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PRINCETON NJ LINK
The Pennington School Recognizes Exceptional Achievement in World Languages and the Arts
Muhan Tian ’27 performs at Monday’s Arts and World Language Honor Society reception
Pennington School families and faculty gathered in the Wesley Forum on Monday, January 12, to recognize the exceptional eleventh- and twelfth-grade students being inducted into eight different societies of distinction. Comprising the inductions were the following World Language Honor Societies: the Chinese National Honor Society, the French National Honor Society, the German National Honor Society, and the Spanish National Honor Society. The inductions also included the following Arts Honor Societies: the National Art Honor Society, the International Thespian Society, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
After a welcome address from Head of School William S. Hawkey, PhD, to open the program, Head of Upper School Scott Peeler gave a brief overview of the requirements for appointment to these prestigious societies. An original poem was read across all four languages, followed by a song written by Osvaldo Farrés and performed by Ainsley Hardt ’27. An inspiring instrumental performance by Ruichen (Martin) Ding ’27 and Muhan Tian ’27 was also included in the evening’s celebration. Department Chairs Caroline Hall (Arts) and Joselle Lamoutte (World Languages) introduced their respective departments and delivered the closing remarks. Congratulations to all the new honor society inductees on being recognized for their achievements!
Here is a list of the inductees, arranged by state or country and hometown, along with their grade level and honor societies.
FLORIDA
Golden Beach: Elle Gerstman, 12, Spanish
NEW JERSEY
Belle Mead: Bella Murray, 11, Spanish
Burlington: Laila Wingfield, 11, Spanish
Ewing: Mara Killeen, 11, Spanish; Neve Sirois, 11, Theatre
Flemington: Caiden O’Connell, 12, Spanish
Hillsborough: Louise Bourgoin, 12, French
Lawrenceville: Adriana Cano, 11, Spanish; Colin Cody, 11, Theatre; Katharina Koppenhofer, 11, German; Leonora Mesameh Baez, 11, French
Manalapan: Ela Patel, 11, French
Millstone Township: Sydney Zipp, 11, French
Pennington: Bryson Chase, 11, German and Theatre–Honor Thespian; Julia Giller, 11, Theatre–Honor Thespian; Shona Karp, 11, Spanish; Leonardo Momo, 12, Spanish; Samik Mookherjee, 12, Theatre; Ean Silverstein, 11, Spanish; Charlotte Sweetman, 11, French
Princeton: Vivaan Ravindran, 11, French; Kendall Sands, 12, French; Jayen Shah, 11, Chinese and Music; Gus Shapiro, 11, Spanish; Yanxin (Minnie) Wu, 12, Art
Princeton Junction: Maia Davis, 11, Spanish
Robbinsville: Maura Halpin, 11, Spanish
Rocky Hill: Elliot Sciaraffo, 11, German
Skillman: Zoe Banque Cardenosa, 11, Spanish; Lorenzo Gonzalez Salinas, 11, Spanish
Stockton: Charlotte Lee, 11, Spanish and Theatre
Titusville: Haokai (Harry) Cao, 11, Spanish
NEW YORK
New Paltz: Thomas Huffman, 11, Spanish
PENNSYLVANIA
Bensalem: Ava Brochon, 12, French
Doylestown: Vivian Mysliwiec, 11, Spanish
New Hope: Hayden Malmros, 12, French and Theatre; Lilia Phillips, 11, Spanish
Yardley: Ainsley Hardt, 11, Chinese, Music, Spanish, and Theatre–Honor Thespian; Logan Oster, 12, Spanish; Catherine Vincent, 12, Theatre–Honor Thespian
WASHINGTON
Bellevue: Zhicheng (Bruce) Li, 11, Art
CHINA
Beijing: Ruichen (Martin) Ding, 11, Music
Chengdu Sichuan: Chenyu (Jason) Chou, 12, Spanish
Chaoyang District: Muhan Tian, 11, Art, Music, and Theatre
Shanghai: Yongjia (Kelly) Liu, 11, Art and German; Chi Fui (William) Ni, 11, German
Shenzhen: Honghe (King) Liu, 11, German
The Pennington School is an independent coeducational school for students in grades 6 through 12, in both day and boarding programs. The curriculum is college preparatory, with an emphasis on individual excellence, fostering the development of the whole student through academics, athletics, community service, and the creative and performing arts.
The Pennington School Recognizes Exceptional Achievement in World Languages and the Arts
Muhan Tian ’27 performs at Monday’s Arts and World Language Honor Society reception
Pennington School families and faculty gathered in the Wesley Forum on Monday, January 12, to recognize the exceptional eleventh- and twelfth-grade students being inducted into eight different societies of distinction. Comprising the inductions were the following World Language Honor Societies: the Chinese National Honor Society, the French National Honor Society, the German National Honor Society, and the Spanish National Honor Society. The inductions also included the following Arts Honor Societies: the National Art Honor Society, the International Thespian Society, and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
After a welcome address from Head of School William S. Hawkey, PhD, to open the program, Head of Upper School Scott Peeler gave a brief overview of the requirements for appointment to these prestigious societies. An original poem was read across all four languages, followed by a song written by Osvaldo Farrés and performed by Ainsley Hardt ’27. An inspiring instrumental performance by Ruichen (Martin) Ding ’27 and Muhan Tian ’27 was also included in the evening’s celebration. Department Chairs Caroline Hall (Arts) and Joselle Lamoutte (World Languages) introduced their respective departments and delivered the closing remarks. Congratulations to all the new honor society inductees on being recognized for their achievements!
Here is a list of the inductees, arranged by state or country and hometown, along with their grade level and honor societies.
FLORIDA
Golden Beach: Elle Gerstman, 12, Spanish
NEW JERSEY
Belle Mead: Bella Murray, 11, Spanish
Burlington: Laila Wingfield, 11, Spanish
Ewing: Mara Killeen, 11, Spanish; Neve Sirois, 11, Theatre
Flemington: Caiden O’Connell, 12, Spanish
Hillsborough: Louise Bourgoin, 12, French
Lawrenceville: Adriana Cano, 11, Spanish; Colin Cody, 11, Theatre; Katharina Koppenhofer, 11, German; Leonora Mesameh Baez, 11, French
Manalapan: Ela Patel, 11, French
Millstone Township: Sydney Zipp, 11, French
Pennington: Bryson Chase, 11, German and Theatre–Honor Thespian; Julia Giller, 11, Theatre–Honor Thespian; Shona Karp, 11, Spanish; Leonardo Momo, 12, Spanish; Samik Mookherjee, 12, Theatre; Ean Silverstein, 11, Spanish; Charlotte Sweetman, 11, French
Princeton: Vivaan Ravindran, 11, French; Kendall Sands, 12, French; Jayen Shah, 11, Chinese and Music; Gus Shapiro, 11, Spanish; Yanxin (Minnie) Wu, 12, Art
Princeton Junction: Maia Davis, 11, Spanish
Robbinsville: Maura Halpin, 11, Spanish
Rocky Hill: Elliot Sciaraffo, 11, German
Skillman: Zoe Banque Cardenosa, 11, Spanish; Lorenzo Gonzalez Salinas, 11, Spanish
Stockton: Charlotte Lee, 11, Spanish and Theatre
Titusville: Haokai (Harry) Cao, 11, Spanish
NEW YORK
New Paltz: Thomas Huffman, 11, Spanish
PENNSYLVANIA
Bensalem: Ava Brochon, 12, French
Doylestown: Vivian Mysliwiec, 11, Spanish
New Hope: Hayden Malmros, 12, French and Theatre; Lilia Phillips, 11, Spanish
Yardley: Ainsley Hardt, 11, Chinese, Music, Spanish, and Theatre–Honor Thespian; Logan Oster, 12, Spanish; Catherine Vincent, 12, Theatre–Honor Thespian
WASHINGTON
Bellevue: Zhicheng (Bruce) Li, 11, Art
CHINA
Beijing: Ruichen (Martin) Ding, 11, Music
Chengdu Sichuan: Chenyu (Jason) Chou, 12, Spanish
Chaoyang District: Muhan Tian, 11, Art, Music, and Theatre
Shanghai: Yongjia (Kelly) Liu, 11, Art and German; Chi Fui (William) Ni, 11, German
Shenzhen: Honghe (King) Liu, 11, German
The Pennington School is an independent coeducational school for students in grades 6 through 12, in both day and boarding programs. The curriculum is college preparatory, with an emphasis on individual excellence, fostering the development of the whole student through academics, athletics, community service, and the creative and performing arts.
PENNINGTON, NJ, January 8, 2026—Analogue photographer Heather Palecek Showcases Work at Pennington’s Silva Gallery of Art.
The Silva Gallery of Art at The Pennington School is hosting “In Stillness,” an exhibition of work by Heather Palecek, from December 15, 2025, through March 2, 2026.
Palecek is a classically trained photographer whose approach blends her formal education with a deep love of experimental discovery. Growing up in the woods of northeastern USA, Palecek developed a profound connection to nature, which she categorizes as both spiritual and intellectual. Later, she channeled that connection as a catalyst for artistic expression, using her art to explore the intersection of historical photographic processes and the natural world, highlighting the complex relationships that humans have with nature.
Specializing in pinhole photography, lumen printing, cyanotype, and mixed-media camera-less techniques, she pushes the boundaries of these historical methods in innovative ways, creating art in collaboration with the rhythms of the natural world. Attuned to these quiet rhythms, Palecek embraces stillness as a catalyst for her artistic methods. Working slowly and mindfully, she accepts the element of chance and allows the surrounding environment to help shape her images. Her work invites viewers to pause and reflect on their own personal relationships with nature, inspiring a deeper mindfulness of environmental stewardship.
Palecek holds a degree in fine art education and photography from Montclair State University. Since 2010, she has been a dedicated high school photography educator in New Jersey, additionally teaching a variety of immersive workshops on alternative and historical photographic processes throughout the region. As the leader of the NJ Pinhole Club, she fosters a vibrant community of photographers. Her award-winning work has been exhibited locally and internationally.
A reception, open to the public, will be held on Thursday, January 22, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. with remarks by the artist at 7:00 p.m. The Silva Gallery of Art is located on the School’s campus at 112 West Delaware Avenue in Pennington, New Jersey. For further information, please call the Silva Gallery at 609-737-4133 or email SilvaGallery@pennington.org
The Pennington School is an independent coeducational school for students in grades 6 through 12, in both day and boarding programs. The curriculum is college preparatory, with an emphasis on individual excellence, fostering the development of the whole student through academics, athletics, community service, and the creative and performing arts.
