On Monday evening, April 23rd, eight Ethel Walker School students were inducted into the Cum Laude Society, one of the highest academic honors a student can receive.
Jordana “Monet” Clarke of Windsor, CT, Melody Altschuler of Lime, CT, Courtney Meheran of Collinsville, CT, SooBin Park of Seoul Korea, Bingxin Xu of Zhangjiagang China, Jacinta Lomba of South Windsor, CT, Abigail Reynolds of Amherst, MA, and Chelsea Regan of Avon, CT are this years inductees.
The Cum Laude Society was founded in 1906 to recognize academic achievement in secondary schools for the purpose of promoting excellence, justice and honor. The presence of a Cum Laude chapter at a school is an indication of superior academic quality similar to the Phi Beta Kappa Society at the university level. At Walker’s, the Induction Ceremony is celebrated with an annual school event dubbed simply “Cum Laude” by students. A time-honored evening leading up to Graduation each Spring, the night is comprised of an awards ceremony attended by the school community followed by a celebratory dinner.
Dr. Julia Sheldon, an Ethel Walker science teacher, delivered the Cum Laude address this year, opening with sentiments expressing gratitude to the newest inductees for teaching her valuable lessons beyond the classroom. “To Monet, Melody, Courtney, SooBin, Bingxin, Jacinta, Abby, and Chelsea: Thank you. I am so fortunate to have had the pleasure of teaching each one of you about the wonders of chemistry, and each of you have taught or reinforced for me many things that are much more important than science. One of the most rewarding things about being a teacher is that I often learn more valuable lessons from my students than they learn from me.”
Each of these students has demonstrated an unparalleled commitment to academics that has placed them in the top 10% of the junior and senior classes. Outside the classroom, they have contributed to the school community in myriad ways, strengthening themselves, their peers and the school community as a whole. “We are so proud of these girls as each of them truly embodies the values of the Cum Laude Society. Cum Laude is not just about grades but rather excellence in all things, honor, respect, dignity and integrity. Each of these girls has shown all this in their own, unique way.” says Wendy Allerton, Dean of Middle School, Upper School & Faculty.
The Ethel Walker School is an independent, college preparatory, boarding and day school for girls in grades six through twelve. Since 1911, The Ethel Walker School has excelled at preparing students to make a difference in the world. Members of this diverse community are dedicated to scholarship, the arts, athletics, wellness, and service. The satisfaction of achievement and joy of friendship are fundamental principles as the School empowers girls to lead with integrity, confidence, courage, and conviction.
