“I’m just as surprised as you are. I’m humbled and thankful to Mr. Lufkin, Mr. Bradley, and the faculty that nominated me or at least hit the wrong button on the nomination form,” said Mr. Bill Fenton P’26, instructor in physics and astronomy, director of the EFX Lab and the Observatory, and head coach of Varsity Volleyball, at the 2026 Lufkin Prize ceremony on Tuesday, May 12.
Awarded annually, the Lufkin Prize is the school’s highest honor for teachers. Established by Mr. Dan Lufkin ’49, P’80,’82,’88,’23, the prize recognizes a faculty member who makes a significant contribution to character development within the community and who serves as a role model for students and recognizes excellence in teaching, advising, coaching, and overall service to the community. Past recipients include Ms. Wendy Levithan, instructor in French; Ms. Carita Gardiner, dean of the class of 2027, Class of ‘42 Teaching Chair and instructor in English; Mr. Charlie Frankenbach, Russel Murray Bigelow Teaching Chair and instructor in English; and Dr. Richard “DK” Kirby, instructor in chemistry and Independence Foundation Chair.
After teaching at Moultonborough Academy, Mr. Fenton joined the school in 2006 as an instructor in physics and astronomy. Mr. Fenton coached JV Volleyball for eight years and ultimate frisbee for nine years. This year, Mr. Fenton is teaching multiple courses, including Intensive Physics, Honors Calculus-based Physics: Mechanics, and Honors Scientific Research in Physics: Astronomy.
Mr. Craig Bradley, head of school, opened the prize ceremony by describing the importance of the prize and thanking Mr. Lufkin.
Dean of Faculty Ms. Shannon Clark, followed, sharing some of Mr. Fenton’s achievements and reading student reflections. She said, “One current student writes, ‘Mr. Fenton always approaches situations with an open mind and helps studeznts find solutions to their problems.’”
Mr. Fenton then addressed the community. He spoke about his upbringing, notably his fondness for puzzle-solving and experimenting. He said, “I love a good puzzle. If any of you wonder why I don’t just come out and tell you how to solve a physics problem or how to attach the wheels on your mousetrap car, it’s because I don’t want to deprive you of that feeling of solving your own puzzles. There is a lot of learning and joy in that struggle.”
He then spoke of his time in college and his job application and interview at the school. “This place changed my life. I think when I first got here, I thought of it as a job. But somewhere along the way… it became a life. I couldn’t tell you what my hours are, but most people that work this many hours don’t get to see their young daughters get on the school bus every morning or get to have dinner with them every night. Even though dorm duty often conflicted with bath time, I was always at least around. It’s been a great place to raise a family.
Mr. Fenton by asking, “How do you define this amazing group of people that live and work together? That teach and learn together? That solve puzzles together? That take care of each other? It turns out that if they’re bearcats, it’s called a sleuth. A sleuth of bearcats. I like to think it’s because we’re all figuring things out together.”
