Hawken Honors 2009 Cum Laude Inductees

The Hawken community gathered in Kennedy Auditorium on Thursday, April 30 to honor 21 members of the Classes of 2009 and 2010 who were inducted into the Cum Laude Society during a ceremony held on Thursday, April 30 in the Kennedy Auditorium. The Cum Laude Society permits participating schools to induct up to the top 20 percent of each graduating class; up to half of those may be inducted as juniors. The Society recognizes academic achievement for the purpose of promoting its motto of "Arete, Dike, and Time" - Greek words meaning excellence, justice, and honor. The Chamber Chorale, featuring soloists Adrienne Krol `10 and Brian Huser `09, sang Andrew Lloyd Webber`s "Pie Jesu" prior to Opening Remarks by Head of School Scott Looney, President of the Hawken Cum Laude Chapter. Dr. Doug Smith, Associate Director of the Upper School, recognized the 2008 student inductees to the Society before inducting the newly nominated students and distributing their pins and certificates. Faculty member Julia Griffin reflected on the perils of perfection in an inspiring Cum Laude Address, after which Upper School Director Ross Peters offered his Closing Remarks, recollecting the simple yet poignant kindness of a teacher from his boyhood. Click here to listen to the speeches. Prior to the recessional, the inductees and guests joined the chorale in singing the Hawken Alma Mater to mark the closing of the ceremony. After the ceremony, student inductees, their guests, and faculty gathered for a reception in the White House. The 2009 inductees include seniors David Falk, Alex Ferris, Julia Langholt, Dana Lee, Yanh Li, Rachel Parker, Girish Pendse, Courtney Tumbush, Paige von Mehren, Rebecaa Walker, and juniors Nathan Baker, Omar Diab, Alisa Foti, David Gerson, Charles Hermann, Randi Michel, Peter Mintun, Dana Shaker, Maya Shumyatcher, Samantha Stilson, and Margo Uhrman. They join last year`s inductees John Borokhovich, Ann Feke, Dylan Herts, Brian Huser, Jonathan Katzner, Alec Lai, Andrew Macklis, Samuel Milner, Jacob Sachs, Ari Sunshine, and Noah Whitehead.