Commencement ceremonies at GPS
Commencement ceremonies at GPS
Commencement ceremonies at GPS
Encouraging the members of the Class of 2015 to “carry on the spirit of the Founders – women who had the confidence, energy, and intelligence to ditch expectations,” GPS Head of School Dr. Autumn Graves began the 2015 Commencement ceremony on Friday with an introduction of the seniors, who received a standing ovation from the audience of family, friends and faculty.
Her self-described “sage advice” to the graduatese included the lyrics of several well known pop songs. “Katy Perry’s Roar,” she said, is “a call to perseverance, and Brave is a call to act with integrity and ‘say what you want to say.’” Bruno Mars’ Uptown Funk advice is to “hit your hallelujah,” she said, and to respond to doubt with “don’t believe me, just watch.” Dr. Graves’ first class of graduates – artists, athletes, scholars, and servant leaders – have been, she said, “exposed to confidence to combat discrimination that you may find outside these walls.”
She honored the faculty who have provided “aha” moments to the seniors; the three retirees, Jessica Good, Betty Jo Horton and Peggy Michaels; and the nine legacy graduates whose families continue to choose GPS for the best educational experience for girls.
Dr. Graves and Assistant Heads Jessica Good and Elaine Milazzo presented awards for character and integrity, wise leadership, unselfish service to the school, enthusiasm, dedication, loyalty, and love of GPS to Abby Jansen, Nia Sanders, April Forsthoffer, Anne Miller Welborn, Katie McDougal, Ragan Foley, Lindsay Rufolo, Ellie Haskins and Emily Maley.
In their separate valedictory addresses, Anjali Chandra talked about community and Hannah Thel spoke of time and energy wasted on the pursuit of perfection.
Ms. Chandra identified her GPS (Global Positioning System) as an authentic one that “creates leaders, engaging the mind, stimulating the spirit and working to produce young women of character and intellect who approach the world as global citizens and leaders in this society.”
Ms. Thel described a GPS education as “a rare gift that we have been very fortunate to receive. Put what you have learned to use, to identify problems in the world and find solutions to them,” she said in addressing her class.
Reprising her Chapel Talk, Savannah Williams reminded her classmates and those in the audience that “…no matter what we have been through or where we find ourselves, someone has done more with less and someone had more and did less. Ultimately, it’s not about what we have or don't have; it is about what we choose to do with what we have, wherever we are.”
Read the full valedictory addresses for Anjali Chandra and Hannah Thel. Read the full Chapel Talk here.
Before the conferring of diplomas, senior leaders were recognized: valedictorians Ms. Chandra and Ms. Thel; Honor Council president Abby Jansen; Student Council president Ellie Haskins; senior class president Rachel Hudson; and Partnerships in Community president Mackenzie Hobbs.
The 74 seniors will attend 43 colleges and universities in 16 States, the District of Columbia, and one foreign country.