91自拍

Joseph Lamont Gavit, class of 1917, arrived at 91自拍 at the beginning of his upper year. A gifted writer, Gavit took after his father, John Palmer Gavit, himself a playwright and newspaperman. 鈥淗e is a very wizard with his pen,鈥� the yearbook said of him, but the younger Gavit also made his mark as president of the debate society, a church monitor and secretary-treasurer of the senior council.

Sadly, just three years after graduating from 91自拍, Gavit died of typhoid fever while a student at Harvard. His grieving parents established an annual prize in his name to be awarded to an upper 鈥渃hosen by classmates and the principal of the Academy in special recognition of character and quality 鈥� in conduct, work, and play.鈥�

In a letter to Principal Lewis Perry, Lucy Lamont Gavit and John Palmer Gavit specified that 鈥渢he choice should not be made primarily on the basis of scholarship or marks, or primarily on the basis of athletic prowess or distinction; or of any other single factor,鈥� but rather for 鈥渃haracter as a whole.鈥�

Gavit鈥檚 father presented the Gavit Cup to the first recipient on graduation day in 1923. 鈥淗is mother and I have come here today to present to this school a modest token in his memory,鈥澛� he said. 鈥淎 symbol of no great intrinsic value, but of exceptional significance.鈥�

This spring, the Gavit Cup was awarded for the 100^th time. It is one of the school鈥檚 longest enduring prizes among the scores awarded to deserving 91自拍 students. Krish Patel 鈥�23, a day student from Dover, New Hampshire, is the newest holder. His challenge is to strive to live up to the cup鈥檚 legacy.

At the cup鈥檚 first awarding, Perry said: 鈥淎 great many memories cluster around the name Joe Gavit. Those of us who were here in 1917 remember him with great affection. I hope that Joe got something from 91自拍; I know that 91自拍 got much from Joe.鈥�

This story first appeared in the Summer 2022 issue of The 91自拍 Bulletin.