Earlier in the morning, the graduates, faculty and staff, and family and friends celebrated a Baccalaureate service in St. Mary’s Chapel. Mr. Dan Waters, mathematics and computer science teacher as well as Makerspace and robotics mentor, delivered the Baccalaureate Address while senior class president Allison Faulds ’22 delivered the Student Address.
During the Commencement ceremony, Rector Rachel A. Connell delivered remarks to the Class of 2022.
“What a class! What a group of dedicated, community-minded young people,” she said of the graduates. “A group of individuals who use their voices to advocate for themselves and others. A group with a good sense of humor and a great heart for effecting change. Make no mistake that you have had an impact on Chatham Hall. You have challenged us, you have challenged me, you have asked Chatham Hall to continue to grow so that it can be better than when you arrived.”
Rector Connell went on to characterize the Class of 2022 as thoughtful and caring.
“Perhaps the greatest hallmark of your class is that you say ‘thank you.’ Yes, that is unique and noteworthy, and in this world it is no small thing,” she told them. “You say ‘thank you’ and you care. You make sure others know that you care. What a remarkable legacy.”
The graduation ceremony included inducting several new members of the Cum Laude Society for superior academic achievement in an independent secondary school, including graduates Madelyn Boltz, Whitney Byington, Ellie Larsen, Christine Leak, Carrie Midkiff, Catherine Niu, and Piper Vogel. Seniors Whitney Byington, Christine Leak, Catherine Malone, Carrie Midkiff, and Catherin Niu were also awarded Global Scholar certificates. Taylor Xu ‘23 was recognized with a Global Entrepreneurship certificate.
Zion Andrews ‘22 was recognized as the Honor Council president with the Honor Council Award, while Christine Leak ‘22 was recognized with the Purple & Golden Rule Citation for being the graduate who best lived the precepts of the Purple & Golden Rule and educated others into an understanding of it. The Lillian Evans Lineberger New Girl Award, which recognizes a New Girl who is an excellent student, outstanding citizen, and superb influence in the School, was presented to Kate Denny ‘25.
Department Awards also recognized senior student achievements, including:
Art Department Award – Gloria Guo
The Adora Prevost Ragsdale Dance Award – Whitney Byington & Catherine Malone
The Sherwood Dramatic Award – Aryanna Satti
Music Department Award – Grace Brooks
Class of 2012 Athletic Award – Zion Andrews & Annabele Whitehead
The Anne Dickinson Beal English Department Award – Carrie Midkiff & Kellyn Norman
The Catherine Ingram Spurzem Award for Creating Writing – Grace Brooks
History Department Award – Carrie Midkiff
The Dixie Hargrave Whitehead Mathematics Department Award – Ellie Larsen
Religion Department Award – Alexa Keating & Ruby Spencer
Science Department Award – Catherine Malone
World Languages: Chinese Award – Grace Brooks & Ellie Larsen
World Languages: French Award – Christine Leak
World Languages: Latin Award – Kellyn Norman
World Languages: Spanish Award – Catherine Malone
Ellie Larsen was honored with the Trustees’ Scholarship Medal, awarded to the senior whose cumulative grade point average at Chatham Hall is the highest in the graduating class.
Alexa Keating was honored with the Rector’s Medal, awarded to the senior girl who, in the judgment of the rector and recognition of the faculty, best represents the ideals of Chatham Hall in the contribution she has made to the life of the School throughout her years at Chatham Hall.
Congratulations, Class of 2022!
Raifah Alam Dora Amezaga Mendoza Zion Andrews Velda Asare Elizabeth O. Blackburn Madelyn Boltz Grace Brooks Starr Brooks Whitney Byington Sarah Campola Lily Chappell Jordan Craven Anna B. Davis Allison Faulds Tala Ghalayini Leying “Gloria” Guo Zoey Horn Virginia Grace Jones Alexa Keating Emily Khouw | Grey Lamothe Ellen Larsen Christine Leak Zoe Lutzker Catherine Malone Kennedy Martin Caroline Midkiff Kensington Nelson Xiaomeng “Catherine” Niu Kellyn Norman Samantha Richey Tomke Riese Aryana Satti Ruby Spencer Mary Lucia Stoneman Charlotte Thomason Piper Vogel Annabele Whitehead Xuanxuan “Susie” Zhang
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