John Shearer: Shalizeh Rizvi Honored To Serve As GPS May Queen

Shalizeh Rizvi considers herself an advocate more than a queen, but some of her club involvement in that area might have helped her get chosen as the May queen at Girls Preparatory School this year.

Whatever factors were at work, it was quite a surprise for her but also an honor she deeply cherishes.

“I had no idea I was going to be on the (May) Court,’ she said with a laugh of the election that transpired last Dec. 7. “You could tell by how I looked (on the day of voting). I looked like I had just gotten up.

“But it is an honor to know your school supports you and has your back.”

As Ms. Rizvi has had time to reflect on her choice as queen after the entire student body voted following the senior class’ initial selection of the court, she thinks it might have been due in part to the fact she has worked with some middle school students in her various club activities.

That has included leadership with such groups as Amnesty International, the Black, Indigenous and People of Color club, the Interfaith Forum and Intersection Council. Part of her extracurricular work has included trying to help any student with an identity issue know she is welcome and accepted at GPS.

“I felt it was my mission to advocate for them and give them a safe space and ensuring that everyone has a voice,” she said.

When it came time for the May Day activities on April 27, though, it was simply teen-age girls having fun and enjoying this special time that included the procession and introduction of seniors and the court and the various school dances, including the sophomore Maypole dance.

“I was a little nervous when driving in,” said the daughter of Farhan Rizvi and Naushaba Hasan. “But when I got there, I just took everything in. I took it in, but I still don’t remember a lot.”

She added that the event was also memorable because close friend Louisa Bohner, who had arrived at GPS in the sixth grade with her in the fall of 2015 after they both attended St. Nicholas School, served as maid of honor.

Other May Court members included Julia Combs, crown bearer; Mary Kate Johnson, scepter bearer; Jenna Brown, right train bearer; Frances Crowe, left train bearer; and Olivia Burns, lady of the court.

A definition of a May queen is someone who represents the senior class in the highest sense, is actively involved in the school life, is friendly, well liked, and gracious, and has character and integrity.

Despite her possessing these qualities that led to her election as GPS May queen, Ms. Rizvi said she presently has no interest in politics or elected office in the future. She initially plans to attend Loyola University of Chicago, saying she likes its location and that it offers a variety of programs that interest her.

She might major in something like art history and become a teacher, she said, although adding, “I want to know I can live comfortably.”

The Highway 58 area resident – who was also a shot putter and discus thrower on the GPS track and field team until this year -- said she is scheduled to work with the YMCA this summer before heading off to college. She also plans to take a little time to reflect on her seven years at GPS that went from learning how to study better as she got older to learning she had been selected as May queen.

“I think it had a lot of trials but was extremely rewarding,” she said in summing up her years at the north Chattanooga independent college preparatory school.

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Past GPS May Queens

1914 Margaret Anderson Coffey

1915 Sue Devin Smith Gooch

1916 Lucille Thomas Williams

1919 Helen Hughes Caine

1920 Helen Glover Miller

1921 Dorothy Brizzie Hedges

1922 Geraldine Thatcher Glascock

1923 Augusta Allison Lasley

1924 Charlotte Ferger Signiago

1925 Sarah Robinson Sharp

1926 Mary Sanford Patten

1927 Martha Lanier Graham

1928 Evelyn Allison South

1929 Rowena Kruesi Frierson

1930 Helen Gatewood Chenault

1931 Elizabeth Finlay Chadwick

1932 Charlotte Fowler Maclellan

1933 Kate King Efurd

1934 Mary Alice Thompson Chalfant

1935 Marjorie Wallace Pontius

1936 Betty Bryan Conroy

1937 Virginia Johnson McKenzie

1938 Betty Marus Thomas

1939 Mary Katherine Fred Moore

1940 Jane Brown Marlin

1941 Hilda Hude Chapin

1942 Mary-Claire Dorscheid Hailey

1943 Elizabeth Carothers Gibson

1944 Bonnie Johnson Graves

1945 Janet Johnston Strang

1946 Dorris Chapin Wells

1947 Sally McClellan Currey

1948 Anne Cahoon Stratton

1949 Ann Nichols Goess

1950 Sarah Key Patten Gwynn

1951 Sally McCoy Garland

1952 Dorothy Brown Ellis

1953 Charlotte Patten Gauss

1953 Phyllis Patten Hardin

1954 Hildagarde Reeves Sutherland

1955 Nan Chamberlain Smith

1956 Elizabeth Montague Lewis

1957 Betsy Chamberlain Tuller

1958 Grace Elizabeth Moore

1959 Barbara Boone Stabler

1960 Anne Dudley Griffin

1961 Sally Bacon Smartt

1962 Katherine Frances Kendall

1963 Diann Estabrook Seals

1964 Barbara Johnson Prickett

1965 Suzanne Smith Allen and Cynthia Kemp Battle

1966 Helene Striebinger Reisman

1967 Martha Smith Voght

1968 Emily Bryan Grimes

1969 Louise Chamberlain Tual

1970 Allison Goree Willson

1971 Honey Brown Doramus

1972 Cathie Ault Kasch

1973 Mary Rebecca Grems

1974 Kim Lupton Strang

1975 Eleanor Bryan Billington

1976 Lynn Winningham

1977 Carla Sinor Bush

1978 Katie Lonas McKenzie

1979 Frances Williamson McCallie

1980 Nancy Collins Petty

1981 Stephanie Petree Christian

1982 Anne Duvoisin Halliburton

1983 Margaret Austin Curtis

1984 Etoil Bowles Brown

1985 Frances Sholar Clark Howard

1986 Jana Weekes Olson

1987 Lisa Portera Grafton

1988 Elizabeth Rose Provence

1989 Lesley Denise Walker

1990 Joy Rucker Clements

1991 Christy Leigh McArthur Moore

1992 Janet Ensign Neder

1993 Jeannette Rae Sebes-McDonald

1994 Toy O’Ferrall Harmon

1995 Florrie Louise Glendenning Cook

1996 Ayieta Sabina Mbeche

1997 Frances Sayle Milne

1998 Crystal Yvonne Brooks Pourciau

1999 Amber Leigh Swafford Tucker

2000 Jessica Ann Cofer LaFoy

2001 Amita Mohan Chhabra

2002 Mary Katherine Dann Ogden

2003 Vivian Grace Parham

2004 Whitney Bell St. Charles

2005 Erin Felton Lopez

2006 Sarah Katherine Neall

2007 Brandi Javon Andrews

2008 Caitlin Alison McAloon

2009 Rachel June Smith

2010 Laura Elizabeth Laughlin

2011 Mary Anna Caldwell

2012 Rachel Austin Kelly

2013 Tiana Nichole Mills

2014 Jessica Lynn Erhart

2015 Mackenzie Michelle Hobbs

2016 Alyson Michelle Parris

2017 Iman Ali

2018 Phoebe-Agnès Sinclair Mills

2019 Myra Kruesi Brock

2020 Kshama Ashish Patel

2021 Mary Adella Youmans

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jcshearer2@comcast.net