Cum Laude Society Welcomes New Members

Thursday, April 29 marked the 2010 Cum Laude Induction ceremony, where current members of The Cum Laude Society from the Class of 2010 welcomed 21 additional juniors and seniors to join the ranks while classmates, faculty, and family gathered in the Kennedy Auditorium looked on. The 2010 inductees honored in the ceremony were Jocelyn Adams `11, Emily Anagnostos `11, Catherine Blebea `11, Elizabeth Bruml `10, Daniel DiSanto `11, Ellen Drake `11, Michael Eby `10, Margret Erlendsdottir `11, Spencer Hobson `10, Andrew Johnson `10, Adam Kanter `10, Hannah Kerman `11, Yoni Kirsch `11, Amelia Mainardi `10, Chelsea Mihelich `10, Cecile Murray `11, David Nelson `10, Taylor Pearl `11, Rebecca Raskind `10, Priya Sharma `10, John Weiss `10, and Alexander Zempolich `10. "I am not a member of the Cum Laude Society," began David Gillespie +óGé¼-£89, Director of Information Management & Research at Hawken, in the opening line of his address. "There, it`s on the table. I got it out," he quipped. His message throughout was clear and powerful, his delivery witty and good-humored. Showing deference to the honorees, Gillespie called them "the best of the best" - because at Hawken, "Cum Laude really means something." But he spoke to the rest of the crowd gathered as well - those who, for whatever reason, did not make the cut, assuring them that opportunities for greatness will emerge at some other time during their college, career, or life. Through sharing some his own experiences at Hawken and beyond, Gillespie told the students, "This place prepares you in ways you don`t even realize" and advised them, "Act like you are a Cum Laude inductee wherever life takes you, and you can all do great things." Other highlights of the ceremony included processional and recessional music by Mr. Gary Darrow and Mr. Sergio Castellanos; a Chopin musical interlude by pianist and inductee Margret Erlendsdottir `11; and remarks by Head of School Scott Looney, Director of the Upper School Ross Peters, and Associate Director of the Upper School Doug Smith. Following the singing of the Hawken Alma Mater, inductees and guests were invited to the White House for a reception. To hear David Gillespie`s address, click here.