Ten Westfield High School students have been recognized with the Lift While You Climb Award, in honor of the late WHS principal Dr. Derrick Nelson.
Nelson, who died in 2019 from complications suffered while donating bone marrow to a boy he didn’t know in France, once said: “We have an obligation to our fellow human beings that if we are in a position to help someone, you do it. You lift as you climb. If you can do that, you have contributed more to society than anything your bank account can produce and, ultimately, contribute more to your own well-being.”
Nominated by WHS faculty and staff for Spring 2025, the ten recipients of the Lift While You Climb Award are:
Liam Concannon, described as someone who “shows genuine compassion to all of his peers. He is always willing to mentor or help anyone in need and cares deeply for all groups of people. He is an exemplary role model and leads every single day by example.”
Macy Curran, described as “a trusted teammate, a selfless player, and a vocal leader on the Varsity softball team for the past two years. Always the first to cheer on or refocus her teammates, she brings positivity, resilience, and sportsmanship to everything she does. With her sense of humor, dependability, and kindness, Macy has earned the trust of her teammates—trust that allows her to hold them accountable to the high standards and goals they’ve set together. Macy makes Westfield softball stronger and we're lucky to have her on our team.”
Ana da Silva Souza, with a nominator saying this: “As Ana navigated her way through a new community and high level of rigor, she took on obstacles with determination and grit. Even while she puts so much time and effort into her school work, AND her jobs outside of school, she never lets that take away from the joy she feels taking care of her family.”
Keira Deignan, described as “the epitome of a team-first player. She brings steady energy, sharp humor, and strong leadership to the Varsity softball team in a way that lifts everyone around her. Always dependable, present, and all-in, Keira earns the trust of her teammates by leading with heart and a full commitment to the team’s success. She doesn’t just contribute to team culture—she helps define it.”
Sloan Dossin, whose nominator says this: “Sloan is a very intelligent person. Although he is concerned about his achievements, he takes the time out to worry about others. He sees himself as part of the school community and as such does care about the state of the school. When in class he can get his work quickly and be done, but instead he works with others explaining the question and waiting for the others to understand before moving on. He really has an altruistic spirit in which he truly likes to help others.”
Erin Hazard, whose nominator writes that “Erin always does her best, but what really stands out is how she encourages everyone around her to do their best, too. Having been hired at the same time as Derrick Nelson and admiring him for his leadership qualities, Erin truly reminds me of this legacy he left behind. She is more than deserving of this award.”
Nadia Rego, described as “a radiant presence, bringing warmth and kindness to every space she enters. Nadia is a gift to the WHS community.”
Alice Schaefer, described as a person who “always has a positive attitude towards her classmates and takes advantage of every opportunity to lift up her fellow classmates. She's complimentary towards everyone and always offers support and encouragement to those in need. She offers to help her classmates with various things in class on a daily basis.”
Kenzie Schiller, whose nominator describes her this way: “Kenzie is the first student to participate in class (even when the subjects are difficult to talk about). She also shows the utmost respect to her peers and their diverse opinions. She is exactly the type of student that the Westfield Public School District aims to cultivate as shown by the mission statement.”
Quynh Williams, described as “a power student” who has overcome obstacles. “She holds two jobs, one which involves commuting to NYC. Quynh is conscientious, focused, responsible, and has a positive demeanor through it all,” writes her nominator.
The “Lift While You Climb” Award is sponsored by the WHS Counseling Department twice during the academic year, in the fall and the spring.