Academics, angels and athletics and “Yea, Sewanee’s Right!” along with Gownsmen, the Honor Code, dinner with professors and campus dogs all are part of the great traditions which help make Sewanee: The University of the South, one of the outstanding liberal arts colleges in the nation.
Sunday morning during commencement in All Saints Chapel, Bronte Goodhue, a Gownsmen, member of Omicron Delta Pi and Phi Beta Kappa and All-American tennis player and will stand before her fellow students, faculty and staff, her parents, Tague and Colleen Goodhue, and other invited guests on Mother’s Day as the university’s 82nd valedictorian.
Carrying a 4.09 grade point average during her four years on The Domain and earning only A’s dating back to grammar school, the Signal Mountain native will talk about her Sewanee bucket list and the importance of taking advantage of those great campus traditions as an undergraduate.
“One of the great traditions which students should embrace is having a meal with professors and coaches in their home so as to interact with them away from the classroom or athletic setting,” said Goodhue.
She looks at her coaches – John and Conchie Shackelford – as her second parents.
"They have really taken an interest in my life the past four years and the relationship I have with them is priceless,” Goodhue stated who is a three-time ITA National Scholar Athlete, a Cate Merit Scholar and has awards in calculus and economics.
Goodhue feels being an athlete has given her order to her day.
“I knew I had to use my time wisely between being in class, completing assignments and tennis practice and matches."
She credits her seven years at GPS as excellent preparation for the rigors of college academics.
"At GPS we had lots of quizzes throughout each semester so I learned good study habits and the importance of time management."
Conchie Shackleford said, "Bronte is a true student athlete, her competitive desire helps her to excel in the classroom and on the
court.
Since her arrival at Sewanee four years ago, her work ethic has helped all of us get better.”
Former teammate and 2013 Sewanee valedictorian Jenny Liles said, “Bronte pushed me to be a better player with a strong work ethic in practice and that same work ethic paid off for her in the classroom as well.”
Liles, who had a double major of Biology and English and is now in her second year of medical school in Little Rock, and Goodhue have had similar college careers being a Gownsmen, member of Phi Beta Kappa and tennis All-American, plus both were high school salutatorians.
“I am sure Bronte will take the Sewanee experience and apply it to the next chapter of her life,” stated Liles whose younger sister Lindsey, a junior, is also an All-American and teams with Goodhue at No.1 doubles.
Goodhue’s next chapter is set as she moves to New York City in July to work in investment banking for Allen and Company.
“I spent last summer interning in their office so I familiar with the company and am looking forward to being part of the business world,” said Goodhue who graduates with a degree in economics with a minor in math and Spanish.
So as Sewanee tradition goes, Goodhue, as will all other graduating seniors leaving The Domain Sunday afternoon with hard earned diplomas in hand, will tap the roof of their cars one more time to take a Sewanee Angel with them on their next journey in life.
contact B.B. Branton at william.branton@comcast.net