The Guardian Award is presented each year at Senior Honors Convocation to a member of the faculty who are nominated by students in the senior class. The faculty member has served as a “guardian” for the student during their time at Episcopal. This year’s winner is Jono Hustis, Upper School Theatre Director and Fine Arts Department faculty, nominated by Mattia Pozzoni ‘26.
Mattia wrote of Mr. Hustis: “I loved singing ever since I was little. I have lived in four different countries, but my passion for singing stayed with me throughout my life. No matter where I went, singing was something constant that made me feel safe and grounded even when everything else was changing. When I joined the musical sophomore year, I instantly felt welcome, and that is when Mr. Hustis became more than just a teacher to me. He saw potential in me that I did not fully see in myself and pushed me to grow, while also making sure I felt supported and understood. He created a space where I could belong, and he always looked out for me, like a guardian who helped me both on and off the stage.”
Mattia described Mr. Hustis’s further support after he faced an unexpected health diagnosis. “Throughout this whole process, Mr. Hustis was at my side. Whenever he saw that I was not well, he made sure to check on me and to be by my side. My biggest fear was that my diagnosis would hold me back; he never let it define me. He trusted that I could overcome it when he cast me as the lead in Urinetown, which meant the world to me. He knew that I could overcome it and manage it.”
Mattia shared that Mr. Hustis starts every theatre class by asking students to rate how they are feeling from one to five, one being the worst and five being the best. “It seems simple, but it shows how much he cares about us as people, not just performers. Whenever any of us felt down, he was there. He gave up his own time to help us, whether that meant just sitting and listening, or helping us work through something we were struggling with. For me, that meant everything. In those moments when I felt at my lowest, he made sure I was not alone, and that is why I see him as a guardian in my life.”
The Guardian Award was established in 1999 by Mr. and Mrs. William L. Dahl. Seniors are given the opportunity to write an essay about a faculty member who has been a role model for them during their years at Episcopal and has helped them understand how important these guardians are. The senior who writes the winning nomination receives a $1,500 college scholarship and the Guardian Award recipient also receives a $1,500 cash award.