St. Andrew's Cum Laude Society Inducts 13 Students

 

 

The new inductees were welcomed into the Society by last year’s honorees Peter Donahoe, Hannah King, Danny Knauss, Mackenzie Kynoch, Michael McDonnell-Diaz, and Josh O’Dell as well as Cum Laude faculty members.

 

Upon induction, the newest members were given the charge by Headmaster Robert Kosasky to strive to make “some contribution to a greater understanding of our society and ourselves” as they continue to pursue academic excellence in the years to come as well as honor the Cum Laude Society’s three core principles of Honor, Excellence, and Justice.

 

St. Andrew’s Foreign Language department head Maria Diaz gave the keynote address to the assembled audience.  Diaz, who teaches Spanish, French, and the Economics section of the International Development course, addressed how possessing the qualities of grit, self-awareness, and resistance to narcissism were key factors to the success of those students inducted into the Cum Laude Society. To emphasize this point, Diaz quoted the noted French singer Charles Aznavour’s recent remarks that “It is not inspiration, but hard work that creates talent.”  She applauded the students for “consistent intensity and passion for learning over a sustained period” and recognized how their own “humility and introspection has made them intentional agents of their own success.” 

 

The Cum Laude Society, which was originally founded in 1906 in Maryland, recognizes outstanding academic achievement as well as the qualities of good character, honor, and integrity in junior and senior students.  St. Andrew’s is one of 380 member schools of the Cum Laude Society.  Since 1987, St. Andrew’s has inducted 337 juniors and seniors in to the Cum Laude Society.  Approximately 6,000 students in the United States and worldwide are inducted each year.