Hawkes to Cum Laude Inductees: Put Skills to Noble Ends
To the 22 newest members of Hawken's Cum Laude Society: congratulations. As English teacher Robert Hawkes admonished, make a lasting contribution to the world with your talents.
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Ours is a "nation duped into giving rubbish a standing ovation," he lamented at this year's Cum Laude induction ceremony.
His prayer it seemed was that the newest inductees into Hawken's Cum Laude society would play their role in redeeming the time spent greeting "the mediocre with applause."
"My hope for you, my fine and excellent friends, is that you put your skills to noble ends," he said.
Hawken's chapter of The Cum Laude Society is open to only juniors and seniors who've exemplified not only academic excellence but also personal integrity during their careers at the School. This year's recent crop of inductees joined 11 other seniors, who earned the distinction last year.
The Cum Laude Society, modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, was founded in 1906 and honors the finest scholastic achievement in secondary schools. Today, there are 350 chapters spanning the globe, the majority of which are found in independent schools.
This year's induction ceremony was one that called for the only true excellence, dedication and diligence to be rewarded while all else is relegated to the status where it belongs: mediocrity.
"We are told we have a right to expect a life without struggle, search, or turmoil...," said Upper School Director Ross Peters in his closing remarks.
"Do not buy it, friends, and do not regret that it is not true."
Congratulations to this year's inductees:
Mona Ascha '08
John Borokhovich '09
Blake Daley '08
Ann Feke '09
Davis Filippell '08
Dylan Herts '09
Stacey Hoffman '08
Brian Huser '09
Ann Jaskiw '08
Jonathan Katzner '09
Alec Lai '09
Fei Ran Lee '08
Andrew Macklis '09
Hannah Miller '08
Samuel Milner '09
Amy Murdoch '08
Melissa Petersilge '08
Jacob Sachs '09
Ari Sunshine '09
Jane Syh '08
Stephanie Terrill '08
Noah Whitehead '09
Click below to listen to Hawkes's and Peters's speeches in their entirety.
Robert Hawkes with introduction by Peter Scott
Upper School Director Ross Peters
Text of Robert Hawkes's speech
Back
Ours is a "nation duped into giving rubbish a standing ovation," he lamented at this year's Cum Laude induction ceremony.
His prayer it seemed was that the newest inductees into Hawken's Cum Laude society would play their role in redeeming the time spent greeting "the mediocre with applause."
"My hope for you, my fine and excellent friends, is that you put your skills to noble ends," he said.
Hawken's chapter of The Cum Laude Society is open to only juniors and seniors who've exemplified not only academic excellence but also personal integrity during their careers at the School. This year's recent crop of inductees joined 11 other seniors, who earned the distinction last year.
The Cum Laude Society, modeled after Phi Beta Kappa, was founded in 1906 and honors the finest scholastic achievement in secondary schools. Today, there are 350 chapters spanning the globe, the majority of which are found in independent schools.
This year's induction ceremony was one that called for the only true excellence, dedication and diligence to be rewarded while all else is relegated to the status where it belongs: mediocrity.
"We are told we have a right to expect a life without struggle, search, or turmoil...," said Upper School Director Ross Peters in his closing remarks.
"Do not buy it, friends, and do not regret that it is not true."
Congratulations to this year's inductees:
Mona Ascha '08
John Borokhovich '09
Blake Daley '08
Ann Feke '09
Davis Filippell '08
Dylan Herts '09
Stacey Hoffman '08
Brian Huser '09
Ann Jaskiw '08
Jonathan Katzner '09
Alec Lai '09
Fei Ran Lee '08
Andrew Macklis '09
Hannah Miller '08
Samuel Milner '09
Amy Murdoch '08
Melissa Petersilge '08
Jacob Sachs '09
Ari Sunshine '09
Jane Syh '08
Stephanie Terrill '08
Noah Whitehead '09
Click below to listen to Hawkes's and Peters's speeches in their entirety.
Robert Hawkes with introduction by Peter Scott
Upper School Director Ross Peters
Text of Robert Hawkes's speech
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Cum Laude inductees from the Class of 2008.
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Mr. Robert Hawkes addresses the inductees.
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An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
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