PRIZEGIVING  2009

The Prizegiving ceremony this year took place on Thursday 2nd July in Dollar Academy Assembly Hall. The ceremony opened with the haunting sound of sixth year pupil Carla Chiappa singing Dido’s Lament from Purcell’s opera ‘Dido and Aeneas’. The guest speaker was Ms Johanna Boyd, a former Head Girl of Dollar Academy in 1993-94. Her career in London has seen her in chambers in Gray’s Inn and she is a barrister with expertise in planning. Anda Burlarga, a pupil from Moldova who joined the sixth form this year, gave a very moving speech about her experiences at Dollar Academy.

Several new prizes were presented this year including The Davies Cup for Sporting Excellence, The Ritchie Prize for Excellence in Science and The Sam Cartwright Performing Arts Award. Details are given below on each of these prizes.

The Davies Cup for Sporting Excellence
Throughout his career Ted was committed to the teaching of Sports and Games.  Hundreds of children benefited from his expertise on the rugby pitch, in the swimming pool, on the athletics field or the squash court.  Recognising that there were prizes for children in all other aspects of school life, on his retirement in summer 2008, he presented a cup for sporting excellence.  Each year a girl and a boy will be chosen by the Physical Education Department to receive this award in recognition of their achievements across a range of sports. 

The Ritchie Prize for Excellence in Science
Joan Ritchie attended Dollar Academy and was Head Girl in 1940-41. She won the Physics Medal, French Medal and the Special Prize for Good Service to the school in 1941. Her four sisters also attended the Academy. The prize is in memory of all the Ritchie girls and they wish to encourage an active interest in the Sciences.

The Sam Cartwright Performing Arts Award
This award is presented by Mr. and Mrs. Cartwright in memory of their son, Sam. Sam was a student at Dollar between 1999 and 2006 and he was killed in a car accident whilst taking a gap year in Australia in July 2006. Sam was a strong performer in school plays and musicals and a member of the chamber choir and various school bands. The award is for the outstanding performer of the year at Dollar Academy and Sam’s parents would wish it to stimulate students to fulfil their performing potential and to enjoy the personal satisfaction that comes from performing excellence.