Each year, American School of The Hague presents the J.F. DeWitt Scholarship Award in honor of a former teacher Dr. Jerry DeWitt, who taught history at ASH for 32 years. The J.F. DeWitt award winner is announced annually in our High School Awards Ceremony by the School Director. The winner of the award must display academic excellence in all of the following subjects: English, Modern Language, History, Mathematics, and Science, and is a student who, in the opinion of the faculty, loves learning and best exemplifies the model of a young scholar. This years' award winner was Lorenzo Silvestrini

 

Dr. Jerry DeWitt taught history for 32 years at ASH. He was known by his students for his great love of learning, his ability to inspire learning and examine subjects through multiple lenses - such as history through the broader lenses of art, literature, music, and philosophy. He was also instrumental in starting the AP Program at ASH, a program which the school is well renowned for.

 

Please find below the speech of Dr. Courtney Lowe, ASH Director, announcing this year's deserving winner at our High School Awards Assembly:

 

“It is my absolute honor to celebrate this year’s Dewitt Scholarship recipient. The scholarship, sponsored by the ASH Alumni Association, is given to a graduating senior selected by the faculty for his or her academic achievement, love of learning and exemplification of the model of a young scholar. You can see the rigorous criteria for the award on the screen behind me. I am proud to share reflections on this individual's character and strengths, which are culled directly from their exceptional teachers.

 

This student demonstrates outstanding academic growth across all disciplines. What truly sets this scholar apart is a genuine love of learning, approaching excellence in every endeavor, including a standout performance in Physics. This is a student who doesn't just achieve, but truly embraces challenges, viewing the learning process as fun while always maintaining a positive attitude. They are always motivated, prepared to learn something new, and frequently ask for extensions or more challenging content. They are, quite simply, academically very bright.

 

In areas like Modern Languages, this person stands out for their curiosity, international-mindedness, and commitment, qualities that were further enriched by immersive study in Spain. Beyond the classroom, this individual is described as a thoughtful, engaged young scholar and a supportive peer. Personally, I am always impressed by how positively this student approaches absolutely everything. I have never seen them in a bad mood (though certainly it must happen sometimes!). They were eternally patient with me asking so many questions about their IB extended essay on quantum tunneling in silicon microchips.

 

Today, with great pleasure, we recognize the achievements of this dedicated, high-achieving student, Lorenzo Silvestrini.” - Dr. Courtney Lowe.

 

We congratulate Lorenzo, and wish him all the luck in his future endeavours studying Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Institute of Technology.