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Dr. Camerer’s impressive tenure began not long after Dwight became part of The New York Preparatory School in 1889, which operated a division in Manhattan and another in Brooklyn. Upon joining forces with Dwight, the Manhattan division relocated to Dwight’s then-home, 15 West 43rd Street, and Dwight retained its name as a new third division. Together, they comprised the largest private preparatory school in the U.S. at that time. Over time, Dwight criss-crossed Manhattan a few more times, landing in our current and permanent home at 18 West 89th Street in 1993.

How Does the Competition Work?

Early in the academic year, each one of our participating campuses initiates its own School-wide competition for students in grades 9-11, who write personal essays sharing their experiences, reflections, and creative talents. They submit these narratives to their English teachers, who select the best in each grade to share with all faculty in their English Department for another round of review and judging. 

The winning entries are then entered into our global competition, which is just one of many Dwight cross-campus programs and collaborations that connect our students around the world. This year, students from every School participated: New York, London, Seoul, Shanghai, Dubai, and Global Online participated.

Administrators from across our network have the difficult task of judging the well-crafted essays, which are always as diverse, unique, and impressive as the students who write them. Vice Chancellor Blake Spahn then has the honor of announcing our winners. Please click below to find out which students have been named our 2023 global winners.

Congratulations to all of our finalists and winners!

Our Lions exhibited relentless determination to secure a spot in the postseason, while continuously improving their skills. Their success story doesn’t end there: the girls on our Varsity Swim team made Dwight history by winning the ISAL Championships for the first time! Read on for a closer look at the many accomplishments of our athletes and share in their Lion pride!

Boys Varsity Basketball: Coaches David Brown, Evan Pickman, and Perun Kovacevic
Our Boys Varsity Basketball team wrapped up another successful season. Despite being a young team with so many players having graduated last year, they finished in second place with a record of 14-10, which was a testament to their hard work and determination. Coach Brown was ecstatic about their 20-point victory over long-standing rival, Collegiate, where Spencer Zeppieri ’23 opened the scoring with a strong performance. The players put on a show, showcasing their incredible talent and teamwork. Our other seniors had an outstanding year with significant growth: Matthew deGraft-Johnson became a consistent presence in the paint and a strong rebounder; while Nick Padilla was the heartbeat of the team, showcasing his talents on both sides of the ball. Jack Koczan ’23 was the ultimate teammate, providing support to fellow players on and off the court. But our Lions’ success didn't end with the regular season — they made it to the ACIS playoffs championship game and the quarterfinals of the NYSAIS State Championship Tournament, proving their impressive skills and resilience. Looking ahead, our Lions are committed to developing and improving as a unit, building on this year's growth and success. With their determination, who knows what they'll achieve next year!

Boys JV Basketball: Coach Robert Brooks
It was quite a season for our Boys JV Basketball team, even with many new faces, the team’s returning core was able to lead the Lions to such a successful season. It took some time to gel as a group, learn the playbook and work together, however they persevered. The Lions made it to the semi-finals of the league playoffs, illustrating that their efforts and dedication paid off. One memorable moment of the season was when the team came together after a tough loss of 52-89 against Columbia Prep. Despite the disappointment, they shared stories, laughed, and reflected on what they had accomplished together. Connor Janiak ’26, Jake Sender ’26, Theo Cornick ’26, and Ben Sylla ’27 studied and executed plays along with holding the defense all season long. This experience was a reminder of how strong and resilient the team was. Overall, it was an exciting season, with a record 7-9 filled with surprises, close games, buzzer beaters, and comebacks. Coach Brooks was proud of their progress and is excited to see how players will continue to work on their game this summer and come back stronger and more dominant in the league next year.

Boys MS Basketball: Coaches Jonathan Ascher and Ben Castaldo
The Boys Middle School basketball team had an exciting season marked by some unforgettable moments on the court. The team had a solid record of 7-3. One highlight was the game against Bay Ridge Prep, where almost every player scored a basket. Their collective reaction was one of sheer joy and camaraderie, showing how much they valued each other's contributions. The team's youth was a defining characteristic of the season, as many of the players were still learning the fundamentals of the game; however, they showed great potential and willingness, while making significant progress. It was inspiring to see the players develop and improve their skills with each game, as they grew in confidence and ability, and we hope to see some of them continue on to join Dwight’s JV and Varsity teams in the future!

Girls Varsity Basketball: Coaches Brett Madarasz and Jordan Rivera
The Girls Varsity Basketball team wrapped up one exciting season! With an 11-14 record, they secured the fourth seed in the ISAL playoffs. In the quarterfinals game against Brooklyn Friends, the team triumphed with an incredible buzzer-beating shot by Elle Brown ’25, resulting in a nail-biting 45-44 victory. The energy in the arena was electric, and the team's hard work paid off in a moment that will go down in history. While they fell short in the semifinals against LREI, the leadership of Senior Co-Captain Olivia Salerno and Junior Co-Captain Mia Abramson was crucial, providing excellent defense and basketball IQ. The dynamic backcourt duo of freshman Eloise Oppy and sophomore Grace Capiraso contributed greatly to the team's scoring, with Eloise racking up an impressive 362 points and Grace with 86. But they weren't the only ones bringing their A-game. Sophomores Danielle Reische and Elle Brown also provided significant scoring support, finishing the season with 100 and 136 points, respectively. Junior Tabby Hill and sophomore Lulu Dryer dominated in rebounding and defending the middle of the paint. The team is already eager to return to the court, with the students not graduating roaring to go and the prospect of another thrilling season on the horizon. With this year’s success and incredible talent, who knows what heights they'll reach in the next one? One thing's for sure — it's going to be epic!

Girls JV Basketball: Coaches Cyrus De Guzman and Camille Pangalangan
This season was a period of intense growth and development for the Girls JV Basketball team. Every game presented an opportunity to learn and to push themselves to new limits. While the team faced several challenges, they never let that hold them back. Captain Vanessa Greenwald '24 was always leading the charge and keeping the team in high spirits; they never lost sight of their goals. Ella Heimerback '26 also shone on the court, holding down the defensive line and receiving praise from opposing coaches for her tenacity and skill. But one game in particular stood out from the rest — a nail-biting match against Avenues. The teams were evenly matched, and the tension was palpable. In the end, the Lions didn't come out on top, but it was the hardest they had ever played, demonstrating their sheer determination to win. Looking ahead to next season, Lions have their sights on being even better and climbing up the standings. With the progress and development they made this season, the coaching staff is confident that they have the potential to achieve their goal.

Girls MS Basketball: Coach Peter Boylan 
Our Girls Middle School Basketball players had a unique season focused on building team chemistry and fundamental skills. Each day, they arrived with a competitive spirit and a commitment to both fun and productivity. Eighth grader Sayana Patel’s top 5 Spotify playlist and bonding on the team bus rides were always fun and vibrant experiences. Before each game, Rylie Saltzman ‘27 delivered pregame pump-up speeches accompanied by pop music, which helped rally the team together. Coach Boylan also incorporated various activities to inspire and excite the players. The girls' dedication and hard work paid off in the final game of the season against Birch Wathen Lenox, as they played their hearts out until the very end but came up just short with a score of 22-24. This game was a testament to their teamwork and positive attitudes throughout the season, ending with a 4-4 record. With such a strong foundation, these Lions are poised for a successful future and we hope to see some on our JV and Varsity teams in the future.

Varsity Swim: Coaches Elizabeth Heiss, Christian Carpio-Ramos, and Brandon Saavedra
Congratulations to our Varsity Swim team, especially the female members for winning the 2023 ISAL Championship this year! The success was the result of the collective effort of both the boys and girls teams, who trained hard and dedicated themselves to extra practices. The team supported each other from the beginning of meets to the very end, with the goal of winning both the ACIS and ISAL Championships and qualifying for the NYSAIS Championship. Although the boys team competed hard, they fell just short of the league championships, but this was not for lack of effort.

For the first time in school history, the girls team won the ISAL Championship, placed second in the ACIS Championship, and finished fifth in the NYSAIS Championship! This was a remarkable achievement, and the team deserves recognition for their hard work and dedication.
 
Throughout the season, every student-athlete displayed a positive attitude, and their hard work was seen in their achievements. Annika Dhingra ’23 will be missed for her contributions and commitment to the team. Everyone’s dedication and support for each other made this season unforgettable. We are proud of all of our Lions and look forward to even more historic performances in the future.

MS Swim: Coaches Brandon Saavedra and Undine Groeger  
Our Middle School swim team had a great season that was all about building confidence and honing their techniques. Many of the swimmers were new to competitive swimming, but they quickly realized their capabilities during their first meet against Grace Church, Lycée Français, and Berkeley Carroll. Not only did they handle the competition well, but they also won their first meet, which was a thrilling moment for everyone! As the season progressed, swimmers continued to improve and exceeded their own expectations. The coaches were impressed and are excited about these students joining the Varsity team and setting an example for the incoming Middle School team. With their newfound confidence and commitment, they are eagerly looking forward to even more competition next year. Our Lions worked hard and their dedication paid off. We can't wait to see what the future holds for these talented young swimmers.

Varsity Fencing: Coach Ted Belcher  
This year marked an exciting return of our competitive Varsity Fencing team after last year's club season. At the start, the team needed to find their rhythm and learn how to support each other. Despite varying skill levels and competitive drives, they eventually came together and competed at an exceptional level. The season kicked off with Xuan Stabb ’23 winning the first match 5-0 against Grace Church and letting out a victorious yell that shook the windows of the Fencers Club, a moment that everyone will remember! The team's biggest achievement was going undefeated, winning every match by double digits. Key contributors, such as Xuan and Em Brandon ’23, were each responsible for over 20 points per match, when a team only needs 28 points to win. Over the course of the season, the team grew immensely in terms of skill and a familial bond. Although they will miss their two graduating seniors, older students are poised to lead the team to another great season next year. With the momentum and confidence gained this winter, fencers are eager to continue their winning streak and build upon their team bond. Coach Belcher is proud and excited to see what the future holds for Varsity Fencing.

Varsity Indoor Track: Coach Julie Wolf 
One of the most inspiring moments was watching the runners on our Varsity Indoor Track team work hard every day, pushing themselves to improve and supporting each other along the way. Jack Yoon ’23 strove to beat his personal records and those of his teammates all season long, which he did a few times. Ana Figaredo ’25 qualified for NYSAIS with her times — proof of her impressive personal growth as an athlete. It was wonderful to see the progress they made and the strides each one took to reach their goals. Their hard work and dedication paid off, and they should be proud of their accomplishments. Looking ahead, there is much to be excited about for Dwight runners, who are roaring into more competition as members of our spring Track and Field team.