world-renowned harpsichordist Wanda Landowska. Landowska lived in Lakeville from 1941 to 1959. Weiss is a professor at the Paris Conservatoire and has taught at Julliard. Born in New York, he now resides in Europe.

Weiss will play selections from “A Treasury of Harpsichord Music.” It includes works by Baroque composers such as Bach, Mozart, and Handel. It was recorded by Landowska at her Lakeville home, at 63 Millerton Road, which overlooks Lakeville Lake. Weiss said, “I am honored and excited to play in Lakeville, where Wanda Landowska lived.”

Keep ReadingShow less
Silent cinema, live magic

The live audience at Music Mountain takes in a silent film Sept. 7.

Natalia Zukerman

On Saturday, Sept. 7, Gordon Hall at Music Mountain was transformed into a time machine, transporting the audience for a 1920’s spectacular of silent films and live music. Featuring internationally acclaimed silent film musicians Donald Sosin and Joanna Seaton, the evening began with a singalong of songs by Gershwin, Irving Berlin and more. Lyrics for favorites like “Ain’t We Got Fun,” “Yes Sir That’s My Baby,” and “Ain’t Misbehavin’” were projected on the screen and Sosin and Seaton lead the crowd with an easeful joy. The couple then retreated to the side of the stage where they provided the live and improvised score for Buster Keaton’s 1922 short, “Cops,” and his 1924 comedy, “Sherlock Jr.”

Joanna Seaton and Donald Sosin, a husband-and-wife duo, have crafted a singular career, captivating audiences at some of the world’s most prestigious film festivals—New York, TriBeCa, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Telluride, and Yorkshire among them. Their performances have graced venerable institutions like MoMA, Film at Lincoln Center, the AFI Silver Theatre, and Moscow’s celebrated Lumière Gallery. Their melodic journey has taken them to far-flung locales such as the Thailand Silent Film Festival and the Jecheon International Music and Film Festival in South Korea. Notably, Seaton and Sosin have become a fixture at Italy’s renowned silent film festivals in Bologna and Pordenone, where they perform annually.

Keep ReadingShow less
Desperately seeking Susan Seidelman

The cover art for Seidelman's memoir "Desperately Seeking Something."

Photo Provided

On Thursday, Sept. 19 at 6 p.m., Haystack Book Talks will present a special evening with director Susan Seidelman, author of “Desperately Seeking Something: A Memoir About Movies, Mothers, and Material Girls.” Part of the Haystack Book Festival run by Michael Selleck, the event will take place at the Norfolk Library, featuring a conversation with Mark Erder after a screening of the 1984 classic, “Desperately Seeking Susan.”

Susan Seidelman’s fearless debut film, “Smithereens,” premiered in 1982 and was the first American indie film to ever compete at Cannes. Then came “Desperately Seeking Susan,” a smash hit that not only solidified her place in Hollywood but helped launch Madonna’s career. Her films, blending classic Hollywood storytelling with New York’s downtown energy, feature unconventional women navigating unique lives. Seidelman continued to shape pop culture into the ’90s, directing the pilot for “Sex and the City.” Four decades later, Seidelman’s stories are still as sharp, funny, and insightful as ever.

Keep ReadingShow less