St. Andrew's Inducts 14 into Cum Laude Society

On Tuesday morning in MacDonald Hall, 14 students were inducted into the St. Andrew’s chapter of the Cum Laude Society in a ceremony attended by the Upper School as well as the honorees’ parents.
 
Seniors Abby Kaufman, Chris Jung, Bennett Lunceford, William McLearn, Amenah Morgan, and Peter Schwartz were joined by juniors Wesley Cheung, Hope Harrison, Bridgette Kontner,  Emily Gottschalk Minners, Jenna Schissler, Ely Sibarium, Caroline Simpson, and Claire Todd in being inducted into the honorary group.
 
The new inductees were welcomed into the Society by Gabrielle Gedo, Amelia Heesen, Aidan Lucas, Spencer Marks, Bobby Radecki, and Jack Tsintolas, members of the Class of 2016 who were inducted last year, 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 English instructor and department head Susheela Robinson gave the keynote address. Robinson, who teaches the 10th grade Great Works course as well as the senior elective Psychology and Literature class, told the assembled audience that “while nature and nurture are both important in your success, tenacity trumps all…. or in the words of posters in most rooms of this school: ‘Effort matters most.’
I tell you these stories because, while our intelligence is supported by both our nature and the nurture we receive, all of us can change our fates with hard work.”
 
She went further to say that at St. Andrew’s, “We offer a partnership that is available to each and every student …but the secret is that you need to be motivated to respond to the many hands here open to you.
 
She concluded her address saying “So while today is about the Cum Laude inductees, members, and their supportive parents, I know that there are scholars among us and inside us yet to be discovered. Your intelligence is not fixed…no, whether young--like you freshmen (acknowledge)--or old…like, well, like me there is so much potential for growth. Seize opportunities! Take advantage of the partnership.  Believe you can grow your brains!”
 
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 368 member schools of the Cum Laude Society. Since 1987, St. Andrew’s has inducted 324 juniors and seniors in to the Cum Laude Society. Approximately 6,000 students in the United States and worldwide are inducted each year.
 
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St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a private, coeducational college preparatory day school for students in preschool (Age 2) through grade 12, located in Potomac, Maryland.