Former Sol Player Nika Haleftiras, who teaches core and elective science scores at Webb, is the 2021-22 recipient of the Thompson and Vivian Webb Excellence Award.

The Thompson and Vivian Webb Award was established and endowed by Dr. Edmund Piper ’43 to honor the school’s founders. It goes to a teacher who has made an outstanding impact on The Webb Schools in service of three years or less. The recipient is determined by a preferential ballot among teachers, parents and students. The award includes a stipend for the recipient’s use in professional growth activities.

Dean of Faculty Michael Szanyi announced the award during Webb’s 2022 Commencement Exercises on June 4.

“Nika Haleftiras has had quite a large impact on our community in three short years,” Szanyi said. “Arriving to Webb freshly out of her undergraduate experience, Ms. Haleftiras jumped right into all things Webb.”

Haleftiras is part of a team that teaches Webb’s sophomore core science course, Integrated Physics and Chemistry. She also revamped Webb’s Advanced Placement Environmental Science curriculum, serves as a Webb School of California dorm head and assists with the basketball program.

“While these are impressive individual accomplishments, what is more impressive about Ms. Haleftiras’ resume is how she always accomplishes these things with Webb’s best interest in mind. She prioritizes the success of her students and the needs of the school to ensure that at the end of the day, Webb is a better place,” Szanyi said.