The Woodburys are one of Belmont Hill’s oldest competitions, steeped in history and tradition. Many will recall Ben Anderson, an exchange student from the Bishops Diocesan College in South Africa and a member of the South African National Public Speaking team, delivering his exceptional speech completely from memory. Ask any alumnus, and they are sure to tell you about a favorite speech of theirs that they heard during their time at Belmont Hill.
Woodburys happen twice a year in the fall and spring. The student body listens to a wide array of heartbreaking, comedic, or thought-provoking speeches from their peers. The process of reaching the stage takes a great deal of dedication, and, even then, only a few of the handful of students who make it to the chapel can win. Last year, the winners, Nate Voss and Ethan Sidman, set a high bar for this year’s speakers, which was more than matched. In October, speakers Adrian Tan ’25 and Brady Paquette ’25 delivered exceptional speeches. Adrian discussed his journey as a pianist and how he rediscovered his love for the instrument on his own terms, and Brady delivered a funny yet insightful speech on how he has overcome the adversity of being “vertically challenged.”
This year, the judges had a difficult time selecting the winner from the six students who reached the stage: Nick Fiumara ’26, Will Acthmeyer ’26, Brady Paquette ’25, Davin Roy ’24, Maksim Roman ’25, and Max Glick ’24. Despite very strong competition, Nick Fiumara, who delivered a heartwarming speech about his relationship with his brother, Peter Fiumara ’24, and Max Glick, who discussed how his one-year stint on the wrestling team taught him about himself and how to overcome his fears, took home the 2024 Spring Woodbury Prize. Many at Belmont Hill are already looking forward to next year’s competition and writing original speeches. Next year, we are sure to once again hear more excellent stories from our peers.
