class officers includes Nicole Vincent, Hailey Clowdus, Sallie Wright, and Kendall Stokes. Sallie Wright was the recipient of the coveted Faculty Award. Click to enlarge.
photo by GPS
Commencement ceremonies and Class Day celebrations at Girls Preparatory School recognized many students in grades 6-12 with awards and scholarships, and several faculty members received Teacher of the Year honors.
Katie Pesce and Andrea Clifford were honored at graduation as valedictorian and salutatorian during the Centennial Commencement exercises. Senior honors were also conferred on Sallie Wright, the Faculty Award; Caitlin Barringer and Betsy Harr, the Patsy Williams Service Award; Alex Heath, the Pete Wood Award for dedication and loyalty; Halley Parry, the Laura Handly Award for her potential to become a community leader; Margaret Lester, the Mary Hannah Tucker Award for giving her best as a student, friend, and leader; Melody Shekari, the DAR Award for outstanding citizenship; Avani Javer, the Roberta Moore Award for placing school above self; Sarah Kate Neall, the Founders Award for character and integrity; and Sarah Young, the Barbara Johnson Prickett Award for wise leadership.
The 102 new graduates will attend 50 colleges and universities in 19 states. Over 50% of the class has received nearly $3.5 million in merit scholarship offers for talent, athletic, or academics.
Also at graduation, Headmaster Randy Tucker presented the Headmaster’s Award for Elite Accomplishment in the Performing Arts to senior Emily Killian.
Upper School history teacher Glen Vey and Middle School science teacher Dr. Gary Morton received Teacher of the Year honors.
Class Day, traditionally held the day before graduation, celebrates the academic, athletic, character, and leadership qualities of the students. Seniors who received notable awards on Class Day included Sarah Kate Neall, who received the Justine and Grace Robinson Sportsmanship Cup; Whitney Bell, recipient of the Sandra Martin Award for achievements in athletics, scholarship, and citizenship; yearbook editor Arya Kabiri, who received the William McKenzie Award for her contributions to school publications; and Julie Gibson, the recipient of the Jarnagin Christian Leadership Award.
Among the junior award winners were Judith Crews and Sarah Touse, recipients of the Grace McCallie Scholarship; Marybeth Campeau, the Senior Scholarship; Brandi Andrews, the Battle Award and the Laura Holt Outstanding Athlete Award; and Kathleen Ellison, the Mai Belle Hurley Interdisciplinary Award.
Sophomores honored on Class Day were Amelia Morgan, recipient of the Duffy-Jarnagin Scholarship; Sally Morrow, the Lisa Blake Scholarship; and Catie Lester, the Sophomore Bracelet.
Freshman award winners were Victoria Addison, the Frances Wheeler Scholarship; Danna Myatt, the Dora Maclellan Brown Christian Leadership Award; Callie Smith, the Freshman Cup; and Jennifer Zellner, the Ruth Holmberg Interdisciplinary Award.
Jami Haskins received the Janet Jackson Award given to the outstanding member of the eighth grade class and the Elizabeth Lupton Davenport Interdisciplinary Award, and Layne Morrison was the recipient of the DAR Good Citizenship Award.
In the seventh grade, Heather Daniel received the Ruth Schmidt Award and Louise McCallie received the Thedford Award for the outstanding members of their class.
In the sixth grade, Tory Kemp and Rachel Kelly were recipients of the Margaret Cate Award and the Joan Frierson Award, respectively, for positive leadership.
The major award winners at graduation. Click to enlarge all our photos.
photo by GPS