At the annual Garden Party at Oheka Castle, two Walt Whitman High School students became the recipients of the Otto Kahn Award; Fern Brazeau in dance and Andrew Noonan in fine arts, media and design. This award is given to selected high school seniors throughout Huntington who are exceptionally talented in some form of the fine arts.
Fern Brazeau is a 2023 graduate of Walt Whitman High School and will be attending the University of Hartford-Hartt School Dance Division in the fall. At WWHS, Fern participated as a Dance Student in the Whitman Dance Program, a Dancer in Center Stage Musical Productions and the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. Karen Lynch, Fern's teacher in Ballet and Pointe, described Fern as "a hard working and dedicated ballet dancer... I feel Fern is deserving of the Otto Kahn Award..." Susan Turner Radin, Fern's Dance Educator says of her, "I believe Fern deserves to win the esteemed Otto Kahn Award for dance because she not only demonstrates exceptional talent and a willingness to explore avenues of dance that are unfamiliar to her, but her humility, work ethic and innate kindness make working with her a true pleasure." Fern says of herself: "Becoming a professional dancer is a plan that I have been working towards for many years..."
Andrew Noonan is a 2023 graduate of Walt Whitman High School and will be attending The University of Connecticut in the fall. At WWHS, Andrew participated in the National Art Honor Society as President, the Digital Arts Club also as President, and Cartooning classes. Art Teacher Erica Raji said of Andrew, "Andrew Noonan is a natural leader whose positive attitude and creative spirit exude from every pore." Gina Tinucci, National Art Honor Society advisor said of Andrew, "I would highly recommend Andrew for this award because I see him as a deserving young man as he strives to do the best and is eager to further pursue education in the field of visual arts and design." Andrew said of himself: "I'm applying for this scholarship because this major (Digital Media) is a program that I have not seen imitated elsewhere in-state...Receiving this scholarship will help reduce the financial burden I will have as I enter college.
Fern and Andrew are both very talented in what they do as artists. They have brought joy to so many people through beautiful ballet performances and impressive artwork. Both are very deserving of this award and have made the South Huntington Family very proud. Congratulations, Fern and Andrew for this wonderful recognition!
The Walt Whitman Jazz Band enjoyed the evening while performing at the garden party under Band Director Mr. Matt Hoffman.
WWHS teacher Mr. Frank Yolango with his Chamber Orchestra playing indoors at Oheka Castle.
Congratulations to Fern Brazeau on receiving the Otto Kahn Award for being one of Walt Whitman’s exceptionally talented dancers, and Oheka’s second ever Otto Kahn Award recipient for dance. We wish Fern the best of luck as she continues her studies at Hartford in the fall.
Congratulations to Andrew Noonan on receiving the Otto Kahn Award for his exceptional talent as a visual artist at Walt Whitman High School. We wish Andrew the best of luck as he continues his studies at the UCONN in the fall.