Senior Awards & Honors

On July 31, 2020, St. Mark’s School of Texas will hold Commencement at 10600 Preston Road to honor the Class of 2020.  On that date, the School will celebrate all the incredible Marksmen of the Class of 2020, and Eugene McDermott Headmaster David Dini will present the three Major School prizes: The Headmaster’s Cup, The School Flag, and The Citizenship Cup.  

Today, St. Mark’s School of Texas is proud to announce Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Special Award recipients for the Class of 2020.

The Valedictorian, Salutatorian, and Special Award recipients have contributed across all areas of School life.  Each of the recipients has excelled in the classroom and, furthermore, has enriched the community, consistently demonstrating courage and honor in his pursuits.  As articulated in the Statement of Purpose, these young men “share a love of learning” and “strive for high achievement in whatever they undertake.”  Their individual and collective efforts are emblematic of the strength of The Class of 2020.

Both Nicholas and Devan have achieved academic excellence throughout their four years of Upper School.  Undertaking the most rigorous course load and excelling, these two Marksmen have consistently thrived across all disciplines and grade levels.  Marked by their endless curiosity and love of learning, we congratulate Nicholas and Devan on these hard-won recognitions.

Awarded by the faculty, the Special Awards recognize special talents, acts of service, and contributions to the School, making it a rich, thriving community, and typifying the best in St. Mark’s students.

For his relentless pursuit of success in the classroom and athletics; a three-time ALL-SPC selection in Cross Country; an ALL-SPC selection in Track & Field; and Captain of the Cross-Country team; #4 on the all-time Cross Country record list; and for his quiet determination and achievement in the classroom, athletics, and throughout the community, the faculty presents a special award to Andres Arroyo.

For his wide-ranging and passionate love of learning; for his extraordinary intellectual curiosity and commitment; for his brilliant, original performance as a scholar; for his consummate musicianship; for his contributions to Quiz Bowl; and for his unfailing optimism, positivity, and growth mindset; the faculty presents a special award to Nicholas Cerny.

For his commitment and leadership on the basketball court and the golf course; for his outstanding scholarship; for his leadership of our choral music program and his passionate pursuit of music, including roles with the Dallas Opera and four years as an All-State chorister; the faculty presents a special award to Camp Collins.

For successfully leading the entire St. Mark’s community following a devastating tornado and global pandemic, he has the heart and soul of 10600. Although this Marksman joined the community during his sophomore year, his love for the School and all his peers from the littlest lions to the most tenured faculty was visible from his first day on campus. Not a day goes by that he does not think about making St. Mark’s better. For these reasons, the faculty presents this Special Award to Taylor Hopkin.

For an unwavering dedication in his every endeavor – a highly organized, detail-minded standout in the classroom; an engaged enthusiast, ever eager to make much of others as a Spur and larger-than-life presence among adoring younger Marksmen; a locker room leader whose relentless work ethic on the basketball court set the tone as a four-year, varsity starter and all-time leading scorer for an SPC championship program, now recognized among the nation’s very best; the faculty presents a special award to Andrew Laczkowski.

A teacher’s ultimate reward is to witness the love of their subject demonstrated by their students’ accomplishments, and this Marksman did just that. A member of Cum Laude Society and the Chinese Honor Society, he is a dedicated and responsible young man, displaying diligence and remarkable motivation; for his exemplary leadership to the International Week committee; for his judicious service to the discipline committee; for his achievements on national recognition on both table tennis and International chess; for his outstanding contributions in an out classroom; and for his extraordinary academic achievement. The faculty presents a special award to Tianming Xie.